8 Weeks Home, Baby!

It feels so good to have been home 8 weeks!

I've finally gotten all 700 n something pictures into photo albums & have started going through them with OE, trying to get make sure I record all the names & memories she shares with me. I'm not sure the exact underlaying reasons for this, but she does not like for me to write down the info she shares. She also does not like looking through the pictures of her Ethiopian family. It hit me this week, though, that it has only been 4 months since she was taken to Hannah's Hope by her Ethioipan family. This girl has been through A LOT in such a short period of time--if she doesn't want to "go there" with the pictures right now--I honestly don't blame her--so much to digest!

This week, I started working on her preschool workbook with her. She loves to "do school". The first day, I wrote her name & she immediately began working deligently to copy it over & over again. That night, N couldn't believe it when he gave her the pen to sign my birthday card & she immediately began spelling her name out in the most beautiful denelian handwriting you've ever seen.

We are thankful to have OE in our life! She is such an amazing little girl! I still catch myself looking at her & not believing my eyes that she is really here with us! It's such a dream come true! Here are some pictures from our week--enjoy!

Lunch with our favorite UT college student, N's cousin Kate (who happens to be from Vietnam)--what beautiful, special girls!


Candy frenzie at Mast General Store--so many yummy choices, so hard to decide!

Gatorade & popsicle run for C who has been so sick all week! OE was a great little sis & helped Mommy take good care of him!

My yummy birthday treat that the kids helped my mom make! I had a quiet b-day--no parties to overwhelm/interfere with bonding & a sick boy--but that's okay! I am just so thankful I had my daughter home & in my arms! God is good!

East TN is experiencing some very cool, fall weather & OE says it's "Very, Very Cold" (in her sweet Amharic accent with the r's rolled). It's so stinkin' adorable! She loves to sit outside on the deck & lately she's been needing a blanket to cuddle up with during her early morning deck time! Today marks the beginning of L's fall break. I'm so excited that he & OE will have extra time to spend together this week. The both love to do art & sing, so I'm sure our week will be filled with lots of artistic fun--I'm praying for some sweet brother/sister bonding time for them during the break!

Tonight, OE had her first Calhoun's BBQ experience! She LOVED the ribs! She is such a TN girl--I love it! I wasn't too happy that I had to share my ribs with her though! Next time this girl needs her own 1/2 slab--we never expected her to chow like she did! LOL!