What We've Been Up To

A few things we have been up to in the last week or so:

Eating blue frosting, and loving it.

Ummm... lots and lots of blue frosting.
Learing how to to prove Mommy wrong when she says "Don't worry, she can't reach the window button, anyway." Way to problem solve, Tesfu!
Losing our soap. She honestly couldn't find it, until Mommy and Daddy stopped laughing and helped her out. The question is, how did it get on her head without her knowing? I'm not quite sure, that was the one second my back was turned as I was brushing my teeth. The world may never know.

Here is to another week of discoveries! Have a wonderful week.

Peace.

Amesegenalew ~ Thank You!

I am a little late blogging about this - but a few weeks ago (ooo... change 'little late' to 'embarrassingly late') Tesfanesh received a huge surprise in the mail! While she was napping, the mail carrier dropped a beautifully wrapped present off, so she had a gift to open when she woke up.

One of Brad's work acquaintances sent an American Girl baby-doll to Miss Tesfanesh - and she loves it!

Still a little sleepy - but who could wait to open a present?!

When asked what her new baby's name is, her reply - "Baby". Of course, what was Mommy thinking?

Baby came with a little book - we love that, too, because it has a mirror in it. Nothing like a nice long gaze at yourself!

Baby has eyes that close when you lay her down - so of course we need to constantly put Baby to 'tena' to see the marvel that is eyes that open and close... open and close... open and close... Here Tesfu is napping with Baby.

Amesegenalew! Thank you so much for thinking of us!

Quickie

The clock has once again too quickly ticked past the time I should really be sleeping. But, here is a quickie:

No tears at daycare drop-off today! Whoopee! A bear hug that made Tes have to be pried from Mommy's neck, a little sad face, but no actual tears. Then, as we were pulling out of the driveway, a wave good-bye and blown kisses. Such progress! And this is only her second week...

You are a rockstar, Tesfu. I love you!

Updates! Updates! Get Your Updates!

I have heard from a few different people this last weekend that they enjoy visiting the blog. So, I solemnly swear I will try and be better about updating, now that I know people are still coming to it. Now, if I could just learn to type with one hand, so the other was free to continuously re-direct the Little One...

She is becoming better and better with English everyday - we seem to be adding new words all the time. She is also starting to recognize and call people by their appropriate names, and occasionally ask where those people are. Her favorite being Brad's brother, Uncle Joe. She seriously needs to know where that man is at at all times. I've taken to narrowing it down to two things - he is either 'tena' (the man does seem to sleep a lot, so I may be right) or 'at Grandma's'. Makes things much much simpler, and seems to satisfy her.

We've also become much more comfortable with her surroundings, and most of the places we go. As long as mom or dad is with, she seems to be okay where ever, but she still doesn't like to be in large groups of people. She gets quiet and sullen. Quite frankly, I don't blame her. I don't like crowds, either, kiddo.

Here is a brief run-down of some of her favorite things to do, 'cause I know people love pictures:

1. Hug Fischer. She sees it as a sign of love, he sees it as a sign of torture. Poor kitty, she just wants to be your friend so bad...
2. Watch for makeenas. This kid really loves cars. A lot.
3. Play the kwass (ball) game. Whoever thought of this game was freakin' brilliant, because it keeps her happy for a good half an hour. In toddler time, that is like an E T E R N I T Y.
4. Play 'the tena game' with Daddy. One pretends to sleep, the other head-buts them to wake them up. Then the other pretends to sleep. Head-but again. Lots of laughter is produced, and sometimes a bruise or two. By the way, she isn't in pain here, this is what she looks like when she pretends to sleep. Eyes half-closed, brow furrowed, breathing like a sixty-year old overweight trucker. Apparently that is what she thinks people look and sound like when they are sleeping?
5. Water the flowers, and sometimes herself.
6. Swingset, swingset, swingset. Even in our mis-matched pjs.

Have a great week!

Gwadenya ~ Friend

For a two and a half year old, Tesfanesh has lots of good friends, I'd say. Here is an ode to a few of them.

Kefelen. This is the friend she plays the best with, they are close in age and they probably understand each other better than any of the other kids around. He is also the one she talks the most about. They were in the orphanage together for a little while, but I don't think they really remember each other from there. All she knows is that 'Bepolit' (she doesn't even come close to saying his name right, but he doesn't seem to mind) is fun and energetic and understands what 'shuma' and 'chammas' and 'makeena' means. We love Kefelen!
I tried to lay on this couch the other night, Tes got mad and wanted me to get up - apparently that is 'Bepolit's' spot.
Ruby-Roo. Tes talks about Ruby quite a bit, and asks to look at this picture whenever the computer is opened. Funny thing is, when they are together, because of their age differences, they don't really play together as much as play beside each other, but Tes still loves her bunches. Notice the hand on Ruby's leg - so possessive!
Lyndsey. She is a new friend, and a bit too young to play. But Tesfanesh will reminisce about going to Annie's (Lyndsey's mom) - I think she liked the playground even though she didn't really act like it when we were there. Two year olds are so hard to figure out!
Cousins Hope and Hunter (sorry Hope, for some reason I don't have a picture of you and Tesfu together?). Tesfanesh loves to look at the school picture of Hope we have on the fridge, and the creases in the pic prove it. Apparently you cannot truly appreciate a picture of a loved one without grasping it so tightly in your hand it bends. Who knew? And now that Tes is more comfortable here, Hunter and her play so much better together. He is the one who taught her to walk back up the slide, instead of wasting your time going around back to the ladder. Gee, thanks, Hunter!

She also has three friends from Ethiopia that she talks about regularly, and we have a few pictures of them that she laughs and chants their names when she sees them. It always reminds me that she had a whole life before us, one that we really don't know very much about. She had friends, and family, and things she liked to do, but can't really tell us about any of them. Just chant their names when we look at the few pictures we could take. Makes me a little sad for her. So, if you are out there somewhere - Abush, Archike, and Tseyhaynesh, we love you guys, too! Tesfu misses you.

Peace.

Outside, Mommy?! Mommy, outside?!

It seems I never get a chance to update the blog until it is way past my bedtime and my eyes are starting to go a little cross-ways. So, no witty commentary. But, I will say last Saturday the guys put up the swingset, and Tesfanesh is totally in love. Here is some pics.

The new digs. We need a little paint and the tarps need to be re-placed, but very sturdy and loads' o' fun.

Weeee!

Swinging with Uncle Joe.

Sometimes you just need to hang.

Good-night!

We Love Playgrounds

Tomorrow off we go to dismantle (in hopes we will be able to 're'mantle) a wood swingset Uncle Joe and Grandma and Grandpa R. were kind enough to buy the munkin. Have I mentioned how much I love Craig's List? It is coming just in the nick of time, too, because this kid loves slides. Loves them. Can't get enough. I'm excited to see what she thinks of the playset when it is all put back together in our yard.

Here is some pics of our most recent playground adventure @ the Y, Auntie Kimmie came with to partake in the fun.

Thank goodness there is no pictures of me going through the tubes - it is much easier when you are small and can stand! Killer on the 'ole 30 year old knees... Lots of grunting was involved.

Tes wondering why Auntie thinks it is so fun to shake the bridge.
This is my usual view of Tesfanesh when at the park - her running away.
Pure joy!
Tesfanesh bossing me around - I was supposed to be going down the slide next to Auntie instead of taking a picture. She says so much with just that little pointer finger!

Good Idea, Bad Idea

With Brad unfortunately back at work, I thought I would give a slice of what life is like with just Mommy and the Tes.


- Eggs and yogurt for breakfast. Every breakfast. Hardly falters. Starting to gross Mom out - not such a good idea.

- Small tantrum because mean mean Mommy tells her she cannot wear all twenty pairs of her barrettes today. Easily sidetracked with prospect of putting on her favorite chammas (shoes). Ahh! Good idea, Mommy!

- Tesfanesh decided she needed to make a few calls, and there is no better place to do so but the cat's hammock. Not such a bad idea, Mom is just glad she is occupied for the moment.

- Tes gets stuck in the cat's hammock - Mom thinks this is quite funny, and definitely photo worthy. Tesfanesh on the other hand, not so amused. Fischer is just glad to have his seat back once she is pried out.
- Had a wonderful playdate with a neighbor! They have fantastic toys, Tesfanesh has learned to play with other kids quite well (for a two year old...) - Mom and Child on both sides had a wonderful time, and Tesfanesh only decided she needed to check out their bathroom twice. Good idea! Accidentally stayed a bit too late, ran into both Tes and neighbor's nap time, Tes got lethargic and crabby, neighbor kid became strangely animated and probably ran around the house for a good while after we left. Oops. Bad idea.

- Back home, Tesfanesh decided she needed to shuma (potty) again. At neighbor's house. Could not possibly understand why Mommy said no. Small tantrum #2. Bad idea, Tes. Bad idea.

- Three viable options for lunch: Dabo and Peanutbutter / Hot Dogs and Ketchup / Spagetti-O's. Mommy getting really tired of Spagetti-O's, but it is still a step up from the smell of eggs and vanilla yogurt mixing together. Not good, not bad.

- Nap time. Wonderfully fantastic cannot emphasis enough how good of an idea this is.

- Decided I needed to engage Tes in an activity she can help with - why not make cookies? Seemed like a good idea... Uhhhh... Turned out not so much. Tesfanesh lasted about 4 minutes and we were about 1/4 cup short of flour. Entertained the possibility of packing up the toddler and running to the grocery store, laughed at myself for even thinking about it. It all turned out to be that Mommy had not only had some (very very flat) cookies to bake, but still a child to entertain. Would label this is a bad idea, but even a bad chocolate chip cookie is still better than no chocolate chip cookie. They did get me through the rest of the day. So, adequate idea.

Are cookies supposed to have holes in the middle?
Evidence that Tesfanesh has gotten over her sugar phobia and has embraced chocolate.

- While Mom was occupied baking cookies and eating the dough, turned around and found Tesfanesh taking the metal weights out of the bottom of the Venetian blinds, and giving them to the cat. Cat thinks this is a bad idea; Tesfanesh thinks this is obviously a great idea; Mom thinks it is hilarious.

Realizes she has been caught in the act - at least she is sharing.

Fischer would rather she not share so much. Seriously.

By then, Daddy is pulling up in the driveway. Mommy can take a deep breath and pretend she needs to go to the bathroom. For a long time. Of course, this tactic will only work until she learns how to open the doors - but I'm way ahead of her. Whenever I need to open a door, I block her view a bit. Bad Mommy, I know. But I label that one a darn good idea.

Peace.

Hanging With the Cousins

Tes has decided that other kids are indeed fun - and that includes her cousins! A few pics of fun in the (partial) sun (where is summer?!) with the crew - group shot is from Brad's softball game ( they lost :( ) the rest from Grandma and Grandpa's.

Roll Call! Tes, Hope, Hunter, baby Maiya in front

What is the correct term: Teeter-Totter or See-Saw? Either way, they had fun with Grandpa Bob.
T-ball.

Calling for back-up.

Because obviously the yard needed to be swept?
Hey! Why do I have to stay on the blanket?!
This isn't going to end well...
Crash!

Peace.

Growing So Fast!

Though I was a little concerned about the diet of mostly peanutbutter and dabo sandwiches, hotdogs, and ketchup - we found out today that Tesfanesh is indeed growing, and not just around the cute little folds on her chubby little legs.

"Look what I can do!"

Electricity was a luxury she did not have previously, so being able to reach the light switches without Mommy or Daddy's help is a big deal around this house. We now can switch the ceiling fan on-off-on-off-on-off... I hope it is only an joke that every time you flip a switch it costs you 5 cents!