Updating

Whew, it has been a while since I have taken opportunity to post pictures of my fabulous children:) Here are some of my favorites over the past few weeks.

Aliya is doing fantastically well. She is walking behind a walker, waving hi and bye and absorbing her world in amazing ways. She continues to be THE best baby. I included a crying photo during our Christmas picture attempts, partly due to it's novelty.

I hope everyone has had a Merry Christmas and has taken time out to enjoy family and praise God for making this trek to earth to give us life everlasting. May we seek to make this new year joyful.

OH... MY... GOODNESS...

This is Aliya's NEWEST talent. We are calling it - Kissy Face.

Christmas

Christmas Morning. She is enjoying herself!

Micah REALLY likes it!

What is in HERE?

Uncle Steve is lots of fun.

Grandpa Farrand is SOOO funny:)

Pretty Sarah all dressed up for the occassion.

My handsome men.

The Bracy grandkids. Satoshi, Mukai, Joshua, Sarah, Micah, Aliya. Oh... and Grandma and Grandpa:)

Joshua's Art Work

This was at the Christmas Showcase that our Co-Op puts on.

Merry Christmas. Every One.

This one didn't make our Christmas card.

Other Notable Mentions

Dinner Conversation

This is a sampling of our dinner music every dinner, all dinner.

"Hi"

Yes, she is precious!

Part of the "Christening" of every Farrand child is THE sink bath up north. She is official.

Oh Yeah.

Two Weeks

What a difference a couple of weeks can make. Two weeks ago we picked up a little girl from an orphanage. In that time we have been to Rwanda, Ethiopia, our home, and then on vacation in northern Michigan and then Lapeer, and now back home again. Where we have been is less important than what Aliya has already become. Two weeks ago Aliya was quite expressionless. When I received her referral pictures I began to fret over the somber face staring back at me. In all four photos, Aliya was serious somber. Not all the babies in her room were so serious. My friend is adopting a little girl that I had the privilege of meeting and cuddling for a few minutes two weeks ago this morning. She needed little encouragement to spread out a wide gummy smile. But Aliya was stone faced. We remarked at what a good baby she was, never crying, never fussing. I remember her first half hearted cry. I was pleased she began to understand that she could communicate and express needs to me. Today, she fusses and cries to show her displeasure. Her first smiles were tentative and quick. Now, her smile lights up her face. She needs precious little encouragement to flash her adorable dimples your way. She didn't ever squirm, not in diaper changes, not in face washings, not in nose wipings. Now I practically need a harness to hold her still long enough to change her diaper. I remember her first sounds. She hasn't made them quite the same way as she did the first couple of days she learned she had a voice. I don't know if she couldn't quite hear her own voice before, or if she didn't bother much with it before we met her. But there was a definite voice learning time. She would open her mouth to its widest "o" position (and that was considerable might I add:)) and make the smallest little "aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh" babble. Last night at dinner we all laughed at her and told her she was making far too much noise as she was chattering away. She says "dadadada" with great skill. We are working on "mamama". I think the first few days were overwhelming to her. That is understandable. She was minding her own business when all of a sudden two strange faces came and swooped her away. She entered a world of new sights and sounds and feels. She was captured by the enormity of it all. She is doing phenomenally well. Aliya Grace seems to have been a Farrand for quite some time, but when I look at the calendar it tries to convince me that it has only been two weeks.

Extra Precious.

Dimples.

Check out her expression!