Ethiopian Christmas

Pancakes and Pajamas- Aven's turns 5!

Aven is FOUR

 I took Aven out for a day of pampering for her birthday. We got our nails done and them took her for her first hair trim:) She was so excited about time with just her mommy, and some extra-special treatment.

Gotcha Day

We didn't do a lot of celebrating for Aven's Gotcha Day this year, due to spending the half the day in the Pediatrician's office with Brody (croup). BUT I did read some of my blog book to Aven and showed her our adoption video. She watching it over and over and OVER again!

Look who got her ears pierced!

Aven did great getting her ears pierced! She sat so still and was so excited! The lady who was piercing her ears said that she was the best 2 year old she had seen:) They would not pierce both ears at the same time. So as soon as they did the first ear Aven screamed, then I quickly turned her head and held it to my chest and they did the other one. I had a lollipop in hand, gave it to her, and all was good! She loves her earrings and I think they look adorable! 

Easter 2014

Picture Post

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Created for Care 2014

I was so blessed to be able to attend Created for Care at Lake Lanier again this year! And this time I got to take one of my dearest friends, Melissa with me! She brought her daughter Zoe home in August from Ethiopia.  Zoe and Aven lived in the same care center for a short time.

I also got to see some dear friends again while I was there! Devin and Jessica were in Ethiopia with us on our first trip for court and we stayed in close contact during our process encouraging each other and praying for each other. Wendy was another sweet one that we prayed with and for, and I finally got to meet her face to face after months of emailing back and forth!

 We had such a refreshing time at the retreat! It is so important to spend time with other adoptive mommas who "get it" and can encourage each other in the journey of raising an adopted child. I hope there will be many more years of attending C4C!

Wordless Wednesday

A few of my favorites....

Just a few of my favorite pics from the past few months......

1 year Home and 2 years old!

It is so hard to believe we were in Ethiopia 1 year ago bringing Aven home. It seems like yesterday.....but then again it seems like she has almost always been a part of our family. We cant imagine life without her! One year later, her brothers still ADORE her. They still act like she came home yesterday. They cant wait for her to wake up in the morning! They still run to her room to tell her good morning!

On her birthday, I cant help but wonder if the woman that gave birth to her is thinking about her. I cant help but wish that she knew how loved and happy Aven is. I continue to pray that the Lord would give her a peace and that she would somehow feel that Aven is ok. We can't begin to guess the circumstances that surrounded her giving Aven up.  I was not present at Aven's birth and didnt even see her face to face until she was 7 months old, so in all honesty I don't feel sentimental about her birthday. Her birthday just makes me wonder about alot of things....things that will never be answered. It's hard not to think of those things on her birthday. BUT I realized this year, that although the 2 months of delays waiting for her to come home were tough, the Lord gave me a gift in that......She came home just a few days before her birthday and I am extremely sentimental about that! I watched our adoption video several times and went through all of the pictures taken at the airport and her first few days home. We do alot of celebrating around her birthday between Gotcha day, the day we became a forever family, and the day of her birth. 

A little about Aven....

She is finally opening up to other people. I would say just in the past 2 months has she gotten to the point where she willingly goes to some of our friends. She has been great with our families, but is finally loving some of our friends too! 

She is an amazing sleeper! She loves her crib and never makes a peep at night or nap time. And this has been every single night and day since day one! It's crazy. She has blessed us in that department!

She is very determined!

She is finally starting to put some words together. 2 or 3 at the most. 

She is struggling in the teeth department! She has all of 9 teeth. 2 on the top, 3 on the bottom, and 4 molars. 

She loves to sing! Although she doesnt say alot of words, she can sing all of the words to Jesus Loves Me! 

She is finally starting to show some interest in girl toys, although she prefers to follow her brothers around and play what they play:)

We are so blessed by this girl! She is a constant reminder of God's love to us!

Christmas Tea

 We had our first Annual (for sure!) Exchange Christmas Tea! All of the ladies from Exchange Church and the sweet little girls gathered at my mom's house for a fun morning of girly food, frilly dresses, and tiny tea cups! It was so much fun! And it was mine and Aven's first official Mommy-daughter event! I loved dressing her  up. When I put some of my pearls around her neck to wear, she was so excited! She felt like a little princess, and I loved every minute of it!