Yesterday marked 7 months since we first met our sons. Literally it has been life altering on so many levels. Yes, the transition was overwhelming beyond what you can imagine but it is so worth it. Here are two of the first pictures we ever saw of them. They were 3 years old and 10 months old.
Here is a shot from our first day together as a family. In this picture Yared had just turned 4 and Nati was 18 months old.
Here are two shots from this week. Nati is now 2 and Yared is 4 and 1/2.
The other day I woke up grumpy and the boys started fighting over some toy again. I scolded them and tried to side track them by looking at videos on our blog. I started going back in time and read through the first few months of time with the boys. It was actually painful to read. My love is so intense for these two boys now that I hurt for what they had to go through coming to live with us. When we were in the midst of it, my head felt sorry for them, but my heart was not moved like it is now. Now I know their personalities more and I know what they were trying to express to us.
Yared especially is my hero. I know he carried the brunt of the weight of this transition time. He was Nati's rock so Nati was happy as long as Yared was there. Yared was the one who had to learn a new language, a new culture, a new family, a new way of life. And he had to be responsible for his little brother's happiness. We didn't tell him he was responsible for this, but he felt it. He also hates to be out of control or to get in trouble. But because of the language barrier he was out of control, which would sometimes get him in trouble. He would cry so easily and throw fits. This is so polar opposite to his true personality. He LOVES to laugh. He has a great sense of humor. He cares deeply about others. He really only cries when he is tired or hurt and it is normal four year old tears that are wiped away. Those first few weeks he would be hysterical screaming tears. I can't imagine all that went through his mind. He is so verbal and loves to talk to anyone and everyone. Yet for almost two months he couldn't really communicate his thoughts and questions clearly. He has learned English at an astronomical pace. I know most kids are gifted in learning a second language but seriously he is brilliant. He has an ear for sounds and can mimic anyone's accent. What is Yared like now after being with us 7 months? He is happy. He exudes joy. He loves life to the full. He has a crazy imagination and loves to pretend. He laughs a lot and it is contagious. He likes TV too much but we limit him. He is a carnivore and literally does a happy dance when he knows he is getting lots of meat. He is very observant to everything around him. He is not so much a Daddy's man anymore. He knows to go to Daddy for crazy adventures and energetic fun. He knows to go to Mommy for hugs, kisses, books and playing pretend. He has an amazing ability to tell me how he is feeling. I think this is why he is so happy. He gets his fears and feelings out in the open and we talk them through. I know he feels safe to tell me all that he feels. He has bluntly told me he doesn't love me when he is mad at me. I tell him that is ok to feel like that. Of course he goes on to ask me to reassure him that I DO still love him even when I am mad. He truly is a bundle of joy and we are blessed to have him as our son.
Statistics on him. He has gained 7 pounds, grown about 3 1/2 inches and gone from a 2T to a 4T in clothes.
We can't forget Nati. I know that he too found coming to live with us challenging but not so much as Yared. First of all, now he got to see Yared all the time. He didn't have this at the orphanage. He is Yared's shadow. If Yared does it so will Nati. Also, Nati was craving attention. He was in a room swarming with cute toddlers fighting for attention of a few caregivers. All the sudden he had a mom and dad with him 24 hours a day and he thrived immediately. He knew right away that I was his and he was mine. He is a huge Momma's boy and I don't mind at ALL. Nati is changing daily right now. He runs, jumps, plays and acts like a real toddler now and doesn't have the baby look much at all. He is trying so hard with words, but it is proving to be challenging for him. He gets his point across with signs, grunts and pantomimes. He is so determined I don't worry about him not speaking. It will happen. He just has some problems making the sounds, but it will come. He is more interested in toys than Yared. He loves trains, cars and lego. He is a CLOWN. He tends to only perform for the family but he loves to get a laugh. He often has us laughing hysterically at the table. The best part is that Nati makes Yared laugh and Yared makes Nati laugh. They don't mind sharing the spot light there.
Nati stats. He went from a size 9-12 month to size 18-24month. He gained 8 pounds and grew almost four inches.
I want to be honest on this blog so I will tell you that when I look back over the first few months I realize that I was probably depressed at the beginning. It was just so much, so fast. I am not sure if the surgery played into this at all but I felt like I had no energy for the first five months. Then one day I woke up and felt like me. But I was me with two adorable sons. It was so great to feel back to my old self. It was so wonderful to feel like I could be the mom I wanted to be. I can now say that I do have the best job on earth. There are still days that are crazy but most of the time it is a blast. So much so that if God chose to give us more kids, I would be fine with that. The boys love babies so I think we would all be happy about it. We aren't going to pursue adoption or fertility stuff, but if something happened? Well... lets just say we would do another happy dance for you all.
Notice VERY cute hat that my friend Carine made me. The boys have similar ones and we look quite adorable (but maybe slightly nerdy that we all match) walking around in them together:). 
Nati's way of seeing the world.
HALLOWEEN Shots - see I told you I was behind. 
Yared was deliriously happy that people were going to give him candy.
Before haircuts we fro the boys' hair. I had to get a shot of it. Don't ask me why they look like we gave them drugs first.
The boys and I go to story time once a week. This week they brought in Clifford. Yared just about died of excitement (he had no idea who Clifford was but a giant red dog is always exciting.) Nati nearly wet himself in fear.
Our friend took us to an aquarium and we met sea lions. Notice cute hats that match mine:).
Trying to make one of our MANY trips to Lowes exciting. We are so glad to be done with this addition.
Playing at the local Botanical Gardens.
Meeting Ronald. Yared loved this, Nati was terrified. (Do you sense a theme?)
Okay I know this is gross. But I had to laugh when I checked Nati's potty and found a tire in there. He hadn't eaten it, but rather shoved it in the potty. It looked so funny and sounded even funnier when I told Ben "Nati pooped a tire." 
Story time again on Halloween week. The story teller got hot wearing her wig and Yared begged her for it.
Riding the toys at the mall. We don't put money in but just sitting on them can make half an hour of joy for the boys.
