Sisters, The Girls, B.F.F.s, Roomies

I'm the mom who loves to dress the kids up in matching "outfits" on certain days/occasions. Tory says his boys don't wear "outfits", but you know what I mean. And if they aren't matching then I shoot for similar colors of course (it also makes counting heads in public much easier). So the boys have always had matching Batman shirts and Superman shirts, ect...and Abi has had the girl version of each, her choice. But for quite some time she has asked and waited for a sister to share in her gained love for matching "outfits". And oh, the fun has just begun! Look at these sweet SISTERS!

10 months old, One month home

The kids will tell you that today is very important. Hannah is 10 months old. Yesterday she was 9 months old but today 10 months. Like a big time birthday. They don't realize it will come again in about 30 days too. Oh well, we are always up for celebrating! Celebrating is what we do everyday with our sweet Hannah. She is such a sweet addition to our family and everyone LOVES her so much. Each day she shows us more and more of who "Hannah Joy Giddens" truly is. Full of joy, she is melting our hearts.

It has been quite a productive month as well. One morning last week she decided to start clapping and babbling. She is so proud and has not stopped since. She is beginning to pull up on her own, though Nate always runs to her rescue before she quite gets there. Loves his baby sister! Her understanding of the English language is improving...she totally gets "no" now. She can pant like a puppy dog. She has developed an opinion about food that did not exist before...peas are a negative. (Don't blame her.) She can remain in a push up position longer than any of us. And she had her first doctors visit here with our peditrician as well as the international adoption pediatric physician here in Louisville. Both believe her to be very healthy and thrilled at how well she is doing and expect her to do. So, so much to celebrate! He has done great things for us! We are filled with joy!

The MANY faces of Nathan Thomas Giddens

Mean face

Surprised face

Surprised happy face

Mean happy face

Sad face

Real mean face

A Girls' Night celebrating Hannah's Homecoming

Some of my sweet friends from church threw a party for Hannah to celebrate what God has done in her adoption. These families have been so faithful to pray for us and walk with us through the rough and the rejoicing of each step of this process. We are blessed. Hannah loved her night and ATE UP all the love she was getting.

Love, LOVE these people! Thankful for our time with them.

3A

L to R: Hannah, Emma Jean, Sophie, Noah, Joshua, Emma M., Nate, Karina with her dad, Mr. Will, Will, and Jaylynn

I have had the privilege of teaching Nathan's Sunday school class for the past two years. Those two years came to a close this week and I had to say goodbye. I love each one of the kiddos as if they were my own. It has been so fun for me to see their sweet faces each week, to see them grow in God's Word, and develop relationships with each other. We have sung and danced, recited scripture so loud that the ENTIRE church could hear us, made BIG messes, laughed with puppets, and dined with some very tasty snacks of course. All for the glory of God.

And I must of course mention this sweet lady on the right. The one holding her handsome Guatemalan prince of a grandson. :) She has become one of my favorite ladies over the last couple of years. She is also known as the pastor's wife. And yes, since we began our search for a pastor's position, I have presented her with many questions. She holds her position so well and what seems so effortlessly. Thankful for her and her mentorship and example she sets for so many ladies at Ninth and O Baptist Church preparing for ministry. And of course "crowd control" in 3A.

A tooth...gone

That's right. Our big girl couldn't handle just the excitement of turning 6 AND a big birthday party all in one week. She had to get even bigger on us and LOSE HER FIRST TOOTH! She has been working on this guy for a few weeks now and her daddy finished it off for her last night. Not one tear shed, so brave, and she could not have been more excited. Her exact words I think were, "I can't believe I lost my tooth TONIGHT!" Congrats, Girl! But slow down a bit for us will ya?

An Artist birthday for Our Girl

Abigail turns 6!!

Our oldest turns six today. Seriously!?! It's all really unbelievable. And oh how we love this sweet girl! She is one like no other and maturing into a beautiful young woman inside and out. I love all the little things that make her Abigail, like her love for crafts, climbing anything and everything, animals, riding bikes, reading, wrestling her brothers and winning, late night chats, being modest... And I must add this little list of her birthday requests. (I just love this girl!)

• Birthday breakfast: donuts
• NO chocolate
• a pink stick horse so she can ride with her brother
• Birthday dinner: shrimp
• No "rest time"

Enjoying making my girl's birthday dreams come true today! Happy Birthday, Princess!