Over Memorial Day weekend we went to St.Louis MO to visit family. This was the first time everybody met Hanna in person. She charmed everyone and everyone loved her .... both the children were spoiled by their grandmothers, great-grandmother Grammy (here in the picture holding Jalen) who cooked dressing for them with chicken .... they got love from their many cousins and aunties .... all in all they had a great time and cried when we got in the car ready to drive back home to Montgomery AL. We stayed with Nana and she cried too when the kids started crying ..... so emotional .... but that just confirms to me that both my children had a good time visiting family. Jalen is pouting in this picture because we were getting ready to leave and he wanted to spend more time with his cousin Faith (the little girl all the way on the left next to him and Grammie) .... he still tells me: "Mama, I love my cousin Faith" or "Mama, I miss my cousin Faith" .... that's one of the downsides of being in the military .... we're far away from family.
Jalen petting his cousins' puppy.
Playing 'red light-green light' with Nana at their cousins' house in E. St. Louis.
While in St. Louis, that Saturday we had an eventful day. It started out with a visit to the emergency room at Cardinal Glennon Children's hospital with Hanna due to her mollescum over her right eye lid being infected, swollen and pussy. We got some antibiotic with that visit but had to follow up with the doctor here back home. We saw the doctor today .... the eye looks much better now then in this picture after 5 days of antibiotic ..... but it looks like we'll have to go to an eye specialist and have the mollescum surgically removed. For now I was told we're just treating the infection ... and in the meantime I'm waiting for the referral to go through so we can go see the eye specialist. I'm actually glad her pediatrician suggested to have the mollescum (possibly, if it's not too deep in her eye lid I think) surgically removed, because I have a feeling this thing is going to keep getting infected if we don't have it removed. All the other mollescums are all gone, but this one being so close to the eye, I was not able to treat it with that medicine from Ethiopia and the Crystacide cream that worked on the other mollescums. After the doctor we met the Simmons Family at the St. Louis zoo. They too adopted Connor Abyssinia at the same time as us (we met in country and the children were good friends and played with each other well then). So we got together with the Simmons's and Ananti (as Hanna calls him) and had a good - but very exhausting time at the zoo. Following pictures are take at the St. Louis Zoo.
Hanna, her friend Ananti and Jalen.
While staying at Nana's, Uncle Jason and his daughter Mesha came to visit. Jalen told Mesha she looks so "pretty like all the girls I like" ... he's such a flirt.
Then we went to go see Geno's Grandma Eloise, who is the children's Great-Grandma.
While in St. Louis, we visited - for the first time for me - Children's Hope International - the agency who facilitated Hanna's adoption from Ethiopia. Everybody was surprised to see us - we didn't say we were coming as we weren't sure if we're going to really make it and didn't want to commit just to have to cancel later. The children had a good time and Hanna got a doll and Jalen got a teddy bear from the staff. With this opportunity, we also delivered in person the 3-months post placement report with pictures. The staff was amazed at how fast Hanna picked up English ..... she really did, I am amazed myself. She talks in sentences now, and hardly ever says Amharic words ... since she now knows the equivalent in English .... I still call or say certain things in Amharic and both my children understand it .... she did get frustrated a while back when she wanted to sing an Amharic song she used to sing to me but could not remember the words. Well, we knew this was bound to happen ... so sad to see her loosing her Amharic. All in all, it was good to visit with the staff, though we did miss Nicky and Sharon since they didn't know we were coming.
A week ago we had two graduations. Jalen graduated from Kindergarten and Hanna from Preschool. Jalen will be in 1st grade this fall and Hanna will repeat K-4 as she only caught the last two months of the school year, plus because of her birthday she would not make the cut-off date anyway. I'm glad in a way because this extra year will help her catch up and get acclamaited with the English language and everything else before entering Kindergarten.
Jalen's classmates with their teacher Mrs. Abner.
Jalen and his best buddy Jeffrey.
My two konjo butterflies as I call them.
Jalen and his teacher, Mrs. Abner.
Jalen's class and their teacher before putting on their graduation gowns.
Jeffrey and Jalen.
Before leaving for Jalen's graduation.
My two babies.
Exhausted, taking a nap in the middle of the day - happens very seldom but it does happen every now and then .... here's the proof.
Hanna's graduation ..... she was wearing her Ethiopian Traditional Dress we purchased while in Ethiopia. She looked so beautiful .... stunning ..... I was watching her sing, recite, make the hand gestures and participate in the whole program .... and all of this after only being in school for 2 month .... needless to say, and for those who know me you probably already figured, I was balling my eyes out .... watching her up there ... so proud of her ....
With Jalen in the pews while waiting for Hanna's graduation program to start.
Hanna and her teacher Mrs. Gray. She'll have Mrs. Gray next year again for her Preschool class. She's been doing really well in school ..... her teacher is amazed and anyone else who cares to listen when I tell it.
Hanna and her classmates ..... she was so happy that day to have her Mezmur Day ... she already knew about what was happening because she attended Jalen's Award Ceremony program and we called it "Jalen's Mezmur Day" (Jalen's Song Day) because the children are up on the stage singing song and reciting bible verses and such ...... so we were able to convey to her that graduation day was like Jalen's Mezmur Day except it was Hanna's Mezmur Day ..... she also says "gradulation" instead of graduation .... so cute. And while we're on the subject, there are some cute things she says like when I have a mishap like dropping something or spilling something she'll say "It's ok Mama, don't worry, we'll be fine!" Or when she tells you that Hanna knows because she's gobez smart she'll point to her nose and say "Mama, Hanna nose, Hanna smart!" She associates nose with the word "knows" as in "knowing something" because they both sound the same. Then there's other phrases she says very well and understandibly like: may I please go to the bathroom (before she'd just say "Mama shint" or "Mama caca"), Jalen, stop bothering me, I have to concentrate; Jalen, I give you one more chance then bekash; .... they play well together most of the time, but they also argue and tattle-tell on each other and don't always share ... well, I'm told it's normal amongst siblings .... I too remember fighting and arguing with my brother on minute and then getting along and hugging and kissing the next. There's many other funny little things like that above that Hanna does or says that I can't remember right now but when I do I'll capture them here in the blog.
Hanna and her little classmates - gwadenyas - as she calls them. The little girl in the black and white dress is from Senegal, which I didn't know until recently .... how neat .... her mother comented on Hanna's dress at her graduation and I told her it's her dress from Ethiopia because she's Ethiopian to which she then told me that they are from Senegal.
Before leaving for Hanna's graduation.
Jalen's new 'bikel' (as in bicycle) .... we say bikel now instead of bike ... another one of Hanna's cute words that just kinda stuck with us ....
Hanna's new princess bikel.
My silly son acting goofy as usual.
Jalen after his Awards Ceremony ... he won 4 first place, 1 second place and got an Honor Studen trophy. Needless to say .... I'm a proud Mama of a Kindergartener.
My konjo silly butterflies.
Hanna, after getting her manicure and pedicure done by .... moi .... and getting her nails and toe nails painted with pink nail polish .... she's such a girl .... I love it.
.... did I just say "girl" above? Oh she can be like a boy too .... she's got a pretty strong and heavy hand .... look at her boxing spiderman when she's "angry" ....
On the trampuline .... she loves the boing-boing .... that's what she calls the trampuline.
Coming home from Jalen's Awards Ceremony and right after that from the Dentist. We now have dental confirmation that her teeth look good, with no cavities. She is also up to date on her vaccinations for a 4 year old.
My crazy, goofy, silly silly children right after church one Sunday. He is sooo protective of her, and kisses her out of the blue .... and tells her he loves her ..... this is new as he's never done this before with anyone else but us ..... Hanna's been doing this for quite a while now, but I guess it took Jalen a little while to do the same ..... it warms my heart .... I know this transition was hard on both my children .... but they are doing so well ... I'm proud of both of them.
Dressed up as a princess. She has a cup with this picture that she drinks out of and it says "Beautiful Princess Hanna" ..... she loves dressing up and loves all her "jewelery" ....
Well, this was pretty much May in review. Lots of firsts for us and Hanna. All in all we're doing well and are enjoying life as a family of 4 .... it's so crazy to say this so soon I suppose, but it really feels like we've always been together .... the 4 of us ......
Hanna, her friend Ananti and Jalen.
While staying at Nana's, Uncle Jason and his daughter Mesha came to visit. Jalen told Mesha she looks so "pretty like all the girls I like" ... he's such a flirt.
Then we went to go see Geno's Grandma Eloise, who is the children's Great-Grandma.
While in St. Louis, we visited - for the first time for me - Children's Hope International - the agency who facilitated Hanna's adoption from Ethiopia. Everybody was surprised to see us - we didn't say we were coming as we weren't sure if we're going to really make it and didn't want to commit just to have to cancel later. The children had a good time and Hanna got a doll and Jalen got a teddy bear from the staff. With this opportunity, we also delivered in person the 3-months post placement report with pictures. The staff was amazed at how fast Hanna picked up English ..... she really did, I am amazed myself. She talks in sentences now, and hardly ever says Amharic words ... since she now knows the equivalent in English .... I still call or say certain things in Amharic and both my children understand it .... she did get frustrated a while back when she wanted to sing an Amharic song she used to sing to me but could not remember the words. Well, we knew this was bound to happen ... so sad to see her loosing her Amharic. All in all, it was good to visit with the staff, though we did miss Nicky and Sharon since they didn't know we were coming.
A week ago we had two graduations. Jalen graduated from Kindergarten and Hanna from Preschool. Jalen will be in 1st grade this fall and Hanna will repeat K-4 as she only caught the last two months of the school year, plus because of her birthday she would not make the cut-off date anyway. I'm glad in a way because this extra year will help her catch up and get acclamaited with the English language and everything else before entering Kindergarten.
Jalen's classmates with their teacher Mrs. Abner.
Jalen and his best buddy Jeffrey.
My two konjo butterflies as I call them.
Jalen and his teacher, Mrs. Abner.
Jalen's class and their teacher before putting on their graduation gowns.
Jeffrey and Jalen.
Before leaving for Jalen's graduation.
My two babies.
Exhausted, taking a nap in the middle of the day - happens very seldom but it does happen every now and then .... here's the proof.
Hanna's graduation ..... she was wearing her Ethiopian Traditional Dress we purchased while in Ethiopia. She looked so beautiful .... stunning ..... I was watching her sing, recite, make the hand gestures and participate in the whole program .... and all of this after only being in school for 2 month .... needless to say, and for those who know me you probably already figured, I was balling my eyes out .... watching her up there ... so proud of her ....
With Jalen in the pews while waiting for Hanna's graduation program to start.
Hanna and her teacher Mrs. Gray. She'll have Mrs. Gray next year again for her Preschool class. She's been doing really well in school ..... her teacher is amazed and anyone else who cares to listen when I tell it.
Hanna and her classmates ..... she was so happy that day to have her Mezmur Day ... she already knew about what was happening because she attended Jalen's Award Ceremony program and we called it "Jalen's Mezmur Day" (Jalen's Song Day) because the children are up on the stage singing song and reciting bible verses and such ...... so we were able to convey to her that graduation day was like Jalen's Mezmur Day except it was Hanna's Mezmur Day ..... she also says "gradulation" instead of graduation .... so cute. And while we're on the subject, there are some cute things she says like when I have a mishap like dropping something or spilling something she'll say "It's ok Mama, don't worry, we'll be fine!" Or when she tells you that Hanna knows because she's gobez smart she'll point to her nose and say "Mama, Hanna nose, Hanna smart!" She associates nose with the word "knows" as in "knowing something" because they both sound the same. Then there's other phrases she says very well and understandibly like: may I please go to the bathroom (before she'd just say "Mama shint" or "Mama caca"), Jalen, stop bothering me, I have to concentrate; Jalen, I give you one more chance then bekash; .... they play well together most of the time, but they also argue and tattle-tell on each other and don't always share ... well, I'm told it's normal amongst siblings .... I too remember fighting and arguing with my brother on minute and then getting along and hugging and kissing the next. There's many other funny little things like that above that Hanna does or says that I can't remember right now but when I do I'll capture them here in the blog.
Hanna and her little classmates - gwadenyas - as she calls them. The little girl in the black and white dress is from Senegal, which I didn't know until recently .... how neat .... her mother comented on Hanna's dress at her graduation and I told her it's her dress from Ethiopia because she's Ethiopian to which she then told me that they are from Senegal.
Before leaving for Hanna's graduation.
Jalen's new 'bikel' (as in bicycle) .... we say bikel now instead of bike ... another one of Hanna's cute words that just kinda stuck with us ....
Hanna's new princess bikel.
My silly son acting goofy as usual.
Jalen after his Awards Ceremony ... he won 4 first place, 1 second place and got an Honor Studen trophy. Needless to say .... I'm a proud Mama of a Kindergartener.
My konjo silly butterflies.
Hanna, after getting her manicure and pedicure done by .... moi .... and getting her nails and toe nails painted with pink nail polish .... she's such a girl .... I love it.
.... did I just say "girl" above? Oh she can be like a boy too .... she's got a pretty strong and heavy hand .... look at her boxing spiderman when she's "angry" ....
On the trampuline .... she loves the boing-boing .... that's what she calls the trampuline.
Coming home from Jalen's Awards Ceremony and right after that from the Dentist. We now have dental confirmation that her teeth look good, with no cavities. She is also up to date on her vaccinations for a 4 year old.
My crazy, goofy, silly silly children right after church one Sunday. He is sooo protective of her, and kisses her out of the blue .... and tells her he loves her ..... this is new as he's never done this before with anyone else but us ..... Hanna's been doing this for quite a while now, but I guess it took Jalen a little while to do the same ..... it warms my heart .... I know this transition was hard on both my children .... but they are doing so well ... I'm proud of both of them.
Dressed up as a princess. She has a cup with this picture that she drinks out of and it says "Beautiful Princess Hanna" ..... she loves dressing up and loves all her "jewelery" ....
Well, this was pretty much May in review. Lots of firsts for us and Hanna. All in all we're doing well and are enjoying life as a family of 4 .... it's so crazy to say this so soon I suppose, but it really feels like we've always been together .... the 4 of us ...... 
