4 Months!!

Time is flying another month gone by...we had another typical crazy busy family of 7 month! We are settling into things very well but we still manage to run late whenever we go somewhere. I'm sure we will catch up eventually! This month we had our 3 month Post placement with our social worker. In true Alleca child fashion they acted like crazy kids while she was here. She laughed and said "You have your hands full !" Yes we do!! I wouldn't change things one bit! She will be back again at 6 months and 12 months. After that we will be required to send a report once a year to Ethiopia. They are doing great!! They had their first visit to the Dentist and both passed with flying colors! Teeth look great and no cavities!! They also had to visit the regular doctor again for a 3 month check up. They both grew another 2 inches! Its amazing what good nutrition and clean water can do for you!

We also had a chance to introduce them to out AWAA group. We have a small group that meets near Rochester once a month, they have kids from China and now our kids are the 2nd from Ethiopia. Our fellow AWAA friend Marissa got to come for the first time!! Her and her husband Abe are waiting for the referral of 2 children!! Hopefully SOON!! It was great to see all the kids together and talk to our adoptive friends!!


Some of our AWAA kiddos..next time we take the pic at the beginning of the day not at the end..they were getting tired!

 TOMMY

4 months home and he is completely out of his shell! He is doing amazing at school, the teachers are amazed at how quickly he is learning! He knows letters, numbers, sounds that the letters begin with, he is right on track with kindergarten readiness! This month we have been working on learning to ride a bike!! A few scratches and an almost broken finger and he has almost got it!! He can ride as long as I help him start but he still needs to learn how to steer!! He has mastered stopping without falling though!! Another few days of good weather and we will have it! He is so much fun! He loves school and he loves to be outside and anywhere his brother Matteo is!!

MILLY

Everyone is in love with Miss Milly!! She is a non-stop talker!! She is always smiling and loves to giggle! She has learned how to ride her tricycle but its at a slow pace:) She loves to play with her dolls and play outside. I'm so glad the weather in finally breaking! She is now a typical 3 yr old..Mommy " I no like it" last month she still would've ate anything now we have learned what the word "Picky" is! She is a definite girly girl and I love it!! She loves to get dressed up! She also loves to smile for the camera!! Tommy not so much so you wont see as many pictures of him. Milly loves her "school" or 1 day a week playgroup! We signed up for another 10 weeks session. They both are doing amazing and play so well together!! I love being a mom to my 5 amazing kids!!!! Did I mention lately that I think EVERYONE needs to adopt!! ;)

Here are some pics of this months happenings! And I will post a video too so make sure you mute the music at the bottom of the page..



Our friend Evan moved home from California!




Nonna's Birthday!




Some Xtreme fun with our friends!





4 months





Tour of the Fire station



Spring is here!!

3 months home!

WOW!! Time flys when you are having fun! I don't know what made me count but I just realized we have been a family of 7 for 3 months now!!! This month has been a blast! The kids are adjusting so well we are constantly amazed! This month we had our first vacation as a family of 7! It feels like they have always been part of our family..its hard to remember what it was like without them. The newness has gone away now it is just everyday normal life! I find it actually funny how familiar it all seems. So many months were spent worrying about how it would all work..this family of 7 thing! It may be a little louder, the car is alot fuller, we go through alot more food but the laughs..the love..and the sheer blessing is indescribable! They are my children..and God always knew that! The hugs..the kisses and the snuggles, they tell me the kids new this before me too. You wouldn't think that after only 3 months we would gel together so well but it is amazing! Long before they were here..before we even knew who they were I prayed for them, I pray for their family that was making such a hard decision, I prayed for the kids who would grieve the loss and I prayed for God to open their hearts to the new family that would be theirs. Clearly God had it all handled. Don't misunderstand we have had to work through a few minor things and I'm sure as they become more comfortable with us more things may creep up but I don't think there will be anything we cant handle. Adoption is not an easy process..months of stressing..crying..hair loss..weight gain..financial stress..your faith being tested..relationships being tested..constant feeling of being out of control (not the case for everyone!)but........now..Peace..Joy..Love..Faith..wonderful excitement when looking at the future. This process changes you and everyone around you. Seeing how they have changed and flourished how can it not change you! It really wants to make you grab a hold of everyone you know and say..ADOPT!! I know it is not for everyone but boy am I glad it is for us!! So month 3 brought lots of changes for both kids...

Tamirat (Tommy)

Well this has been a huge month for Tommy!!! Our little man is growing like a weed! I can barely lift him up now! Pants that were short on him now just fit! I am anxious for the next Dr appt to see how much you have brown since being home. Since referral till now he has grown 5 inches and gained 10lbs!!!! No more temper tantrums unless your brother is teasing you!! He is a typical 5 year old but actually I am amazed at how well you still except NO! I say still because you are learning quickly form your siblings that Mom and Dad tend to wear down with ample whining! We are working on making eye contact with those outside the family and saying hello and answering questions. Tommy is not to keen on new people so he hides out and pretends he cant hear you talking to him but he is starting to slowly come out of his shell. This month you started preschool! The teachers are amazed at how well he is doing in everything! Letters, numbers, colors, shapes..all mastered! Now we are working on making some friends and learning to socialize but that is coming along great! 3 months! What will the next few bring! Tommy is so sweet, he is very inquisitive of everything and a very quick learner. This month you also lost your first tooth! This was a tough one..he had no idea what to do with a wiggly tooth and refused to wiggle it out or let anyone touch it. Well the new tooth started to pop up behind it so we knew we had to get that one out sooooo in comes the tooth fairy talk! Money is a great motivator and now that he has experienced it once I don't think we will have any trouble again! I'm sad to say it is all English now no more Sidaminga or Amharic not even to your sister:( Who you lovingly call Millionie! Your favorite things to do are listen to music on your siblings Ipods or in the car! The funniest moment this month was catching you by surprise singing into your sisters Microphone while dancing..yes we caught it on tape! Tommy is ad the snow is melting but also happy for clear roads to ride his bike!! Praying for lots of snow free days to come!!



Writing your name for the first time!



1st lost tooth

Million (Milly)

Miss Milly! My talkative little girl! NON stop talking!! You LOVE to talk!! If you didn't get it she talks alot:) # going on 16!! Your vocabulary is astonishing!!! I think you talk more than Tommy! Sometimes I catch you singing in your old language but it is all English all the time! New phrase is " That's Disgusting" LOL! Since Tommy started school Milly has taken his place in a weekly playgroup and has started attending the daycare at the gym (Yeah for mom!) Milly is such a social butterfly! She loves going places and meeting new people! I think next fall we may look into dance classes because you love attention and love to perform! We went to see Sesame Street live and you loved it!! Elmo is definitely your favorite! You are a girlie girl and you have the bows to prove it!! Purple is your color! Summer dresses are going to be so much fun! Lots of bright colors and big bows! You are the light of the house so energetic and  full of life! You always make us laugh! You love pretend food and tea parties!! Chips and Dip are still your all time favorite food! Anything with sugar..you like that too! You have grown a ton too! Since referral till now 5lbs and 5 inches! We had a month of sickness but now you are back to your bubbly self! We are starting swimming lessons too after we discovered you love of water in Florida! A 2 1/2 yr old shy little thing to a 3 yr old bubbly giggly little girl! We are so blessed!

Family fun..

Everyday life is full of craziness and fun!! Its pretty much always loud around our house! NO its not always yelling! Often you hear Barney or Sesame street in the background, the kids are chatting...someone is singing or laughing. Never a dull moment! Milly can always be found talking as she never stops:) The car is an experience in itself! I wouldnt trade it for anything though! These pictures sum it up!  I love our crazy family!!!!!!

Florida 2011 at OneTrueMedia.com

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Vacation!



Day 1 of our amazing vacation!



We just returned from our 1st family vacation as a family of 7!!! I was quite worried about how it would go but it was Great!! The only bad part was the 20hr. drive to grandmas and back in a 7 passenger van filled to capacity!! Tommy and Milly were troopers never complaining just wondering when we might get to grandmas house! We had beautiful weather the whole week, 80-85 everyday!! We mostly stayed and swam at the pool. Both Tommy and Milly loved the water!! No fear and not concerned at all with water getting in their eyes. After the 1st hour they were both jumping in, of course with swimmies on! We will be starting them both in lessons soon. We visited Gatorland where the Gators were a plenty!! Marianna and Matteo even sat on a live gator and posed for a picture! We also made the drive to Clearwater beach but it wasn't very Clear! The fog had set in blocking all the sun and we froze yet the kids made the best of it! Watching Tommy and Milly experience many firsts was amazing! They had no problem sleeping at grandmas and adjusting to all the different people and places we visited. While we were there we also got to meet a fellow adoptive family just starting their journey to Ethiopia and their children. We loved sharing about the blessings of our experience!



Our kids and the Kicklighter kids a fellow AWAA family!



This will go down as one of our best and favorite vacations yet! One whole week of family time..no cleaning..no work..no softball/sports or music lessons! Just a whole week of relaxing and bonding! Every day they amaze me at how well they are doing, if you didn't know you would never guess they had only been home for 9 weeks! We certainly miss the warmth as we were welcomed home to a typical Buffalo storm! Tommy said first thing in the morning..No shorts?! No not here! I took so many pictures that I'm going to put together a slide show! It is incredible how it feels to make such wonderful memories! Everyday is a new experience through their eyes. I'm so Thankful for every moment! Not only has this adoption taught me to treasure every second with them it has also taught us to slow down and really enjoy every second we have with all of our children! All of our children are such miracles!! I could not imagine our CrAzY life without them!!

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



Tommy and his best friend/brother Matteo

  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



First time down the slide..scared out of your mind!




Milly and her 2 favorite people!!! Her sisters!

 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!!!

Thank You!!!!

By now I hope mostly everyone got the cards we mailed!!! If you didn't get one I'm sorry we missed you!!! Why, Thank you??? We wanted to say a Big Thank You to all who were a part in bringing our kids home! Whether you gave financially, prayed, said Good luck, offered advice, shared in our excitement, posted or links on Facebook or Email, bought our T-shirts or Magnets,came too our fundraisers or donated items, donated items and Money for the orphanages,Took pictures and video and care packages for our kids, helped with our kids while we were out of town or just let us know you supported us...WE ARE SOOOOOOO THANKFUL!!!!! We could not have done this without all you! Adoption is a Huge undertaking and it takes an army to make it to the finish line! We are in awe every day at how well they are doing and what a blessing they are!! Our journey does not end here so please continue to pray for their transition and ours:) I thought I would include some of our outtakes just for the fun of it!

Our Ethiopian Adoption Journey at OneTrueMedia.com

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

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...



July 2010



Home 1 month Dec 2010

 Tamirat



July 2010





Home 1 month Dec 10

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

July 2010

Home 1 month Dec 2010

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!