~ back view ~

~ front view ~ :)

I will be one month old tomorrow, look at how beautiful my face is becoming... I am losing that "newborn" scrunchiness!

Yesterday was my first day at grandma's all by myself! We snuggled and snuggled (do you really think I would let my warm grandma put me *down* - uh uh, no way, she had to hold me almost all of the time). Grandma promises that we can have girl time a lot more, I love spending time with her, and I barely blinked when my mommy came to collect me.

We were all thinking of my birth mommy Val on Thursday, she did something quite wonderful for us. We love her *dearly*, so is so special to us!!! We are so glad that we found each other...

I can nap *anywhere*, including the dining room table; I like being included in the family "hubbub" even when sleeping. If mommy tries to put me in the bedroom I complain!

This is a picture of me on Saturday... I was dressed for a birthday party, and everyone thought I looked *so* cute!

I like to hang with my daddy :)

Today was an especially fun day: my family went to a birthday party with my birth family. I got to be held *all* the time and I loved it! Here is a picture of me cozy with my birth mommy Val... it was nice to be in her arms.

My gammy Brenda (Val's mommy) has me wrapped around her fingger (or is it that she is wrapped around mine? well, you know what I mean) :)

Can you see me on my mommy's chest? I *love* it there - especially when mommy moves around a lot, like in this picture. I am glad that my mommy has to chase my sister around, because then I get the snuggly close moving sensations that I love.

Although these days I prefer to be awake a *lot*, here I am napping under the dining table (do not ask how I got there, it is a mystery to my mommy too how we both ended up there, we must have been playing with Ava or the kitties or Jessie dog!).

Deja vu?!
I never get enough of napping with daddy, it is just so very cozy :)

My sister is so gentle with me that she will barely even *look* at me while she is holding me. Mommy never even had to say "gentle" or "be careful with the baby" because Ava instinctively knew it!

Mommy dresses us up in matching outfits almost every day, so that she can take pictures for my dear birth mommy Val. It is quite funny to mommy, though, because one of us will mess our outfit very quickly - we have only been able to keep one outfit on long enough for an outing :)

Mommy schlepped everyone to the pediatrician today... only to find out that the rash she thought I had is only a very normal case of combined infant acne and heat rash. She gets so *worried* about us. Ava worries about me too (sometimes), here she is trying to pick something out of my hair :) Also, look at how alert I am now! I am getting so smart, too - I recognize my mommy now... I can tell the difference between mommy and "other" people.,, by voice and by face, when she is close-up. I will kick and animate more when she pops into view! Mommy loves it!

Mommy was reading my first book with me - a book of black with simple white forms (about the only things I can see clearly at this point) and it so tuckered me out. The book became as good a pillow as something fun to do...

Mommy took this last night - she is so very proud of me because I can bring my own thumb to my mouth to suck on! I am such a smart girl! Look at my face - haven't I changed a lot in a week? I really filled out and the "newborn" in me is no longer. I can hold up my head a little (already!) and I can move my head from side to side when I am doing tummy time. Incidentally, I like tummy time, but only if mommy keeps her face right next to mine, so that I can see her. Otherwise I am not so keen on it, I would rather be in her arms. I am definitely a very touch-feely type of baby, I want the warmth and comfort and security of mama's arms a *lot*. (ps: my birth mommy Val gave me the yellow blankie in the front, it is my favorite and I use it all the time!).

My sister's best friends (Ricky and Tommy) just adore me. They wanted to hold me so *badly* but then I cried (boys have cooties, you know) and they weren't so sure anymore LOL. They are getting a new brother or sister in the next few months too!

This is one of my favorite places - laying on grandma. Ava used to love this too, but ever since she started walking she prefers a different view of the room - and she is ready to pounce up at a moment's notice. Not me, I am cozy and warm and happy right here for as long as grandma will have me :)

When grandma takes DOZENS of pictures, she is sure to get one of me smiling among them.

My big sister is extra gentle with me - she knows that I am a little baby and what that means. Here Ava is holding me, but of course, I do not care *who* is holding me, as long as *someone* is :)

Am I not so *sweet*?

Isn't this what daddys are *supposed* to do? My daddy's chest is so warm and comfy, this might be my favorite place to nap :)

My Omi (mommy's mom) Heidi came to smooch on me today! She lives in Virginia.

Here I am with my grandma Connie (my daddy's mom). I will see her and Gigi (my great grandma) *every* day!

My first checkup with Dr. Hertz at Pediatric Health Associates. I weighed 8 lbs 7 oz and am very, very healthy. Doc says that I will be a big girl and likely be the same size as my sister in short time. I did *not* have to have any shots, yippee!

My mommy and daddy are so thankful to birth mommy Val. Not only has she given them the hugest gift anyone can give another person (the gift of a child), but she will also allow them into her family (and vice versa) and into her life! I will not only get to know my birth mommy throughout my life, but I will get hugs and kisses from her, and I will always know just how much she loves me. My mommy and daddy are so in awe of how loving my birth mommy is - to make this plan for me. She is a strong, wonderful, beautiful young woman, and my mommy and daddy are proud to call her their baby's mama! And they hope to make Val proud in her choice of parents for me! :)

My mommy and daddy are so in love with me already. Only someone who has children can know how instantaneous your love for your children is! They will do anything for me - woohoo, I am going to be *so* spoiled, just like my big sis :)

My granny Brenda (Valerie's mom) is so so so *tickled* at my arrival. She cried and cried, she was so overjoyed. She is sooooo happy that she will be able to play an important part in my life! (Look at the beautiful view of the Susquehanna in the background).

Here I am! :) I am a whopping 8 lbs 10 oz! 19" long - born 3/27/06. Mommy picked the named Mia and birth mommy picked the name Faith (for the Faith it takes to do an open adoption like ours!). It was a surprise to see I was a girl... in all 3 previous ultrasounds I had my legs crossed so no one would know what I was. Valerie let my mommy and daddy be birth/labor coaches (along with her mom Brenda and boyfriend Paul), and my daddy was given the honor of cutting the umbilical cord! How incredibly special - my parents will remember this special day *forever*.

Here is my birth mommy Valerie with my adoptive mommy Barbie during early labor. You might ask how Valerie can have a smile on her face while in labor - she knew she would meet me!

Hi, welcome to my blog! I am new at this, but my big sis and mommy will show me the way :) I am Mia Faith, I was born to my birth mommy Valerie, shown here (on the left with boyfriend Paul) with my mommy and daddy and my big sister Ava. This picture was taken 4 days before I was born - it was the first time all my birth and adoptive parents met!