Toukoul toddler reunion took place today. Say that three times fast.
We had another get together of our local children adopted from Toukoul orphanage in Ethiopia. A fun time was had by all. Really, even though 1/2 of the children are crying in the picture. It is so much fun to get together and see how the babies have grown and what they are doing now. The last get together was in October. What a great group of people we have been blessed with in our lives with our children. I am so grateful we have them in our lives and our children will know other children that have had a similar journey to their forever families.

 
 
 
 

My sister, Donna sent Haven and Alec raincoats for Valentine Day. Haven wore hers around the house for two days, because Portland was having sunny weather in Feburary.
Haven discovered a new way to wear her shirt. I was laughing so hard. I always say she thinks she is older than what we were told, but didn't expect her to be flaunting her sexiness at two.
I told you Alec was starting to play with some of Haven's dolls aka action figures. The other night he put her purse on and was pretending to go bye bye. I was laughing because Naing was calling this his man bag:)
Never a dull moment now in our house.
I can't believe how fast they are growing. Alec outgrew the new shoes I bought a month ago and his 12 month tops and pants are getting too small. So we took a trip to Target for him. Everyone knows Haven LOVES shoes. She decided she wanted Alec's new shoes. While I was looking at clothes for Alec she took her shoes off and threw them on the floor of the store while I was pushing the stroller. She was putting on his shoes when I discovered her lack of shoes. I had to go through the store, isle by isle to find the shoes. But I found them:)

Alec's words

Alec is now saying thank you, doggie, kitty, bath, airplane, eye, nose, car and wee wee (as is this little piggy). He is so busy. Gone is the snuggling time unless it is in the middle of the night or he is sleepy. He started to play with Haven's dolls this week. Naing refers to them as action figures:). He looks so sweet carrying around the doll. He is a total boy though playing with his cars and push toys. He makes engine sounds as her races down the hallway. He tackles Haven and pushes her when he wants something. She runs away from him now saying gentle! He is throwing tantrums already. Learned the art of tantrums from his sister. The other day when he threw himself on the floor screaming because he didn't get his way, I stepped over him and walked away. Haven went running to him saying Alec,Alec, ok baby. She came over to me and pointed to him to show me his was crying. She does love her brother in her own way.
Alec loves to swing, is trying to run, but doesn't have enough balance yet to get up speed. He is climbing everything....busy, busy boy.

The little things that make me happy

Alec ate some banana- Finally!!!! This boy is not adventurist when it comes to food. He won't eat baby food any longer, but eats very little table food. He will eat pancakes, waffles, apple sauce, chicken nuggets, peas, yams, mango and that is it until this week. He ate a few bites of ham, some pieces of an orange, spaghetti and then today a few slices of banana. Yeah. Every day I put something new on his tray and almost every day he would knock it off his tray. He has been a challenge. Haven eats almost everything she is given and he is the polar opposite. I hope he continues to try new things. The other night we went to a friends party and he ate a home made spring roll. He looked so funny sitting in this big chair holding a whole spring roll.

Haven's hair

I have been looking at hair product and videos on hairstyles for black hair before we even had our referral. Haven's hair is growing fast and I can't wait to braid it. I even have the beads and beader:). I got told about this great website,www.happygirlhair.com and went reading the other night. I got adventurous and did the front half of Haven's hair on Friday. She wouldn't sit still for the back half to be done. She was so proud of her new hairdo. It was fun to do as well. When you have time to spend on the site, check it out. The owner of this blog has how to videos you can download. Here is my cuties first twist hairdo.

The adoption blog world is small.

Last weekend Naing, Haven, Alec and I were at dinner with a friend at an Ethiopian resturant in NE Portland. We were talking, eating and having fun, when a women came up to me and introduced herself. She knew me from our blog. She is Steph from the coast and they are adopting a daughter through Dove as well. Small world....and to make it even smaller she told me she was in town for a girls night out with Jill. Just then our friend Jill comes walking in the resturant. Haven was so excited to see Jill. It always amazes me the wonderful people we have met whose lives have been touched by adoption

and more...

 
 
 

more just pictures

 
 
 
 

just pictures

 
Daddy and his little girl.