cutie pies

Ramiah is growing so fast. She is now on the charts! She weighs almost 15lbs!!! Her head is in the 75th%! She is just so stinken cute.

We can't wait until Christmas!!!

In the Christmas mood!

Christmas Spirit

Ramiah is learning fast the spirit of Christmas.

Blood Draw....

Today I am recovering from a emotional drain of a day yesterday. Ramiah had to have A LOT of blood work done, and I have been dragging my feet ever since we have been home. The last time I went to the pediatrician's office the Doctor was insistent on getting the blood work done. So I finally did it. I brought her into the hospital for the blood work and the nurses didn't want to take that much from a baby so they sent us to the medical building attached that specializes in such things. So we went there and they to were hesitant to take that much blood. I guess they don't like to draw blood from babies unless it is through their heel, unless they really have to. The nurses kept saying there is no way we can get that much blood from her heel, so they tried finding a vein to work with. They poked her once in the arm and couldn't find the vein so they called a pediatric nurse from the neonatal floor to come down. She too was hesitant to take that much blood, but finally found a vein in her hand that worked. The needle was in for such a long time, at least it felt like a long time. I have never heard Ramiah scream like that before. I had to stay calm because Eli was already crying and the nurse only had me to help. I was the one that had to hold her down and make sure she didn't move to much or the the needle would go through her hand. I tell ya, emotional day! They ended up getting all that they needed, 3 tubes in all.
The blood work needed to be done to just check her out. She is doing fine, but since she was not born in the US they get all freeked out. Whatever.
Glad that is over.

First Rice Cereal....

READY!
EXCITED...
and just adorable!!
NOT thrilled.

Not haven it...

BUT what a cutie!

We will have to try again another day.

Girls Night!

Changes!

Ramiah is changing so much. She went to the Doctor today and weighs 13lbs already! I can no longer put my hard around her thigh.

She said DaDa, which Hannah was so excited I thought she was going to cry. She told her whole class about it at school too! Shannon was a proud Dad, even though Ramiah has no idea what she is saying. He knows it too. She woke up the other night saying Da Da Da Da and I said Shannon Ramiah is calling for you and he rolled over and admitted she had no idea what she was saying! HA.

Ramiah also rolled over Saturday night for the first time too!

What a joy she brings to our life.

Ramiah and her hair...

Before bath and after bath! I LOVE IT!!!

My first Halloween!

CANDY!!!!!
My Papa & Grandma at trunk or treat at church, oh and my brother!

BIG Brother!

Eli is still so much in love with his baby sister. He is so good with Ramiah. Whenever she is upset he asks, "What's wrong with him?" OR "What's wrong with Mia" He calls everyone by the male gender and can't pronounce the R in Ramiah. He is such a cutie with her. Lately he asks, "I hold Mia" When I sit him on the couch with her he tells me, "get the camera, take a picture." He is a proud brother!

BIG Sister!

Hannah loves spending time with Ramiah. She is so excited when she does something new. She is always reporting her every move to me! Hannah is also really into relaying what Ramiah is thinking. For example Hannah will say in a VERY high pitch voice, "She's like, 'I am going to like eating Mexican food when I get big.'" Or "She's like, 'My brother is SO crazy!'"

She is a great Big Sis!

FACT...

The fact is Ramiah gets more beautiful each and every day.
Many people have asked how she is doing and how we are attaching. Well I am hear to say she is doing wonderful. She is sleeping through the night, is on a great schedule, is laughing, cooing, gaining weight, eating more, getting stronger, and of course having fun with her siblings.

We have all attached and bonded as if I carried her in my womb for 9 months. Hannah and Eli think the world of her and love to make her smile. I think I can speak for both Shannon and myself and say we feel just as attached to Ramiah as we did the other two. After reading all of the attachment books and listening to others deal with attachment I know it is a difficult issue, and I am thankful and blessed to have had such a wonderful transition.

Happy!

Ramiah is doing so well.

She is officially sleeping through the night so we are VERY happy.

Mommy likes her sleep!

Our little Pumpkin!

BIG GIRL

I am getting big fast!

I weigh 11 lbs. already!!!

FIRST...

First Laugh! So CUTE! Shannon got her to finally laugh by playing her tummy like the bongo's!

CUTIE!

I could not have imagined Hannah and Eli loving Ramiah more. They are so good with her and love to be with her. Hannah and Eli have both been sick so I have tried to keep them from toughing Ramiah. Hannah asked me the other day if they could just touch feet, so here is a few pictures I took of them touching feet!

Long Night!

We rocked, bounced, swayed, stood up, sat down, laid down, drank, burped, pooped, spit up, went downstairs, upstairs, to the bouncy, to the swing, and back to the cradle. We cried and even had a few laughs. It was our longest night yet together, but who would not want to spend a sleepless night with her?

HOME & LOTS OF LOVE

Day 6&7 in Ethiopia

Thursday and Friday we spent just loving on Ramiah and getting to know her. Our agency offered a hair class and cooking class that we enjoyed on Friday.

Once again thanks to all who have helped financially and with prayers to get this sweet bundle home to us. As you look through the pictures please see what you have helped accomplish through our great God!

May He receive all the glory for our precious gift of Ramiah!

Plane ride HOME! Oh by the way never cryed once and slept for almost 16 out of the 17 hours!

Day 5 in Ethiopia

Wednesday was a life changing day in both of our lives. This day we had a going away ceremony at the care center for all of the adoptive families and their children.

We sat all in chairs looking over at the toddlers all trying their hardest to stay still while we waited for the children being adopted to come down the stairs to start the ceremony. I sat anxious waiting for Ramiah to come down and be forever in our care. While I sat I looked at all the toddlers wondering what they must be thinking. When would it be their turn, would they have parents coming soon for them? My heart ached for those little ones that were just spectators that evening.

When the ceremony started those toddlers started singing and clapping for those who would be adopted. It was a sweet moment.

The nannies gave out letters to the parents about the children they took care of. The letter made me fall apart as i understood just how much Ramiah had meant to the nannies that had been taking car of her for the past few months.

It was a touching ceremony and very memorable.

Here are a couple pictures from the ceremony...

Here is one of ramiah's nannies. On the back wall is handprints of all the children who have been adopted in 2007. Ramiah's in one of the little blobs behind me!

Days 3&4 in Ethiopia

Monday we went to the care center and saw Ramiah for a little while and got to hold her and stare at how beautiful she was once again. She seemed sweeter than the day before!

There were 10 other families from our agency with us while in Ethiopia. Our agency took us to the National Museum for the afternoon. We were able to learn more about the history of Ethiopia and its culture.

Tuesday was our big day out. We went to the care center and got to take Ramiah with us to our Embassy appointment. She was a sweetie and did very good with us for the first time. We all got through the embassy appointments with out any problems. After the embassy we had to go to the Hilton to confirm our flights home and Ramiah again did very well. Shannon spent his time trying to get online, but it was impossible. We were really frustrated with the lack of connection options.
That evening we dropped the kids off at the care center and our agency took us to the Crown Royal Hotel for dinner and traditional dancing. The dancing was fun to watch and hard to contain Shannon from jumping up and joining in.

Since we have been home he is still breaking out in traditional dance!