One Year Pics

Just posting some of my favorites of her one year pics!

This one had me CRACKING up!!!

LOVE this one!!

Pretty punkin!

My little princess :)

Love her to pieces!

Tough Times

Well, our world has turned upside down for the time being. It has been a rough 2010 not just for Khalid and I, but for my entire family. As you know, our house has been on the market since early November and hasn't sold. There was absolutely a reason for that. Khalid lost his job Friday. It is pretty devastating and as much as you feel so bad for the huge numbers of people going through this.....it hits pretty hard when it happens to your family, obviously. We are just trying to enjoy this weekend together before Monday hits. However, it is so hard not to let a little depression sink in each morning when I wake. I know all the cliche stuff is actually true...."things will work out," "God will provide," etc., but that is also hard to really grasp when you are wondering how you are going to make it. Guess that's where faith comes in, right? Yep. And I am working really hard to just let go and have faith. Khalid has several people at Tinker working really hard at getting him on continuous orders at the base through July. Praying that works out. He will also be checking out several other avenues in the meanwhile to try and find something permanent. Obviously we were not meant to be in Tulsa at this time. And there are so many positives about staying.....being near my sister and our kids growing up together, having our next baby at Lakeside, and several more. Unfortunately, there is the dark "what now" cloud hanging over the positives. BUT.....every time we get sad, we see this face and everything just seems.....alright. :)

Letter to my Precious Punkin (a little late but I couldn't get this to post last week!)

To my precious sweet Maya Jayne,

I can hardly process that it has been a full year. To think that on this night, one year ago, I was packing my bags to enter the hospital so they could start the Cervadil. You would be arriving on the 8th and we didn’t even know if you were a boy or girl!! That is also so hard to comprehend now. I was feeling anxious and a little scared but most of all I was feeling pure joy and excitement. Crystal was my favorite nurse of the whole week and she made me feel so comfortable when we checked in. She and the other nurses were so excited that we didn’t know your gender so they all started putting in their guesses. Crystal guessed girl! In the wee hours of the morning I started having some pretty strong contractions before they even started the Pitocin. Your Mimi, Papa, Teta, Papa Dale and Aunt Sharla were all at the hospital most of the day while Mommy labored. Daddy was so sweet and helped me breathe and also gave me foot massages. They broke my water at 10am and you progressed fairly quickly. As the big moment came around 2:30pm, the family was sent out of the room. After 45 minutes they heard your very first big cry and Mommy and Daddy heard “It’s a girl!!!” Words can never ever explain the feelings that washed over me as they handed you to me. My precious baby girl. You looked right in my eyes as I cried and gave you kisses. I thank God every night when I go in your room before I go to bed. I watch you sleep with your little hiney up in the air and I thank Him that He chose me to be your mommy. What an honor, privilege and huge responsibility. It has been amazing to watch you grow over the past year. I remember your very first smile and I am so happy I got it on video. Your little personality has emerged and you are quite funny and independent already! I knew you would be independent pretty early on when I tried to help you along while you were trying to suck your thumb. You would have NO part of it and pulled your tiny hand back! Little did we know you are like that with most things still! When we play “How big is Maya?” and I try to put your hands in the air for you, you will also have no part in that! I imagine if you could talk, you would already be saying “Do it myself!” I can’t wait to see what is in store this next year. How amazing to get to spend every single day watching you grow and learn. I love you Maya Jayne and I am absolutely the luckiest Mommy on earth.

XOXO,
Mommy