Ellie Has Some News to Share

I know Mommy and Daddy are the ones who usually write these blog posts, but I'm quickly learning how to navigate Mom's phone and Dad's I-Pod Touch. Not to mention that my vocabulary is growing every day and I constantly long to be heard. This may be a fun new avenue to connect with my bloggy friends.

I also feel the need to speak out louder now because my voice may be diminished shortly. Let me explain.

For a long time, Mommy and Daddy have been asking me if I wanted a brother or a sister. I couldn't decide. I still get confused when I am supposed to use the proper gender pronoun! The one thing I was sure about is I am excited about a plane trip to Albania. And it looks like it might be happening soon!

Last week my mom and dad started talking about stuff in whispers when I would come into the room. They were also on the phone a LOT! It didn't take me long to put two and two together (that equals four, by the way) to realize something was going on. The question changed from, 'do you want a brother or sister?' to 'do you want a brother?' Apparently the sister option is currently off the table.


They showed me a picture of a little baby in Albania. He looks pretty cool. Really cute, actually. I think he needs a big sister. Mommy and Daddy say he will need to go to the doctor a lot when we bring him home, but that's okay because I like to go to the doctor's office. He looks really smart for a baby, and I can already tell that he'll want to get into all my stuff. I'm getting to move to a big girl bed so he can have my old crib (which I prefer to call a 'cage'). Her Albanian name is Reni (Or is it his name? Those pesky pronouns!). He has good caregivers. I had to ask mom and dad what that word meant and they told me it was the people who are watching Reni until we can go and get him. They are nones. The Mother Teresa type! They gave him a new name when he moved into their home - David. Mom and dad thought that was great since they were thinking of that name already for a boy. I was never consulted. They let me name the turtle, and I think Ziggy would be a good name for a brother too!

David Reni, as mom and dad call him, is a good eater. Maybe I will get to feed him some! He already crawls and pulls himself up, but it might be a while before he walks. He doesn't have any feet! This is the first thing I noticed! I have been checking out lots of other babies, and they all have feet. I think his feet are just curled up and the doctor can unfold them and give him toes. Mommy and daddy say that his feet will have to be made out of plastic. That is why we will be at the doctor's a lot. Since he has legs to below his knees, he should be able to be able to run and play with me with his new legs when he gets them! He is 8 months old, so his birthday will be this summer after I turn five. We hope we can have him home before his first birthday, but we need a lot of people to pray for us!

Until more things are "finalized" (I have to remember to ask mommy what that means) we can't post more pictures or video of David. Mommy thinks there will be other things to blog about though - room designs, packing lists, answered prayers, and of course more pictures of me!

Hi! This is Nathan. I caught Elisona writing this post and decided to fill in a few gaps! David's referral was given to our agency and not specifically to us. Cydil and I had requested a 'healthy' child under 36 months of age, but Bethany Christian Services sent us an e-mail with David's picture (not the one in this post) and a few lines of information just in case we were interested. Since that e-mail a week ago today, there have been lots of prayer, tears, phone calls, prayer, research, laughter and did I say prayers? We are aware that there will be challenges ahead that we can't even imagine, but have a peace that only can come from a living and active God! We have been encouraged over and over again through scripture and the assurance of the prayers of our family and friends. Reni's "Christian" name of David itself brought tears when we discovered it. Cydil and my dads both carry that name. As I pondered King David's story I was reminded of the often qoted Biblical truth that came at his introduction to Samuel:

"The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7b

Our prayer for David is that he will also be known as "A man after God's own heart."

We appreciate so much your interest in our family! We have been dying to share about this from day one because we covet your prayers! Feel free to ask any questions. Feel free to leave a comment to let us know your thoughts. The aventure is beginning again. It may be time to update our blog header!

We have sent our letter of intent to adopt. The Albanian Adoption Committee will be meeting sometime in early May to review our letter and hopefully formally refer him to us.