Saturday, January 1, 2011

Lots to celebrate

Zoya was a New Year's baby and so we had something extra special to celebrate today. She is six years old. First, a trip to Walmart to get her ears pierced. She has been playing in my jewelry since she got home in August, trying to stick my earrings in her ears. She did not understand why they worked on my ears, Liesel's, Hope's, and even Ava's, but not on hers. Her face lit up yesterday and she said, "Yay!!" when I asked her if she wanted to get her ears pierced for her birthday so she could wear earrings like mommy.

The girls got on their fancy matching dresses for the occasion. When it was all said and done she had flinched just for a second but then she gave me a big smile and a thumbs up. Some random onlooker, a guy with multiple facial piercings, commented that she did better than he has ever done! Sadly she is very used to getting poked with needles.


Hope was so excited to be a part of Zoya's big moment. I about cried when I took this picture of Hope holding the mirror so Zoya could admire her beautiful new look. Zoya picked pink butterflies, of course.


Liesel and Joseph came along as well. Tell me if Joseph's expression doesn't remind you of how your husband looks while he is waiting for for you to finish up your shopping at Walmart. :) But it's Ok. He had a piece of paper (a return receipt) which always makes him happy.


We decided (it was Liesel's idea) to combine John's and Zoya's birthday celebrations. Poor John has a birthday immediately after Christmas and complains that he never got birthday cake and parties, and half the time his gifts got lumped together, wrapped in Christmas paper. "This is for Christmas AND your birthday." I am to blame as well, but who really wants to eat birthday cake or go shopping on December 27?

A little girl fishing on the hill, for Zoya, and a Fish in the Pond cake for John. The fishing pole is a little paint brush with a string tied to the end. I thought it turned out pretty cute if I do say so myself!


Just had to throw this photo in. Ava LOVES her Aunt Marlita. She is feeding her the worst part of her pizza, the crust.


I have no idea whether or not orphans in Ukraine get to celebrate their birthdays, but it was a first for US anyway, to get to be with Zoya on her birthday. If I think about it too much I start to cry.  I wish I could have been there on the day she was born, to welcome her into the world! 


She blew her candles out, then signed 'more' so we lit them again and let her blow them out two more times. Liesel said we should have let her blow them out six times, for every birthday party we have missed. Wish I would have thought of it before all the cake was gone.


Today I am a mother to FOUR six-year-olds. :) 
Every morning Zoya wakes up singing a song. Every night she goes to sleep singing as well. Tonight she sang Happy Birthday to herself. I wish you could have heard it but we couldn't find the video camera. It was just about the sweetest thing I've ever heard. Zoya has enriched our lives. We are thankful that her mother gave her the gift of life six years ago, and we are thankful that she is ours now. Happy Birthday my sweet girl, and many more to come.

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P.S. I forgot to mention on my Christmas update post, Liesel is the proud owner of a guinea pig. He is as sweet as can be, which is why his name fits him so well....Prince Charming.

21 comments:

Gina said...

Having just returned from China with our first adopted child, I have been lamenting about the fact that I now have two 6 year olds, and what the heck was I thinking???? And now I read that you have four 6 year olds. Thanks for the smile! :) I really, really, needed it.

La Viajera Insaciable said...

Oh, Charissa! What a sweet, sweet post! The photo of Hope and Zoya (in their adorable matching dresses!) with the mirror moved me to tears! I'm so happy that your family and Zoya have found each other!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday, Zoya!

Between this week and June, four of my kids will turn 6. I didn't realize so many of our kids were the same age. :)

Deb D. said...

Looks like Liesel got her hair cut. CUTE! She is looking more grown up. Such a pretty young lady. And what a cute guinea pig! Love his name. I named one of the chipmunks who hangs around our name Prince Charming. :-)

Good to see Ava, too. Such a dear little girl. Still amazes me when I see her now and think of how she has thrived since coming into her family.

LOVE the photo of Zoya with both cakes. The joy on her face gives goosebumps. What a content girl. She appears to know how good her life is. :-) And the cakes are quite cute. Love the thought your children put into cakes for birthdays. You guys do things so well.

Joseph looks like he did great, and the pics of the girls in the ear piercing site are priceless. You are a wise Mom to carry a camera with you!

Thank you for sharing this special day with us. Please kiss the birthday girl on her beautiful face for me.

Cammie Heflin said...

Happy Birthday Zoya!! Your girls are the sweetest things ever! Tell John Happy Birthday from the Heflins as well!

Justine said...

Got all misty over your post. Happy birthday Zoya and John! Loved Joseph in the cart and the picture of your 4 six year olds. I especially loved the matching dresses. I think Zoya looks a bit more filled out already. Yippee! (and yeah for Liesel and the guinea pig...I remember wanting one when I was her age.)

amyl4 said...

OMG! I just love your girls! They are beautiful and precious and I love their hearts! Zoya is such a treasure, I think she is just adorable. And I love the picture of Ava feeding her aunt the crust.:) You are so blessed Charissa! Happy New Year!
Amy

Melissa said...

Love, love, love this post! Happy Birthday Zoya and John! Such sweet pictures!

Just Another Day In Paradise said...

Oh these are the best best best pictures! Zoya looks GREAT! What beautiful eyes she has, that are surely sparking on her birthday!!!
Our girl is 9, but has no idea how old she is. When the judge asked her when she was born, she had no clue. That being said, at least in HER orphanage, birthdays are not celebrated. I'll bet this was Zoya's first party, and certainly the BEST!
Happy Birthday, sweet Zoya!

Molly said...

She is so precious. I've told you this a million times, but there is something so special about that girl.

Do ear piercings bleed? Do you disclose in this sort of situation? I assume not.

Also, four six year olds? LOVE IT! I totally have dibs on babysitting if you guys ever come to New York!

Anonymous said...

I started reading your blog when you where in the process of adopting Ava, and for some reason, stopped reading blogs when I stopped blogging. I stumbled across my old blog the other day and remembered Ava's wonderful story and clicked on a bookmark I had to your blog. I am so happy to see that you've adopted two more beautiful Ukrainian Angels. I just spent the last two hours reading your back blog posts from when you adopted Joseph and Zoya and I've used quite a lot of tissues (I'm on winter break and clearly have some time on my hands :) ).

I'm currently in college to become a teacher and I'm studying Russian. My dream is to eventually work with the children in Ukrainian or Russian orphanages and of course adopt as many as I can. Your blog has made me realize how much I want my dream to become a reality, so from the bottom of my heart, thank you!

Congratulations again to you and your family. May 2011 bring you much happiness and many blessings.

Kelsey

Unknown said...

So sweet. Happy Birthday, Zoya.

Charissa said...

Kelsey-I love to hear from young people with a heart for orphans. Awesome.

Molly-Yes I did 'disclose' and I was wondering whether someone would ask. There is no blood but I thought I would just be on the safe side by mentioning it to the piercing lady. Turns out she didn't even care.

Amanda said...

Happy Birthday to such a special girl. I can tell a difference since she started the tube feedings. She is getting bigger. I can relate having a 24 pound 6 year old. My Ananya is sooo tiny. I'm sure she lost weight since her last surgery too. I so glad you found just the thing to help Miss Zoya.

JennyH said...

She looks SO happy. I didn't know Wal-mart pierced ears. My 7 year old is really wanting it done. She was going to get it done on her 6th b-day but my hubby freaked her out talking about the needle.

Your girls look precious in their fancy matching dresses. Joseph looks content. My son, Max, also loves receipts. He likes to watch them move in the wind.

Happy 6th birthday to Zoya and John!!

mom2four said...

Aww, what a special time and wonderful idea, I bet it totally made Zoya's WEEK! LOL

We can relate w/John, Ethan's actual b-day is also the 27th :) He's always gotten a cake and or other dessert and presents NOT in Christmas paper, but the party is where he always lacked. Thus the whole reason for his party having been in Oct this year! LOL

Molly said...

I wouldn't care either! :-) I'm just trying to make a mental log of disclosure for when I adopt down the road!!

Anonymous said...

Absolutely priceless photos and blog. Thanks so much for posting them. Happy Birthday John and Zoya!! The cakes tured out adoreable; now there can be a double celebrated birthday every year. So nice to see the photo of Ava and Aunt Marlita too! Miss her blog.

Love you all
Aunt Sharon

jennifer... said...

Sweet, sweet, SWEET!

Are your quadruplets identicle?

AC said...

Zoya is SO BEAUTIFUL!

Monica said...

Happy birthday Zoya! You are beautiful!