Whoa - was that a weekend?

This weekend we :

Garage saling. Library. Auto parts store, home improvement store. Lunch at Sonic. Forgot to ask for no pickles. Watched Dora. Dinner of left-overs. Local church festival where Tes bounced herself crazy in those bouncy-houses. McD's for ice cream cones for Mom and Dad, orange pop for Tes. Survived day with only a 30 minute nap (could we be growing past naps?!) Delicious big breakfast made by Brad of french toast and eggs. Signed Tes up for swim lessons at the Y. Played basketball (or, at least Tes' version) at the gym. Mall to find new dress-shirt and tie for Brad. Warm pretzel shared. Lunch. Begged Tes to take a nap on the way home. Nope. Watched a movie, in hopes she would rest. Nope, but I am pretty sure I fell asleep for a minute or two. Or thirty. Played outside. Tried in vain to get a picture of Tes with a garden gnome. Ran to grocery store. Someone cried over not being able to buy a donut, but I won't name who. Dinner. Tes and Brad mowed lawn while I ran back to the grocery store for the bread we forgot, and on another errand. Pulled into the driveway at 7:30 to find Brad and Tes sitting in driveway, watching the planes fly overhead while Little One would announce each one was on its way to Ethiopia.

Relaxed.

Wondered where our weekend went.

Dear Blog,

Dear Blog,

I must come clean... I've been cheating on you. Please don't cry! Its me, not you.
It is with someone you know. In fact, you share the same dashboard. Yes, it is with 3 people and a cat. Let me explain - I just feel that I, and Tesfanesh, have grown so... and you have not. She is so much more than 'the adopted kid'! But, this is an adoption themed blog, always has been, always should be. It is what you are! Stay true to that.
But, she, she is SO MUCH MORE. She is tenacious, and determined and always thinking. She is kind and hates to see people cry. She knows her ABC's by heart and can almost write TES. At three-and-a-half - and after having to learn a 3rd language in her short little life! I know, she is brilliant. Brilliant and joyous, funny and loving, a dancer and singer at heart who treats us to many a show. She is my unbelievable, fantastic daughter, who happens to be adopted. But, that is not the whole of her identity.

Therefore, the 'adoption' blog - you were so useful when going through the long process - I needed you to vent my worries and frustrations, my hopes and dreams - and to just help process the whole crazy world of international adoption. But now, the process is over. The family is here.

We will always still be growing as an adoptive family - I can't say I've given up on you entirely. I'll still stop in from time to time. Just maybe not with the same frequency I once had.

If you miss me, you can always come visit me over at 3 people and a cat.

All my love,
beth.

Old and Stinky

My sister recently informed me that Tes has been telling her things about me. Really important things, like that I am old, but Brad and her are not. And that my farts stink, but once again, her's and Dad's definitely do not.

Great. To my three year old, I'm old and stinky.

Then again... you should hear the stuff she tells me about you, Auntie. Heh-heh-heh...


Where does she come up with this stuff?!

Tes looking like a sweet and innocent non-rumor spreader

Peace.

Cleaning up my digital photo library, and I just have to ask :

Why in the holy hell do I have so many picture of Tesfanesh looking like she is about to let off an entire string of expletives?

Oh - and I am sure it has nothing to do with me using phases like 'holy hell' - I don't use them around such little (and repeating) ears. Girl Scout promise.*

I should state for the record that she never really does - but the pictures sure are comical. She actually is not an angry child, she just plays one when the camera comes out.

* Actually means squat because I was a Campfire Girl, not a Girl Scout.

Peace.

happiness is...

Our sleeping woes are well documented. In essence, we started out having to rock Tesfu until she was sleeping to (insert drumroll here)... going to bed all by herself, in her own bed, in her own room. It has taken us over a year to get here, but look how far we've come! She is growing so much, but what it really comes down to - I think she trusts us enough.

It is showing in so many other ways, too. She no longer is continuously (and anxiously) seeking interaction from Brad and I at all times, and can quite contently play and entertain herself. This is seriously huge - and has allowed her imagination to blossom! Also, her level of chatter (repeating over and over to us, "This is my Dad. This is my Mom. I live in a green house with my Mom and Dad. This is Tes' Dad. This is Tes' Mom"...) has decreased significantly.

Not that we weren't happy previously - far from it! But, we are definitely entering a very happy, relaxed stage in our lives together.

It is just unbelievable to watch her grow. We are so blessed.


We love you forever, kiddo. Thank you for working so hard to believe us.