learning

As of today, our son has been with us for 13 days and our daughter has been with us for 5 days. Every day has brought a new challenge as well as a new joy. Thanks for your prayers and encouraging comments/emails! There are some days when we have struggled, but we continue to see progress as we learn how to be a family.

Things we are learning about our kids:

- Everything that Sumaya does is rhythmic - whether she chants, sings, cries, or snores. It's so funny! On the way home from the Henderson's, she wanted all of us to chant with her:
Suma: Alle!
Us: Luia!
Suma: Amen!
*repeat x100*
Maybe she'll be a worship leader when she grows up. ;)

- Ibra is a details man. We were coloring pictures of tractors, and he was very careful to color in the lines and color according to a pattern of colors he had in his head. He is neat when he eats, and in a matter of minutes, figured out how to operate the camera buttons and how to play with the DVD controls on the computer. Maybe he'll be an engineer when he grows up.

- Ibra is also an imp. His favorite tricks include hiding next to doorways to jump out at his sister and dad (I'm usually with him on these), and hide things from me. Before dinner tonight, we played a guessing game where I hid a piece of napkin in one of my hands and got him to guess which hand it was in. He wanted a turn, but when he opened both hands, nothing was there! He was so thrilled to pull one over on mom...we're going to have to watch this one...

- Both of them have been practicing their English small talk. Also in the car today:
Ibra: Suma, how are you?
Suma: I'm fine. Ibra, how are you?
Ibra: Fine. Suma, how are you?
*repeat x100*
 The only thing that beats this in length, is when they get into an "I love you" war. THAT is my favorite!

We're excited every time we realize that we've learned something new about our kids' personalities! There are things that we can learn by observing their behavior, but with the language barrier, it takes a little more time for some things to come to the surface. It's such fun to see the details emerge!

Here are a few more pictures for you...

Some days are like this....

 Others are like this...
Some are like this....

 And 5 minutes later, they're like this....

Wouldn't trade it!