10 months old

Yordy has been pulling herself up for a few weeks now and is cruising around furniture. All this from a child who couldn't lift her head up for more than a few seconds when we brought her home. I understand why they can't give them tummy time at HH, but am just amazed at how quickly these kids catch up!

Yordy getting her first haircut. When she came home it looked like someone had just stuck a toupee on her head. She had several inches right on top and NONE on the sides or back. We had to give her a trim on top to even things up a bit!

The leaning tower of Yordy!

The little Ethiopian princess is growing like a weed. From one doctor's appointment to the next one two months later she gained almost 3 pounds and grew over 2 inches.

Finding a New Normal

I know a month since my last post. What have I been doing. Well, we have been finding a new normal.

Life with three is very different for me...a big change. Not the change I thought. I was worried about managing three kids and our day. That has been going pretty well. Everyone is adjusting better than I expected...except for myself. I am adjusting to all the extra housework. I know it sounds silly, but somehow in the change from a four person household to a five person household the laundry and dishes have doubled. I really don't know how it happened. Yordy's clothes are the smallest of them all. How does adding her into the mix make my laundry basket full EVERY SINGLE DAY? Enough laundry woes.

The kiddos are doing super. The adjustment seems to be pretty easy on them. Bean is the poster child for firstborns responsible, dependable, a perfectionist. She loves Yordy and shows it in her protectiveness and her mothering.

Bug is going to land Yordy in the hospital. He is the most affectionate child, but at 3 he doesn't understand that you can't give your 9-month old sister a bear hug like you do your dad. Here he is doing some bonding with dad while painting.

Yordy is truly a joy and seems to have transitioned easily into our family. She just started crawling about a week ago and is now into everything. She has the brightest smile. It just lights up her face.

Even though the day in and day out of parenting can get kind of tedious, I am reminded what a gift God has given me and what a wonderful responsibility I have to raise these children in His image.

4 weeks ago today...

My three little angels.

I was elated, exhausted and so excited to unite my family of 5. I can't believe Yordy and I have been home a month now. Time passes by so quickly and yet when I look back, so much has happened.

Our little Ethiopian (from now on known as Yordy-endearment for her Ethiopian name Yordanos that I use) has made amazing improvements.

• She was pretty shaky sitting on her own. Know she is quite catty and even making attempts to crawl.
• When on her tummy her neck muscles were so weak she could not lift her head up for more than a second. Now she is on all fours in an attempt to crawl. (For all you new moms out there crawling may seem amazing, but do not encourage your children. Those of us with kids know that it just opens up the world to them. You can't leave them for an instant, you look away and they are gone and they find the most amazing things that were on your floor and put them into their mouths-yuck!)
• She was only eating rice cereal and now eats everything and anything. Maybe peas aren't her favorite, but she still will eat them.
• She went from eating bottles every few hours, because that was what she was used to to going 4 hours at a stretch and only taking 4-5 bottles a day.
• She will end up in the emergency room sometime soon from getting too much love from her exuberant older brother. Bug is a lover and smothers the poor girl ALL DAY LONG.

Bean tries to be her mommy and when I am doing mommy duties like feeding her a bottle, Bean will be right next to me feeding one of her babies.


• She is now taking 2 naps each day, although getting her to sleep is still a trial of patience.
• She cries when other people hold her...yes she is attaching well!
  

We are in love with life and enjoying our new family of five.

Praise God for these gifts He has given me.

Prayer Request

I ask for prayers on behalf of a wonderful family that was in the process of adopting their daughter from Ethiopia. They found out last night that she had passed away. Please pray for their comfort and peace as they walk this unexpected and heartbreaking path.

Laundry

I forgot how much laundry babies can create. Lucky for me I have such a cute helper!

Bath Time

Here are our little ones helping give Nora a bath. She loves the water...even when her little brother pours water in her face! She is a very even tempered baby and at this point is MUCH easier than our other two were at her age. We are just working on establishing some sort of schedule for her. She doesn't want to nap during the day and wants to be held all night right now. She had her first doctor appointment today and is headed back Friday for blood work. All just routine stuff.

Jason is back to work Monday. He is ready...I am not. Three kids is waaaaayyyy more than two. I didn't realy notice the jump from one to two, but I really notice the difference from two to three.

I am doing MUCH better. I was sick for 7 days. Icky, lay on the couch and not get up sick, but thank goodness it went away on its own and I am not hosting some parasite : )

Introducing...

Nora Yordanos

After suffering from an ear infection, a sinus infection, pink eye, and cutting her first tooth, she is doing great. It is amazing because she is a completely different child than the one I met last Monday. Then she was obviously getting sick and now she is a little spark plug with a ton of personality.

Now we just have to get me better! The doctor hopes I picked up a virus on the airplane and not a parasite on my trip. Lovely.