Let's cook!

I've just realized that for some reason a bunch of posts have begun with only two words for my title. I try to think of cool titles to catch your interest, so I guess I'm into two worded titles right now!

But, going to cooking.... Ethan and Ana are cooking in these pictures. Ana was so cute in her cook outfit, I just had to take her picture. The hat is held together by velcroe, (I can't think how to spell it. Augggghhh!), so Ana didn't have so much fun taking it off later, but she still has hair so we're good.

 They were playing cook outside and were very intent on it for a long time.  I believe this was a day when I was watching them while Mom was gone and I was trying to get schoolwork done. I was so thankful that they were so busy playing nicely and quietly!

Ethiopian Clothes

We had so many things to get whenever we were at the Ethiopian market that it was really hard to get EXACTLY what we wanted sometimes, but I think we did pretty well. I'm especially happy with the Ethiopian clothes Ana and I have. Ana wore her Ethiopian dress for the first time last Sunday. There are several ways you can put the scarf. Around your head, around your waist, hanging around your neck, etc. When Ana first tried on her dress, I tied the scarf in her hair and I LOVE it! She looks so pretty in her Ethiopian clothes. (picture below)

We can't forget Ethan. He was looking so handsome Sunday as well! I HAD to take his picture. He's not wearing Ethiopian clothes, but who cares???

Minte Dances!!!!!

Minte loves to dance. He jumps, twirls, and wiggles. We think he's pretty cute! If you hang in there until near the end, he bounces his arm up and down as he mouths words. That's his newest thing.

THE VIDEO!

What's going on? Minte is luring me to his seat by offering kisses. Once I go to kiss him, he grabs my head, slams, (he had a little help!) it to his tray, and cracks up.

May I be weird?

I'm gonna take the chance of seeming weird. This was our bathroom in Ethiopia. We were on the third floor and this was the bathroom the whole third floor shared. Fortunately we took up all the rooms on the third floor!!! ;-)  The bathroom wasn't small, but it wasn't large either. It had a toilet, sink, shower, and a changing table that could also be a bathtub.

May I bring your attention to the shower? As you can see, there was a step to the toilet-shower area and the shower floor barely goes into the floor. There was a blue, "don't slip" mat down on it to help you keep your balance while taking the tight shower. And the bar soap holder was outside the shower. The hot water knob kept coming off! I'm not making fun of it. I'm not. I just thought you might find it interesting. I did.

So I know I'm weird. But here's our bathroom.

An Airplane Toy

 Remember these pictures of our sweet little Buddy? These were the pictures we had before we met Minte. They were the only pictures we had of him. I shared these pictures with you back in November. And looking at the post, I thought I remembered mentioning that as soon as Dad and Mom got these pictures, they bought him the airplane, but I can't find the post... hmmm. Anyways, so yeah, when Dad and Mom saw all these pictures with Minte on this Elmo plane, they quickly bought it. It sat in our foyer for months. And finally on March 12th, it was used!

 Minte at the Care Center

 Again

And again. The day we actually met him, the nannies pointed out the plane for us to use as we played with him. Although the buttons didn't work, he quickly showed us his skill in moving it! And making Dad move it for him!!!

And this is him at home with his favorite plane. He has figured out the buttons, the slider windows on the side, the seat, and will scoot himself around, (usually backwards). He also has found that if he gets the propeller going, he can lean in towards it until it almost bumps his mouth. That makes us laugh!!! And makes him laugh too!

An update

I miss Ethiopia. When I was there I quickly got homesick. But can it be possible that after only a week in another country, I would miss it a month later? I miss the kids a lot. Not only the kids at the Care Center, but the adorable kids we met on our trips! I wish I had taken more time with them. The scenery in the country- WOW! It's amazing! We just snapped picture after picture!!!! Not all of them turned out well and a lot are repeats, but it is still gorgeous and fun to remember!!!

What can I tell you that's new????

Us kids have been back to school since the week after we got back. I don't know what Mom thinks, but I think it's not any harder to get schoolwork done with Minte here than when it was without him home. (Course I'm not Mom trying to make his soups, watch the kids, homeschool, clean, and still be in a good mood! I just have my chores and schoolwork!!)Ethan and Ana have been great with entertaining and playing with Min while the rest of us are busy. We just need to keep an ear out for squeals of protest!

I'm back to my leaving to go somewhere almost every day and Luke is back, (did he take a break??!) to his HTML, websites, and friends. He LOVES creating websites and has asked me to put his web address on Em Wants More. He's also tried to get me to start an adoption website. But I'd rather stick to Blogger where I at least have some idea what I have to do and what to push! His first website is about randomness. Really.

Ana is reading!!!! Hooray! Mom has been working really hard with her to sound out words, but it just didn't "click" that the sounds sounded like words. But a few weeks ago, (should've told you sooner, sorry!! :-), she really got it and read a whole Bob book, (kinda like Dick and Jane). Kit sat on Pat. Pat sat on the bag. Wow, Pat is flat! Somethin' like that!! ;-)

Ethan is learning about fractions in math, ( I think! Mom was saying something about him and fractions today!) He also is starting grammar stuff. Learning pronouns, prepositions, adverbs, and all that fun stuff. The book is kinda interesting and teaches in a different way. It's not textbook style. It's like a book that both teacher and student have to communicate with. Like Mom will have E walk around the room and will say, "You are past the book. Past is a preposition." I think it helps E-E understand better.

Woody. Wood is hanging in there. Minte is now completely comfortable with Woody, (unless he barks or growls OR unless he gets hit in the face with Woody's big, bone tail), and will climb right over him. Too cute! Woody just looks at us, "Help?" He still gets in that trash and still has smell problems. Lovely.

Oh, this is funny, Minte is pretty comfortable with the kitties too. He will chase them all over the house. The poor cats will fly from door to door trying to get out. Min's latest thing is to crawl after them and has twice climbed right over, (or more like right on top of) Collie. Coll's pretty patient though, and a minute after will push his face against Minte's or against his rear end. This makes Minte REALLY wild and he will crawl excitedly after him, pushing his face into Collar Dude's side like he himself is a cat. I hope to get a video of it soon!!!

Speaking of videos, I haven't forgotten those videos I promised a while ago. They're still on the camera and I don't know how to get them off until Dad shows me and Dad doesn't have time to help me because he needs to take care of the finances!!! So sooooon... someday.

My updates are usually pretty boring, so I apologize and I will try to come up with something creative soon!!

Ethiopia

Minte Signs

Because of the language difference and because Min's still a baby, we are encouraging and trying to teach him sign language. Or at least simple signs that will help us understand what he needs. He is so smart and has caught on so quickly!!!!!

First of all, he points. This is pretty normal with toddlers, but we are really happy he does this, as we can understand what he's babbling about or thinking about. He points where he wants to go or whenever he sees a cat or animal he wants to share with you.

He also says please. This usually follows his pointing. For example, first he'll point to the ground and then rub his tummy,(the sign for please). This means he would like to get down please. Or he'll pretend to push the tray off his seat and look at us and sign please, or he might point to the door and say please to ask to go outside. We began teaching him this sign back in Ethiopia.When we were at the guest house, he would push blocks off the bed and then fuss until someone picked them up. So Mom had us tell him to say please and then take his hand and rub his own belly. He caught on pretty fast that that got him things!!!!

Minte has also caught on to "more". He touches his fingers together when he wants more food. Sometimes he teases, and will sign more, and turn away when we go to feed him!!!

If he doesn't want to do something or he doesn't want "more", he will shake his head violently!!!! It is so cute, though rather annoying for Mom when she's trying to feed him. He uses no pretty correctly. Sometimes he'll reach out for something after he's said no, but I don't know whether he's teasing or what!!! :-)

Mom is also in the midst of teaching him "cat". He LOVES the cats. From a distance. Or at least when they aren't licking his toes, or in his face. He likes to go by himself, chase a cat until it finally is still, touch or hit it, and then squeal and run to tell us he touched the kitty!  One of the first days Mom was using this sign, she pointed to a cat in a book and pinched at her cheeks,( the sign for cats. Think of it as showing whiskers!) Minte got VERY excited and quickly pinched his cheeks and pointed to a grandma on a book!!!! But I think he's starting to get the idea now. Today I was holding him outside and he saw a kitty. He quickly got my attention, pointed to the kitty, made the sign for kitty, and then pointed at it again!!! I was so excited!!!!

Minte also has created his own sign for doggy. He puckers his lips and blows out sharply making a whooshing sound. (barking!) Usually when he sees Woody he starts going crazy, pointing, blowing, pointing, blowing, and in the meantime making sure he doesn't get too close!!! Lately our screensaver on the computer has been on during supper. That is not good! Every time a picture of Woody comes up, Minte starts going frantic, and spits his food all over in his eagerness to share his news with everyone!!!

Minte also signs "bye-bye", but he connects this more to the cats. If we say bye-bye to him, his eyes get big and they turn to the slider door to see the kitties. But sometimes he gets it, and will wave bye-bye when we leave or "hi" (same motion), when we come home.

Dad has also taught him to blow kisses! It is very sweet!

I think I've shared all his signs. We are working on drink and food. Right now he just points or reaches!

One more thing

Earlier today I posted some pictures of Minte, so don't miss seeing them!

Most of you probably know that we are keeping Minte at home for now to make sure he is bonded to us before we bring him other places with more people. The reason we're doing this is because it is very important that he knows we're his family and that we'll always be there.

Please look at this attachment article. It's exactly what we're doing and how we feel. http://transracial.adoptionblogs.com/weblogs/attachment-tips-and-resources

More Pictures of Minte

This was the morning we had him home with us for the first time. Mom checked his shoes to make sure his toes weren't too snug. He thought that was so cool, so now when he puts on his shoes, he feels the toes!
Daddy and his new baby boy

Minte with his mommy. This was the first morning after he was officially ours.

Minte loved this car. Actually, he was really scared of it the first few days, but as you can see, by the end of the day, he was really loving to ride in it. I took this picture from our bedroom window, (that's why it's so high up).

When we had him at the guest house, we sat Minte on the bed with a bunch of toys and then we'd play with him. He loved the stacked cups. He was really intent on stacking them and was shocked when I knocked over a tower and laughed! But it didn't take him long to catch on to the idea, and soon he was knocking over my towers and cracking up.

Minte in his special hat! He has the sun glaring on his face, so it's all squished up! I'm planning on posting two videos tonight. We'll see if it works out.

Happy Easter Everyone!

Min

Okay, I've tried hard to get pictures to work, but they just aren't cooperating AGAIN! So, you'll have to deal with my writing. I promise I'll have Dad look at it soon!

So what are some cute things I can share with you about Minte??

Well, one- his kisses. We've discovered that he kisses "Ethiopian"! Whenever we lean in to give him a kiss, he turns his face sideways so that we kiss the air on one side of him. Then he turns to the other side, and we kiss that side. One time he accidentally brushed Mom's lips while he was going through the rountine, and he FREAKED OUT!  Then a few days later she kissed him accidentally on the lips and he thought that was SO cool! So he goes back and forth between Ethiopian and "normal" kissing. He even puckers his lips so we don't get big, wet kisses like the ones Ethan and Ana used to give.

Minte also adores being outside. He does not like long grass though. He prefers running up and down the driveway chasing balls. Or he'll chase the cats up and down the driveway. One time Luke got him to stand in the grass and then Collar Dude came over to be petted and then the cat rubbed against Min! Minte did NOT like that!

Minte loves to sing and will sing away for a LOOOOOONG time.

I would share more, but I have to go already. So sorry it took me a week to write again!