Baby Update :-)

Last Friday (Josiah's birthday) I went in for another OB appointment. David was able to go in with me while Grandma and Grandpa stayed with the kids. Yea!!! Everything seems good, and we were able to listen to Baby's heartbeat. The doctor said it was in the 160s, so if you follow the heart rate theory, that puts us firmly in the "girl range" ;-) But the sites I've seen say there is NO statistical basis to the theory. We'll have the next sonogram at my next visit in June. It is the one where they usually report gender. David is firm about not finding out. But part of me thinks we might need to. What if we buy a house with three bedrooms? Who would Baby need to share with? I don't want to move the kids in just to have them switch rooms again in a few months! (David rolled his eyes at this reasoning, but it's very logical to me. heehee) I'm thinking maybe we'll have the technician seal it in an envelope just in case we need it.

So I haven't shared any of the things the kids have been saying!

Elizabeth:
~While I'm lying on my side. "Don't roll on your stomach, you'll squish the baby!"

~Several random times, "Is the baby falling?

~I stole a strawberry from Elizabeth. She was acting highly indignant, so I told her she has to share with the baby. She found that explanation to be highly suspect, so I explained that the baby is connected inside and everything I eat the baby eats. Since then, she's turned it around on me several times. She'll try to give me food, and say, "The baby wants it! Right, Baby?" speaking to my stomach. She'll also ask if I should be eating things, like when I've had a few too many pieces of candy, "is that healthy for the baby?"

Josiah:
~We ask him, "Where's the baby?" He usually points to my belly, but he'll also point to his or other people's bellies.
~Last night I asked him where the baby is. He pointed at the t.v. Wouldn't you know, there was a baby on the commercial? Oh well.

Weekend

After Josiah's birthday fun Friday (see previous post!), we had a pretty relaxing day on Saturday. Elizabeth had some fun with Grandpa and a scary Hannah Montana wig, but we'll save the photos of Grandpa in the wig for another time ;-)We tried to decide what to do, but with some questionable weather, we just ended up walking around one of the shopping areas nearby. We had lunch at a Thai restaurant, found some REALLY yummy confections at the Lindt store, and enjoyed some interesting finds at a store for all things local. The kids were exhausted, and ended up taking some pretty long naps in the evening. Grandpa (my dad) was going to take the kids flying, but with the questionable weather and time, we put it off. My mom's cousin only lives about two miles from us, so she came over to chat and we ended up going out for a late very tasty pizza dinner.

Sunday was Mother's Day! We decided it would work out best to get the kids up early and send them flying first thing, as my mom and dad were going to fly home in the afternoon. Elizabeth was excited to give presents and cards to my mom and me as they were getting ready. (I think my new 12 inch memory foam mattress counts as my Mother's Day gift from David and the kids ;-)) After some cinnamon twists, my dad, David, and the kids headed out the door! It was nice to have the morning to get ready by myself! David took some great pictures of the kids. He said it was neat flying over the city, but not seeing much but trees!

After flying, we all headed off to church. I was disappointed that Josiah cried when we took him to the nursery. Last time we visited this church, he walked right in and was great the whole time. We left him, but David checked on him after about 10 minutes, and he was still not happy going into the room. This is a first! Even when he is upset at first, he usually settles in within five minutes! So, David brought him into the service, and within a short time, he was completely asleep. He slept through the sermon and service closing. Guess that's what happens when he goes to sleep late and is woken up early!

We came home to Crock-pot lasagna (http://www.pillsbury.com/Recipes/ShowRecipe.aspx?rid=19455) and cheesecake. Then Grandma and Grandpa had to start home. We watched them taxi and take off! We headed to the mall so I could buy a couple pairs of maternity shorts and the kids could play for a few minutes. We spent the rest of the evening with a movie and popcorn, homework for Daddy, and playing with new toys.

It was a fun weekend, and it was great to see my parents! Next weekend, we'll head up to enjoy time with friends and celebrate Josiah's birthday with the Baber side of the family!

Josiah's Birthday!

Josiah started out his birthday Friday morning with a big "Happy Birthday!" from Mommy and Elizabeth. We tried to convince him that he's three now instead of two. It's taking some time ;-)
We dressed, ate a quick breakfast, and headed out to meet Grandma and Grandpa at the airport! Grandpa rented a plane and flew in. We were a bit ahead of them, so we were able to watch them land and taxi into their parking spot. Both kids were ecstatic to see Grandma and Grandpa. We headed to Five Guys for burgers and hot dogs. Grandma and Elizabeth baked a great cake while Mommy went to the doctor. Then we had fun finding candies in the house to use as decorations for the cake.

Josiah had asked for Waffles for his birthday dinner. I'm not sure it's really his favorite food, but it's one of a few foods he often says when he wants to eat. So we had waffles, strawberries, bananas, and sparkling juice. Josiah loved it and ate tons!

Josiah opened presents! It took him some time to get into opening the presents, but by the end he was tearing the paper all up and ready for the next one! Some of his favorites were a car racing game from Miss Becky, a talking Elmo from Grandma and Grandpa, and Thomas the train set Elizabeth picked. He also received a classic tricycle with helmet and pads, Thomas games, Cars sleeping bag, a Little People airplane, and clothes.

After presents, we had cake and ice cream! Yummy! Josiah had asked for strawberry cake, and Grandma brought a fun car pan down with her. It was a bit of a silly cake, but it was fun, and Josiah loved it.

It was a long day, and big three year old actually fell asleep very quickly...after insisting he sleep in his new sleeping bag, of course!

Emotional Week

This is an emotional week. It is SO fun to see how excited Josiah is about his birthday coming at the end of the week! The most random things make him think of it. The phrase I hear the most from him lately is "Josiah's Birthday!" He has also been more emotional this week, getting very upset about what seems like nothing. I'm thinking it has to be related.

Coming this close to his birthday brings up a lot of other emotions, for me, too. I am so happy he is here and able to celebrate his Third birthday (his first in the U.S.) with us! Part of me is sad that he has missed out in previous years. But more of me is sad, thinking about what he is missing by being here instead of in Ethiopia. Yes, I absolutely believe he is supposed to be here. But I wish he didn't have to be here...if that makes sense.

Josiah's birthday marks 8 months home with us! The time has flown! He has grown so incredibly much! (But more on that in another post!)

His birthday also marks about a year since he was relinquished.

I think about his father and wonder if he is thinking of Josiah, his Abraham. I wonder if his grief over his wife has lessened any or has just been expanded by the loss of his son, as well. Does he still feel like it was the only choice he had?

I've been thinking a lot about the journey Josiah has taken in the last year. He left probably the only home and person/people he had known and was taken to a local orphanage for a couple days. He took a very long van ride with a nanny, pretty much a stranger, and was brought to the main orphanage in Addis. He was unfamiliar with all the people, the language, probably even the food and smells. He was there for just over three months, and was moved again to the transition house. Then we came in with different everything and take him on a plane to the other side of the world where nothing is familiar. And then, we even move to two different houses. All of this in a year! I can think through all the changes and ache in response to the pain he has experienced, but there is no way I can fully understand everything he has been through in this short time.

He has every right to be bitter and angry and difficult. Yet, he's not! I'm amazed by this kid! I'm even more amazed by our God because absolutely NONE of us would function without Him.

Masked Mommy

Maybe it's just because I'm more sensative to odors right now, but some of Josiah's diapers have just seemed rather strong lately. It makes it a bit hard for me to change him without gagging sometimes. (If he would learn to go on the potty all the time, it would make it so much easier!) The other day, I grabbed the first thing I could think of to block the smell...a dish towel. So, this is the view Josiah gets when I go into clean him up.


At least I'm still getting this beautiful smile afterwards, so he can't be too badly scarred, right? ;-)