Seven Weeks Home

Our days are so, so fast. After years of staring at the clock, praying & wishing these boys home, I am amazed at how quickly the hours go by. By the time we get dressed, cook & clean up breakfast & read books it's time to start making lunch. Clean that up, nap time, play or run errands & then it's time to start dinner. Bath time. Then bed time. We are settling in to a nice routine and really starting to feel like a family.


We read a LOT. About 2 hours a day when Papa's not home. Our library is pretty small, so the boys have memorized many of their favorite books. They often sing, say the words, or mimic my inflection as I read.


They have really surprised me, in the last few days especially, with their English. They are picking up odd words- like last night when we ate crab and Justin said "butter pot" when I picked up the tiny silver pan used only occasionally for melting butter. I can only recall ever pointing it out to him once.


Peterson's funny little personality is really coming out. He makes us laugh all the time. After a few weeks of persistent whining for everything I was getting pretty frustrated with him, but that has diminished considerably of late. In fact, whole days go by with no whining at all and I only realize it after everyone's asleep. It has been hard to be consistent and not give in to the temptation to overlook poor behavior or make excuses for them because of their difficult pasts. But the more we discipline consistently the less we need to at all. And our home is a happy one.


We have stuck to our guns with healthy foods- mostly fruits & veggies w/ grass fed meats and little sugar. They no longer pick certain things out of mixed dishes like curries, and they've learned to like all their veggies, including asparagus. :) We are starting to see their food preferences more clearly. Peterson is a tater man, through and through. Mashed, baked, fried, whatever. Justin always goes straight for the broccoli or other greenery, and he loves LOVES fish! J has slowed way down with his eating and is actually enjoying his food. The boys no longer ask to eat all day long. They trust us when we tell them another meal will come later. They don't eat stuff off the floor or from the trash any more. I set up a couple of "Cheetos traps" to teach that particular lesson. It may sound mean, but getting food poisoning from an old piece of meat found under a booster seat at home or in a restaurant would be much worse.

About a week ago I loaded mine and the boys' plates and took them to the table for dinner. As I began cutting up their coconut fried chicken I realized I'd put far too much food on all our plates. The chicken had been reheated and would not be good for a third meal, so I decided to make a test of it. We said our prayers of thanks and ate. When it was apparent we'd had our fill I stopped, sat down my fork & Justin's, took his hands and prayed that he would understand he'd had enough and that it was time to stop even though there was still food on his plate. He whimpered a little as I moved his plate away from him, but did not get too upset. I then prayed the same with Peterson, pushing his food to the center of the table as well. He got tears in his eyes for two seconds but did not complain. Rubbing my belly, I exclaimed that that was a good meal but I was too full to eat any more. I got up, took my plate to the kitchen, and scraped my uneaten food in to the trash. I was blown away when both boys brought their plates to the kitchen and did the same. With smiles on their faces!?! I was a happy, praise-filled Mama that night, to be sure!


The boys are starting to play independently a lot more. They still prefer to pile on mama's lap, but they don't cry & cling to me if I have to go move the laundry or unload the dishwasher. I am very encouraged to see them learning to be little men. They fight less and share more than they used to, as well. Their attention spans have increased a ton. When they came home they wouldn't play with toys or even watch a dvd for more than a minute or two. Justin can now focus for a half hour or more and Petey's not far behind him.


My mother came to visit for a few days recently, and the boys just loved her. They still ask for her and enjoy yelling "Gammaw!" while pointing at her photos. We love you, Grandma!


Our utility bills have doubled with all the extra water & electricity. $400 in June alone, ouch! I'm pretty sure this is mainly from washing so many cloth diapers. So much for saving money with cloth! But the boys' skin is too sensitive for disposables. In fact, Justin got a staph infection from scratching at a diaper rash caused by Pull-ups. So we've gotten very serious about potty training lately. A little post-nap chocolate seems to help them "remember" not to wet their beds during nap time. Justin was already trained to use the toilet during the day and Peterson hasn't had a day-time accident in three days! We do lots of praying about using the toilet. It sounds funny to pray out loud about poop and pee, but the Lord is answering! All things are possible with God.


Well, that was long. I plan to start doing shorter, more frequent updates in the next few weeks. But soon I am going to end this blog altogether. This blog was created to tell our adoption story. That story is now complete, and our lives are going in a new direction. So I am praying about starting a new blog. Something in me needs to write. But I'm waffling between private journaling and public blogging. What is best for the boys? What is best for other adoptive families? What will sanctify me? What will bring the most glory to God? Please feel free to leave a comment if you have any thoughts on this.

Papa's Big Day

Can you believe it? After six agonizing years (that we'd never trade, praise God!) we can finally say these words without flinching or holding back tears...

Happy Father's Day!!!!

Green Songs

We are a musical family. Well, Papa can actually play music and Mama likes music and singing. The boys can dance. They both LOVE singing, and they're learning to play bongos. Here are some examples of "music" at the Green house:

All four of us singing "Broccoli! Potato!" while making dinner

I made red beans & rice recently, and Justin made up a tune about bay leaves and celery.

The boys like to mix songs. Justin recently sang "Teen Low. Teet chewwiot... Commy Commy Kammy me loooh... O-badi! O-bada! La, la, la, Bah." Nothing like old hymns and the Beatles.

Peterson sings "Gobby Ga Boo" and Justin sings "Nonny Nah Poo" whenever they see the hunny-lovin' bear.

Greg, serving the peaches he's just grilled, singing, "Papa's Got Peach" (yes, to the tune of a certain Madonna song)

Tightening the Reins

You know those parents who don't allow all friends & family members to immediately hold or otherwise intimately care for their adopted children? I thought we could get away with not doing that. I was wrong.

It seemed harmless- just a bit of extra affection for children who've been starving for it for a long time, right? Maybe in some cases, but last night I saw it turn ugly. One of the boys learned that by giving our friends his most pathetic orphan look and raising his arms to be picked up that he could manipulate them with ease. Last night he ate enough food for five people by going from lap to lap, claiming to be hungry. It took us a while to realize what was happening since Papa was outside with the guys and Mama was inside with the ladies. It wasn't until we left the barbecue that we determined that he'd made multiple rounds inside and out. There were many times when I stopped people from feeding him. I'm sure they thought I was being cruel, but they didn't know he'd already had two chicken legs, tons of fruit, a large salad, garlic bread, potato salad and more- twice what I had eaten myself, and I was stuffed! And he'd had a large snack before we ever left home because I wasn't sure what time the bbq would be ready. I thought I was doing something positive by letting him socialize and get a few snuggles, but in reality I was helping him to feed his inner monster, literally. But gluttony was not the big issue. It was the lack of respect shown to our friends and to us. To them I'm sure it looked like the poor dear just wanted some food and a warm lap, but I saw the greed in his eyes and I heard him use rude, demanding Creole words which are forbidden at our house - words I haven't heard him speak in a month! He'd been waiting weeks for an opportunity to say them again- to give orders to adults unfamiliar with our rules and his language. He delighted as they unknowingly gratified his desire to dominate them. Oh, the depths of our sinfulness! Besides gorging himself he repeatedly whined in Creole for water, which he is required to ask for respectfully in English at home. He was careful to avoid eye contact with me, absolutely aware that he was out of line. Our friends did not know they were being used. The manipulation was skillful, frighteningly so.

So we have determined not to allow others to hold or feed him for the present. If you are a friend of ours, please understand. He needs consistency and close supervision that's just not possible when he's being passed from lap to lap. He also needs to understand that Mama and Papa will supply all his physical and emotional needs- that that's why God put him in our family. Last, it is imperative that he learn that adults (whether friends or strangers) are not nannies. It scares me to death to think he would willingly go with anyone who offered him Cheetos or a hug. But he would. Not a moment's hesitation. So if you see us out in public and he asks you for affection or food- please give him a high five and kindly direct him back to us. Thanks for understanding!

I'm Alive

Hello friends. I have missed you! I have sat down many times wanting to write a new post, but there is so much newness in our lives, so much being revealed in my heart and in the boys' hearts, so much learning, so much teaching, etc. that I just haven't been able to put down anything coherent. I'm still having that problem, but a post is long overdue, so please bear with me.

The boys have been home for almost five weeks. I find that very hard to believe. In many ways it feels like they've always been here. They certainly feel like our kids the more we see of their personalities. But I don't feel totally "established" as a Mama yet. You know when you move to a new place and it takes a while for it to feel like home? One day you just wake up and realize that it feels like home, but you can't put your finger on when it happened... Well, I'm still waiting for that day. I just don't feel quite settled yet.

The boys are fun and sweet, when they're not tattling on each other or fighting. We have a lot of work to do in those areas. The biggest problem is me. They occasionally argue over a toy, but generally it's a fight for Mama's affections. If one of them asks me to look at something and I look the other one immediately asks me to look at the same thing or at something else. If I pick up one the other pouts. If I give one some water the other suddenly needs water, too. If I hug and kiss one the other acts like he's being mistreated or unloved. I feel like they are keeping tallies of every glance, hug, piece of food, etc... I must admit I'm very weary from it all. I tell them I love them both and that they have to share me just as they have to share other things and that they must love another and respect each others' needs, but I know I just sound to them like Mike Brady giving Bobby & Cindy one of his babbling lectures. They try, all day, to get each other in trouble. They each want to see the other be punished. I am saddened by the selfishness and lack of love for one another in their hearts. These traits exist in my own heart, and they are magnified as I witness them in the boys. I know how to communicate with them regarding food, drink, clothing and other basic needs, but I really regret not learning more Creole that would help me communicate to them the hardness of their hearts. I am dealing with the outward behaviors, but I am not able to explain clearly to them the rationale behind discipline in a way that I'm certain they can understand. That really bothers me. I want them to understand why they behave the way they do, not just that's it's wrong. I want them to understand their need for a Savior and to experience the joy of knowing Christ when they are young- not at nearly 30 like me! I grew up thinking only of myself. I want so much more for them. Then again, God has already planned all their days including those when J & P will come to treasure Him. My lack of Creole vocab can't undermine His sovereignty. Thank goodness!

Still sometimes, when someone calls a bicycle a tomato, I just want to burst in to tears. They will often seem to learn a word, use it a lot, and then forget it the next day. Understand I am not upset with the boys for not learning English in five weeks! I just wish I were better versed in their language. The basic stuff they do every day, like taking baths, eating meals, getting dressed (the stuff I DID learn) is no longer of much use to us. They learned the English words for those things in just a couple weeks. I want to talk with them about more than just balls and potties. But I can't. So I can only repent for not studying harder and wait for their understanding of English to grow.

There is some "selective learning" going on. They've been taught, for example, what whining is- exactly what it looks and sounds like- countless times. But when someone does it and is told (in Creole) that it's not allowed they stare at me as if I'm speaking Charlie Brown's teacher's language. But show them one grape and let them taste it and they know the word grape forever! I find it hard to guide them when I can't be certain whether or not they truly understand something. I want to be fair. Were you ever punished for something that you did not understand? I was, and those confused, sad moments are permanently etched in my brain. I don't want the boys to have memories like those.

Oh, and speaking of that- the stuff that sticks. Isn't that SO scary for any parent? Isn't it odd the memories that end up being with you forever? I remember my baby doll bottles behind a stack of newspapers when I was 3. Why do I remember that and virtually nothing else before kindergarten? I have often prayed, "Oh Lord, please erase that incident and my awful reaction to it from his little mind. Don't let that one stick!"

Well, I hear someone waking up... Hm. This has not been a very positive post. I really have lots of sweets and goodies to share, too. As soon as I get a chance.

You can think a long time about Snuvs and their gloves.

Papa's Shoes

At the Potato Farm

Petey riding in the backhoe

Justin the tough guy driver

fake hand holding

My fridge is covered in magnetic letters. Hallelujah.

Sorry it's been so long. Today is my first "normal" feeling day after two weeks of multiple sicknesses you don't want to hear about. Haiti kids come with catchable stuff, and that's all I'm gonna say.

The more I'm around our delicious boys the I'm convinced that the nannies at the O will be seated at God's right hand in heaven.


Dusts jackets on toddler books. What moron came up with that idea?

When Justin says "Atticus" it sounds like "Alleycat," which is just so adorable!

Roasted garlic & shallots, zucchini, grilled peaches, huge salads, okra, broccoli, Brussels sprouts (yup!), cantaloupe, risotto, meat loaf, Indian food, avocado, fancy cheeses, assorted nuts... They love it all. They'll even try to drink any of daddy's famous salad dressing that's left at the bottom of the bowl. J & P are truly a culinary parents' dream come true. Thank You, Jesus!

The boys ask for food all day, every day, even if they've just stuffed themselves senseless. I assume this is some sort of trust thing, and I do my best to patiently say "later" or "wait," but sometimes the constant begging really unsettles me. Do they really think I'd let them go hungry?

At the O the boys learned to ignore their inner sense of fullness. They'll just eat and eat' til their plates are empty whether they're hungry or not. Several times I have found one of them chewing on a piece of food from a meal that we ate a couple HOURS before. They will also "forage" scraps from the trash, dining chairs, etc... I am surprised no one has tried cat food. Yet. I still remember my first taste of Tender Vittles, and I'll NEVER forget the horrifying, extremely disappointing flavor of Gaines Burgers. Do they still make those?

I thought I could get the boys to stop asking for my (delicious, creamy, sugary) coffee by giving them each a sip of plain, black coffee. They both loved it and begged for more. Aren't I brilliant?

I now understand why all the white kids clothes are always on clearance. Today I let the boys each pick out a new shirt at Wal-Mart for the first time ever. Petey chose a light blue one. (Not bad... That will hide some stuff.) Justin chose brown. (Yeah!!!)


Petey woke up from a nap the other day and sleepily toddled out of his room. I squatted down at the end of our long hallway and he ran to me, arms outstretched, with a huge smile on his face. That was one of my favorite moments so far.


We had a "movie afternoon" when it rained and rained for over a week. The boys loved the olive-oil popped Amish miniature popcorn, but they really didn't give a fig about the movie. I've tried showing them 20-minute shows like the Flintstones while I prepared meals and they've made it clear that they'd rather stand next to me or sit nearby on the floor and watch me cook than watch the cartoon. Our boys were truly loved at the O. But it is so obvious that they didn't have a "real" mama. It breaks my heart sometimes to see how much they desire one. I hope we can somehow make up for what they lost yesterday while also providing what they need today. That's a tall, daunting order.


It's been more than two weeks, and I'm still telling myself they are here when I wake up each day. I am having a hard time believing that this is a permanent gig.


You have NEVER seen a bigger smile on J than when he's eating Papa's grilled shrimp with garlic butter. Ever!

When I was putting away the long BBQ tongs from the dishwasher one morning Petey saw them and yelled "PAPA!"

The boys like to make bubble beards in the bath tub, like Papas.


I need one of those split heart "Be Fri / st ends" necklaces for me and my Spray 'N Wash Stain Stick.


The boys would take baths, wash their hands and brush their teeth 56 times a day if I'd let them. They are IN LOVE with warm running water.

The boys yell "Gade, Mama!" every time a cat passes by. With 3 cats, this equates to about 8,412 sightings per day. How do you say, "It's cool. Really... we are well aware that the cats move, eat, sleep and stuff..." in Creole?

Similarly, they yell at EVERY passing car, bicycle, motorcycle, and pedestrian.


I have waited forever for my fridge to look like this. Yahoo!

There is a major competition going on to be mama's favorite. Lots of fighting to sit next to mama on the couch, TONS of tattling, and plenty of general bickering. This is the hardest thing for me right now. I want to give them both all my love and attention, but generally whoever's misbahaving ends up getting the most time. And there's always cooking, cleaning, laundry, bill-paying, etc. to do. They really are very much babies still, Petey especially. I think he would be perfectly fine with me just sitting on the couch and holding him for hours at a stretch. No toys. No books. No videos. Just cuddles. I really struggle with holding them enough, knowing how much family time they have missed, but still keeping our house in some sort of order and keeping socks in our drawers...

I'll probably get shot for this, but I miss the kitties. They don't hang out so closely now with all the strange, loud noises around. They were our "children" for so long. I hope they know I love them just as much still.


We've eaten out once since the boys came home- at a fried fish place. Justin finished his basket of fish and fries and was left with only two lemon wedges. I handed the camera to Greg, thinking he could get a great shot of J making a funny face when he bit in to a lemon. It didn't happen. Instead, he bit in to it and sucked the juice as if it were an orange! He bit in to the second slice just the same. Then he tried to drink the remnants of his paper cup of tartar sauce. Oh, brother!

Papa said out loud the other day something I have often thought- "I'm so glad when their bed time comes around, but then they go to sleep and I miss them."

Progress

After being home for less than a week, "cat-terrified" Justin is already chasing Scout all over the house, usually while yelling "Mee-Yow! Mee-Yow!" Such a sweet kitty- She's handling it well. :)

Atticus finally came out from hiding and sat in my lap tonight while I was holding Peterson. Petey grabbed his tail and began rubbing it against his face. Now I know both boys are really Greens! Cause true Greens love kitties, you see...

More Random Thoughts & Moments

How does twice the family size equal six times the dishes and 47 times the laundry?

Peterson had a squealing laughter FIT yesterday when I choked on my water and couldn't stop coughing.

Justin won't stop chasing Scout so he can pet her. :) I'll get a pic up here soon.

The pretty floral arrangement that used to sit in the center of our dining table has been replaced by a box of Huggies wipes.

I love, love, love that Justin poops in the toilet on his own! One big advantage to adopting an older child...

I've washed one of my cloth diapers 9 times and it still smells like Haiti poo! Sticking with disposables 'til poos normalize. I started to notice some positive changes in that area yesterday, thank God!

Whenever I can't understand something Justin is saying he repeats it slowly and loudly. Too funny!

Justin can finish a gigantic plate of food in 12 seconds. It takes Petey an hour to eat just a few ounces. Just like Papa and Mama.

I gave Petey a haircut in our living room, and he did not get upset at all. What a blessing!

The runny noses and kennel cough have decreased dramatically. Yeah!

This morning I ran outside in the POURING rain to grab a patio chair and drag it beneath the front doorway. I had a heavy bag of items ready to donate to a local charity that was coming by at any moment, and I didn't want to set the donations on the ground where they'd get wet. Just as I turned around to come back inside I heard it. "Clack!" Oh no! Fearing the worst I pushed down on the door lever. It didn't budge. Justin had inadvertently locked me out. The little stinker! Some anger, but mainly panic, arose in my heart. They could get to knives, start a fire, drown in the toilet... Who knew what they might do? Oh the thinks you can think when you've been reading Dr. Seuss all week! But they were just as worried as I was, and didn't move at all. It took about 6 minutes for my English and their Creole to meld in to something that made sense to Justin, at least enough to unlock the deadbolt. And that was the end of that fiasco. Thank God!

The boys enjoyed more new flavors today- oranges, lima beans with gravy, and Papa's fantabulous chicken soup. They also had watermelon and pineapple, but I am pretty sure they've had those before- once or twice anyway.

The poo-fest persists. Exactly 12 seconds after his bath Peter let loose. Darn, he smelled so sweet for those few seconds! I cleaned him up, but I should have waited. 5 minutes later another poo stank smacked us in the face. Foul. Very foul. I truly can not wait until these boys are healthy, or at least a little less explosive. It has been raining like CRAZY for 4 days straight, and there's no end in sight for another week, at least. So we've been pretty limited in our excursions. I'm also sick. Apparently, I can't even go two days in Haiti without pain in my lungs, a scratchy throat, and losing my voice. I thought surely I would escape this time, but no such luck- The fourth trip was just as the first, although I don't anticipate the chest pain lasting 3 months as it did the first time. Our A/C went out last Saturday. We hope it will be fixed tomorrow, but noone has called to confirm. I have a feeling getting rid of the dampness would help a lot. But God has used this pain in the butt for good, too. The boys sleep GREAT when it's damp and uncomfortable. We've learned that turning off the a/c in their room is a necessity, as soon as we have a choice.

Good night!

5 & 1/2 Days Home

The boys are sleeping through the night in their own room with few exceptions. What a HUGE, HUGE, HUGE answer to prayer!

J & P are somewhat afraid of the kitties, but it only took a few hours for the real screams to become fake, "Are you gonna protect me, Mama?" tests. They have both enjoyed petting Pixie and Scout, as long as I'm holding the "lucky" cat. On his second day home Peterson spent a half hour playing with Legos while Scout sat just a few feet away. Amazing! I've got to hand it to bitter old Pixie... She really is trying to be sweet, okay cordial, to the boys. If you've ever met her you know that this is almost as miraculous as a virgin birth. Atticus is having the hardest time with the transition. He is hiding all day, poor kitty. But I know his addiction to belly rubs will get the better of him eventually and he'll have to come out from under the bed.

Justin loves daddy's grilled chicken. It is "suck every atom of meat from the drumstick, bite in to the dry bone, and then suck it like a lollipop" kinda love.

This tool, which I've made fun of for years, is now on my wish list. We're going through mangoes almost as quickly as we're going through diapers.

New food friends: daddy's quiche, shepherd's pie, grapes, Thai coconut curry w/ butternut squash, bacon, assorted nuts, golden raisins, 70% dark chocolate. The only thing they both did not like at all was grilled asparagus.

Getting these boys cleaned out has been pretty horrific. The sudden introduction of fiber in to their diets when they're accustomed to eating only white rice, corn gruel, sugar and other non-nutritive fillers has led to some majorly stinky explosions. Ten poops per day per child is not uncommon. But the boys are looking GREAT as a result. Petey is much more energetic and mentally "with it." Both boys had really dry, ashy skin a few days ago. Now Petey's legs are a lovely dark chocolate and Justin's are a rich caramel. They didn't look this good before even after I put lotion all over them.

Is there anything more rewarding than finding a diarrhea-filled diaper in the middle of your carpeted hallway... with matching poo footprints leading away from the scene? I don't think so.

My floors are actually cleaner than usual. The boys will eat any little crumbs they come across. Pieces of onion skin, potato peels, dirt from potted plants... It's all good for the tastin'. Silly me. I never though to put "kitchen trash can with lid" on my baby registry.

Justin found a can of coke in a closet and opened it right up. With his teeth! Eeek! Is that a Haitian thing?

The boys were superb at Wal-Mart. Aside from begging for candy at the checkout they were perfect angels the whole time. Even when we said no to candy. No joke.

Greg played Synchronicity and Justin really got down and danced for us. Hilarious!

Poh-deh-doe! This is Justin's version of potato. Peterson says peh-ta-tah. Adorable. Tonight we're having bwa-kee-leh and kee-tin, which is Justin for broccoli and chicken.

The boys "help" me with all my housework, but they are not allowed to be in the kitchen while I'm cooking. Raw meat, big knives, boiling water, hot burners... Too many opportunities for disaster when Mama's alone with the boys and can't see in all directions. So we've trained them to stand at the edge of the carpet where the kitchen tile begins. Now I just have to say "Mama's cooking. Time to get out!" and they go right to the carpet. Yesterday I was in the kitchen with J & P and I took out a pot from a cabinet. Peterson looked at the pot, then looked up at me and said, "Mama, OUT?" Sooo cute!!

Fresh mashed potato crumbs don't vacuum nicely. The trick is to let them dry a while first. Overnight is ideal. :) Meat and most veggies, however, can be sucked from the carpet shortly after impact. If you see the person who installed carpet in our dining room please send him over so I can give him a good roundhouse kick in the neck. Tell him to come alone. You don't even want to see my awesome roundhouse kick.

Petey is a "machine" freak. Okay, J, too, but Petey especially. He is UBER-excited about any and every moving vehicle. Even all the lame Buicks around here that all the retirees drive. He SCREAMS for the trash truck. The driver honked at him yesterday, and you'd have thought he'd won a billion candy bars! Those of you who've sent package gifts, THANK YOU! The gifts are great, but it's the thrill of seeing the UPS man getting out of his big truck and walking to our door that is most fantastical to J & P. I am pretty sure no one greets USPS, UPS, FedEx, etc. with the enthusiasm of our boys. The delivery dudes always leave with big smiles on their faces.

Apparently, singing songs about poop and pee is a universal thing. Justin makes up a new "tata, peepee" tune EVERY time we change Petey's diaper. On their second day home I asked Justin to get me a diaper while I was in the middle of changing Peterson. He tried to hand me something that was not a diaper, then something else. On the third try he figured out what I was asking for and got me a diaper. Petey started clapping and shouted, "Brava!" How funny is that? Oh my goodness, these boys are bringing joy to my heart!

What fast, beautiful days these are! Above all I ever dared to ask or imagine. I know things won't always be this easy, but for today I am jubilant- blessed beyond my own ability to even comprehend it. Thank You, God, for every bit of the agonizing wait. (I never thought I'd say that with sincerity!!) You used every tear-filled moment to knit us closer together as a family. It seemed impossible that such a thing could happen without them in our arms- by way of weak prayers to heaven for children across an ocean. I am in awe of Your amazing grace.


Petey "petting" Scout


Justin on the couch (Who IS this happy boy???)


Peter says thank you, Miranda, for the kaleidoscope!


Justin at a nearby pier


Watching the "machines" roll by...


Justin loves his bongos from Uncle Thomas & Aunt Laura!


My new "mom hair." Fab, eh?

Photo Update- from Haiti to Home

Perfect

Our visas were finished and picked up on Monday.

Our flights were smooth and on time this morning.

Justin went straight to his papa!!!!!!!!!!!

P & J are both just wonderful.

I would nap with them, but I can't seem to sleep. This is too good to miss.