Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas...from our house to yours!

Happy Gotcha Day dear Helen!!!

It is hard to believe that one year ago today we met Helen for the first time in Ethiopia. We cannot imagine our life without her. She has blessed us in so many ways. Thanks to everyone who supported us through the adoption process and over the last year. Happy Gotcha Day sweet baby girl.

I not sad anymore

Today, Helen brought a "book" over for me to read. It was a photo album that I kept with me while we were waiting for our court date and travel. She looked at the picture of her at the top of this blog and said, "Helen's sad- I not sad anymore." Those words say it all!!

Goodbye sweet summer!!

Goodbye summer!!

Annual beach trip!

Lake days with our buddies (and new neighbors!!) Helen is sweet on little B.

Celebrating my aunts birthday-

Wes and Helen at Bible School.

Summer is nearly over. It has been a great summer and the Britt family stayed pretty busy-I cannot believe that Will is going in to 5th grade and Wesley is a 3rd grader! They both have great teachers and classmates and I know that the 2010-11 school year will be a wonderful experience. Helen is going to miss her brothers so much but she will be starting preschool in a few weeks-she is only going 2 days a week for 3 hours but it will be a good time for me to go to the grocery store-alone!!!! (and BTW, why oh why do grocery stores have to put candy right where little Helen can grab them...I have bought many packs of candy because she tears into them before I can get them out of her hands!!! She is addicted to sugar-just like her mama!)

A few weeks ago, while we were at the beach, we celebrated Helen's referral day. It is hard to believe that we first saw her sweet face a year ago on August 11th-It honestly feels like she has been a part of our family for so much longer-I guess because she was in our hearts!! We are so lucky that we were chosen to be her parents.

How cute is my new blog?

Our blog was in dire need of an overhaul! Becky Lee from adoptafrica.blogspot.com is raising money for her next adoption! Check her out-it's a good cause and she does a great job! Thanks Becky Lee-you were great to work with!

Summer is flying by! The boys have already been to basketball camp, Will has been to scout camp and Wesley and Helen were in bible school. This week, we have taken it easy...we have been to the pool and that is about it! I am trying to do a little cleaning here and there-good grief 5 people can sure make a mess!!!

We are going to the lake for a few days over the holiday weekend. It is Helen's first 4th of July-hope she enjoys the fireworks-let me rephrase that-I hope she sits still long enough to enjoy the fireworks! She still loves the water and I spend the entire time at the lake and pool saying, "Don't drink the dirty water" and "Spit it out!!" She is a bird.

Have a great 4th of July!!

Happy 6 months home, sweet girl!!

Right before I chased her all over the putt putt course. Everytime we went over a "bridge" I had to sing the Grumpy old troll song from Dora.

Wesley riding the waves.

Helen's first summer trip to the ocean-she loved it!!

Love this picture of my oldest baby!

Will and Helen on the boat at the lake. She woke up at 5:30 am put on her life jacket over her pajamas and said, "I ready go ride boat!"

Today, Helen has been home for six months. Time certainly does fly! We have had a great 1/2 year as a family of five. I have never been more tired in my life but so very happy!!

Helen has flourished in the six months that she has been a Britt. She is so smart-and I wish I could take credit for it but she wants to learn-her favorite saying is "What's this?" She is a fish, too! She loves the lake, ocean and pool-(she did not get her love of water from me or Will...we tolerate it.) Yesterday, she started blowing bubbles under water, and kicking her legs while I pulled her along. Helen knows that she is from Ethiopia and can even point to the continent of Africa on a globe. I am amazed every day by her!!

It is hard to believe that we began this journey almost two years ago. I am so glad that we followed our hearts because now we have such a precious daughter. Many people tell us how lucky Helen is, but I think we all are. She has been such a blessing in our lives!
Happy 6 months home, Helen Gonder Britt. We love you so much!!

Missing Ethiopia

Our birthday month!!

Helen before her baptismal-she did such a great job-I thought she was going to baptize our minister at one point!! Her big brothers were so proud of her.

Helen riding the carousel for the first time.

Helen and her birthday cake-she loves Dora.

Our beach trip in January-As you can see, Helen does not like her picture taken.

Well, I have to admit when our case worker, Natalie, told me that Helen's birthday was in April, 5 days after Wesley's and 3 days before Will's, I had a moment of panic. I knew what this meant...April is a tough month for mom here at the Britt household-between Easter and now 3 birthdays (and throw in a baptism this April for good measure) but I am happy to say, we survived!!! Helen had a great birthday. All day she said, "Helen's birthday!" It was so cute- She is growing so quickly and learning so much. She knows all of her colors and can sing the ABC's and count to 10. I wish I could take credit for it-but she picks up on things so quickly. Her favorite saying is, "What's that?" and when you tell her, I don't think she ever forgets. She still looks at our pictures of Ethiopia and remembers some of her friends and caregivers-I know those memories are fading and it makes me so sad.

We had a play date with 7 other moms who have adopted from Ethiopia-it was so neat and we found out that one girl was in Helen's room in Ethiopia- I don't think they remembered each other but I have pictures of her from our trip. I hope that as the years go by, we can keep in contact-I know that connections with other families who have adopted from Ethiopia are so important.

Will and Wesley are doing great with their little sister. Will is perfect as Helen's big brother (he has had a lot of practice) and Wesley is like a big toy for Helen- We took Helen on her first boat ride last weekend and she LOVED it-I was worried she would not sit still because believe me she is BUSY but she did great-hopefully, she will still enjoy it this summer.

Well, I am going to go rest my weary bones before she wakes up!!!

January Update

Meeting sweet baby girl for the first time. Her little friend in the crib was just united with his family-I think they were sweet on each other-he screamed, "Helen" the whole time we were meeting her-so cute.

Helen's favorite food-INJERA!!

Our dear friend and driver, Tafessa.
Ethiopia would not have been the same without him.

It is hard to believe that we have been home for over a month. Helen is wonderful-she is just unbelievable-she is learning so much and is SO smart-Will and Wesley love her and have the best time playing with her. We went to the beach for a little vacation with some friends and stayed in a hotel with an indoor water park. She loved the water and the lazy river but when we went on the beach she did not want her feet to touch the sand-it was so cute.

I think of Ethiopia every day-especially her orphans. I wish I could post pictures but it is not allowed-the one thing I do know is that the children in the care of Gladney are so loved. Helen had such a difficult transition at first when she entered the foster care center. She cried for many days. The fact that she has bonded so well and quickly to us shows that the caregivers at Gladney earned her trust and love. I am so thankful that we traveled down this path and my heart is so full-

Love to you all!

Happy New Year

My two favorite boys!

Sweet girl!

Already a wolfpack fan!! When my brother gave this to Helen on Christmas morning, she ripped off her pajamas and put it on immediately!

2010 has been wonderful so far (with the exception of bronchitis for sweet Helen). Other than that, Helen is doing GREAT!! She has adjusted so well-Believe me, it is a shock! She had such a hard time when she was first brought to the foster care center-she cried for several days. Her first pictures were so sad and they broke our hearts. I really believe that she was waiting for us-for a home. I am so thankful that we listened to OUR hearts and pursued international adoption.
Meeting her for the first time is so surreal, now. I was so calm-which is very unlike me. She knew us instantly and after about 15 minutes of us talking and playing with her, she looked at her caregivers, gave a big wave and said, "Chow." When we got in the taxi, she took several deep breaths and a few tears were shed and then she fell asleep-from that moment on I was Mommy and Buddy was Babba.
The boys adore her and she loves them so much. They have been such big helpers for us and when we returned they looked like they had grown a foot. Our family is complete-it feels complete and I know how blessed we are.
Have a wonderful 2010!!