School Girls

Before September ends (in a few minutes) I felt it was necessary to post first day of school pictures.  This September meant big things for my girls - one beginning kindergarten and one beginning preschool!

 

 

 

They absolutely adore school!  They can not wait to go!  They go in with a smile and barely a goodbye wave over their shoulders to their blubbering mom (i.e.  "Have a great day honey, be a good listener, have fun, see you soon, I love you ...!").  They come out with a grin from ear to ear!  They can't get enough of school!  Little Miss says "yuck" when it's the weekend and asks multiple times throughout the weekend when she can go to school again.  Junie Bug had a massive meltdown just this very morning - tears, sobs, and pouting because it was not a school day for her.  This school enthusiasm is, of course, so wonderful and makes me incredibly proud of them and happy with the school choices we have made.  Now if I can keep these feelings alive in them for the next 12-18 years or so, we'll be golden!  Ahh!!!

So much!!

Junie Bug has been home for just about 10 months now and I can not imagine life without this lovable, giggly, little beam of sunlight adding so much to our every day!  She has made this transition nearly seamlessly and continues to impress me on a daily basis with what she has learned and what she is capable of doing.  She is a little superstar!

So much has happened in this short time.  We've celebrated many  "firsts" with Junie Bug:

 first Halloween

my little angels

first snowfall (my hot, tropical southern China girl loved the snow!)

first Christmas tree shopping adventure



cutie girls

first annual Christmas cookie decorating with The Gang 

The Gang

first New Year's Eve celebration

 

 

first Chinese New Year celebration

 

 

first Easter

 

 

first egg hunt

 

first trip to the beach

 spontaneous beach yoga

fun in the sand

first Mother's Day (spoiling Mommy with breakfast in bed)

first trip to the amusement park

loving every minute

 

first gymnastics class and medal

first puddle stomping adventure

 

 

 

enjoying the wetness with her big sis

 

just to name a few!

 

  

And firsts were not the only excitement we've had around here.  Little Miss has had a few moments of her own.  This happened . . .

 

Little Miss turned 5!

 

 

She was so excited and promptly informed me that she is now "a whole hand" (must use all the fingers now when indicating her age).

 

 

She advanced 2 levels in gymnastics and is constantly seen doing this in any open area she finds (including parking lots, the bank, the grocery store, etc.).

 

 

Little Miss also completed a year of ballet and tap and had her first dance recital.

Clearly she was a lion dancing to The Lion King's "Just Can't wait to be King".

her ballet finale

 

 

And we can not forget this . . .

 

 

Yes, Little Miss had her first graduation . . . from Preschool!  It was a very emotional and moving ceremony complete with slide show and heart wrenching songs about how quickly they grow up!  Not a dry eye in the place!  I am so proud of my big girl!

Junie Bug was proud of her too!

 

 

Little Miss and her absolutely wonderful teachers!

 

And among all of the things Junie Bug has done over these 10 months I think one of her personal favorites was this  . . .

 

Her Hello Kitty cake made her very happy!

 

She is quite proud to be 3!

 

 

 She had a grin from ear to ear for weeks before the big day saying, "Junie Bug's birthday soon, right?"

 

 

Both of the girls have grown and matured so much over the past ten months.  We have had some big events and celebrations.  During these events and in the small ordinary moments of every day, these little girls have become sisters.  They have each shown so much love for the other.  They have each learned so much from the other.  They bring so much joy to each other (and to their mother). The bumps and bruises of those first few months - when we were all learning our new roles, our new give and take, our new balance - they have healed and we are solid now.  We still have challenges, tears, and tantrums often enough, but those are just the normal shenanigans of a family.  And the joy, oh it far out ways the tough stuff!  I love these girlies of mine more than words can say!  There is just so much to be thankful for . . . so much!!



 

Peas in a Pod

 

Well, we are about 4 and 1/2 months into our new life together.  That statement is beyond crazy to me because it is NOT possible to imagine life without Junie Bug!!  She fits into our family like a key in a keyhole.  She has been one of us literally since our first day together in China!  My little Junie Bug is so much more than a collection of adjectives, but just to reveal the tip of the iceberg . . . she is joyful, mischievous, easy going, sharp, loving, silly as all get out, deliciously cuddly, enthusiastic, curious, smart, playful, resilient, imaginative, and an absolute treasure!  And she is mine!

The first couple of months home were incredibly wonderful and quite challenging.  We all came home from China sick with various ailments.  We were quickly thrown back into "normal life" with Little Miss getting back to school after missing 3 weeks, lots of doctors appointments, re-toddlerizing the house (oh the safety risks for a new 2 year old when plopped into your unfamiliar house), shifts of people meeting Junie Bug, household chores, partially returning to work, first social worker post placement visit at 24 days home, and all the rest!  Oh, and did I mention that there was some adjustment happening in going from a family of one 4 year old girl who had her Mama all to herself for 4 years to a family where EVERYTHING  (most of all the Mama) was to be shared with a non-English speaking 2 year old?  Did I mention that?  Amazingly, we got through those moments and have had a ton of fun along the way too! 

Through it all, Little Miss and Junie Bug have been so connected.  Watching them become sisters (which was miraculously instantaneous) has been fascinating, and it is a gift I will always treasure.  They are 2 peas in a pod, soul sisters.  Junie Bug MUST do, say, sing, play, eat, read everything she sees her big sis do.  If Little Miss does it, it must be awesome, and therefore, it must be mimicked!  And Little Miss has risen to the occasion as a big sister in every way.  I am so proud of her!  She is caring, kind, and nurturing to Junie Bug.  These two daughters of mine have a deep, loving bond that is absolutely extraordinary to witness!

Now for a few pictures of the "Peas" in action  . . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am head to toe oozing with love for these little girlies of mine!!  My wildest dreams have come true!!

Our first Christmas together!

 

Before . . .

 

After . . . 

 

 

 

After a fun-filled day of gifts, laughter, family, and too many sweets, I had one very tired Little Miss and one very tired little Junie Bug on my hands!  They both had a fantastic day!  They were very grateful and kind to each other in sharing their new toys.  I couldn't be more proud of my daughters! 

 

I should write a long post about our journey to China and Junie Bug's transition into our family and one of these days I will.  But for today I am just here to say I adore my two girlies beyond words and I am truly blessed and filled up with love on this Christmas day!

 

Merry Christmas my sweeties!





All things China . . . except the Ethiopian things!

We are China crazy in our household right now!  Dreaming of our sweet little new family member in China, planning luggage/travel items for China, celebrating with food from China, scrambling to learn a minuscule amount of the words spoken in China, counting down the days until we go to China, etc. etc.   We eat, breath, sleep China . . . and it is awesome!

But we have not left Ethiopia behind. 

Little Miss and I recently celebrated our Family day - the 4th anniversary of that memorable day in Ethiopia that marked the beginning for us together.  That day will always be one of the very most special days of my life!  I am so blessed to be the mama of this amazing girl!

We attended Ethiopian Culture Camp again this summer, enjoying old friends, new friends, and a rich and wonderful cultural/people.  The highlight for Little Miss was probably dancing for hours to Ethiopian music, in her Ethiopian dress, with her Ethiopian friends and her idols (the Ethiopian teenagers).  The highlight for me was seeing my little girl getting what only other Ethiopians can give her, and beaming with delight all the while.  Ahh! 

 

How lucky I am that these two distant worlds are colliding to form our one perfect family!

More, yet still not enough

Here are a few more pictures of my sweet girl!

They make me want to squeeze her! and smooch those cheeks! and touch her soft,wispy hair! and nuzzle her little neck! and win the breathtaking smile and giggle that I know are within! They make me want to wish time away! They make me want to get on a plane TODAY! They make me want you little girl!  RIGHT NOW!