Play Time

Mr. P has made a new friend. He goes outside everyday to look for his "little friend". He coos over how cute he is and pets him so gently. He lets the caterpillar crawl all over him (which makes me gag in silence).

Mr. P came home from pre-school this week with the coolest project. Busy Guy wanted it soooo bad that I had to make him one too. They gallop all around the house on their horses, Cac (short for Cactus) and yet to be named other horse.

We Passed Court!

Glory to God! We passed court. Our case was heard in court today (well, last night while we slept). I'm so thrilled that we didn't have to wait for a new date and then have another sleepless night. We are officially the parents to a sweet baby girl! I can now post her pictures on my blog and share with you how beautiful she is.

First picture, 2 weeks old at the Christmas celebration at Layla House.

Sweet girl wearing the pj we sent her, with her new toy and her photo album.

Still No News

Today is a National Holiday in Ethiopia so we won't hear any news today. Maybe.....tomorrow?
I picked up a crib that a friend gave us. Thanks! I put it together, put sheets on it with blankets. It looks so cute. The room is looking good. I've been working on the stencil for the girl side of the room. I'll post pics when I'm done. It's pretty surreal to see two cribs in the same room:)
Busy Guy is doing really well sleeping in his "big boy" bed. As long as I don't let him nap too long then he will go to sleep at night. He gets a sticker in the morning for staying in bed all night long. He could teach Mr. P a few things about staying in bed all night!
Some more exciting news for our family! Hubby got accepted to graduate school! He will start this Fall. It will be a two year program for Nurse Practitioner. When he's done he plans to work in one of the clinics...like oncology. It will be regular hours!!!!!! Yipee...what will I do with a hubby who doesn't work graveyard and is home on the weekends?A happy dance...that's what I'll do:)

Yikes!

No news on the re-scheduling of our court date. Maybe we will hear something tomorrow?

Send some prayers up for my poor Mom. I'm now calling her Nana Knievel! She was riding bikes with my nephews yesterday...actually racing one of them when her brakes locked up and she flew head first over the handlebars. She landed on her head (good thing she had her helmet on) and broke both bones in her right arm where they meet the wrist. She also severely sprang her left arm. She has to have surgery on her arm....OUCH! She is home resting but in lots of pain. Poor Nana Knievel. She told the ambulance guys that maybe she should take up a more appropriate sport for her age. I think she failed to tell them she is a Mountaineer and has climbed Mt. Rainer twice!

Hubby and I are painting the stairway/hallway that goes up and downstairs today. I'm really getting sick and tired of painting so it's a good thing that today will be the end of it! I know I'm too tired to do this because my perfectionism is wearing thin...."looks good enough, nobody will see that spot I missed".

No News...Is Not Good News!

Well...after waiting not so patiently all day we have heard from our agency that there were no cases heard in court because there was no power in Addis. UGHHH! I hope we will hear something tomorrow about when our case will be re-scheduled. Keep praying! I'm going to start stenciling baby girl's half of the room. Butterflies, bees, flowers...that should keep my peaceful and not freaking out....NOT!

Big Day...Big Prayers!

Okay...tonight before you go to sleep pray some prayers for our baby girl (Patron Saint Lydia) as she has her court date tonight as we sleep. I hope to have news tomorrow!!!

I had my check-up last Fri. with my Dr. He is thrilled with my sugar levels. He said he usually sees his Gestational Diabetes patients once a week but I'm doing so well that he will see me the normal 2 week intervals until next month. I talked to him about early inducement and he said it is a possibility maybe a week early. I will go for non-stress tests at the hospital once a week for the rest of the pregnancy and will have another ultrasound to see how big this baby boy is. It will be a wait and see as far as the delivery date. One thing for sure. I've had my last overdue pregnancy....yipee:) I'm feeling good and my rapid weight gain has slowed way down. That's good as I'm not looking forward to taking the weight off.

Yesterday my MIL (the best ever) and I took the boys to the park and had a great time enjoying the sunshine and the water park.

So Peaceful

Call me crazy but I had the most peaceful morning sitting in my living room reading the paper today. The one thing that made it so much better was the new paint. Instead of looking at the dirty walls and grimacing about them I could gaze at them and smile. Something about new paint...it's so clean and refreshing. Plus, the kiddos were all quiet and watching cartoons:)
I ordered this print for the wall in the living room. It's a photo I took while in Ethiopia. We took a drive outside the city and this woman was walking along the road carrying sticks into the city to sell for firewood. There were many women doing this job. Some of them walk many, many miles a day. We stopped and our driver Danny gave her some money calling out to her, "mother, mother". He was such a kind and generous soul who gave so freely to those less fortunate. I am having the print put onto a canvas and then framed. I can't wait to see the final project hanging on the wall.

I'm debating which other photo to have put on canvas also. Tell me your opinion. Which picture do you think I should use?

Photo in Addis of the Holy Trinity Orthodox Church

Grass hut picture taken on the drive outside of Addis.

Here's the before pictures of the living room.

The new photo on canvas will hang to the left of this sitting area. And..the other photo I've yet to choose..will hang to the right of it.

And....the after!