Our Journey to 6

Saturday, August 13, 2011

10 months old and 2 months in our arms!!!

Alemnesh Grace Harley turned 10 months old today, and she has been in our arms for exactly two months! We cannot believe how quickly the summer has flown by - it seems like just yesterday we were on a plane bringing her home, and at the same moment it seems like she has been with us forever. Let's see - what has our little one been up to? She can stand (without holding on to anything) for about 10 seconds. She loves to walk holding onto everything - a finger, the couch, her push toy from grandma and grandpa (thank you!). When she is not practicing her walking, she is crawling everywhere! She is sleeping 12 hours at night, and still taking 2 2-hour naps a day. She drinks 4 bottles a day (had to cut back on the amount- she over 20 pounds!!!), and eats baby food and whatever we are eating. She loves music, and laughs hysterically when anyone else is laughing. She still loves mommy, but the last few days daddy is definitely gaining ground:). Oh, and you should see her smile when she sees "her kids". her face just lights up! She still has not said mama yet:(, but does dada, baba a lot. She can wave goodbye, and if the mood strikes - she will blow kisses. She loves her blankie (thank you Aunt Lizzie!), and her stuffed bear. Noah, Jadon, and Hannah love her to pieces - they are constantly coming up with new ways to make her laugh, and I have had to start a chart to remember whose day it is to sit by her in the car:)

Precious Alle - you bring us such joy! we are so blessed to have you in our lives. Yes, we still have "our days", but they are getting farther apart:). We thank God for you every day, and we cannot wait to watch you grow up - your personality is going to keep us on our toes!!!

Monday, July 18, 2011

fun with friends

Last night we went over to Gini and Jason's house, along with Keith and Emily, for a summer barbeque! love it when we can get our 3 families together - Gini and Emily and I see each other all week:), but the guys rarely get together because of schedules, work, etc. We always have a marvelous time - last night Gini had gotten water balloons and we all had a water fight:). Love you guys!!!! Oh, and did I mention that Alle loves her buddies? Gini's little girl Beza just turned one, Emily's little boy Tage turns one tomorrow!, and Alle is 9 months old! Wish that I had pics of the three of them - they are a hoot!

Sunday, July 10, 2011

the first two weeks of July in pictures

Okay - here is a quick Alle update for all you dying for one:) Alle is doing so incredibly well! She is the perfect baby, very attached to mommy, loves giggling at her brothers and sister, sleeps 12 hours a night with 2 naps during the day (don't hate me:), loves food (not the bottle so much, but we are working on that). She is so very active, and now that she is more secure in our house and with us - she never stops moving! She can army crawl with the best - and just started pulling up on everything in sight. She actually lets me put her down for about 10 minutes at a time - usually only if I am right next to her, but this is a huge improvement from two weeks ago! We have been home 3 weeks and one day, but it seems like she has been a part of our family forever. I must say - my three older monkeys constantly amaze me with the love that they have for their new sister. Even with all the time that she spends with me, and how much I know that are craving mommy time, they just adore her! Thousands of kisses a day, always fighting over who gets to hold her, always bringing her a toy or making a silly face because they want to see her smile. and they think that everything she does is earth shattering - especially as she starts to become more comfortable with them. For instance - we were in the car last week going to the doctor's office (literally a 4 minute drive). Alle did not cry going into her car seat and she laughed and played with them the whole way there (again, a 4 minute drive, but we take what we can around here!). When we got there, you would have thought that they had just seen a star wars creature - they were jumping up and down, clapping and yelling "she did not cry" "I think that she likes us". Oh, my heart is full. Also, for those of you wondering, I am feeling much better this week then last - post adoption blues are no fun, but with some good friends as sounding boards, and a lot of love and support from family and friends, I am almost feeling like myself most days! okay, on to the rest of the post:)

Wow - I have to say it - blogging has definitely gotten harder with 4 kiddos in the house! it only ever gets done at night, and to be honest, most nights I choose sleep over blogging:). So here are a bunch of random pictures from the beginning of July: We started the month by driving down to Richmond to celebrate my nephew Oliver's 2nd birthday at my parents' house. We loved spending time with Matthew, Gina and Oliver, especially at King's Dominion! Then we drove back to NY, and this weekend celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary with a walk over the Hudson River. Today rounded out the weekend with pics before church, and a good water fight afterwards!!! Enjoy!

Sunday, June 26, 2011

a few pics:)

Yes, I need to blog about what has been happening here:), but right now all I have time for is some pictures of absolute cuteness!!! Enjoy (and I will try to write about our gotcha day and trip 2 - when all the craziness settles down!!!)