botanical gardens

I am very lucky to have an amazing friend in my life who is also quite handy with a camera.  We've known each since the 2nd grade.  Went to middle school, high school and college together.  She's one of those friends who you call when times are awful and who you call when times are amazing.  So last Friday we headed to the Botanical Gardens and she took a few pictures.  I personally think they are amazing!  She is also an amazing poet, and writer.  One of the most crafty people I know.  She's been through some really hard times recently and yet she's still one of the strongest people I know (although she would probably deny that).  Hope you all enjoy the pictures.  I know I do!

p.s. daphne all the photos are for you!

Random things

So I decided I should do a post before its been a whole month since the last.  This past month has been full of many new and different things.

Gizatu got his first haircut since he's been home with me.  He did great.  Sat in my lap and let Ms. Kristi cut away.  Mommy of course had hair everywhere.  Here's some pictures to show how he did.

I have also started back to work.  Thankfully I am only working 3 days a week until the end of the year, so G is only in daycare those three days.  The week before I went back to work, we went almost everyday to his daycare so that he could meet his teacher and get to know some of the kids.  I left him for 3 hours one day.  It was hard, I'll admit.  I cried as I walked out the door.  I didn't know that it would be that hard, but he did really well.  Then the next day he spent 8 hours.  He didn't want me to leave, but didn't throw a fit or anything.  He was excited to see me when I picked him up.  I missed him throughout the day, and thought of him often, but really didn't worry about him.  My nephew goes to the same daycare so I knew there was someone there G knew well.

I also had a birthday.  My first birthday as a mother.  My brother got a card for G to give me for my birthday.  It was so sweet.  It sang to me.  Of course my brother says that when they were choosing a card the based it on the cry factor.  This one made me tear up.  Being a mom is the best thing ever, it is also the hardest thing ever.  I adore him.

So the following pictures are just silly.  G had put stickers all over my face and then started making funny faces at the camera, so I though I'd share.

G and the animals are doing really well.  This picture is the first time my cat, Tallie, has come within 10 feet of G though.  He was so excited that she was laying on him.  Then he sneezed and she jumped right off.  He thought it was hilarious. 

McWane Center

Today we headed to the McWane center with our friends Emma, and Owen and their mother Kristen.  We had a great time.  He kept asking Emma? Emma?  We got there a little early so we had to wait for Emma to get there. (I know early, how in the world did that happen?) This is our second time at the McWane Center.  Both times we've been there have been multiple schools there on field trips. Seriously, is Thursday field trip day at the museum? There were big kids everywhere.  So we headed to the kiddie zone and at first we were the only ones there.  It is supposed to be for kindergartners and younger.  A few kids tried to come in, but I told them they were too old.  Mother bear here she comes.  But then the big kids started to come in, seriously.  I was not a happy camper.  The thing that frustrated me the most was that they had their parents with them. REALLY.  Can you guys not read the sign?

 Riding the seat up and down with a pully system, of course mommy has to pull him up and he is sitting on the Harder pullies.

 Digging for dinosaurs!

 Mommy and Gizatu made faces.

 Trying to build steps.

 

Chilling in the blocks. 

 But of course one of his favorite things was playing with the blocks.

We headed to pet the sharks and sting rays.  G loved looking at them, but did not want to put his hands in the water to touch them.  He was amazed at the fishes that were behind the glass though.

We had a blast with our friends!

Visit with Great Grandma

Yesterday we journeyed northwest about an hour and half to visit with my father's family.  My dad passed away 6 years ago so it is kind of a bittersweet day.   My father would have loved G.  So we met my grandmother, aunt and uncle at my grandmother's farm.  Lots of space to run and play.  My mother and step-father (Steve), as well as my brother, sister-in-law, niece, nephew and sister also joined us.  Needless to say it was a family affair.  My parents divorced when I was 8 years old, but my mom and dad always had a good relationship based on the fact that they were our parents, and that relationship also goes with my dad's family. 

Getting the two boys to sit still and get a decent picture with great grandma was not the easiest, this is the best picture.  Great grandma with 3 of her 4 great grandchildren. 

He ran and played football with Uncle Daniel, Peepaw and Cousin Andrew.  He had a blast!

A good number of weekends in my childhood were spent on this farm with my brother and sister, and cousins.  I'm glad that Gizatu gets to spend sometime where the memories are so sweet. 

He also found a moth which he was quite taken with.  He would pick it up, look at it, try and make it fly. 

And one last picture with Peepaw.  How he loves his peepaw!

Zoo fun with friends

Gizatu and I had a playdate at the zoo with our friends Daphne and Ben.  It was so fun to see our two Ethiopian American boys playing together.  Ben is about 6 months older than Gizatu and has been home for 2 years in November.  But the boys get along well.  It is also really nice to be with another single mother raising an ET boy.  It has been so nice to have Daphne as I've journeyed down this road called adoption.  She helped so much that first week we were home.  I didn't feel like such a basket case after talking with her. 

So I brought my camera with me to the zoo. Pulled it out to take pictures and realized that I left the memory card at home.  So once again FAIL.  But thankfully Daphne had hers and sent me the pictures. 

This one is definitely my favorite!

Another first, Church!

Today we went to church for the first time.  For me it had been 7 weeks since I had been in a service.  For G, I truly have no idea.  He could have gone to church before he came into the care center.  But it was definitely his first time in a church in the States.  We had visited the church a couple of times when there was no one there so that he'd be somewhat used to it. 

We got there a little after the service started and sat in the balcony.  He made it through the beginning of the sermon.  Then I took him into the nursery.  We played on the floor with blocks and made a new friend.  He didn't venture far away from me.  We then headed to the Fellowship hall for "cookie hour".  Needless to say he was the center of attention.  He definitely was overwhelmed, but did really well.  No one tried to take him out of my arms, one person did try to pick him up when he was standing next to me, but he very kindly understood why he couldn't.  People talked to him, but stood there distance and I appreciate it more than I can say.

I thought that he'd had enough so I headed to the Sunday School room to tell his teacher that we were going to head home, but then he saw the blocks and wanted to play some more.  Thus we did.  He played with the kids and ran around the room like all the other kids.  I must say I was a proud mama. 

A few pics of Sunday school. 

Three boys from Ethiopia!

So I need to start with a plea for forgiveness.  How we made it through 3.5 hours of fun and eating without taking one single picture, I have no idea!  But we did and thus I am sorry.  I've kicked myself so many times for not running back to the car and getting my camera out.  I mean I even remembered to bring it, but never actually got it out of the car.  Oh well.  FAIL.  I promise next time I will remember to take out my camera and take a picture.

D, G and G-man all remembered each other.  It was so sweet D, the 5 year old, came up and gave G-man a kiss on the cheek.  It was soooo sweet.  G, the 4 year old, was little more like "exactly why are you here?"  But they had a blast together.  D and G introduced Gman to Barney.  I'm so excited (that was sarcasm), but he hasn't seemed to miss it, since we have NO barney in our home. 

It was so good to see D and G's parents.  It was nice to be able to talk about Ethiopia and the trip with people who understand.  And to discuss where we are now that we are home.

D and G are doing great for those of you who know them.  G's molloscum is gone!  His face is clear and he looks beautiful!  D is as smiley and happy as ever.  They also remembered me, mom, and Steve.  It was a great visit and can't wait to do it again.