I'm an AMERICAN now!!!!

I will admit I was a little nervous. Of course it was SUPER fun to wear the new dress Mom had gotten for me. In fact, when I tried it on at Macy's I hugged the mirror - wouldn't you? I look SO CUTE in it! I was a bit concerned that Mom would forget to find me cute shoes & made a bee-line for the dressing room door - but Mom said I had some at home already that would look nice.

The judge had us ALL walk in to his court room. I capitalize ALL because Mom invited almost all of Colfax! I know I'm a pretty big deal around here - but I didn't know that THEY all knew. The judge was relieved to see us - he'd had a bad day taking care of bad people. He said it was super nice to have something as great as ME to end his week with.

It went pretty quick. Mom said I was super good to sit on her lap so quietly. She'd told me we were having cake when we got home - I sure didn't want to mess THAT up. AND it was a Happy Cake from the Knox' - they love me so much!!!!


All in all it was a super fun day with lots of super fun people over after for dinner & cake! Mom & Dad tell me all the time how blessed they are to have me for their daughter....and I tell them they're right - I'm pretty darn great ;)

NINE months!?!?!?

Where oh where has the time gone??? We were just packing our suitcases, filling them with fun goodies for you & lots of great stuff to leave behind....and now you've been home 9 months.

You've absolutely settled in! You never laugh harder than when Caleb gets you going. Ben was excited to get to give you a bath last night & even wanted to try your medicine. When he gagged on it we all decided to cheer even harder for you!!!! You take it like a champ - 2 1/2 teaspoons of pure YUCK every morning & every night...and you smile while you're doing it. What a life lesson for all of us!!! Gabriel will play ring around the rosy with you until he's dizzy and Jack loves that you're a junior high girl-magnet!!! You're never happier than when Daddy's got your hand and you're headed outside. Mommy even found you some barn boots that are pink with polka dots - you were quite excited. You love getting rocked to sleep at night & Mommy LOVES rocking you!!!

I've been wanting to put together a little children's type book of your story so we could start reading it now - just the other night it came to me!!!!

Once Upon A Time...a true story

Once upon a time there was a Wonderful Family.
There was a Mommy and a Daddy
and 4 wonderful brothers - Jack, Ben, Gabe, and Caleb.
But that Wonderful Family needed a Special Little Girl.
In Ethiopia there was a Special Little Girl.
Her name was Tihun.
But that Special Little Girl needed a Wonderful Family.
God knew the Wonderful Family and the Special Little Girl would need each other.
So He created the Wonderful Family and the Special Little Girl so they would be perfect for each other.
The Wonderful Family traveled thousands of miles to bring the Special Little Girl home.
They were so excited to meet her!
They had waited so long to hug her and kiss her.
The Special Little Girl hugged her nannies good-bye.
She couldn't wait to go home with her Wonderful Family.
The Wonderful Family named the Special Little Girl Ellianna.
The name Ellianna means "God Provides."
God had provided a Special Little Girl for the Wonderful Family.
God had provided a Wonderful Family for the Special Little Girl.
Every day they thank God for each other and ask Him to help other Wonderful Families find their Special Children...
and Special Children find their Wonderful Families.

So what do you think????