Gotcha Day Celebration

Hello out there!  We celebrated gotcha day this past Saturday.  I think I am finally settling into my new england way of life because I made apple pie for Ezra.  I made little leaves and berries as decorations and then...we ate them.  Randy ate apple pie for two days straight and was asking for more.

Ezra loves apples, but loves to say the word apple even more.  I remember wondering what her little voice would sound like and here I am, listening to it each day.  Apple, apple, apple, apple....followed with the request for itsy-bitsy-spider, moving her hands in the spider motion.  I begin singing and then her two little bottom teeth jut out as she giggles with delight that her favorite song will go once again.

Since we have started Ezra on "real food" she has only refused those dirty little beets.  There are days when I wonder if she has the natural mechanism in her belly that says, "I'm full."  The girl loves to eat, all things.  Grass, pea shoots, paper hole punch-outs, pickles, etc.  She is also beginning to pass off her morning bottle for more important things, like standing on the couch to point to the "horsies." 

Language development is on the upswing with new words daily, but not always on cue, as I would like.  For example, I am desperately looking for the word "please" whenever she requests something.  She will cheerfully throw the word around at her convenience, but press her gently for it when a popcorn kernel is at stake and a much different picture unfolds.  "No, no, no!"  with a passionate back and forth shake of the head is included for all to witness. 

It's been so long since tantrums have been a part of our everyday life.  I welcome you with open arms and look forward to reliving this phase with Ruby just as Ezra moves onto potty training.  Always up to my elbows in something.

It's raining today, pouring in fact.  It rained nearly everyday that we were in Africa, a sweet refreshing shower, usually in the middle of the day and then the sun would shine again, warming the earth, while our kids warmed each of our hearts.  We spent so much time waiting, filling out paperwork, getting to know the other families within our group, forming the primitive lines of friendships that would be etched into the tapestry of a lifetime.  Nearly a year ago, I was beginning to pack my suitcase, Ezra's suitcase, Grayson's suitcase, the cat's suitcase...preparing for the journey ahead.  And now, here we are, all unpacked, our lives hung out to dry for others to see how we are doing.  Did we get everything sorted out, are colors matched with colors, whites with whites, wrinkled, ironed, spotted, crisp....nope.  But our basket is brimming with beauty, muddy pants from a rain dance in puddles, soaked socks from adventures with bubbles, stained shirts from first meals shared together, dress shirts worn for a job interview, bathing suits from ocean adventures, maternity shirts that fit to snuggly in the end, and many more articles that contain stories untold.  More stories to follow in the days to come.  I promise.