Anyone who has visited Carmelita Gardens, Belize has, no doubt, been surprised by the variety of plants, animals, birds, and insects that make their homes here. From noisy parrots and colorful toucans to agoutis and coatimundis, iguanas, tarantulas, and giant grasshoppers, life is amazingly diverse and on display. Residents are often amazed by the sights and sounds right in their own backyards.
In January, one family had a most delightful and unanticipated Belize experience.
Carmelita Gardens residents Matt and Rhonda Rossano had family visiting for the holidays. On New Year’s Eve, they explored the ruins at Cahal Pech, followed by a visit to the Green Iguana Conservation Project the next morning. Then came the surprise: their daughter Natalia told Rhonda she was in labor.
Later that day, a most magnificent surprise blessed our community. Apparently, Maya decided Belize would be a beautiful place to be born. Baby Maya Renee, granddaughter of Matt and Rhonda, made her surprise entrance into the world at 6:06 p.m. at San Ignacio Community Hospital, weighing 5 lbs. 2 oz.—small but strong.
And since this little girl had chosen Belize for her sudden arrival, Maya seemed like the perfect name—a beautiful connection to the country and its Maya heritage that will always be part of her story.
This little wonder captivated the community, who happily provided needed clothes, diapers, formula, a crib, and many other necessities. The Carmelita Gardens “village” certainly came together to raise baby Maya.
Maya has plenty of babysitters and friends at Carmelita Gardens. Quick with a smile and a giggle and easy-going, she seems perfectly at home in the community that welcomed her into the world.
Belize is a land of surprises, and Maya was the best surprise of January 2026. 💛