Our twins are two, and it is a little mind-boggling. Here are a couple of pics from their small birthday celebration. To see all the yumminess that is Alex & Eliana on their birthday, hop over to our photography blog HERE.

So I realize that my posts have been few and far between since we've been home from Ethiopia, but as the twins' 2nd birthday draws near, I thought I'd share a few photos from our lives lately. They are growing so fast, and learning so much. Eliana is talking up a storm, and is wearing "big girl undies" during the day. Alex is obsessed with choo-choos and is constantly on the move. He's not talking as much as Eliana, but I know he understands just as much. Life is beautiful, and these two children are absolutely amazing.

*all photos shot with a Contax 645 or a Yashica, with film.

Forever Family Day.

Yup.  It was a year ago that we finally took custody of our babies.  After being in Ethiopia for a month, not knowing when we would finally pass court, we passed on February 11th, and took custody the next day...today, a year ago.  That day, the nannies all began to cry, as they realized that Alex & Eliana would no longer be living at the orphanage.  Oh how that orphanage, and the people within it, hold such a special place in our hearts.  Not once did they ask us for anything.  Not once did they make us feel like outsiders.  The staff at Enat Alem made us feel like family.  I cherish the sweet moments, like when a couple of the nannies began feeding me injera by hand (a true sign of friendship), or when about 5 of us just laid on the floor in the nursery, and took a nap together, arms around each other in a gesture of sweet friendship and sisterhood...beautiful.  And here we are a year later....that day feels like a hundred years ago.  I watch Alex & Eliana run around and play and be silly, and speak a million words I can't understand (a few I can), and it's hard to believe that once upon a time, they were living in an orphanage, waiting for a family.  But here we are...a family of four...well, five, if you count Blue (our North American Retriever), who is insanely jealous of the twins, and yet lets them crawl all over her without even flinching...We are incredibly blessed.  What we have is miraculous, and yet so normal at the same time.  We are family.

February 12, 2011.  Alex's first bath with us.

February 12, 2011.  Eliana just got her bath, and is hanging out in her crazy shallow crib.

February 12, 2012.  Daddy & Alex.

February 12, 2012.  Eliana and her "photo face".  Serious until the camera is out of her face.

One Year Ago Today...

So, exactly one year ago, we held our babies in our arms for the first time.  It's all on our photography blog today, so hope on over and relive the memories, and see a few new family pics!  Click HERE!