Tooth Count=2, and a new 'do

Miss Kya is up to 2 teeth now, both on the bottom! And, she wants to use them!! Oh, and please excuse the runny nose in the pics. We can't seem to stop that while she's teething. Yummy!

And, we did Miss Makenna's hair this week in 2 strand twists for the first time ever. They don't stay as well as I would like in her hair, so I have always just braided or cornrowed her hair. But, they take so much less time to put in and to take out. So, we tried them again, and I love the way they look on her. I definitely need to practice them a little more to get them to look just right, but it was a rough draft right??? She still has areas of hair that aren't as thick, so those twists were smaller, but for the most part they are juicy, big twists. She LOVES them! She calls them "her little ropes" and had a huge smile when we got done. Too cute!

Then & Now--The Difference of a Year

I recently came across these pictures of Makenna in her winter coat last January. I loved this coat, and put it on her even though it was probably a little too big at the time. :)

So, I took pics of her this past Sunday just to compare how much she has changed in less than a year. She looks so little in the pictures from last winter compared to the big girl she is now. And, she has free hair (which happens pretty rarely) in both pics, so you can really see how much more hair she has now too.

I feel like she is going to be a teenager before I know it. Sigh!!!!!

Kya's first tooth!

Kya has been SO crabby the last week or so(though you wouldn't know it by these pics-trust me it was a moment in time), and finally the reason(well one of them at least--mommy going back to work has been an issue too) became glaringly apparent. A litle white tooth popped through today, and will be followed by another within the next couple of days. Wow! We have teeth!

Here are pics of our sweet girl. Can't see the teeth yet, but she is still cute!

SNOW!

Wanna B-B-Q???

So this post is for Heather who says that she would like to see some snow. Well, seeing how it's like 70 degrees (boo hoo for you!) where she lives, I guess I will be happy to oblige her since it was -15 degrees here today.

It's snowed a couple of time now, so we have a pretty good amount of snow already. Makenna is really into it this year, so we have gone out to play a couple of times. So, here are some pictures of snow just for you Heather! Oh, and it is daylight here sometimes, which you would not know by most these pictures. Just so happens we usually go out when Dad gets home to help with Miss Kya! :)

Kenna while she's getting dressed-not sure if she is ever gonna make it outside.....

Finally getting to go out......

Snow angel......

And this was the face I got after I asked "Makenna are you eating snow?" With her answer of "Nuhh-uhh, I not eating anysing Mom!". Yeah right!

3!

Guess who is 3?

Is it possible that she really was once this serious little baby?

When she looks like this all of the time now?

I can't believe that she really is three, but sure enough the date on the calendar says it all. I am so overwhelmed by all that we have been given and blessed with by with our children. Makenna is a force to be reckoned with. Her joy is infectious, and pure. The smile on her face radiates the beautiful little soul she is inside. She truly is a joy and the perfect kiddo for our family. I love the independent, fiesty spirit that she is. I love to watch music take over her whole body, as she can't stop herself from dancing. I LOVE to look into her sparkling brown eyes as she calls me Mom. I LOVE her.

But, my gratefulness always brings me back to one place....her Ethiopian birthfamily. I wish with all my heart that they could see her, know her, know that she is okay, know that she is loved, know that there are two parents who can't even consider life without her, and a whole family who is in love with her as well. I wish that they would have never had to experience the pain and heartache that ultimately allowed us to create our family. I wish so much for them, and they are never far from my mind. So today as our daughter turns 3, I think of them.

Where Did The Time Go?

I have no idea where the last 3 months have gone. Tomorrow is my first day back at work. I can't beleive it came so soon. I am not sure that I am ready to go back, but at this point I will be.

I feel like we finally got things figured out and now it's time to undo it all. Makenna finally got used to me being home everyday. I finally got used to being home everyday...with 2 kids. And Kya seems to really be coming around. But, I know they will be in good hands, so that makes it a little easier...a little. I just know that I am really going to miss my girls and I am hoping that they miss me too.

What Kind of Pie Are You

Okay, I saw this on Erin's blog and thought that I would give it a try. Turns out is pretty accurate--YIKES!

You Are Lemon Meringue Pie

You're the perfect combo of sassy and sweet.You always know how to brighten someone's mood, but you're not overly sappy.In fact, you can be a bit too honest at times. And most people find that refreshing.While you're always true to yourself, you keep things light. That's how people are able to stomach your slightly bitter outlook. Those who like you have well refined tastes.You're complicated - and let's face it - a true enigma. You enjoy defying expectations, and there are many layers to your personality.There's not one easy way to define you.

http://www.blogthings.com/whatkindofpieareyouquiz/">What Kind of Pie Are You?

And here are Ron's results--apparently he's a little more devious than most realize. I however knew this. :)

You Are Cherry Pie

You're the perfect combo of innocent and sexy. At times, you seem a bit naive, simple, and innocent. But at second glance, you are sensual, seductive, and even a little naughty. You have people fooled - at least you'd like to think so. Those who like you enjoy a contradiction. Either that, or they can't really make up their minds about what they want. And you can usually give people what they want... as long as you're in the mood. You've been known to be quite tempestuous, and pleasing others is not high on your list of priorities.

What Kind of Pie Are You?

You've come a long way baby!

Okay, sorry to go missing in action again. It's just been a little busy. I have been meaning to do an update on our being home 2 months, and am finally getting around to it.

Although it was a rough transition, we are finally getting to a place that seems "normal". We finally aren't contagious with anything and can leave the house. We finally have a routine during the daytime that doesn't involve doctor visits, medications, and a lot of laundry. We finally have TWO smiling, happy girls that are so much fun and love each other immensely.

I didn't realize how far we had really come until I looked at a picture of Kya from the day that we got home and realized how sad, empty and confused she looked. It had to have been so hard on her. To see her now, she doesn't even look like the same kid. My heart breaks for all that she had to go through to get to our family. I am forever indebted to the people who made a sacrifice that I never even want to contemplate. She has only been in our lives for a few months, and yet I can't imagine what life would be like without her. We wouldn't be complete anymore.

When we came home she could roll over, but didn't do it often. Now, she not only rolls over on to her stomach immediately when she is put down, but she scoots all over the floor backwards, and is up on all fours rocking! She is going to be crawling in no time--YIKES!! She sits on her own and is bearing weight on her legs more and more, which she also didn't do much when she came home. Add to that her now almost 8 lb weight gain, and several inches of growth.

But, the best part of all is how far she has come on an attachment level. She wanted nothing to do with us (mainly me) initially, and spent more time screaming at us than smiling. Now, it is the exact opposite. She is smiley, sweet little girl who has come a long way. And, I love to see her smile at me now, instead of screaming. I love to see her trust in us grow everyday, and I pray that it continues. It is amazing how far she has come.

And, it is crazy how far we have come as well. Love doesn't happen overnight, but it does happen. And, that is one of the most amazing parts of adoption as well.






First day home
Two months home
Sisters!!! :)









And, she still likes to eat...ALOT! That's right, not just 1 spoon, we need 2! :)

So, where did you steal them from?

That is an actual question that my friend S and I were asked on Friday when we were out with our kids for lunch. We were both so annoyed that neither one of us wanted to answer and just tried to ignore this rude waitress hoping that she would get the hint. She didn't. She asked again and S answered " back on the street corner". She just kind of looked at us not knowing what to say. But, instead of letting it go, she had to keep asking. Get a clue!

I mean really? You really think is okay to say that to someone even if you think you're trying to be funny? You don't see the sweet little faces looking at you as you ask this ridiculous question?
Just goes to show that we still have a long way to go in changing people's perceptions about international adoption. And, as adoptive parents sometimes we feel obligated to try to educate people about the process and answer their invasive questions to some extent. But, there are many more times where people are just being rude, and we just want to have lunch. We just want to eat lunch with our kids just like any other family without being singled out as the different. I pray everyday for the time when that will be our reality!

First Bike Ride

We have had a couple of really beautiful fall days, not many, but a few. So, Ron took the girls out for a bike ride last week, and HE took these photos to capture the event. This was Kya's first time, and as you can see, she LOVED it! I mean what isn't to love, she has her Daddy, her big sister, and she is outside, all three things she loves!

Makenna has been practicing riding her bike too so that she "can ride with Daddy on the busy road" soon. We'll see about that. ;)

Kya Papaya

Makenna sits with me a lot when I am at my laptop and likes to visit blogs with me. She loves Maia Papaya and her momma's blog. She really loves when they do the photo and music montages, and remembers them FOREVER! So, she has taken to calling her sister Kya Papaya, and it is kind of sticking. So, I hope Maia and her momma don't mind too much! ;)

We have been lacking in pictures of Kya lately, so I thought I would do some that were entirely her. You can see how much she is growing. She has been gaining almost a pound a week average since we've gotten home. And, she is such a sweet little girl now that she is feeling better. She is still SERIOUS about her food, but happy and smiley as long as you keep her fed. She fits in perfectly! So, here is Miss Kya Papaya in all her glory. Oh, on the last couple that is Makenna "helping" lotion up Kya's face all by herself. I was a little suprised, but it was so funny that I had to take a couple of pics before I rescued Kya from her big sis.