tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9985802009283924582024-03-13T12:13:41.986-07:00Little Ethiopia(n)living in Little Ethiopia...waiting on our own little Ethiopian(s)Kat & Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06771223055953137126noreply@blogger.comBlogger96125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-998580200928392458.post-28850755288446178402011-06-08T19:06:00.000-07:002011-06-08T19:06:00.722-07:00Referral-versary the second time around<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I know I have been a very delinquent blogger lately (uh...since Sept <i><b>2010</b></i> good grief!) and I do have a lot to fill you in on (big move, big milestones, etc) but I can't let today go by without a bit of fanfare. Today is our referral-versary.<br />
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Two years ago today, June 8, 2009, we saw this picture in our inbox<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e1WDQeODqSQ/TfAj_SkfMQI/AAAAAAAAA9A/0G1LeGbgg0s/s1600/june+8+2009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e1WDQeODqSQ/TfAj_SkfMQI/AAAAAAAAA9A/0G1LeGbgg0s/s320/june+8+2009.jpg" width="320" /></a> <br />
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One year ago today, June 8, 2010...<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--0-yvjpZMek/TfAkCmBTMFI/AAAAAAAAA9E/IYBvc7Dt8c4/s1600/june+8+2010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--0-yvjpZMek/TfAkCmBTMFI/AAAAAAAAA9E/IYBvc7Dt8c4/s320/june+8+2010.JPG" width="320" /></a> <br />
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Today, June 8, 2011<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PzRqjeyBLS4/TfAkET1_fbI/AAAAAAAAA9I/M8B4lRUajug/s1600/june+8+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PzRqjeyBLS4/TfAkET1_fbI/AAAAAAAAA9I/M8B4lRUajug/s320/june+8+2011.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><br />
They are so big now-26 months old. They talk, sing, run, question, argue, climb, hug, laugh all the time. Independent and snugly at the same time. They are each other's best friend and still the greatest joys we have ever known. The more we learn about them, the more they learn about EVERYTHING...honestly, I have no words.<br />
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Right now, as I type this, I can hear Baby Girl on the monitor singing herself to sleep. Her own original mash up of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GugsCdLHm-Q">Queen's <i>Bicycle Race</i></a>, an <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7giKyprr5s&feature=related">old camp song</a> I used to sing to her at night, and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSFLZ-MzIhM"><i>Rainbow Connection</i></a>. It goes something like this: "Bicycle! Bicycle! I want a Bicycle today while blossoms on vines and I eat your strawberries. cause Rainbows are visions, only visions with nothing on other side" Baby Boy, of course, has been asleep since the moment we laid him down so he misses out on her concert. He spent the afternoon climbing up onto the top of our sofa and then jumping off into a pile of pillows. "Baby Boy jump! Again! Again!"<br />
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I had no idea when I saw that first photo what my life would be like with them in it, and now, two years later I can't begin to imagine what it would be like without them.<br />
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Baby Girl, Baby Boy - you are our hearts... xoxo </div>Kat & Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06771223055953137126noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-998580200928392458.post-65624631864605620532010-10-12T14:43:00.000-07:002010-10-12T14:43:00.159-07:00Nanny Comes to Hollywood<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
Last month we had visitors...and not just any visitors but FAMILY! My parents, aka Granddaddy and Mama T, my grandmother, who I call Nanny but the twins call Grand-Nan, and my Aunt Sue. <br />
My parents come to visit us at least once a year but this was the first time Grand-Nan and Aunt Sue had come out. In fact, it turns out it was a life-long dream of Grand-Nan's to come to Los Angeles. A dream she NEVER MENTIONED! Yeah...sorta a shame she kept that to herself all these years. I mean, we could have made that dream come true a long time ago! And often! Oh well, better late than never I suppose and so in September my 91 year old grandmother came to Hollywood for the first time <br />
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Sadly, I didn't think to take blog-worthy photos so I've had to do some creative cropping in order to give you a sample of their visit. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Naturally, we had to show Grand-Nan the Hollywood Sign.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And Santa Monica Beach </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There was some sort of trapeze group meeting at the beach that day so Grand-Nan and Aunt Sue got an eye-full of that craziness.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/TLIRjxqWoBI/AAAAAAAAA5U/ukaKJ7m6UlA/s1600/IMG_1106.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/TLIRjxqWoBI/AAAAAAAAA5U/ukaKJ7m6UlA/s320/IMG_1106.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We also spent an afternoon wandering around Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive. Here is Grand-Nan pondering Prada's Fall collection. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><b><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/TLTVqbVSIYI/AAAAAAAAA5w/MEWWVl3BIPE/s320/DSC_2227.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></b></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But mainly we just stayed home and played with The Twins. They LOVED all the attention and hugs. Finally, they had a house full of people who would play peek-a-boo and "where's my nose?" with them!<b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby Girl sharing secrets with her Granddaddy</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/TLIRSJdTLDI/AAAAAAAAA5I/Ckss-gvv8Eo/s1600/DSC_2218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/TLIRdUwO19I/AAAAAAAAA5Q/CJeDD6pdTfk/s1600/IMG_1076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/TLIRdUwO19I/AAAAAAAAA5Q/CJeDD6pdTfk/s320/IMG_1076.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby Boy studying the life aquatic with his Mama T</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aunt Sue learning the rules of the water table, "What happens at water table STAYS at water table." </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Over all it was an amazing (and too brief!) visit. One that I never thought would happen. The twins are truly blessed to be loved by so many people.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">xoxo-Kat</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Kat & Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06771223055953137126noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-998580200928392458.post-29531075017179821012010-10-03T14:09:00.000-07:002010-10-03T14:15:48.955-07:00For the record: 18 months<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The latest change in our house. 4 tooth brushes in the bathroom. And yes, that is a Heros of the Torah collectible juice glass. </td></tr>
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The Wonder Twins turned 18 months this weekend. 18 months. That means they are now a year and a half old, and according to books, this means they are no longer babies. Sigh. HOW did that happen? <br />
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In an effort at keeping track of the milestones that are flying by, I will now attempt to list the highlights:<br />
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<ul><li>They know 23 words, of which my favorites to hear them say are: Sissy (Baby boy's name for his sister), bubbles, nana (banana), bye-bye (which is said in a slow southern drawl), toes, and of course, Mama & DaDa. <br />
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<li>They know 11 American Sign Language signs including: please, thank you, book, help, bath, and fish. Granted, thank you & blowing kisses are pretty much the same, as is milk and star. It's all in the context. <br />
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<li>They can tell you what each of the following says: lion, cow, chicken, sheep, elephant, truck (broom broom), 3 singing pigs (La La, La) and a ghost (boo). <br />
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<li>They know all the movements to "The Wheels on the Bus," "<a href="http://www.kididdles.com/lyrics/s010.html">Farmer Brown</a>," and "<a href="http://www.kididdles.com/lyrics/s010.html">Skidamarink</a>"</li>
<li>Their current favorite joke is to fake cough until one of us says in a silly voice, "oh my...are you ok!?" This cracks them both up. </li>
<li>Baby Girl has 6 teeth. Baby Boy has 5. But they seem to be teething 24/7 so more should be on the way soon. </li>
<li>They never, ever stop moving. They walk, run, roll, dance, and pretend to fall (yes, they have mastered the pratfall). They wave, blow kisses, kick and throw balls (or trucks, or magna-doodles). They can climb stairs and the ladders for slides and think nothing of trying to step off a 2 foot high ledge. And yet, they will not step off the 5 inch high deck in our back yard without holding onto us. That's kinda weird. </li>
<li>When they aren't moving their other favorite thing to do is read. They can both sit for half an hour at a time just flipping through books on their own. Sometimes they babble the storyline out loud, sometimes they just skip to their favorite pages and 'read' that part ("all the hippos go berserk!" Recently they want to sit in our laps and 'read' to us. Books are the #1 go-to toy for us.</li>
<li>They have moved past their fear of the baby doll and now fight over who gets to rock her and put her down for "nigh-nigh." <br />
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<li>They know how to put away their toys. Baby Boy loves to clean up. All I have to do is sing the first 2 words of that darn "clean up" song and he is rushing to put books on the shelves. If there are no books to put away, he has been known to knock some down just so he can put them back. Baby Girl on the other hand... not so into cleaning. You hand her a book to put away and she will walk to the opposite corner and start reading. Baby Boy responds well to applause and high fives. Baby Girl might need money...</li>
<li>They can sorta, kinda use their forks and spoons. Ok, not really. But that's my fault. I have a hard time letting them get crazy and messy. So they don't get a lot of practice with utensils. I'm trying to be better about it...</li>
<li>They love straws. They will drink pretty much anything if you let them use a straw. And straws usually mean there is a lid. They like the straw, I like the limited mess potential. Win-win!</li>
<li>Baby Boy loves his trucks. He loves to make the <i>broom-broom</i> noise as he drives them along the window ledge. Which may or may not have something to do with his latest obsession: the broom. The boy loves to sweep. He also loves to drum and sing. He has one tune but three different sets of lyrics (dada, dadi and noni) and will sing on command. </li>
<li>Baby Girl loves to swing. We go to the park and all she does is stand by the swing set, signing 'please' over and over again. It's pretty cute and never fails to make some other parent instantly take their child out so Baby Girl can have a turn. Baby Girl is the Jim Carrey of toddlers--she can contort her face into all sorts of crazy looks. Anything to make her brother laugh. She also loves to climb--slides, the sofas, beds, hills... she is Jim Carrey the goat. <br />
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<li>They genuinely seem to like each other. "Sissy" is the first word out of Baby Boy's mouth when he wakes up. And Baby Girl follows him around like he's a god. Sometimes they just look at each other and start laughing hysterically. I know boy/girl fraternal twins aren't supposed to have that mystical "twin thing" but I do think my kids can read each others mind sometimes.</li>
<li>They aren't all sunshine and good manners... oh no. We've hit the beginning of the Terrible Two's I think. If they don't want to hold your hand they will let their whole body go limp so you are suddenly dragging dead weight. If they don't want what's on their plate they throw it. Diaper changing time has become an Olympic wrestling match with both of them. Baby Girl can burst into ear-splitting, tearful screams in .2 seconds. Baby Boy spends his days screeching "eh?!" Yes, he knows 23 words and 11 signs but he would prefer to screech "eh!?" all day long. They hit and pinch. And as of yesterday, bite. And they are now able to look you straight in the eye while doing something you specifically told them not to do. You take something from them and they will go find something bigger (and louder) and repeat the action. They laugh at timeouts and after wards fight over who gets to sit in the Time Out spot. And they use the fact that there are two of them to their advantage. One distracts with sweet kisses while the other climbs up on the table and grabs the forbidden iPod. I'm not kidding.</li>
<li>They have just learned how to have tea parties and spend a lot of time now asking "tea? tea? tea?" </li>
<li> They like a lot of people but they only do their special, "Yay! You are are!" dances for mama, dada, and Ella, their nanny. Nothing in the world is sweeter than their happy-to-see-you dances.</li>
</ul><ul>Notice I don't say anything about their sleeping and eating habits. I'm not stupid...no jinxing is going to happen here. There you have it. Two pretty normal, totally extraordinary 18 month olds. Oh, screw the books. They are still my babies. </ul><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That was then. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is now. Baby Girl with her Quilty.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby Boy with his Ellie and his collection of pacifiers (hey-if <i>he</i> can find one in the middle of the night then <i>I</i> don't have to!). </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/TKfUdzPUnhI/AAAAAAAAA5A/ZqMA7PcGI4U/s1600/IMG_1131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>Kat & Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06771223055953137126noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-998580200928392458.post-91702216226322036542010-09-15T20:59:00.000-07:002010-09-15T20:59:06.792-07:00Celebrating Enkutatash...3 is the magic numberWe've been lucky enough to live in the neighborhood known as Little Ethiopia for 3.5 years now.<br />
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The first year we attended the Ethiopian New Year Street Festival held a few blocks from our house we had just gone on the wait list. I cried every time I saw a sweet Ethiopian (looking) child. Yes, that crazy white woman was me.<br />
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The second year we attended the Ethiopian New Year Street Festival the twins had been home with us for barely 3 weeks. I was sooooo excited to take them to the parade (there is an elephant!) and to see the dancers and, lets be honest, to show them off. They cried the whole 15 mins we were there. The noise and the crowds were just too much.<br />
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The third year was the charm. The twins loved their outfits. They loved the music. They loved the food. And the people loved them.<br />
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Happy 2003! xoxo-Kat<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby Girl dancing in the crowd</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">back at home begging for sambusas</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/TJGTcn5fuTI/AAAAAAAAA4o/bDddpdSw-Vs/s1600/DSC_2039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And just in case you thought they were bored of the Crazy Coupe...no way. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/TJGTiyBryWI/AAAAAAAAA4w/bVoakggTU_c/s1600/DSC_2089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>Kat & Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06771223055953137126noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-998580200928392458.post-7356184247732029852010-08-25T23:13:00.000-07:002010-08-25T23:13:33.722-07:00One year LAversary<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>One year ago today, Aug 25, 2009, the Twins cleared customs and took their first breaths of LA's sweet smoggy air. We were home.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loved ones were on hand to greet the newest Angelenos. </td></tr>
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Flash forward one year: <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/THYBDqaLqqI/AAAAAAAAA2w/lIxxx1ujS1E/s1600/L1030420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/THYBDqaLqqI/AAAAAAAAA2w/lIxxx1ujS1E/s320/L1030420.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We celebrated our LAversary by visiting a LA landmark, the Santa Monica Pier. This is our friend Pippa. 16 yrs ago (this month!) when I first moved to California I lived w/ her grandparents. Seems full circle somehow that she'd celebrate this California Moment with us. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/THYA9Z-xruI/AAAAAAAAA2o/F5ZIXGA1U4g/s1600/IMG_5110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/THYA9Z-xruI/AAAAAAAAA2o/F5ZIXGA1U4g/s320/IMG_5110.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby Boy fulfilling his duties as LA Ambassador and greeting the tourists.<br />
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</tbody></table>One year. I still can't believe it. <br />
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xoxo, Kat<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Kat & Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06771223055953137126noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-998580200928392458.post-14582804429474232402010-08-16T10:36:00.000-07:002010-08-16T10:37:53.736-07:00When 2 became 4Haven't been the best blogger lately, which is a shame because I still have a lot to say, share, record, over-analyze. But alas while the will is there, the energy is not. Twins...what can I say. But today is a pretty monumental milestone for our little family and I just can't let it go by without a bit of nostalgic re-living. And so, inspired by <a href="http://theeyesofmyeyesareopened.blogspot.com/2010/08/she-has-sweet-little-pancake-breath-day.html">Julie</a> (once again) and since I never got around to doing it a year ago, here is our story.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Day One: When We First Met.</span><br /></div><br />Barely two weeks lapsed between the moment we passed court and the moment we hopped on a plane to Addis via Dubai. All those months of waiting and then suddenly-BAM! 14 days to <span style="font-style: italic;">getitalldown</span>! Thankfully I had wonderful friends who sat me down and said, "buy this, pack this, do this." Without them I'd still be in Target deciding on a bottle brush.<br /><br />We really wanted someone with us for this journey. Someone we loved. Someone we trusted enough to share this moment with us. Someone who would enjoy and appreciate all this trip would be. But mainly we wanted someone who had experience with babies (since we didn't have any!) and who could take good photos. And who could leave their own family for a week. That narrowed our choices down to my sister-in-law (mom of two boys, great photographer) and my BFF (mom of my godchildren, great photographer). My SIL couldn't get out of work sadly but my BFF jumped at the chance to go with us. Having her in Addis was a cherry on an already overflowing sundae. You know how sometimes when you are at your most joy-filled you catch yourself looking around to see if anyone else has noticed? Sometimes you just need someone else to witness the happiness to make it feel real. They are the pinch on the arm that you aren't dreaming. Our totem if you've seen <span style="font-style: italic;">Inception</span>. That was Lori for us on this trip.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/TGdt-Re6NhI/AAAAAAAAAyo/qdgvSXcp804/s1600/DSCF2407.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/TGdt-Re6NhI/AAAAAAAAAyo/qdgvSXcp804/s320/DSCF2407.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505489986096084498" border="0" /></a><br />We became a band of three at the Dubai airport. Spent the night at the airport hotel (note I did not say "slept at the airport hotel" because there was no sleeping for me that night.) Got up at the crack of dawn the next day and headed back to the airport to catch our last flight as people-with-no-children.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/TGdt-Re6NhI/AAAAAAAAAyo/qdgvSXcp804/s1600/DSCF2407.JPG"><br /></a>The flight to Addis was surreal. Ok, so what hadn't been surreal since the referral phone call...but still, suddenly we were flying over our children's birth country. I had no idea what part we were flying over but perhaps we were over their village. Perhaps someone who knew them was looking up at our plane. Crazy Crazy Crazy.<br /><br />And then suddenly, we were ALMOST THERE and things felt even more unreal if that is possible.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/TGiyA_5ZAVI/AAAAAAAAAzg/TQYwl84zT7Y/s1600/P1020555.jpg"><br /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/TGdt-wf0h-I/AAAAAAAAAyw/KCUZBloqNL0/s1600/DSCF2426.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/TGdt-wf0h-I/AAAAAAAAAyw/KCUZBloqNL0/s320/DSCF2426.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505489994421405666" border="0" /></a><br />We cleared customs quickly and were met by Travis, the Gladney rep, and Solomon, our driver. Solomon had been our neighbors' driver a few months earlier so I had specifically requested him because I knew he had a van and there would be six of us including him. Ok, let's think about this: 4 adults and two INFANTS. Infants in arms. We did not need a van. A car would have been just fine. But a car wouldn't have given us Solomon. And meeting Solomon was one of the greatest gifts of our trip. <span style="font-style: italic;">Family</span> is the closest word I can use to describe this incredible man. He is family. More on him later.<br /><br />Now I have to backtrack a bit. When Mary, our Gladney case worker, called us the day before we traveled she mentioned the babies would be brought to us as soon as we arrived. Wait a minute. What!?!? I instantly said, "oh no. that's not necessary. We can wait till the next morning." To me that was a perfectly normal, wise, adult choice but I have come to realize I am the only one who sees it that way. Mary asked several times if I was sure, and I insisted I was very sure. It was not a decision The Esq happily agreed with but nevertheless he let me talk him into it.<br /><br />So flash forward two weeks and there we are, in the parking lot of the airport in Addis, with Travis and Solomon and Lori. Travis says to me, "so... you don't want to meet the twins today?" The other families who had just arrived to pick up their children all visibly shuddered at that. Nope, I said. Tomorrow morning please. In my mind it just seemed crazy, not to mention unsafe to simply hand over infants to people who had been traveling for over 48 hours, had NO experience with babies and who most likely still had Ambien in their system. Surely it was wiser to bring them to us the next morning after we had slept, showered, had coffee. We were exhausted. We smelled. Also, I was very aware that this was our last time as just us. This was the last time we would ever have as just me and The Esq, The Esq and me. It wasn't that I didn't want things to change--I was overjoyed to become a foursome, but I just wanted to savor my last bit as a couple. I had been planning for 2 weeks to meet the twins on the 17th and for right or wrong that was what I needed. I needed my last night to sleep and dream about the rest of our lives. I needed one more night of anticipation and excitement.<br /><br />By the time we got to Ayat Guesthouse (which is where almost all of our LA adoptive friends have stayed, another lovely little link in our chain of friendships) it was the middle of the afternoon, August 16, 2009. Travis came over to drop off a take-out menu folder, a cell phone and a schedule for the week. As he left, he breezily mentioned that he probably wouldn't have time to bring the twins to us until late Monday afternoon. Over 24 hours away.<br /><br />The Esquire looked at me. "Tomorrow afternoon." Lori politely excused herself to go ponder the daily power outage. I saw the look in his eyes but I held firm. This was too big to let myself get talked into something I didn't want. No. No. Tomorrow is fine. Yes, I would rather it be first thing in the morning. Yes, that was what I had assumed when I made this plan. Yes, 24 hours from now does suck but I already had it on the blog's sidebar "Meet Twins Aug 17th!" Today is the 16th. No. I have to do it this way. I need our night. I need one last night before we start this adventure. No.<br /><br />I went upstairs to unpack. I opened the windows for some air and then I heard it. Babies. Lots of them. Laughing. Cooing. Crying. Caregivers with sing-song voices loving them. The Ayat House backs up to some of Gladney's baby houses. From Lori's bedroom window you could see the little bitty baby laundry hanging on the line. One of those houses was OUR babies' baby house. I froze. Was that my son's cry? Wait, is that my daughter laughing? I wish I could claim that I'm being dramatic for effect but this is really how it happened. My heart seized up. Screw the blog's sidebar.<br /><br />Travis seemed a bit put out when I called him to say we had changed our minds, that we wanted the babies NOW, but he was a good sport. Later he said our sudden decision had thrown the care givers into a panic because THEY also thought they had One More Night. One more night to cuddle our twins.<br /><br />Thirty minutes after I called Travis, Lori yelled from the garden, "They're here, they're here!" What did The Esq and I do in that half hour? Washed our faces. Found the cameras. Sat on the bed rocking.<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /><br /></span>We met them in the driveway. Travis was holding <span>Baby Boy and Christie, a volunteer, was holding Baby Girl</span>. And then we were holding them.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">We were Holding. Our. Children.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/TGi5-Qd4PvI/AAAAAAAAAzo/_6lpMtxTqks/s1600/DSC_4701.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 290px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/TGi5-Qd4PvI/AAAAAAAAAzo/_6lpMtxTqks/s320/DSC_4701.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505855023683747570" border="0" /></a><br />They were wearing the <a href="http://littleethiopian.blogspot.com/2009/06/and-were-off.html">little outfits we had sent in our care package</a> and were so much smaller than I had imagined. They both looked us right in the eyes, with strong, direct, curious, and perhaps slightly befuddled gazes and never cried once. The Esq just kept laughing. I just kept saying, Oh my. Oh my. Oh. MY.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/TGi5-3z1mZI/AAAAAAAAAzw/TlKKoCNeOms/s1600/DSC_4707.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/TGi5-3z1mZI/AAAAAAAAAzw/TlKKoCNeOms/s320/DSC_4707.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505855034244831634" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/TGi5-Qd4PvI/AAAAAAAAAzo/_6lpMtxTqks/s1600/DSC_4701.JPG"><br /></a>After about 15 minutes Travis and Christy departed. They left us with the babies and a piece of notebook paper listing their feeding schedule. That was it. Two babies and a piece of notebook paper. Again I say, crazy crazy, crazy.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/TGjAB7pFpHI/AAAAAAAAA0I/5vvky7CAWOQ/s1600/feeding+schedule+from+gladney+8.16.09.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/TGjAB7pFpHI/AAAAAAAAA0I/5vvky7CAWOQ/s320/feeding+schedule+from+gladney+8.16.09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505861683882861682" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I like to believe that both babies felt right at home with us from the first moment. They certainly seemed content and calm. Other than a few glances around to make sure the other was close by, they just snuggled down into our arms and let us examine their little faces, fingers and toes.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/TGi6jcangZI/AAAAAAAAA0A/EDel7OTN5pQ/s1600/DSC_4724.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 316px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/TGi6jcangZI/AAAAAAAAA0A/EDel7OTN5pQ/s320/DSC_4724.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505855662546452882" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/TGhZWgzG0-I/AAAAAAAAAzI/XJCqo5EqiJQ/s1600/DSC_4788.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/TGhZWgzG0-I/AAAAAAAAAzI/XJCqo5EqiJQ/s320/DSC_4788.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505748787756717026" border="0" /></a><br />We just kept laughing. I mean, it was nuts...suddenly, with very little fanfare in the actual moment, suddenly we had babies! Humans that belonged to us, with us. We had spent almost two years working towards this moment; I couldn't help thinking even then that there should somehow be <span style="font-style: italic;">fanfare</span>. Fireworks. Dancing. Jugglers. A theme song at the very least.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/TGi6jcangZI/AAAAAAAAA0A/EDel7OTN5pQ/s1600/DSC_4724.JPG"><br /></a>After an hour or so, Lori did her job as Experienced Mom and mentioned the babies probably were hungry and it was their bedtime. Oh. Right. We have to DO something with these guys other then play with their little bendy ears. So we made our first ever bottles and fed them.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/TGi5_ag94II/AAAAAAAAAz4/bU9183lYx4Y/s1600/DSC_4766.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/TGi5_ag94II/AAAAAAAAAz4/bU9183lYx4Y/s320/DSC_4766.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505855043560923266" border="0" /></a><br />And we changed our first ever diapers and put them to bed. Baby Girl was fussy when we tried to rock her but fell right asleep as soon as we laid her down. Baby Boy was fussy until we rocked him to sleep. From the get-go she fell asleep easier on her own and Baby Boy needed a tiny bit more cuddling. They are still that way.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/TGjCwFsNNcI/AAAAAAAAA0Q/6tx-TUtWM9s/s1600/DSC_4749.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/TGjCwFsNNcI/AAAAAAAAA0Q/6tx-TUtWM9s/s320/DSC_4749.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505864675877533122" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Ayat has one crib which worked perfectly for us. The twins fit together like little puzzle pieces and went soundly to sleep.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/TGdt_Qmkk-I/AAAAAAAAAy4/tHNjD_6_vnE/s1600/DSCF2459.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/TGdt_Qmkk-I/AAAAAAAAAy4/tHNjD_6_vnE/s320/DSCF2459.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505490003039654882" border="0" /></a><br />After an hour or so of decompressing we went to bed...if I remember correctly without bothering to have dinner. Solomon came back to check on us and we were all passed out. Which was good because according to the VIPoNP (Very Important Piece of Notebook Paper) we had to feed them again in three hours!<br /><br />And that was what happened on our first day as a family of four. It was funny and exhausting and sans fanfare or theme music but nevertheless miraculous in every way. These two incredible beings were handed to us and finally we were able to physically confirm what we already knew in our hearts, that we four belonged together.<br /><br />What a day. What a glorious day.<br /><br />xoxo-Kat<br /><br />ps-for the record it turns out that lots of agencies make you wait until the day after you arrive in country to meet your children so I'm not the only one out there thinking this makes sense. But I have to admit I am soooo glad we met our kids on Aug 16th. I can't imagine having one less day with them. Once again, dammit, The Esquire was right.Kat & Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06771223055953137126noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-998580200928392458.post-29881132855567942972010-06-08T15:58:00.000-07:002010-06-08T16:21:50.472-07:00One year ago today...One year ago in an email from our case worker ...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/TA7Mtx2lg0I/AAAAAAAAAyQ/F8ASzpNRVko/s1600/Gebremeskel+On+Left+and+Weletemichael+On+Right+5.26.09.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/TA7Mtx2lg0I/AAAAAAAAAyQ/F8ASzpNRVko/s320/Gebremeskel+On+Left+and+Weletemichael+On+Right+5.26.09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480542883404940098" border="0" /></a><br /><br />One hour ago in our local park ...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/TA7MrxwT8yI/AAAAAAAAAxw/g5MkDJoXL-Y/s1600/DSC_0802.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/TA7MrxwT8yI/AAAAAAAAAxw/g5MkDJoXL-Y/s320/DSC_0802.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480542849018884898" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/TA7MsZs-OOI/AAAAAAAAAx4/sMOcDW7fDdI/s1600/DSC_0861.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/TA7MsZs-OOI/AAAAAAAAAx4/sMOcDW7fDdI/s320/DSC_0861.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480542859742296290" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/TA7Ms5UpLkI/AAAAAAAAAyA/KUSl8eRep1w/s1600/DSC_0864.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/TA7Ms5UpLkI/AAAAAAAAAyA/KUSl8eRep1w/s320/DSC_0864.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480542868230188610" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/TA7MsZs-OOI/AAAAAAAAAx4/sMOcDW7fDdI/s1600/DSC_0861.JPG"><br /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/TA7MtmDYs5I/AAAAAAAAAyI/kuIANz-WNGQ/s1600/DSC_0843.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/TA7MtmDYs5I/AAAAAAAAAyI/kuIANz-WNGQ/s320/DSC_0843.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480542880237400978" border="0" /></a><br />On June 8, 2009 we got The Call. You can read about it <a href="http://littleethiopian.blogspot.com/2009/06/twinfo.html">here</a> and <a href="http://littleethiopian.blogspot.com/2009/06/callhow-it-all-went-down.html">here</a> if you want (I just reread them and am pretty much a basket-case right now). <br /><br />I've said it before but I'll say it again...what a difference a year makes. I'd write more, but I've got to wipe away these damn happy tears and get back outside to see what else our Wonder Twins have discovered...and most likely put in their mouths. :-)<br /><br />Life is good.<br /><br />xoxo, Kat<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/TA7MrxwT8yI/AAAAAAAAAxw/g5MkDJoXL-Y/s1600/DSC_0802.jpg"><br /></a>Kat & Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06771223055953137126noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-998580200928392458.post-18114487018453764112010-05-17T21:23:00.001-07:002010-05-20T15:07:22.333-07:00April was a BIG month!Quick! Before May ends let me try to capture April! It was a pretty big month for us, much too big to write about in depth so for the sake of keeping a record and for Popi's parents (our only readers :-) here are a few highlights.<br /><br />We got teeth...Baby Girl has 3 and Baby Boy has 2. With teeth comes table food! So far they like almost everything--hummus, guac, pasta, peas, carrots, beans-any kind, olives, pizza, tofu, cherries, oranges, pineapple, papaya, turkey, baby corn, fesenjoon (Persian pomegranate dish), tomatoes, potatoes... Basically, the salad bar is their friend. But oddly, Baby Boy cries when you give him strawberries?! Go figure<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/S933bRolsOI/AAAAAAAAAxA/OJP0G-a6plM/s1600/table+food.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/S933bRolsOI/AAAAAAAAAxA/OJP0G-a6plM/s320/table+food.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466797570659823842" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />We started walking! Baby Boy has been walking by way of the push toy for a couple of months and a few weeks ago he started to actually walk, unaided across the room. The first time he took four steps I cried so hard it's a wonder he actually got up and tried again. I'm thrilled he's walking but seriously...so soon?<br /><br />Baby Girl took her time but she's now a wonder with the push toys too. Actually they will push anything in front of them--the strollers, our outdoor vases, each other...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/S9xuiAgumCI/AAAAAAAAAwg/3bkTS6VMVsk/s1600/f+%26+walker.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/S9xuiAgumCI/AAAAAAAAAwg/3bkTS6VMVsk/s320/f+%26+walker.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466365578252818466" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />With walking comes shoes. Here Baby Boy tests out some blue sandals and tastes some red Mary Jane's. Even before I wanted kids, I wanted to bronze little baby shoes. My mom has both mine and my brother's baby shoes bronzed and I've always loved them. Sadly, cute first shoes are a thing of the past. Most of the boys "first walkers" shoes are more like Teva's and the girls are crazy bright pink sneakers. Where are the little saddle oxfords and white ankle lace ups?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/S933a7oO9xI/AAAAAAAAAw4/zkV4uNXlcAU/s1600/g+shoe+shopping.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/S933a7oO9xI/AAAAAAAAAw4/zkV4uNXlcAU/s320/g+shoe+shopping.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466797564752754450" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We take a weekly swimming class. It's not really a swimming class so much as it's a survival class. The point is to make them feel so comfortable in the water that if they should fall in, they would automatically roll over and float. Baby Girl hated it at first but now she's Esther Williams. We just got back from vacation at the beach and every day someone would comment on how amazing and relaxed the twins were in the water.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/S9xuinfgUeI/AAAAAAAAAwo/yQ_iCleWY04/s1600/swim+lesson4-10.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/S9xuinfgUeI/AAAAAAAAAwo/yQ_iCleWY04/s320/swim+lesson4-10.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466365588716671458" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/S933aTTiT4I/AAAAAAAAAww/RKJpfajXSjQ/s1600/F+in+tube.jpg"><br /></a><br /><br />We celebrated birthdays...The twins turned ONE! I have never looked forward to a birthday party more than I did this one. And if I say so myself, it was a great party! A crazy, fun, loving mix of friends from all parts of our lives came to celebrate the Wonder Twin's first year. There was singing...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/S935blQxYbI/AAAAAAAAAxI/CYgCNzYaCp8/s1600/cupcakes.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/S935blQxYbI/AAAAAAAAAxI/CYgCNzYaCp8/s320/cupcakes.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466799774951891378" border="0" /></a><br />...and playing in the cottage their Grandpa gave them (I love how there are 7 little girls in that cottage and none of them are actually playing together). Baby Girl is in the pink crown of course.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/S935ckPNmtI/AAAAAAAAAxY/6c4-TBRGy9w/s1600/playhouse.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/S935ckPNmtI/AAAAAAAAAxY/6c4-TBRGy9w/s320/playhouse.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466799791856786130" border="0" /></a><br />There was playing in the ball pit, a very cool hand-me-down from a very cool friend. Here Baby Girl displays both her grace and her bloomers.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/S935ccemMuI/AAAAAAAAAxQ/TN2cti7GgGY/s1600/F-ballpit.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/S935ccemMuI/AAAAAAAAAxQ/TN2cti7GgGY/s320/F-ballpit.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466799789773828834" border="0" /></a><br />And there was a bouncy house. I'll admit...I was hesitant on the bouncy house. But The Esq insisted and he was, as always, right. It was a hit--with the kids, the twins, and the adults. After the party The Esq and the twins played in there for almost an hour...they just crawled and fell and giggled back and forth while he bounced them around. I'm sure they bounced in their dreams for the next week; they loved it. Here The Esquire displays his moves.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/S935dUBd5vI/AAAAAAAAAxg/2mb4i_h9VNs/s1600/sas+bouncy.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/S935dUBd5vI/AAAAAAAAAxg/2mb4i_h9VNs/s320/sas+bouncy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466799804684035826" border="0" /></a><br /><br />But I guess the biggest event happened on April 28th, in LA County's <span style="visibility: visible;" id="main"><span style="visibility: visible;" id="search">Edmund D. Edelman Children's Court when we finalized the re-adoption of the twins. We all got dressed up (Baby Girl looked pretty cute in her red, white, and blue dress if I do say so myself :-) and our nanny Graciela went with us. The Edelman Children's Courthouse is pretty unique. It was designed specifically with the idea of making children feel comfortable during what are often stressful times. There were volunteers helping with art projects, big sun-filled rooms, and brightly colored walls. Sadly, not every family or child was there for a happy appointment like us but at least the Court has done it's best to take some of the yuck out.<br /><br />The meeting with the Judge took about 15 mins. It seems he read EVERY bit of our home study, asking us very specific questions about our travels and studies. The twins missed their morning nap for this appointment so by the time we meet with the Judge they were a little wound up and punchy. Baby Girl spent most of the meeting undoing all of the The Esquires carefully organized files. On our way out the clerk gave the twins each a teddy bear as part of the Comfort for Kids program. Every child adopted in the Edelman Children's Court gets a teddy bear to help celebrate the occasion.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/S_V4SXuTxCI/AAAAAAAAAxo/6xzXRUiH75E/s1600/IMG_0372.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/S_V4SXuTxCI/AAAAAAAAAxo/6xzXRUiH75E/s320/IMG_0372.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473413179139933218" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="visibility: visible;" id="main"><span style="visibility: visible;" id="search">For an event that was mainly about paperwork, it was oddly moving. When we held up our right hands and swore to "</span></span>bestow upon them all the rights of a natural-born child" I got a little teary. And yet, it also seemed so beside the point. I mean, to be totally honest, any oaths, promises, and allegiances we made to these two children happened back on June 8, 2009 when we saw their faces for the first time. And any <span style="font-style: italic;">re</span>promising was done on August 16, 2009 when we held them for the first time. No amount of paperwork or notarization could make our bonds with these two any tighter or more secure. But that being said, it was pretty fun to declare it in public.<br /><br />And there you have it... our crazy busy April 2010. Oh, well, there was also our 5 yr wedding anniversary, and my birthday and my father's birthday and my nephew's birthday... but considering May ends in 10 days I think I need to wrap April up now!<br /><br />xoxo-Kat<br /><span style="visibility: visible;" id="main"><span style="visibility: visible;" id="search"><br /><em></em><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></span>Kat & Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06771223055953137126noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-998580200928392458.post-45894555777458108592010-04-24T10:33:00.000-07:002010-04-24T10:39:09.885-07:00Why it's good to be a twin, #724<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dybjKVbmckbyxyr2eRYDPRzF-qyB1eaP0qzoL_6SBaZFBDrBxm0C9gonRvaJ8tZH6cLXbgaKoAKhPhvYjU_oQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />There is always someone to push your car.<br /><br />xoxo0-KatKat & Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06771223055953137126noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-998580200928392458.post-599210033413744992010-04-18T19:44:00.000-07:002010-04-18T20:08:18.586-07:00THIS April 16th...I'm assuming that at some point I will have to stop playing the "what were we doing this time last year and just look what we're doing THIS YEAR!" game. But for now it's kinda fun to think about how far we've come and how much has changed in a year.<br /><br />Last year on April 16th I posted <a href="http://littleethiopian.blogspot.com/2009/04/april-16th-through-years.html">this blog entry</a> about each place The Esquire and I have celebrated our wedding anniversary. Someone commented that they hoped we'd always get to celebrate our anniversary in special ways and amazing places.<br /><br />Well, I'm proud to say that we've managed to keep up the tradition. Here's where we were this year, for our 5 year anniversary.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/S8vGDI77puI/AAAAAAAAAwI/PMlCXjW3pp4/s1600/IMG_0285.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/S8vGDI77puI/AAAAAAAAAwI/PMlCXjW3pp4/s320/IMG_0285.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461676730357622498" border="0" /></a>Yup. The little stinkers. Doesn't it seem like Baby Girl is keeping look-out for Baby Boy? "Keep going! No one is coming!"<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/S8vGDvjCjtI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/kcTW7lLJNr4/s1600/IMG_0287.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/S8vGDvjCjtI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/kcTW7lLJNr4/s320/IMG_0287.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461676740722200274" border="0" /></a>And this is that Wonder Twin Thing you dream about but then learn to dread... the tag team thought process. You can <span style="font-style: italic;">see</span> them working out the next move together.<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/S8vGEo66MeI/AAAAAAAAAwY/jMrOmeU_b3E/s1600/IMG_0288.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/S8vGEo66MeI/AAAAAAAAAwY/jMrOmeU_b3E/s320/IMG_0288.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461676756123136482" border="0" /></a>Don't worry, that candelabra is earthquake-proofed within an inch of its life. It won't move no matter how hard he pulls or the earth shakes.<br /><br />Maybe it wasn't the most exotic celebration (I guess that depends on how you feel about the bathroom) but it was still the sweetest anniversary we've had.<br /><br />xoxo-KatKat & Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06771223055953137126noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-998580200928392458.post-84031637730708322052010-04-06T09:46:00.001-07:002010-04-06T10:28:10.544-07:00How we spent Easter WeekendI'll admit that between the 1st birthday (last week) and the 1st birthday party (coming up)...I kinda forgot about Easter. And so sadly my kids were seersucker-less and sans eyelet. Next year I'll be better prepared for the double whammy of birthday and Easter.<br /><br />But even without going to church or being visited by a large rabbit...it was still a perfect weekend.<br /><br />The twins hung out in their cool new cottage (thanks Grandpa!) and took turns riding in their new Crazy Coup (thanks Graciela!).<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/S7tnLAp3p5I/AAAAAAAAAvk/8H9n_pvFayc/s1600/IMG_0218.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/S7tnLAp3p5I/AAAAAAAAAvk/8H9n_pvFayc/s320/IMG_0218.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457068812341323666" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">(notice those cute cloth diapered bums!)</span><br /><br /><br /></div>And here's the highlight of the weekend...<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzEOCY7eHnKSDj9VDKYqsywFSdt-IixjkKrRjsuVjdb1KDA4lQo78sCKSy8aWkzhivFiWpNBbLfNNUH6qr5Ew' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />Yup. He's mobile. In two days Baby Boy totally mastered his new Mail Cart walker. Any time he wasn't in his new car or his new house was spent walking determinedly back and forth across the yard. My favorite part of this video--when he realizes he can't go any further and says, "oh." Such cuteness. I also appreciate that he made the video blog-usable by never turning to face his mother!<br /><br />Happy April everyone...<br />xoxo-KatKat & Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06771223055953137126noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-998580200928392458.post-24707756684994257982010-03-31T21:06:00.001-07:002010-03-31T22:26:18.223-07:00Megabit 22Today I stood in the grocery store and pondered cupcake mixes. I am not a cook of any sort but occasionally I can pull off a mix. The Esquire is an amazing cook and an even more amazing baker (pies are his specialty) but tonight he had work to do so the cupcakes were up to me. "Supreme Moist" "Deluxe Moistness" "With Pudding in the Mix" So many choices. So many unnecessary uses of the word "moist." I decided to trust <a href="http://dandiesinthesunshine.blogspot.com/2010/03/cake-situation.html">Solomon and went with the Pillsbury</a>.<br /><br />I then bought giant '1' candles...two of them. It was a crazy, giddy moment for me...buying those candles. I have to admit I grinned all the way through check-out and walking to my car. And then I Facebooked about the candles! For someone who never wanted kids I sure am getting a thrill out of the little things.<br /><br />Tomorrow my babies, my twins, turn one year old. April 1st. Or as they say in Ethiopia, Megabit 23, 2002.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Tomorrow there will be cupcakes.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/S7QiknZofSI/AAAAAAAAAvE/JY7X1-xxqnY/s1600/IMG_0177.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/S7QiknZofSI/AAAAAAAAAvE/JY7X1-xxqnY/s320/IMG_0177.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455023061099642146" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">There will be presents<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/S7QijQZW5kI/AAAAAAAAAu0/xwjpefExhuA/s1600/IMG_0160.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/S7QijQZW5kI/AAAAAAAAAu0/xwjpefExhuA/s320/IMG_0160.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455023037744604738" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">and there will be crowns.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/S7QikEhqWTI/AAAAAAAAAu8/pqVnCkVauYM/s1600/IMG_0163.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/S7QikEhqWTI/AAAAAAAAAu8/pqVnCkVauYM/s320/IMG_0163.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455023051738077490" border="0" /></a><br /></div>And in a week there will be a big party with lots of friends and family, a party that, odds are, the twins will sleep through. But regardless we are celebrating this milestone and these two sweet lives with gusto and joy and a bouncy house. I have never been so excited about a birthday celebration in my life. I mean seriously excited. There has been monogramming, people!<br /><br />But all through my excitement this week, and now as I wait for the cupcakes to bake....I can't help but think about the twin's Ethiopian family. I wonder what they are thinking right now, how they are feeling. Are they remembering this time last year? Do they remember it with happiness or sadness? Are they like me and have been counting down to this date? Or has it suddenly slipped up on them; taken their breath away that a whole year has passed.<br /><br />I wish I wish I wish I could let them know that everything is ok. That Baby Boy has the most delicious, giggly squeal and eyes that actually twinkle. And that Baby Girl has a smile that lights up your heart and a wicked sense of humor. They are loving and brilliant and funny and healthy and perfect in every way. I wish I could tell our Ethiopian family that.<br /><br />Yes, of course we can send them updates and letters and such. But I wish I wish I wish I could tell them this NOW. On the night before the first birthday, I wish I could tell them that the twins <span style="font-style: italic;">know</span> love...they know it in three languages and two time-zones and a million memories and stories and whispers. I wish I could call them up, right now, on this night that I imagine is as emotional for them as it is for me, and tell them these things.<br /><br />But I can't. I can't email them or Facebook them or call them on the phone. Thankfully there will be candles on cupcakes tomorrow. Candles to wish upon. I guess for now, I'll just have to rely on those.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/S7QqATA-b7I/AAAAAAAAAvU/bR2TwLMC_Ms/s1600/IMG_0179.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/S7QqATA-b7I/AAAAAAAAAvU/bR2TwLMC_Ms/s320/IMG_0179.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455031233245245362" border="0" /></a><br /><br />xoxo- KatKat & Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06771223055953137126noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-998580200928392458.post-52990295255107587422010-02-26T10:26:00.000-08:002010-02-26T10:32:33.638-08:00The 6 month reminder.<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/S4cw8Xf6shI/AAAAAAAAAuY/Q-3WYXGtxh8/s1600-h/DSC_8648.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/S4cw8Xf6shI/AAAAAAAAAuY/Q-3WYXGtxh8/s320/DSC_8648.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442372488358703634" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Their first time in a swing, Valentine's Day 2010<br /><br /><br /></span></div> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>1298</o:Words> <o:characters>7402</o:Characters> <o:lines>61</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>14</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>9090</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1282</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Times New Roman"; panose-1:0 2 2 6 3 5 4 5 2 3; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:50331648 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:"Courier New"; panose-1:0 2 7 3 9 2 2 5 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:50331648 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:Wingdings; panose-1:0 5 2 1 2 1 8 4 8 7; mso-font-charset:2; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:0 0 256 0 -2147483648 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-parent:""; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} /* List Definitions */ @list l0 {mso-list-id:1075396006; mso-list-type:hybrid; mso-list-template-ids:-1391710124 2137836364 -1525378836 1119110794 2117490352 39492094 377756340 -544962484 857105156 65458252;} @list l0:level1 {mso-level-number-format:bullet; mso-level-text:; mso-level-tab-stop:.5in; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Symbol;} ol {margin-bottom:0in;} ul {margin-bottom:0in;} --> </style> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Times;">This week marks our 6 month anniversary as parents. Holy Hannah, where does the time go?</span><span style=";font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Times;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Times;">When people ask what has been the most surprising part of parenthood, I have to say: the mere fact that I love it. That sounds silly, but trust me, no one is more surprised than I am about how much fun I’m having.</span><span style=";font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Times;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Times;">I never wanted kids. Ever. Now that we have our 2nd post placement interview safely behind us I feel like I can really say that out loud and not be afraid of the repercussions. I spent 39 years actively not wanting kids.</span><span style=";font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Times;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Times;">It wasn't because I didn't like kids...I did. Always have. I worship my friends’ children… think they all hung the moon. But I loved my life. I loved being selfish about MY life. And I’ve never been very good with the whole “forever” concept. Having to do something <i>forever</i></span><span style="font-family:Times;"> (hence my finding a new job every 4 years or so). Being with someone <i>forever</i></span><span style="font-family:Times;"> (hence my history of only dating people for 3 years). Living somewhere <i>forever</i></span><span style="font-family:Times;"> (hence my need to travel and move relatively often). The thought of being a parent…of feeling responsible <i>forever</i></span><span style="font-family:Times;"> to/for a child did not interest me.<br /><br />But (you know where this is going don’t you?) all that changed when I meet The Esquire. Ok…not all of it. I did start believing in being with one man forever and a day. But I was still not into having my own kids. Which was a problem because The Esq. is one of those men born to be a father and so early on in our dating life he made it clear that having a family was a deal breaker. So I reluctantly agreed. On the rare occasion when I did ponder having children, I had always assumed it would be through adoption. So we looked into it and decided that yes, our kids were in Ethiopia.</span><span style=";font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Times;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Times;">But even as I spent 4 months filling out adoption paperwork, I wasn’t entirely sold on the idea of having kids. And I spent most of the 10 months on the waitlist thinking, ‘how did this happen? I don’t want kids!” But I wanted the call. I wanted to see their faces. I wanted to know who these kids would be. I wanted to see The Esq. with his children. But I wasn’t sure I wanted to be a mom, you know…FOREVER.<br /><br />So here I am... 6 months into having children that I never wanted.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><br /><span style=";font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Times;">I would like to take this opportunity and use this very public venue to say for once and for all:</span><span style=";font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-family:Times;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-family:Times;">The Esquire was right. </span><span style=";font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-family:Times;">I was wrong. </span><span style=";font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-family:Times;">I was completely, naively, stupidly, wrong and he was 100% right.</span><span style=";font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-family:Times;">Having children is the second greatest thing that has ever happened to me.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><br /><span style=";font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;" ><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Times;">I am head over heels, crazy-stupid, playing “In Your Eyes” on my boom box outside their nursery, totally in love with these two little humans. My Children. Just smelling their heads is like drinking the kool-aid every day. I have become one of THOSE parents. The kind of parent who can’t carry on a normal conversation anymore. Instead of asking how my friends are, I spend the whole time saying things like, "Did you see that? How he blew that bubble? Oh, watch this--he drools! Wait--did you see how she did that? How she breathes? In and out, in and out? Amazing!"<br /><br />My name is Kat and I am obsessed with my children. Please send your 12 step brochures care of Little Ethiopian.<br /><br />I always said (and totally believed) that my choice to not have kids was just a matter of picking and choosing the kind of life I wanted. If I had kids I would be happy but would have to give up some things. If I didn't have kids I would also be happy but would miss out on some things. No biggie, you pick the kind of life you want most and go forward, right? Wrong. Here’s what I've come to realize in the past 6 months: These kids were not a choice for me. They were a necessity I just didn't know about. They are right up there with food, water and shelter. I honestly do not see how I could have continued living my life without them. In a nutshell--I made plans and God laughed at me. </span><span style=";font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Times;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Times;">Crazy huh? </span><span style=";font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Times;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Times;">But the fact that I love being a mom is not the only thing that has caught me off guard these past 6 months. No, I think it’s fair to say that every day has been eye opening for me in every single way. I had no idea…well, about anything really. I mean, you can read and research all you want but until they hand those babies to you it is all just a pile of words. Plus, (and this is a little bit of wisdom for waiting families) I spent my time on the wait list reading stacks of books about trans-racial families and how to talk about adoption, how first graders perceive color and the cultural implications of cornrows. I never once opened a ‘normal’ baby book. So while I was able to talk about race issues with teenagers, I had no idea what or how much to feed 4 month olds!</span><span style=";font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Times;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Times;">Here are just a few other things I had no idea about before Aug 25<sup>th</sup>:</span><span style=";font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Times;">I had no idea how much fun little babies are…I thought they needed to be older to have personality.</span><span style=";font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Times;">I had no idea how in love I would be with their fat little wrists. I always thought baby feet were the best, now I realize that’s wrong—it’s their wrists that get you!</span><span style=";font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Times;">I had no idea how sad I would be every time they outgrew something or how ecstatic I would be at the sight of a first tooth.</span><span style=";font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Times;">I had no idea how easy it would be put all my focus on the twins; ignoring my husband in the process. Suddenly marriage is a lot more work than it was before. </span><span style=";font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Times;">On the flip side, I had no idea that I could possibly love The Esq. more until I saw him napping with his son.</span><span style=";font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Times;">I had no idea that I would begin to question every single decision every single day... should I feed them more or less cereal, should they go to bed earlier, should I wake them from their naps, should I use a regular sippy cup or a straw sippy cup, should they wear socks or not, should we continue to read the same 4 books they love or should we try new ones… </span><span style=";font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Times;">I had no idea how adept I would become at holding things with my chin or picking things up with my toes. </span><span style=";font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Times;">I had no idea how small my lap was until two babies both wanted to be in it at the same time. Or the guilt I would feel at not having 4 arms. The guilt…I had NO idea about the guilt.</span><span style=";font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Times;">I had no idea how freaked out I would be over their first fever.</span><span style=";font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Times;">I had no idea how much I would miss them when they are asleep (not enough to wake them of course, but enough to go look at them 8 times a night)</span><span style=";font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Times;">I had no idea of the celebrity-ness of twins when we go out in public.</span><span style=";font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Times;">I had no idea how fast they grow and change and learn! They are SO SMART it’s scary.</span><span style=";font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Times;">I had no idea how much I would crave their love or how much I would fear not always having it.</span><span style=";font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Times;">I had no idea. About anything it seems.</span><span style=";font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Times;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Times;">I was clueless. And maybe that’s why the past 6 months have been so amazing and eye opening to me…I was clueless. Ignorance is bliss, that kinda thing.</span><span style=";font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Times;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Times;">But I’m learning. I know where Baby Boy’s tickle spot is. I know which foods make Baby Girl gag (anything w/ ground beef). I know Baby Girl likes to sleep flat on her tummy with arms outstretched like she’s flying and Baby Boy likes to sleep on his side with his hands clasped ready to sing a capella. I know they love the lid to the toy cookie jar more than any other toy around. I know Baby Girl likes to sit in my lap to be held whereas Baby Boy likes to stand in my lap leaning into me. I know Baby Boy will automatically try to put any new thing in his mouth but Baby Girl will smell it first. I know that Baby Boy needs a bit of cuddling after a nap but that Baby Girl wants to play immediately. I know the difference in their ‘we want attention’ cry and their ‘we’re hurt’ cry. I know how to help them stop crying. I know them. Or at least I’m beginning to.</span><span style=";font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Times;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Times;">Please don’t think this blog is about how perfect my life is. I mean, life is perfect, but perfect does not equal easy. The Wonder Twins may be the two most glorious creatures on the planet, but that doesn’t mean the past 6 months have been all rainbows and sing-alongs. They are babies after all. Two of ‘em. Who left everything they knew to come home with us. There were sleep issues and scheduling issues and now there are teething issues and sibling jealousy issues. Oh, and parasite issues, don’t forget those.</span><span style=";font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Times;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Times;">I’m not trying to gloss over anything, it’s just that this particular blog entry isn’t about all that. I wrote this entry for me. To help me remember just how far I’ve come in the past six months (or 39 years depending on how you want to look at it.) To be a reminder that sometimes the very thing you don’t want the most, turns out to be the very thing you need to survive.</span><span style=";font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Times;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Times;">Like Meredith on <i>Gray's Anatomy,</i></span><span style="font-family:Times;"> I've always imagined myself to be all dark and twisty. But it turns out I'm not...at least I'm not anymore. Now I'm crafty and goofy and unbearably sunny. I sing nonsense tunes at the top of my voice as we walk and make zerburt noises in restaurants...anything for a smile or two. Suddenly, my glass is overflowing and that just makes me laugh.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Times;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Times;">This life that I have now, this crazy, hard, funny, amazing, sleepless, poop-filled life—the very one I ran from for 39 years—has turned out to be way better than I could have ever wished for.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/S4cw9mixWWI/AAAAAAAAAuo/U1b5CRi2vx4/s1600-h/IMG_2230.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/S4cw9mixWWI/AAAAAAAAAuo/U1b5CRi2vx4/s320/IMG_2230.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442372509577075042" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Watching for DaDa to come home.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">xoxo, Kat<br /><span style=";font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Kat & Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06771223055953137126noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-998580200928392458.post-83195021601825841842010-01-25T19:55:00.000-08:002010-01-25T21:06:31.779-08:00For those of you waiting...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/S150RMLThLI/AAAAAAAAAuI/A-XvIhcHuz8/s1600-h/IMG_2173.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/S150RMLThLI/AAAAAAAAAuI/A-XvIhcHuz8/s320/IMG_2173.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430906039330636978" border="0" /></a><br />Today marks our 5 month anniversary of being in the states together as a family of four. Where does the time go? The picture above is our most current family photo. How much do you love Baby Boy's shoes??<br /><br />As it happens, today was also the twins 9 month check up. They are, much like Mary Poppins, practically perfect in every way. They babbled and smiled and did all their little tricks for the doctor. She was pleased and declared them right on target developmentally. Which is a relief to hear because considering these are our first and only kids we have no idea what they should be able to do by now. And the books just make things more confusing. <span style="font-style: italic;">What to Expect in the First Year</span> says they should be able to eat a cracker by 6 months! A cracker! How? They have no teeth!<br /><br />As far as their stats: Baby boy is a whooping 24lbs and 30" long...that's the 89th percentile for those of you who understand that jargon. Baby Girl is a bit more petite but long: 17lbs and 28" (21st and 52% respectively). Again, the doctor is pleased with their growth--the amount of weight they have put on over the past five months is right on target.<br /><br />For those of you waiting to bring your babies home--here is why this should matter to you: When we got home five months ago, neither baby weighed enough to register on the percentile chart. They were teeny tiny then but look what five months can do.<br /><br />Here's another little story for those of you with babies in the Gladney care centers right now: Just last week a friend admitted to me that she had actually met the twins when they were in Addis. While she was in Ethiopia picking up her daughter, she toured the baby houses and saw the care givers holding four week old twins. They had just arrived at the care center the day before and were horribly malnourished and sick. My friend said when she saw how tiny and fragile these babies were she got all teary because she didn't think they would make it. She spoke to the staff and was told the caregivers would hold and feed the twins non-stop around the clock to make sure they were ok.<br /><br />Fast forward 5 weeks and we get our referral call for two month old twins. When my friend sees our referral photos for the first time she gets very silent. I assume she's all choked up with happiness for us, but in reality she recognizes our twins as those same fragile tiny twins she meet in Addis and she's scared for us. Scared because she saw first hand what a long road they had before them health wise. But she's not a doctor so instead of scaring us with her opinion she decides to not mention having met the twins.<br /><br />Fast forward again to last week when we have a play date with my friend and her daughter. Baby Boy and Baby Girl are rolling and scooting everywhere, laughing and hugging and being normal 9 month old babies. My friend finally confesses that she had met them in Ethiopia. She was afraid I would be angry that she hadn't told me this before now. But how could I be angry? On the contrary this knowledge feels like a surprise gift. Because now we know of someone, <span>someone we already considered a</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> friend</span> nonetheless, who saw the twins before we did. Who had them in her heart long before we knew they existed. An eyewitness who can confirm what we have believed all along, that the Gladney care givers really did love on our babies every second of every day until we got there. I mean, come on, that's amazing! I am grateful beyond words.<br /><br />I know how hard the wait is...I know how afraid you can be at 3am for your children waiting in Ethiopia but try to find a little peace of mind that they are definitely being loved on, and that one day--before you can blink an eye--they will most likely be in the 89th percentile too.<br /><br />xoxo-<br />KatKat & Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06771223055953137126noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-998580200928392458.post-3633911735300762702010-01-11T11:17:00.000-08:002010-01-11T21:20:53.425-08:00Sheer brilliance...at the speed of lightOne night this week, as I was reading Baby Boy his good-night book he reached out and turned the page. Just like that. I got to the end of the page and he reached out his chubby, to die for little hand and very purposefully turned the page. I was blown away. He has had amazing focus for books and a love of being read to since the very beginning but had never really tried to grab the book or mess with the pages before. In fact he spends most of the book looking from the page to the reader and back to the page. He likes to watch your face while you read aloud. And then suddenly, out of nowhere....he turns a page.<br /><br />I didn't react outwardly, just kept reading and at the end of the next page...HE DID IT AGAIN! And at the end of every page after that. And he has been turning pages ever since! Sometimes the pages get turned in an excited flailing (he is a baby after all) but most of the time he very deliberately turns the page. My boy. A GENIUS.<br /><br />As for Baby Girl she also blew my mind this week. I entered the pit (our clever name for their fenced off play area) to play with the twins, like I do 20 times a day. But this time Baby Girl made a beeline over to me, doing her usual boot-camp scoot in double time. When she reached my lap, she bounced up and down and held her arms up.<span style="font-style: italic;"> She was asking me to hold her. </span>For the first time ever, she was asking me to hold her. I obliged and she nestled into my arms, looking around the pit like royalty. After about 2 <span>minutes</span> she was satisfied and wiggled down. And since then, whenever I enter the play area she immediately scoots over to me and demands I hold her. She never stays in my lap for long, just enough to claim me I suppose, and then goes on playing. And every time my heart sings.<br /><br />I was a nanny for a 10 month old and a three year old...so I know a lot about those ages and up...but not very much about younger than 10 months. So it was kind of a shock to me when the twins came home at 4.5 months old to realize they didn't know how to 'ask' to be held or picked up. That whole "hold my arms up so you pick me up" thing has to be learned. So all these months I've just been holding the babies or picking them up when<span style="font-style: italic;"> I</span> wanted or when<span style="font-style: italic;"> I</span> thought there was a need... it was always initiated by <span style="font-style: italic;">me</span>. Sure, they'd let me know they wanted me by crying but it was always a guess that being held was what they needed. And yet suddenly, that day in the pit, Baby Girl made it perfectly clear what she wanted: me.<br /><br />Seriously... it is more than I can handle. These two developments. I am completely overwhelmed and overjoyed and overproud. My kids showing a love of books <span style="font-style: italic;">and</span> a love of me....what could be better!?! But of course, me being me, I am also a tiny bit sad because I know where all this leads... today she crawls into my lap, one day she will crawl out...today he turns pages, one day he will read about a far away land and he will move there. Damn books! Damn developments!<br /><br />I'm only 1/2 kidding. I cried when she crawled into my lap today...she's been doing it for a week now and yet today I cried. Because all I could think about was, "will I know when it's the last time? Will I realize when she has crawled into my lap for the last time?"<br /><br />Fret not, I'm not sitting here binding their feet so they never learn to walk. 98% of the time I am joyful about every new development. But I figure I can admit to the 2% melancholy here because, well, it's MY blog. And if you can't whine on your own blog...<br /><br />My children are gorgeous and brilliant and stunning in every way and I would not change one thing. Except to slow it all down so I can savor their stunning brilliance a little longer.<br /><br />Happy 2010,<br />Kat<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxGqmhwK3hIGbjA2uCczf2GDpx0ctc2qo2w92-JjZA1LFtw1a1pwH2iAf4j0Bd_xdZ3eBrtfSql3pzH35MsSA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Kat & Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06771223055953137126noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-998580200928392458.post-40760845230645921162010-01-07T09:04:00.000-08:002010-01-07T09:43:02.743-08:00Melkam Gena<div style="text-align: center;"><img style="width: 249px; height: 332px;" alt="http://ethiopia-hagere.objectis.net/culture-and-people/EthiopianCross1.jpg" src="http://ethiopia-hagere.objectis.net/culture-and-people/EthiopianCross1.jpg" /><br /></div>Today is Thursday, January 7, 2010 or if you are Ethiopian, it's Christmas Day, January 7, 2002. <br /><br />On January 1st, the twins turned 9 months old (!). As of today they have now been with us for exactly 4 months and 3 weeks...one week longer than they have been with anyone else. We have now been the longest, most consistent presence in their lives as of this week. That is just a crazy thought. Every day is something new, and today the new thing for all of us is Ganna, Ethiopian Christmas.<br /><br />Even though we live in Little Ethiopia, I didn't know much about Ganna so naturally I turned to the all-knowing Google and found <a href="http://www.doityourself.com/stry/ethiopian-christmas">this</a>... excerpts below...<br /><p style="font-style: italic;">Christmas is a major holiday in Ethiopia. More than half of the population of Ethiopia is Orthodox Christian. The celebration occurs on January 7, the Feast of the Epiphany, instead of December 25...</p><p style="font-style: italic;"> On Christmas Eve, January 6, the city is crowded with pilgrims and tourists from all parts of the world. The people remain outdoors all night, praying and chanting. On January 7, the Ethiopian Christmas known as Ganna is celebrated. The word Ganna is used interchangeably with the word Christmas, to mean the birth of Jesus Christ (leddat). This celebration takes place in ancient churches carved from solid volcanic rock of that day and also in more modern churches that are designed in three concentric circles. Men and boys sit separately from the girls and women. People receive candles as they enter their church. After lighting the candles, everyone walks around the church three times, and then they all stand throughout the church service which may last up to three hours. After the service, the rest of the day is spent dancing, playing sports and feasting.<br /><br />The preparation of the feast is an important part of the day in Ethiopia. A typical Ethiopian feast for the Christmas meal includes a main course, such as doro wat ( a spicy chicken stew), injera bread (Which is a flat round bread) and homemade wine or beer. The injera bread is used to scoop and eat the food, thereby replacing ordinary utensils.</p> <span style="font-style: italic;"> Gift giving in an Ethiopian Christmas celebration is a very small part of this ceremony. Children, if they receive gifts, usually receive simple presents such as clothing. But, a very important part of the celebration is a sporting event called gena. This game is a form of field hockey in which sticks with hooks at one end are used. The game is played by having two opposing teams trying to outscore each other hitting a ball with their sticks. Usually, the sticks and balls are made from locally grown trees. In Ethiopia, the opposing teams often represent certain regions and the rivalry in these games can be intense. According to tradition, shepherds celebrated when they heard of Jesus’ birth by playing this such game...</span><br /><br />The twins are sick sickies right now, with horrible snotty colds, so I'll be honest, I haven't put much thought into how we would celebrate Ganna. Luckily, Mimi's mom did so later tonight we'll wander over to our favorite Ethiopian restaurant and will at least get to give everyone Happy New Year and <span style="visibility: visible;" id="main"><span style="visibility: visible;" id="search">Melkam Gena hugs.</span></span> But next year, I'm going to pay attention to <a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_10775_celebrate-ethiopian-christmas.html">this article</a> and we'll have a proper celebration!<br /><br />I wish I had more energy to tell you just how happy I'm feeling today...even with snot all over me, the thought that our babies are asleep in the next room, oblivious to the fact that tonight they will see all their friends, makes me smile. <br /><br />More late, I promise. Melkam Gena to everyone!<br />xox-katKat & Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06771223055953137126noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-998580200928392458.post-67764967377196960152010-01-05T09:39:00.000-08:002010-01-05T09:44:11.048-08:00Must read happy story of the dayOk, so we all know I have become a blog writing slacker... but that doesn't mean I've slacked off from reading other blogs. There are still a few families out there waiting on their kids that I follow obsessively. And today that obsession paid off.<br /><br />If you want to read a happy story go <a href="http://myfamilymyjourney.blogspot.com/2010/01/at-last.html">here</a>. You will laugh, you will cry, it is DEFINITELY better than <span style="font-style: italic;">Cats.</span><br /><br />After almost 13 months, <a href="http://myfamilymyjourney.blogspot.com/2010/01/at-last.html">Mark and Heidi </a>saw their kids faces yesterday. And yes, I'm a little biased about how wonderful their kids must be... just read their story and you'll see why.<br /><br />What a way to start the new year!<br />xox-katKat & Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06771223055953137126noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-998580200928392458.post-54396877704524146142009-12-07T09:57:00.000-08:002009-12-07T20:41:29.916-08:00This time last year OR Our first Christmas<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/Sx1EzqoZqaI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/vl1J8NKCLqM/s1600-h/DSC_7545.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/Sx1EzqoZqaI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/vl1J8NKCLqM/s320/DSC_7545.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412557981576964514" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This time last year we had been on the wait list for 3.5 months and I was seriously deep into my adoption blog obsession, reading every blog I could find about adoption and/or Ethiopia. Sometimes obsessions are bad things (remember my search for the 'right' crib skirts?) but sometimes obsessions are cool avenues to great things. My blog obsession helped introduce me to this<a href="http://theeyesofmyeyesareopened.blogspot.com/"> lovely mama</a> who in turn invited me to join her Ladies in Waiting lunch group.<br /><br />When I joined the Ladies in Waiting there were 7 of us all adopting from Ethiopia. Two had just gotten referrals, two were still doing the paperwork and the other three of us were in different places on the wait list. It was amazing to sit down and get to meet people on our same journey, to meet them In Person rather than just through words on a blog. <br /><br />But as amazing as it was to meet these women, the true highlight of that lunch for me was when a recently ousted member of the Ladies in Waiting wandered in with her daughter, <a href="http://2b3soon.blogspot.com/2009/11/dreams-do-come-true.html">Mimi</a>. They had been back from Ethiopia as a family for only two weeks at that point and I remember thinking as I touched little Mimi's hand "she still has Ethiopia on her..." It was like a celebrity sighting for me! I mean, here, in the flesh, was what we were all working towards...in 3-d, right in front of me... eating lemon slices! I can't explain why Mimi made such an impact. She was (is!) adorable but I think it was the fact that they had just come home, they had just crossed the finish line and that made it all seem so..... possible! When The Esq picked me up after lunch all I could talk about was Heather, Chris and Mimi and Mimi and Mimi and MIMI! He kept asking, "so who else was at lunch?" and I'd say, "and then Mimi scrunched up her nose! Her nose that was smelling Ethiopian air just 14 days ago!" <br /><br />This weekend we took the twins to our neighborhood Christmas tree lot to pick out a tree. As we walked there I kept remembering Heather's <a href="http://2b3soon.blogspot.com/2008/12/shopping-for-our-1st-family-christmas.html">blog entry</a> from Christmas last year when they took Mimi to get a tree. I must have looked at those photos a thousand times... imagining what that must feel like, to do something as simple as picking a tree with your <span style="font-style: italic;">new child</span>. And now, here we were, doing that exact thing. It just felt so full circle to me... I had wished upon Heather's photos and now here we were stepping into our own version. I, of course, cried at the hugeness of the moment. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/Sx1EzPa02rI/AAAAAAAAAtI/6RwIbqTsl6s/s1600-h/DSC_7560.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/Sx1EzPa02rI/AAAAAAAAAtI/6RwIbqTsl6s/s320/DSC_7560.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412557974272268978" border="0" /></a><br />That night, after The Esq hung the lights, we did the big reveal for the twins. They were whiny and fussy and I'm sure wondering why we were all sitting in the dark but as soon as we plugged in the Christmas tree lights everything stopped. The only sound was of their eyes widening in surprise. And we sat like that, the four of us, in silence, just looking, for a good 5 minutes (which is 4 mins longer then they have ever sat still before!). And every morning since, I have cuddled up on the sofa with Baby Boy (our early riser) and we have just stared at those Christmas lights while waiting for the rest of the family to get up. 6 am has never been sweeter. I might have to drape our houseplants in twinkly lights come January so this never ends.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/Sx1E0AYE30I/AAAAAAAAAtY/3wMpQIChhlc/s1600-h/DSCF2863.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/Sx1E0AYE30I/AAAAAAAAAtY/3wMpQIChhlc/s320/DSCF2863.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412557987414073154" border="0" /></a><br />December has just barely started and I am already a happy, sobbing mess over all the symbolism and joy of this holiday with children.... with <span style="font-style: italic;">my children</span>.... I've said it before but I'll say it again...I just had no idea it could be like this.<br /><br />Who knows if I'll get back to this blog before the end of the year so let me just go ahead now and wish you and yours the happiest of times. May you all feel as joyful and full as I do this year.<br /><br />xoxoox,<br />Kat, The Esq, and The Wonder Twins<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">A few updates: </span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">*Since we are traveling for most of December, we opted to get a tiny tree this year with just lights on it. But you can see I have hung three very special ornaments: The black and white Africa was made by my friend Harmony (you can have one too... just go </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://fermemberwhen.blogspot.com/2009/11/fermember-when-etsy-store.html">here</a><span style="font-style: italic;">!), the two red hearts were made by our 5 yr old friend Pippa to celebrate the twins first Christmas, and the wooden cross on the bottom right was made for me by a boy at the Kolfe orphanage in Addis.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">*Mimi and her parents are currently on the wait list again awaiting word on her new sister... fingers crossed, they could get The Call any day now!</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Now THAT would be a cool Christmas present!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">*Of the 7 Ladies in Waiting--5 of us have our children home (a total of seven kids!), one lady put her adoption on hold and the 7th has her court date this Friday for her adorable little boy! We all gathered together this past weekend for a holiday party...all the kids in one room... the joy, the noise, the happiness...</span>Kat & Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06771223055953137126noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-998580200928392458.post-32419525806159925462009-11-22T20:39:00.000-08:002009-11-22T20:40:11.975-08:00Times they are a-changing<span style="font-style: italic;">**First off let me say how much I have LOVED reading everyone's daily entries for NaPoBlogMoTaMaMa...or whatever the acronym for "write one blog entry a day for all of November" is. It's been so great 'catching ' up with all of you... I hope you all continue the acronym into December!<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;">*******<br /></div><br />We have made it to the 3 month mark in this new game called "Family." Last Monday was the three month anniversary of the first time we held our babies. The first time we touched their crazy soft skin, smelled their sweet-sour-delicious baby smells, gazed into their chocolate fountain eyes. And this Tuesday will be the three month anniversary of our walking into our house as a family of four. The first time our babies slept in their beds, played on the rug we bought specially for them, rode in the stroller to our neighborhood coffee shop.<br /><br />Three months. Where, for the love of god, does the time go? Every day seems to last at least 2 weeks but when I look back it barely seems like we got home yesterday...certainly not 90 days ago!<br /><br />Things are changing so fast...and with every change my heart simultaneously soars and breaks. With every little shirt they outgrow I grieve a little but I am thrilled at how well they are growing (Baby boy is in the 68%! This is the same boy who wasn't even on the charts three months ago!). I was exhilarated the first time they rolled over but devastated when that meant they stopped sleeping on their sides (with their little hands clasped in acapella <span style="visibility: visible; font-style: italic;" id="main"><span style="visibility: visible;" id="search"><em></em></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>singer style) in favor of sleeping on their tummies. Every day they do something new and amazing but that means they leave something else behind. Don't get me wrong, I want my children to grow and learn and change...just not so fast!!!<br /><br />In an effort to not forget anything as time speeds by me, here's a brief list of some of the things that have changed since we first met the Wonder Twins....<br /><br />When we first met the twins they were lovable lumps. Lumps that took two whole arms to hold so they wouldn't slump down or fall backwards. Now they actively participate in being held. They ride on my hip with their hand causally placed on my shoulder while they glance around surveying their kingdom.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/SwnM4wN226I/AAAAAAAAAsc/8srhZwbOzyE/s1600/DSC_7292.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/SwnM4wN226I/AAAAAAAAAsc/8srhZwbOzyE/s320/DSC_7292.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407078103022754722" border="0" /></a><br /><br />When we first met, they smiled at any and everyone who crossed their path. Now they save those big, whole face smiles for us and are a bit slower to smile at strangers. When being held by new people they will both search frantically to find us. Once they see we are right there, then they are comfortable examining the new person.<br /><br /><br />When we first met they were bald. Then Baby Girl had one curl.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/SwN02_qqq4I/AAAAAAAAAr0/Q7FohQoAjRQ/s1600/IMG_0822.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/SwN02_qqq4I/AAAAAAAAAr0/Q7FohQoAjRQ/s320/IMG_0822.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405292465926876034" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">And now she has this!<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/SwN02tATKuI/AAAAAAAAArs/x3hZoDdQ7e8/s1600/DSC_7274.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/SwN02tATKuI/AAAAAAAAArs/x3hZoDdQ7e8/s320/DSC_7274.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405292460917336802" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">They went from a slight dusting of hair...<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/SwNz-cjlALI/AAAAAAAAArE/oXe33j8QQxM/s1600/DSC_6059.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/SwNz-cjlALI/AAAAAAAAArE/oXe33j8QQxM/s320/DSC_6059.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405291494429229234" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">To this! A mound (sorta) of soft, downy, curly/wavy hair on top of both their heads and crazy half curl laurels all round the sides.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/SwNz_5yfFLI/AAAAAAAAArc/vgFf6fqW2AI/s1600/DSC_7248.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/SwNz_5yfFLI/AAAAAAAAArc/vgFf6fqW2AI/s320/DSC_7248.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405291519456253106" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />When we first met, their only way of communicating with us was through long soulful gazes and occasionally whimpers. Now Baby Boy has full command of his ga, da, ba sounds and Baby Girl has a throaty growl that she likes to change pitch, volume and length of depending on what she's trying to get across.<br /><br /><br /><br />When we first met they were immobile. We could lay them down on the foyer rug while we brought in the stroller and knew they would still be right there when we were done. Three months ago my living room looked like this (plus a few, tasteful, wooden toys).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/SwN03uRupuI/AAAAAAAAAsE/gVmpp0POz9s/s1600/DSC_1431.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/SwN03uRupuI/AAAAAAAAAsE/gVmpp0POz9s/s320/DSC_1431.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405292478438745826" border="0" /></a><br />This is my living room now. We have a full blown Baby Jail to keep the tumbleweeds (and plastic stuff) contained. They roll and scoot backwards and as of this week are starting to drag themselves forward using one arm and their chins.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/SwNz--MlLxI/AAAAAAAAArM/pQluA-7tl1Y/s1600/DSC_7183.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/SwNz--MlLxI/AAAAAAAAArM/pQluA-7tl1Y/s320/DSC_7183.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405291503459577618" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And where they used to just lay side by side playing quietly with toys dangling above them... now they sit up and fight over toys in their laps!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/SwN0ARgL4tI/AAAAAAAAArk/g0I2JE4-aZ0/s1600/DSC_7257.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/SwN0ARgL4tI/AAAAAAAAArk/g0I2JE4-aZ0/s320/DSC_7257.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405291525821948626" border="0" /></a><br /><br />When we first met, they had no interest or knowledge of each other. Now, Baby Boy will stare at Baby Girl for 4 or 5 mins at a time. She'll just be sitting there chewing on her toy or her toes and he'll just watch her. Occasionally cracking up in baby giggles. The other day I found them having such an intense mind-meld staring contest that I almost felt like the third wheel.<br /><br />Which reminds me... they laugh now. Big hi-pitched fully formed laughs. At first it was like a car motor that won't quite turn over--one little burst of <span style="font-style: italic;">gaha</span>!-- but now the giggles just pour forward.<br /><br />When we first met Baby Girl, she had old lady wrists. You know what I mean...saggy skin that was all wrinkly and too big for her.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/SwN03BJhMRI/AAAAAAAAAr8/L9u1O578oC4/s1600/Weletemichael+5.25.09.JPG-6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 147px; height: 259px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/SwN03BJhMRI/AAAAAAAAAr8/L9u1O578oC4/s320/Weletemichael+5.25.09.JPG-6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405292466324713746" border="0" /></a> Now, three months and 5lbs later she has the perfect baby rubber band wrists. You know, the plush, pudgy wrists that look like a rubber band is making the crease.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/SwnM4eoBL7I/AAAAAAAAAsU/9e8zIocBWfQ/s1600/DSC_7287.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/SwnM4eoBL7I/AAAAAAAAAsU/9e8zIocBWfQ/s320/DSC_7287.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407078098300645298" border="0" /></a><br /><br />When we first met them, Baby Girl pooed every time she'd have a bottle. Like clockwork. It was helpful when we needed to supply the local clinic in Addis with fresh poo because we knew all it took was a bottle. But now, they are both so grown up they just poo when ever! And all the time...5-6 times a day, with no set schedule!<br /><br />The one thing that hasn't changed is how gorgeous they are...and how funny and charming and brilliant. Developmentally they are beyond their targets. Except for peek-a-boo. For some reason they still don't get peekaboo. Or maybe they get it but just don't find it very funny.<br /><br />I don't really have a snappy wrap up for this entry... just things I've been thinking about lately. The mere fact that the twins have been with us long enough for us to notice changes...that in itself is amazing. I had no idea it would be like this...so much fun and joy and sadness all rolled into every minute. I had no idea how fast it would all change. I just had no idea...<br /><br />Happy Thanksgiving,<br />KatKat & Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06771223055953137126noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-998580200928392458.post-34210438757762977142009-11-01T10:33:00.000-08:002009-11-01T21:35:27.177-08:00Holiday gift ideas!So the holidays are coming up and if you are like me then you are probably already stressed about not only WHAT to give all the people on your list but also about how to find time to actually get said items. Well, let me just say, that was the Old Me. The New Me is feeling pretty relaxed because I've figured out what everyone is getting...<br /><br />My friend Jen is making <span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">The. </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;">Most. </span><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204); font-weight: bold;">Adorable.</span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-weight: bold;">Shirts.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">EVER</span>.</span> Check out her etsy shop: <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/lilblubirds">Lil Blu Birds.</a> And if the shirts aren't cool enough on their own...then how about this: Jen is giving 100% of the proceeds from these Most Adorable Shirts for humanitarian aid in Ethiopia. Jen adopted her son from Ethiopia last year and is lucky enough to be going back in a month or so. While there she will be handing out fleece wraps to people on the street and buying cows & goats for the orphanages so the kids can have meat for a change. Warm clothes and food that she bought with the money made from her shirts.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=761588&id=1208980857" id="myphotolink"><img style="width: 274px; height: 306px;" src="http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs235.snc1/8216_1255707031989_1208980857_761587_6307487_n.jpg" id="myphoto" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Jen's son Abe in one of her super cool shirts<br /></span></div><br /><br />It's really a no brainer. But just in case you aren't sure yet, let's break it down into pros and cons:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pros of buying a shirt from Lil Blu Birds:</span><br />1-easy peasy Christmas shopping. Just buy one of Jen's shirts and viola! Cross people off your list.<br /><br />2-easy peasy good karma warm fuzzy feelings. Just buy one of Jen's shirts and viola! You are helping feed orphans and keep homeless people warm at night.<br /><br />3-easy peasy way to look hip and cool. Just buy one of Jen's shirts and then sit back while your friends and family bask in the fact that they have a one-of-a-kind shirt that helps people.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cons of buying a shirt from Lil Blu Birds:</span><br />(cue cricket noises)<br /><br />oh, wait, THERE ARE NO CONS!<br /><br /><br /><br />Go to Jen's<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/lilblubirds"> etsy shop </a>to see more cute designs (she's putting more up this week)<br />or<br />Go to Jen's <a href="http://babyfromababa.blogspot.com/2009/10/what-am-i-doing-dreaming-big.html">blog</a> to find out why and how she got started doing this<br /><br />And start thinking about what you're going to do with all that free time you have this holiday season now that you no longer have to stress about shopping.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/Su5gIzlyuwI/AAAAAAAAAq8/tO7S9PuDel4/s1600-h/DSC_6774.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/Su5gIzlyuwI/AAAAAAAAAq8/tO7S9PuDel4/s320/DSC_6774.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399358707667745538" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">The shirts Jen made for my twins...how freakin' cute are they!</span><br /></div><br />You can thank me later....<br /><br />xoxo-KatKat & Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06771223055953137126noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-998580200928392458.post-63758032507205010462009-10-24T15:57:00.000-07:002009-10-28T08:59:39.145-07:00Things people say *Edited*<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/Sucbh2yvbHI/AAAAAAAAAq0/QgRjK6C0tHc/s1600-h/DSC_6602.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/Sucbh2yvbHI/AAAAAAAAAq0/QgRjK6C0tHc/s320/DSC_6602.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397312946884799602" border="0" /></a><br />Before we brought the twins home (two months ago yesterday!) I did a lot of worrying about what people would say when they saw our mixed race family. I come from the South and so was a bit worried about random comments from random strangers...how would I respond?...how would I explain these comments to our kids?...how would I put these stupid strangers in their place while not loosing face in front of our kids?<br /><br />For some reason I never anticipated the comments would be positive! Or for that matter, just plain weird. Below is little sample of things people have said to me while I was out and about with the twins....<br /><br />Homeless man pushing his grocery cart full of recycling past us as we take our morning stroll, "You are just like OctoMom" (ok, I used to be compared to Angelina Jolie...what happened?!?!)<br /><br />Cute little blond girl-maybe 4 or 5 yrs old- in Beverly Hills, "Look mommy, Brown Babies!" Her mortified mother, "Oh no honey, those aren't brown babies, they are <span style="font-style: italic;">African</span> Babies."<br /><br />Not 5 minutes later from a cashier at a restaurant...<br /><br />"They are how old? Wow, you really lost your pregnancy weight quickly!" So in a span of just 5 minutes someone said I had African babies and someone else thought I gave birth.<br /><br />"Hey, look at these cute dolls Trader Joe's is selling...OMG they are real!" I'm not making this up. A lady actually thought the twins were a display of some sort.<br /><br />"Been there." From an older lady dressed in all white (white blouse, crisply pressed white trousers, white silk man's vest, white straw panama hat and a huge white cameo ring). She then proceeded to tell me how she had only been expecting one baby "the other one hid" and therefore got the surprise of her life when they "pulled another one out." Her boys are now in their late 40's but apparently used to throw their poo at each other. All this was related while we were in line for coffee.<br /><br />"They look JUST like you! Your husband must be bummed there's no trace of him in them huh?"<br /><br />"Adoption?" This from a biker dude we walked past on Larchmont. When we said yes, he stood up and gave us a one man standing ovation.<br /><br />"Two boys?" This from pretty much everyone we meet even though Baby Girl is, well, a GIRL and I tend to dress her in uber frilly dresses. Not to mention she is petite and has the features of a little pixie while her brother is 4 pounds bigger and already has a comb over! Which brings us to...<br /><br />"He's bigger than her huh?" Did I mention he's almost 5 pounds heavier then her? And it shows in every way so I find this question kind of odd...obviously yes, he IS bigger. I always want to reply "not really, he's just retaining water weight" or "not normally but he's gaining weight for a role." But of course, I just nod and say yes, he is bigger.<br /><br />"A boy and a girl...well I guess you're done. Shop closed!"<br /><br />"Are you the babysitter?" This from two African American women I passed on the street.<br /><br />"Are you breastfeeding?" Yes, I actually had a complete stranger, on the sidewalk, ask me if I was breastfeeding. Crazy.<br /><br />But mostly I get comments like "These are the cutest babies I have ever seen" and "You are SO lucky!"<br /><br />And you know what... they are right :-)<br />xoxo-Kat<br /><br />ps...speaking of cute twins... head over <a href="http://my--fascinating--life.blogspot.com/2009/10/we-passed.html">here</a> to wish this family double congratulations!<br /><br />EDIT -- not 2 hours after posting this I was walking into Target with the twins and as I passed a lady with a baby and a toddler she looked at me with pity and said, "Twins. I'll pray for you."Kat & Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06771223055953137126noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-998580200928392458.post-84673358355665864062009-10-13T19:58:00.001-07:002009-10-13T19:59:05.236-07:00Happy 6 Months! Happy 6 weeks home!I can't believe I've become one of those bloggers...the kind who comes back from Ethiopia with her unbelievably cute kids and stops writing. Twins...that's my only excuse. If only I could dictate my blog...cause let me tell you, I write some good ones in my head in the shower.<br /><br />We've been busy since I last posted... The Esquire has gone back to work, making me officially a SAHM (that's 'Stay At Home Mom' for those of you not in the loop). Luckily for me (and the twins) we have found a lovely woman who is going to help out part time. It's amazing how guilty you can feel for only having two hands and one lap!<br /><br />So since it's pretty clear I can't write much at the moment...here is a pictorial glimpse into our first 6 weeks home as a family...<br /><br />Here are the twins at Costco... they loved the outside hotdog stand part where people treated them like minor celebrities but they weren't too fond of the actual shopping part. I think this might be our last family trip to Costco.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/SsU9O_3Aa_I/AAAAAAAAApc/nt24_lWGmSk/s1600-h/IMG_0894.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/SsU9O_3Aa_I/AAAAAAAAApc/nt24_lWGmSk/s320/IMG_0894.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387779857088277490" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Needless to say, the twins have spent a lot of time in their sedan of a stroller, which we like to call The Cart in honor of our friend Aynie (another Aynie-ism we've adopted is to say "he's spilling" instead of "he's spitting up"...so much more pleasant don't you think?)<br /><br />We spend a lot of time strolling the cart around our neighborhood...<br /><br />Here we are at the La Brea Tar Pits...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/SsU9OX3c0nI/AAAAAAAAApU/dftc9qa-fko/s1600-h/IMG_0766.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/SsU9OX3c0nI/AAAAAAAAApU/dftc9qa-fko/s320/IMG_0766.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387779846352720498" border="0" /></a><br />And then at the local corner mercado where you can buy injera, lottery tickets, and whiskey...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/SsU9NmrzLXI/AAAAAAAAApM/2Jr2GouH47E/s1600-h/IMG_0763.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/SsU9NmrzLXI/AAAAAAAAApM/2Jr2GouH47E/s320/IMG_0763.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387779833150516594" border="0" /></a><br />Here they are kind of enjoying our neighborhood's annual Little Ethiopia Street Fair and Parade.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/SsU7mxWtQmI/AAAAAAAAAoc/EpK95Ji76-o/s1600-h/DSC_5791.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/SsU7mxWtQmI/AAAAAAAAAoc/EpK95Ji76-o/s320/DSC_5791.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387778066488312418" border="0" /></a><br />The fair and parade are an annual elebration of Ethiopia's New Year (Sept 11th), which this year rang in the year 2002 (their calender has 13 months, so they are 7 years behind us). The parade is held about 3 blocks from our house and I was very excited for the twins to take part... even dressed them up in their little Ethiopian outfits. Unfortunately, I forgot how LOUD parades were...we left after the elephant.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/SsU7nmhqATI/AAAAAAAAAok/rgQyqbz_pwY/s1600-h/DSC_5807.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/SsU7nmhqATI/AAAAAAAAAok/rgQyqbz_pwY/s320/DSC_5807.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387778080761315634" border="0" /></a><br /><br />That same week the twins received their Green Cards, which means they can legally work in the States now! Sadly, a month later and they are STILL just sitting around playing with their toes. To celebrate their new status we had a Green Card New Year's Party.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/SsU7owd-38I/AAAAAAAAAo0/bbdtO5NBLOM/s1600-h/DSC_5918.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/SsU7owd-38I/AAAAAAAAAo0/bbdtO5NBLOM/s320/DSC_5918.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387778100610129858" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/SsU7oJ4re3I/AAAAAAAAAos/8Cy-2s_dgZo/s1600-h/DSC_5881.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/SsU7oJ4re3I/AAAAAAAAAos/8Cy-2s_dgZo/s320/DSC_5881.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387778090253122418" border="0" /></a><br />We spend most afternoons outside on our back porch watching the hummingbirds<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/SsU7pXzAMNI/AAAAAAAAAo8/oX2q8I9fFEc/s1600-h/DSC_6059.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/SsU7pXzAMNI/AAAAAAAAAo8/oX2q8I9fFEc/s320/DSC_6059.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387778111167279314" border="0" /></a><br />Or on the front sidewalk watching for Dada to come home<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/StS5xfDGf2I/AAAAAAAAApk/qQ5MHspfWQw/s1600-h/DSC_6365.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/StS5xfDGf2I/AAAAAAAAApk/qQ5MHspfWQw/s320/DSC_6365.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392138913668562786" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Baby Girl has spent a lot of time and energy on her hair, as you can tell from her one curl. I call it her Spike Lee Cindy Loo Who Do<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/StS5xlRC9XI/AAAAAAAAAps/Vq_ghZklJPg/s1600-h/IMG_0822.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/StS5xlRC9XI/AAAAAAAAAps/Vq_ghZklJPg/s320/IMG_0822.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392138915337663858" border="0" /></a><br />And of course we do A LOT of this...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/StS5yfxiIZI/AAAAAAAAAp0/Pmg_aNnIKSE/s1600-h/IMG_0928.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/StS5yfxiIZI/AAAAAAAAAp0/Pmg_aNnIKSE/s320/IMG_0928.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392138931043180946" border="0" /></a><br />The twins turned 6 months old earlier this month... they are eating well, sleeping well (at night at least...naps, not so much), rolling like tumbleweeds, sitting up on their own for a few seconds at a time (when not distracted by our cheering) and even starting to steal toys from each other. Our pediatrician has declared them brilliant in every way. Hey, it's not bragging if it comes from a professional.<br /><br />So that's our last 6 weeks in a nutshell...it's been crazy busy and yet I'm not really sure what we've done other than tummy time and changing diapers. It hasn't all been easy (did I mention the lack of nap schedule?) but it's been fun and for the most part really good.<br /><br />So here's hoping I actually write something before another 6 weeks passes! But just in case...Happy Halloween, Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas!<br /><br />xoxo-katKat & Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06771223055953137126noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-998580200928392458.post-2311893538722498062009-09-09T22:31:00.000-07:002009-09-10T11:23:28.126-07:00The search begins...your advice wanted.If you want to make a group of people laugh tell them you have 5 month old twins and you line dry your laundry. If you want to make a group of people go completely silent with disbelief, tell them you have 5 month old twins and don't have a dishwasher<br /><br />So I'll admit, the dishwasher thing isn't by choice...but the line drying is. I hate hate hate our energy sucking dryer but luckily I live in Sunny Southern California...it just makes sense to line dry. 10 mins to hang, 2 hours in the sun, and presto...dry clothes. The bonus: I don't have to rush to get them as soon as they are dry so they don't wrinkle. Heck, I can leave them on the drying rack all day! And the bonus bonus is feeling smug that I didn't have to use any electricity.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/SqlCUfYOHkI/AAAAAAAAAoM/PwdL6khjeC4/s1600-h/IMG_0715.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/SqlCUfYOHkI/AAAAAAAAAoM/PwdL6khjeC4/s320/IMG_0715.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379904149658672706" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It seems so simple to me and yet people think I'm crazy for line drying. You would not believe how many people think I will stop line drying now that we have twins.<br /><br />Everyone has certain ideas about how they want to live. Mine include trying to be as Green as possible; trying to make as little waste as possible. I believe in tote bags versus plastic or paper grocery bags. I believe in walking more than driving...if you have to drive, make it the smallest car possible. I believe in cloth diapers and glass bottles. I believe in composting, recycling, freecycling, and craig's list. I believe in using my own refillable water bottle. I believe in Etsy and other made-by-hand websites. I believe in opening windows rather than using AC. I believe in eating what is for sale at my weekly farmers market. I believe in drought-resistant, California native plants instead of water sucking unnatural green lawns.<br /><br />Sadly, I don't get to live all these beliefs every day. We rent so the garden is out of my control (though I am strict with the sprinkler usage...no one can accuse us of ignoring the water restrictions.) We live in LA so we have to drive more than I'd like...but we do walk much more than the average Angeleno (the mileage on our last car was so low that when we went to trade it in the dealer accused us of turning the odometer back). And as you all know... my dreams of driving like a European in a tiny car were dashed when faced with the realities of two rear facing car seats. I'm Green but I'm also realistic. I suppose, on the scale of Green living, I'm still a pale, pale lime. But I'm trying. And I don't think having twins means I have to stop trying.<br /><br />So my next big step in practicing what I preach... cloth diapers. Or a biodegradable diaper. Or last resort, a disposable diaper made of post-consumer recycled content (free range wood pulp anyone?). Surely there must be a diaper out there that can contain my children's poop and yet doesn't have a half life longer than uranium.<br /><br />And so the research begins. I'm looking into <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.fuzzibunz.com">these</a> and <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.gdiapers.com">these</a> and <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.bumgenius.com">these</a>. And I have set the goal of cutting down our diaper-footprint by the time the twins are 8 months old. That gives me 3 months to figure it out and 3 months for them to finish getting over any little Ethiopian souvenirs they might have growing in their poop.<br /><br />Here's where I actively seek your advice. All those who have diapered before me--singleton or twin poo--what did you do for diapers?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/SqlCUy_y-OI/AAAAAAAAAoU/pe5n37HSecw/s1600-h/DSC_5496.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/SqlCUy_y-OI/AAAAAAAAAoU/pe5n37HSecw/s320/DSC_5496.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379904154924939490" border="0" /></a>Seriously, have you ever seen cuter bums then these? Not to mention the quality of head control and tummy time... but I digress. Diapers people...please help me find a diaper that works AND doesn't exist longer than my kids!<br /><br />xoxo-KatKat & Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06771223055953137126noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-998580200928392458.post-50567127873301144012009-09-06T20:14:00.000-07:002009-09-06T20:19:18.032-07:00Home again, home again.So, we're back. We have gone and returned from Ethiopia. And we have returned with two of the most gorgeous, funny, wonderful, gassy babies you have ever seen. Seriously gorgeous. Like, Baby Gap model gorgeous. And seriously gassy. Farts so loud and rumbley they caused people on the plane to comment. Luckily, they are gosh darn cute when they toot...<br /><br />Our trip was amazing... in every respect. Everyone we meet, everything we saw, tasted, felt, experienced...the good, the bad, the ugly... all of it amazing. We truly lucked out in many, many ways and for that I am grateful. None of us got sick while traveling (though being at home is a different story). Our twins sleep pretty well for 5 month olds...and were superstars on the long flight home. My best friend Lori went with us so we had an experienced mom to help out, our own photographer to help record the week and a good friend to share this special time with all rolled into one. Our paperwork and embassy appointment went super smoothly. We had a chance to visit with family friends while in Addis (and let's face it, going to a friend's home always makes a trip better). We gained a life long friend in Solomon, our wonderful driver. Even the dreaded rainy season was reduced to only one or two crazy, hard, short storms a day. I am sort of embarrassed to talk about how lovely our trip was over all. I know that Ethiopia can be a hard place to visit under any circumstances and that meeting your children and their family, trying to bond and attach...all that can be difficult and heavy but for some reason we lucked out. I am aware of how blessed we are.<br /><br /> Don't get me wrong, it wasn't all fairy dust and unicorns. We saw heartbreaking things and heard tragic stories. But even in all the heartbreak we were still amazed and in awe by the country, the people, the experience. I am so proud to say my children are Ethiopian.<br /><br />We have actually been home for almost two weeks. Sorry to leave you all hanging here in BlogLand but it's been hard to write. Why? Well #1-I think I've mentioned that we have twins now. TWINS. Two parents. Two babies. Kinda hard to hand off a kid when your husband is already holding a kid! #2-they are unnaturally cute...so it's hard to tear myself away for a blog. Oh! He made a raspberry noise! And #3-because I'm just not sure what to write. Let me rephrase that...I'm not sure HOW to write this blog now.<br /><br />I want so badly to post pictures and info on my children. I want to prove to you that they are the world's cutest twins. I want to wax on and on about how crazy soft their skin is (like touching AIR). I want to share every detail of our trip and our return. But... I am hesitant to do that. How can I post pictures and details about my sweet innocent 5 month old children when my own husband chooses to remain anonymous? I could make this blog private but then I'd miss out on all the random visitors. I could make up code names for the twins... Jayna and Zan? And just show you photos like these<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/SqMqrEQrsMI/AAAAAAAAAnQ/oyzkxls1134/s1600-h/DSC_4788.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/SqMqrEQrsMI/AAAAAAAAAnQ/oyzkxls1134/s320/DSC_4788.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378189299376959682" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/SqMqqAtQBlI/AAAAAAAAAnA/NjdJCvCuH6o/s1600-h/DSC_4752.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/SqMqqAtQBlI/AAAAAAAAAnA/NjdJCvCuH6o/s320/DSC_4752.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378189281243170386" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/SqMqqmMTWSI/AAAAAAAAAnI/FRcFqW-N-_g/s1600-h/DSC_4749.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/SqMqqmMTWSI/AAAAAAAAAnI/FRcFqW-N-_g/s320/DSC_4749.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378189291305523490" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Or I could just get over it and out my husband so that we are all equally exposed on the world wide web. What to do, what to do. I'm just not sure yet. I want to keep the blog...I like having a place to put my thoughts and I like your companionship. So I just need to figure out how to go forward. Anyway, that's why I haven't posted until now. But I figured I needed to post something and let you all know I was alive and happily ensconced in a family of four before I got another "WHERE ARE YOU??" comment <span style="font-size:85%;">(which I love by the way! Thanks for missing me!) </span><br /><br />Here's something that I can write about now... the other major life changing event I've gone through since we last spoke...<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">This is what I used to drive. My zoom-zoom, my Mazda 3 hatchback that is perfect in every single way except when it comes to holding 2 rear facing car seats.<br /></div> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/SqMqrgplg3I/AAAAAAAAAnY/5Jt0-U5As4k/s1600-h/DSCF2579.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/SqMqrgplg3I/AAAAAAAAAnY/5Jt0-U5As4k/s320/DSCF2579.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378189306997605234" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">This is what I was hoping I could advance to, the Mazda 5, a <span style="font-style: italic;">mini</span>-mini van. Three rows of seats, sliding side doors, great mileage, not your parent's mini-van when it comes to parking or looking cool.<br /></div> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/SqMqsSj8SyI/AAAAAAAAAng/pJMJvzPuFYA/s1600-h/DSCF2581.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/SqMqsSj8SyI/AAAAAAAAAng/pJMJvzPuFYA/s320/DSCF2581.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378189320395705122" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">This is what I've ended up with. A Honda Odyssey. The mothership of all mini-vans. Membership to Youth Soccer Leagues included.<br /></div> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/SqMsjDYhH-I/AAAAAAAAAno/PKVj2lDcF-I/s1600-h/DSCF2582.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GZd9woubX3s/SqMsjDYhH-I/AAAAAAAAAno/PKVj2lDcF-I/s320/DSCF2582.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378191360725688290" border="0" /></a><br />Sadly, the Mazda 5 just wasn't big enough for 2 adults, 2 rear facing car seats and the largest double stroller known to man. Or rather...it was JUST big enough for those things and nothing more. The Odyssey holds all of us, our gargantuan stroller, two loads of Costco shopping and 15 beverages all at the same time. (Yes, the Odyssey holds 8 passengers, and has 15 cupholders ...you do the math).<br /><br />Don't get me wrong. I really appreciate a mini-van and what it does...I just thought we had a few more years before we had to get one. I will love it in a week or two, but for now I'm a bit startled to see it in our driveway. And have I mentioned how much I love my Zoom Zoom? I get a little weepy at the thought of The Esquire getting to drive it to work every day. Sigh...I'm counting on the 15 cup holders and automatic sliding side doors to help me get over this pain.<br /><br /> I guess that's it for now. I'll figure out where to go with this blog and be back soon, I promise. But now I have to go watch Twiddle Dee and Twiddle Dum sleep... they both do this crazy little thing with their thumb that we just can't get enough of...<br /><br /> Ciao,<br /> xoxo-KatKat & Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06771223055953137126noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-998580200928392458.post-60510171939332726132009-08-14T15:25:00.000-07:002009-08-14T15:39:26.198-07:00A few final thingsSo here we sit, at our gate at LAX, waiting to board (ya gotta love the iPhone). Here are my favorite moments so far:<br /><br />-The Esquire pacing around the house waiting for the cab while giving me a constant update on the time "10 mins!" "5 mins!"<br /><br />-the cab driver taking us to LAX asked if we had family in Ethiopia...and it hit me- Yes! We do!<br /><br />-seeing The Esquire show the baggage claim lady a picture of the twins<br /><br />-realizing as we push our 76 bags through security that we are THOSE travelers now<br /><br />-reaching into my carry on for something and pulling out the little hoodies I'm bringing for the twins<br /><br />I can't believe it's time.<br /><br />And by the way, NOW I'm giddy :-)<br /><br />xoxo- KatKat & Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06771223055953137126noreply@blogger.com19