Home 8 months

This summer has flown by..the kids are having so much fun! Lots of firsts!!! First time at amusement park, first Snow cone! First time at the Fair, First time riding a rollercoaster! These kids will try anything!!! I love it! School will be starting in September so we are going to enjoy the rest of what is left of summer!

8 mths home

Tommy:
Not a surprise to any of us that you are afraid of nothing!!! First time on the kiddy rides you said "This is Stupid"! Then you pouted when you weren't tall enough for the big rides! Next time lifts in the shoes I guess:) Swimming..bike riding and playing with your friends are your favorite things to do. You don't sit down very often! Here is a small look at this past month..

Milly:

Boy are you a talker! Everyone we meet marvels at how well you talk! Still our silly Milly everyone fights over spending time with you! Your eye is improving so much! We are now at 20/70! Dr is hoping we can get to 20/40! You nap without complaining you eat great and are very well behaved for a 3yr old. You also enjoyed your first amusement park rides! This has been a very fun filled summer!

A few more shots:

1 year Referral-versary:)

1 year ago today started out like every other Thursday..waiting for the phone to ring!! As all my adoptive friends know the end of the week is when the waiting gets harder!So my fellow DTE friend and I spent the day texting each other the count down..4 more hours...3 more hours till the office closes..etc Well On Friday July 15th 2010 just around the same time my friend Kelly Smith got her call..We got ours! This is the picture that changed everything!!!!

We said Yes and never looked back!!!!! Thank God for blessing us with these 2 amazing kids!!!!

7 months

We are a fully functioning family of 7 now! It no longer feels new or crazy, it feels Normal!!! Yes we are alot busier and we tend to run late for things but we are getting better!! The kids are doing unbelievable! We are all home for the summer which means sleeping in and more help entertaining the little ones! We are having a fun month and the weather is finally getting better!! Lots of outside time makes for busy kids not bored kids! This was their first July 4th and they got to see fireworks many times over the holiday weekend.

Tommy

You are definitely a boys boy!!! Always busy and always playing some kind of sport...although that sounds like your sisters too! You love to play catch..you like lacrosse and basically any sport that involves a ball. You and Matteo are inseparable since school is out! Although sometimes Matteo needs his "alone" time as he calls it! Its hard going from the baby and the only boy to having your brother at your side 24hrs a day! It is so nice having someone for Matteo to hang with they will appreciate each other when they are older!

Milly

Milly is growing like a weed but shrinking at the same time!! Growing so tall but so tiny! She is now wearing 24 mth shorts!! Healthy and a great eater though! You are one busy girl and you are loved by many! You demand attention from everyone but you are so cute its hard not to give it to you! You hair is finally growing and we are able to manage it without it managing us! Hair time is no longer a chore or a stressful time. You are full of energy and always on the go! I have a feeling you are going to be fearless like your other siblings!

Here's a look into month 7..

July 4th 2011

Hair Stuff!

Let me start by saying...I AM NOT AN EXPERT!!! I have had my kiddos home almost 7 months now! Over those 7 mths I have spent hundreds of dollars and countless hours on you guessed it...their HAIR!!! Tommy has been quite easy his is softer and we keep it much shorter especially in these summer months. My sweet Milly she is where we have been having all the fun!!! Lets rewind back to Ethiopia.. it all started the first day we brought them back to the Transition home with us..Gotcha day!

I researched hair care and asked advice from other adoptive mom's before we went back for Embassy..I was going to be prepared! The majority said Coconut Oil was great for hair and skin! So we get back to the TH and its time for your first showers! Well Tommy loved it, Milly screamed bloody murder the whole time while I was trying to wash your hair for the first time..No it didn't go so well! So after you both got a little Coconut oil everywhere and I brushed what little hair you had with a bristle brush and added a bow to Milly! Bows make everything better right?! Wrong! It started this very day! Day 1 of you officially in my care! First it was the women staff at the guest house..The very nice ladies at the front desk. They started by feeling Milly's hair and gave a look of disapproval. This was the look I was trying to avoid! They told me her hair was dry and needed moisture..OK day 1!! I'm still learning here!! Day 2 more coconut Oil! This day it was the guard at the front gate..he patted her on the head then rubbed her hair and gave a look and then a smile. Oh I knew what he was thinking!!

This mom better figure this out quick!!! So 7 months later have I?? Well her hair feels 100 times better than it did!! When she first was home it was so coarse I felt like a failure..White mom with no clue how to care for my daughters hair!! I was really afraid that every black women was looking at me shaking their head!! Now I feel confident (except when I attempt to braid) that I am doing a good job! The Victory came the 2nd time I took her back to her black hairdresser...her words were "WOW I cant believe what a drastic change in her hair! I have never seen a quicker turn around!!" What a relief!! I can do this!!! So hundreds of dollars later and lots of help from other moms I think we have got it!! Her hair is growing and its SOFT and easy to detangle..no more tears!!! Karen Winstrom recommended the last product and with the combination of a few more we no longer have hair stress!!!

So what worked for us?? Here is a look at our favorite essential products!!

So my favorite by far is available at Walgreen's. Shea Moisture..it runs around $10 each item but if you watch you can get it on sale!! They are well used and I'm in need of refills!! But can not live without!! The other products are available at Sally's Beauty supply. Mixed Chicks..again under $10 each. We tried the whole line but only kept a few.

So here is our Daily routine:

Every morning we spritz hair with Moisture mist..rub it in and then brush the ends of her hair to as I call it "fluff it up" after a nights sleep. She sleeps on a satin pillowcase at night. Then we rub in a good amount of Curl Milk maybe a half dollar amount. Then I detangle and style with my fingers. After her nap I repeat but use  Smoothie. If she has in puffs..braids or any other style I usually spritz with Moisture mist and rub a little onto the ends of the puffs. If braided just spritz. It is usually dryer after braids come out but it only takes a couple days to get back to normal.

Our weekly routine:

Once per week she gets her hair co washed which means I only use conditioner. We usually apply conditioner and bathe her. Then while she is still in the tub I use a wide toothed comb to detangle..at first this wouldn't even go thru her hair now it goes thru with ease. The only trouble spot is in the back from sleeping on her head but even that comes out without much work and NO tears! I then rinse her hair. After dressed we towel dry her hair and apply leave in conditioning cream and comb thru. We then style or leave natural.

Every 3 weeks:

The night before I plan on washing we take out her old style and apply a generous amount of Deep Treatment Masque. This can also be done 1x per week before you co wash. When I say generous I mean till all the hair is coated in a good layer. If you can get your child to wear a satin cap even better..she wont! Next morning we rinse hair and shampoo with Shea Moisture. I then repeat our Weekly routine..see above.


My must have accessories are:

A wide toothed comb..Bristle brush and comb for styling. Also my favorite rubber bands from Sally's. For daily care I use the brush and finger style or detangle.

Some products I use sparingly are:

I use Cantu Shea butter for a little shine on the ends of her hair if she is wearing a natural style. Available at Target. Coconut Oil once in a awhile, it tends to leave a build up and make the hair look white if you use too much. I get this at a health food or vitamin store. I use a lot of stuff daily and it doesnt build up. These 2 items will if you use too much.

Tommy has very sensitive skin so anything scented causes is hair to itch and his skin so I usually keep his hair short and only use the Shea Moisture Hair milk. I hope that some of you have success with this product line too. Every child is different and everyone's hair is different! For now this is working wonders and her hair is healthy and growing like crazy!! So is her box of hair accessories!! Good Luck and Happy Hair care!!!

1 year

Click here to view this photo book larger

6 months!!!!

Our kiddos have now been home 6 months! We have been extremely blessed to have an amazingly smooth transition! We just had our 6 mth post placement visit with our Social worker, one more at a year and we are done! We had a great month full of happy times!! Both of them are doing amazing! Our whole family and a bunch of friends participated in a 5k run/walk for LetthemLOL.com. We helped to raise enough money to build 3 wells in Sierra Leone Africa!! You both had your very first Ice cream cones!! I love witnessing firsts! Our life is crazy busy but we love it! Here is a few highlights of month 6!

You had a blast at your first family wedding!! Danced all night!

5k run for water!! Team Ethiopia!

enjoying a "popipsicle"

TAMIRAT

Oh my little man you are so darn cute!! Everyone remarks on your beautiful eyes! Cute yes but SMART!!! Preschool is all done and we are preparing for kindergarten! This month you have been having fun at swim lessons and you are making lots of new friends. We recently bought you a lacrosse stick and signed you up for soccer!! Basically any sport that involves a ball you are all over it! Fearless and a quick learner! Look out I think you will give your sister Marianna a run for her money someday! Occasionally you will mention your Dad or brother in Ethiopia, always good memories. I think you miss home sometimes but you love your family here too. Tommy is a snuggler..I love getting big hugs! The new phrase for this month is "AWW Come On Mom!!" Yes it has not taken long to learn all of these great phrases from your siblings!



First time driving a go cart



Your favorite thing to do!

Million

Our little princess!!! Oh has your personality come alive this month...and your stubbornness! We forgot what it was like raising a toddler! Let me follow with you are still 5x's better than any of our other kids were at 3! You are always smiling! Dance class will be a must for you in the fall..you love to perform and you demand all of the attention! Everyone loves to pay attention to you though. We are still rocking the eye patch for a while longer. It is working wonders! You have a very cute tan line to prove you have been sticking with it! Ring around the rosie is your favorite song..you will do this over and over! You have changed so much since we got home you are almost unrecognizable. Its amazing what clean water and good food can do!

A day that would change everything...

 On June 4th 2010 a Father would make one of the hardest decisions of his life. On this day I was home praying for the children I knew that were somewhere out there. God had chosen them but we still didn't know who they were. Everyday my pray was for God to keep our children safe and to comfort their family as they made a life changing decision.

  On this day on the other side of the world another parent was praying to God. Aleymayehu traveled 4 hours away with his 2 youngest children hand in hand. He was praying to God that he could provide his children with a healthy, blessed life. He was sacrificing a life with his children in order to save their lives. Tamirat and Million's dad walked into an orphanage and explained to the staff that he could not care for his children and wanted a better life for them. He knew that his children were suffering. They had endured sickness, loss of their sibling and their mother to Malaria and a constant struggle for food. He prayed that they would be able to have a bright future. He walked away that day leaving his 4 year old son and his only daughter who was 2. How his heart must have broke as he kissed then for the last time. Not knowing if he would ever see them again. This was a giant step in Faith. He put his children in God's hands changing their lives forever.

 One year later I pray that God comforts his heart and he knows that they are healthy and happy and flourishing. June 4th is a day we will never forget. Thank you God for the day that changed everything.