Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from our two princesses and one "no costume" little man. I had planned on Z being a bumblebee (recycling C's baby costume) but could not find it today. At least he is wearing a festive tshirt (it reads "itsy bitsy spider") and the right colors. We tried. Z got his hands on some chocolate and did not seem to mind getting the shaft in the costume department.

Kolfe Orphanage

For those of you who read our daily posts from Ethiopia, you will surely remember these photos from the Kolfe Boys Orphanage (the older boys orphanage we visited, post is dated 8/20/07):

The children at this orphanage have a very slim chance of every being adopted. They have mostly been forgotten by their government. One of the greatest needs of these children is an education which will hopefully provide them with opportunities to help themselves find a better life. Gladney is raising funds to remodel, construct and completely furnish a library at this orphanage.

If you are interested in donating, please make checks payable to The Gladney Center for Adoption, and note the "Kolfe Boys Orphanage" on the memo line. These tax deductible contributions can be mailed directly to:

Scott Brown, Executive Vice President
The Gladney Center for Adoption
6300 John Ryan Drive
Fort Worth, Texas 76132

Change, Change, Change

Z, now 8 months, had a well check today with his pediatrician. It went great and the doctor was very pleased with his growth and development. In two months he has gained 4 pounds, grown 1 1/2 inches, learned to sit up, added fruits, veggies and yogurt to his daily diet, learned to sleep through the night (YES! We are back on track!), learned to wave "hi," and I could go on and on.

In addition he has moved continents, cultures and is experiencing a new language. He is also now living with his 4th caregiver (going from birthmom to orphanage to Gladney foster home to our home). I'm struck by how much change he has endured and yet how bright his eyes sparkle and how joyful he is.

Our first six weeks home we barely let anyone else hold him, we barely left home with him, we limited visitors and did not leave him with a babysitter. All of this was to limit all the "newness." We wanted him to focus just on immediate family and this home. It has been so encouraging to see Z bond to us and thrive. I can see his little eyes light up when he sees me. He kicks his feet and flaps his arms at the sight of his daddy and sisters. No one else gets that immediate reaction from him. He is charming and will certainly smile and play with others - but that immediate excitement he reserves for just us right now.

We are so richly blessed to have Z in our family. He is an amazing answer to prayer.

Fall Family Fun

It's 90 degrees but we will pretend it's Fall. Christopher skipped work today and joined us for our 2nd annual field trip to a nearby farm. The farm offers hayrides, a corn maze, pumpkin patch, pumpkin painting, scarecrow stuffing, plus there are goats, donkeys and horses to pet. We had a blast and now the kids are all settled into hopefully very long naps! Lots of photos from our day:

The driver of our hayride took us straight through a corn field - not on the trails but straight on through. I'm not sure if the kids or adults enjoyed it more! And yes, that is a goat standing up in a tree in the third photo. As a reminder, you can click on the individual photo to enlarge.

We met up with sweet friends from our neighborhood. These are pictures from the corn maze.

Z seemed to enjoy petting the horse the best. The horse managed to get a hold of Z's pacifier in return. Now typically if his pacifier falls to the floor we are not timid about sticking it right back in his mouth. But with the horse...I had to draw the line there.

Of course a pumpkin patch trip would not be complete without the requisite "sit child in front of pumpkin photos."

3 Years Ago Today

Our C debuted 3 years ago today. She was long and skinny at 21 inches and 6 lbs, 12 ounces. We joked she looked like Billy Idol with her wild blond hair and skinny old man look. She is a treasured gift! Here are some of my favorite baby C pics:

Sleep

Sleep has been cruelly teasing us. Two months ago when we first got Z he would wake 2-3 times to feed (or at least we thought that was what he wanted). We then weaned him down to just 1 feeding per night. Then a couple weeks ago that feeding started to occur later and later. He was waking at 2AM to feed, then 3, then 4:30, then 5:30AM and then the magic happened...Chris and I woke one morning last week and it was 7:15AM! We were thrilled. It was the first time Z had slept through the night and the first time Chris and I got a full nights sleep in over two months. We went to bed that night holding our breath Z would show a repeat performance and we were rewarded with a 7:30AM wake up call! We enjoyed 3 nights-in-a-row of "sleeping through the night." Then Sunday night, to our great disappointment, Z broke his streak. Since then he is back to waking once each night.


When we first hear him, Chris or I will just stick his pacifier in his mouth and walk out. This works for about an hour, then we hear him again, and again until we give up and feed him 1/2 a bottle. Last night I went in there at 2AM, 4AM, and then at 4:30AM I caved and gave him 4 ounces of formula (his typical feedings are 6-8 ounces). We then heard him crying hard at 7AM. Chris gave him his pacifier and he went back to sleep until 8AM. So is it teething? A growth spurt? Combo?


I really think you can draw a strong comparison between the superstitions parents exhibit with those of baseball players. Baseball players are known to hit a winning streak and claim they have to keep wearing the same stinky socks, not shave and tap the bat on the ground three times before every time at bat in order to maintain the streak. Parents trying to get kids to sleep through the night will meticulously repeat the bedtime routine that worked the one night their child slept through the night. I'll think - it must be because I used the orange pacifier, put his lovey blanket under his left arm, had him sleep on his right side, and gave him exactly 6.385 ounces of formula right before bedtime. Surely I can't give him one sip more or less of formula or he won't sleep through the night! Add this thinking to the sleep deprivation and no wonder so many moms feel like they are losing their minds!


Here is what Z has to think of all this:

Three-Year-Old Rescues Baby Jaguar!

On Saturday we celebrated C's 3rd birthday with a few friends at the park. The party was Diego-themed and included a rescue adventure to save baby Jaguar! For those without small children, Diego (cartoon) is an animal rescue hero (and cousin of Dora the Explorer). Baby Jaguar is often featured in episodes and in need of rescue along with red-eyed tree frogs, sloths, spectacle bears, and other such exotic creatures. C is a big fan and requested a Diego birthday party where she and her friends would trek down the neighborhood greenbelt trail to the creek on an "adventure."

We met at our neighborhood park where Chris (with hand drawn map in hand) started the party off by explaining to the children that Baby Jaguar was stuck up in a tree and in need of rescuing. The birthday girl bravely scaled the tree to rescue Baby Jaguar (followed by the other kids taking turns at climbing the tree). We ate lunch down by the creek and then hiked back up to the park for cake. The kids seemed to enjoy the adventure. The weather was perfect and we enjoyed a lovely day!

say cheese!

I have maybe one photo of L&C together (pre-Z) where they are both looking at the camera and smiling. I have a feeling it's not getting any easier. After about 10 photos, this was the best shot:

Ethiopian Sets Marathon WR

There is hope for a fast runner in the family! Ethiopia's Haile Gebrselassie set the marathon world record for 2:04:26 this past Sunday in Berlin. That is smokin' fast and about 30 seconds faster than the previous world record.

And, umm....about 2 hours faster than anyone in our family.

http://www.runtex.com/web/1-1057.asp

Beautiful Bride

My sister Courtney was married a week-and-a-half ago. Here is the lovely bride with my new brother-in-law, Scott:

That is my 7-year-old nephew also pictured. He did a lengthy recitation at the wedding ceremony and nailed it perfectly.

His sister is 4-years-old and joined my L&C as flower girls:

It was a beautiful and intimate ceremony. Z's first wedding reminded me of when Chris and I married. My nephew was our youngest guest at just two-and-a-half weeks old!