Blake licking the frosting off after we baked a cake and Brecken right before our first post placement visit.

We have still been moving a little slow around here (I think I finally got out of my pjs around 11:00 today). We are still all trying to get healthy and trying to get some very much needed sleep. We are finally back on Colorado time, but we are still getting used to waking up with a baby during the night...it's kinda crazy that we forgot what its like waking up with a little one a few times each night. Andy's mom is staying with us and has been a major help. Both girls have been fighting ear infections, I have a wonderful little cold and Andy is adjusting to being back at work...but despite all that, we are so very happy. Brecken is adjusting really well. She is just about the happiest baby I have ever seen. Blake is such a great big sister...she loves to give great big hugs and kisses to her sister. We have been getting out a bit...we've been to Target quite a few times this week to get prescriptions filled, more bottles, great clearance shoes for Brecken...you know, the essentials. We are hoping that once we all get healthy we can start to venture out even more...we are hoping to go to see this on Saturday!

There has been so much that has gone on in the last month...everything is kinda blurring together. We enjoyed Christmas together with my family and then went up to the mountains for a few days. We were able to just relax in the mountains...we all went sledding together one day. It was just some good time to enjoy being a family of three for the last time.

When we got home we dove into packing for our trip...We ended up bringing five bags - two huge bags full of humanitarian aid, one bag full of diapers and formula and snacks for us, and two backpacks of clothing. We left on the 1st for Ethiopia and arrived on the 3rd. We got Brecken our first day in country. She is so amazing. Sometimes I just look at her, so in awe that she is actually here and actually ours. We are so very, very blessed by this special gift from Ethiopia.
We have not been home for a little over a week. We all came home with stomach issues, colds, coughs, and just all around exhaustion. We found out a few days ago that Brecken has double ear infections and her right ear drum ruptured...other than that, she is just such a happy baby. She smiles all the time and just loves to babble. More to come later.