Baby + Stuff

Well, some sweet friends are kindly throwing us a baby shower, being that you will be a baby, which means a bit more stuff than we needed when your big brother came. 

So I'm trying to create a registry of things we may need. Of course my search gets off of the practical and onto finding cool baby stuff quickly. Here are a few of the baby things that are well designed and I only wish I could register for...

1. The Nook Pebble Mattress

2. Koo's Bassinet + Rocking Chair

And both of these are fun bed linens:

3. The Baby-Measuring Crib Sheet 

4. Brokiga Baby + Toddler Bed Linens

There is more...of course, but I'd better get back to the real stuff I should be registering for...

Like Mother, Like Daughter

for me.

for you.

more for me.

and you.

 

 and a hip look for you, tegegne.

all of this cuteness is from der kleine salon. i found it thanks to emma.

Merry Christmas

Handmade Gifts

So, I did get around to making a few gifts this year. I didn't make anything as lovely as these gifts, but I wish I would have! (Does that count?)

Coasters, earrings, keychain + bicycle, napkins.

Take Me Here

Remodelista.

Well, you are officially initiated to Christmas the American way because you sat on Santa's lap and told him what you want for Christmas. We went to Bad Seed, the wintertime indoor farmers market last night and didn't expect to see Santa. We didn't even have to wait in line at the mall. Santa pulled you right up on his lap and said the classic line, "What do you want for Christmas little boy?" You replied, "A light!" 


Thanks for making it easy on us this year, Tegegne. This year your asking for a light, but in 13 years you'll be asking for a car. And probably next year you will catch on to the holiday a bit more. For now, we are keeping it simple. 


Too bad I didn't have my camera to catch you on Santa's lap. Maybe we'll see him again soon!


Photo.

The Call

photo.

Hi Tegegne. How are you? Are you good? It looks to me like you are enjoying life and are quite a happy fellow. About a month ago you really started using your imagination and you tell cute little stories. Like this, "Mommy, there's a mouse in your car...it's gonna get you!"You talk about "the mouse" all of the time. (You may or may not be getting a little toy mouse for Christmas, by the way.)

Things are fairly "normal" at home, but the other day at work I got "the call." The call from Miss D at your school saying you had bit a classmate. She said that for the past week you were acting up more and she wanted to bring it to my attention. This news made me sad.  Things have gone pretty well at school so far, and I was not sure how to respond. At the moment we were on the phone she said you decided to take a nap and were lying on a cot in your room. It was not nap time, and that seemed quite odd so I picked you up and brought you home for the afternoon. We talked and you told me everything you had done and why. You are quite good at telling on yourself. 

Several people have suggested that this behavior at school might be due to your new baby sister coming. Maybe so, but I'm trying not to get too worked up about it.  I have faith in you, little guy, and I think you can move on from this soon. Sound good?

Double the Sweetness

  
Double the sweetness, double the fun! I get to spend the weekend with this sweet & adorable family. Ashleigh and I are dear friends from college, and I'm way overdue for meeting her twin girls. Can't wait for this fun getaway and time catching up with a good friend! 

The boys are staying home to hold down the fort, probably will build a fort, and definitely build fires in the fireplace. 

Photos from FB. Thanks Ash!

Stella & Henry

I am so glad Megan with Mimi + Meg has started a kids blog. Have you been to Stella & Henry yet?  I love Mimi + Meg and think Megan is ridiculously good at blogging. Stella & Henry is for sure my new favorite stop! Megan, thanks for making a great resource for moms like me!

Just the Three of Us

 

 

 

Just the three of us will soon be over in a few months. As good as it will be to have four of us, it is bittersweet to have had a short time as a family of three.  We have and are making the most of our family time, though. I can't believe all of the fun we have had since last Jan 19th!

Here's a recap of some of the best:

Embracing your little self for the first time outside of the orphanage.

Hearing you say "Ababayeh" at first and having no idea what you meant. 

Now hearing you say "Daddy" and being thrown totally off guard because your name for 

Michael is clearly Ababayeh.

Knowing that you, Michael, are so totally enthralled by your son. You often comment on how awesome he is. You are now speaking more French to him and having him reply, and nothing sounds better.

Eating dinner. Then without a doubt you will say, "Excuse me Ababayeh (which sounds more like bob-yeh half the time), may I sit on your lap?"

Our walks down the hill to the Plaza just to get out and people watch. 

Your excitement when I walk in the door from work, or when Ababayeh does. Or when you are trying so hard to share a story with us, but very few words come out. And lately your response, "I tink so."

Introducing you to Trick-or-Treating, the Zoo, special treats, and wow even fresh water.  It is great to watch your excitement with life. Can't wait to take you to the tree farm to get our Christmas tree.

And there's much more to say, but I'll finish.

Good night boys. Love you.

 

(Disclaimer: As much as we are a family of three, it often feels like 4, 5, or even 6 if you count dear Auntie Taryn, Micah, and of course our big dog Owen. Nights with all of us in the house are quite good as well.)

Zapp Stroller Giveaway

Go to Chulamama's blog to win this Zapp Stroller!
 

Stripes & Florals

what a stinkin' cool kids bed and bedroom...the stripes, the colors, the rugs sewn together, and seriously...a ferris wheel? blogged about here.


i must get a photo of the darling bed that Gramma Debby made for you, tegegne. she made you a bed out of an old gray wood slat door with a kids mattress sitting softly on top. it's just as cute as the bed in the photo above. too bad it's staying at her house! 


over thanksgiving weekend Gramma Debby and I got to plan some for your little sisters room. i was thinking of vintage florals, and she gathered a great selection of old tablecloths, and floral fabric that we are going to use in Hensley's room. my dilemma is that you two will most likely share a room (this is in our potentially new house that we don't own or can't even think about buying until we get our house sold). i'm not sure how your look and hers will come together, but i do eagerly anticipate getting to put it together soon.

Thankful

I am thankful for you and you. 

I could say a lot more about why I'm thankful for you two, but I'm feeling like keeping it simple.


Thanks for the extra kiss on the cheek as I said goodnight to you, Tegegne. You are my sweet little guy. 


Michael, thanks for going back downstairs to get me water when we were already warm in bed. And thanks for the extra long hug earlier today after we witnessed that really sad thing on our drive home from the country.


I love you, boys.

"Slipp-lers"

our floors get cold, so Tegegne gets his slipp-lers for himself and every one else at home...

Someday - Country Life

We've discussed moving to the woods someday, where peace and quite are always at your front door. For a while I think we'll stay urban dwellers. When we do move to the country I think this Scrap House is something I'll keep in my living-in-the-woods inspiration folder.

Bold Colors, Vibrant Child

Oh little Tegegne, you are so full of life. As I sit here and feel your sister move like crazy (it's so bizarre), I only imagine how much you moved in your birth mom's tummy. You are on the move constantly out of the womb and I can just picture your birth mom laughing and having your aunt feel her tummy as you moved constantly.

Right now I am loving these moments:
- Dropping you off at school and hearing you yell to Griffin, Adam, Truth, Finley (etc) as you greet them in the classroom. The other day you handed Adam (your bff) your coat as you walked in the room and he took it and hung it in your locker. It was so cute.
- If anything is broken you say, "Ababayeh will fix it, Mommy." Things like your bib (a plastic one with the scoop to catch food), our door knob, the printer.
- My greeting when I walk in the door from work M through W is awesome. You are so happy to see me. I love it.
- I love your assistance in rubbing cocoa butter on my growing belly and your acknowledgement that your sister is in there.
- Even though I got sad at first I'm over it and I love it when you insist that Ababayeh will do it. You prefer that he does most things for you these days. He's your partner and you thrive with him.
- It's nice that I can have fun dressing you, like in the photos above. Your boots are still too big, and your legs are extra skinny in those jeans. You are so cute. It makes me laugh when women comment on your cuteness, then confirm that you are indeed a boy. It actually happened today. I'm glad you don't catch on to what they are asking!


P.S. Aren't the colors of fall so lovely on our street in the photos above?
And here is you and your pal Koen holding hands on the way home from church play group.

Growing Belly, Growing Baby

13 weeks

17 weeks

24 weeks

25 weeks

26 weeks yesterday, Nov 17 (pretty great toddler face right there!)

28 weeks and growing

The Hymn

photo.

As the bridegroom to his chosen.

As the king unto  his realm,

As the keep unto his castle,

As the pilot to the helm,

So, Lord, are you to me.

As the fountain in the garden,

As the candle in the dark,

As the treasure in the coffer,

As the manna in the ark,

So, Lord, are you to me.

As the music at the banquet,

As the stamp unto the seal,

As the medicine to the fainting,

As the winecup to the meal,

So, Lord, are you to me.

As the ruby in the setting,

As the honey in the comb,

As the light within the lantern,

As the father in the home,

So, Lord, are you to me.

As the sunshine in the heavens,

As the image in the glass, 

As the fruit unto the fig tree,

As the dew upon the grass,

So, Lord, are you to me. 

-John Tauler

Zara Baby

Doesn't Zara make super cute kids clothing? For you, Tegegne...and your little sister.