The First Snow

I dressed Taye up with her PJ's as the first layer, fleece lined nylon sweats as second bottom layer, a thermal shirt, hoodie sweatshirt, winter coat, mittens carefully placed between layers so they coudl not be yanked off, three pairs of socks pulled up over PJ's and a pair of shoes 1 1/2 sizes too big + one hat with velcro.

She was NOT happy ... till we got outside.

A mind of her own

Tonight I was watching Sentayehu try over and over to get a little purse with a strap to stay on her back. I think she was trying to do that bceause I always have a mini-leather back pack or my book bag on my back. Anyway, it kept falling off over and over and she started crying. I thought about the mini-backpack harness that Bonnie (my sis in law's sis) have me at the baby shower for when she can walk and we are in a crowed place (airport for example). That would stay on her back. I got it out of the closet and took it out of the package and put it on her. She was so happy crawling all over the apartment with it on her back. I didn't take it off until bedtime.

Her Day in Court

Yesterday Sentayehu became a US citizen. It was adotion finalization day for her in Suffolk County Family Court. For those who do not know I will explain. Although the adoption in Ethiopia was full and final, the visa that she came into the US with did not make her a US citizen. It made her a resident. In order to become a citizen she needed to have paperwork filed with the courts here so we did that yesterday. I was a bit (to say the least) stressed because there is a tax credit for adoptions that is due to expire in 2009. There is a possibility that it will be renewed for 2o10, but not a guarantee so I was very pleased when I found out on Wednesday evening that it was a go for Friday the 18th of December. The court clerk said that it was the only date possible before the New Year. I was having camera issues so I had to use my cell phone to take the picture. I hope you like it. The stuffed snowman was a gift from the court!

Tis the Season

Last night was our church's Christmas concert and today I decorated the tree for Sentayehu and put up some lights and stockings. My whole more interesting blog just got deleted. So - enjoy the pics.

A Few More Pics

Wiped Out!A Thanksgiving Cupcake

Learning to Use a Straw

Some Lovin' from Pastor "Uncle" Jeffrey

To Make It Up to You

"Mommy, I'm stuck!"

Tub time with my fishies.

We're #1! Hangin' with the big girls after church.

Mommy and me @ TGIF's.

Getting ready for the babysitter's.

I know it has been so long, but I am going to get back into the swing of things. Here are a few pics from during the time I left you!

When I Was Done

My classroom was no where near what I wanted it to be, but this is how it was when I left Tuesday evening - what it looked like when I met students.

She Sleeps ...

from 8 pm - 6 am! I dont know what she is doing at the babysitter's with her friends but Sentayehu comes home, reads, plays with me, has a bath and bottle and is ready to fall asleep - not a peep till morning. This morning I had to wake her up. She is so adorable when she sleeps - when she is awake too!

SOOOO BIG!

OK, We've been working on this trick for a while. It seems that she just got it!

If You Can't Say Amen - Say OUCH!

OUCH!

When I went into work on Thursday I found that I was getting a new room so rather than set up my room I had to move out all the stuff from one room to another. I spent two days of my own time (and PAID a friend to come) before the first day that teachers have to report in and I still am soooo far from being ready. Tuesday I have one more day and Wednesday the kids come in. I'm in trouble!

Sorry So Slack

Ok - well, I have neglected this blog for too long, but now I am just so busy. I have to get ready to go back to work - :( which means leaving Sentayehu with a babysitter. I am very happy with the babysitter, just sad that I have to leave my baby. I will leave you with a few pics until I can devote some real time to a slideshow of our vacation to Trinidad.

BREAKING NEWS: BABY MOVES FORWARD

So, since I met Sentayehu at the end of June she has been stressed out that she "takes one stretch forward and two backward." This may be the beginning of something new! YAY, BABY!

Our New Toys

As I sit here typing this, I am waiting for my very first load of laundry to wash at my place. After years of dragging laundry to my mom's every weekend I finally have my own washer. This one also dries. It is an all in one - washer/dryer combo. I don't plan on using the drying feature too much because it will use a lot of electricity, but it is good to know I have it. AND the best part is that it is hidden in a cabinet (we are not supposed to have washers in the condo). Everyone else has one so I figured I would take the risk. In every thing else I made sure that I followed the rules in the renovation - licenced plummer, electrician, contractor. Hey, no one is follows ALL the rules ... Do they?

So, Sentayehu's new toy is one that have seen for years (ever since my friend's 5 year old was a baby). It is from the show Word World - a fish toy. The body is formed by the letters

F-I-S-H which are magnectic. I always liked them, but thought they were kind of expensive, but last night I went to Target and MANY toys were on clearance (30 - 75% off). The fish toy was about $3! I also got many toys for my cousins' children which I will save for Christmas.

One Month Home

Peace

Sentayehu looks so peaceful sleeping here. She is wrapped in a blanket that was made for her by my cousin's mother in law. She loves it and so do I.

Condo Update

I will just let these pictures speak for themselves. Naturally there are 1001 things that are not done yet - the "small" things and some biggies - like the grout crumbling and leaving little piles of sand on my countertops. Gotta call the contractor tomorrow - not looking forward to it.

Out of Town Visitors

We are having a very busy weekend. Some friends from Trinidad are visiting. I picked them up on Friday morning at JFK. We went to my mom's for a night so the contractor could finish up. Then Saturday it was off to the city to the Museum of Natural History and for Sentayehu's (and everyone other than myself in the party) first Ethiopian restaurant experience. I am pleased to say that everyone loved it - even the skeptical. S was wiped out at the end of the day.

Today we slept late and then went to Flushing Meadow Park to see the Queens Museum. There is a really nice panoramic model of the 5 boroughs there. My friends were very interested. I had been there quite a few times, but enjoyed myself. There is a also a display of Tiffany lamps and other various displays including those from the World Fair which was held there in 1939/40. My grandma (now 99 years old) always talks about going there when she was young. In the park there was a Colombian Day Independance celebration which added to the fun. Tomorrow my friends head out to Ohio and will return for a few days before heading back to Trinidad. Sentayehu is loving the extra attenion and back seat buddies. Normally she just has to sit alone back there.

Some New Pics

Just some summer fun pics. I love how my nephew is making Sentayehu laugh. When everyone else was busy he started making silly faces to make her laugh. She loved it. This was S first time in the pool. She enjoyed it, but it was so cold that I just kept her in for a few minutes.

Firsts

This is Sentayehu's first night in her own bedroom. It wasn't planned out. I was changing her pamper and she fell asleep on the changing table so I just put her in the crib. I was thinking that I would drop my mom's friends at the train station and that if she woke up my mother would have to pick her up. It would be easier to lift her from the crib than the pack and play. Normally she sleeps in the pack and play in my room during the night. We will see how it goes.

Today was Sentayehu's first day of church. She looked very cute in her blue dress with white eyelit and frilly socks. BTW - she loved church - especially the music. However, I was teaching Sunday school and it was kind of hard juggling three 4 year olds and an infant with the the loud teens in the same room. Overall it was good. Naturally, after church everyone was "eating her up". Two women in church are having baby girls in August so it will be great for S to have pals.

On Wednesday night I spent the night at my apartment with Sentayehu. I have a room for her there, but I like to have her close at night. She slept with 10 other babies in Ethiopia and I dont want her to feel lonely. She looks so adorable with the doll that my cousin gave her right after I found first got her picture.