Thanksgiving Thoughts

Happy Thanksgiving! I cannot believe that this holiday is already here....somehow this year has flown by! We are up, showered, breakfast eaten, parade being watched and so on before we are off to my dad's house to celebrate round 1 of 3 of Thanksgiving meals with family. But, before we go, I just wanted to post a little something on the thoughts/things rambling in my head and home today:

Garrett made this "Thankful Tree" over the past week or so. It started out with a brown tree base/branches and the leaves (hand prints) on top but as the week progressed he saw it fit that the leaves should fall down the tree just like they do in real life. Humph. Always wanting things just right. No idea where he gets that from. I digress. Some of the things Garrett has been most thankful for are (all in his words):

carrots
new pictures of Ellie
that God loves me
vitamins
chairs to sit on and eat our food
swings in our garage
that we have a trash can to put our trash in
that we have food to eat
a refrigerator to keep things cold

I have my own list of things I am especially grateful for this year and will list those in this book instead of blogging about them. At the top of my list, though, is my husband, son and future daughter. I am blessed beyond measure by the three of them even though not all of them are here today.

And speaking of the little cutie that's not here today but rather in Africa, I am hoping that she is feeling full of love, food and all things she needs! And, to help my heart feel a little bit closer to her on this day, we sent over a Thanksgiving care package (great idea from some friends) with some turkey pajamas, a small toy and a little fall sweater dress....take a look:

I am looking forward to celebrating today (and the next three days) with those I love and hope you are, too! Happy Thanksgiving!

Another Ellie Update

Hmm, seems I haven't been in the blogging mood lately (although I've been keeping up with reading others). But, as it has been more than two weeks since I last posted, let me see what I can come up with....oh, yes, we saw NEW pictures of our beautiful Ellie yesterday!

Our friends, David and Amy and Ella (how fun is that to say now!!) just got home from Africa and took over care packages for us to our little girl. Yesterday, David e-mailed us a handful of pictures of our daughter laying on the blanket we sent monogrammed with her African name, in one of the outfits/romper/pj-thingy's we had sent, and playing with one of the toys. It was a little hand-held toy....a cloth palm tree/rattle with a place on the leaves to insert pictures. I cannot even begin to describe the weird yet comforting feeling of seeing your soon-to-be-child touching something that you have touched.

Ellie looked happy, healthy - looks like she's gaining weight and turning into a chunky-monkey....yay - and as if her needs being met. What more could a mother (and father) ask for? Oh, maybe that her nails are trimmed neatly? Seriously! In one of the pictures of her chubby little hand up close, I could see that her nails were trimmed perfectly. I was so excited about that! Strange, I know. But in my mind, it means that not only are her basic needs being taken are of - so many more are too!

I think that's all for now...until I can get inspired again (or organize all the pictures from the past two weeks to post of our family fun)! Oh, wait....NO, we still have not been assigned a court date. Praying for one soon!

Update from Africa

I've stated before that our friends are currently in Africa picking up their daughter and having the most amazing time - seriously, check out their blog! David is updating almost daily with the most amazing, heartfelt stories!

Well, today I got a message via Facebook (it was sent to multiple families adopting from the same agency) updating us on our sweet Ellie! Here is what it said:

Ellie is even prettier in real life. We held her and told her what an amazing family she has and how excited they are for her. Happy is definitely the word for her! She loves to lay on her back and flex those legs. She can roll over to her stomach, too. Her skin is darker than I imagined it to be...a bit darker than the photos. Her sweet little lips...wow! We have both hugged on her and will again!

Today marks Ellie's nine month birthday....nine months. I want time to stand still until we can get to her. I want time to fly by until we get to her. I just want to be with her.