Mother's Day 2010

I had such a great Mother's Day this year & it was so special this year to be able to say that I am a mommy to TWO! Sometimes I feel like I'm dreaming! Saturday night, David took me out to celebrate & we had a great dinner at The Cheescake Bistro on the Boardwalk & then saw The Back-up Plan. It was a cute movie & we had a great time together! On Sunday, David brought me coffee in bed & lots of cards & goodies from my boys. He did great with the gifts but my favorite was a Lisa Leonard necklace that I have been really wanting! It is beautiful!

We went to church & then over to my parent's house t o celebrate with my mom!!! My dad grilled ribs & brisket & all the fixens & it was delicious!! We spent the day there & had lots of fun!

I love these two boys so much!!

They bring me smiles, laughter & so much love every day!!

Their sweet sloppy kisses are the best!!

I love being their mommy so much!

I also am so so thankful to their birthmoms on this day who gave me the gift of motherhood

& trusted me with the future of their child!

I feel so honored, grateful & blessed!

Caleb Brooks Soto

I am way behind on this post...but better late than never!!

On March 3, 2010 We welcomed our newest addition...

Caleb Brooks Soto

He is a precious miracle that we prayed for & are so blessed to have!

He is growing so fast & is already 11 pounds.

He is a happy baby & is starting to smile.

Caden is loving being his big brother!
We are still amazed at how fast God worked to deliver this miracle!

For more details please see our adoption blog:

http://sotoadoptionjourney.blogspot.com/

Thank you all for prayers & encouragement in this journey!

Today I kissed an angel

Today I kissed an angel

I knew it from the start

the first time my angel smiled at me

I gave away my heart.

Today I kissed an angel

This angel child of mine

though not of my creation

my child by God's design

today I kissed an angel

my heart is dancing wild

a family, by a miracle

blessed by this angel child

Author Unknown

Blog Award!

My sister-in-law, Sarah nominated me for a blog award. I am really the worst & most sporadic blogger ever but I appreciate the thought! So, the rules are Thank the person who nominated you for this award.--Thanks, Sarah! Copy the award & place it on your blog. Link to the person who nominated you for this award. Tell us 7 interesting things about yourself. Nominate 7 bloggers. Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.

1. I was named Kenya after my dad- Ken. My parents had been trying to get pregnant for 7 years at that point & I think that they probably thought that I was going to be it for them! Contrary to what many people believe, I was NOT named for the African country.

2. In the last 12 months, at one point in time or another a total of 8 people have lived in our home. That does NOT include our 2 dogs. Right now, we are down to a calm & quiet total of 3 but are ready for #4! (See our adoption blog: http://sotoadoptionjourney.blogspot.com/)

3. I never expected to really LOVE living in Lousiana but...I love being close to family, I love our home & all of the amazing friends that we have made here. Not to mention...the yummy food here! Part of me...always misses Texas though!

4. I love to read books! My family jokes & threatens to not buy me books for special occasions because then I won't talk to them or socialize.

5. I think that I have the gift of hospitality & I love entertaining & having friends over a lot!

6. I love finding a bargain!! Getting up on saturday mornings (and I am NOT a morning person) and going garage saleing is so much fun to me! I get so excited about finding a really great deal!

7. Neither me or my son Caden are morning people! This really makes me happy because on days that we don't have to be anywhere, Caden will literally sleep until 10 or 11 am. On days that we have to be somewhere, I almost always have to wake him up & he is NOT happy about this!

Here are the people I nominate:

1. The Droddys

2. Erin

3. Jen

4. Beth

5. Debbie

6. Tricia

7. Melissa

My Christmas Tour 2009

I have done a terrible job of updating my blog but I do a great job of reading everyone elses! I love The Nesting Place blog & love getting decorating ideas online! The Nester , Thrifty Decor Chick, Hooked on Houses & The Inspired Room are hosting a Christmas Tour of Homes & I decided that I would get my act together & participate! Better late than never! So...Welcome to our home...with a toddler it has been some crazy decorating (and undecorating) but it has been fun!

Welcome to Our Home!

Wreaths on the front porch!

I made this framed chalkboard that hangs on our porch. I bought a $6 framed picture from Goodwill, painted the frame, added a board painted with chalkboard paint & I LOVE it!

Our Mantel

The stockings are hung...

Some end table decor

Looking into the dining room

The mirror "dolled up" in our dining room

My Southern Living Nativity & tree- Love them!

Looking into our living room



Our Tree

See what I mean about undecorating???

This Southern Living Metal Stocking is hanging on our back door into the kitchen. If you are wondering...yes I am a Southern Living consultant & it is mainly so I can afford my own habit! I love all of these things!
This huricane is filled with colored balls & put on a tray as the centerpiece on our dining table.

I found this little ceramic tree when we were working in Massachusetts & this guy was giving away everything in this old house he bought. He was clearing it out to remodel! I think I dragged my poor husband there about 8 times! I got the gold mirror in the above picture there too...among many other things! Ha! This tree reminds me of one we had when I was growing up!

Oh- got this little santa there too and he sings & dances & our son is in Love with it! He dances too when santa starts! So cute!

This is some decor on our side table in the dining room. I made this frame by mod podging over a $1 Goodwill frame & then adding some scapbook decor!

Another Southern Living item that I LOVE! I never could figure out how to organize & display all our Christmas cards until I got this! These are just some cute gold sparkly tress that I have by my kitchen sink.
A little Christmas message & some red & green M & Ms! Yum!

Our sweet Advent calendar that my mom gave Caden as an early Christmas present!

My church all decorated! I love lighting this candle at night & remembering

The Reason for the Season!

I hope that you enjoyed my tour & that you & your family has a

very Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!!

Getting the word out

We are happy to announce that we are starting the process to adopt another baby! Caden is about to turn 17 months & it seems like the time has flown by! He has been such a joy to our lives & God blessed us so much with his little life! He brings smiles & laughter to our home everyday! We really want him to grow up with siblings & to get to experience being a "big brother" someday soon! We met his birth mom through some of our good friends & past neighbors in McKinney, TX & we had such a great experience! We arranged a private adoption, were in the delivery room when he was born & we have an ongoing open adoption with his birth family. We have learned that you never know who God may use to connect people. God puts different people in our lives for different reasons. We are sending this e-mail out to first ask that you keep us in your prayers as we start this next journey. We also ask that you send this information on to anyone that you know that could potentially connect us with a birth mom.
http://sotoadoptionjourney.blogspot.com
our e-mail: klw3287@aol.com
If you hear of any potential situations, please pass on our information. We have set up a web site to pass on to potential birth moms to share a little bit about our family & our hopes for a future child. Please pass this on or post it on your web sites, blogs, or status pages to help us get the word out! Thank you in advance! We will keep you updated! This year we are praying for another adoption miracle & we thank you for your help! We hope you all have a very Merry Christmas & a happy New Year!

Love, Kenya, David & Caden

Our visit to the Dallas Arboretum!

Last weekend Caden & I went with my parents for a quick Dallas trip & before heading back, we stopped at the Dallas Arboretum. They are celebrating Autumn at the Arboretum: The Great Pumpkin Festival right now & it is awesome! We loved seeing all of the neat fall displays & we got some great pictures! Caden loved seeing all of the pumpkins & thought the little pumpkins were balls & loved picking them up & throwing them.

Caden with Gran & Papa!

Mommy & Caden!!

Posing in the cool pumpkin house!




One of the very best things about the day was that Jade's aunt brought her to meet us there & we got to spend some time catching up! Caden hugged & hugged on her & they both enjoyed seeing each other & exploring the pumpkins together!

Our sweet Jade- we miss you!

We had so much fun & can't wait to go back again soon!!!

Caden Turned One!

We celebrated Caden's first birthday with a cowboy party & had so much fun! Here is a slideshow:

Make a Smilebox slideshow