Happy 3rd Birthday Benaiah!

Dearest Benaiah,

We celebrated your tractor-loving self with your very favorite people - your brother and sisters - and one of your favorite things to eat - donuts. I never knew such a little boy could be doted on so much by his siblings, and you love every moment of it. Your presence has also developed their character in so many way - more patience, better servant hearts and definitely more playfulness giving them permission to just be kids! 

At 3 years old, you are becoming your own person with your own opinions. As your speech has improved you are communicating better with words but often at a very high and demanding volume. We take deep breaths and ask you to try again. You are learning as we all do. One of your favorite things to tell me several times a day is, “When Daddy get home, I give him big, big, big, big...HUG!” So sweet.

You love to be read to, and your current favorites are “Goodnight Tractor” and “I Am America.” Others we’ve read repeatedly are Knuffle Bunny (all 3) and Dragons Love Tacos. Reading aloud is one of my favorite things to do with you all, so this is a treat. You also love to race anything with wheels around the house and join your big brother in building Legos. I’m happy to report you have never swallowed one or stuffed one in your nose or ear. Whew! If the big kids go outside, you are right behind them trying to find your boots and climb up to get your jacket. They are so good to bring you along to do farm chores or to just play. If they’re carrying wood in for the wood stove, you’re right behind them with your own small log in your arms. If we’re bringing groceries from the car, you’re arms are full with bags, too. You LOVE to help.

You currently really enjoy eating sweets, cottage cheese, other cheeses, berries, cucumbers and peanut butter off the spoon. You are a pretty good eater and especially love spaghetti, pizza or tacos for dinner. As soon as you see I’m cooking in the kitchen, you push the red desk chair over to where I’m standing to “help.” You love to stir and add ingredients, which has made me watch you very carefully because sometimes you start adding without me realizing. Surprise!

Potty training is in your near future, my son, so let’s get ready to say goodbye to diapers for good! You are also enrolled for 3 days in preschool for Fall 2021, and I know you’re going to be such a great addition to Aylett. There are big boy things ahead of you!

We love you, Benaiah, and we consider it a great privilege to have been chosen to be your parents. You have truly completed our family and made it more fun and lively than we knew possible.

Forever and for always,

Momma

Snow Skiing Adventure

We were so grateful to give the children their first opportunity to snow ski this winter. They did amazing and surprised both of us. Our business partners joined us for the grand adventure, as well.  From cramming into a tiny 1 bedroom apartment so we could stay on the mountain to Benaiah putting on some tiny skis to be pulled around by a hula hope in his pre-ski school class, the long weekend was full of new experiences and opportunities to be brave!

We wrapped up the experience with snow tubing, long naps on the way home and days of laundry. It was well worth it!

Sweet Sixteen Sleepover

Leila and three of her girlfriends who were also adopted from Niger (2 from Leila's orphanage) were such fun as we ventured about to celebrate the birthday girl. We started at Chipotle for lunch and then went to Short Pump for a little shopping. Leila picked out a cute outfit at Hollister and enjoyed spending her birthday money. Then we surprised her and met Philip and Erica (friends with ice hockey and figure skating experience) at the ice skating rink. Leila has always wanted to go ice skating, so we were so excited to make it happen with some help. The rest of the family met us and joined in the fun.

After we wore ourselves out skating circles, we headed home for pizza, cupcakes, outside fun and movie watching. The volume level increased dramatically with squeals, giggles and good ol' fun. It is such a blessing to have maintained these precious relationships between these girls and the other families who have adopted. Happy 16th birthday, Leila!