More Walking

For a few days after Kayla took her first steps, she didn't really seem interested in walking at all. Yesterday, after a few physical therapy exercise, I could tell she was interested again and down right determined to do it. At one point, she even went from sitting to standing on her own (a new trick) and then took a few steps to get to me. I was pretty amazed that she could do that and put it all together. I got a couple of video clips of her doing this--one from yesterday and two from today. She took 11 steps at one point today!

Oops...

So, I've posted a little bit about this before, but Chris and I have been working on our application for foreign missions for a few weeks now. I thought we had to wait until we got an SS number for Kayla before we could apply, but I wanted to get the rest of the application done anyway. So, last night we finished the whole thing and then I hit "next" thinking this would take me to a page where I could review the application but then a little box popped up that said "Thanks for submitting your application". So, I guess that's done! We have now officially applied to become Missionary Associates. It's going to take a while and a lot of work, but we're excited and can't wait to see what God has planned for us and our family. We have found some very intriguing opportunities that would last 1-2 years. We really don't have any information beyond that, but you can be sure that as we learn more over the next year, or two, that we will keep you posted!

Cutest Video

I realize I have over-posted today, if that is possible, but this is maybe the cutest video ever and must be shared!

Texas

As promised, here are many photos from our Texas trip. Kayla and I had a great time. I wish Texas were a little closer to Wisconsin!

Erin and Brian with Kayla

Kayla loved this little doggie at our lakeside picnic

Brian swears that it was all the practicing with him that lead Kayla to take her first steps yesterday :)

We tried to get all four babes to look, but it just wasn't going to happen (Lily, Maeve, Kayla & Eli)

Just the girls (Eli didn't sit still for very long)

These four were all adopted through the same agency and were at the same care center in Addis Ababa before coming home with us

Baby girls chatting about something

The zoo really tired Kayla out

Picnic at the zoo (thanks, Joanna)

Beautiful Japanese garden

Petting zoo--Kayla was not a huge fan

At the Stockyards in Ft. Worth. Kayla's a cute little cowgirl and I even tried red cowboy boots on her. I was tempted to but them, but just couldn't justify the $40 for shoes she'd only wear a few times!

Swimming at 6:30 pm at Erin's old apartment complex. It was so warm and Kayla never can resist the water!

It really was a great trip! Kayla was great on the plane--napped for most of both flights. We'd love to make it an annual thing, but we'll see.

Cute hair

I decided it was time to try a new hairstyle with Kayla. These are called finger twists. You just grab some hair and twist away. It only took about 20 minutes to do her whole head. She sat pretty well through it and it lasted a couple of days. I didn't use any product in it other than Chrissy's Babycakes Body Butter (http://www.babycakesbutter.blogspot.com/) because I didn't really intend to do her whole head. I just wanted to see if her hair was finally long enough to pull this off. She sat so well and it was so easy that I just kept going. It was pretty cute!

Fun Meeting

Through our adoption I have met many great people. Some are far away...like Texas (boo)...others are not so far away (yea). A couple of days ago, my friend, Kelly, and her two little boys--just home a few weeks ago--came over. It was great to meet the boys and introduce Kelly to Kayla. Adoption is such a wild ride, it is important to have support while you're going through it and once your kid(s) are home. And how fun for our kids to have these friends as they grow up!Gavin and Colton (2)

Colton

Kayla and Aschton (1)

Reily does a somersault

In case you've been wondering what Reily's been up to since this blog has kind of become all about Kayla, now you get to see. He has learned how to somersault. I love this video because you can see his goofiness and hear his infectious laugh. Oh how I love this little boy!

Kayla's First Steps

Well, these are almost her first steps. Technically these are steps 5, 6 and 7...!!! I had Kayla stand up and then let go with my hands out (which I've done a million times) and to my utter amazement she moved one foot and then the other. I cheered and hugged her. Then she did it again! The boys came up from downstairs to see what all the commotion was about and I set up the camera and caught steps 5, 6 and 7. Shortly after this, she took 7 steps in a row (twice), but who's counting?!? Go baby girl, go! (Please ignore the frumpy mama and the vaseline faced baby--it was supposed to be a go nowhere, see no one kind of day)

Home again

home again, jiggity jig.

Kayla and I had an amazing time in Texas and as much as I was ready to come home, I hate that all my friends are so far away again. Pictures will follow in the next day, or two. For now, I'm exhausted and need to crash...

Up, up and away

Kayla and I are going on a little trip. We are going to visit some adoption friends and one of my college friends--who actually introduced me to Chris and was a roommate for a while. I'm really looking forward to this trip, especially since we'll be in Texas while snow is predicted in WI!

We'll be meeting two friends for the first time--gals who adopted little girls from the same care center that Kayla was at around the same time as us. We all did our best to check in on each others girlies while we were in Ethiopia at different times. I'm really looking forward to meeting these two and getting our girls back together. You can check out their adorable girls here http://madinefamily.blogspot.com/ and here http://texastoethiopia.blogspot.com/

We will also be seeing Heather again. She was on both trips to Ethiopia with us to adopt her son. I am seriously excited to see her and her son. I just can't wait to see his little personality.

I don't know how Kayla will fare on the plane. The last time she was on one was kind of monumental! Hopefully she does well. It's a pretty short and direct flight, so I think it'll be okay. I hope she loves the sunshine and warmth. I can't wait to get her in some summer clothes. I hope she enjoys seeing all these kiddos again, too. I'd love to think they could remember each other, but they're all pretty young.

My college friend, Erin, is a photographer and a great one at that. She's going to take some great photos of Kayla and I can't wait for that either! You can check our her fabulous work here http://purpletreestudios.com/ (and if you live in Texas and need a photographer she is really, really good)

Well, I have some packing to do and I have to be up before the sun rises. I'm sure I'll have loads of photos to share once we're home. Hopefully Chris and the boys survive in my absence!

Spring

Spring has finally made it's way to WI. It is 70+ degrees outside and MUGGY! We took advantage of it and did some yard work while the kids napped. We got quite a bit done and found a few surprises along the way.Daffodils just about ready to bloom. I hope I don't miss them while in Texas.

First flower of the season. The white one made it, the purple one didn't.

Nope, we don't have waterfront property, but each spring this "river" returns. The boys love it.

A little bit of snow desperately hanging on.

First Picnic

Yesterday it was nice out. It was about 55 degrees and sunny. I picked up a pizza and the kids thought it would be fun to have a picnic in the driveway, so we did! If you don't live in WI, you may think we're nuts, but we're so sick of winter we did not mind picnicking next to the snow banks. We've decided winter is done even if it is hanging on for dear life. DONE.

Egg Tree

One of our neighbors decorated an outdoor tree with plastic eggs. The boys loved it, so I figured we could do the same. I won't say it was peaceful or loads of fun, but the tree looks cute and I got some good pictures.




This is Reily's "crazy face" according to him. He's a goofy boy.

Do you know...

what you were doing a year ago today? I do! I went to work. I came home so that Chris could go to work. My kids were napping and I was preparing to teach a Bible study group that evening (it was a Tuesday). Then, my phone rang. It was our adoption agency. I figured they were calling to tell me that our dossier was approved. Nope, the gal on the other end of the line said, "We have a 4 1/2 month old baby girl for you". I said, "You have a what? Really?" And, that was that. I opened my email frantically and saw some tiny, horrible quality photos of the most beautiful baby girl I had ever laid eyes on (a couple of days later we got this better copy). My heart was stolen. We had a daughter. Wouldn't you have said "yes" to this face? We did.
I called people. I tried to get out of teaching that Bible study (I just was not focused--I ended up teaching it and fortunately the group was very understanding). I finally called Chris at work--I had never done that before and wasn't sure it would be okay. He wouldn't see her face for a few hours, but he was in love once he did, as well.

It's hard to believe that was a year ago today. Sometimes it seems like yesterday and sometimes it seems like a life time ago. Getting her home was a long, arduous, nine month process. Now that she's home, it seems like she's always been here and those nine months are a distant memory. I cannot imagine my life without Kayla...or hers without us.

She's come a long way (physically, geographically and developmentally) in just 12 months. I love you, baby girl, with ALL my heart!

(ETA: If you don't remember what you were doing a year ago today, don't worry. Chris didn't have a clue either!)

Quick update

No cute pictures or videos, but here's a quick update on the Meehanfive:

• We went to the Dells again. This time we had no puking kid. Yea!

• I found an incredible missions opportunity for our family and we are excited about this possibility. When I know more, I'll definitely share more, but for now we're just praying about it.

• Reily learned how to do a somersault and he's very proud of it. I should post a video of that, but right now I'm too lazy to get up and get the camera. He is also in the phase where he talks non-stop (help me, Lord!). Fortunately, he's a funny boy, so he says many funny things.
  

• Gavin is still Gavin. Full of charm and attitude. He's doing great in 4K and is really ready for kindergarten in the fall. I don't know how ready I am for that change, but I've got a few months to get there.
  

• Kayla is standing on her own more and more. She still hasn't taken any steps, but she's getting braver.
  

• I am wrapping up my final week at the church. It's a bittersweet finish. I still do bookkeeping from home, but I will have no more office hours at the church I have worked at for the past 4 years. It is weird to just be done after the level of involvement I had this past year while we were without a senior pastor, but I know that it's the right move--most days I know it anyway.
  

• Chris' grandfather passed away and we will be heading to that funeral this coming weekend.

That's it, I think.