Lazy Summer Day

Marquez got out the Slip N Slide he got for his birthday. Makaylee is still a little too scared to dive onto it so she runs and then drops to her knees and slides maybe a foot. She is so proud of herself, it cracks me up.

Entertaining Nyah for Mommy...

After putting the sprinkler under the trampoline for

a half hour, it makes a really nice mudpit.

Cloud Nine...

One month ago we met our sweet daughter for the first time. I will have the memory forever burned into my mind of the nanny handing her to me under the closeline of drying baby clothes. It was surreal, to say the least...like a dream you have been waiting your whole life for finally coming to fruition. I can't even explain it. She was so tiny, like a little doll and she just stared and stared. I was crying and laughing and Orin was trying to capture the moment on video camera, resisting the urge to just drop it and embrace her. She didn't know what to think. You could tell it was a lot for her seeing our strange, unfamiliar faces and our unknown language. We took her to the visiting room and spent hours playing with her and getting to know her as time seemed to stand still. Then we had to say goodbye and leave her until we could officially sign her out the next day. That was hard. That night laying in our room at the guesthouse we thanked God for his beautiful gift but somehow it didn't seem enough to just say thank you. Then I thought back to a quote that I had copied and taped to my computer screen back home that said, "When God takes something from your grasp, He's not punishing you, but merely opening your hands to receive something better." Yes, Lord, through all those years of infertility and pain, why didn't I just trust you that you knew what you were doing. Oh me of little faith...

Aaaah, I don't think there is anything that warms

a mother's heart more than watching her husband

play with the baby. Pure bliss...

Nyah is too funny! She doesn't like it when I

feed her her carrots.

She wants to do it herself and she is perfectly

happy!

Trip to Tacoma

Last weekend we took a trip to Mom and Dad's place for the weekend.
The Watoto Children's Choir was coming to their church and we didn't
want to miss it! What a special treat. The choir is made up of 18 orphans
from Uganda. One of them even asked Marquez if we were going to adopt
any of them. Poor Marquez. He really wants a forever brother too... All of
the children were so precious and I had tears rolling down my cheeks when
after eating lunch, they assembled and sang the sweetest thank you song
to everyone who helped prepare the meal. Makaylee and Ben asked me with
concerned looks, "What's the matter Mommy?"

Benji going on his first boat ride ever!




Marquez and Grandpa Jim making their way to
the spot where Marquez caught a huge fish last
summer.

Nyah on the dock with her biggest fan, Daddy.

Mother's Day and Nyah's Welcome Home Shower!

Mother's Day was a treat hiking in the Gorge with 3 generations of "Kennington" girls. Love you Mom. You are a blast!

This is the Ethiopian flag my sister made for Nyah's welcome home shower. Her creativity never ceases to amaze us. Jenae, if you are reading this, the baby shower was such a special time for us and I will treasure it in my heart forever. Thank you.

So Many Firsts

Doing an Irish jig in the bouncer

First walk to Dairy Queen

Big brother wants a turn to feed her.

First taste of rice cereal

All tuckered out at Daddy's birthday dinner.

Nyah's first sippy cup (she thinks its a chew toy)!

Tomorrow is Orin's birthday so we thought we'd celebrate by using our Ruby Tuesday gift card. Nyah ordered an 8 oz bottle, room temperature. "Hey, what about the free refills?" Oh well. Then on to Dove Adoptions in Banks to let the staff meet her and hold her for the first time. We thanked them for the precious gift of this sweet child and for the work they do in bringing families together. What special people! They gave Nyah something for the special occasion.