Bekeh and Caleb's first step on American Soil
First Bath time at home. Bekeh sang loudly in Kembataan and would splash Dereje and giggle, and then he would begin speaking Kembataan back to her. It was our first chance to hear them babbling back and forth in their native tongue.
First time to meet Great Grandma, or Gigi! They thought her wrinkly skin was cool. They'll get to meet their other Great Grandma this July when she comes down from Wisconsin. They can't wait!
I've made Bekeh a fashionista already. She especially loves all of her shoes and accessories. Every girl should have a pair of calf-high purple patent boots! Can I get an Amen?
Mimi's not afraid to be silly, and Bekeh has taken to her quickly because she loves to sing and dance around the living room with her. Mimi had her speaking and talking English back and forth all morning.
Later that day Nana came out and brought their cousin Carson to play. They love babies. Good thing, we've got several in the family! Mommy's the worst daughter in law, because Nana, Grandpa, Uncle David, Aunt Becky, and Uncle Kevin have all been out to meet them, and I don't have a picture of it anywhere! We'll fix that next time.
Papa, Grammy, and Aunt Kelly came out bearing gifts. Their first experience with opening presents. They caught on quickly. They loved their little people farm, giant my little pony, leap frog dogs, and blankets. Thanks guys! They were in need of some toys!
After dinner tonight, Brooklyn and Bekeh disappeared for awhile, and came out later all dressed up. Bekeh loved playing Fairy Princess dress up with her big sister. Brooklyn has been an absolute dream this first week home. Despite being exhausted and sick, she's gotten up with them in the middle of the night, in the mornings, and taken charge throughout the day without ever letting me know they needed something! I've had to assure her she doesn't have to do so much, but she doesn't seem to mind, for now.
Bekeh and Caleb sleep well at night as long as they can touch each other. Anytime she pulls away to turn over or reposition, he seeks out her arm or leg or whatever is close, and grabs hold again. He loves his sissy!
More to follow at some point, I promise, but for now, Jason's calling me out of the office! The kids are all asleep and we're not, it's a rare moment this week! Gotta Go!
More to follow at some point, I promise, but for now, Jason's calling me out of the office! The kids are all asleep and we're not, it's a rare moment this week! Gotta Go! 
The best was seeing my boys again though! I missed them so much. 
And finally being together as a family of SEVEN! Priceless! The tears were holding back until I saw my sister in law Amy. It's been a long journey together on this adoption road throughout the year. It was like seeing the one person in the world who actually knows what you're feeling at that exact moment, and knowing how they are feeling too. Thank You God for putting us on this path together. I couldn't have made it without her, atleast I'm glad I didn't have to. 
Thank you Dear friends and family for welcoming us home! It wouldn't have been the same without each and everyone of you who were there!!!!
We barely made it home without falling asleep and enjoyed takeout Mexican Food and homeade chocolate chip cookies, (thanks mom!) 
Apparently Jason and I fell asleep around 8:30pm, and when we woke up several hours later Brooklyn had changed everyone into pj's, and sung them to sleep, never trying to wake us or get our help. How did I get the best daughter on the planet? 
It's Sunday now, and we've had a great morning listening to the kids all play together. Until the newness wears off, the boys are enchanted with their new siblings and I'm hardly having to do anything!
The 17 hour flight went really well all things considered. The kids slept for a good 8 hours and then Jason was the trooper with 
We are on our flight to Atlanta and looking forward to seeing all of our friends and family at baggage claim 
By the end of the day we were all exhausted and ready to get home and chill.
Once again when it was time to leave, and the nannies came out to this time say Good-bye to the kids, Bekelech's silent tears began rolling. But then, Jason picked her up and turned to walk to the gate, away from the transistion home. She immediately broke out into the biggest smile. She knew that she knew that she knew she was leaving with us. You are an orphan no longer sweet baby girl, you are our daughter.
Caleb grabbed his Elmo car, a favorite obviously and began driving it all around the room. He loves cars!!!! 
We then began the long process of bathing them for the first time. They absolutely loved the water and laughed and giggled the entire time. We had to change the bath water repeatedly, they were dirty little boogers. The Transistion Home does an amazing job of keeping them clean, but Addis is a dirty city and we were all filthy by the end of each day!
The Transistion Home staff calls out your family name, you come to the bottom of the steps and they bring your children out the door to your waiting arms. We were #5 in line, thankful our last name wasn't Vowels, (wink wink Mark and Shannon). Waiting there is a crazy mix of emotion, and then suddenly it happens, they're there! 
From the moment they saw us from the top of the steps they were already smiling and reaching for us! 
We went off to a place in the garden to play with them and couldn't believe they were in our arms. 
Next came the bubbles and Bekelech was absolutely precious with them. It is obvious that she is extremely independent. She watched Brooklyn blow them for awhile and then took the bubbles from her, grabbed the stick, and attempted to make it happen. Jason had to mimick blowing for her a couple of times, and she had it down. She was so proud of herself. 
They were great at throwing, catching, and kicking the ball. By the end we could even say, "Throw it to Daddy!" or "Throw it to Brooklyn" and they would sail it in the right direction.
At one point, one of the nannies brought out the photo album book we had sent them, and again they lit up with delight. They began pointing at the pictures and saying "Mommy" and "Daddy." Bekelech first pointed at the cover and said, "Dereje." After a few prompts we would point to the pictures of us and motion, "Who's that?" and they would look up at either Jason, Brooklyn, or I correctly. I grabbed Bekelech by the cheeks at one point and very slowly said, "I Love You," and she looked at me for a second, and very quietly whispered back, "I love you." I screamed outloud I was so excited!!!
We wore them out chasing them around the yard playing, and at the end of our time Dereje began yawning and swaying a bit. I picked him up and began to sing to him the lullaby my mom had sung to me, and that I had sung to all my three children before, and within a minute he was sleeping in my arms. Amazing and precious! 
At that point, Jason was holding Bekelech, and noticed she had two big tears streaming down her face, our first sadness. She was watching the other parents take their kids back to the nannies, and knew it was time for us to leave. We thought it would be easier for Brooklyn to walk her back inside, but she pulled away and held onto Jason. Exactly what we want to see!!! Thankfully Dereje was asleep when I handed him off, so I only had to cry over one heartbroken child. Tomorrow sweet Bekeh! Tomorrow you can come with us forever, and I can brush your teeth and bathe your sweet body, and put you in cozy pajamas for the night.
We were all emotionally exhausted following, but we were in for a treat later that night! We attended a Traditional Ethiopian dinner and dance show. It was the most incredible, amazing, unbelievable moving I have ever seen. At one point a woman swings her head around so fast you literally can not see her face or hands anymore. It's was EXACTLY like in a cartoon where it simply becomes a blur. We all had our mouths gaped wide open. It didn't even seem humanly or biologically possible. It was one of the most entertaining 3 hours I have ever sat through. Brooklyn even tried a bit of the injera and beef!
I know He is looking after them. Everything else broke my heart. 
To see the tiny hut our children were born into, to see the saddness on their father's face as he explained that it was because of his "beloved wife's death" that he could not care for them. That to keep them with him, "was to kill them with his poverty." 
He told us he had nothing in this world except his children and so he had to give them to us and to God. Our day traveling to meet Lapresso, their ET father and Askelech their 9 year old sister, was, life changing. 
Brooklyn broke down sobbing when we got back in the van to leave. We were all changed by the poverty, by the conditions, and by the love and joy that grew in the midst of it all.
