A few things we've learned about Sunflower in this first month of our acquaintance:

She's very girlie.  I didn't think babies had gender specific cries, but she cries like a girl!  She has the pain tolerance of a girl, is full of drama, bats her eyes and gestures like a girl!  Amazing how God makes us women and men, and those precious distinctions are clear even at birth.
Sometimes, she still looks scared, and a little apprehensive.  She cries if she can't see me.  Five different care takers in 6 months of life would make anyone a little apprehensive, I'm sure.
She laughs when you tickle her tummy and loves cereal and baby food.  Even peas.  She came home a little hungry after all!
She smiles spontaneously and crinkles her nose in a real hammy sort of way.
She's broken in one tooth since she's been home and is working hard on some others.
She loves books and her big brother J.  She still gives C. questionable looks, but he'll win her over.  He wins everyone over! :)
She melts Daddy with the slightest grin or whimper!  And I think she's pretty awesome too!   If you scroll down to pics of her in Africa a month ago and then look at these pictures, well... isn't she amazing?!  Girlie or not, I love a strong girl with a determination to live abundantly!

Grandparents note: These pics were posted in their original loading order, so they should enlarge if you click on them.

Happy Birthday, C!

This video was taken about a week after Sunflower came home.  C. was wearing one of J.'s Philippines tee-shirts.  It says, "Mabuhay" on the front, which means, "Hello" in Tagalog. Instinctively, C. went into Sunflower's room, got her Ethiopian drum, and began to sing and dance his "Mabuhay!" song to her!  He was really jamming before I got the video camera, but you get the idea.  C. is our exuberant one who always wants everyone to feel welcome and at home!

Furthermore on C., I knew there would come a time, maybe when he turned twelve, when C.'s clothes would fit me.  However, I was not prepared for Tim to fold the laundry just before C.'s THIRD birthday and ask, "Is this yours or C.'s?"  Granted, I'm a bit small, and these sweats hit me at the shin, but really...THREE?!?!  (By the way, mine are black.)

And finally, C.'s funny lines of the week:

C.: Mom!  I wan' go Donalds!

Me: We don't have money for McDonalds tonight, C.

C.: I have money.

Me: You have money?  Where?

C.: Uhm...in Dad's pocket!

That's where I keep my money too! ;)

C.: Mom!  I want chicken nuggets. 

Me: You already ate, C.

C.: I know, but I want cookies.

Me: Cookies?!  I'm glad you're honest, C.  I love you.

C.: So then... can I have cookies?

(OK-I gave the kid a cookie; it's his birthday!)  Happy Birthday, C.  We love you!

First of all...

We LOVE this baby girl!!!
AND this little man who is proudly representing our middle-class-on-a-budget hot tub.

And of course this miracle who the most nurturing and kind big brother a family could dream of.  We're SO proud of you, Kuya!

Now you're probably thinking, "What great pictures!"  But watch what happens when we try to capture the same photogenic magic with all five of us together for the first time:

1. Good try, C.! 

2. Could at least 3/5 of us be looking in the general direction of the camera?  A lot to ask, I know...

3. "If someone would take this hat off my face....MOM... this almost could have been a keeper!"  Sorry, Sunflower...

4. "Yes, Dear.  I WILL open my eyes into the sun for this family picture!  I WILL open my eyes; I WILL open my eyes..."

5. Don't forget-when we're divided into groups of two or less, we take great pictures!

6. Seriously, we don't even like each other any more.  

7. But lest I speak too soon, we capture a more or less happy moment, and we really do love each other very much!

We're coming up on our holiday time of year with the boys' birthdays, Tim and I's 10 year anniversary and his birthday within 2 weeks of each other.  We hope your Labor Day season is just as joyous!

Is this the same baby??? She couldn't do ANY of this 2 weeks ago!

I've been home less than TWO WEEKS, and already I can jump like a kangaroo in my jumperoo!  In fact, I try to jump ALL THE TIME now, but Mommy and Daddy don't make elephant sounds and light up when I jump in their arms.  You'd think they could humor me at least occasionally...

Look, Aunti Robyn!  No more turtle neck!  "Franklin" is soooo last week's nickname! :)  I've gained TWO POUNDS since I met Mommy two weeks ago!

I'm strong enough to push up with my arms now too.

I can sit in Daddy's lap and hold my head steady and not fall forward.

My legs don't collapse from underneath me anymore when I put pressure on them.  I'll even stand when people hold me for a second or two!

And the doctor says that I don't need surgery!  So far, the tests show that soy formula, a little medicine, getting upright and mobil, and a lot of one-on-one love and attention will fix my tummy, get me baby chubby, and caught up developmentally.  Unless this week's tests show otherwise, give me another month and I'll look and act like any other baby my age!

I'm not too sure about these two yet.  But Daddy finished their swing set this week (They say, "Thank you, Lola!!!"), so they can be loud and crazy OUTSIDE while I adjust to this new life, new air, new food, new sounds, new textures, new heartbeats, new voices and language, new smells, new tastes and new love INSIDE without getting over stimulated.  They give me a lot of kisses though!  By the way, Mommy wanted me say that J. and C. picked out their own outfits this day; she didn't do that. ;)

First Pictures!!!

Oh, you want pictures of Sunflower, not me WALKING WITH ZEBRAS in Africa?!?!  AMAZING!!!

Oh, you want pictures of the BABY Sunflower?  Not African sunflowers as BIG AS YOUR HEAD!!!  Gorgeous!

HERE SHE IS:

A giggly baby on our way to the US Embassy in Addis Ababa to get her paper ready to come home.

Complete with her Ethiopia baby hat, mutual love at first site at the airport in the US.  She slept on his chest all night!
C.'s up to at least 100 in his "kiss my baby" account.   Isn't she stunning?!
J., as expected, is a super big brother and makes sure she has everything she needs!
Africa was a life changing experience, and I'll post more later once we all adjust at home.  For now, please pray for her.  She is smiley and happy, but very sick, as we knew she was at referral.  We have the first appointment at the doctor Monday morning to begin her medical care.  Please pray that the digestive/nutritional absorption problem she has can be easily identified and quickly corrected.   She is 6 months old tomorrow and though age appropriate in length, she is wearing newborn/size 1 diapers, has little strength and head control, and has yet to keep a bottle of formula in her stomach.  But by His grace, she has made it this far!  I am confident that through all of our prayers, God will heal her and by Christmas she'll be a very healthy thriving baby girl!  Blessings,