Water Park Fun

I told you we've been busy.  Here's MORE pictures of a visit to a water park.  Ellie was 'Miss Independent' this time when it came to playing it the water.  Both girls had a wonderful time as you can tell by their smiles.  Both boys went too and took a friend.  Luckily, we were able to get a room that held eight (YES 8) people. It was a great mid-week break before football season began in our home!  

Faith loving the fountains

Ellie getting ready to go down the frog slide!

Faith going down the frog slide

Dylan helping the girls down the slides! 

No fear here! 

Dylan and a friend helping keep the girls under wrap! 

Party - Elmo Style

Here are MORE pictures of Ellie's birthday bash with friends and family.  It was a Elmo Fiesta Swim Party.  Although we had a few passing showers, we still got in plenty of pool time.  Ellie still prefers to hang in her own little inflatable pool.  Faith, on the other hand, is motoring around the pool in floaties.... I'm sure she'll be doing cannon-balls by next year.  Hopefully Ellie will be more comfortable around water next year too!  To Ellie, water is strictly for drinking and washing.

Ellie's personal pool 

Faith swimming away

Getting brave sitting on the steps of the pool 

The gang having a good time

Faith working on her back-float

Ellie getting really brave! 

Nana putting on Ellie's floaties

Yay, more cake! 

Uhhh.. yep, I think I like it! 

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl!  

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Jeremiah 29:11

Birthday Party Pictures

As I'm catching up on my blogging, I thought I'd post a few pictures of Ellie's birthday celebrations!  She really had no idea what a birthday was, so it was a total new experience for her.

On her actual birthday, we were joined by Meemaw and Pappy for some ice cream cake and some opening of presents.  Some of Faith's expressions watching Ellie open presents were hilarious.  Faith did, of course, score a few presents herself (I know.. these girls are not spoiled  loved one bit!)

Never show your toddlers the pieces before the product is finished!
They were 'helping' put it together

The Finished Product -- A new Slide

Skinny Jeans! 

classic "Ellie" pose

Somebody liked the cake! 

Next I'll post some pictures of her party with friends.

July Wedding

I'm way behind in posting updates and pictures!  Sorry about that.  It's been a busy summer.

Here's a few pictures from my cousin's wedding we attended in July.  It was special because she was my flower girl when we were married almost 20 years ago!  Wish I had a picture I could post of it, but they are all in my album.  I don't even have a decent picture of the bride and groom because I typically had a toddler on one hip or the other... but congrats Elizabeth & Jim!!

Family photo -- almost everyone is looking.....

I'm not sure what the heck we were thinking . . . taking 2 toddlers to a wedding 3 hours away, staying in a hotel, and thinking we were going to have a good time!  They kept us very busy, but they did great.  I was actually surprised how well they did with taking their naps, sleeping in a noisy hotel (above the reception) and just adjusting in general.  We did only get to see a few minutes of the ceremony because when the photographer walked to the back of the church to take some photos, both girls started yelling "cheese!!"... so we quickly made our exit :)   They both were dancing-queens at the reception.  Faith enjoyed going around to all of the tables and greeting everyone.  Ellie has happy to watch first and then join in -- if it looked like it was safe :)  We do not have many pictures, however, because we were busy chasing the girls around, and, unless we had a super-duper fast shutter speed, we never would have caught the speedy-girls on film.   The boys, of course, did awesome.  I think they were down at the reception until it ended!

I'm still amazed as I look back on these photo (which are already 6 weeks old) how much Ellie has continued to grow and mesh into our family.  We still have our challenges like every family, but she continues to blossom more and more each day.  And, even if we feel like we've taken a few steps back, there is still progress there.  God continues to pour grace on our family as we adjust to being a family of 6.

Meemaw & Pap with their busy girls

 

Ellie looking beautiful in her dress

Faith dancing around

More dancing by the crazy girl

Trying to get a decent picture together -- NOT POSSIBLE
(Yes, she's eating puffs out of a coffee cup with a spoon --
whatever we had to do to keep her entertained!)  

Guess Who's Two!

Ellie at 3 Months old

It's hard to believe Elliana is two already.  She was 14 months old the first time we saw her face and she's grown so much.  She's only been home for 14 weeks but it's already hard to remember life without her.  She’s gained nearly 5 pounds since being home and I’m sure she’s grown at least an inch! 

What I still find absolutely amazing is that two years ago today we had our pregnancy with Faith confirmed, and I clearly remember sitting in the car staring at an ultrasound picture, but feeling so sad that there was a baby in Ethiopia who was waiting for our family.  Little did I know that our little girl was born that very day and we would be reunited with her 20 months later.  God knew though. 

My mind also wanders to Ellie's birth mom who took such good care of her until she was about three months old. We will never know the circumstances as to why she became an orphan, but someone had taken good care of her.  She came to the orphanage looking very well nourished and smiling.  It’s really sad to look at the progression of pictures from the time she entered the orphanage until we brought her home. In those photos, her smile quickly turned into a look of emptiness, sadness, and desperation.  It’s now fun to watch it go the other way in photos now that she’s home!  We are so thankful that her beautiful smile is coming back to life now that she is in our family!    

Ellie at 1 Year Old

Elliana has come along so beautifully since she’s been home. (Now don't get me wrong--- the last 3 months haven't been all cupcakes and rainbows, but we are surviving and we can see a difference in this little girl who came to us frightened and timid.)  We still haven't seen 100 percent of her personality yet because she's still holding back, but she is allowing us to see glimpses of her emerging personality every day. 

I’m ashamed to say that many times I focus on Ellie’s challenging behaviors and situations and sometimes forget the huge strides she has taken since being home.  When I think back to those first weeks and months, I am amazed at how God has given us the strength and patience to get through them. She still has a special instructor that comes once a week to help with some of our challenges and her instructor can really see the changes from one week to the next!  I sometimes fail to see the progress, so I have to remember to celebrate her victories and not focus on anything else other than that!  And, yes, we are still battling Giardia!  I’m not joking.  She is now on round 4 of 2 different meds; and Faith is on round 2 of meds.  I’m sure Pampers and Huggies are loving the Baxter family since we go through so many diapers and wipes!    

Ellie at 2 Years Old

Here are some of her favorite things and funny things she does (and a little bit of her personality). 

•  She is very determined (which, if funneled properly will be a huge asset)
• She loves routine and she will not hesitate to tell me when I stray from the normal routine :) 
• She is a huge helper. She loves to "help" me with laundry or picking up toys or really anything. 
• One of her favorite things to do is “help” us throw things in the trash.  Unfortunately, she also likes to throw things in the trash that doesn't necessarily belong there – like cell phones, money, etc.
• She loves shoes!!
• She likes Elmo.  Anything she sees that's red is "Elmo"
• She is not a huge TV fan, but loves to watch the Baby Einstein “Baby McDonald”.. or her  “Moo Moo” video, as she calls it. 
• She calls anything that has wheels a tractor (or track-too). 
• She has developed a huge vocabulary.  “Chips” is currently my favorite word that she says because she adds the “thps” to the end of the word along with a little peek from the tongue! 
• She is very smart and doesn’t forget ANYTHING… which isn’t always a bonus ;)
• She Loves loves loves to play in the kitchen set that cousins Jack and Nate are allowing the girls to borrow.
• I think she's going to make a great mommy and home-maker some day.  She loves to sweep, fluff the rugs, fold laundry and play with her babies. 
• Her eating and sleeping have improved tremendously.  I cannot tell you what a blessing this has been!
• Loves to go for rides in the stroller or wagon (not so much the car!!)

I could go on and on, but those are just a few of her favorite things.  

We plan to have cake and ice cream tonight, and then a big Elmo birthday Fiesta is happening this weekend.  I'll be sure to post pictures.  But for now, here are a few pics of our BIG TWO YEAR OLD!  

Happy Birthday sweet girl.... we can't wait to see what God has in store for you!!  

Wordless Wednesday -- Sisters

A progression of photos!  Enjoy

Wordless Wednesday

Ahh.. so many I could post from vacation, but here are 2 of my favorites (I'll have plenty for the next few Wednesdays)... feel free to add your own captions as to what they are saying :)  Happy Wednesday!!

Hair

I'm still figuring out Ellie's hair, what products work the best, and how to style it.   She has super curly, kinky hair.  It's really long if you stretch the curls out... but it soon coils right back into it's tight kinky curl.  I'm starting to get tired of  the 3 puffs and the occasional piggy-tails, but wasn't having much luck braiding it myself because I lose track of the 3 sections in her curl-monsters (that's what I call them).  I've also tried twists but her hair is so curly, they untwist and even pop the rubber bands-- so I must be doing it incorrectly.   As we were getting ready to go to the beach, I started thinking about the sand and her super curly, kinky hair -- and how that was all going to work out.

A friend suggested that I take her to the local beauty school to have her hair braided.  It gives those students the experience, and it's pretty inexpensive -- about $20.  So, we did just that.  An hour and-a-half later, (and some gummy snacks, a few lollipops and Iphone usage -- all extra special treats) we were done.  Ellie did great (probably better than mommy).  The stylist did a really neat design from the front and back and then braided it up the middle with some little coils remaining at the top.  I failed to take pictures of it :(  But you can see some pictures of it here!

It stayed in beautifully for 10 days and kept her cool and minimized the sand.  It is, however, super dry now, so I have to use extra heavy conditioner.  I probably should have kept putting oil on it.  And, I'm sure the sunscreen I was putting in between the braids probably didn't help.  It took just as long to take out the braids as it did to put them in -- which wasn't much fun.  If anyone has any tips on how to take the braids out differently, please let me know!  If you are thinking of trying braids for your little girl, I suggest trying a local beauty school.  It was a win-win for us!  

First Ice Cream Cone

Ellie and Faith had their first ice cream cone recently.  They’ve had ice cream before – but never in a cone!  It wasn’t until the last week or so that Ellie would actually eat ice cream.  She’s decided that she really likes it and continually asks for more :)   Faith didn't hesitate one second before she dug into her cone.  Ellie insisted on using a spoon to eat hers.  She hasn’t grasped the concept of a cone or that you can eat it the cone!  When I took a bite of my cone, she gave me the strangest look!  So funny. 

Last night I gave them both some ice cream in a little cup – Ellie picked hers up like a cone and licked it out of the cup instead of using a spoon!  Ha ha!!  I’m sure as the summer goes on she will have plenty of opportunities to sort out the dish verses cone confusion!