Short Night

Feven woke up 4 times throughout the night, eventually waking for the day at 4:30am. 

This is how she looked by 8:30am:

This is how I looked by 8:30am:

What the Heck?

Feven to Mom, "Did you see that?  It just - just - sprayed me for no reason!  I can't work like this!"

Sprinkler

I have so many good memories from growing up of running through the sprinkler on warm, summer days.  I was so excited when the temperatures soared into the 90's on Sunday so I could take Feven out for her first time playing in the sprinkler.

Sunglasses

Which do you like better?

 

 

Ice Cream Cone

Feven's officially a Harder now.  She has found a love for ice cream!

The Zoo!

Feven's first trip to the zoo.  We managed to find a tractor to show Grandpa!

She's Walking!

I guess it just took turning one to get those feet moving!

Overtired

Just in case you thought we were all smiles all the time...

10 minute morning nap...

plus fun (but tiring!) playdate with our friends...

equals Crabbypants Feven

Pretty in Pink

With a face like this, how can you NOT love pink?

Feven's Cell Phone Use

No way, Mom.  I've been here a month already?  Can I pleeaase use your phone to call my friends?

Hey Fasi, it's Feven.  I wanted to check in with you to see how things have been going.

Nuri!  It's so good to hear your voice! 

Oh, Esayas.  My mom just goes wa-wa-wa-wa-wa-wa.  I wish she spoke Amharic.

Aben, is that you?  You're breaking up a little.  Walk to the playroom, I think you get good reception there.  By the way, I learned to kick a ball, so we can play ball next time I see you.

Here's a kiss for you, crib neighbor E!  I hope your case passes court soon.  Me and my mom pray for you and your family.

What's up, M?  I heard your parents are coming soon!

Hey Ephy!  I saw some pictures of you on your mom's blog.  She is in love with you!

Oh my goodness, Bek is soooo dreamy!

I'm all done for today - thanks mom!  It's good to talk to my friends again!

Lunch with Daddy

We met Zac at a park near his work for a fun family lunch on Feven's birthday.

Discovering the Yard

(Ew!  Grass!  I'm not touching it!)

Hammock Introduction

One Year Old

Feven, you are one year old today.  Look how you've grown!

We love your personality.  We love your smile and your laugh.  We love the way you giggle when we do silly things.  We love how interested you are in books and how you read them as you flip the pages.  We love that a plastic water bottle and a dish towel are your favorite toys.  We love how excited you are to walk holding our hands.  We love the way you coo and babble to yourself, and converse with us in that way.  We are proud of how quickly you've learned to communicate with us through signs.  We admire your courage in embracing and thriving in a new home, family, and culture.  We love you.  We are so happy you're in our family. 

Happy First Birthday Love.

The Big Walk

We went for a looong walk on Sunday.  We've been hunkering down so long in our cocooning phase that it was nice to begin breaking out.  We stopped by Quiznos for subs, drove to the park preserve, ate our lunch on the tailgate of the Rav, then went for the best walk I've had in a long time.

Hair - Part Two

Here's the final style!  She looks like such a big girl with her hair all done.  I suppose it's fitting, as our little girl turns ONE YEAR OLD this week!

Hair - Part One

Feven's hair is getting long, and I decided it was time to try some hair styling.  I went for poms - an easy, entry level style! 

It was difficult to get Feven to sit still, as you can imagine!  I was not above bribing, so while I was trying to quickly divide her hair into sections and wrap the hair binders around the little groups, she was allowed to play with Dad's cell phone, the TV remote, a new audio book toy, and honestly whatever else she wanted. 

She had a hard time sitting still, especially after she realized that I would accidentally pull her hair from time to time.  Her head was always turning side to side, and at one point she was crawling, and I was crawling on my knees beside her while still trying to put in a binder!

I did the top/front part of her head first, and decided to do the back in a second sitting.  Here's the first part.  Notice that I finally had the sense to stick her in her high chair!

Rest

We had our big "you're-in-the-country-now" doctor's appointment this week.  After two and a half hours at the clinic, this is how Feven felt:

Grapefruit

A new food combined with a new skill makes for some great material. 
Make sure to watch until the end for her full feelings on grapefruit. 

On the Go

She is always going, going, going!  And moving is her favorite thing to be doing!

Cinderella

You can play outside as soon as you finish washing the windows.