Two Has Arrived

This little boy of ours turned 2 last week.  Thursday was his birthday and Saturday was his party.  It was an exhausting day on Saturday cleaning the house and doing party prep, but Gadisa loved every moment of his party.  We had 1/2 of it at a gymnastics center and then everyone headed back to our house for some Ethiopian food and games.  Time is moving so fast.  So, so very fast.  Seems like just a second ago we were waiting for him to come home.  Waiting and wondering.  Today, our days are filled with 2 year old adventures.  I love these days.

  

  

Missing my baby

We are in Boulder, Co this week and while we have been here, Gadisa has been spending time with his Nana. We got this video from her today. I can't wait to see him tomorrow!! That scrunched up, painful look at the end...that's him smiling for us. I love it!

Hey...Get Your Own!

I ran upstairs to put some laundry away and came down to G checking his email. This kid needs his own computer already!

Blossoming

Time for a little Gadisa update. He's growing like a weed. I keep putting clothes on him that fit just a few weeks ago and they are small now. He's also a busy bee, moving from one project to the next. Still babbling, but those words will be coming any day now. He's behind a little on his words, but understands absolutely everything we tell him. He's growing so much with being exposed to new things and people at daycare and it's so awesome to see him becoming more comfortable in new surroundings. He warms up a lot quicker to people that he wasn't so comfortable around before. It's nice for everyone to start seeing the ham this kid really is. He loves to make us laugh and I can't wait to start having conversations with him...well, ones that I can understand at least.

He's a dancing machine! Any music (toys, commercials, singing....) he starts with his dance moves. The best part is he is always coming up with new ones. Here's some new photos of this guy. Can't believe he will be turning 2 this fall!

With his aunt, Rachael, at the Renaissance Festival. I like how his face seems concerned with her touching the llama.

Hope he grows out of this phase before college.

Just a little flirting with the bakery woman is all it takes to get a free cookie.

A year to remember

Dear, Oliver Gadisa Lyric -

One year. I have seen you with my own eyes. In flesh and bone. You make me stop and see...everything. It must have been so scary to change everything you knew. Be brought to a new place where everything was different. Sounds, smells and sights. You welcomed it so gracefully. Like an old soul. Watching and taking everything in so thoughtfully. My favorite part of my day is rocking you to sleep. Music humming in the background, you snuggled into my arms silently staring at photos of your life before us on the wall as you drift to sleep. I wonder what you are thinking. I know you won't remember, but I won't let you forget. Each day with you is an honor. I hope you think we have done a decent job so far. Thank you for everything that you are and for everything that you have taught me to be. I had no idea how to be a mother until you first looked at me and simply smiled and your whole face lit up. I knew then I was put here to be yours and we would figure it out together.

Happy one year anniversary, Oliver Gadisa! We love you dearly.

Worth the Wait

We passed court a year ago today making us "official" parents. I felt like G's mama since we saw his referral photo though. The year has flown by and I just realized we started the whole process 2 years ago this month.

Everyone says it's crazy how the time just flies by.

Everyone is right.

I spent practically every waking moment with Gadisa and I have since we first saw each other. On Wednesdays, when I have a sitter for a few hours during the day, I find myself missing him and anxious to get back to this little guy. Even amid the frustrations and challenges of him (Really, G...you need to try and unplug my computer again? What is your fascination with electrical outlets?!) I am always remembering The Wait. The hours and days of sitting in silence in his room just craving to hold him.

Everyone says it's worth the wait.

Everyone is right.

Car seats and parades

Guess the forward facing car trips are going to be on hold for a bit. Now the American Academy of Pediatrics say it's best to keep them in their seats rear facing until age 2. Hope the ol' flip around will go over well with Gadisa. He loves going on car rides and does amazing in the car.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/03/21/car.seat.guidelines.parenting/index.html?eref=mrss_igoogle_cnn

We hit the St. Patrick's Day parade last week and were met with amazing weather! G loved it.

We are fully into March Madness around here, which means G gets to stay up and watch KU basketball. He's loving it. Our beloved Jayhawks are headed to the Sweet Sixteen! Rock Chalk!