Eight Months Today

Eight months and so many skills...

Picking up O's.

Putting O's in mouth.

Growing teeth and gaining weight...That's a skill, right?

Looking surprised. She has mastered this one, I think.

Being cute.

Putting her foot in her mouth. Now, that's a skill.

My new skill...typing with one hand.

Rhett's new skill...being the best big brother and always getting Mez to smile.

I'm sure Dan is acquiring some new skills too...he does get some of the best smiles from Mez, but his skills most likely have to do with taxes at the moment.

Life With Two....

...is pretty great.

Rhett now begs for baths with his sister.

A new chapter in family cooking. This time with two "helpers"...if you consider "helping" licking the spoon clean. No, Mezmur didn't get any chocolate on her spoon.

Look how she looks at her brother...she loves him.

Seriously, how lucky am I?

Sorry for the advertisement for Trader Joes.

A Perfect Fit

If you see us around town you will see this cutie in this hat and sweater... everyday until she can't squeeze into them anymore.

Obviously I don't just mean the sweater and hat is a perfect fit...

Oh, and while these photos uploaded I read this. Seriously, how great is Courtney? It is posts like this that makes a gal feel oh-so-good and oh-so-loved. Thanks for your kind words, Courtney. The day I hear that you got "the call" will be the day we pop open a good bottle of wine in NE Portland and celebrate your beautiful growing family and Mezmur's new friend.

Highlights (and Heartbreak) of Ethiopia

Rhett finally falling asleep on the plane

landing in Mezmur's birthplace

meeting other CHI families and their babies

seeing the HOH for the first time...mystery solved

waiting to meet our babies for the first time

meeting Mezmur for the first time

being so glad Rhett was with us
Rhett saying, "I love her so much more than her picture"
meeting K.

meeting the women who took care of Mez before we could

hugging Sunamauyta good-bye

a room full of kids at the HOH blowing me kisses

drying laundry

meeting Tsegay and the HOH staff

Rhett calling Mezmur, "Mezzy" in front of Tsegay

a traditional Ethiopian feast at the HOH

Ethiopia Guest House

finally seeing Mezmur smile

middle of the night alarm clocks...wink-wink

prayers at 4:am on speakers

packs of wild dogs

tiny baby alarm clock every 2 hours

Mezmur smiling at her Mama from across the room

reading the first bedtime story to both of our kids for the first time

finishing Mezmur's visa and hearing congratulations

lots of injera

the monkey that grabbed Rhett's hand

seeing the lions at the lion zoo

coffee, coffee, coffee

many coffee ceremonies with popcorn

Julie taking care of Mezmur while we went to the orphanage

the heartbreak of Mezmur's orphanage

watching Rhett give a little boy a soccer ball at the orphanage

getting rammed by a steamroller in the van

no seat belts or car seats...one of Rhett's highlights

one beep/I'm here and two beeps/get out of my way

the smell of exhaust that you get used to

Mezmur in the Ergo

Rhett never wearing shoes

the best coffee EVER

macchiato

finding our painting in the corner on the floor...here

Rhett being teased at the guest house

people of Ethiopia wanting to touch Rhett's hair, pick him up, take him by the arm

the beauty and fresh air of the mountains

the happiness, kindness, and hard working people of Ethiopia

Sophie the giraffe

the gate guard playing with Rhett's Minnie

seeing the carousel full of babies with lollipops

making injera

street workers and their "hot" outfits...a nod to Julie and Brian

Mez the "pooping machine"

coming home

This may be an ongoing list. There were so many highlights, but the biggest is Mezmur and finally being home as a family of four.

Homecoming

We had a wonderful homecoming on Wednesday night. Here is the group...minus the photographer, Cynthia. Thanks for the amazing photos, Cynthia!

Two of three sweet girls...

The first family photo at HOME.

See...she still has that surprised look at times (Julie, you can relate:).

The first time meeting Nana.

First car ride home with the best big brother ever.

It may be impersonal and public, but thank you to everyone who helped us get here. Thanks for prayers and good thoughts, thanks for donation contributions, thanks for being there, and now that we are home thanks for the visits, emails, and for starting a food chain! You know who you are and you will all be thanked personally, but I wanted to tell the world that we are so grateful for YOU.