Proud to be an American (and Peruvian)!

We were blessed to attend the naturalization ceremony of our friend Chani. It reminded us of Hans' ceremony held last year. It truly was amazing to witness the melting pot of races, cultures and religions becoming American citizens.

Hans and I always say we are both American and Peruvian, so Camila is too, right? We'll have to find a Peruvian flag for her, but for now she's the cutest American I've ever seen!

Congratulations Chani!

Hogar dulce hogar. Back to WA!

Right as we got on the airplane to fly home to Washington from Utah, the pilot invited our family into the cockpit! This little girl gets us noticed!

I was an angel on the plane! My mom and dad were shocked that I didn't make more than a peep the entire time!

I'm so happy when I'm in the tub (well, the sink for now)!

This is a face we have seen a lot the past month....poor Camila has colic! :(

Or, maybe she's just sad that she has a major receding hairline and acne!

I've got cheeks! I want to look like my Aunt Julie

when she was a little girl!

Camila is growing like a beautiful weed!









Camila is so stylin'....just like her daddy!





As many of you know, Hans and I love sunglasses! In order to be in this family, Camila needed her own pair....thanks Rocky!

More July Jubilee-ness!

As always, we loved being with loved ones. It was definitely hard to say goodbye!

Hans made a special trip to Utah so he could introude his daughter to his parents. We feel so blessed that Camila was able to meet them as a newborn.

Mama and Papa loved their moments with Camila!
Camila loves bathtime.

At one of our many baby showers....we really loaded up on the gifts!

Roman really loved Camila...he'll be a great big brother!

I loved being with my sisters and Mom at the gorgeous

Thanksgiving Gardens! I miss my family everyday!

I think Grandma and Grandpa are smitten!

Camila loved watching Stadium of Fire...who wouldn't?

So happy I (and Kelly and LaVon)got to be included in the Twilight stuff this time around! You guys better get used to this!

Precious! I know when she's a teenager she'll be mad

that I posted this picture, but I couldn't help myself...she just looked so darn cute!

Camila is so small a cloth diaper doubles as a blanket!

Camila's first baseball game! The free dogs and drinks made it extra exciting!

We're such goofballs!

We fit a bunch of activities in during the month of July. We had to spend some time at the Provo fair, even though it was toasty hot!

Checking out the Beam Museum. We had to get a picture with the Lion's since we're the Leon's!

Camila's first trip to the park. Of course we took her to the one next to

Grandma and Grandpa's house (coincidentally called "Lions" Park)!

Camila is just a smidge smaller than her cousin Jakson who is 6 months older. :)

The way she's been eating, I think she'll catch-up to him soon!

What's better than time with family? Nothing! We are so happy we were near family during Camila's first few weeks of life.

Becoming a mom...much MORE than heaven on earth!

I love, love, love being a mommy! I have waited soooooo long for this moment! Thank you Camila Rose for making me a mommy. I am so grateful to our Heavenly Father for His trust in placing this little Angel into our family.

P.S. We will always be grateful to our birthmother for making such a huge sacrifice for our family. We were so happy before, but our lives are so much richer and fuller with Camila in it!

Camila was so teeny tiny. I had to take a picture of her next to my wallet because she wasn't much bigger than it! I couldn't get enough smooches in! She just smelled like absolute deliciousness!

Hans and his Hijita!

Hans told me when we first got together 6 1/2 years ago that he really wanted a baby girl and that he wanted her to be named Camila (thank goodness I liked the name!).....his dream has come true!

Camila is a teeny-tiny peanut! I love this photo of my husband and daughter looking at each other with pure love and joy!Camila loves holding her Papi's hand!

Hans glowed the moment he saw his daughter. He is such an amazing daddy and he loves to help with every aspect of fatherhood. Camila is so blessed to have him as her dad.

Our Miracle! Two weeks, that's all it takes!

Gestation period of a lion: 20 months

Gestation period of a giraffe: 15 months

Gestation period of an lion: 3 1/2 months
Gestation period of Camila: 2 weeks

Okay, okay, this statement may not be 100% accurate; our Camila did take the regular 9 month route. However, for her Mommy and Papi, Camila's miraculous arrival began on June 7th and she was born on June22...like I said, two weeks is all it takes!

Let me start at the beginning....

Hans and I started the adoption process two years ago through LDS Social Services. After lots of paperwork, loads of prayers from loved ones and some serious buckage, we were approved in February. The agency told us to expect two years, so the waiting began. Miraculously, (obviously my favorite word right now) we received an email from Sarah, Camila's birthmother, on June 7th saying she was considering us as possible parents for her baby. She was 8 months pregnant and had just decided to place her baby (boy or girl, she didn't know) for adoption. Hans and I crossed our fingers and prayed she would chose us. A few days later, Sarah emailed saying she had chosen us to become the parents of her baby. We were estatic!! Camila was due on July 3rd and our social worker suggested we wait until her birth before going to Vernal, Utah, where Sarah lived. Hans and I couldn't wait so I headed to Utah on June 17th and Hans came on June 18th and planned to meet Sarah on June 19th at JB's in Vernal.

The day arrived and Hans and I were super nervous! What if she met us and didn't like us? What if she thought we were weird or ugly? What if she changed her mind? Miraculously, the meeting was comfortable and peaceful. Sarah and her parents were kind and gracious and we had a beautifl meal together. I know that sounds cheesy, but it truly was a beautiful afternoon.

Checking out the dinosaurland stuff with Julie, Solomon and Roman. Dinosaurland is the famous site in Vernal. Well, now it's famous for Camila Rose!

Yes, finally!

There have been many"Yes, finally!" moments in our family lately. Secondly, (yes, I'm going out of order on purpose) is that we have officially joined the blogging world. My siblings have been at me for a while and I've finally given in. Well, this is technically my second attempt, but we'll pretend this is my first! I think having a newborn baby and living far away from loved ones has lit a fire under me because I want all of you to "watch" my darling baby girl as she grows and blossoms!

Firstly, the greatest "Yes, finally!" for our family is the arrival of our beautiful baby girl,

Camila Rose Leon!

We've gone from being a bride and groom completely in love and happy to a family of three in complete bliss and heavenly joy. It is pure deliciousness to be a mommy! Camila is nearly 7 weeks old but I want to take you on our journey from the beginning. My next few posts will start from the there.....stay tuned!