Doorbells....

Theo's Grandparents are amazing.....

They have this silly doorbell that T adores....

My father informed my last week, that since Theo loves it so much, 

he would be happy to replace my doorbell with a similar model.

I passed.  

Why We LOVE Baltimore.

Graul's Cake

Talbot

Chips

Charlotte

Sweet Rides

The Ravens

Inflatable Fun

 Riley

The Farm

Colin

Corn Mazes

The hardest day....

walking the kids to the bus stop

it was so much more fun to have them at home!

The Knotts are beyond amazing

and our trips are always so fun.... 

Thanks to the Knott kids for such a fun weekend!

Celebrating a year!

I'll love you forever

I'll like you for always,

as long as I'm living my baby you'll be.

Shel Silverstein

What a year it has been....

Time flies, and no matter what I do, Theo continues to grow.

He is funny, cute, smart and busy, busy, busy!

I am one blessed momma.

We celebrated Family Day on Monday.

September 24, 2010....
I officially changed my adoption path to Ethiopia

September 24, 2011....
Theo and I arrived in Cincinnati as began our life as a family.

It is beyond bizarre that the process took exactly one year.

and unfair to make the claim since I actually began the adoption process

in September 2009... everything works out the way it is meant to be.

We spent Family Day in Baltimore visiting friends.

It was a fabulous weekend, filled with birthday 

celebrations and lots and lots of cake.

to say Theo enjoys our trips to Baltimore is an understatement,

but more on that in my next post.

We flew home to Cincinnati on Monday.

We spent the day the same way we did last year...in the airport.

Things have changed in a year.

Last year we spent 22+ hours flying and 

not once did I have a moment to take pictures, and I always take pictures.

This year the flight was much shorter.

No kidding, he sat and watched an episode of 

Yo Gabba Gabba start to finish, wearing the ear buds.

He was stone still and everyone near us was impressed.

I will quickly mention that the last 20 minutes of the flight

is time I can never get back and if I never relive the experience,

that would be a gift.

In the BWI airport, Theo spent time running thru the concourse

it was a late flight (major delays) and the airport was deserted.

A airport employee was taking a break, and on Theo's 3rd pass he

asked if he was Ethiopian.  I answered, yes, and he said, I knew it, so

am I and we can always tell the Ethiopians.  He proceeded to talk to T for 

several minutes in Amharic, he asked me all about him and then 

introduced T to his friend also an airport employee and native Ethiopian.

I found it quite fitting that we revisited Ethiopia on Family Day.

It was a reminder of the beauty and kindness of Ethiopia.

“Until I met you," she said, "I never realized how precious each day could be.

When I was working, each day was over before I knew it,

and then a week just flew by, and then a whole year...

What have I been doing all this time? Why didn't I meet you before?

If I had to choose a whole year in the past, or a day with you-

I'd choose a day with you...”
― Shūichi Yoshida, Villain

Gotcha Day

We will forever celebrate September 24th as Family Day

but officially 1 year ago today I landed in Addis Ababa Ethiopia

at 8am and by lunchtime I had permanent custody.

It was by far one of the best days ever.

The Weekend

This weekend we had fun with the cousins....

First time to Skyline - a Cincy staple

Although chili and cheese are his cousins' favorite

T took a pass on the chili & settled for 2 bowls of shredded cheddar...

What a mess!

Playing with the neighbors is a constant source of entertainment

There are several games T plays exclusively with them

I am sure you are familiar with mailbox peek a boo, chase, rock hunt....

T is a big fan of ringing all the doorbells and if the door is unlocked

he might walks right through the front door.

This weekend Donna and T played in her car for about an hour

Because who doesn't enjoy buckles...

buckle, unbuckle, re buckle, repeat...

We truly have the best neighbors....

Happy New Year

Melkam Addis Amet

Happy New Year!!

Today is Ethiopian New Year

Ethiopia follows a 13 month calendar

therefore, are celebrating the the new year 2005.

Favorite Things

Just a few of Theo's favorite things....

New green chair

Hat

Snake

These days T has several items that are never

out of reach.  1st...his green chair, a recent gift,

is his favorite seat in the house... and when he

is not sitting in the chair he is using it as a jumping 

platform. 2nd....The boy loves his hats, especially the floppy

hats, he wears them all the time, often to bed.

3rd...Snakey....the snake

This one makes me nervous,

Theo thinks snakes are awesome.

Unfortunately, we have lots of snakes and lizards in the neighborhood....

Last week, my neighbors spied a 5 foot black snake in the driveway.

I despise snakes... and bugs and birds....

Will T's adoration for Snakey transfer to the real snakes  living in the yard?

Mad Skills

Theo's latest skills.....

1. Climbing in and out of the hi chair.......are you kidding me??!!

I can honestly say I have no idea when this happened but on Saturday morning I mentioned breakfast and T headed out of the kitchen.... When I went into the dining room he was sitting in his chair.... I was confused and it took 2 more climbs before I asked him to perform, the kid has mad skills.

2. Words....finally!

T is talking more and more everyday.... he is trying so hard to communicate and the 2 words I have pushed and pushed are getting more recognizable "thank you"

3. Sleep!! Theo not only sleeps through the night but he has embraced the nighttime routine.... Theo's sleep has been a gift to mom, it is amazing how much more effective I am when I sleep for 7 hours in a row.  When I put Theo in his crib awake, he lays down and falls asleep.  I will add that this was a hard won battle between the two of us.... it took 9 months but success is ours!

4. Daycare....Theo started a new daycare this school year.  I was so lucky that my family watched him last school year, but it was time to move on and Miss Nicki has been wonderful!  It doesn't hurt that she has stated "Theo is an angel"  The first day at drop off, she asked me if I was nervous- YES! sadly I knew Theo would be fine, I was worried about me.  I never really worried last year, I was not really sad about going back to work... it was not optional it had to happen & I like my job BUT leaving Theo at a stranger's house was harder.... day 1: minimal tears for both of us; day 2: Theo waves goodbye and at the end of the day he cried when I dragged him to the car....I guess it is going fairly well....

20 days to our 1 year anniversary....

Rainy Day Fun

When you have to clean the house AND entertain a toddler....

RAIN

Finally.....

We can break in the new rain coat.