Congratulations

My bills are piled up and my list of things to do is longer than it's ever been but I still find time every few days to check in on my blog buddies and see what is happening. I've thought about cutting myself off and just can't bring myself to do it. Keeping up with everyone reminds me of the miracles that have occurred in my life over the past year. I am reminded of the ups and the downs of the adoption process and I squeeze my girls just a little tighter and give them an extra kiss good night. Thank you all for reminding me how special this journey is. I am jumping up and down for Renee and Geert and Courtney and Lindsey they begin the process once again. Congratulations and good luck. Please visit Renee's site and check out the tags she will be selling to help fund their next adoption. Everyone needs to buy some and $5.00 is way too cheap. This family deserves some tips! Also, congratulations to all the families that have passed court and received referrals. What an exciting few weeks it's been. Check out this site to see what is going on with the Gladney families but be careful blogging is addictive.

March Madness.........

Aloha Friends,

I know you are all on the edge of your seats waiting for an update on the Quinn Girls. Sorry it's taken me so long but these little darlings are keeping me busy. I am still attempting to find my balance and have a feeling I will continue to work on this. Most parents have shared that this will be a struggle for the next 18 years.

For the next two weeks I will be on Spring Break and am very grateful to have the break from work. I am loving every minute with my girls. Tsebay and Kozette are doing awesome. They are the cutest, most affectionate , smartest sisters. They fall more and more in love with each other daily and it is adorable. Being able to watch this bond develop is amazing. I am blessed to be their mommy. Tsebay is walking and talking and her pesonality is so sweet. She loves Elmo, brushing her teeth and eating. She really, really loves eating. Tsebay is easy going and is well bonded to her babysitter, Ange and her Aunt Shelly. She is starting to call me momma and it makes my heart melt. Tsebay gives lots of kisses but you only get them when she decides she's up for it. She attempts to keep up with her big sis and her language development is very impressive. The one thing she hates is getting her hair washed. Any tips in this area are greatly appreciated.

Kozette is a super intelligent. She understands everything and her vocabulary is expanding daily. Her favorites phrases are "I see" and "I'll be right back". She likes to act like she is going to work and driving a car. On the flip side she likes to act like a baby. She acts like she is learning to walk and if you didn't know better you would believe she is a baby. She is a drama queen. Kozette will respond to her name but calls herself I-ya-ya. This is a name she picked up at some point in Ethiopia and she is not letting it go. If anyone has any idea if there is any meaning to this name/word, please let me know.

We are having a blast! The pics below are from our afternoon at the beach park, a day at the beach and St. Patty's Day. The one with the computer is the girls and I catching up on our blogging. They are checking out the newest Gladney babe, Abe, being picked up by his mom and dad. We are thrilled for them.

Up until a week ago I was totally ruling out the Blog Union but after seeing how all of my other blog buddies are making it happen I'm hoping to do the same. This is a once in a lifetime and I'm going to do what I can to get there.

Beach Babes

Aloha all and thanks for checking in and being patient. I keep getting called out for not keeping up with the blog. I'm really sorry but we're just having so much fun. Kozette's days have been filled with new experiences and she seems to be enjoying every minute. She loves the beach and doesn't go anywhere without making a new friend. The girls are doing great with each other. It is so amazing to see the bond between them grow. It is the best to watch them laugh together and this is happening more and more frequently. I think they are both realizing this is our family now and it's going to stay this way.

Along with the smiles and laughs there are a few challenges. At the top of the list is sleeping. I look forward to a full night's sleep and promise to post more once I am well rested.

Back in the Swing of Things

It's been a month since my last post. I apologize for being such a slacker (I have some really good excuses but I won't go there). Thanks Mimi for covering for me. Isn't that what moms are for? I have so much to share and don't know where to begin. The trip to Ethiopia was amazing. It was like a homecoming. I was greeted by hugs and kisses and everyone was eager to hear about Tsebay. Meeting Kozette was amazing. It was like I was her momma her whole life. She attached herself to me from the first second and has pretty much been at my side ever since. Kozette is a wonderful little girl. She is sweet and compassionate and very loving. Don't get me wrong there are challenges but we get through them and she is improving every day.


On January 21st Tsebay turned one. We had a great party with family and friends. I can't believe how much my baby is growing. Her top two teeth are coming in and she is beginning to walk a few steps at a time. Her vocabulary continues to increase. Her most recent words are dog and Thank you. Tsebay continues to be a cuddle bug and enjoys having her sister around, most of the time. She has been a real trooper through this entire experience and I know I am blessed to have such a great baby.

The toughest part of adding Kozette to our family has been missing out on my 24/7 time with Tsebay. I am still working on the balance and have heard from many seasoned moms that this is always a challenge. The travel was exactly what you would imagine, pretty tough but we got through it and I'm sure I will be torturing myself again in this fashion sometime soon.

It was great to spend time and catch up with friends and family on the East Coast. Thank you to everyone for your love and support, especially Mimi and Pop Pop. We'll be back soon. We are settling in back on Maui and are lucky to have a super nanny, Ange. She passed the toughest test of all. She traveled with us from Philly to Maui and didn't quit. Ange is great with the girls. She is very positive and very consistent. It has been great introducing Kozette to her Aunt Shelly. I know they are going to be the best of friends.

Here is a slide show with some pics from the past month.

Gladney, what do I have to do to get my blog moved to the top of the page? I've been to Ethiopia and back twice!

Blanket Party

It's Mimi here -- I've had several emails from friends/fam saying they keep checking Maria's blog for updates. We're sorry she has been so busy with the kiddies.

First of all -- all is well. The Quinn Ohana is back on Maui as of last Wednesday. (Well all is well except for our empty nest here in Jersey -- but it's not about me, so I'll stop). Maria and Tsebay are recovering from bad head colds etc. which Rachelle managed to pick up as well. Kozette is doing just wonderful and Angie, their Nanny, is being loved by all.

I'm writing without Maria's permission, so I'll not go on. She's at work (her first day back today so I'm not checking in with her to see if I should be doing this :).

My reason for blogging is to share a project I just read about on another blog.
PLEASE GO TO:
http://owlhaven.wordpress.com/
(SORRY I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO THE LINK THING, SO YOU'LL HAVE TO TYPE IT IN)

and join the party! It is so wonderful to be joined to this community and have the knowledge that your contribution will go directly to the purpose stated. Providing a blanket to a new born baby -- can we play a simpler part in life than that!

THANK YOU ALL!

I'm adding a pic to hold you over til Maria gets back in the game. And by the way -- I just love my Granddaughters! They are precious, sweet, witty, full of personality -- and just a a little bonus - they also happen to be beautiful.

Kozette's First Day in the USA!

What a Day! ~ ACTION NEWS AND ALL.
All is well with the Quinn girls! Everyone is very tired (especially Mimi - well maybe especially Mommy who made the trip). I'll leave the details for Maria to post but I wanted to share the local news coverage of the girls' reunion! (link below -- you may recoginze some Ethipian pics that I stole, I mean borrowed from the Daileader's -- Thanks Heidi!)

I received a call at about 11am that the local ABC affiliate wanted to cover the story. Maria was due home at about 3:30pm. The well thought out plan was for a very low key environment for the arrival.

The best laid plans -- a house full of friends and family and a news van! In hindsight we decided since Kozette is used to living with about 300 kiddies, she would have been very bored with a small family welcome! She flourished with the crowd.

Kozette is pretty much joined at the hip to Maria -- but she is branching out a little more as time goes on. She is loving and sweet and witty - just like her sister. She practically sleeps on top of Maria, so my poor daughter is dreaming of the day she will get a full night's sleep. The girls are loving on each other. They are both great sleepers, so that's sure helping a lot with the transition for everyone.

There is stilling unpacking and repacking to do before they head to Maui next Wednesday. The problem is when the girls are up -- all we want to do is play. They are both great fun!

Tsebay will be one year old on Monday January 21st. We've planned a terrific birthday celebration at the Children's Discovery Museum where 20 of their little cousins and friends will help celebrate this joyous occasion.

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=5896522

Tsebay & Kozette ~ Together Forever!