Blissful Summer

(* read my rant at the the bottom of my post....yarg I am not a techie!)

We've been having a great time with the kids the last few weeks. Our routine is unfolding and things are meshing. The only time that I am struggling with timing is naptime for the boys. Arlo is outgrowing naps, but still really benefits from them. He has a hard time laying down if Tirfe is up, and keeps Aesa up if they lay together, but needs my attention 100% of the time after 3pm if he doesn't rest a little. So I either end up with two tired, napless boys, and a tiny break for myself (with the added bonus of their room somehow getting extremely messy while they are "napping"), or one boy who naps and one boy who asks me "what do you think we should do right now?" a dozen times while I try to take a shower or anything else I need to accomplish. Each day is a little different. I am trying to look at the bright side, everything seems to work out in the end, tired, rested, whatever. It is a bit of a juggling act though. All of this has been going on long before Tirfe came home, they will outgrow it one day.

Tirfe is doing really well. She has mastered sitting up now, it is awesome, I love that she can engage in her world from a new vantage point and have so much more control over her activities. I love the sitting baby stage. She is so proud. Her list of accomplishments this week also include waving bye-bye, clapping (personal favorite), and high fives. We are pretty sure she will be crawling soon. She is really close, loves to rock on her hands and knees, panting and squeeling (adorable).

Arlo and Aesa are still enjoying her a ton. They love it when she "talks" to them, they are thrilled if she laughs at them. So far the only jealousy I have seen has been from Arlo when Tirfe was so busy laughing at Aesa that she didn't see the cool moves Arlo was doing, he was a little heartbroken over it. This was one of the days he did not nap. His mood swing led to a break in the bedroom which was followed by an hour and a half accidental (on his part) nap that totally restored his more pleasant demenor. It worked for me.

Arlo loves to be a part of everything Tirfe is doing. He picks out her clothes in the morning, usually some beautiful dress like one of her traditional Ethiopian dresses that is two sizes too big right now. He even tried on her green one that is bigger, hilarious. He has to give her zerberts on her belly while I hang her upside down before she can lay down for naps or the night. Tirfe thouroughly enjoys it, almost all the time. It is so fun watching their bonds grow and solidify, so amazing and rewarding.

Last night we went to a concert in the park. It was a tad loud, but Tirfe held out for quite a while. They boys were much less interested than she was. They found a pile of sandy soil and filled their hats over and over and over so they could make a pile. Whatever keeps them busy. Aesa played with a stick in the sand next to the sidewalk for at least a half-hour. If he'd had a hose we'd have been set for the evening.

(*i type and type and type whilst I have a minute or two to myself, due to tv induced catotonics or actual sleeep (ha!) at naptime, and then I am left with a post that is not only discombobulated, but unpleasantly paragraphed and all bunched and mushed in the picture category. SO, I say, to myself. I will post shorter, more frequent, less pictified entries. It is the only solution. I will really try. Maybe i can hit my stride and stop trying to post at either naptime or in the middle of the night. hehehe. We'll see.) For now, I appologize for the weird layout.

sweetness

We're home! Our trip was awesome and amazing, just like Ethiopia and all the people we met on our trip. I don't have any words of wisdom that others haven't already shared on what to pack or how much money to bring, just be ready to open your heart and your mind and let the goodness of Ethiopia flow into you. I am sure my body will be processing the trip for the rest of my life. It was powerful in so many ways, especially emotionally. It was viceral. I wouldn't change a thing about our trip and look forward to the next one. I'm only sad that Tirfe won't remember her first 8 months in Ethiopia more vividly, but I know for certain it is part of her and she will carry it in her soul always, it is in the fiber of her being. Thank goodness. Ethiopia and Tirfe are quite beautiful and dynamic. I will always ponder with amazement and sadness the way this little lady became my daughter. I will ponder her beauty and amazing spirit as well.

Our time at home has been equally as amazing. The boys are doing great with Tirfe, loving her and playing with her all day long. Arlo can't get enough of her and asks to hold her all the time, then when I come to take her he says, "just a little longer..." too cute! The adjustment so far has been a breeze for us all, it seems we were ready for number five in this family, she fits and we are better than ever. The boys are getting along great with the extra sibling, they aren't going head to head as often fighting for attention. I guess there is just more love now, more goodness, more giggles and tickles, more joy. I know I feel it. I think they do too!

Today Tirfe played pirates with the boys (and had her very own pirate sword curtosy of Arlo), she also enjoyed a brief stints as a very immobile super spy, she played tools with the boys (hammering happily), and she was offered a ride on a gator once or twice (which I politely declined on her behalf, at least for now...). It is really fun at our house. I love it. Tirfe and I watched the boys make mud pools in the backyard yesterday with the hose and some shovels (big yard+ shovel=endless fun for kids!) I can tell she will be right there with them as soon as possible. These big brothers make the transition so much easier for Tirfe, they are so genuine, loving, and entertaining. They fill the house with their energy. I think I can speak for both of us when I say we are going to have sooo much fun together.

Ok, think I am done oooozing joy. But it is really pretty fun and lovely right now. teehee. (Check back with me when three kids have the flu at the same time this winter....)

xo

Boys. A post in honor of missing them.

Leaving the Lights on

So, my sweet Andy is a sentimental man. He saged our house and the cars today with a prayer tie he made at sweat a month or two ago. He just knew it was needed, it was time. He put rescue remedy on my heel today when I was lying in bed a tad overwhelmed with everything.

My thoughts are swirling. Am I capable? Am I a whole freaking crapload better than capable? Of course not. But probably. Yes I am. Balance.

My sweet Andy usually shuts off all outdoor lights at night. Don't want to bother our ONE neighbor. It could shine in a window and keep them from sweet slumber. But, we've asked, and it doesn't. Never-the-less, the outdoor lights are not left on unless Andy is away (when all windows and doors are secured, and outdoor lights are most certainly on). UNTIL RECENTLY. Now, we leave our porch lights on. They are a strand of lights, some would call holiday lights, we refer to them as whimsy; and we leave them on, day and night on our porch, because Andy says they will help Tirfe find her way home. They are a beacon, a message, a sign, that we are alert, so aware and calling her precious soul to us. We are leaving a light on. It wasn't my idea, nothing to do with me. Intriguing, so I asked, and that was the answer I recieved: They are for Tirfe. Gentle smile, of course... I know.

Tomorrow we will leave the boys, the precious...amazing...beautiful boys, and head to Ethiopia to bring our precious, amazing, beautiful daughter home. Holy F. This is so amazing. So SO SO SO SO SO Amazing. Good god, I am meeting my daughter finally, finally, FINALLY. Girl, you are so loved. As YOU are. Who you are. Teach us about you, we are so ready to learn. Tirfe, I am absolutely sure Daddy will never turn those lights out again.

May you always know the truth and see the light surrounding you.

on borrowed time

WE LEAVE FOR ETHIOPIA ON MONDAY!!!!!!!!!

Because I only have one child here right now and he is sleeping, this is going to be a to the point post of what we are up to right now. I really need a nap too. We all have colds and have been running around like crazy (good crazy, but still crazy!) for the last week.

Wednesday we got confirmation of our travel date. We were planning to leave on the 1st, but while we were waiting for our confirmation, tickets went up nearly a thousand dollars a piece for that day! So we looked at some other options and ended up buying tickets to leave on Monday the 29th instead. Five days from the day we purchased them. Yikes!!

We are trying to get everything together, write wills (last minute I know), reschedule Andy's patients, get all of our paperwork together, set the boys up for while we are gone (Nana is coming to our house to watch them!!), book a hotel for Tuesday and Wednesday in ET (no luck getting through yet), do last minute shopping ($$$ yikes), get the neighbor to take care of our dogs and cat for 10 days (a nana can only take so much!), love up the boys and soak up our time with them, download pictures and charge cameras, remember our passports and tickets, and partake in all the joy of Andy's sister's wedding on Saturday. The boys are all in the wedding, they got their tuxes yesterday. The rehersal and grooms dinner were last night. We also really, really need to mow the lawn and teach Nana how to care for Andy's saltwater fish tank.

It is good to be so busy, it keeps my mind off the plane ride, until the middle of the night when I roll over and my brain starts going at a million miles an hour. I don't like to fly. At all. But I can't wait to get on that plane and get there. I can't wait to embrace Africa, Ethiopia, our daughter. I am in shock that we are actually getting ready to meet her for real, and bring her home. Shock. I won't believe it until we are home. It is so surreal. Amazing. Heartbreaking and beautiful. Tirfe, you ARE abundance.

Wish us well and send mojo to me for peace on the flight, it would mean a lot to me. :)

Off to nap. Aesa, please keep those beautiful eyes closed for just another hour or so.

Tentative Travel Date

Yikes, Eeek, holy schmoly, what's that?, huh, oh me oh my....

We have a tentative travel date of July 2nd. We are waiting on T's embassy medical to be completed before it becomes a confirmed date, but we actually got to call a travel agent to put tickets on hold! Yahoo!

I can't even begin to think about everything that we need to do, check, and recheck before we get on the plane, so I thought blogging would be good enough for today. Our weeks until then are extremely busy with my dad and my mother in law celebrating their birthdays yesterday, a concert this friday night (Refugee Allstars- I am so excited!) the Mehaber on Saturday (I am on the committee this year), Father's Day for my husband and our fathers' on Sunday, and my sister-in-law's wedding next Saturday which Andy and the boys are all in. Ummm, then we could be leaving 4 days after the wedding. I love the it. Things will fall into place with some help from the Nana (we love you nana!!) Yikes. Joyous, joyous, frantic preparation. We also start swimming lessons and tumbling this week and Arlo has camp at the University every night next week. I wonder what I am going to forget. For today, I will make list after list of lists I need to make.

We really are SO close. Two weeks and counting. Yippee!

on my mind

Certain lyrics pop to the front the mind at moments when they are opportune... Here's where I'm at right now...thanks bob.

Corrina, Corrina,Gal, where you been so long?

Corrina, Corrina,Gal, where you been so long?

I been worr'in' 'bout you, baby,Baby, please come home.
I got a bird that whistles,I got a bird that sings.

I got a bird that whistles,I got a bird that sings.

But I ain' a-got Corrina,Life don't mean a thing.
Corrina, Corrina,Gal, you're on my mind.

Corrina, Corrina,Gal, you're on my mind.

I'm a-thinkin' 'bout you, baby,I just can't keep from crying.

No, her name is not Corrina (although that was a top contender for Aesa, were he a she) but, you get the jist. I love this girl. She is on my mind. I can't wait to show her the whistling and singing awaiting her here in our home. I can't wait to show her the love of her big brothers', they have plans for you little lady, fun, fun, fun.

I am thinking about you baby. You've been on my mind. I keep thinking about you baby. Baby, please come home.

xoxo, Mom (and Dad- who claims he gets to pick out your outfit the first day we meet. His eyes can't keep from cryin'.)