Here is Nyah "sleep crawling". Okay, I know, I have way too much time on my hands. I should be getting housework done while she's asleep. But it is so cute, I can't help it.

Nyah always sleeps with her hands folded like she is praying. Too cute.

How big is Nyah? So big! She can sit up all by herself now!

Auntie Jenae came over to see her new neice.

Nyah went "swimming" for the first time and everyone wanted to get in on the action and help her.

"Hey, I could get used to this."

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb." Psalm 139:13
"I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; I know that full well." Psalm 139:14

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." Jeremish 29:11

Each of these children had a rocky start to life. Things looked bleak, for sure. But God was not finished writing their stories... But isn't that the nature of our God? Redemption.

"To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified." Isaiah 61:3

We finally got some portraits done of the kids. Good thing because our walls were looking really bare! They were all so good but this one is my favorite.

Randomness

Ben has been such a good boy lately. He really wanted a mowhawk so I gave in. Hey, you only live once!

I just love this painting. I love God's heart for the orphan and he gives us his heart for them as well. I want to care for as many as I possibly can. Is that crazy? This gal doesn't think so. Visit her blog www.kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com. What she is doing in Uganda is amazing. Last time I checked she is singlehandedly raising over 15 of God's precious children on her own.

Grandma doing strength training with Nyah. Her muscles are weak for her age and her pediatrician said she will have to do physical therapy if she doesn't catch up. She has already made so much progress in the month that she's been home though, I don't think she will need it.

Nyah tried this thingy I got to put fruit in so she can eat it w/o choking. I couldn't get her to suck on the banana through the net though. She just wants to gnaw on the handle.

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!