(Almost..) Six months already!!

In 10 days, we will have been home from Ethiopia for SIX WHOLE MONTHS!! I just can not believe it. Dave and I were talking about it today and saying how fast the weeks and months have flown by.

Major events in our new family have been and gone in a flash..

The first picnic in the park.

The first Autumn, playing in the leaves.

Being featured in the local paper...our one and only claim to fame.

The first snowfall...Ayana's eyes grew huge and her mouth opened wide as she peered outside at the snow and breathed, "Who did that?" Moses was VERY unimpressed.

The first time celebrating Ayana's birthday in her forever family...a happy, giddy little girl dressed up in a fairy costume and sunglasses all day.

First Halloween. Dressing up as a princess and a cowboy was so fun.

Trips to the hospital with Moses.

Our first Christmas all together, simply magical. Moses' first birthday.

Their dedication at church...

Moses learning to creep, then crawl, then walk.

So many huge events, some of which I will post about separately to give you a glimpse into our lives. As I reflect back, in the grand scheme of life, six months is nothing. BUT six months has made such a huge difference in their lives and also in ours. They have grown physically and emotionally. Ayana now understands so much English. Moses even follows simple directions showing a basic understanding too.

They both frequently run to us for hugs, kisses, reassurance and cuddles, another indicator that they are attached and bonded, ( one of the greatest, and sometimes never mentioned, fears of an adoptive parent..."what if they don't attach to me?")

They adore their older siblings too and we were also thinking today of how wonderfully our older children have accepted their little brother and sister. They literally welcomed them with open arms and were ready with lots of hugs and kisses right from the moment we set eyes on them. They are the best older brother and sisters that Ayana and Moses could ever had and we are so proud of the way that they have adapted to all the huge changes over the last six months. That is a blessing and an answer to prayer.

Ayana and Moses eat well. They sleep well. They laugh a lot. They run around the house being crazy, laughing and falling over each other and then getting up to do it all over again. Moses is obsessed with The Wiggles and now we all know the songs off by heart. We hum "Dorothy the Dinosaur, Queen of the Roses" as we go about our daily routines. (Not sure if that is good or bad?)

I am so grateful for this chance to parent these amazing little children. What a huge challenge and responsibility. What a joy.

I am excited to see what the next six months will bring.