Dusit Zoo

Today we went to the zoo here in Bangkok and we met up with the Koivisto family.  Atte was also adopted from Pakkred and he and Max were best buddies!  It was so wonderful to see the two of them playing together!  You never would have known that they don't speak the same language (Atte and his family live in Finland).  Such a wonderful added blessing to be able to see them while we're on this trip!

The zoo was not like what we are used to in the States.  You can get so much closer to the animals!!!

We seriously could have reached out and touched this guy!  So amazing!

The boys tossing food to the hippo!  How fun is that?!

This is how Ellie entertained herself!

 After the zoo, we came back to the hotel for more swimming.  Ellie is really becoming a fish, just like her big brother!  As soon as I put on her swimsuit she ran and grabbed every pool toy she could find :)

Tomorrow morning we head to our board meeting!  Can't believe this sweet little girl has already been with us for a week!  The last couple days have brought some great steps in bonding and we're reveling in each one!!  Thank you all for your prayers and words of love....I'm so sorry I haven't been able to get back to each of you individually....turns out being a mommy to two keeps you busy!!

Taking it easy

Today we headed to JJ Mall to look for some small souvenirs and trinkets to bring home.  We were hoping to find some things to put around our house that would remind us of this special trip each time we saw them.  We also wanted to get something special for each of the kids' rooms.

Well we were in luck!  Both the kids were very well behaved and we just about found everything we were looking for!

Beautiful elephant paintings for Ellie and Max

Thought this would be a cute reminder of our journey to four!

Max's find for the day.  Can you tell he's excited?!

We ended the day with a trip to the pool, and this time Ellie wanted to get in!  Right now, both of my munchkins are chasing each other around our hotel room, squealing as they bump into each other.  Today came with LOTS of giggles and a few more sweet moments between me and my girl.  Thanking God for the joy we are beginning to see coming from Ellie as she settles into our family.  Praying tomorrow is even better!!!

Yes, those are gummy bears stuck to their foreheads, and this is their best "lets look tough" faces :)

Lovin' on my girl

I've come to really enjoy the simple moments with Ellie.  Though she still seems confused with her emotions most times, she has begun to find comfort in our routine.  She has figured out that if she's hungry, needs to be changed or wants her shoes put on, I'm her girl :)

I remember praying for her as I packed each outfit...I love putting them on her each morning!

Another favorite part of my morning...doing her hair!

Putting a bow in Mommy's hair

One of her favorite things to do....make silly faces!

Brushing Mommy's hair

Looking forward to LOTS more special times with my girl!!

Lumpini Park

What a fun family day!  Each day is bringing about a little more of Ellie's personality and we are so thankful for that.  She still really prefers Stephen which is hard when all I want to do is scoop her up and hug her, but everyday is bringing more bonding, and I'm praising God for the small victories :)

Today we spent the day walking around Lumpini Park and letting the kids be kids on the playground.  Max especially LOVED this!  Then it was back to the hotel for more pool time.  Loving my family of four!

Rockin' Mommy's sunglasses.  Seriously, do we not have the CUTEST kids!!

 Such a beautiful park!

Big brother showing Ellie how its done!

Ellie decided going up the slide is way more fun!

The best big brother ever!

Our Max has done it again...blown us away by his awesomeness!  He is SO in love with his sister!  And so patient with her.  We're still really walking through some very difficult grieving issues...but there are moments when Ellie seems to just want to have some fun...and coincidentally enough, they are always times when Max is around :)

The last two days we've just laid low and tried enjoying our time as a family of four.  Ellie had her Visa medical visit today and it all went great.  Max was really concerned...he kept asking "but Mom, what will happen if the doctor says Ellie isn't ok to get on the plane with us?!"  Luckily there was nothing to worry about there :)

Tomorrow we're heading to Lumpini Park to let the kids have some playground time.  The weather isn't as hot as we remember from our last trip so it should be fun!!

Please continue to pray for our sweet girl as she begins to learn what a family looks like and some of her walls begin to come down.  Thanks!!

Yesterday was "Aggie Day" for the kids' outfits :)

 



Back to Bangkok

Today we headed back to Bangkok from Pattaya, though it was not planned that way.  Ellie's medical appt for her Visa was scheduled for much sooner than we originally were told.  Though we were sad to leave Pattaya without getting to explore much, the upside is that our place in BKK is at least three times bigger, and we're seeing that perhaps the change in scenery was a good thing for our girl.

She has really started to enjoy playing with Max today.  He's so patient with her, and we're seeing a bit of her goofy personality come out!

Since today was pretty boring as far as blogging goes, I thought I'd tell you all some of the things we've learned about Ellie so far.

* She LOVES to snack on goldfish crackers and fruitloops
* She is a hard sleeper
* She is not tender headed at all!  Last night I had to take out what felt like 50 tiny hair bands that the
   nannies had put in and she didn't flinch once!
* She loves to look at herself in the mirror.  She just smiles and sways back and forth :)
* She's got a bit of a rough and tumble side.  When playing catch with the bouncy ball with Max she
   wasn't afraid to really get after it!

Can't wait to find out a million more things!  Not sure what tomorrow will hold....maybe some souvenir shopping!

Sorry for the lack of pictures today, a lot of the day was spent in the car and getting "moved" out of one hotel and into another.

Crazy hair before bath time

So pretty!

LOVE seeing both our kiddos playing together!

Dancing and smiling in the mirror :)

Such a goof ball!

Today we met our daughter

What an incredible day!  There are no words for the emotions you feel when you first lay eyes on your child.  Ellie is amazing!  She's so beautiful, ten times more so than what we saw in pictures, she has the longest eye lashes I've ever seen, her voice is low and raspy like Max's was and she is 100% daddy's girl already!  She was very unsure when we first met her at the babies home, but within a few minutes she decided she wanted Stephen to hold her and she literally hasn't let him put her down since!

We were originally told that Ellie would stay and the orphanage one more night and then tomorrow we could bring her with us.  But, they felt that since she latched so strongly on to Stephen right away it was best to let her continue with that bonding time and she came back with us today!  We are now officially forever a family of four!!

Ellie has shown some appropriate signs of grieving, but they are definitely much stronger than what we experienced with Max so we are in uncharted territory here.  We would really covet prayers as she begins to hopefully bond with and trust us.

Max is an INCREDIBLE big brother, just as we knew he would be.  He's quick to bring her anything he think she might need or want and he wants to make sure Ellie sees anything "cool" that he's doing.

And now for the part you all really want....pictures!!!

Our first "family of four" photo!!!

 The photo book we sent her months ago!

Still can't believe BOTH of my children are together!!

I had to wait to sneak in my cuddle time when she fell asleep :)  

We are so in love!