Spring is here!

Spring has sprung & we can't wait for Easter!!! Isn't she the cutest Easter bunny you've ever seen?!?!?!
Yes...her toes got painted today!!! It was a bit messy - but so worth it ;)

What her big brother do to her while they're "watching" her!

Not to worry - they do it to themselves too :)
We have a WINNER!!! Jack won first place out of all 6th graders in the County for his interpretive speech of Patrick Henry's "Give me liberty or give me death." He had to memorize it & present it in front of the judges. A perfect score was 75...he got 75!!! Way to rouse those boys to war.....just like at home! ha!


All AAAAAA BBBBBBOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAARRRRRRRDDDDDDD!
Oh yeah! Thanks brother - I love laundry basket rides :)
And finally - the real reason they don't let 1 year olds have baby's.....(make sure to mute the music on the side bar - this one is worth listening too)



because they won't let anyone else help!!!

14 months old!!!

The Ethiopian courts have given you a birthday of Sep 16 - which we KNOW could not even be close. So we think it's fitting to make your birthday the first day we met you - January 18th....which seems to be much closer to your actual age. We'll change it officially when we readopt you in a few months.

So in celebration of your first 14 months on this earth - here's my 14 favorite pictures of you!!!

#1 I love this picture b/c it's the first one we ever saw of you. You stole our hearts - completely - with your soulful eyes.

#2 This is the first picture we saw of you smiling. I almost wondered if you were the same child - but your earlobes gave you away!!!

#3 This picture is of the first time you heard mommy's voice. I had recorded it on the phone & sent it over in a care package for you.

#4 Your first baby doll!!! Mommy searched hi & low for a baby "of color" for you!! I'm so glad you liked her!! She got to be baby Jesus in the play your friends at the Transition Home put on. I was very proud of her :)

#5 This is the first time mommy met you. I'm sorry you were a little scared.....mommy was a little scared too...and very very very excited to finally meet you. You were even MORE than I dreamed you would be! More beautiful, more fun, more loving, more patient, more wonderful than we ever could have imagined :)

#6 Not too many words needed for this one.....just the culmination of SO many prayers!!
#7 I love this one b/c the 2nd day we went back to the Transition Home you let me scoop you right up without a peep!

#8 This is the bed where you slept in - the red one. I wanted a picture of you next to it - but when I set you down you INSTANTLY started wailing! I'm so sorry. I was not leaving you!!! I thought you'd want to get down & crawl around with your friends - but you didn't want off my lap for an instant.

#9 This was taken the 3rd day we knew you. WOW! Your personality was starting to come out already!!! If we only knew what lay ahead - LOTS more giggles and silliness where that came from - yeah!!!

#10 We have a water baby! Oh I love that you love the water as much as the rest of your family does. Oh the fun we're going to have at the pool & the river this summer! I can't WAIT!
#11 Your brothers love you SO MUCH! I can't get over how they're constantly talking about you and writing about you at school...and vying for who gets to sit next to you in the car...and get you up from your nap. They really truly love you Ellie!!!

#12 The huggies and snuggies never end around here - and you love that too!

#13 Your Oma searched hi & low for a baby "of color" for you too!!! You love checking her temperature & giving her a bottle.
#14 We've been working on a little sign language with you. But the one you've picked up the quickest is blowing kisses!!! Not sure how "ASL" that is - but oh how I love to get your kisses my little angel!!!

We love you so much Ellianna! Thank you for being so patient and forgiving when we do things in ways you're not used to. Thank you for being such an amazing little person already. We can't WAIT to watch you grow & change.

Love,
Mommy

Having fun!!!

Sorry this is sideways - but it was WAY too cute not to post! Little Princess having a tantrum - followed by her fake laugh....I'm giggling just thinking about it! So crane your head sideways - or turn the laptop - it's worth it!!!!!



She is so very content! And if she's not it's typically b/c nap time is nearing!!!! I'm wondering if I paid my debt to toddler-dom with my 4 not so content boys....I'm hoping so!!!

Here's my "bathing beauties." This kids LOVES water....sounds like a few other Ross' I know ;)


The boys ADORE her!!! And she thinks they're pretty great too - especially when they give her rides.
We even got brave and went camping last weekend. It was so FUN! I'm so bummed I didn't get a pic of her hair post-bike helmet. Oh it gives a new definition to helmet hair!!! She LOVED LOVED LOVED the slide! And thought riding around on Daddy's back for 3 hours was pretty great too.




I am still so amazed at how she just FITS! I know I shouldn't be. Look at how creation "just fits" - and that's the same God that orchestrated our family.....but it's still exciting to see God HERE, in OUR FAMILY!!! YEAH!