Brian's Mom is in town this week, so we decided to take some family photos while she's here. We met up with my mom, as well as my sister and her family at a photo studio and took lots of fun pics!
Three generations: my mom, me, and the boys!
The triumphant trio: my mom, sister and me.
Zachary (9 months old) and Jeremy (27 months old)
Jeremy
Our family with both grandmothers (Nana and Gramma).
My baby is growing up so fast! He as four teeth now, and he's becoming more active every day! I love seeing his personality blooming, and these photos show some of his cute expressions.
Today marks a special today... Today you have been with us longer than you were without us. I'm not sure why, but it somehow feels like an important milestone.
Words cannot fully express what a joy you are! My heart brims over with happiness and contentment just thinking about you, my son. I suppose that every orphan's story has either a sad beginning or a sad chapter. While I'll never understand why God allows suffering and pain, I'm thankful that He is a God who can and does redeem difficult situations. When I really think about it, I'm amazed at what God has done! He knew two little boys in Ethiopia needed parents, and He knew a married couple in Texas who wanted two little children. Then He brought us together and created a family. A forever family. I may not have been in your life for the first four and a half months, but now that we're together, I'm here to stay. You're part of our family, and you always will be!
I had a wonderful chat on the phone this morning with my sister-in-law who lives in the Dallas area. She said that she shows her kids pictures of Jeremy and Zachary whenever we send them. Recently, one of her kids (after looking at pics of J&Z), said, "Mommy, I would like brown skin please!"
You are actually almost nine months old now, but this has been a big month for you, and I want to write about it before time slips away!
While you were eight months old, so much happened! You had your first Christmas! I'm not sure if all you wanted for Christmas was your two front teeth, but if that was your Christmas wish, it came true! You got your first tooth on your last day of being 7 months old. It was a top tooth. A week later, the other top tooth broke through. And about a week ago, you got your first bottom tooth. The second bottom tooth is trying to break through, so I'm guessing you'll have a total of four teeth any day now!
At eight months old, your personality is coming out more and more. You're such a delightful boy! You love to be held and your smile lights up your beautiful face (and warms my heart, too, by the way)!
You're not crawling yet, but you're very strong, and you have no problem pushing up on your hands. You can roll all over the place and scoot yourself backward. It's really adorable, but sometimes you get frustrated because you end up backing your legs under a piece of furniture and you get stuck! Fear not, though, Mama and Daddy come to your rescue!
I'm so happy that the sweet personality you came to us with at four months old is truly a part of who you are. You're such a laid-back baby boy, and your Daddy and I can't get enough of your adorableness!
Today, you had a real landmark achievement. When I put you in a sitting position on the floor in our living room, you sat there playing with your toys for about five minutes unassisted! Way to go! That is definitely the longest you've been able to sit by yourself without losing your balance. Yea, Zachary!
Zachary, I'm so blessed, honored, and humbled that God placed you in our family. It truly is a miracle, this adoption! If Dad and I could have searched the entire world, we couldn't have found a more perfect match than Jeremy and you. I give all the glory to God for making this match for us, and I thank Him for working in such a beautiful way.
We became a family of four on August 30, 2010 when we adopted our two beautiful sons in Ethiopia. In March 2013, our Texas-born daughter made us a party of five!
January 2009 - We saw Slumdog Millionaire, and God really began to stir our hearts about international adoption.
February 2009 - We had serious conversations and prayer about adopting from Ethiopia.
March 2009 - We had our phone orientation with Gladney (our adoption agency), decided to adopt from Ethiopia, and sent away for our application.
April 2009 - We submitted our application to Gladney, and began the paper chase!
May 2009 - We had our doctor appointments, continued the paper chase, and had our homestudy visit.
June 2009 - We submitted our last item of required paperwork to accompany our application to Gladney. Our homestudy report was completed and submitted to Gladney. On June 30th, our second anniversary, we received word from Gladney that we were fully approved to be an adoptive family through the Gladney Center, and that they sent our homestudy to CIS.
July 2009 - We received our "invitation" from CIS to come for fingerprinting. We were fingerprinted on July 18, 2009.
September 2009 - Our CIS approval notice arrived in the mail. Dossier completed and sent off on September 8. Placed on Gladney's wait list on September 8.
May 2010 - We received our referral for two boys--brothers--on May 24. The older is 19 months old. The younger is 1 month old.
July 2010 - We passed phase one of the court process on July 19th.
August 2010 - We traveled to Addis Ababa to meet the boys, go to court, legally become their parents, sight see a bit, and return home for three weeks. We returned to Ethiopia on August 30th, when they were placed forever in our arms! We are a family of four!
October 2010 - We received the boys' Certificates of Citizenship in the Mail from CIS!
November 2010 - We completed the Recognition of Foreign Adoption Decree process here in Texas, and received the boys' original birth certificates issued by the state of Texas!
