Maya and Grace dance together one last time!

Maya Lily and Grace decided to dance with each other instead of with Rachel and I--they were too cute!

Last Mommy and Me ballet class today

Today was our last Mommy and Me ballet class! Maya has certainly come along way since she started in November. She will move up to the Creative Movement class in August--all by herself.

Home for one year today!

Hard to believe we have been home with Maya for a whole year! 365 days!!! WOW!
She has changed so much from that first night here--when she cried from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. and we thought, "Oh, my God--what have we done!"
This week she has started saying more phrases--like, "Open, please" and "Help, please" it is too cute. We love watching her grow and develop into an amazing little girl--however she will always be our baby!

Happy Memorial Day!

The Dunns

Gotcha Day Anniversary Photos

Here are the photos from our one year Gotcha Day anniversary!
It was so great seeing the girls together.
They had so much fun playing together.
We are already starting to plan next year's get together!!

Precious moments from Gotcha Day last year!

Tomorrow is our one year Gotcha Day anniversary! I am so excited and emotional--couldn't sleep last night because I was recalling every detail of that day.
We have been blessed beyond our dreams.
I will never forget the moment Maya Lily was placed in my arms for the very first time--it was as though she had always been there. It is hard to believe that a year has gone by. So many things have happened--Maya has grown into such a loving, beautiful, smart little girl.

We will be celebrating tomorrow with the Bullocks, the Ginns and McNeissers. I cannot wait to see the girls and see how much they have grown.

I will post pictures from the reunion this weekend.
In the meantime, enjoy these two pictures that are from Gotcha Day last year!

The best Mother's Day Ever!!

Maya Lily and I at the Polynesian Hotel at Disney!
This was the best Mother's Day ever!!

Happy Mother's Day

Last year I was on the Great Wall of China--crying because I did not have my precious Maya in my arms. I will never forget the moment she was placed in my arms--it was truly a powerful moment. I became a mother and she became my daughter.

So here is something for all mother's-including Maya's birth mother to whom I will be eternally grateful.
This is for the mothers who have sat up all night with sick toddlers in their arms, wiping up puke laced with Oscar Mayer wieners and cherry Kool-Aid saying, "It's okay honey, Mommy's here".


Who have sat in rocking chairs for hours on end soothing crying babies who can't be comforted. This is for all the mothers who show up at work with spit-up in their hair and milk s tains on their blouses and diapers in their purse.


For all the mothers who run carpools and make cookies and sew Halloween costumes. And all the mothers who DON'T.


This is for the mothers who gave birth to babies they'll never see. And the mothers who took those babies and gave them homes.


This is for the mothers whose priceless art collections are h anging on their refrigerator doors.


And for all the mothers who froze their buns on metal bleachers at football , hockey or soccer games instead of watching from the warmth of their cars, so that when their kids asked, "Did you see me, Mom?" they could say, "Of course, I wouldn't have missed it for the world," and mean it.


This is for all the mothers who yell at their kids in the grocery store and swat them in despair when they stomp their feet and scream for ice cream before dinner. And for all the mothers who count to ten instead, but realize how chil d abuse happens.


This is for all the mothers who sat down with their children and explained all about making babies. And for all the (grand) mothers who wanted to, but just couldn't find the words.


This is for all the mothers who go hungry, so their children can eat.


For all the mothers who read "Goodnight, Moon" twice a night for a year. And then read it again. "Just one more time."

This is for all the mothers who taught their children to tie their shoelaces before they started school. And for all the mothers who opted for Velcro instead.


This is for all the mothers who teach their sons to cook and their daughters to sink a jump shot.


This is for every mother whose head turns automatically when a little voice calls "Mom?" in a crowd, even though they know their own offspring are at home -- or even away at college.


This is for all the mothers who sent their kids to school with stomach aches, assuring them they'd be just FINE once they got there, only to get calls from the school nurse an hour later asking them to please pick them up. Right away.


This is for m others whose children have gone astray, who can't find the words to reach them.


For all the mothers who bite their lips until they bleed when their 14 year olds dye the ir hair green.


For all the mothers of the victims of recent school shootings, and the mothers of those who did the shooting.


For the mothers of the survivors, and the mothers who sat in front of their TVs in horror, hugging their child who just came home from school, safely.


This is for all the mothers who taught their children to be peaceful, and now pray they come home safely from a war.


What makes a good Mother anyway?


Is it patience? Compassion? Broad hips? The ability to nurse a baby, cook dinner, and sew a button on a shirt, all at the same time?


Or is it in her heart? Is it the ache you feel when you watch your son or daughter disappear down the street, walking to school alone for the very first time?


The jolt that t takes you from sleep to dread, from bed to crib at 2 A.M. to put your hand on the back of a sleeping baby?


The panic, years later, that comes again at 2 A.M. when you just want to hear their key in the door and know they are safe again in your home?


Or the need to flee from wherever you are and hug your child when you hear news of a fire, a car accident, a child dying?


The emotions of motherhood are universal and so our t houghts are for young mothers stumbling through diaper changes and sleep deprivation...


And mature mothers learning to let go.


For working mothers and stay-at-home mothers.


Single mothers and married mothers.


M others with money, mothers without.


This is for you all. For all of us.


Hang in there. In the end we can only do the best we can. Tell them every day that we love them. And pray.

The journey to Ava Rose has begun!

It is with joy and excitment that we share with you are our journey to Ava Rose!
We have officially decided to adopt another baby girl from China and will be filing our application next week.
We have chosen China Adopts With Love--a China only agency in Boston to facilitate this process.
I spoke with Meg, the social worker at CAWLI, this morning and we are very excited to begin the paperwork process of this very long journey.
Once we have a log-in-date at the CCAA in China--the wait time for a referral is currently at 28 months. We will update you all as dates can change. We are ok with the wait time--it gives us lots of time to plan, save and enjoy this time with Maya Lily.
Thanks for your continued love and support!
The Dunns

Could the Dunn party of three have room for one more?

We have been discussing the possibility of adding one more member to the Dunn family!!!
Stay tuned! Details will be posted soon.