DC-versary

Yesterday marked one calendar year since our move from Carolina to our nation's Capital. Just look at our sweet baby during the move-in this time last year...

I don't really know where this post is going, but I'm feeling reminiscent and sentimental because it has been a very eventful year to say the least. Anniversaries like this certainly shed light on the ups and downs of life. It would be easy to focus on the "downs" because there have been many... the loss of three family members, a very scary hospitalization, LOTS of illness in our family of three, and a recent surgery....just to name a few. However, the lessons learned and outpouring of love of grace by others and our God overpower all of that to me.

Truth be told, Jeff and I were both quite shocked when we found out we were moving here. Jeff participated in the national urologic oncology fellowship match in 2010~so a computer algorithm basically let us know we would be moving to DC a year later in order for Jeff to complete his training at the National Cancer Institute. DC was high on our list simply because of the prestige and career opportunity for Jeff. However, it was far(ther) away from both of our families and the cost of living here is astronomical. So it wasn't our perfect plan....but it was God's. It's neat to look back over the past year and think of all of the experiences and people He has brought into our life simply because we moved to DC. We are so grateful for the meaningful friendships, amazing church, and endless opportunities here~as well as the tough lessons God is teaching us, specifically regarding finances and waiting.

The crazy thing is that we only have 2 years left here. Time is ticking and it's ticking quickly. There is still SO much we've yet to experience here in this great city (did you know that DC has 200,000 Ethiopian residents~the largest population in the US...so much of Judah's culture here!)....so it's time to get "crack-a-lackin'" as my niece would say. Jeff and I have a date night this weekend, so I think it's the perfect time to make our "DC Bucket List." Here's to residents masked as tourists until 2014!

Judah this week at one of our favorite summer DC spots..Georgetown waterfront park....love this view of him running full speed with the Kennedy Center in the background

Lazy Summertime

Knock. Knock. Anybody home?! Oh, we're home alright! Not doing much of anything....but not really by choice. I recently had gynecologic surgery. I won't bore you with the details but overall, the surgery went well and my prognosis is good. However, recovery has been a BEAR! I'm still very sore and getting around much like a turtle. The worst is that I can't lift anything over 10 pounds....my heart ACHES every time Judah asks me to hold him/pick him up. I miss it so. I still get snuggles, though :-)

We are VERY thankful for KK and Grandma for visiting DC and helping out. Judah is getting lots of LOVE. Speaking of love, have I mentioned lately how much I love this man?

Yep, that's my sweet husband in the bathtub with Judah a few nights ago. Grandma got Judah some squirt guns and it was Jeff's idea to hop right in and have a water war. Judah thought this was the best thing since sliced bread (and he LOVES bread). He's still talking about it and will randomly look at me and say "Daddy in bath with Judah" and start cracking up.

Elmo and Cookie became targets :-)

Jeff really is the best Daddy ever. I really wish we could have celebrated him more on Father's Day (especially considering last year), but this is really what went down.

Look familiar?

In some ways, these lazy summer days have been a blessing. Mommy is catching up on rest/sleep and just enjoying "vegging out" most of the time....and watching way too many episodes of House Hunters and Ellen.  And Judah is spending precious time with his grandmothers. Thanking God for family, health, and happiness :-)

Play Dough

Toddlers eat play dough. Which is why I've been waiting to present it to Judah. I was planning on making  J's first play dough, but he recently received some as a gift so I let him explore a few weeks ago. Can you tell he gets excited about new toys?! 

The kit included lots of fun "tools." 

We made grass.

We cut "rocks." 

And we made animals. 

The monkey was definitely his favorite. Here you can see him re-enacting "No More Monkeys Jumping on the Bed." :-)

Look closely and you'll see our lil' purple monkey stuck on the crib as Judah does his "monkey dance." 

And yes, the monkey eventually ended up in the bed :-)

Oh, and we also had strawberry ice cream. 

don't worry, we just "pretended." 

And Judah performed a concert with his "microphone." Love his imagination :-)

Yay! for Play Dough and another rainy-day activity! 

Our Day Out with Thomas....and Gabriel....and Horsey

Guess who we spent our last Saturday in April with?!

If you have a kiddo who loves trains and you've heard that Day Out with Thomas is coming to a railroad station near you, I actually recommend purchasing the over-priced ticket. Couldn't pay enough to see the one million smiles on Judah's face that day. Oh, and for all you practical mama's out there~the event is very well organized and there is much more to do than a 30-minute train ride. We met Thomas at Baltimore's B&O Railroad Museum...another must-see if you're in our neck of the woods...Thomas or no Thomas.

First things first~riding on the train Thomas was "pulling." Once inside the train, this concept was a little difficult for Judah to grasp but luckily we were on the first car, so he got to see the bright blue engine through the door.

Not really sure that mattered, though. He just thought it was cool to be riding a train. The only "train" Judah knows is the DC Metro (subway) and let's face it, it's not quite the same :-)

Fortunately, Judah's best buddy Gabriel was able to sit with us. My child literally explodes with excitement each time he's with Gabriel.

{Yes, Gabriel and Judah are the same age and yes, they are both Ethiopian (I know you were wondering:-). I'm incredibly blessed by a friendship with Gabriel's mama, and we think our little boys have a special bond.}

While riding the train, there was music and a Thomas story over the speaker....complete with "peep peeps" and steam from Thomas' tank seen from the windows. And we can't forget the conductor who punched our ticket (Judah thought this was awesome) and gave the passengers a certificate at the end.

Is it just me, or does this conductor actually look like Sir Topham Hat?!

After the ride, Judah had to tell/sign Thomas "thank you."

There was lots to do after the train ride....like ride more trains.

I cannot believe my child did not try to jump out of this quickly-moving train. Look how frozen he was. The next pic is when I told him to wave at Mommy/the camera as he passed.

He and Gabriel rode yet another train together. This pic is typical J and G: Judah smiling at Gabriel as Gabriel talks and talks.

Just a warning that the next pics will MELT. YOUR. HEART.

This day gets more and more monumental because not only does Judah ride a train for the first time, but he also rides a HORSE. I could not believe it when he saw the horses and wanted insisted to ride. I thought he would for sure chicken-out when Daddy got to the front of the line (remember Santa?) But my brave boy rode the "baby horsey" and loved every minute.

I told you I would explain his new-found love of horseys ;-) I've since bought him a miniature toy horse to whom he gave the name "Baseball." No kidding. Baseball the Horse~his two favorite obsessions.

What a great day, filled with three of Judah's favorite things. Maybe we'll see you again next year Thomas. Peep peep!

Discovery

Although this fun event occurred one month ago and I clearly thought it was cooler than Judah did, I still want to document it....

We saw a space shuttle! The very last space shuttle ever (for now anyways). A space shuttle "riding" on an airplane~the way I described it to Judah.

I've been to Cape Canaveral and grew up near a NASA's Space & Rocket Center. However, to see Discovery circling our great city from our National Mall before it landed at Dulles' Smithsonian was way cool.

and much to my surprise, it became closer

and closer

and closer

I think Judah understood as best he could, but he probably had more fun blowing bubbles with Marilyn.

Space shuttles flying over the Mall. Just reason #5,479 I love this city.

Complicated

Today is complicated and has been surprisingly difficult for me. With the novelty of my first Mother's Day celebration in the past, I am reminded how difficult this day was for me for so many years. This year, my heart knows so much joy, yet it continues to groan and ache.

I am grateful for the miraculous gift of motherhood, yet my heart aches for the many women who are longing and waiting for this gift.

I am grateful for God choosing Judah to be my son, yet my heart aches for the many children of the world who have no one to call mommy.

I am grateful for an amazing mother who has always been my biggest cheerleader and greatest comforter, yet my heart aches because I long to see her more than a few times per year and I want to squeeze her tightly today.

I am grateful for a mother-in-law who loves me like her own, yet my heart aches because miles separate us too, and I know how difficult it is for all of her boys and grandchildren to live so far away.

I am grateful for two beautiful "grand" mothers who were such an integral part of my childhood, yet my heart aches because both no longer walk this earth and I miss them so.
               
I am grateful for the ultimate sacrifice and love of Judah's birth mother, yet my heart aches with her heartache and what must be overwhelming grief and emptiness.

I am grateful for precious mommy-friends who inspire me daily and a husband who encourages me to be the best mom I can be, yet my heart aches for mommies with little support and who struggle to make ends meet.

It's all gratitude, however, that I have a God who carries me through the complications and turns my sorrow into joy.

I'll leave you with a quote from one of my favorite resources for women who long to be mothers...
[As Hebrews 11 demonstrates)], "God never promises that He will reward the faithful with an easy road through life.... what God promises us is that He will eventually, either in this life or the life to come, turn our adversity into our profit."
               
             

Derby, Party of 3

Two fantastic events converged last Saturday, May 5th....Cinco de Mayo and the Kentucky Derby! Considering this family's love for Mexican food and Judah's new-found passion for horses (more on that in a different post), I planned a party. The guest list was small (thanks to our small place), but the idea to celebrate both occasions was big.... what could be better than guacamole, mint margaritas, fried chicken, Derby pie, big hats, the greatest 2 minutes of sports, and precious toddlers "horsing around?!" Menu was planned, invitations sent, and kids' activities were ordered. What we were not planning for was our little Judah to be sick :-( Ultimately, the party was canceled but we did our best to celebrate with our little party of three. Judah seemed to feel horrible (thanks to an ear infection) but I was thankful that the guacamole and horseys brought brief smiles to his face :-)

Laughing at all the stick horseys that were going to be used for Judah and his friends to recreate their own Derby

Helping Mommy in the kitchen. Don't worry, he didn't get a taste of this....

Still enjoying the guac and his juice with mint leaves through the tears and runny nose

Horseshoes with Daddy! So serious...You know he feels badly when he gets his "papis" outside of his crib

How about a little horsey art with fun stickers?!

Okay, he's all done and ready for night-night. Maybe next year...