Greetings -
I know what you are thinking - food on the floor less than 5 seconds is good to go - right!!! Well this is a different 5 second rule! I read about it a few months back (wish I could remember where!!) - Wanting to make sure Tariku was listening on the first try and doing what was asked I came across this explanation! When you ask someone to do something especially a child - ask the question and than count to 5 - you see it takes the brain that long to process what you have asked! I laughed at first but thought well let's give it a try and don't you know sure enough by the time we were to 5 or 6 he was responding to what I was asking! So after I had been doing this for a week or so I asked Kenneth to try it - instead of Tariku time for bed Tariku time for bed TARIKU time for bed it was Tariku time for bed 1.2.3.4.5 and than he was off to bed! I have to say the frustration level in our house is way way down and you can often hear me saying Kenneth did you count to 5! So next time you think your child is not doing what you ask remember to count to 5 to give their brain time to process the request!
Wishing you a MAGICAL day~
Courtney
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Monday, June 20, 2011
Father's Day
Greetings -
Well Father's Day was WAY WAYWAY different from mother's day! Last week Wednesday we loaded the car and started the trek to Oklahoma to see Kenneth's family! Most had not met Tariku and all had yet to meet Teddy! Since it was my weekend without weddings we thought it would be a great time to visit the fam! So off we went! We stayed overnight in Arkansas and finished the trip on Thursday late afternoon! It was great to see the family finally meet both the boys!!! We spent the next 3 days sightseeing, visiting and thank god playing in the new pool! ( average temp has been over 100!!) - but I will say that Father's Day was the best! To see Kenneth and his boys playing in the pool with Grandpa and Uncle Jason reminded me just how far these 2 boys had traveled! They were being loved on unconditionally by their daddy and for just a moment the whole world stopped as I thanked their birth fathers for bringing them into this world. I prayed that Tariku's Africa Daddy (as he calls him) was looking down from heaven happy with the life his son was living. I prayed for the heart of Teddy's birth father who left long before Teddy was born - I prayed that one day he would have that unconditional love and bond for a child. And I thanked God for the man I married that he loves these two little boys with all his heart! To all the fathers out there we hope you had an amazing father's day and that your children are inspired by the unconditional love you show them everyday!
Wishing you a Magical Day~
Courtney
Well Father's Day was WAY WAYWAY different from mother's day! Last week Wednesday we loaded the car and started the trek to Oklahoma to see Kenneth's family! Most had not met Tariku and all had yet to meet Teddy! Since it was my weekend without weddings we thought it would be a great time to visit the fam! So off we went! We stayed overnight in Arkansas and finished the trip on Thursday late afternoon! It was great to see the family finally meet both the boys!!! We spent the next 3 days sightseeing, visiting and thank god playing in the new pool! ( average temp has been over 100!!) - but I will say that Father's Day was the best! To see Kenneth and his boys playing in the pool with Grandpa and Uncle Jason reminded me just how far these 2 boys had traveled! They were being loved on unconditionally by their daddy and for just a moment the whole world stopped as I thanked their birth fathers for bringing them into this world. I prayed that Tariku's Africa Daddy (as he calls him) was looking down from heaven happy with the life his son was living. I prayed for the heart of Teddy's birth father who left long before Teddy was born - I prayed that one day he would have that unconditional love and bond for a child. And I thanked God for the man I married that he loves these two little boys with all his heart! To all the fathers out there we hope you had an amazing father's day and that your children are inspired by the unconditional love you show them everyday!
Wishing you a Magical Day~
Courtney
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
10 Months Home!
WOW O WOW! Where did the time go!!! I am sitting at my parents in Wisconsin and just realized that this month Tariku James will have been home for 10 months! Hard to remember life before him! While the boys are visiting my parents this week I am having the great opportunity to catch up on photos and such from the past 10 months! Sorting, sorting and organizing! It is amazing to see the difference in him from Gotcha Day to today! He is such a self confident young boy! He loves his life, his room and his brother! He is working on his love for me but I can tell you it is coming along! His PAPA is his world and if Papa lived closer I think he would live there! He truly loves his Daddy and helps him with anything and everything! Tariku may you always know how blessed we are to call you our son! Daddy and I could not have asked for a better 1st son!
So from Gotcha Day to
Today!
Wishing you a Magical Day~
Courtney
Wishing you a Magical Day~
Courtney
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
It takes a village to throw a Hammons birthday party!
Greetings -
So last week Teddy turned 5 and Tariku turned 6! Hard to believe that the boys were about to experience there first birthday in America! With the invitations sent, the cake ordered and the fun all ready we waited for March 26th to arrive! On March 24th and 25th family began to arrive from around the country to share in this experience with the boys! The boys were lucky enough to stay at Gaylord Opryland the night before the party with Nana, Papa, Uncle Josh and Auntie Megan (allowing Mommy and Daddy and Nana Pat and Auntie Kristin time to get ready for the party!) At 1pm the party bus arrived and shortly after so did the kiddos! We are soo blessed to have such amazing friends to pull off a MAGICAL first American party! Thanks thanks thanks to Designs in Paper, Cakes by Shara, Sweet Face Cakes, Connie Duglin Linen and Master Creations for helping us create this experience! So here is a recap of our day!
Tariku and Teddy's 1st Birthday Bash
Wishing you a MAGICAL Day~
Courtney
So last week Teddy turned 5 and Tariku turned 6! Hard to believe that the boys were about to experience there first birthday in America! With the invitations sent, the cake ordered and the fun all ready we waited for March 26th to arrive! On March 24th and 25th family began to arrive from around the country to share in this experience with the boys! The boys were lucky enough to stay at Gaylord Opryland the night before the party with Nana, Papa, Uncle Josh and Auntie Megan (allowing Mommy and Daddy and Nana Pat and Auntie Kristin time to get ready for the party!) At 1pm the party bus arrived and shortly after so did the kiddos! We are soo blessed to have such amazing friends to pull off a MAGICAL first American party! Thanks thanks thanks to Designs in Paper, Cakes by Shara, Sweet Face Cakes, Connie Duglin Linen and Master Creations for helping us create this experience! So here is a recap of our day!
Tariku and Teddy's 1st Birthday Bash
Wishing you a MAGICAL Day~
Courtney
Monday, March 28, 2011
Where does the time go!
Greetings -
Where oh where does the time go! It has been 7 months since we have been home with Tariku and 2 months that we have been home with Teddy! It feels as though they have always been here! It is hard for me to remember what time was like before they came. So many things have happened in this window of time and I promised myself I would be better at blogging so one day the boys would see their whole story unfold! And yet where did the time go - I last posted in February - how is that possible! There is so much I need to share and want to share! So starting today I am going to be a blogging fool! I want to remember those moments that go so fast and are so dear! So until tomorrow take a moment and enjoy the time with your kids - before you know it months will have passed and life will be different yet again!
Wishing you a MAGICAL Day~
Courtney
Where oh where does the time go! It has been 7 months since we have been home with Tariku and 2 months that we have been home with Teddy! It feels as though they have always been here! It is hard for me to remember what time was like before they came. So many things have happened in this window of time and I promised myself I would be better at blogging so one day the boys would see their whole story unfold! And yet where did the time go - I last posted in February - how is that possible! There is so much I need to share and want to share! So starting today I am going to be a blogging fool! I want to remember those moments that go so fast and are so dear! So until tomorrow take a moment and enjoy the time with your kids - before you know it months will have passed and life will be different yet again!
Wishing you a MAGICAL Day~
Courtney
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
A Warm Welcome Home~
Greetings -
This journey to family has been nothing short of amazing! As you know what was supposed to be a 4 day trip to Ethiopia turned into 16 days! So you can imagine that by the time I got to Washington D.C. I was pretty spent. Now Teddy was amazing on the flight and did just great but still we had been traveling for close to 20 hours at that point with another 11 to go! But there was this amazing light at light at the end of the tunnel (otherwise known as Dulles international airport) and that light was the Taylor Family. Now Bethany and I had never met, never talked on the phone, never sent a christmas card, but we have adopted with the same agency, are friends on facebook and belong to the same yahoo chat so when I saw her and her family waiting to see us it was like seeing a part of my family. Bethany and her incredible husband have adopted 4 from Ethiopia with the most recent one knowing Teddy. So on that cold cold Jan day Bethany loaded the kiddo's into the car and headed out to greet us on our layover! Teddy was beside himself excited to see someone he knew in the airport. Bethany and I talked for close to 2 hours before she had to get the kiddo's home for lunch and all I can say is THANK YOU and that does not seem like enough! So the moral of my story is if you get a chance to go to an airport homecoming or even an airport stopover GO GO GO GO! They family coming in needs you more than you will ever know!
Here are all the kiddo's at the airport!!!
Wishing you a MAGICAL Day ~
Courtney
This journey to family has been nothing short of amazing! As you know what was supposed to be a 4 day trip to Ethiopia turned into 16 days! So you can imagine that by the time I got to Washington D.C. I was pretty spent. Now Teddy was amazing on the flight and did just great but still we had been traveling for close to 20 hours at that point with another 11 to go! But there was this amazing light at light at the end of the tunnel (otherwise known as Dulles international airport) and that light was the Taylor Family. Now Bethany and I had never met, never talked on the phone, never sent a christmas card, but we have adopted with the same agency, are friends on facebook and belong to the same yahoo chat so when I saw her and her family waiting to see us it was like seeing a part of my family. Bethany and her incredible husband have adopted 4 from Ethiopia with the most recent one knowing Teddy. So on that cold cold Jan day Bethany loaded the kiddo's into the car and headed out to greet us on our layover! Teddy was beside himself excited to see someone he knew in the airport. Bethany and I talked for close to 2 hours before she had to get the kiddo's home for lunch and all I can say is THANK YOU and that does not seem like enough! So the moral of my story is if you get a chance to go to an airport homecoming or even an airport stopover GO GO GO GO! They family coming in needs you more than you will ever know!
Here are all the kiddo's at the airport!!!
Wishing you a MAGICAL Day ~
Courtney
Monday, February 7, 2011
Gotcha Day~
Greetings -
Well we have been home almost 4 weeks and I am finally getting around to writing about this experience in Ethiopia! I guess it is better late than never!
So Gotcha Day was the same as arrival day in Ethiopia!!!!! Since I had left Sunday evening (with a stay-over in Washington D.C.) it took until Tuesday morning (Monday night in America) to reach Ethiopia! The amazing Dawit was at the airport to greet Elle and I. Once the Grant's joined us it was off to the Yebsabi Guest House to drop off our luggage before heading to lunch and the Transition House!
As we drove to the Transition House I wondered what would be Teddy's reaction? It had been 4 weeks since I had seen him last! Would he know me? Would he want to come with me? Would he want to stay with his friends? Would he miss the fact that Kenneth was not with me on this trip? Would he understand what was happening?
As the van pulled in past the blue and white sign - I saw him - Waiting - as though he knew what was about to happen! Sitting on the rock wall with Poppy (the gate greeter)!! As he looked in the van and saw me his eyes lit up! He did know!!!!!!! He ran around to the door and waited for me to get out - I got the biggest hug and lots of kisses!!!!Here are some photos from our first day together
-
Well we have been home almost 4 weeks and I am finally getting around to writing about this experience in Ethiopia! I guess it is better late than never!
So Gotcha Day was the same as arrival day in Ethiopia!!!!! Since I had left Sunday evening (with a stay-over in Washington D.C.) it took until Tuesday morning (Monday night in America) to reach Ethiopia! The amazing Dawit was at the airport to greet Elle and I. Once the Grant's joined us it was off to the Yebsabi Guest House to drop off our luggage before heading to lunch and the Transition House!
As we drove to the Transition House I wondered what would be Teddy's reaction? It had been 4 weeks since I had seen him last! Would he know me? Would he want to come with me? Would he want to stay with his friends? Would he miss the fact that Kenneth was not with me on this trip? Would he understand what was happening?
As the van pulled in past the blue and white sign - I saw him - Waiting - as though he knew what was about to happen! Sitting on the rock wall with Poppy (the gate greeter)!! As he looked in the van and saw me his eyes lit up! He did know!!!!!!! He ran around to the door and waited for me to get out - I got the biggest hug and lots of kisses!!!!Here are some photos from our first day together
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