It's growing. . .

K

You are probably asking, "Mom, what are you talking about?" (Which I am also assuming is a question you will be asking a lot growing up.) Well, actually two things are growing, first your fan club and secondly your library.

So let's start with, your fan club.

So K, I will be honest, your Dad and I didn't print your referral pictures until last Saturday. When we told your Dad's immediate family, we showed them your pictures on the computer. I know, horrible parenting. At the same time, there was a purpose to this, we didn't want to show your pictures to everyone until we had shared the news with my family. So this week, on Monday, the special education department saw your picture for the first time and learned your name and gender (previously they just knew we got the call). To be honest, I forgot your pictures at home when I left the house on Monday, so they saw it on the computer for the first time as well. (I don't think your aunts Marcia and Courtney were happy with me in the car pool about this.)

Today we had lunch with your Grandma Kathy and took her our favorite picture of you in a frame. It is the picture of you sitting on one of the Special Mother's lap at Hannah's Hope with your hands on your knees. We love this picture. You look absolutely adorable!  You so look like you are up to something in this picture. I think someone described as it looked like you were scheming. Be prepared little K, we will scheme together and figure out different ways to make your Dad shake his head at us (really you just have to cheer on the other team, so feel free to route for Michigan).

(This picture is special, K. It is the one we sent another AGCI family who is traveling to Ethiopia this week. You probably know at least one of their kids at HH, but you will get to meet at least one of the parents when they take a couple of pictures of you for us. Be sure to smile pretty!)

After lunch with your Grandma Kathy, your Dad and I stopped by your Great-Gpa Deward and Great-Gma Shirley's to drop off your picture there as well. Unfortunately they weren't home, so we left your picture for them to come home to later in the day. When Great-Gma called later, she called you "precious," while Great-Gpa called you "husky." From there, we drove to Great-Grandma Willie's house. I am sorry, I don't remember what GG Willie said when she saw your picture. Your Great-Great Aunt Rosie was there as well. Both highly liked your picture and GG Aunt Rosie called you, "hefty." K, you are big. Last we heard you were 20 pounds at ten months.

Your growing book collection.

So K, I have a confession, I keep buying you books. Today your library grew to include:

Yes, that's right, you have a bunch of Sesame Street books. I was liking the "Listen to your Fish" one when I was reading it at Target. It is all about caring for your pet(s), plus it has Elmo in it. It will be good for when you begin to give Joey his breakfast and dinner. Right now Joey is on a diet, so he gets really excited about getting food, so hopefully that will ease up a bit before you come home. The Star Wars shirt was a must. To be honest, I have no idea what size of clothes to start buying you. I know you are about 20 pounds and 30 inches tall, at 10 months. However, I don't know if you are all legs, have a long torso, or are proportional. So this shirt is a 3T and should fit at some point.

There was another addition to your library. It came today from your Grandma Kathy. It was your Dad's favorite book growing up. You are know the proud owner of:

So there are rules to this book. Your Dad has to read it to you. Okay, there is only one rule, your Dad has to read it to you. You might feel compelled to have this book read to you multiple times a week, or even the same night, but your Dad has to read it to you. I have nothing against this book or Rosemary Wells, but I am not reading this book to you. It is my understanding that your Dad asked for this book A LOT growing up. It is also my understanding he didn't appreciate it if Grandma tried to skip a couple of pages. So I know you have many great books in your library, but be sure to ask for this one a lot.

In other news. . .

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Your Star Wars action figure collection is also growing. You now have the Android Set. Who doesn't want to own an android? I am a bit confused why Chewy is included in this set, but who doesn't need a Wookie?

So I think this about covers it. I can't think of anything else to include, at least for now.

Love,
Mom

For those of you reading our letters to our son, please join us in praying for:

• Our K at Hannah’s Hope in Addis Ababa. Pray K stays healthy, attaches to his care givers at Hannah’s Hope, and can come home with us as quickly as the system allows. 
• KJ, our first referral.
• The biological family of our child.
• The children who are still waiting to be matched with their families and those who are waiting for those matches. It is a hard wait.
• Almaz and her staff at Hannah’s Hope. They will be the ones caring and loving our K until he can be here with us.
• Ministry of Women’s Affairs (MOWA), the government agency, in Ethiopia processing our paperwork.
• A quick court date, plus courts reopen this week.
• Our agency, AGCI, and its workers as they do their part in bringing our family together.
• Our amazing home study agency, The Baby Fold, and our worker, L, for their part in this journey.   
• Luc and myself as we wait knowing our child is around 7,500 miles and an ocean away, as we finish our preparations for bringing our child home, for safe travel, and once K is home.