Sappy Sunday: Valentine

Hugs, kisses, slobbery smooches.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Sorry, girls...you have a lot of competition.

Here he is checking out valentines from his day care ladies.

Update and the stats

Abel is now 15 months old. Anybody who can tell me how that happened, please let me know! We just celebrated nine months together.

He is growing and changing everyday. We went for his well-baby appointment today and here are his stats:

Weight: 55th percentile

Height: 90th percentile

I am soooo proud of this boy who is just growin' and growin' and growin'! He is losing his big baby-belly and becoming long and lean. Is this the same shrimpy little man who was not even on the WHO growth charts when he was 4 months old?? I am beaming!

Abel is bright, clever, and ACTIVE. Strangers still come up to me and comment on my 'busy' baby. Wouldn't have it any other way. He is tons of fun. He's learning more words every day and is quite the prankster. He really cracks himself up and has a belly laugh that would defy even the biggest sourpuss to not bust out laughing.

He loves music and lives to dance. He will walk over to the 1P0d, point and do a little dance letting me know it's dance party time. His grandma and grandpa gave him a set of rhythm instruments for Christmas and he already needs replacements. He's recently rediscovered his basketball hoop and loves to make baskets, cheering himself on.

We are moving into a new apartment soon and thank goodness... this big boy (and all his stuff!) needs some more room. :)

I am still adjusting to parenting the toddler, and might I say... 'spirited' toddler. (All books recommendations encouraged!) He certainly knows what he wants and gets frustrated when I don't understand. Even so, his 'tantrums' are short-lived and he usually goes back to his baseline easy-going self quickly. He's had some sleep issues spring up again which started around the time he got a yucky cold, so we're still working on that. I so enjoy being Abel's momma. He really is a joy to be around and I'm lucky to get to be around that cuteness and love every day.

Star-spangled Sappy Sunday

Some might have thought I was brought to tears by the word-fumbling on Christina's part, but no. There was a different reason for the tears.

My boy, this newest little US citizen, was so incredibly engaged in the anthem on the 'Bowl tonight that he didn't move from the screen, only breaking his silence to applaud wildly at the 'rockets red glare'.

I don't know why it struck me so, but I couldn't hold back the tears. I know he has never heard that song before (at least I don't think they frequent that one at day care). The absolute joy in his face was so precious.

I started thinking about his little life has changed so dramatically in the past nine months. About his citizenship and what he has lost...daily interactions with his birth culture, language, food, on and on and on and on...

I love that he loved that song. And I love that he loves his habesha music.

I hope he continues to be proud of being an American AND an Ethiopian.

Sappy Sunday

Baby boy is getting so big.

I tear up every time he outgrows another 'baby' outfit (which is often) or breaks out his big-person giggle (also often).

Then on the other hand...a big, proud, knowing smile crosses my face when we are out and about and someone asks me his age and says, "Wow! Really? What a big boy!"

Lots of prayers, and love, and work went into this baby being a 'big boy'. I am so proud.

Just know if you comment about what a big boy he is, you will make me cry. And smile.

A couple of weeks ago at one of those

indoor-playground-for-the-sanity-of-Chicago-parents-in-the-winter places.

Important work for the future of Ethiopian adoptions

If you are in process of adopting, or considering adoption from Ethiopia, I hope you will read this commentary from PEAR, a trustworthy source of information and action toward reforming adoptions ethically.

Sappy Sunday

My boy loves to eat.

His favorite food? Pizza.

But his favorit-est pizza in the whole world?

My homemade pizza.

Yep, my boy loves my pizza the best.

Makes this momma so happy. :)

(An example of his heartfelt "MORE!" at a diner the other day!)

Sappy Sunday

Maybe because of the holidays, or maybe just because I'm a big ol' sap, but I've been thinking a lot about the first day I met Abel.

Swirly.

That's the only word to describe that day.

My head was swirly. My stomach was swirly.

I still can't believe we are here and have been a family for eight months now. Totally swirly.

These photos capture a bit of the swirl of that sweet day.