Thursday, February 17, 2011

Introducing...

.....Eliana Tizita Mullins and Alexander Mikiyas Mullins!

Yes, the greatly anticipated post is finally here! We have passed court, and are now the proud full-time parents of Eliana and Alex.

We have had these two little ones for several days now, and it has been awesome. I would be lying if I said I wasn't tired. Wow. Wes and I are exhausted! But it is the most beautiful exhaustion we could ask for. It is so worth it.

The day we left the orphanage, the nannies cried. It was so bittersweet. Fortunately, we've been back since, and we will be going back again many times before we leave.

It felt amazing and surreal to bring these two little miracles home with us. As we were climbing into the van to go back to our guesthouse, I could hardly believe we were finally going to be with Alex & Eliana 24/7. I just didn't seem real. After 5+ years of waiting to bring children into our family, this was it. This was the miracle of all miracles. Simply amazing.

Once we got back to the guesthouse, we gave them both baths. Not because they were dirty, but because we were just excited to give our children baths for the first time in our care. They loved the water. We used the sinks in the bathroom, and they just splashed and splashed. We dried them off, put yummy smelling lotion all over their beautiful brown skin, and just soaked in the goodness of it all.

I have to say that overall, these two are some of the happiest babies I have known. They are so easy to please.

Alex is all boy. He loves to get into everything. He is much stronger than Eliana, so he can crawl pretty fast, and can pull up to standing and grab things off of shelves. He apparently hates sleeping, so no matter how tired he is, he will fight it. He will rub his eyes, lay down on the ground, but sleep is not an option. Fortunately, this translates into about 11 hours of sleep at night. Score. He laughs all the time, and he is absolutely attached to Wes. He is ALL daddy's boy. I am second in line, but I don't mind. He laughs a lot, and is full of mischief. Love him to death.

Alex

Alex

Alex's first bath

Desta & Alex

Eliana is all girl. She is petite and delicate. She has the most awesome smiles, as she is still fairly toothless. She has a hilarious little face she makes when she thinks something is funny. She is SO easy. She just sits in her little spot, and laughs and coos while she plays with her toys. She takes good naps during the day, and is a fantastic eater. Everything makes her smile. And when she sleeps she is either curled up in a ball, or has both arms spread wide out while her legs are spread out in an all out split. It is SO cute! She still wakes up a couple times at night, but a little formula put her right back to sleep.

Eliana

Eliana

Eliana

Eliana


Eliana - photo by Cara Dee Photography

Eliana

They both like to bang each other on the heads with their hands or toys, and they both think it is hilarious. They are both crawling, so there's no leaving them alone for even a second. We are definitely kept on our toes all day. Again....so worth it.

And now we wait. We have to wait on paperwork from court to go through. We have to wait for our obligation letter to come back from the U.S. Then we have to wait on our embassy date. We are just praying it will go quickly. We love Ethiopia so much, but we are eager to get home also to have some good time together as a family in our own surroundings.

Thank you again and again for all your continued prayers. You have no idea how much we have felt them. Simply amazing.

Signing off for now to got change some diapers....


Nurse & Eliana

Nurse & Alex

Mine & Wes' hands on Eliana's little chest

Desta & Alex

Nannies, nurse & twins
 

37 comments:

  1. Love these photos!! They seriously look like the happiest babies, can't wait to see them with you at home!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh Nina! I am crying tears of joy. What beautiful pictures.

    ReplyDelete
  3. So awesome! I have been waiting for this post. Your babies are beautiful! I hope your wait is very short to get home. Happy parenting!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Your children are beautiful little miracles Nina & Wes! Love all the smiles and lovin' goin' on!!! Jody

    ReplyDelete
  5. Their little faces make my heart smile!! I loved the photos! I'm just amazed and SO happy for you guys!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. God bless!!! Your babies are beautiful!!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oh so beautiful. I've been sneaking a peak at your blog since I got to school to see if this was here. SO so happy for you guys. Those babies are incredibly beautiful. Praying for a quick Embassy date so you can all go home to Kentucky! Maybe some day I can meet you all!!! Enjoy your days together

    ReplyDelete
  8. I am soo happy for you. They are absolutley adorable. While reading this post I could not stop smiling. You are an amazing photographer!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Oh my stars, they are so precious!!! We are sooooo excited for you. Thanks for sharing the beautiful pics, we will start praying for a quick embassy date! God bless all 4 of you!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi, I'm Cydil's cousin Rachel. I've been watching your blog ever since they brought Reni home. So glad to see the pictures and to know that you at least have the babies with you now while you wait. We'll keep you in our prayers.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Oh so so SO sweet! I'm sure it's not possible for me to be one smidge happier for you and Wes!! However, I'm going to need to see a family picture (all 4 of you) ASAP! :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Tears of joy!! They are positively gorgeous!!! Enjoy your "babymoon"!! God is so, so, SO very good :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. They're beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. =} So excited for you all.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Wes & Nina, I'm so excited & happy for y'all! Your babies are adorable!! There's absolutely nothing sweeter than the love you feel for your children!! Isn't it wonderful! Love your blog! You guys are so funny! Love to meet you, Nina! I've known Wes all my life... Grew up in the same church, and I'm also a cousin of his cousins :) (Russell family). Wishing you and your beautiful family all the best!! ~Stephanie ~

    ReplyDelete
  15. Nina, I am so happy to hear that everything is going so well! We miss you guys. The babies are beautiful. I really can't wait to see a family picture of the four of you together. I'm also anxiously awaiting your welcome home arrivial at the airport - it's going to be so awesome! Praying for a quick embassy date! Fingers crossed that you are home in March! xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  16. They are so adorable! So happy you finally have them!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Tears fill my eyes! So happy for you 4!!

    ReplyDelete
  18. SOOOOO happy to see them! I know you're just head over heels!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hip Hip Hoooray!!!! Love it. Love those cute little babies! Congrats 100 times over.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I found your blog through Cindy - what gorgeous babies you've got yourselves! Congratulations!

    ReplyDelete
  21. i have been checking your blog every day to see these two cuties and oh my!!!!! they are so beautiful! again i hope you are gone when we get there but if you are still around march 7, i really want to see them face to face. we will be in touch

    ReplyDelete
  22. Nina and Wes, I will reiterate, they are beautiful. I can't believe how much they have grown since the first pics of them. I am really excited for you guys. I laugh when you talk about Alex hating to sleep. I have one of those and at 6 he still hates to sleep. Always thinks he is missing something. I love that Eliana is the opposite. She'll just wait for her brother to tell her what she missed. Enjoy, Enjoy, Enjoy. Thank you for finally posting! Your family is beautiful and made in the image of God's family.

    Blessings,
    Laurie

    ReplyDelete
  23. Congratulations Mom and Dad! Your family is simply perfect in every way. Buckets of beauty pouring out. BUCKETS!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Sweet, sweet, sweet little faces! They are absolutely precious! Congratulations to your sweet family, Nina! I'm so thrilled for you all!

    ReplyDelete
  25. I was so excited to see the pictures of your babies!! Absolutely ADORABLE!!!

    ReplyDelete
  26. So exciting! And I love the purple nails ;)
    Now all we need is a picture of the four of you!!
    Aimee

    ReplyDelete
  27. Found your blog over a year ago when we were both in the Nepal program. We stayed with the program to the bitter end. We are now in process with China special needs. Sending in our I-800a tomorrow. Such a hassle to figure the transfer from I-600a so we wouldn't have to pay a fee. I wonder if it will ever end. Then I read your blog. My little girl is still out there. I will continue toward her trusting God.
    It is so wonderful to see families in the Nepal program find their children. I am so happy for you. Beautiful, beautiful children. God is good!

    ReplyDelete
  28. To quote my 4 year old - this post "makes my heart happy"!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Ahh! Lisa and I are sitting here together, on dueling laptops, smiling ear to ear at your joy! I'm glad you went blog-less for a few days to savor the early days.

    ReplyDelete
  30. I am now wiping away the tears!! Your babies are absolutely BEAUTIFUL! Their eyes are so full of peace and joy! I am so happy for the four of you and all of the adventures you will face together. The Lord has truly blessed all of you in this journey. Thanks for letting us follow along!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Absolutely beautiful....Thank you so much for sharing your journey with us so far and can't wait to read and watch (via You Tube - which is how I found you) your adventures as a family of 4 when you get back to the States. Many, many blessings in Christ! I am VERY happy for you all...(you will have to post a family picture with the 4 of you)

    ReplyDelete
  32. Congratulations!!! So Beautiful!!!! :o) I pray that your stuff all comes through quickly. God is so good!!!! I am so happy for your amazing little family!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Nina... (I tried to comment earlier from my phone and it just didn't work...) I'm sooooooooooo excited for ya'll!!! Eliana & Alex are so adorable and I'm thrilled and grateful that they are finally yours --- give giant hugs to your kiddos from the Unwins!! Can't wait to see them and you & Wes!! Congrats to you sweet friends! Praying the embassy stuff comes through quickly!!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Congratulations! They are both so beautiful!!!! Praying everything goes quickly and smoothly!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Congrats! They are both SO beautiful. :)

    ReplyDelete
  36. OH my goodness! They are just beautiful. I"m so happy for you and so glad your long wait is finally over. :)

    ReplyDelete