Life With Nyah

Happy Easter...and Good-bye Blog

2011-04-30T17:14:00.004-04:00

Better late than never...Happy Easter!!! It's hard to believe, but we have come full circle & are celebrating Easter for the second time together. The Nyah we know & love today is a far cry from the quiet little baby we celebrated with last year! :) She is now a running, jumping, non-stop talking toddler who knows EXACTLY what she wants & is persistent about getting it! All kidding aside, she is doing so well...I am amazed every day at the new things she learns. It's fun to see her personality continue to develop...she got a double dose in that department!

I have decided to discontinue our blog...life is getting busier & I don't seem to have much time to keep up with my blog posts. Thank you to everyone who has followed along with our journey & prayed for us along the way. Those prayers have been answered & I thank God every day for my happy, healthy, beautiful little girl!!!

Gotcha Day celebration continues...

2011-03-19T21:43:00.007-04:00

These 3 children have very strong ties...they share a history of circumstances that brought them together at an orphanage in Awassa, Ethiopia. Now, by the grace of God's design, they are all living in West Michigan and can continue to share in each other's lives.

To celebrate the 1st anniversary of our children coming home, we went to GoJo to enjoy some delicious Ethiopian food & the great company of our friends!!!

When I look at these pictures, it brings me back to the day we first met one year ago. When I think about everything they've been through, it makes my heart smile to see how happy & healthy they all are now! What a blessing these 3 little ones are to all of us!!!

Gotcha Day Anniversary

2011-03-15T22:10:00.005-04:00

I knew it had been a while since my last post, but I'm just now realizing how long...it's been a busy couple of months! Between sickness (which we keep passing back & forth) & teething, sleep has become a precious thing, so there has been little time for blogging.
Aside from that, Nyah is doing exceptionally well...she's learning so many new things, it's hard to keep track of them anymore. She's talking A LOT, attempting to repeat everything I say (yikes!), running everywhere, climbing on everything, dancing, singing & cracking us all up with her little "Nyah-isms".
On March 12, we celebrated the 1st anniversary of our "Gotcha Day". I just can't believe it's been a year already...fastest year of my life!!! And the most wonderful by far...she is truly the most amazing gift from God!
Here are a few photos of her with her Gotcha Day cake. When I put it in front of her, she looked at me like "are you serious Mom???", but she only hesitated for a moment. :)

So now we begin our 2nd year together...looking forward to the adventures ahead of us!

Happy Gotcha Day Baby Girl...I love you so much!!!

Friends, Food & Fun!!!

2011-01-08T22:37:00.006-05:00

We started our weekend by getting together with our S.C.A.M. friends on Friday evening which also happened to be Ganna, the Ethiopian Christmas. Here's Nyah in her traditional clothing to celebrate the holiday. We've just discovered a new favorite...spaghetti!!! I haven't tried to give it to her until now & she absolutely LOVES it! She immediately figured out how to "slurp" up the noodles, so not only does it taste good, it's fun to eat. :) Although, I need to find a bib that covers her entire body...and her chair...and the table. :)
Since it's officially winter & we live near the lakeshore, I figured I better buy a sled for Nyah. We tried it out today & she had a blast. I pulled her around the backyard & she just grinned from ear to ear! When I told her it was time to go in, she pointed to the backyard & showed me the sign for "more". And just to be sure she was making her point, she followed it with the sign for "please"...how could I resist?! It's so hard for me to believe, but Nyah is 18 months old today. Time is flying by so quickly! It seems like she has become a "big girl" overnight...she no longer uses her "binky" & she has decided she is too big for a high chair, so we (yes, me too) eat our meals at a little kiddie table. She also thinks she is too big for a bib, but as you can see from the spaghetti photo above, she is clearly wrong about that! :) She is learning so many new words & growing like a weed, too.

Here are a couple of her 18 month photos...

But no matter how big she gets, she'll always be my baby girl!!!

Happy New Year!!!

2011-01-01T23:10:00.002-05:00

When I look back at 2010, it's all kind of a blur...it's hard to believe so much has happened in a single year! Becoming a mother, bringing my daughter home & watching her grow before my eyes has made this the most exciting & blessed year ever! I look forward to a new year & all that it has in store for us!

Happy New Year!!!

A Very Special Christmas!!!

2010-12-26T13:12:00.005-05:00

What a blessing to have my daughter home with me this Christmas...our first Christmas together as a family! She has brought so much joy to so many lives...truly a gift from above!!!

Nyah has definitely enjoyed all of the celebrating...she caught on to the unwrapping of the gifts pretty quickly, though she was very conscious of throwing the paper away...every little piece of wrapping paper she ripped off (no matter how small) went immediately into the garbage! So, as you can imagine, this was a lengthy process! :) It was so much fun to see the excitement through her eyes...it made me feel like a kid again!

We always celebrate with my immediate family on Christmas Eve, so Nyah was surrounded by all of her grandparents (& great grandma), aunts, uncles & cousins who love her so much! Then Christmas morning, we had our little family celebration with Nyah, Mama & YaYa (this is what she calls my mom). Then we went to spend some time with our dear friends later in the day. As you can see, Nyah is loved (& yes, spoiled) by so many!

Playing with her new "food" w/her cousin Lauren. Opening gifts from our friends
Giving a gift of Ethiopian coffee & mugs that say "Aunt" & "Uncle" in Amharic.

My little drummer girl...& no, this is not hers...thank goodness! This catepillar is the same gift I gave my friend's son when he was little...they are all too happy to pay me back for all of the loud & annoying gifts I've ever given their kids...uh oh!

A kitchen set from YaYa

How cute is this...thanking Jesus for her fake food. :)

"Reading" Twas the night before Christmas...

The girl loves her music!!!

Grocery shopping...isn't it funny how kids find this stuff fun?!

This awesome doll house/bookshelf was made by some wonderful friends!
Thanks to all of our friends & family who shared in our first Christmas together & helped to make it so special. Above all, thank you to our Father in heaven for blessing our family with Nyah, our most precious gift!!!

A visit with Santa...

2010-12-20T21:42:00.002-05:00

We finally made it to see Santa today! As you can see by the look on her face, Nyah was not so sure about this whole situation. The "elf"/photographer said "Wow, she's really giving me the evil eye"! I was just happy she wasn't screaming. :)

Things have sure changed since the days of the polaroid in the cardboard frame...now you can get your photo on a USB flash drive! And yes, I was that mom who bought the photo package with multiple sizes, the flash drive, the photo ornament AND the keychain! What can I say...she my first! :)

American Girl

2010-12-16T22:51:00.004-05:00

It's official...Nyah is an American girl! We received her certificate of citizenship in the mail today. Though I love her Ethiopian culture & always want her to be proud of her heritage, I'm glad to have this formality taken care of. This also marks the end of the paperwork trail, so I'm very happy about that. :)

One year ago...

2010-12-16T22:32:00.002-05:00

It's hard to believe that yesterday marked one year since I received the phone call that changed my life. I will never forget the overwhelming joy I felt when I heard the words "it's a girl!". Here is the referral picture that was emailed to me that night...

And here she is a year later...What an incredible year it's been! I am so blessed!

"Pretties"

2010-12-11T22:46:00.004-05:00

I've been contemplating getting Nyah's ears pierced for a while & finally decided to do it today. I was a little nervous about doing it because of how she might respond...for those of you who know my daughter, you know she can be a bit dramatic. :)
She was full of smiles & was jabbering away with the ladies at the piercing pagoda until they went to mark her ears...she then turned her head & adamantly said "No way!" (this is her newest phrase...it gets used a lot!). So yes, I felt like a big meany as I had my child in a basket hold while everybody walked by & stared! She fussed for a few minutes & then we were on our way with our new "pretties". We decided on little butterflies...they look adorable on her!

Teeth, Pee & Snow...these are BIG things in our little world!

2010-12-05T22:52:00.004-05:00

Funny how your perspective changes once you become a parent...I never thought I'd be so excited about teeth, pee & snow!

Teeth...
Nyah didn't cut her first 2 teeth until she was almost a year old. And there has been no sign of any more for the last 5 months! I was beginning to think she would be starting Kindergarten with nothing more than her 2 bottom teeth! :) I even went so far as to ask my dentist if this was something I should be concerned about...he assured me it was not & more teeth would pop through eventually.
So this morning, Nyah was sitting on my lap & I said "Are you ever going to get any more teeth?" to which she appropriately nodded her head. I got her to open her mouth & let me look (not an easy task!), first on the bottom...nothing, then on the top...I was so shocked when I saw not one but TWO little white teeth popping through! Yay!

Pee...
Over the past week or so, Nyah has started telling me when she has a dirty diaper...she pats her butt & says "poo poo". So I figured I'd get the musical potty chair out (as soon as the child goes to the bathroom, celebratory music starts to play!) & let her check it out. I know she's pretty young to really start potty training, but I thought I'd let her try it out & just see what happened.
So I put her on it this morning & within seconds there was celebration music playing...I found myself jumping up & down, clapping & chanting things like "Yay for pee!". The poor girl had no idea what was going on, but Mama was acting like a lunatic, so it made her smile. :)
She did this 4 times & then was over it, so we'll see what tomorrow brings...

Snow...
Today we went out to play in the snow for the very first time! It happened just like I've heard many times over...I wrestled with her to get her snow pants, boots, coat & mittens on & just as I'm putting my coat on, I hear "poo poo"...of course! So we take it all off again & start over. But we did finally make it outside...there wasn't a lot of playing, but she loved eating the snow!

It was a great day with my favorite girl!!!

SCAM Babies

2010-12-03T23:38:00.004-05:00

As you can see from my lack of posting, it's been a busy month! On top of being busy with our normal day-to-day schedule, I'm learning that a 16-month-old child does not stop moving until they're asleep! Nyah is growing like a weed...although it makes me sad to leave the baby stage, I'm enjoying this new stage of toddlerhood as well. I love watching her personality develop...she is such a funny kid!

Tonight we had our monthly get-together with our SCAM group (Single Christian Adoptive Moms). I always look forward to our time together! Here's a cute photo of our 1-year olds...

We love you guys!!!

Happy Halloween!!!

2010-10-30T22:07:00.009-04:00

Another first...our 1st Halloween together! We went costume shopping a couple of weeks ago. There were a lot of cute things to choose from, so I held up a few different costumes & asked Nyah which one she liked...she walked right up to the giraffe & hugged it. So a giraffe she was...a pretty cute one I must say! :)
Nyah's personal photographer :) took some great pictures of her sportin' her costume...thanks again Tony!

A friend of mine gave Nyah a Minnie Mouse costume that her daughter had worn. It was a little big, so the ears kinda flopped down. When I put it on her, I showed her in the mirror...she smiled & said "Ruff, Ruff". :)

Not so happy...
And my favorite...the meltdown!
Tonight, we stopped by to visit our friends & check out their costumes before heading out to trick-or-treat.

Then we went trick-or-treating with Nyah's cousins, Evan & Chase (aka "Chloe" LOL)
And more trick-or-treating with her other cousins, Seth & Lauren.

Although she didn't really grasp the concept of trick-or-treating, she enjoyed watching all of the kids in their costumes & had a fun night!

Cousins rock!!!

2010-10-17T21:34:00.003-04:00

Nyah had lots of family time this weekend, especially with her cousin Evan who just adores her. It was his birthday Saturday, so he came over to hang out & spend the night...Nyah loved having a big playmate around! He carved her a pumpkin in honor of her first Halloween...we thought it would be fun to let her dig in & play with the pumpkin "guts", but she wanted nothing to do with that slimy stuff!

Monkey see...monkey do!

Movie buddies

Nyah thought she was pretty cool having breakfast at the "big" table :)

First Day of "School"

2010-10-12T21:59:00.003-04:00

It's official...Nyah is not a baby anymore! She started "school" today...I enrolled her in a bilingual class, "Small Talk for Kids", it's part of the Spanish-immersion preschool program at Zeeland Christian called "El Puente" (The Bridge). It's taught by a native Spanish-speaking teacher & the entire class is conducted in Spanish...they sing songs, play games & do some fun learning activities. I figured this is the best time for her to begin learning a second language & it will help prepare her for the preschool program when that time comes. It's also another fun thing to add to her social calendar! :)

Snack time!

She looks like such a big girl!

She's already said her first Spanish word..."agua". :) This is going to be fun!

Adios!

Klackles...

2010-10-09T22:30:00.006-04:00

We spent the day with friends at Klackle's Orchard...what a fun place! There were animals to pet, toys to climb & bounce around on, wagon rides, apples & pumpkins to pick and most importantly...doughnuts, caramel apples & cider! :) We were lucky enough to have warm, sunny weather too! It was a great day with great friends!!!

Sleepy Head

2010-10-07T22:25:00.003-04:00

Last weekend, I went into Nyah's room to check on her because she was sleeping in later than usual & this is what I saw...

2010-10-03T21:04:00.003-04:00

Just in case you need a little laugh...

Baptism

2010-10-02T01:02:00.006-04:00

Sunday, Sept. 19 was a very special & important day...this was the day that Nyah & I were baptized together. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect day...the ceremony was held at a place that holds so many happy childhood memories for me, the patio of my best friend's childhood home & her brother, who is just like a brother to me, was the one who baptized us. We were surrounded by family & close friends, and although the forecast called for a cool, rainy day, the sun came out & it was beautiful! : )

I had to include a couple of clips from the video of Nyah showing her "spirited" side...she never disappoints when it comes to entertaining!

Nyah being baptized by my childhood friend/"brother"

Not too sure about all of this

Baptizing herself :)
I prayed for this child and the Lord has granted me what I asked of Him. (1Samuel 1:27)

20 Pound Bully...

2010-09-10T22:19:00.002-04:00

OK, so I've had my first not-so-proud-mama moment. When I picked Nyah up today, my friend who was watching her informed me that my sweet little daughter is a bully! What?! Apparently she was playing with a little boy who was about 2 yrs. old & he tried to take a toy away from her, so she hit him...with her hand...right on his face...and left a mark! I was mortified!!!

Like mothers, like daughters...

2010-08-28T22:39:00.003-04:00

I remember it so well...my grandparents came over to celebrate my 6th birthday. When I opened their gift, I was so thrilled to see that it was the exact same dress that my best friend Mendi & her older sister Marci had. So of course it was a Kodak moment when we all put them on. Mendi & I had always joked that when we had kids, we would get them matching outfits so they could look cool like their moms! :)

Little did I know it, but when we were in Ethiopia, Mendi snuck off one day when we were shopping & bought these dresses for her girls & Nyah. She gave it to her on her 1st birthday, so of course it was another Kodak moment...I wonder if they'll look back at this & laugh like we do at our picture. Probably not...they look much cuter! :)

1-Year Photos

2010-08-06T00:54:00.004-04:00

Here are some of Nyah's 1-year pictures...

We also had our pictures taken together in our matching Ethiopian dresses...

Thank you Tony for the beautiful pictures of my beautiful girl!!!

Busy Days of Summer...

2010-08-05T22:43:00.006-04:00

We've been trying to pack as much fun as possible into our summer days...I return to work full-time next week, so that will be a big change for us but I'm so thankful to have had all of this time together.

The past couple of weeks have been busy ones...lots of visiting with friends & family. Nyah also attended her first wedding (& last for a while :)...had to walk out as soon as the bride came down the aisle. I didn't realize how noisy my child was until I was in a sanctuary full of people & her voice was the only one I could hear...oops!)

Here are some pictures from the last couple of weeks...

We went to visit my friend Ana & her little girls at their cottage in South Haven. Her 3 yr. old helped w/the sunscreen. :) Paloma, Nyah & Stellaluna playing on the beach. Snack time... We had our monthly SCAM (Single, Christian Adoptive Moms) get-together last week. Here's Nyah with my friend Kristen's girls, Rena & Maryn. Playing at the water table
Soap suds...YUM! Getting some hugs from her cousin Chase at the wedding. More love from Evan At the zoo with her cousin, Jaye. To say she loved her slushie would be an understatement...I couldn't remove the straw from her mouth!
Spending the day with GG (Great-Grandma)

Hair...

2010-07-23T23:21:00.004-04:00

Because Nyah's hair is so curly, it's hard to tell how long it really is...I decided to take a straightening iron to it & the result was amazing!

Haha! My 6-year-old niece found this from an old Halloween costume & wanted Nyah to try it on...cracked me up!!!

It's time to say good-bye...

2010-07-17T12:35:00.003-04:00

...to her beloved "Ba".
Nyah had her 1 year well-child visit the other day & her pediatrician said it's time to give up the bottle & switch to the sippy cup which she has been using for a while now but only for juice or water during the day. I'm not looking forward to this transition for a couple of reasons...first of all, Nyah LOVES her "ba". When she sees me getting one ready, her face lights up with the biggest smile & she starts jumping up & down...for some reason, the sippy cup, even with the same contents, does not elicit a fraction of the excitement. Last night as I was rocking her before bed, she sleepily said "ma ma ma", when I said "what honey?", she simply said "Ba". :(
The other reason I'm not looking forward to this is purely selfish...I'm not ready to let go of the baby stage just yet. I've only had a baby for 4 months & that time has flown by so quickly. But I guess I have to get used to it & let her grow...can't have her pulling a "ba" out of her lunch box in Kindergarten! :)
Other than that, her appointment went well. She's very healthy but still hasn't hit 20 pounds. I was hoping she would so I could change her carseat to face forward...I think she'd like it a lot more if she could see what's going on, but we have to wait a little longer. She is 19#3oz. & 28 1/2" long, 20th percentile for both. She had to get 4 more shots :( but after her 15 month appointment, we'll be all caught up til she starts school (I don't even want to think about that!).

1st Birthday Party

2010-07-17T11:44:00.005-04:00

We had Nyah's 1st birthday party on July 11 @ Kirk Park...lots of family & friends came to help her celebrate her special day! She had so much fun playing with all of the kids. She was a little unsure about all of the people gathered around her singing "Happy Birthday" & it took her a minute to really dig in to the cupcake, but once she got a taste, it was all over...literally! After she opened her mountain of gifts, we intended to head down to the beach but she just ran out of gas & fell sound asleep!
She is loving her new toys...every morning she heads to the toy box & takes everything out, then she just bounces from one thing to the next! When my mom was over the other day, she kept bringing toys to her as if to show off her new stuff...it was so cute!
This is my friend's son (who Nyah has never seen before) & as soon as she saw him, she reached over, hugged him & laid her head on his shoulder. It was so sweet!

Sportin' her new bikini

Happy 1st Birthday Baby Girl!!!

2010-07-08T22:43:00.004-04:00

Today is my sweet baby girl's 1st birthday...I can't believe it! Seems like just yesterday I was walking across that room at the orphanage to hold her for the first time. We've been a family for nearly 4 months & it has been the best time of my life. I am amazed every day at how much she grows & learns. Her latest words are "up" & "dog". She has even put 2 words together...when she was sitting in her high chair, she dropped her bottle, pointed at it & said "Ba (which is what she calls her bottle) up". Is it just me or is that brilliant?! She now has 2 teeth & will point to them when you ask her where they are. She loves to dance & has even learned to "snap" her fingers when she hears music. She also holds up her forefinger when you ask her how old she is! I know every parent thinks their child is brilliant, but I'm telling you, she really is...brilliant, funny, beautiful & sassy! :)
So on her birthday, I am reminded of the amazing gift God has given me! I am also reminded that there is a woman out there who had to make an incredible sacrifice in order for me to experience the joy of having Nyah as my daughter. I am sure she is reminded of that sacrifice daily but especially on her birthday. I am forever grateful to Nyah's birth mother & I pray that God has given her peace in knowing that the decision she made in hopes of giving her child a better life has not only blessed Nyah but everyone whose life she has touched.

I love you to pieces Nyah Kailana...Happy 1st Birthday!!!

4th of July!!!

2010-07-05T22:15:00.004-04:00

To celebrate Nyah's first 4th of July, we headed up to my brother's cottage at Big Star Lake. She loved the boat rides, swimming with Mama in the lake, playing on the beach & getting LOTS of love from her cousins.
As for her first sparkler, she was only slightly interested. But when we got home, they were shooting off the neighborhood fireworks, so we stood out on the deck & watched...every time one went off, she'd say "Pow"...too cute!

Nyah's first boat ride

Chillin' with Uncle Scott

Jammin' to the tunes!

This is her newest face...the look of surprise followed by a big "oooohhh"

Crackin' herself up

A sneak peek at the new teeth

Her first sparkler experience

Splish Splash!

2010-06-25T19:02:00.009-04:00

It's official, summer has begun & we are loving every minute of it! I'm so grateful that Nyah loves to be outside, loves the water & just seems to go with the flow. We've been keeping busy with family functions, sporting events, get-togethers with our adoption group & are fortunate to have friends with pools, so we can keep cool on the hot days.

Nyah has also finally cut her 1st tooth! You can barely see it, but you can definitely feel it! I'm so used to that big toothless grin, it's going to be funny to see her with teeth.

She is becoming quite mischevious these days too...I am amazed at the speed in which she can trash the entire house! And how fast she can make a get-away when I'm coming for something she's not supposed to have! Yes, she keeps me very busy but I have to say, I've never laughed so much! :)

11 months old!!!

2010-06-08T21:24:00.003-04:00

I can't believe how fast these past few months have gone! It seems like just yesterday I saw Nyah's sweet face for the first time & now she's 11 months old...walking, talking & full of personality! I'm so proud of how much she's accomplished in such a short time & thank God for every minute I get to spend with her.
I wanted to post a couple of pictures of her just playing around but it took me nearly 20 pictures just to get these few...she's such a busy body & moves so fast that by the time the shutter closes, I have a picture of the back of her head...or a REALLY close up of her face as she attempts to put the camera in her mouth. :)

Walking like a pro...starting to run already too!

On the move...

2010-06-03T23:28:00.003-04:00

It's official...Nyah is walking!!! She started taking steps about a month ago & then just lost interest...I think she realized crawling was much faster. :) But over the past week, she decided she wanted to try again & now she's all over the place! She kind of resembles Frankenstein, but it's pretty cute!

Life's a Beach!!!

2010-05-23T17:07:00.003-04:00

What a gorgeous day!!! Perfect beach weather, so we headed to Tunnel Park w/my niece & friends. This was our first trip to the beach & I am thrilled to say that she LOVED it...I love it too & was hoping to spend a lot of time there this summer. :)

First things first...had to taste the sand!
Enjoying her new beach toys

Posing in her new bikini that accentuates her well-endowed...belly!
You gotta love that "sand between your toes" feeling!!!

Fun Day at the Zoo

2010-05-22T21:59:00.007-04:00

Today went to Battle Creek to visit some of our friends & spent the afternoon at Binder Park Zoo. Nyah loves animals...she jabbered nonstop & had that little pointer finger working overtime! :) We started off at the Children's Petting Zoo. The goats were a bit aggressive, so she preferred to watch them from the safety of Mama's arms. :)
We bought a cracker so Nyah could feed the giraffe, but when I handed it to her, it went straight into her mouth! When we finally made it around to actually feeding it to the giraffe, she thought that was pretty cool.

However, being licked by that extremely long black tongue...not so cool! :)

The stare down

This was great...I stood Nyah next to the window & this monkey came right up to her, then just sat there staring at her for the longest time.

The cutest zebra ever! :)

All tuckered out after a fun-filled day!!!

Dirt...

2010-05-20T22:19:00.002-04:00

I had the day off yesterday & since it was such a beautiful day, I decided to do some much needed yard work...with Nyah's "help" of course. She absolutely loves being outside & I found out that she also loves...dirt. Not just playing in it & throwing it, but eating it! I wasn't quite fast enough to intervene between her mouth & a fistful of dirt. As I was telling her how "yucky" it was & trying to dig it out of her mouth, she looked at me with that big toothless grin, muddy saliva dripping down her chin. I don't think I'll include those photos in my next post-adoption report! :) Despite the extra minerals in her diet, we got a little bit of work done & had a lot of fun!

Still not wild about the feeling of grass & chose to do the "bear crawl" instead.

Helping Mama weed the flower bed.
Climbing her first tree :)

Here's a close up...notice the ring around the mouth. Mmmm Mmmm good!

Fun with Friends

2010-05-16T21:38:00.005-04:00

Nyah started the week off spending Monday at "Auntie" Darci's while I was at work. She & Fischer have become quite good buddies. She'll be there tomorrow too & Darci said he went to bed without any trouble tonight saying, "the faster I go to bed, the faster Nyah will be here." How cute is that?! Tuesday we had a play date with Nyah's new friend, Alec, who arrived home from Ethiopia last December. His sisters refer to Nyah as Alec's "girlfriend". :)

Nyah spent Friday at her Papa's house. Her Great-Grandma came to visit & gave her plenty of love!
Saturday, we went to Grayson's 1st birthday party. She loved playing with the other kids & even moreso with Grayson's new toys. She watched pretty intently as he ate his birthday cake...
I think she will thoroughly enjoy it when her turn comes!

Today we had another play date with my friend Deb's girls, Madison & Jillian. Deb & I have been friends since college & used to talk about how one day our kids would be friends, so it was kind of surreal to see them all sitting together today. Someday we'll tell them stories about the crazy things their mommies used to do...well, maybe. :)

Happy Mother's Day!!!

2010-05-09T22:44:00.006-04:00

Today was my first Mother's Day & it was just perfect! I was awakened by a little finger poking me in the ear & when I turned my head, I saw my baby girl next to me with the most precious smile on her face...that smile is the best gift ever!
I am finally a mother...this is something I have waited for & wanted for such a long time, I feel so blessed that God chose me to love & care for Nyah. There is no word to describe the joy I feel in my heart when I look at her sweet little face!
I saw this adoption poem after I received Nyah's referral & loved it...
I didn't give you the gift of life
But in my heart I know
The love I feel is deep and real
As if it had been so
For us to have each other
Is like a dream come true
No, I didn't give you the gift of life
Life gave me the gift of you

There is no sweeter sound than that of the word "Mama"!

Back to Work :(

2010-05-08T12:21:00.002-04:00

It was such a gift to spend the last 8 weeks with my precious daughter, to see her from the moment she woke up until she closed her eyes at night. She has already changed so much from the first time I held her...she has grown (a lot!), understands so many words & has taken her first steps. With each passing day, I love her more than I ever thought possible & our bond becomes stronger...which is why it was so hard to give up that time & return to work, but we do what we must do. Fortunately, I have wonderful friends & family who have offered to care for Nyah while I'm at work. I know she is being loved & is having a blast, so that makes it a little easier.

From the pictures, you can see she is a hit with the kids. They jumped right in to help take care of her & were proud to show her off to their friends at school.

Thank you Darci, Jo Jo, Kenzie, Fischer, Mom, Renee, Scott, Kailee, Derek, Evan & Chase for taking care of my little peanut this week!!!

Family Time

2010-05-01T23:19:00.003-04:00

Nyah got lots of love from her cousins this weekend...Friday we took advantage of the beautiful weather & spent the afternoon at the park with her cousin Lauren who just adores her!
This afternoon, Kailee & the boys came over for a visit...she was tuckered out after being showered with all of that attention & ended up falling asleep in Derek's arms.
They sure do love you Baby Girl!!! :)

Binky Bandit

2010-05-01T22:43:00.003-04:00

Friday night we got together for our monthly SCAM group meeting. This month we had a special reason to celebrate...2 more beautiful baby girls will be joining our "family". Amy & Beth both received their referrals this week & will be traveling some time this summer to bring their daughters home! So very happy for you girls!!!

I had to include these cute pics of my little binky bandit...we sat the girls down together to play & Nyah quickly discovered Grace's binky & decided to try it out. Apparently she liked it better than her own because she kept yanking at poor Grace's dress, determined to put that binky in her mouth!

As always, we had a great time & look forward to seeing everyone next time!

Baby Steps

2010-04-25T21:33:00.005-04:00

Well it's official...Nyah has taken her first steps today! She's been standing more & more over the past couple of weeks, so I knew it wouldn't be too much longer before she tried. We were playing in the living room & all of a sudden, she reached for me & took 2 steps...then I ruined it by getting a little over-excited...I screamed & she fell. Since I wasn't able to see her roll over, sit or crawl for the first time, I was just so happy to be able to see her first steps!!!

Butterflies

2010-04-14T00:15:00.007-04:00

Today we visited our friends, Amy & Aliya. Amy is one of the Single, Christian, Adoptive Moms (SCAMs as we refer to ourselves) that I get together with every month. We decided to go to Meijer Gardens so the girls could see the butterflies. I think Nyah enjoyed watching Aliya more than the butterflies, but she did point & grunt on a few occasions as they fluttered by. Regardless, we had fun hanging out with our friends.
Thanks for the great day Amy & Aliya!!!

Our Journey...Together At Last!!!

2010-04-12T10:21:00.002-04:00

Well I've finally managed to put together a montage of photos & video of meeting Nyah. It's so hard to believe it was only a month ago...as I watched this video, it brought tears to my eyes again. Sometimes I still have to pinch myself because I can't believe how lucky I am!!!

Nine Months Old!!!

2010-04-08T22:41:00.002-04:00

Today my baby girl is 9 months old! It's hard to believe we haven't even been home for quite 3 weeks...it feels like she's been here since she was born. We are settling into somewhat of a schedule & are just enjoying our time together. I feel so fortunate to have this time to stay home & just BE with her. It hit me the other day that someday, when I think back on the best times of my life, I will think of now...I'm just trying to live life in slow motion & savor every moment as I know they will pass by too quickly. It's amazing how motherhood changes your perspective on so many things. Before, I would wish time away in anticipation of some upcoming event, but now I am content to just live in the moment. I am blessed beyond belief to have such an amazing daughter...I love her more than I ever dreamed possible!!!

Sign Language

2010-04-06T23:37:00.005-04:00

I thought it would be a great idea to teach Nyah some baby sign language...I've heard all these great things about how it helps babies to express themselves before they can actually speak, so I went online & looked up a few signs & have been working on this with her over the past few days. I started with the word "more" & each time I would show her the sign, she just laughed. Now I know why...she had her own sign for "more" & I have to admit, it's much cuter. Can't wait to see what she'll teach me next! :)

Happy Easter!!!

2010-04-04T22:14:00.003-04:00

I was so excited to celebrate our first holiday together as a family...Nyah's first Easter. It was a beautiful day...we celebrated with family & my Mom outdid herself with an amazing dinner! Nyah was loved on by everyone, especially her cousins...they just adore her! She even received her first pedicure...Aunt Renee couldn't resist painting those little toes pink!

Hope you all had a blessed day!

P.S. Thank you for the beautiful Easter dress Grandma Betty!

Nyah Pics

2010-03-26T21:54:00.005-04:00

It's been a wonderful but very busy week...we've had lots of visitors & Nyah's first doctor's appointment. She's doing so well & is such a happy baby. I am so blessed to have her! I know a lot of you have been patiently waiting for new photos & I finally have a free minute to post some. Enjoy!!!

Me & Nyah in Ethiopia in traditional Ethiopian dress.

Here are some fun photos taken by a friend.

Home Sweet Home!

2010-03-21T10:04:00.002-04:00

We made it! It was a very long day of travel, but Nyah did great...she slept, played, socialized with everyone on the plane...minimal fussing, I can't believe how well she handled it all. Better than me for sure, I looked like a wreck! :)
Thank you to the "welcoming committee" at the airport! It was wonderful to see everyone there & feel such overwhelming love!
Once I get a little more organized, I will post more about our time in Ethiopia along with some pictures. It was such an amazing experience...so hard to find the words to describe it.
Thank you again to everyone for your prayers...they were definitely answered...we all stayed safe, healthy & had a wonderful time!

Embassy Day

2010-03-16T11:01:00.001-04:00

Hi Everyone!
Just wanted to let you all know things are going very well...I couldn't have dreamed that Nyah would have attached so quickly, but it's as if she has been with me from the beginning. I love how she clings to me & looks at me with the sweetest expression on her face...so in love with her!
Today we went to the embassy for our appointment. All went well, so now all of the "processes" are completed & I can bring her home!
Tomorrow we will do some shopping & go to a cultural dinner/dance. Thursday we will go on a hiking excursion at Entoto Mountain & Friday we will see the museum & visit another orphanage. Then we will head home!
See you all soon!
Much love,
Kim

In My Arms at Last!!!

2010-03-13T11:05:00.001-05:00

Yesterday was the most amazing day of my life! Me & 3 other adoptive families were brought to the orphanage in the morning to meet our children for the first time. I held it together on the ride there until I saw the "Bethany Christian Services" sign on the gate outside the orphanage...at that point, I couldn't hold it in any longer. After waiting outside for what felt like an eternity, they asked me to come inside. Sitting on a mat on the floor was the most beautiful baby girl...MY daughter! I rushed over to her, picked her up & just couldn't stop kissing her. She is absolutely perfect! She is handling the transition so well, I feel like we already have that connection that I dreamed about. She is so tiny but is healthy & loves to snuggle. :)
We will have a busy week & do not have easy access to internet, so I am not sure when I will be able to update again, but I just wanted to let you all know we are doing wonderful & I can't wait for you all to meet this precious baby girl!
P.S. Sue, I met "Baby J"...he is so adorable & seems healthy! I have pictures for you...my niece fell in love with him & gave him lots of love for you! Beth, I met "Z" today & gave him his gift...it brought a huge smile to his face when I told him it was from his family. He put the shirt on & I have a picture for you.
See you all in a week!!!

Today is the day...

2010-03-10T04:27:00.002-05:00

Well this is it...after nearly 2 years of waiting, the day has finally arrived...I'm leaving for the airport in a few minutes to go to Ethiopia! It's still so surreal...I am going to meet my daughter for the first time! I can't even wrap my head around it, the emotions I'm feeling right now are nothing short of overwhelming. I am so excited to see her, hold her & love on her!!!
I will try my best to keep you all updated via my blog & look forward to introducing you to my beautiful daughter when we arrive home on March 20. :)
Please continue to keep us in your prayers!!!

Travel Call!!!

2010-03-03T23:04:00.002-05:00

I can't believe it!!! I got my travel call today & am leaving for Ethiopia in.......1 week!!! We (myself, Renee, Kailee & Mendi) will be flying out on March 10 & arriving back home with Nyah :) on March 20. I'm in a state of shock...though I've waited for this day for nearly 2 years, it's hard to grasp that it's actually happening. I'm sooooo happy & am looking so forward to holding my daughter for the first time!

Love Hurts :)

2010-03-01T21:29:00.003-05:00

We are all officially ready to travel! Despite her extreme aversion to shots, my niece, Kailee, got her travel vaccines today so now we're just waiting for the call! She is so excited to go to Ethiopia & meet her precious little cousin...it makes me so happy that she'll be there to share in the most amazing experience of my life!!!

Soooo Close!!!

2010-02-26T22:02:00.003-05:00

I got an email from my case worker the other day saying that Nyah's birth certificate has been secured & now they are just waiting on her passport. Once the passport is received, they can schedule the embassy date, which is when I'll travel to Ethiopia. The embassy dates are held every 2 weeks, so I'm hoping to be able to make the March 16 date.

After waiting for so long, it's just so surreal to think that I could be home with my daughter within the next few weeks! I'm excited beyond belief!!

Praying for a smooth & speedy process to the embassy date!

It's Official!!!

2010-02-18T20:29:00.003-05:00

This past week has been such an emotional roller coaster! I've gone from feeling completely devastated about not hearing any news re: my court date to feeling completely elated when I learned that there was a lapse in communication & my court date had already taken place. The best news...I passed! So on February 2, Nyah legally became my daughter (even though she was already mine in my heart!). I guess it was a blessing in disguise, because I didn't have to stress about whether or not I was going to pass court. I was joking with a friend today about how God only gives us what we can handle, so apparently He knew I couldn't handle any more stress!
So now I'm waiting for Nyah's passport before they can set the embassy date, which is when I will travel to Ethiopia. They're tentatively saying mid-March, so please continue to keep us in your prayers.
I have to admit, I was failing in the faith department over the past couple of days...to say I was doubting God's timing would be an understatement. I was ready to get on a plane & go to Ethiopia NOW so I could at least spend time with my daughter! Then I felt really guilty when I realized that God had already taken care of things 2 weeks ago. But a friend of mine told me something that made me feel better...she said that's why it's important to surround yourself with believers, because it's natural to worry & doubt God sometimes, but when our faith is weak, we need those people around us to fill in the gaps. Their prayers & belief can cover us until our faith is strengthened again. I've never heard it put that way, but it makes perfect sense. It made me think of all of the wonderful people who have been surrounding & praying for us throughout this whole adoption process. I'm so grateful!

A Visit with Nyah...

2010-02-13T21:18:00.002-05:00

My case worker, Sarah, is in Ethiopia right now doing some training. I received a message from her the other day saying that she met Nyah & was able to give her hugs & kisses for me along with a care package I sent which included: a very soft, snuggly blanket, a baby photo book with a my picture in it, a teddy bear I made at Build-A-Bear with my personalized message recorded for Nyah & some vitamins (it makes the nurse in me feel better!). She said Nyah is so so so sweet :), likes to cuddle & that she has a very soft, little laugh. She also said she can crawl VERY fast! I think I better get the baby gate installed soon! :)
No news on a court date yet. :( I don't know what the hold up is, but I ask for your prayers that it'll happen soon so I can bring my baby girl home!

Baby Shower

2010-02-02T20:55:00.016-05:00

Sunday was an amazing day! I was surrounded by family & friends
(about 90 of them!), all there to help me celebrate my little Nyah. :) I continue to be in awe at the way people have opened their hearts throughout the whole adoption process. The love & support is just overwhelming & nothing makes me happier than to know that my daughter is already loved by so many!

Thank you to everyone for making this day so special!!!

The welcoming committee!

Table setting: Packet of African Wildflower seeds for guests to be reminded of Nyah as the flowers bloom. "Notes to Nyah"...guests were asked to write a message to Nyah so these notes can be given to her one day.

The crew working hard at setting up the most beautiful baby shower ever!

All of my amazing guests! :)

All of this for one little girl?! Where do I begin?

Update from Ethiopia

2010-01-28T20:38:00.002-05:00

Still no word on a court date :( however, I did receive an update on my little peanut this week. She is in excellent health & is a very happy, sociable little girl. They sent several pictures...I didn't think it was possible for her to get any cuter, but she is!!! She has a smile that just melts my heart! And....my baby girl is CRAWLING!!! Crawling at 6 1/2 months...I'm convinced she's gifted! :) I'm happy she's doing so well, but I have to admit, it makes me sad that I'm not there to see her achieve these little milestones. I just can't wait to bring her home & start our life together.
Please keep us in your prayers that we might get a court date SOON!

A Much Needed Message...

2010-01-20T18:04:00.003-05:00

No, unfortunately I'm not writing about a court date yet...although I'm praying I'll hear about that soon. But I did receive some great news...I got an email from one of my Bethany friends who is in Ethiopia to pick up her daughter, and she told me that she was able to see Nyah & play with her a little bit. :) She said Nyah caught her eye because she was playing on the floor just grinning. Then she went over & tickled her little feet & Nyah smiled from ear to ear. She said she looks very happy & healthy! This is music to my ears!!! Not knowing how she's doing has just been eating away at me, but this news gives me some peace of mind. Thanks Michelle!!!

Nyah turns 6 months old!!!

2010-01-08T23:45:00.003-05:00

My sweet baby girl is 6 months old today! I'm still waiting for word on when my court date will be...praying it'll be soon, so I can bring her home! It's so hard every day to know that she is so far away & I hate the thought of missing out on even another moment of her life. I have to believe that God is watching over her & orchestrating every detail involved in bringing her home...I just pray it's soon!

Baby Registry...

2010-01-02T21:18:00.004-05:00

How fun!!! I went to Babies R Us today to register for my baby shower & was joined by my dear friend Deb. Since she has two little girls, she was a huge help, reminding me to register for practical things like outlet covers & corner protectors, not just the cute little outfits that were calling my name! I loved being surrounded by all the baby stuff...it just makes this all seem much more real. After waiting so long, sometimes it felt like it would never happen, but there I was...shopping for my daughter! Ahhh, I love the way that sounds! :)

Surprise Baby Shower...

2009-12-22T21:42:00.008-05:00

I went to work Sunday morning (my home care job w/Danny) & when I pulled up in the driveway, I saw a big neon pink "It's a Girl!" sign on the front door which put a big smile on my face! Then I walked into the house & there was pink everywhere...streamers, balloons, all kinds of pink decorations all over the entire house! Even the Christmas tree was decorated in pink!!!

Later that afternoon, we were going to have our Christmas dinner with Danny's family & all of his nurses. As everyone walked in, they were carrying pink, girly gift bags! Danny's mom had turned the Christmas party into a surprise baby shower! I received so many cute outfits & lots of cool things for Nyah. "Thank you" to everyone for your wonderful gifts! And "thank you" Laurie & Cait...you guys are awesome!!!

Shopping for Nyah...

2009-12-19T23:22:00.003-05:00

Today I hit the mall with one of Nyah's biggest fans...her cousin Chase. Who would think a 9-year-old boy would want to shop for baby girl clothes?! But he loved it!!! What a great shopping partner too...he helped me pick out some adorable outfits. His favorite is this striped dress with the watermelon pockets...sooo cute! He kept saying, "we have to get this...I can just see her little face in this."
She has definitely put a smile on a lot of faces already...just

wait til we see her in person!!!

Can't stop smiling...

2009-12-17T18:08:00.004-05:00

I can honestly say I have never been this happy in my entire life!!! I just

can't stop looking at her picture & wondering how God even made something so beautiful! She is living proof that God answers our prayers far beyond our greatest desires. I just pray that she'll be in my arms soon!

Yesterday was a whirlwind...my phone battery died twice as I continued

to spread the good news. Then I went to Bethany to sign the formal

acceptance letter & fill out the paperwork that will be sent to Ethiopia.

At this point, I just have to wait for a court date...I'm sure it'll be the

most difficult part of the wait yet.

I received my first "pink" gift from my friends at work...a dozen pink roses! :) Thanks Kathy & Jeanne!

Then when I got home, I was surprised by a delivery of another beautiful bouquet from my dear friends, the Terzis family. Thanks Deb, Jason, Madison & Jillian. Oh, and this is the cutest thing of all...I was talking to Deb on the phone & her not-quite-3 yr. old, Jillian, gets on the phone & says "I wanna go to Nyah's house"...my heart just melted!!!

Referral!!!

2009-12-15T23:17:00.003-05:00

It started out a very normal day but ended up being the BEST day ever!!! I received a completely unexpected call this evening from Sarah, my awesome case worker. This was the call I had been praying for...I have been blessed with a beautiful 5 month old baby GIRL!!! She is perfect in every way! I'm still in shock & just can't stop smiling! I am naming her Nyah Kailana
(Nyah means "purpose"& Kailana is a blend of my niece, Kailee & my mom, Lana). Please keep her in your prayers!!!

#3!!!

2009-12-13T21:49:00.002-05:00

Well imagine that...I write about how I haven't heard any news & the next day I receive the news that I've moved up another spot! Actually I found out the family who received their referral actually got their call on December 1st, but it wasn't posted right away. Imagine that, God was answering prayers even though I wasn't aware of it. Kind of humbling...I was quickly reminded that God is constantly at work & He is answering our prayers even when we don't see the results in the time that we'd like. I can look back throughout this whole adoption journey & see the evidence of answered prayers over & over...it is so obvious to me that this is God's plan. I need to keep reminding myself, no matter how difficult the wait, God is putting together all of the pieces of the puzzle & this will all happen in HIS perfect time.
So, YAY, #3!!!

Touching base...

2009-12-10T19:04:00.002-05:00

Wow, it's been so long since I've posted, I forgot my password! Unfortunately, I don't have any exciting news to report, I just wanted to touch base. The past few weeks have been especially difficult...the hardest of the waiting period yet. Maybe it's because the holidays are coming & last year I was positive I would be spending this Christmas with my new baby. Or maybe it's because I feel like I'm so close, that I can't help but think my baby has probably already been born...and if that is the case, I don't want to think of him/her out there alone, without me.
Yes, I know God's timing will be perfect & I see the ways He is still preparing me, but it's still just plain HARD to wait. But I've seen so many of my new adoption friends go through the same agony of waiting & I've seen the incredible happiness they have when they finally get that call, so I know it will happen for me too. What an awesome day that will be!!!
I was reminded by my sis that I'm not in this struggle alone...one day I was sharing with her how hard this wait is for me & she said "ya know, this isn't just hard for you, this is hard for all of us...we already love this baby, too!" I'm so glad I have my family & friends to share in this journey!!!

#4!!!

2009-10-24T20:25:00.002-04:00

Well I am happy to have some news to post...I've moved up one more spot on the list! I really needed to hear some good news. Despite trying to be positive, I'm at a point where I'm feeling frustrated...it seems so close, yet so far away.
Praying for patience...

#5!!!

2009-09-25T17:48:00.002-04:00

I just LOVE when I get to write these posts...moved up another spot! After such a long wait, it's hard to believe I'm finally getting to the point where it could happen any time...I'm sooooo ready!!! It's so surreal to think that my baby may be born already...I just can't wait to see that little face for the first time!
Thank you to all of you who have been praying for us...I can't tell you how much I appreciate it!

# 6!!!

2009-09-03T22:41:00.002-04:00

I can't believe it...I just found out that I moved up 2 more spots!!! I'm so excited!!! The trend has been for referrals to come in about every 4-6 weeks, so when the last group came in I told myself I wasn't going to check the waiting list for a few weeks. I've become a little obsessed with checking it every day & it quickly gets frustrating when there's no activity. So I haven't looked at the list since I moved to #8 last week.

I got together with my Bethany adoption group this evening & we were talking about how excited we were that we had all moved up on the waiting list. Then somebody made mention of me being @ #6...when I went to correct them & said I was #8, they told me more referrals had come in! What an awesome surprise! So, of course, as soon as I got home I checked the waiting list, so I could see it with my own eyes...sure enough, I'm #6!!!

# 8!!!

2009-08-26T22:07:00.002-04:00

I had a dream last night that a bunch of referrals came in & my case worker called to tell me that I had a baby!!! I was so excited when I woke up...until I realized it was just a dream. :( But then I found out tonight that a few referrals did come in...no baby for me yet, but I am up to #8, so I'm hoping it won't be much longer!

SAM

2009-07-19T21:22:00.006-04:00

I recently got together with a group of Single Adoptive Moms (hence the name SAM...thanks Amy!)...we all met through either mutual friends or found each other's blogs. It's been such a blessing to meet this group of amazing women! Even though I have such an awesome family & friends who have been so supportive, it's so important to have someone who understands exactly what you're going through & I have found that in this group. We had such a great time sharing adoption stories & watching the kids play. We already have our next get-together scheduled & hope to be able to meet each month. I can't wait til my little one can join in on the fun!
Here are a few pictures of SAM & their adorable kiddos...

Left to right: Kristen holding Maryn, Rena, Becky, Aliya, Amy, Levi, Abby & Beth

Levi (Beth's son)

Maryn (Kristen's daughter)

Aliya (Amy's daughter)

Abby (Becky's daughter) & Rena (Kristen's daughter)

Thanks ladies...look forward to seeing you all in August!!! :)

June Referrals

2009-06-20T00:13:00.002-04:00

Just wanted to post the latest update...there were 3 referrals that just came in for June, two 2 month old baby boys & a sibling group. So that means I'm 3 spots closer to getting "the call". It's definitely been a slow process, but on the positive side, it's given me lots of time to prepare. By the time the baby comes, I should be REALLY ready...at least until I discover all the things I didn't know! :)

I also have two friends who will be traveling in the beginning of July to bring their children home. Please pray that everything goes well for them & they arrive home safe & sound with their new little ones.

Have a wonderful weekend!!!

Garage Sale Fundraiser

2009-06-06T19:51:00.027-04:00

A couple of months ago, I was thinking of some different fundraising ideas & decided I would try a garage sale, so I asked family & friends if they would donate items they no longer use so I could try to sell them in my sale. Well this is how God works...my AMAZING family & friends (and their family & friends) gave so much that my garage & most of my basement was filled with donations! And if that wasn't enough, they spent hours & hours helping me get things organized before the sale (which was a huge job) & helping during the sale, too!

Mendi's son Parker had a great idea...to make a sign that would let everyone know that the garage sale was a fundraiser for adoption & I'm so glad he did, because so many people told me they came just because they saw the sign!!! I met several families who have adopted or are in the process right now, so it was great to meet them & share our stories.

Here are some of the pictures taken throughout the day...

The kids were keeping their math skills fresh!

Who says work can't be fun?!

Modeling the merchandise!

So thank you, thank you, thank you to each & every person who offered their support in any way...what a huge blessing this is in my adoption journey!!!

New Friends!

2009-05-14T21:31:00.006-04:00

One of the best things about the whole adoption process so far has been the wonderful people I've been able to meet. The other day I got together with another single, adoptive Mom, Amy, who found me through my blog. She adopted her daughter, Aliyah who is now 19 mos. old, from Ethiopia a little over a year ago. When I first pulled up to their house, I saw Aliyah playing outside with her grandparents & it literally brought tears to my eyes! She's unbelievably adorable... soooo cute, she doesn't even look real! I think the tears came when reality hit me...one day, hopefully very soon, I will be blessed with my little one too!!! For so long now, it's felt somewhat like a dream, but seeing her made it feel "real" & made me even more excited than I already was.

It's great to have someone to talk to who understands exactly what I'm going through. I can already tell this will be a friendship that I will treasure for years to come, not just for me & Amy but for our children too. We're already planning our return visit to Ethiopia with our kids when they get older & Amy is hoping I have a boy so that he & Aliyah can get married!!! :)

Baby's Fan Club

2009-05-02T04:00:00.004-04:00

My friend's daughter, Cassidy, has been anxiously awaiting the arrival of my little one. It's been fun to see the kids share in the excitement, too. Her sister, Alexis, got a black baby doll for Christmas that she named Nyah (which is the girl's name I have picked out) & Cassidy has been wanting one (not to mention wanting her picture on my blog like her sister) ever since. So for her birthday, I gave her this cute little doll. They're all about playing with the hair, so I'm curious to see what kind of hairstyles they're going to come up with for my baby if it's a girl...could be interesting! :)

Wait on Me

2009-04-15T22:42:00.006-04:00

Anybody who has talked to me about the adoption process knows that waiting for a referral has been excrutiating...I have wanted to be a Mom for so long & when I finally decided to move forward with adoption & filled out the initial application, in my mind, I was ready to be a Mom that very day! Of course I knew there was a lot of paperwork involved, a home study, immigration approval (I waited 9 weeks for that & thought I was going to die!) etc., so once that was all complete & my dossier was finally sent off to Ethiopia, I was beyond ready! That's when the hard part begins...the real wait! At least compiling the dossier allowed me to have some control over how fast the process moved...the quicker I completed my part, the sooner it would be sent off. But once it leaves, you realize it's out of your hands & you completely lose what little control you had. The most difficult part is not hearing anything...weeks turn into months & still no word. But when I look back at the last 11 months, I realize how much this whole process has changed me & how much I've grown. As ready as I thought I was, I now realize God has been working in my life to prepare me to be the best Mom that I can be, to provide the life this child deserves.

I had one of those "God moments" the other day...I was driving along, listening to a CD that I've had for years & have listened to many times before. But that day, one of the songs hit me & brought tears to my eyes. It's like God was talking directly to me & it gave me a sense of peace about this whole waiting period...don't get me wrong, it's still on my mind 24/7, but I am definitely at peace about it. I thought I'd share it with you...maybe it'll help someone else who is struggling with this too.

"The Moms"

2009-04-10T20:41:00.003-04:00

Last evening, I got together with a group of women, all of whom are adopting children from Ethiopia through Bethany. There were about 12 of us all together...all at different stages of the process...just starting out, waiting for a referral, waiting to travel & a couple who have already brought their children home. It was great meeting everyone & hearing their stories. It's so helpful to learn from those who are ahead of me & hopefully to encourage those who are just starting out. It's nice to have people to talk to who are going through the same thing & understand the emotions of this roller coaster ride! I look forward to the day that we can all get together with our little ones...that's another nice thing about meeting this group...knowing that there will be a community of children who share the same heritage as my child. I think that'll be so important for all of our kids as they grow.

Movin' On Up! (the "list")

2009-04-10T20:11:00.005-04:00

I know I haven't posted in a while, but there are only so many ways to say "I'm still waiting"! But there is some good news...there were several referrals that came in last week, 4 that I know of for sure...a 5 yr. old girl & 3 infants, each 1 month old!!! Congratulations to these families...how exciting!
At least 2 of the infants came from a new orphanage, Shalom, that Bethany has recently started working with, so this is good news in that even more children will be matched with their forever families! There was quite a lull in the Ethiopia program over the last couple of months, so I'm hoping now that the ball has started to roll again, it keeps rolling! :) With each referral that comes in, my name moves up on the list & I'm that much closer to holding my little Sweet Pea in my arms!
I know everybody wants to know how much longer...believe me, I wish I could tell you! According to an unofficial list, I'm @ #15, but this is a list that we sign up for ourselves online, so there's no way to know how many people are ahead of me that may not be signed up on this list. And, of course, there's no way to know how many referrals will come in @ any given time, so as much as I try to figure it out, it's just going to happen when it's supposed to happen!
Thank you to all of you for your continued support & prayers...it's very much appreciated!

40 Weeks...

2009-03-12T22:33:00.002-04:00

Today is the 40 week mark, obviously significant because during a pregnancy this would be the point where the waiting ends & a beautiful new life together begins. I admit I was feeling a little down today, because I still haven't heard any news about the baby. I know in my head that God already has a baby chosen for me & I know He will bring us together in His perfect time, but my heart just aches to hold my baby in my arms! I underestimated how difficult this wait would be, though I know it'll be so worth it when that time comes.

In an attempt to find the silver lining, I looked for scripture on "waiting". In Psalm 40:1-4, David talks about waiting for God & the benefits that came from waiting.
God:
1) lifted him out of his despair.
2) set his feet on a rock.
3) gave him a firm place to stand.
4) put a new song of praise in his mouth.

So instead of focusing on what is NOT happening, I'm really going to try to focus on what God wants me to accomplish during this waiting period & the things I can do to prepare for my little one's arrival.

A Special Gift...

2009-01-24T20:44:00.006-05:00

My mom's dear friend, Carol, gave me the most beautiful gift for the baby...a hand-made christening gown. It's absolutely gorgeous! To know she put so much time, effort & love into this makes it so special. Thank you Carol!!!

3 Girls, 33 Shots!

2009-01-23T21:32:00.018-05:00

In order to travel to Ethiopia, you have to receive several vaccines to prevent some of the serious diseases that can be spread. Prior to leaving we will have had the following:

Hepatits A (series of 2 shots)
Hepatits B (series of 3 shots)
Polio Booster
Tetanus Booster
Meningitis
Yellow Fever
Typhoid
Flu

So that's 11 different shots per person...fortunately, I had received most of these from previous travels but Renee & Mendi (who is my life-long, childhood friend hoping to travel with us!) are starting from scratch. Thanks to both of you for being a part of this! It means more than you'll ever know!!!

Renee & I had an appointment at the Travel Medicine clinic today...she received 5 shots (what a great sport) & I received 3...

What a small price to pay for such a huge gift!!!

If the Shoe Fits...

2009-01-23T21:17:00.002-05:00

I got a picture message on my phone the other day from Renee & when I opened it up, this is what I saw...how cute are these?!

So they bought them both & I'm just dying to know which shoe will "fit"!

Getting ready for Baby...

2009-01-02T12:44:00.010-05:00

I decided to spend New Year's Day getting the nursery ready...at least as ready as I can until I know if I need to decorate with pink or blue! :)

I started with the crib...

So me, my non-technical brain & a lot of patience (& a glass of wine) managed to get it done...and the changing table, too!

My mom brought over a mattress for the crib & sheet to match the room, which of coarse I had to put on right away! I had to laugh at myself, knowing if this was my 3rd or 4th child, I'd probably be grabbing a wrinkled, formula-stained sheet @ the last minute! But it's not...you only get to have your first baby once, so I'm going to enjoy every little detail of this experience!

Faith...

2009-01-02T11:52:00.011-05:00

I came across this verse as I was journaling this morning...

"Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."
(Hebrews 11:1)

I wrote this down on a little sticky note & put it on the door to the nursery, so I can be reminded every day that although I cannot see what God is doing, I am certain He is answering my prayers!

How Sweet...

2008-12-26T23:12:00.003-05:00

I got a call from my friend Mendi's 8 year old daughter, Alexis, on Christmas day. She was so excited to tell me about one of the gifts she received for Christmas...a black baby doll which she named "Nyah" (this is the name I have chosen if I have a girl).

I stopped over there today & found her & "Nyah" cuddled up on the couch together...too cute!

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-26T11:28:00.008-05:00

I know I'm a day late, but I haven't had time to sit down & post until now, so I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! Still no news on the adoption, but I'll let you know as soon as I hear any updates!

Even though my little one is not physically here, he/she was here in our hearts @ Christmas! My nieces & nephews each made an ornament for my Grandma...my niece Kailee made one from the baby...it's sooo cute! She painted a little African baby in a yellow blanket with pink & blue question marks all over it. Uncle Troy & Aunt Erin gave the baby a teddy bear & my mom gave me a lullably CD & some picture frames for the nursery...can't wait until I have pictures to put in them!!! "Aunt" Debbie gave me a mother/child tree ornament & my friend Kathy has started my baby's library...she had each of her 4 children pick out their favorite childhood story & gave those to me for Christmas!

How exciting to think that I will be able to celebrate next Christmas with my little one!!!

Touching Base

2008-11-19T21:10:00.009-05:00

Hi Everyone!

First of all, I just wanted to say "Thanks!" to all of you who have visited my blog & for your comments...I'm so blessed to have such a great family & group of friends!!!

A lot of people have been asking where things are at with the adoption process & if I've heard anything new...there's not too much to report at this time, but I'll fill you in on how the process goes from this point forward. My dossier (set of documents) was sent to Ethiopia on October 10. Upon arrival it has to be registered, translated & approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From there, I wait for a "referral" (this is the term used when they match a child & parent)...this referral process can take several months. I'm hoping it will not be a long wait, but ultimately, I just have to be patient & have faith that God has already chosen a child for me & He will bring us together in His perfect timing, not necessarily mine! :) Once I get the referral, a court date will be set in Ethiopia...I will be represented by Bethany's Ethiopian Director. After a successful court date, the adoption will be legal & I will officially be the child's mother. :) At that point, an appointment will be made at the American Embassy in Ethiopia to obtain the child's visa (the child cannot be brought home without this) & this is when I will travel to bring my baby home!!! The wait time from referral to travel is approximately 2-3 months, if everything goes as planned.

As you can see, this whole process is lengthy & I have quite a way to go, but it will be so worth the wait when I finally get to hold my baby in my arms! In the meantime, I'm keeping busy with work, finishing up on a few home improvement projects, and getting ready for the holidays. My winter project will be to get the "nursery" ready...even though I have a lot of waiting to do yet, it'll just seem more real to have baby things visible around the house!

I'll definitely let you all know anything news as I hear it. Please pray that the adoption process continues to go smoothly & most importantly, for the health of my future baby!

Interesting Facts About Ethiopia...

2008-11-13T19:53:00.036-05:00

I've been doing a little research so I can learn about my future child's native country & am learning some interesting things I thought I'd share...

*Ethiopia is the oldest, independent country in Africa.

*It is slightly less than twice the size of Texas & has a population of about 82,545,000.

*It is almost evenly split with half the population being Muslim, the other half Ethiopian- Orthodox Christian.

*There are about 80 different ethnic groups & numerous languages, but Ahmaric is the primary language spoken.

*One US Dollar = 9 Ethiopian Birr (this is one place American Express is not accepted...that's right, no credit cards, no ATM machines!)

Here are a few pictures of Ethiopia...

rural Ethiopia

the mountains

the capital city, Addis Ababa (the highest city in Africa...8,000 feet above sea level)

As for Ethiopian cuisine, injera is a spongy, sour flatbread that's not only a food but a utensil. It's used to scoop up meat & vegetables.

The Ethiopian calendar is 7 years & 8 months behind our Western calendar...it consists of 13 months (the 13th month only has 5 or 6 days). Their New Year starts on September 1 (which is September 11 for us), so this past September, they celebrated the New Year for 2001! I love this, because when I arrive, I'll be in my 20's again!!!

Traditional Ethiopian Dress

That's it for now...thanks for reading!

How Many Orphans in Ethiopia?

2008-11-03T20:05:00.010-05:00

I took the following information from a fellow blogger, because I find the numbers to be staggering...we all need to be informed.
According to UNICEF:
The number of orphans in Ethiopia, Children (0-17 years) orphaned due to all causes, in 2005, is estimated at 4,800,000. Many other sites bring this current number closer to 6 million, which makes sense because this is only a 2005 estimate.
So....The US census bureau estimates that there are 4,514,342 children under 18 living in New York state as of last year. So, you can safely say that if you take every child under 18 who lives in all of New York State and remove their parents you have roughly the number of orphans they estimated there were in Ethiopia 2 years ago...if you go by the more current estimates then you would have to add the state of Massachusetts at 1,448,884 kids under the age of 18 in 2006 and we are still about 100,000 kids shy...so lets add the District of Columbia with an estimate of 114,881 kids.
So we would have to take all the children under 18 in New York, Massachusetts and the District of Columbia - remove their parents and then you would have the number of children who are orphans in Ethiopia.
Please pray for these children who have no one to hold them when they are lonely or sad, no one to tell them "I'll protect you" when they are afraid or to care for them when they are sick, hurt or hungry & no one to tell them how precious & loved they are!

Aunt Renee's "sacrifice"

2008-10-21T19:17:00.001-04:00

As soon as I told Renee (my sister-in-law...much more "sister" than "in-law") about my plans to adopt, she said to Scott (my brother) "I'm going with her!"...notice the ! not a ?...I'm so happy that I'll be able to share this experience with her! When she was pregnant with Evan, who just turned 9, she asked if I would like to be there for his birth...of course I said "YES"! To be there for the birth of my nephew is something I will never forget & will treasure always! So I would love nothing more than to have her by my side as I hold my baby for the first time. :)

Soooo, there are a few things that need to be done to prepare for our travels...first on the list: immunizations. Fortunately my mom, who is a nurse (not just a mother-in-law with access to needles), makes house calls. Does it get any easier than this...

Thanks Renee...what a great Aunt-to-be!!!

Sharing the news...

2008-10-19T13:09:00.000-04:00

This was the best part...finally being able to share the news with my family & friends!!! For Father's Day, I made a t-shirt for my dad by painting the Ethiopian flag & the words "International Grandpa" on the front. Most of my other family members were there at that time, so there were lots of hugs to go around!

With Renee & the kids, we played a game where they had to unscramble letters to make words which spelled out "Aunt Kimmy's adopting infant from Ethiopia". The response...Renee: tears (happy tears), Derek: "Can I teach him 'my ways'?" (Ummm, no!), Evan: "I'm going to teach him how to play video games!", Kailee: already knew, so she was just happy she didn't have to keep it a secret anymore, Chase: with a look of confusion "What's going on?"

Everyone else had to find out the old-fashioned way...I hit my creative quota that week!

What made me happiest about sharing the news was to know how excited everyone was & to know that my baby will be blessed with so much love from so many people!!!

Share my journey...

2008-10-11T21:37:00.000-04:00

Hi Everyone!

I created this blog for all of you who would like to share in my adoption journey. This way, I can keep everyone posted on things as they happen.

Thank you to all of my family & friends who have been so incredibly supportive & excited for me!!!

Where it all began...

2008-10-11T13:58:00.000-04:00

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this...to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
James 1:27

In August 2007, I traveled to Cambodia on a medical mission trip. It was an experience that would forever change my life. I saw poverty & devastation beyond my comprehension, which left me feeling grateful for the blessed life I've been given, but at the same time, ashamed at all that I've taken for granted. I knew my heart would never be the same...I felt a need & a desire to do "something", but what could I do to make a difference? I returned home full of emotions, wanting everyone to understand what life was like on the other side of the world but realizing words & pictures couldn't even begin to describe that reality.

I knew God had given me that experience for a purpose...after many prayers, I believe He was showing me that as much as I desperately want a child, there is a child out there who desperately needs a mother. So adoption seemed like the perfect fit for me.

I began to research the adoption process, adoption agencies, specific countries...it was pretty overwhelming at first, but I decided to work with Bethany Christian Services & was immediately drawn to Ethiopia.

So now...after gathering documents, home study visits, immigration approval, etc., my dossier has been sent to Ethiopia! I'll keep you all posted as anything new happens. :)