Hello, Hello!!

First, my disclaimer- in no way is my sad number of posts on this site a reflection of the amount of love I have for all of you. I cherish you all. Even though, in so many ways we are all still strangers- we share an intimate bond with eachother that I can't express in words, a deep, enduring, profound bond- and I honor that and miss you all more than you might know!

I have been intending to post for months- I can't believe how time has flown! The kids are doing great! I can't believe how big Abu and Meaza have gotten, and that tehy are walking!! I love the chub on their cheeks- far to cute for me to handle!! Mitiku lost his first tooth, Degefa too, and Denbele is thriving!! I love all the pictures, oh the pictures, of your precious little ones who are growing and changing so much I hardly recognize them from last summer!!

Tirfe is still as amazing as ever. She is so happy, silly, and loving. She loves her brothers. She seems to feel more and more confident in her needs, her desires, and her ability to express them to us every day. She is a huge charmer with her gummy smile and wrinkled nose. She is just a sweetie, really- she is. And I can say that without feeling like I am (totally) tooting my own horn, because this is who she was when we met her in Ethiopia. Every day when I revel in the well of happiness and beauty that resides in her little soul, I think to myself- this is what Ethiopia gave her. This beauty, this amazing beauty, in Ethiopia's daughter is a reflection of the love and richness that Ethiopia exudes. She was and is loved in Ethiopia, she was and is loved here, and it shows. She is konjo (and gobez, of course!!)

The boys are doing well also. The love they have for Tirfe is spectacular to me. I was prepared for more strife, but they truly and deeply love her in the fierce manner expected by older brothers already. She is their queen, the one they hug and kiss with delight, the one they coax laughs out of with silly antics. Arlo especially, I think because he is a bit older than Aesa, has embraced his role as Tirfe's nurterer. He reads her books, holds her hand, tells her she's beautiful- he just cherishes her. Aesa is our family comedian, procucing fits of uncontrolable laughter from T every day. It's amazing, heartwarming, and such a priviledge to be mother to these three, somebody pinch me (but not when I'm zoning out during one of their tri-fecta tantrum fests- :) )

miss you all, love and hugs, Sara