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!

First Christmas Tree with Black and White Memories...

I know, I know...I've been terrible.  I haven't updated anyone.  I guess I figure most people follow me on facebook and follow our family adventures there, and I get lazy.  But just for fun, I thought I'd post pictures from our first Christmas preparations as a family of 4.  It's so strange to think that this time last year we had seen their faces, but had never held them.  We had been dreaming about them for years, but had no idea what to expect when we finally met them.  And here we are a year later, putting up a tree together, in anticipation of my favorite holiday!  I decided to make it all black and white today.  At heart, I am a documentary photojournalist, but sometimes I forget my roots.  I love shooting weddings, and setting up beautiful, fine art portraits, but for this post, I got back to the good stuff.  I just took pics of the kids and Wes as they worked and played.  I love seeing the curiosity in their eyes, and the excitement of something new in the house.  Even Blue got in the action.  Such a great dog!  I hope you enjoy getting a glimpse into a few of our family moments!

Okay, so maybe it's not a real tree, and you've got to get the right size branches in the right spots, but it's still pretty when all is said and done! 

They are not really allowed to touch the tree or ornaments now that it's up, but for the first few minutes we let them explore.  

Alex loves to say, "Wooooowww!", now.  So cute!

I think Eliana had just pushed Alex's hand away from the tree, and I made her say she was sorry, and give him a hug.  

All our babies with Daddy.

There is no one they get more excited to see than Daddy!  Eliana is our little hugger.

Lately.....

Lately, Alexander & Eliana have been growing and growing.  They are talking up a storm.  I don't know what they are saying, but they are saying a lot.  They walk, and run, and LOVE to go through grass and fields.  They just turned 16 months old, and life is exciting and fun for them.  For us too!  Here are just a few shots from the other day.

Oh how they grow....

People are always commenting on how quickly Alex & Eliana are growing.  I look at them myself and think, "They look just like they did when we first held them!" 

It's difficult for me to see the changes when I am with them day in and day out.  But every once in awhile, I step back, and see what is really happening to my tiny babies....they are growing.  They aren't so tiny anymore, and when I look at these pictures we took yesterday, I realize that they are getting so much bigger. 

Both of them are walking (Eliana started 3 months after Alex...she's her own woman, and nobody get her to walk but herself!).  They eat like little piglets, no matter what we put on their plates.  They talk all the time, but we still don't know what they are saying.  They are quite good at signing, "Please, Thank you, Milk, Banana, and I love you."  And as you can see in the pictures below, they LOVE being outside, and they are quite the little dare devils.  Oh how I love our babies!

We continue to be quite amused by our little comedian.  She's a laugh a second.

First time on the slide, and she went for it over and over again.

Alex also loves the slide.  Isn't he nice and squeaky clean?

This is what happens when Mamma & Daddy don't catch them at the bottom of the slide.  Face plant.  That boys mouth is FULL of dirt.  I LOVE this picture!

They love walking through the grass, especially with Daddy.

A year ago we saw their faces...

A year ago yesterday, on September 9, 2010, we received the phone call of a lifetime. The phone call that everyone going through adoption waits for. The referral call. It was everything I hoped it would be and more. That is the day when we saw these beautiful faces.

Eliana Tizita

Alexander Mikiyas

I remember when I couldn't tell the difference between them.  I felt awful when I would go through their pictures (we got 7 pics for each of them that day), and I couldn't tell who was who.  When I look at them now, it is so obvious.  My how far we have come.

I never could have imagined the journey we had yet to endure once we received that call, but every little part of it was worth it.

A year later we are healthy and happy in our home here in Kentucky. We are blessed beyond measure.
Here are a few pics of them now.

Timeout.

Miss T.  "I pity the fool."

Alex the cutey.

I think they are SO cute at bath time.

They LOVE to comb their hair.

When she first got her ears pierced (yesterday).  She's so proud.

That little turtle chair used to be Wes's. 

Once they go on, they stay on.  She loves sunglasses.

Doctor Visit

"Cause I am livin' in a material world, and I am a material girl...or boy." Oh my they are so 80's!

When we first saw their pictures they weren't even 3 months old yet.  Today they are almost 15 months old.  Crazy!

And just for nostalgia's sake, here is our referral day video.  What an emotional day!



I can't even imagine the adventures and dramas yet to come, but for now I will cherish this baby time.  Mamma & Daddy love you, Alex & Eliana!