Monday, November 30, 2009

Sienna,

Three years ago today your father and I were nervously waiting for our cab to arrive while trying to decide what we needed to pack in a diaper bag for you. The entire ride from Hanoi to Bac Giang I worried that I would not recognize you and that I would be a horrible mother for not knowing who my daughter was. As we waited for ceremonial tea with the orphanage director (whose wife was terminally ill and in her final days) I could not help but wonder how our first meeting would be.
As we walked into the orphanage and I saw your beautiful face I knew all of my fears about not recognizing you were baseless. You were (and are) the most beautiful little girl I have ever seen!! I was amazed that you didn't cry or make a fuss; you were just curious about these new people entering your life and giving you toys and kisses.
We spent so much time at the orphanage because of the director's wife that the police department was actually closed when we arrived for your Giving and Receiving Ceremony so we didn't have an actual ceremony. You stayed in the cab with the driver while we went in to their office, had tea, and signed all of the forms. It all happened so fast!
You were enthralled by the lights of the other cars and the houses that we passed on the way back to Hanoi and you just stared out the window the entire time. We fed you when we got to the hotel and we made a MESS! You were amazed by all of the new sights and sounds of our hotel room (especially the TV). As we settled in for our first night together you didn't want to give in and sleep. You were confused and you cried. You kept bouncing your little body (it took us several days to realize that is how you put yourself to sleep in the bouncers at the orphanage), but you finally fell asleep on daddy's chest and that is how you spent almost every night in Vietnam.
You are not my little baby any more, but a big girl able to do so much for yourself. The love you have for others surpasses all expectations and that helps you be the best big sister to your little bear. You amaze me every day and my love for you continues to grow! Happy Family Day!!!

Showing off her favorite book (her teacher read it to the class):





Our angel on her special day:

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Drool

Ahren is drooling horribly and the doctor mentioned his swollen gums (he is so cranky that they better pop through SOON)!!





Playing with his gym:







The big blue:



Mommy forever:



High Chair

Baby boy was enjoying his high chair the other day so we gave him a toy after he was done eating and he had a blast sitting up and really examining a toy he didn't also HAVE to hold:







He looks so old here:



Gotta love the drool:

Wednesday, November 04, 2009

Trick-or-treating at IC

Last Friday we went to IC to trick-or-treat at Grannie's office and at some of the dorms. At Grannie's office they had a hygenic bobbing for apples game (Sienna really didn't understand it) and we ended up taking home a TON of candy!!

Attempting to 'bob' for apples:





Getting a bottle:



Drool bug:

Sunday, November 01, 2009

Squash

I decided that I wanted to try to make my own baby food for Ahren. We bought a food steamer and a bunch of veggies (including a HUGE squash). I had my own little assembly line going today (well, more stations that I was tending to) with some squash in the steamer while I was cutting more up and them cycling it out and into the food processor. Needless to say I think I made enough baby food from that one squash to feed eight babies for two weeks straight!! Thank goodness Ahren seems to like it!

He was really into it...



Until his attention (and daddy's) was turned elsewhere...





To baseball:



He is daddy's boy!

gDiapers

I wanted to get gDiapers when Sienna was still in diapers, but they were new and a bit more expensive than they are now. I ordered Ahren a few pairs and a starter pack to see how I liked them and I happily say that I LOVE them!! He is too cute!!

New diapers:









Just posing:





Halloween

My little angels were perfect on Halloween and they both enjoyed themselves!!

Posing together at Grandma Ellen's:





Trick-or-treating:







He gets so sleepy:

Beauty

Sienna wanted to show off:

















She is my beautiful, loving girl!

Zoolie Ghoulie

We took the kids trick-or-treating at the zoo last weekend. They were adorable, but it started raining right after we got there and rained until right after we left so we didn't get many pictures.

My little flower:





My little leopard:



My little fuzzy head

I normally brush his hair down after his bath, but I couldn't help taking a few picture of it all fuzzy: