The Good Life

I am having so much fun getting to know Sofonyas and little miss Helena. They are too funny!! Both full of personality out the wazoo!! Which is perfect for our family.

Sof is quite the ham always laughing, even when he doesn't really know what he is laughing about. He and I were talking about some of his friends from Ethiopia changing their names and so he came up with Sofonyas "Jackie Chan" Mott. We bothed laughed, he is a nut for sure. For the record, we will not be changing it to that it was just a funny thought.

After some morning schooling we ride bikes and then take a little break from the heat with a movie of choice. He loves both Sky High and Spiderman. He calls himself Spiderman and acts out scenes from the movie. He is seriously drawn to anything Spiderman. So we have an interest!! We went through our home library the other day to find all the Spiderman we had and happily found quite a few to keep us entertained.

I am happy to say the pouting is decreasing and the playful relationship between Sof and I is greatly improving. He is a funny one that kid. We went on a bike ride back in forth in front of the house yesterday, while Helena was down for a nap, and that was the best time we have had. One on one having fun! It was so cute, as we were riding he was looking at the greenbelt area around our house and asked "Mom, Lion's here?" It dawned on me that I am forgeting that everything is NEW to him. So from this question led to a great discussion about what animals live around us here in Texas and what animals he saw when he lived in Ethiopia. In the last few days, I have been focusing more of my schooling and language lessons on just us talking together. Asking full questions and understanding the words what, where, why, etc. He is catching on quick. He may not speak as much, but he is understanding a lot.

Helena is a riot and is starting to find security without me holding her all the time. She actually will walk around our kitchen and family room without me. I still cannot leave her sight, but we are definitely making improvements. She watched Caitlin and Reagan put on their backpacks for school and so she grabbed her little bag and walked away from me saying "Bye, Bye" and ran around the kitchen 20 times or so. She is even walking beside me when we go places instead of me holding her. Today at the kids school, we went up for lunch, she pulled her hand away to walk on her own beside me. Little toot! Already asserting her independance. I give thanks though. She knows when she makes people laugh and likes it. Last night she kept making pigs sounds, snorting out of her nose till her food was coming out. The kids were cracking up. The more they laughed the more she did it. It was everything in my power to get the maddness to stop. The poor girl was sacraficing herself and her nutrician all for the sake of a good laugh.

Because they are adjusting so well and fit into our family so easily I am finding myself taking their newness for granted and expecting too much of them already. I catch myself throughout the day thinking wow it's only been just 3 weeks since they were still in ET. I am blown away by God's works in them, and how he has covered them with comfort, security, joy and love. They are both so affectionate, I love it. Sof showers us all with hugs and kisses. When he sees Blake in the morning he always runs up to him and embraces him way beyond Blake's normal acceptance. Blake's a good sport though. And when Sof sees Reagan it is the same only Reagan is learning to find joy from the love his new brother showers him with.

Sof and Reagan are so cute. At night I hear them talking with each other. Each night having more of a conversation than the night before. Last night I heard them exchanging vocabulary to one another. Reagan asked "Sof how do you say Superhero in Amharic," and then Sof would say "Rrregan (rolling his "r"s) lion in Amharic is Ambassa." This went on for about 15 minutes. It was the sweetest thing.

Caitlin has been bonding with Helena as well. She likes to try to carry her, even though Helena is quite big for her. Last night Caitlin was finishing up her bath and Helena insisted she jump in with Caitlin. Caitlin wasn't too sure at first but then thought it was the funniest thing to watch how excited her little sister was in the bath with her.

I am blessed with 5 total loving little ones, who fill my days with hugs, kisses, cuddles and I love you moms. Even sometimes all at the same time which is a little overwhelming, but I am not complaining!!!

Singing sweet praises!!! Thank you Jesus for these precious children I get the honor and priveledge of spending my days with. My cup runs over!!!