Part 3: Kitchen Helper

Xander LOVES to cook. More accurately...he loves to play in the sink, dump over the garbage can, remind me he's not supposed to touch the hot oven...you get the idea. I should learn to start dinner preparations early so I have 1/4 of the time to cook & 3/4 of the time for clean-up!

Xander has confused the phrases, "Excuse me" and "I'm sorry" so when he sees me in the kitchen, he instantly heads for Blake's chair at the table and pushes it across the floor muttering, "I sowwry! I sowwry!" as he positions the chair right where he wants to be. Which is, of course, in the exact spot where I am standing. I am beginning to understand the term 'anklebiters' in reference to children.

Just recently, I have allowed Xander the childhood priviledge of licking the beaters from the mixer. He loves, loves, loves this! Here's a few shots of him 'helping' with clean-up! :)

Part 2: Shoveling Snow

Last Friday night we walked into town for dinner & it began snowing. The boys shoveled the driveway when we returned home and Xander helped his daddy.

Actually, he kind of ran away from the snow shovel because he was scared of the scrapping sound. And then, the moment he actually touched snow, started crying because it was, in Xander language, too hot (ummm....you mean cold, Xander).
By the way, I would welcome any mom-advice on how to keep mittens/gloves on a toddler. Is there a kind/brand of glove you've found to be good? The rigged up shoelace with mittens safety-pinned on is simply not cutting it :)

Helping: Part 1 of a 4-Part Series...

We've got a little 'helper' on our hands. I use this term loosely as most of your experienced moms know that 'helping' can probably be more fittingly described as 'interfering' but bless their little hearts for wanting to be right smack-dab in the middle of the action, right!?!

First Xander tackled a little BABYSITTING. Wisely, he started this venture with family, specifically his little cousin, Isaak.

While off to a bit of a rocky start...

...things got better once the little babysitter started actually paying attention to the little boy in his lap!

One Year Ago Today...

...we meet our son for the first time.

He was sitting in a green-painted crib with a puzzled look on his face as we approached. I remember leaning over the crib railing to whisper, "Hey there, handsome" before the tears began as our Ethiopian social worker placed him in my arms.

What memories! What emotions! What joy!

NOTE: Xander currently despises getting his picture taken so the only way I can get him to briefly look at the camera is to say, "Show me your teeth." :)

Sweet Friendship...

Xander is currently 'sleeping off' his weekend after spending it with this amazing little boy...


We began a friendship withYikealo and his parents (David and Larisa) when the adoption journey to our Ethiopian sons overlapped. Since the boys have come home, there's been a tugging on my heart for them to meet face-to-face. That happened this weekend and we had a wonderfully blessed time of fun, sharing & laughter together.

Playing at a downtown park.

Dads & sons by the lake.

BOTH these little boys have capture a special place in my heart which is overflowing with praise God for the precious gift of our sons.

Come back anytime, M-family!

Next Week's Curriculum: Table Manners

1-Year Anniversary: Remembering...

It was one year ago today that I was sitting in the dentist's chair for over an hour. Why is that momentous? you might ask a bit puzzled. Well...b/c it was on that very same day as I was leaving the dentist's office that I checked my voicemail and heard these words (from my husband), "Congratulations, mommy! We passed!"

Yep! 1-year ago today, our case passed thru the Ethiopian court system and we became the parents of an amazing little boy. As he splashed in the bathtub this morning & smeared yogurt across his face, as he played with his tractors and "helped" me fold the laundry...I have found myself startled that less than 1-year ago our house was so quiet (and cleaner, more organized, less chaotic...). Okay, I digress.

This little boy, OUR little boy has brought such joy to our lives. SO much joy that I'm struggling to put my heart into words. This is my best attempt: "I will praise You, O Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works. I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name..."