A girl and her shoes...

You may recall me telling you about an awesome pair of shoes A got for her birthday...They are called Mooshu Trainers. She LOVES them! Don't let the picture fool you, they have a surprise about them...

This video is for Jess!

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Cheer season is back...

Well, it's that time of year again...Cheer seaon is upon us. Savannah is in competitive cheer year round but she is also in School cheer during football season. We went to the opening game to see her get her cheer on. She is really talented at cheer and she loves it! Ayana loved cheering her sissy on and she couldn't get enough of Marty Mustang, the Mascot. She was obsessed with it. It's always great when we can be together doing stuff as a family and supporting each other in our interests. One game down...

Dancing Queen...

A loves music and she loves to dance. It cracks me up daily to see her moves!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Before and After...

In just a few days on the 19th of this month, we will have had Ayana for 7 months! It seems like we have had her forever and then again it seems like we just got her and the time is flying. It's hard to describe.

She was so little and fragile when we first picked her up. She is so different now. It is amazing what how much she has changed physically, mentally and emotionally.

I thought I would compare pictures of when we first got Ayana and now...

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Ayana had a check up last week and she has grown an INCREDIBLE amount, 4 inches! She is 31 inches and 25 pounds. She is in the 75 percentile in height and weight. WOW!

I will write more later if I can about some major changes that have taken place in the last few months with her. God is Good!

So funny....

So Ayana has started to copy her momma and she is carrying her toy pail around like I carry my purse. It is hilarious! We always say to her, Where is your purse, Ayana? and she goes looking for her pail. Look for yourself....

Today...

Today, I bring attention to:

9-11-It is still fresh in my head....I like this quote,

“Time is passing. Yet, for the United States of America, there will be no forgetting September the 11th. We will remember every rescuer who died in honor. We will remember every family that lives in grief. We will remember the fire and ash, the last phone calls, the funerals of the children. ” by President George W. Bush.

and in happier news....Melkam Addis Amet!

Today is also the celebration of the Ethiopian New year (Enkutatash). Enkutatash means the "gift of jewels". When the famous Queen of Sheba returned from her expensive jaunt to visit King Solomon in Jerusalem, her chiefs welcomed her bolts by replenishing her treasury with inku or jewels. The spring festival has been celebrated since this early times and as the rains come to their abrupt end, dancing and singing can be heard at every village in the green countryside.

But Enkutatash is not exclusively a religious holiday. Today's Enkutatash is also the season for exchanging formal new year greetings and cards among the urban sophisticated - in lieu or the traditional bouquet of flowers.

Thinking of Ayana's mom and all the kids in the orphanage. I wish I could be there celebrating with them. I miss Ethiopia!

A's Hair and skin care...

So when we knew we were adopting an African American baby, I decided to do some research on how to do African American hair. I did not want my baby's hair to scream, "I have a white mom who clearly doesn't know how to do my hair!" So I did a lot of reading and tried to get familiar with what products and processes to use. I understand every one's hair is different but I figured research couldn't hurt!

So Once I got Ayana, I abandoned all that I had read. Ayana's hair was so soft and not at all what I thought it would be. I am not trying to stereo type people, I just read a lot of blogs of other children from Ethiopia and was expecting her to have more dry coarse hair. We washed A's hair every other time she took a bath with regular Johnson's baby all in one wash and didn't have to brush or put product on it after and it was soft and very manageable. The back was a little more dry than the front. (probably since it lays against the bed while sleeping)

Fast forward...I learned I need to go back to what I read. A's started scratching her scalp a lot. So much so it started bleeding. I felt so bad. The frequent washing was drying her hair and scalp out to bad. Not just washing it but too much water cab dry it out because it strips the oils that her scalps needs. Her hair is also getting thicker and longer so we did have to buy a wide tooth comb which we only use when it's wet. We only wash every 10-14 days now and it doesn't get greasy at all in between washes. Her hair and scalp are doing great now and she is back to having really soft and shiny hair.

Hair Products: I have a lot of friends who use "Carol's Daughter" products but I haven't tried that yet. We are using the "it's a curl" organic baby curl care and we love it. You can find it at this website.

We usually bathe A once a day which can dry her skin out if you don't moisturize daily. A loves baths!!! I told our nanny that A could not get her hair wet anymore and that I would wash her hair from now on. Sooo......One day I walked in from work and our nanny was giving A a bath so I could hear her giggling when I walked in the door. I went to the bathroom to see and what I walked into was HILARIOUS! A was sitting in the tub playing with her toys. The funny part is that she was completely naked of course except for a GIANT sunhat on her head that the nanny must have been using to keep A's head dry while A took a bath. LOL! I can;t get the visual out of my head. I wish i would have taken a picture. It was so funny!

~Sunhat she was wearing in the tub except she had the strap around her face to keep it on~

So this incident prompted me to go to the drugstore to get a shower cap for A so she doesn't have to wear her sun hat in the tub. She wore it today around the house. It was so cute and funny!

Skin Products: I love the smell of Johnson's baby lotion but A has really dry skin and I found she needs something a bit heavier for her skin so I have been trying Aveeno Baby Fragrance Free Daily Moisture Lotion and I like it but am open to comments if you have a product you like for babies skin. A does have a lot of bumps on her left cheek and it sometimes leaves white marks on her cheek where the skin pigment gets lighter. I'm not sure what it is. We will be going to the pediatrician on Wed to take a look.

I would love to hear feedback from other parents. What are you using for your babies skin and hair? How often do you wash? Any other tips?