Belated Updates!

It's been a busy and fun couple weeks. Two weekends ago, we had Big Sister Gwen babysit for a couple hours and Kyle and I were able to get out and have a little time to shop and play as a belated birthday celebration for me. It was a nice break and Caleb loved spending time with Gwen! He has a very special relationship with her and it's so fun to watch his face light up when he sees her!

Last week Caleb had a follow-up appointment with his pediatrician (and thankfully no shots this time!). She confirmed that he had made HUGE developmental strides in the last 6 weeks and that he was in-line with his age group. She said whatever we've been doing, keep on doing it! When we first brought him in, his weight/height didn't touch the percentile charts for children born in the U.S., but he's finally hit the chart -- he's in the 3rd percentile, which is small, but he's at least hit the charts!!

I've continued taking the weekly Mommy & Me gymnastics class which has been great fun and is a good opportunity for him to interact with other little one his age. His motor development has grown leaps and bounds in large part due to the class I believe.


Last weekend we had our Post Placement Adoption Report meeting with the social worker which went very well. We'll have another one in 3 months, then at one year.

Also last weekend we drove up to Bellingham to visit with our dear friends Greg and Teagan who got home just a few weeks ago with their beautiful daughter Maiya. I've attached some pictures from our visit. It was such fun seeing them and reuniting the little ones who were right next door to each other at our agency's transition home in Addis Ababa.

Proud mommies introduce their little ones

A little reading time to start the play date!

Maiya stakes her claim on Caleb: "He's mine!"

" No, really! He's mine!!! "

Here's to many more playdates with little Maiya and her wonderful parents! :o)

Just Time for Pictures ...

It's been a busy couple of weeks and I have been remiss in posting new pics! We're all doing great, having a ball and enjoying every second with our little guy!! Below are some family snapshots we managed to capture over my birthday weekend:

Quick progress report . . . hmmm, let me see:

* He's fully walking now . . . only very rarely drops to a crawl

* He's learning about one new word every day or so. Today's word: "Kiss" (followed by lots of smacking of lips and a big wet slobbery kiss!!)

* He still giggles and smiles WAY more than he whines and cries (what a treat THAT is!)

More to follow . . .

Just Because . . .

What You Wish For!!

When we picked little Caleb up from Ethiopia, he was developmentally "behind" his age group. This was to be expected given the environment he was in and we set to work strengthening his muscles, increasing his coordination and motor development skills. I was so proud one evening to show Kyle when he got home from work, the first few steps Caleb had been taking on his own:

20 minutes later, this happened:

It's what we worked and wished for, and BOY has our world changed! :o)

It Takes a Village . . .

We are amazed on a constant basis how wonderful friends and family have been through our adoption journey . . . from the long, long wait to the fun at enjoying our new addition now that he's finally home! An example of that has been our wonderful neighbors. Not only did they follow along with us as we anticipated our arrival, but they also threw us a beautiful "Welcome Caleb" party last weekend to celebrate the new addition to the neighborhood!

With our "real" family so far away, it's wonderful having people that care so close. It truly does take a village to raise a child, and we have a great village right outside our doorstep!

Thank you so much to everyone!

P.S. Videos and pictures are coming soon, I promise! I have a batch I'm sorting through today that I'll put up shortly!!

Just Because . . .

At the park near our house last week . . .

New race car has everyone very excited!

"W" stands for many things!

For over 2 years I have gathered together with a group of women who go by the name "Women of Whimsy." We share interests in sewing, crafting and creating and meet once a month to work, show-off (!), and mostly talk and laugh. This wacky group of witty, wise and wild women put together a welcome home party for Caleb and I last week that was so wonderful and unexpected and gave me such a feeling of warmth that I just had to share (and isn't "W" a wonderful letter to work with?)

These busy women each embroidered a square of wool with a wild animal from Ethiopia and stitched it together into a wall hanging (see photo below). I can't wait to hang it in my little one's room!

There was children's music playing, balloons, child-friendly treats and gifts for Caleb. It was a great celebration, and I can't thank these Wonderful Women of Whimsy enough for all they did! You guys rock!