Christmas

Our tree was REALLY dry, so yes, it's already down!

Showing off my new mini tonka trucks for Tristen and Aunt Brenda!

Wow- a cow puzzle!

Great Nana came down to see me!

Julie and Ricardo stopped to visit on their way to Burlington!

Devilish?

A new bus! or as Leah says "us"!

Michelle and Megan helped me into my Christmas PJ's!

Too tired to write much but Leah (and her parents) had a wonderful first Christmas together. Leah was a trooper visiting with lots of company and trying to figure this whole Christmas thing out. It was wonderful staying home and having family and friends stop in and out over the past couple of days. After everyone left tonight the 4 (bella included) of us went for a walk around the block and now Leah is asleep and Mom and Dad are not far behind, especially since my new heated mattress pad is waiting for me! A gift from Bella!

She's Ours!

Holding on to Daddy's leg before we went into the judge's chamber...
Nana and Courtney came along even with such short notice!

This little girl was being adopted on the same day and had on almost the same dress!

The official Harmon family

Nana got Leah a special gold bangle...

We got an early Christmas present and it was the best one of them all! On December 22nd we got a call from probate court that we could finalize Leah's adoption the next morning! We were beyond thrilled! Words can not describe what this meant to us. It is a great feeling to know every last bit of paperwork for her adoption is complete and that she is officially Leah Aasawari Harmon. The decree will give her a new birth certificate which means she can get a social security number, passport, etc. It also means we have a dependent on our 2009 income taxes! Here are some pictures of that special day.

A couple of Christmas Videos...

Leah listening to Santa (aka Uncle Stephen) on the message he left her on the answering machine since she was already in bed when he called to check in on Christmas Eve.

And, Leah seeing her new horse from Nana and Papa for the first time.

More Christmas and court finalization pictures and update to follow. Hope everyone is having as wonderful of a holiday as we are! Our best Christmas ever as we had the best gift ever this year! Leah!

Sophie's Birthday Party

One of our favorite gals celebrated her 7th birthday today. Leah had a great time at the pool party at the UMaine rec center. She loved playing with all of the kids and she swam like a fish! For the 3rd year in a row Sophie has chosen to have her guests bring presents to needy children since her birthday is so close to Christmas. The true meaning of the season. The pool is amazing as is the HUGE hot tub. Andrew and I were wondering why this wasn't built when we were students there and we both thought hmmm... perhaps we need to move up this way- a great rec center, the farmers market and closer to Lincoln! I like it!

P.S. I was a bit sad when Leah so easily still fit into the same bathing suit she wore in Mumbai when I got her dressed at the pool today. So, that made me go back to look for the picture I was thinking of. Although it still fits, I think you would all agree she is filling it out much more now than she was 7 months ago! She has changed more than we realize at times!

Christmas Parties

Sitting with Uncle Matt but checking with Great Grammie Hamlin!Reading... books and balls are still her 2 favorite things...

Checking out the tree with Daddy with her reindeer antlers on... the closest antlers Andrew saw all hunting season!
Ornament hanging 101. Professor Harmon

Leah had a very busy weekend... Friday our friend Audrey and her daycare came in the morning for our new Friday morning routine. The daycare kids eat breakfast here and then we take all the kids to open gym, a program offered by Bangor parks and rec. Leah even rode over with Audrey and the kids and stayed there without me for some of the time- she didn't even seem to miss me!!!

Friday night the Metzlers came over for dinner before we all went o Jacob's basketball game- we only lasted the first quarter- Leah still loves to go to bed early. Saturday we put up our tree and then Saturday night we had the annual Hamlin family Yankee swap, again which we left early- Leah was asleep by 6:30! Today we hosted our "hampden gang" of friends and their kids for a kids party. All the kids picked names and they each got an early Christmas present from a friend.

7 months ago

NOW: Bundled up enjoy the Maine winter!

THEN: Riding back to the hotel after leaving Bal Asha...

Leah was placed in our arms.... can you believe it? We can't! The time has flown by! She continues to amaze us each day and be our constant source of laughs. Yesterday she had a busy day- she had an appointment with a nutritionist to see if they had any ideas of how to put some more calories into her! We have ordered a new drink that has more calories than her pedisure 360 calories per cup vs. 150 in whole milk! Also yesterday she had to go to a Memorial Service or Celebration of Life with us. Yes, again we have lost another close family friend. Phillip Harding passed away way too young of a sudden heart attack this week. He will be missed by everyone and I am so glad that Leah got to meet him a few times.

Busy weekend ahead... it sure is a busy season but lots and lots of fun!

The Arctic Cat

Due to our first major storm Andrew came home early from work today! Yeah! Within minutes his snowsled was out of the garage and he was on it... a few minutes later he had Leah on it as well. As you can see from the picture she was ambivalent about the experience. If you can't tell we are both having an absolute blast introducing her to Winter and Christmas in Maine! We are off now to walk over to the Moores for afternoon dessert... Lucienne made pie today and I made cookies on our lovely snow day so we are all going to share! What a wonderful time of year!

Snow, snow, snow!

Michelle is a good big cousin- she hurried out in her PJ's to play with Leah!
Phew, it seems she likes playing in the snow! Skiing by next year?

Festival of Lights

The Festival of Light parade and tree lighting was in Bangor tonight. We had a blast. We ended up meeting up with the Brehauts, Bartletts and Greenlaws to watch the parade and then we ran into Feleke and his parents after the parade and ate at Taste of India. It was a wonderful spur of the moment that trumped the waiting spagetti sauce at home in the crock pot!

How much better could life get- snow started coming down as the parade was coming down Main st. Leah had seen snow on the ground but not coming out of the sky!

Michelle came down and went to the parade with us- we have been going since Michelle was about Leah's age!

The "Porter gals"... Megan was home- she had her first basketball game!

Leah was not sure what she thought of the view from up there!

The Girl Effect Video

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Basketball...

Over the weekend Leah got yet another hand me down from her friend Eben, his old basketball hoop. Now that he is in kindergarten he has upgraded to a taller one. Leah LOVES balls and now LOVES this new hoop! As you can see she started playing as soon as we walked inside this afternoon and did not even wait to take her coat or hat off!

"First" Haircut

Leah had her first haircut in America today.... poor thing thought she was going to my brother's for Thanksgiving dinner which she was, but she also had Aunt Sue give her a trim while the whole Brehaut/Porter clan watched! She was less than impressed- and I am sure she does not have pleasant memories from the "buzz cut" she had at Bal Asha. Anyhow she has more of a bob now and less of a mullett!

Thanksgiving

Leah's first Thanksgiving was a lot of fun. She kept us all entertained and our progressive dinner worked out wonderful. We even lived on the edge and kept her up until 7:30 pm at the Michauds for dessert, although as you can see she came in her camo pj's to inspire the hunters! Her 2nd Thanksgiving with the Porter/Brehaut clan will be on Sunday so she is really getting to see what this American holiday is all about.

Conar and Whitney sharing their dessert with Leah

Skyping with Uncle Anthony and Grammie Carla in Arizona, while I sit on Great Grammie's Lap

I played football while others were watching it....

Getting ready to walk over to the Moores for round one!

26/11

Daddy and Leah on Marine Drive where the terrorists came ashore...

The Taj Hotel, one of the Hotels under attack last year at this time...

A year ago today we were glued to CNN watching the terrorist attacks on Mumbai unfold and waiting to hear from our contacts in India that our daughter, whom we had yet to meet, was safe and sound in her orphanage in Mumbai. Thankfully before our meal was served we heard back from Minal and Sunil that Leah Aasawari was fine and that Bal Asha was not near the attacks.

Today Leah is here watching the Macy's parade with me and disrupting my Black Friday sale flyer reading while Daddy is of course, out hunting.

What a year... we have never had so much to be THANKFUL for

Leah's first Thanksgiving will be later today when the men are home from hunting. We are doing a progressive meal with drinks and appetizers at the Moores, main meal at our house and dessert and coffee at the Michauds. Stay tuned for pictures.

Confidence

Leah has no lack of self confidence, infact, she may even be a bit cocky... this video demonstrates a bit of this... we did not teach her this, we were trying to teach her how to say I LOVE YOU, but instead this "habit" has developed....

A True Maine Girl...

Yes, we are rednecks. "Uncle" Rick shot a buck this morning and so Leah got to "meet" her first dead deer. We hurried over with the camera and with Michelle and Megan who are on Thanksgiving vacation. Here are a few pics... mostly so Grammie Carla in Arizona can see it and Daddy who is working away. Leah kept "petting the dog"!

Hampden Basketball!

Wrong sport Leah... soccer season is over!
Playing in "the stable" post game...

My first tootsie pop... as you can see more went on her shirt than in her mouth!

Brent and his ladies!

The biggest Hamlin great grandchild and the smallest!

Winter sports have begun here and so begins our last season of watching "BIG" cousin Jacob (he's 6' 6") play basketball for the Broncos- next year we will have to become Bentley fans to watch him play! He did a great job- he had 2 dunks on Saturday afternoon!
On Saturday we went to the first scrimmage of the season- Leah had a blast playing with fellow H.A. fans Maggie and Brent and visiting with Anna and Whitney! We are not sure how many games Leah will make it to since they tend to start at 7 and as we know Leah is usually fast asleep by then!

Pictures courtesy of Jacob W. Metzler

17lbs!

My first size 12-18 month jeans! I am getting big!
Notice this gorgeous sweater, our close friend Jane York, knitted it for Leah- what talent!

The Good Night Moon room at the Children's museum...

Planting a garden at the museum... the best part of this exhibit- it plays "The Garden Song" by Maine's own Dave Mallett!

Let me out of here!

Leah did it! She is finally over 17lbs and she is 30" tall! We had her 2 year well check up and the doctor was impressed with how she is doing not only with growing but developmentally as well. We will go back in January for another weight check and in March for the rest of her immunizations. At that point she will be all caught up with "regular" kids with her shots. Here are some pictures from this week.