Happy Birthday--a little late!

the birthday boy

I am finally getting around to posting about Taylor's birthday! Guess late is better than never, huh??!! Taylor turned 2 on July 31 and we celebrated all week! It was a fun and busy week. We actually had a party on July 26 with family and a few friends. We then had some little friends over on Tuesday morning for a playdate. On Wednesday, Pop and Pam came to town and we celebrated that night at dinner. On Thursday, Taylor's actual birthday, we had a quiet celebration complete with chocolate cake!! Taylor got way too many nice gifts and has loved all his new things. Our family and friends have been way too generous.

This was our first birthday celebration with Taylor home and it was great. Last July, we were in Guatemala visitng Taylor on his birthday but Mommy got sick. Needless to say, we didn't do much celebrating. It was so much nicer celebrating here at home but there are days when I miss La Casa Grande and all our friends that we met there!

I spent a lot of time thinking about Taylor's birthmother, Blanca, and his foster mother, Claudia, during the week of his birthday. These were his first two mothers and they loved him so much. B loved him enough to let him go so he could live a life that she couldn't provide for him. What an unselfish act....Claudia loved him enough to let him into her home and family for 15 months and then give him to us, his forever family. Claudia and her family were wonderful to Taylor and provided him with so much love and security. They are a wonderful family that we will forever be grateful to.

I am sure that B and C spent time thinking of Taylor during the last week of July also. I hope they know how much we love him and how well he has attached to us and fit into our family. It seems as if he's always been a part of our family and we've only been a forever family for 9 months! We are truly blessed to have this little miracle in our lives. We love you with all our hearts and souls Taylor!

Now onto the pictures of Taylor's birthday week!! Enjoy!!






lookin' like Shrek


yummy




I am finally 2!!



Also need to wish my brother and Taylor's uncle, Happy, a (belated)Happy 40th!! and to think he's my younger brother!! Thank goodness not by much. Turning 40 didn't really bother me, but it really BOTHERS me that my baby brother is 40!!! Congrats to Happy and Erin on their recent engagement. We are looking forward to another spring or summer wedding!!

Gerson, the student we are sponsoring through Mayan Families, turned 13 on August 6. We hope he gets to choose some nice gifts from us! Will share pictures if we get some.