Toddling

Aven is finally walking! She took her first steps a few weeks ago (right at 14 months old)

and is starting to walk around quite a bit. She is SO proud of herself! She loves the fact that we (especially her brothers) clap and cheer for her! I keep thinking about how grateful I am that we get to cheer her on in these milestones. All kids deserve to have a family that gets excited when they do new things….alot of children will never have that chance.

Created For Care

I had the privilege of attending the Created for Care retreat at Lake Lanier, Georgia this year with my sweet friend Keri. Our husbands met each other in college and Keri and her husband adopted from Ethiopia 2 years ago. Our girls lived in the same Care Center and had the same sweet nanny. They were such a blessing to us while we went through our adoption process.  We decided back in the fall to attend this adoption retreat together. I am so thankful to our amazing husbands who let us have a weekend away. It was a refreshing and exhausting weekend. It was centered around adoption, but a lot of the weekend was just refreshment for mommies. But the messages were HEAVY.  Adoption is beauty and brokenness all rolled into one. Just because Aven was adopted at a young age and will never remember what she came from, does not mean we will never face tough issues. It will be hard. But she is our daughter and we will be here to walk with her through it. I am looking forward to many more years of going to C4C. I am sure it will be a vital tool in helping us as we parent Aven. 

Zoo Day

We made a family trip to the zoo on Brian’s winter break from school. It was a gorgeous 64 degree day! It was such a fun day as a family!

Aven's Dedication

We have had the privilege of dedicating each of our kids to the Lord at the church where Brian’s dad pastors. We dedicated Aven in her beautiful Ethiopian dress that was given to her by her nanny. We never take lightly what dedicating our children means. We are making a promise to the Lord to that we will raise them in a home that loves and honors Him.

Circus

We took the boys to the circus this year! It was Brody’s second time going and Levi’s first. They LOVED it. They were completely mesmerized.  Levi was pretty scared when Brody told him there would be lions and tigers. He was very quiet and nervous until it started and then he realized everything was far enough away that the animals wouldn’t be able to get him!

Behind the scenes....

Oh, so you thought the past 6 weeks have been all sunshines and rainbows?? I guess I did leave out the fact that we have visited some form of medical facility 11 (that's right, ELEVEN) times in the first 6 weeks of Aven being home. Honestly, I have just been so happy to have our daughter home that I guess I didn't even realize all of the less than happy things going on around me:) Let's recap.....

Week 1

 >Avens first doctors visit= double ear infection and antibiotics 

 >Full Blood work-up for Aven at Rex

Week 2

>Boys to urgent care ON CHRISTMAS DAY for pink eye and ear infections (2 sets of eye drops and antibiotics)

>Aven back for round 2 of blood work

Week 3

>Aven to the doctor for ear check and vaccines--round 2 of antibiotics for double ear infection

Week 4

>Levi to the doctor-- left with breathing treatments and oral steroids

>Levi to the doctor for a second time for a breathing check

Week 5-

>Aven to the doctor for ear check and vaccines (ears are clear!!) Levi went to get his breathing checked one last time. (Brody was there too---all 3 at the dr. was so much fun:)

Week 6- 

>Aven went to Rex for one last blood draw

>Brody went to the doctor for headaches and high fever. Ended up having 2 antibiotic shots and a blood culture done  because they could not figure out what in the world he had!

>Brody back to the doctor for a follow up check and 2 more antibiotic shots and was put on Tamiflu in case he had the flu (test was negative) 

I feel like I should sing, "On the 6th week of Aven home my kiddos gave to meeeee....11 doctor visits, 4 rounds of antibiotics, 2 sets of eye drops, 4 full blood work ups, 4 antibiotic shots, 1 week of tamiflu, 1 week of oral steroids,  a lot of breathing treatments, and some vaccines thrown in there toooooo."  
Welcome to the family, Aven!

One Month Home

I dont know if it was right or wrong...but I totally prepared myself for the worst when thinking of Aven's adjustment into our family. I expected to be getting little sleep, helping her adjust to a new bed and a new time zone, fighting for her affection, facing rejection, and be just flat-out exhausted from adding another child to our family. None of those things have happened. She attached to me and treated me like her mommy from day 2 in Ethiopia. She never once was angry or rejected me. She was scared, but looked to me for comfort. And that fear left quickly! She has slept 12-13 hours since her first night at home. She is eating like a champ as well! It took her a couple of weeks to warm up to Brian she knows he is "daddy" now! We have found that she takes to other people much better when I am not around. If I am there, she only wants me. We have left her with my mom for a few hours a couple of times and Aven did great!

Brody and Levi are still completely smitten. They adore her! Aven adores them too, but Levi definitely gets on her nerves:) He has not figured out how to give her any space. In the mornings and after naptime Levi cannot wait to go get her from her bed. The minute she even makes a peep, he says "Mommy! Aven is talling (calling) for me! She's trying (crying) for me! Aven want me! I go get her, mommy!" He is relentless and will not let me wait even a minute to go get her:) I am pretty sure if she wanted anyone to come get her, it would NOT be him. They are working on their relationship. If its possible for him to love her TOO much, he does!

 She has adjusted so well. The transition has been so much easier than I thought it would be. Mainly because her and Levi are so close in age and she came into our home on pretty much the same schedule as him for eating and napping. Its been SO good. We are so thankful for the grace the Lord has given us in this transition for our family!