Tommy
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| Tommy and his best friend/brother Matteo |
Milly
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| First time down the slide..scared out of your mind! |
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| Milly and her 2 favorite people!!! Her sisters! |
Friday, February 4, 2011
2 Months Home..
WOW!!! Has it really been 2 months!? It seems like we waited forever for them to get here but now it feels like they have always been here! In the last month we enjoyed many firsts... Milly had her first official birthday party she is now the big 3!! They do not celebrate birthdays where they come from so it was a very special day. We missed Tommy's birthday while we were waiting to bring them home so we are going to have a late birthday party for him soon! They both went sledding for the first time!! They both Love it!! Tommy would go up and down the huge hill till his legs fall off..we really don't know how he does it! It is clear he is fearless at all activities! Milly just hangs on and closes her eyes! The only part of her not covered is her eyes! They also went in a bounce house and on an inflatable slide for the first time! At first they were a little worried but they quickly got the hang of it! It is so exciting watching things for the first time through their eyes! We joined a local Mommy and Me group this month too! Hopefully we all can make new friends while having fun! This winter is very cold and long this year so we are going a little stir crazy! We invented a bike race track in the basement for a little entertainment! They are both settling in great! Their English is amazing!!! No communication problems at all! We now have bedtime and mealtime down to a science.. no more crying or fits! They still prefer Mommy to put them to bed but Daddy gets story time. Very few timeouts are needed any more which is great! We are still working on sharing and separation from Mommy and Daddy. Both are understandable..they NEVER had any toys to share! They have only been home 8 weeks they are still getting used to us being here and not worrying that we are going to leave them so if they are a little worried when we take them to Sunday school then I understand! It is explaining it to others when they say " Just give them a nice hug and leave" these are not average kids with separation issues, these are kids who were left by their father and sent to live with strangers. I will hug and kiss them everyday and for as long as I need to and tell them We love them and we are NEVER going to leave them!!! Alot of the things we are dealing with are typical toddler things but they are also typical adoption things! For the most part it has been amazing but we know this is a journey that we will be on for a lifetime, helping them to adjust, helping them learn to trust and learn to love. For now we are being Mom and Dad!!!
Tommy
You are such an adorable little boy! Sooo smart!! You love to be quiet and just observe how we do everything! You are a pro at the TV remote already:) You speak all English now and understand almost everything we say. You love your brother Matteo and count down the minutes till he gets home from school. It has blossomed into a true sibling relationship..a love/hate relationship!!! You love to pick on your brother and sisters yet you are lonely when they are not around. You started in a one a week play group this month but next week we start 3 day/week Preschool. We weren't sure how well you would pick up English but you love to learn. I get asked many times a day "What is it" You want to know what everything is in English. Your favorite food is Nonna's lasagna! You don't like anything Green but what kids do?! Your favorite phrase is " Mommy go Bye-Bye??" You love to be on the go which is a good thing in this family! You and your brother have created your own language " Itchy Noochie" LOL!!! Matteo made up his own words for what he thought Amharic sounded like, now you guys laugh and make up silly words its hysterical but strangers are clueless to what you are saying!
Milly
You are still our sweet silly girl! You are blossoming right in front of our eyes! You are happy all the time unless you didn't get a nap then Look Out! Just kidding you just get cranky like any other 3 year old! You love kids all kids even ones we don't know! You love you baby dolls! You love to use my kitchen towels as blankets to cover them up! Your favorite food is French toast sticks! The stickier you are the better! You love to give kisses and snuggle! I am enjoying this as my other girls are too cool to snuggle any more! You love to sing I just wish I knew what you were singing as you don't sing in English! We have now moved on from Sesame Street to Barney and love that you have multiple toys that play the barney theme song! You are certainly a girlie girl..you love purses, lip gloss, pretty bows and clothes! I have a ton of pictures of you but not too many of your brother! He hides from the camera you run to it! You call your brother "Tamiraty" it is so cute! Your brother is your best friend and you follow him every where..except for when the girls are home then its Tommy who? Potty training is complete NO more accidents at night and you are sleeping ALL night!!! I have found no sugar anywhere near bedtime or you are both wide awake in bed for hours! The 1st month was a little difficult and tiring but now that we are entering month 3 things are going quite well! Cant wait to see what this month has in store for both of you!!!
Tommy
Milly
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Thank You!!!!
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Saturday, January 8, 2011
1 Month
I cant believe it has been 1 month already!! I think we were so busy with the holidays and birthdays that time flew by. Seems like yesterday we were praying for God to reveal our children to us and now they are here forever!! Well life in the Alleca household has certainly changed in 1 month! 5 kids will do that! We are amazed at how well everyone is adjusting( as I listen to the kids fighting in the other room..I laugh) Really we are adjusting just fine:) All of us have had to get used to 7 people in one house...7 in 1 car..7 at the dinner table! Matteo is learning right along with Tommy and Milly what it means to share..being the youngest and the only boy he never had to. I can tell you my house is Never clean and certainly Never quiet!!! So if you stop by unannounced you never know what you may find! I have given up and stopped stressing right now I focus on food on the table( LOTS of it) and making sure we have clean clothes! I look at them even in the times when they are testing my patience and think...this time will go by so fast! We spend our time as parents teaching them to dress themselves..feed themselves..become more and more grown up but I truly want to savor all of it! Even the not-so fun stuff! I look at my 13yr old and know soon the hugs will be far and few between and the temper tantrums will stop(well sort of) and they too will be grown up:( I'm tired and yes cranky at times but my heart and my home are full. They are both such blessings to all of us. Here is a look at the difference 1 month makes...
Tamirat
Tommy as we call him..mostly because that is what his sister calls him. He has grown so much in 4 weeks! The first couple weeks were rough but you have learned very quickly that you don't get very far by throwing fits. He has very good manners and now he is a good listener. Your favorite food is chicken or as you used to say "Kitchen". Your English is getting so good, you probably understand 90% of what we say. You love words with "R's" as you love to roll your "R's" and laugh! You are very good at helping your sister to understand something if she doesn't quite get it. You have the most beautiful eyes and eye lashes! Funny Tommy moment of our first month: I leave them watching TV in my bedroom while I take a super quick shower...I come out to find you have taken a 1/2 a tube of A&D ointment and spread it all over your head!! You didn't smell very good and I laughed as I explained to you that it was supposed to go on your bum not you head! That reminds me for weeks even in Ethiopia they kept saying "Dola" not even our guides knew what this meant...we finally realized (as we asked you for the hundredth time) as you pointed to your Bum that it meant Butt LOL Had you guys really been calling us and each other Butts for the last 3 weeks!!! Tamirat and Milly started laughing hysterically as soon as they realized we now got the joke! This month Tommy is starting 1 day a week at a play group for a few hours we shall see how he does! We need to start working on kindergarten skills. Your favorite shows are Sesame street and Barney hopefully we will branch out to something else this month! What will the next 4 weeks bring?
Million
You light up the whole house! You are the sweetest thing! Everyone who meets you would love to squeeze you! You have flourished this month! The first few weeks were tough and tiring..you cried yourself to sleep at bedtime and nap time and you woke up every night at 4:30!!! Mommy would lay on the floor next to your bed and hold your hand till you fell asleep, only to have you wake up for good at 6am! You are now sleeping through the night and no more pull ups at night! Thanks to lots of kisses and giggles before nap/bedtime you no longer cry! I cant give you one funny moment because there are so many. You are always being silly your favorite thing to do is wear a book cover on your head! You love to hide stuff behind your back and say "Where did it go"? Luckily you have gotten over your fear of the dog that was a relief! I wondered if you would ever let him near you! You both still love to drink water, milk is not your favorite actually you won't touch it! Not even chocolate milk! You don't know what you are missing! You love to get dressed up and you say "Oooh pretty" in your cute little accent. It makes me sad to think that one day it will be all gone! You are already picking up English so fast..short sentences are now full sentences and its only been 4 weeks! I love my Silly Milly! I especially love when you say.." Mommy give me a kiss" melts me every time! I love to look at your picture back in July and see how you glow with happiness now! I'm sure you will continue to "Glow" my precious girl!
One month and I thank God everyday for blessing us...if it has ever has been a thought in the back of your mind..ADOPT! It is so amazing for them and for you!
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| July 2010 |
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| Home 1 month Dec 2010 |
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July 2010 |
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| Home 1 month Dec 10 |
Million
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July 2010 |
One month and I thank God everyday for blessing us...if it has ever has been a thought in the back of your mind..ADOPT! It is so amazing for them and for you!
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Milly is 3!!!
Such an exciting day to celebrate her first official birthday party!! She looked so pretty in her party dress! We had lots of friends and family here to celebrate! She got lots of new clothes and pretty bows! In our family I have a tradition on my girls 1st birthday we had Doll cakes, well since we missed Milly's 1st birthday I had to make sure she got her Doll cake!! So she got a fairy cake!! It was perfect! It took a little bit but she did eventually blow out her candles... we also had a pinata:) It was such a great day ended with Milly singing Happy Birthday to me...I love my silly Milly! Happy Birthday my sweet girl!
Seriously the sweetest silliest girl ever!!!! We love our Milly!!!
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| Party dress!! |
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| All the expressions of Milly |
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| Loves her chips.. |
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| Her Fairy cake |
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| A little Help with the candles.. |
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| Lovin her new hat from Aunt Jodi |
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| This was where she was for the rest of the night! |
3 weeks of happenings...
We have been a family of 7 for 3 weeks now!! Yes we are still adjusting but for the most part everything is going great! We celebrated our first Christmas together! As hard as the other kids tried I don't think they really understood the Santa thing..the have spent all week thinking the fake Santa on our front porch is the real Santa:) I'm sure next year they will understand better. Matteo woke up at 4am Christmas morning!!! As hard as I tried he wouldn't go back to bed! So by 6am the rest of the house was awake and the unwrapping began!!! It was all a little overwhelming, Tommy wanted to stop at gift #2 and most of his gifts are still hidden so no one else takes them! They are not used to all of these things...it was such a blessing thoughh to have them all together FINALLY!!! We look forward to the New Year!
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Christmas pics..
We made our best attempt at Christmas photos..it is very hard to get everyone looking especially Milly! Tamirat loves to has his picture taken so he was no problem!! It is still amazing that we are All together!!!!
Monday, December 20, 2010
1 week home...
I'm a few days late at this post but what do you expect with 5 kids!!!! Overall it is going great!!! They act like they have been here forever...they miss their brother and sisters when they are at school though. We are starting to get into a routine and setting our boundaries so they start to understand right and wrong. I really expected them to get into everything because it all is new but they haven't! Tamirat is very interested in Everything especially electronics just like his brother..he already figured out how to call grandma:) Both of them are very independent and very stubborn..so they fit in rather well here! Tommy is quite specific about what he wants to wear everyday but after our first 45min cry-a-thon he realized mom doesn't give into everything! Having 3 children already has helped tremendously I think I would be curled up in a ball somewhere had I never experienced some of these things before. Temper tantrums...throwing things when mad..refusing to eat certain foods( this is not much) not liking bed time alot and so on.. I have to say I am exhausted I pretty much go to bed at night when they do! It has been awhile since ours were little and I never had 2 little ones at once! The toy thing that is new too..Matteo never played with them so the fact that my house is full of them well..we are lucky they already know the Barney " Clean up" song! Tamirat is probably the more difficult one but I think only because he is a boy and he is older. He also has more of a memory of his past even though truthfully they have not shown any signs of being sad or withdrawn or missing anyone. They do love to look at the pictures of their friends from the orphanage(TH). Bedtime for Milly is getting a little more difficult at night, she likes to have someone lay with her and usually not me! she really loves her sister Francesca so when she is mad at me she goes to her. I do not want them to get used to someone laying with them every night but it has only been a week so I am picking my battles! It is a huge adjustment for them. We had a busy first week with visits from family and friends and school functions for their siblings. For the most part they handled it all great but we forget little people tire more easily than we do! Tamirat does Not like large crowds and tends to get quiet or act up when lots of people are around. He takes a while to warm up to new people but then his true colors come out and you see his sweet side! Milly loves to be the center of attention she is our silly girl! They DO NOT like the snow and say "Yuck" everytime we are out and it is snowing! It took them awhile but they have warmed up to the dog for the most part..I spied Tommy snuggling him earlier today, even though he still had a disgusted look on his face..it was quite funny! Here are just a few from their first week home..
When they are laughing and I am snuggling them I find that my heart hurts. It breaks for them and their biological family, how hard it must have been to give them up..how much they must have loved them. When I kiss them I wonder how many times their Mom kissed their cheeks before she passed away. They are both bright lights that brighten our home I cant imagine the sacrifice. I wish we could send video back to their dad so he could hear them laughing..it is an amazing sound. All the heartache is so worth it to know what an incredibly blessed future they will have. One week down a lifetime to go...
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| Our handsome boy |
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| Our sassy girl |
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| playtime with their big brother Matteo |
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| A fast favorite..Cariboo |
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Our airport arrival
A year and a half in the making...We are finally all together!!!! Dec. 11 2010
Love from our Xtreme family!!
Brothers...
Hugs from Aunt Jodi
Love from Big sister!
Balloons from Aunt Jill
Meeting Grandma!We are home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A very long journey indeed but we are finally all together!!! God has blessed us with the most amazing family! Our newest additions fit like they have been here forever. We all arrived home a few days ago to family and friends anxiously awaiting the long overdue arrival of our Ethiopian Blessings! We had an incredible reunion with the kids in Ethiopia. It had been a little over a month since we last saw them but they ran into our arms like it was yesterday! They we so excited to see us.. We left that day with them in hand and headed off to the rest of our lives together! It was so surreal! We waited 18mths for this day and it was finally here! The first night I don't think I slept a bit as I watched them sleep in the bed next to me. To be able to hold them and comfort them after months of praying for them half way around the world. We had so many tough times during our wait but it is all forgotten now that they are here! It is so hard to explain how grateful we are for such a blessing. All the anxiety.. all the worry.. all the what ifs... so not needed! God had it all under control! These kids were hand picked to fit perfectly! We have had an amazing transition, they have had no fears..they sleep good(well almost;) they eat great and they get along wonderful with our other 3 kids! I'm not saying we don't have our moments..they are 5 and 3! Tamirat understands almost everything we say in English and he even helps explain things to Million if she doesn't understand. They are both potty trained which is HUGE!!! I am in awe at how wonderful it is! I'm writing this while they are napping because they give me little free time when they are awake:) They both have the sweetest laughs and the most adorable smiles! They best is when they run to me saying Mommy!!! We are so excited to see what is ahead!!! Here are pics of our Gotcha Day!!!!!!!
Leaving the orphanage for good!!!!!!!!!!!!! Our first day as a family!!!!!!!
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