I've Been Tagged!

Okay, I've been tagged! This in blogger world means that another fellow blogger (thanks Mala!) has identified you as the next one to share all your secrets! I have to list 8 things about myself that most people don't know about me and then tag another fellow blogger to do the same... I think...

So, here goes:

1. I'm a breast cancer survivor!

2. I love artichokes.

3. We are die hard college football fans, specifically Pac 10 football, specifically Washington State Cougar fans (where my husband played linebacker '81-'83).

4. Spanish is my second language.

5. Sugar or salt? Both, together even better!

6. I was 1996 Teacher of the Year of my school district.

7. I can tie shoelaces with my toes.

8. My goal in 2008 is to SIMPLIFY!

Okay, now I tag Ivy!

Merry Christmas!

What a sweet Christmas this was! It's so fun to have a girl! She got dollies, dollies and more dollies. Dollies in her stocking from her auntie Robin, dollies in her stocking from Santa, dollies from aunties Sally and Leslie and dollies...you guessed it...from me!

Her favorite part of Christmas was the wrapping paper and the boxes! Her least favorite part was Santa.

The boys got a trampoline (with a net!) so everybody was very happy. Most importantly Bob and I just felt so thankful, remembering many lonely childless Christmases. Now we are blessed beyond what we could imagine. If I had only known back then what was to come!

Got Milk?

I had to post this picture! Hannah exudes health here!

I recently received an email from an American gal that we met at the orphanage that volunteered her time to love on the babies at the Baby House. She is our angel! When we left after our first trip she agreed to watch out for Hannah for us.

Anyway, we have been in touch and she requested some pictures of Hannah to take to the orphanage to show the workers who had been asking about her. They could not believe the transformation! She said they all wanted the pictures to take home with them! Oh that blessed me so much to know that they still think of her and loved her so much!

Family Memories

Where has the time gone? Hannah has been home with us for four months now and look at the transformation! We are in awe every day at the amazing progress she is making and we love seeing her sweet little charming personality unfold.

With Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas we are enjoying making family memories with our sweet baby girl to enjoy them with along with the boys. I asked Daniel the other day if he could imagine life without Hannah. We both agreed that it would feel so strange and so empty not to have her here with us.

Life is good and we are so thankful!

Hannah said her first word this week! Her favorite sound is "aaaaa" so the word "apple" was a natural word to come off her lips! Today she said "Mama" when she wanted me to pick her up! I was thrilled! I had thought she had said "Mama" before but it just turned out to be a long string of "mamamamama".

Now that we are finally over the hump of school starting and soccer and Fall baseball getting going we are feeling like we are finally settling into life with three kids. The boys continue to adore their baby sister and she loves them as well.

Our Happy Girl

We have been so struck by how much Hannah has grown and flourished since we brought her home 7 weeks ago. She has gained 2 pounds and grown an inch and is really beginning to fill out and get some color in her cheeks.

She keeps amazing us with how she learns so quickly. She waves bye-bye, blows kisses, makes signs for "more", "all done" and "water" and just charms us all so much. She is a great little eater and will try new foods every day.

Every day we feel like we are unwrapping the most amazing gift. She is truly our little miracle and we are so thankful for her sweet little spirit in our home.

Hannah's Previous Life

How can such a big miracle come from such a small baby girl?

There have been moments these last few weeks where we are just doing life with Hannah...giving her a bottle, strapping her into her carseat, shopping at Target, etc. but then it hits us. Wow, this cutie has come a long way.

She came to the orphanage about one month old in May of 2006. She was found on the doorsteps of the hospital "in baby's loose jacket, warm swaddling clothes, cap and towel. There was a note with the child" according to the report we received with the very scattered medical information on her.

The moment we saw her we knew she was ours. God had hidden her for us. He had kept her in the secret place covered under the shadow of His wing.

The orphanage was surprisingly clean and cheery. There were eleven babies in her section being cared for by 2 workers during the day and 1 worker at night. We had the privelege of spending two days at the orphanage on our first trip and watched how they got the babies up, fed them rapidly, strapped them on a potty (this is common in Eastern European orpanages to potty train at one year), and placed them to lie by themselves in a large playpen. Unfortunately the babies receive very little stimulation and personal attention. I do have to say though, you could tell the ladies really cared about the babies. She was loved and it was a tearful goodbye when we took her away.

Adoption is such a miracle. What an amazing privelege and honor to be called to such a blessing.