Wow! Time flies when you have two babies! It seems like just yesterday that Andy was born and he’s already 5 months. He is more fun every day. He loves it when Ben blows in his face (we’re concerned about Andy’s sense of smell…) and bouncing on our knees. He likes playing peek-a-boo and watching the ceiling fans. He still hasn’t rolled all the way over, but he can sit up!! He does pretty well but after about a minute or so starts to slump forward until he’s kissing his feet.

Speaking of which, Andy has found his feet! He loves holding them while he lays in his crib and has sucked on his toes a couple of times. We’re surprised that he can get his toes in his mouth around that big belly! Andy is doing much better with his cereal which he eats each night during dinner. We put him on the scale at home with Ben and estimate that Andy now weighs between 18-19 lbs.

Eden turned 19 months old this weekend. She is becoming such a little grown up. Our most recent accomplishment is potty training! She is very good at going potty all by herself when she is at the house. She just runs around naked and when she needs to go she runs to her potty and goes. She’s not as successful when we are out of the house or when she is clothed, but it’s a work in progress. 🙂

Eden is also getting much better at playing with others. She has been playing with her friend Clara and also Emery and Colton and loves being with other kids! She loves the water and has no fear of it. She will jump in, put her face under water and blows bubbles. She even went off the diving board at the Cook’s house.

To see how Eden is growing and changing, check out the videos! We hope you enjoy them!

Andy turned 4 months old on Sunday! Its crazy to think its been that long since he was born! He is 17 lbs 8 oz and 26 1/4 inches long so still up over 95th percentile in both! Last month he was off the charts in height, so we were thinking he was going to be a basketball player. Now it seems we’re going to have to settle on him being a professional football player instead. He’s been eating so much we started him on cereal to supplement his meals. So far I think only 5% of it is staying in his mouth, so its looking like its a long-term project for him.

Andy seems to be picking and choosing which milestones he hits. He’s completely surpassed rolling over and is almost sitting up by himself. He’s only thinking about reaching for things that are in front of him, but he’s been happily sleeping through the night for almost 2 months! He isn’t saying much apart from squeaking and squealing, but I think thats because his sister won’t let him!

Wow! Where has the time gone. Obviously I am late writing this, but better late than never. Ben and I were talking the other day and realized that now Eden has spent half of her life with us! HOORAY!!

It is unbelievable how much she is changing. Though she hasn’t changed much in size (she is an inch taller and one pound heavier than she was 3 months ago!) she is getting so much more independent, verbal and expressive. She still loves to dance and has recently started singing. She gets the tune and sings a mixture of jibber-jabber and words. Her favorite is “asjah, asjah, ugha du DOWN!” (ashes, ashes, we all fall down!) She even started singing in Swahili. They sang a very simple song at the Sally Test Center that goes, “Lala, toto, lala” which means “sleep, baby, sleep”. She now sings along with me when I sing it to Andy in the car.

In addition to singing, she is also stringing words together. We turned Eden’s car seat around before the DC trip and she can see everything much better now, especially Andy. We often hear her yelling from the back, “Oh no! Baby, paci!” which means that Andy’s pacifier has fallen out.

Another new thing, which is not as pleasant as the others, is that Eden is now very afraid of thunder. The recent storms have put her on edge and she flies into my lap practically shaking every time she hears a loud noise. We hope that the summer is going well for you and that the recent storms have been less traumatic at your home than at ours. 🙂

It has been just over a year since Ben and I found out that I was pregnant and recently I have spent a lot of time thinking back on the changes in our family. When we first started discussing an adoption I began writing a journal about what we were doing and my thoughts and feelings about everything. I hadn’t looked at it since I last wrote which was in May 2009. I thought that since it was on my mind I would look back and see how far we have come. I cried when I read my first entry. A portion of what I wrote is below:

1/31/09
The truth is, you may not have even been born yet. But I can already see your baby fingers and toes and beautiful, curly hair. My arms ache to hold you and I can’t help but cry when I start to think about you being in Kenya without us. I’m worried that you won’t get enough to eat and that you won’t be held enough. Who will love you and sing to you and rub your back until we get there? I can’t wait to come and get you and if I knew where you were, I would leave tonight.

My last entry read:

5/21/09
…We have to get a move on it so that we can come get you in September. I can’t wait! After our meeting with Alice I was jumping up and down with excitement because we are now one step closer to coming for you. September will be here before we know it and then you will be ours!

I am blown away by how God worked through all of this. Even when our plans were changing and we thought we would adopt from Lesotho and when our travel plans were in flux and when I got pregnant, God still knew where Eden was and was preparing her (and us) for our future together. And how perfect that Eden was at the Sally Test Center waiting for me when I went for the very first time on September 21, 2009.

It’s so different being able to experience the beginning with Andy. It’s amazing to watch him learn and grow. And it is SO fun to know that he recognizes us. When I go get him out of bed in the morning he always has a big smile for me and now when we put him in bed at night he cries when we walk away from his crib.

Tonight I have a very happy and thankful heart because of my wonderful God and the beautiful family he has given me.