The number one question I get asked since getting home with the twins: Are you surviving? The answer: Yes. It truly amazes me how different my little family is now compared to two weeks ago... or even compared to last week. Each day Sammy and Sadie open up and share with us their true selves more and more. And each day we all become more comfortable with each other as we settle into a routine. It is so fun to be in this part of our adoption journey. I never want to forget these special moments. I don't ever want to wish these days away. There is no doubt about the fact that this is also the hardest part of the adoption journey as well. The babies are learning new boundaries and rules (which they've likely never had before), they are learning to have a big brother and sister, and they are learning what it means to have a Mom and Dad and be in a forever family. In the midst of all this newness I have to remember where they came from too. How scared they most be at times, how frustrated when we don't understand, how hungry when they refuse all of our food. By the Grace of God we are not only surviving... we are thriving as the Hawks Family Six.
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| Our first family photo. Makes me laugh. |
Little Secrets about my Sammy Steven:
-- He loves oatmeal and animal crackers. These are his preferred foods at every meal.
-- He loves pretend play, peek-a-boo, singing (especially The Lord's Army and Twinkle, twinkle), and tickling Sadie
-- He likes to look at books, but doesn't want them read to him
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| Sammy is his little book nook |
-- Samuel loves to play with Michael. They have an absolute blast together!
-- He likes to be chased, tickled, and thrown in the air. He also likes going for piggy-back and horsey rides
-- He's a dream to put to sleep, but he wakes up several times every night for a little drink and a cuddle from Mommy
-- He has the cutest little voice you've ever heard and loves to talk
-- He has been imitating lots of words lately: no, all done, more, Mommy, Daddy, Sammy (he says Mammy), and lots of different sounds
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| Big brother and little brother building a tower together. |
-- He has stolen Mommy's heart. I can't get enough of this sweet boy's smiles, cuddles, and giggles.
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| Nothing makes me happier than seeing this boy smile -- especially since he rarely smiled when we first picked him up in Ethiopia. He is obviously feeling safe, happy, and loved in his new family. |
Little Secrets about my Sadie Rose:
-- She loves to give kisses
-- She loves to take baths and eat the bubbles. :)
-- She wakes up happy and stays that way most of the day
-- She loves to take a bottle to bed (don't worry, we're breaking her of that habit)
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| Giving kissies in the bath. |
-- Sadie loves to talk and does so all day long. Her little voice and cute baby language make everyone smile
-- She is super sassy and has lots of attitude
-- She is still learning to love her big sister... there is nothing funnier than watching Sadie chase Liliana down... baring her teeth, ready to chomp whatever she can get a hold of.
-- She loves pretend play, throwing toys (ugh!), talking on the phone, and taking care of her baby dolls
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| All smiles from morning to night :) |
-- She will try almost any food once... and will usually eat it if we cheer for her after she takes a bite
-- She says: all done, more, please, Mama, Daddy, and ca-ca (poop in Amharic) ;)
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| One of many matching outfits for the girls. So fun! |
Liliana loves her twin brother and sister, but she is jealous of the attention she is missing out on. She is constantly asking why she can't do certain things that the babies get to do. Over the past two weeks she has gone from smothering the babies to learning to play nicely and share with them. It's fun to watch her figure out how to interact with Sammy and Sadie.
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| Waiting for Daddy to come home |
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