What We've Been Up To...

Well, it's starting to feel like "crunch time," but in a really good sort of way! Time seems to be speeding up more and more each day as we near our departure day! And we have SO much to do in the next 11 days.

We have been incredibly blessed by donations of formula, diapers, wipes, etc. that we will be taking with us to give to our agency's orphanage, Hannah's Hope in Ethiopia! We spent today getting much of that packed up and ready to go. :)

Today was also our 2nd round of immunizations at our local travel clinic - just polio and our 2nd hepatitis A and B shots, not bad at all compared to our first round in June!

I find myself CHERISHING each day with our girls, knowing that we'll be away from them for an entire week. It hurts my heart to think about that...but I know they will have a WONDERFUL time with Grandma and Aunt Abby. I've had people ask before, "How can you leave your kiddos for so long to make this trip to Africa?" And my answer: "If Ev was at home, but Sylvie was in Africa, wouldn't I drop everything at home to go and bring Syl home? Of course! And it's the same thing. I leave Ev and Syl because I have a baby boy who is MINE/OURS there, a baby boy who I CANNOT WAIT to meet and hold and get to know all of his ins and outs, his needs, his fears, his joys, what makes him tick...

And here are a few of my favorite recent pics that I'll leave you with...



Some friends gave us free tickets to a baseball game, and we had a really great time. Thanks, Carla!!! :)




Sylvia, watching the team's mascot shaking hands with some other kids. She was in total and utter awe!




Evelyn at the game - and, by the way, who needs a bun?!?




Both girls have been begging me constantly to wear my jewelry, so I finally stopped at our local thrift store and picked them up some of their own. Here, Ev is modeling her favorite pieces.




And Syl got in on the action too. She said, "Mom, do I look gorgeous?" Oh yeah!




Daddy took the girls "camping" (in our backyard) for the first time ever this summer. The girls helped set up the tent, we all roasted marshmallows over the fire, and then, armed with their flashlights, those 3 hunkered down for a night under the stars (and I came back inside to an incredibly quiet and peaceful evening). Good for everyone! :)