...on Thursday, November 18th.
It seems I blinked and a year whizzed past me.
This little girl, who was so quiet and sad and clingy has morphed into this
(so, so pretty, if I do say so myself) larger than life, bundle of joy.
And she's just so happy!! Happy, happy, happy
When she sees food, she fairly shrieks with glee. As we leave the front door, she bounds out and down the steps with so much energy as if to say "Hey world...it's me. I'm here!!!" Whenever she sees any of us, even if she saw us 5 minutes before, she'll run up and give hugs. At her school when I pick her up - she shrieks and jumps like a monkey into my arms, sounds tumbling out trying to show me her new pigtails or a drawing - leaps out of my arms again and hugs every little kid left in the classroom and all, yes all the teachers and director before leaving, bouncing down the stairs shrieking with total euphoria.
(I should bottle and sell it.)
She's a whirlwind. (I'm hearing strains of "how do you solve a problem like Maria?".) And most days we are panting (Dahlia too) to keep up with her.
Milana - our 3 year old - is living up to her nickname - Miss Wild Thang - very well!
The only thing she's not really doing is talking much. And we're working on that.
Here is where she began.
I can hardly look at this picture (taken in our hotel room in China).
Those eyes - they say it all!
Then newly home.
Then it was Milana's 2nd birthday.
It is Wednesday too, so pop over to Lisa's and check out all the other captures today.
In the new year, Milana really started to blossom.
What a precious gift you are Milana. You brighten up even the dullest day, make our heads spin and yet your spirit is so soft.
Look out world - Milana is turning 3!!!
Happy Birthday sweet thing!
Hi, I'm Wanda. I am a happy woman, wife to Danny for...oh....lots a years and finally Mom to THE most adorable little girl from Hunan, China - Dahlia. And now we have been blessed again with another daughter, Milana, from Zhejiang, China. (The 2 best things I've ever done!)
We live in the Montreal area. After a loooonnngg wait for Dahlia's little sister Milana (pronounced - Mee-lana, like banana), we finally brought her home in August 2009. Dahlia came to us in Nov 2004 (at 20 months of age)and a year later we began the application for another baby - at the time the waiting period was around 8 months. Almost 4 years later (say what!?!)we, at last, brought Milana home.
This began as the story of our journey to bring Milana home and life with her big sister, Dahlia. It now continues as we live as a family of four!
God.
My (growing) family.
Hangin' out with my girlies.
My wonderful friends (you know who you are!).
To laugh (out loud and a lot!).
Music.
Painting. Hugs.
Long chats with my buds.
My garden.
To read (ha...when I can!).
Sunshine.
Spring, Spring and more Spring.
Building things.
Cooking.
Decorating.
Parties (ahem).
The internet.
Life.
Movies. A.I.
Dancing with the stars.
So you think you can dance.
Travel. Umm..did I say laughing my head off.
Oh Gee...everything actually!!
37 comments:
Oh goodness! Happy Birthday Milana!!! May your third year be filled with all things wild and fun and each day full of your laughter! Happy, happy birthday!!
Happy third birthday Milana. May you have a fun filled birthday tomorrow and may all your wishes come true. Enjoy and be a good sweet girl always
You have such beautiful photography and fit to your subjects. happy birthday again to your sweet lil girl
Here is the link to my B&W http://www.joedub.com/2010/11/black-white-wednesday-squirrel.html
Oh my her dress is soo beautiful as is she. I hope she has a WONDERFUL birthday
BEAUTIFUL!! Happy birthday, sweet Milana! :) If I were to pick favorites out of all the lovely photos, it would be the second picture from the top, the one of her in the red dress (somewhere in the middle) and the very last oner --simply gorgeous! =)
Happy Birthday Milana! What a wonderful post Wanda. She is just so adorable. You must want to love on her all day long. I absolutely adore the dress you have on her. She looks so grown up....and I agree she is gorgeous too.
Why are these kids getting so big, so fast? They really need to slow down a bit. Let us enjoy them while they're little and still want to be close to us. :-) Hope you have a wonderful Wednesday.
Hugs,
Grace
Oh my, Wanda. These are amazing. I loved looking back in time at her. Gorgeous shots all around but my favorite is the one of her laughing.
Such joy!
Happy, Happy, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to your precious baby girl! I am so thankful you get to be her Mommy Wanda. I know you love her VERY very much and you cherish your moments as mommy to a rambunctious and happy girl! You are the best! She is just as pretty and lovely as can be!
Oh, Happy Birthday! You can tell from the photos that a lot has happened in the last year. She is gorgeous and I just love the second shot from the top.
Erika B
Happy Birthday to your beautiful 3 year old.. She truly has prospered and she just exudes happiness!
Here is to many, many, many.....MORE!!!
Oh my goodness! She is gorgeous! I want that dress for my little one so bad, it is stunning. Happy birthday Milana!!!
Oh, I only had (have!) time to peek at one blog this morning and I just knew it had to be yours!!! AND it never (ever!) disappoints!
How could it, with your beautiful Mama's heart bursting through & through and your obvious adoration and celebration of your beautiful girls!!
And beautiful she is ~ in her its so easy to see the little sprite she was having emerged and become the firecracker of joyful spirit she is today! I know a big part of that is because she feels just how loved and cherished she is....by you all!!!
Sending extra hugs and wishes for your darling wee one as she's turning 3!!!!
XOXO
You have such happy and beautiful girls.
My cup overflows with joy from this post! Goodness there is just too much cutness :-)
Gorgeous shots too!
Blessings on your special days!
Jill
www.fnaphotography.blogspot.com
Happy Birthday Milana,
I cannot believe you are "THREE"...wow!!!
May God continue to bless your every step.
You have bloomed into a beautiful flower and bring so much joy to all of us. We love and adore you...and as for living up to your nickname "MISS WILD THING"...keep up the good work!!! You are a girl that will always choose to dance and never sit it out.
luv you little one
me
She has definately changed so much...I love the happiness in her eyes and how much fun she looks like she is always having. Your photography is just stunning and you are so lucky to have those wonderful beautiful girls to take photos of!! I love your black and whites...so sharp and crisp.
Milana is just beautiful! Happy birthday sweetheart!
awwwwwwww...what a cutie! happy birthday little darling....:)
awesome photos btw....thanks for dropping by on my B&W entry @ gregdemcy.net
Happy Birthday Milana! What a gorgeous young lady she is! All the best in the coming year!
Happy 3rd birthday to little Milana! She has definitely changed and grown so much since last year, it's easy to see in these photos.
Happy 3rd BIRTHDAY to your beautiful little wild thing!!!! OH Look how she has changed in the last year. You can really see how she has come out of her shell over time!
Hope that "3" is a fantastic year!!!
xoxo,
Lisa
Your wild Thang is one beauty!!!!! Wow!!! has she changed. What an amazing thing it is to see our little flowers grow and blossom over a couple of years. It just takes lots of love and care.
Happy 3 to you sweet Milana!!!
Beautiful post Wanda, oh I almost forgot, we are almost related. Well, we will be when W and M are betrothed. ;)
Forgot to add, LOVE the gray and black dress she's wearing!!!! :)
Oh isn't she just the cutest in her birthday dress! Its amazing to see how much she has grown and changed. Love to see those happy bright eye's replace the sad ones.
Happy Happy Birthday!!!!
What big news! Hoping all her hopes and dreams come true in the coming year.
Happy Birthday!
She really has changed a lot since her second birthday! She is just darling and that dress is stunningly amazing. The pictures are wonderful.
Enjoy every moment. I cannot believe my girls are 6 and 7. It's true what they say about how fast they grow up.
Yesterday my dad turned 91 and we are so thrilled that his grandchildren got to know him.
Happy birthday, Beautiful Milana!! I LOVE your birthday dress, can I borrow it? :) Hope you had a wonderful day!!
She is so beautiful. And very lucky to have such a loving, warm and close-knit family. x
Happy Birthday Sweet M!!!
Keep smilin!
Wonderful pictures!
Félicitations!
She is an absolute doll!! You can certainly see a difference in her eyes. ...so touching!
Absolutely beautiful pictures of your beautiful girl! Happy Belated birthday Milana! You can really see the difference in her eyes, now there is only pure joy!
She definitely has blossomed, thanks to the loving home equipped with magnificent momma, adoring daddy and beautiful sister!!! Happy Birthday Milana!!
What beautiful photos - great way to remember the past! She is adorable!
Happy Birthday!
Alyzabeth's Mommy
Wanda,
I'm so sorry I am so late wishing your sweet Milana a very Happy Birthday! She is gorgeous!!!! I love that layered dress with those beautiful fabric flowers - so cute!!
I can hardly believe the transformation - oh my she has BLOSSOMED! I love seeing the joy in her eyes now - it makes me kind of teary!
Give your sweet 3 year old some birthday kisses for me :)
xo ellie
Happy birthday gorgeous little sweetie!!!
I agree with Ellie she has blossomed so much but is just as stunningly beautiful as the first day we saw her :) and yes you sure can read those eyes! Now they shine with joy! Very late, but heartfelt :) Birthday wishes to your precious girl!
This beautiful girl...3 already? When I look at the photos of the little girl newly home and the girl I held in my arms just a month ago....I can hardly believe she is the same. She is more beautiful in person than even her phots...though they are stunning. Three....she has seen so much in her short life but nothing will compare to the world she will see through her mother's eyes....with color, detail, kindness, generosity, empathy and the warmest heart one can imagine.
Happy Birthday, Precious Milana....may every single day of your life be as wonderful as today is!
xoxoxox
Aunt Dita
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