The Day After Thanksgiving...

2006 (first family photo)

2007

Here's a link to a slideshow of photos from the day we met Ellie...

Ellie's First Thanksgiving

Here's what we were thankful for this year...

Ellie has had a ball at Nonna and PaPa's house in Ohio
...here she is patiently waiting for Thanksgiving dinner

Nonna Waggoner gives Aunt Rebecca advice on making the perfect gravy

This is one of the first pictures I have taken of Ellie where I think she actually smiled on command (versus her smiling because someone was behind the camera acting and sounding like monkeys). Click on the photo to enlarge.

This time last year...

"This time last year..." is a recurring thought we've had these past several weeks as we remember the monumental events that unfolded these same days on the calendar in 2006. Tonight, we are engaged in a similar activity on this Tuesday before the busiest travel day of the year as we did last year: packing suitcases. But instead of hitching a ride to the airport in the morning to catch a flight to meet Ellie, we're packing up the mini-van for a Thanksgiving holiday in Ohio with the Waggoner family.

In reflecting on all that has happened in the last 12 months, it's easy for us to look at Ellie and marvel at the changes we have seen in her since we met her November 24, 2006. I often forget how much Nathan and I have changed in the last twelve months, too! Here's a quick list I drew up of ways we've changed and things we've learned:

1.) I have no idea what was the last movie made by Sandra Bullock, but I now know who "Bob and Larry" are, and yes, I have sung the theme song more than once in a moving vehicle.
2.) I have bunches of new friends that share the common experience of adopting a child! They're a wonderful resource and support.
3.) Some of my other favorite people include "Melissa and Doug" who make an amazing array of very cool wooden toys and puzzles.
4.) My most productive hours of the day are now between 2 and 4 pm
5.) Nathan and I both seemed to have developed numerous gray hairs that I'm almost certain we didn't have in 2006.
6.) I recently noticed that I watch other toddler-age children and try to figure out what they're doing developmentally.
7.) I sing a WHOLE lot more, and if the song has 'actions', I sing it even more
8.) Chili's makes the best mac n' cheese of any casual dining restaurant
9.) we've learned that Cookie Monster doesn't eat cookies anymore! (not very healthy, apparently)
10.) I carry a stash of uninflated balloons in my purse -- they are great diversions for the unhappy child

That's what I've come with so far. I'm sure the list will grow.

Ellie in the news!

(photograph above from www.kentuckyconnect.com)

Today's Lexington Herald-Leader (front page, CITY section) profiled a fundraising event held yesterday (National Adoption Day) to benefit a new ministry started by some friends of ours, Dawn Seamands (above) and Amy Kinnell. A reporter from the newspaper came to cover the event held at the Beaumont Applebees and included some statements from his interview with us. You can read the full article here. It was so neat to see all the diversity represented by the families who came out to support the event as well as just all the different folks who came!

Teze Vera visits from Tirana!

in Gratz Park

Vera and Hannah in front of the Carnegie Center

Thoroughbred Park

Gjyshi, Gigi, and Teze Hannah Visit

True Fan

I think perhaps we have alluded to Ellie's obsession with balloons. Last night while I was shooting a little photo session for a campus band at the old Sim's Drug Store, Nathan occupied Ellie by pushing her up and down main street at Wilmore's Halloween festival downtown. He said she spotted the balloon give-away before he did and she was probably the most happy he's ever seen someone be to meet a politician.
If she were eligible, Duane McCuddy would have Ellie's vote!

We've been working on this for months... "O"

"H"

"I"

[almost] "O"

Thanks to Chloe Cooperrider for passing down this little outfit.