Malachi is.....

Malachi is changing so very fast. Every day he is learning and doing new things. Here is a brief rundown over the last several weeks.

* Malachi started to crawl!
* Malachi started to walk! (See it here, on Aaron's blog ... no point in reloading it.)
* Malachi can sign: more, please, thank-you, all done ... and does all 4 often and usually for the wrong reasons. But it is still really cute.
* Malachi can say: bye, hi, mama, dada, sissy, bro-bro, ba-ba, that, here-ya-go, love you, thank you, done, ball, and Jesus (according to the kids).
* Malachi is now sleeping with Bro-Bro (aka, his big brother, Sam) after almost 3 months in our room.
* Malachi is now sleeping through the night, and has been for almost 4 weeks ... after 3 months in our room of NOT sleeping through the night!
* Malachi is down to just 1 bottle a day. (As of today that is, I just took away his nap time bottle this afternoon. He didn't even notice .... I don't think.) The boy eats MORE than enough throughout the day. He is no longer malnourished, nor in need of 36 ounces of formula a day (which is what he was getting the first 3 months).
* Malachi is finally drinking from a sippy cup, although he isn't very fond of milk.
* Malachi STILL has giradia (sp?) after 3 rounds of treatments. Ugh.
* Malachi loves when we play Ethiopian music. Again, check it out on Aaron's blog if you want. Calms him down when nothing else will.
* Malachi had his first night with a babysitter. (Meaning Aaron & I had our first real date in almost 4 months.) ***Thanks again PJ!!!!!!!*** He did great, says the sitter and the kids.
* Malachi hates the church nursery with a passion. So did my other kids though, so I am not really surprised.
* Malachi is insanely jealous of his big brother if I am involved. In other words, when Sam has my attention (especially my lap), he HATES it .... screams until it's over in fact.
* Malachi loves to be outside, only he doesn't like the grass. If he sees that you are about to put him in the grass, he will lift his legs up in protest. It's very funny. :)
* Malachi is brilliant!!!!! So many changes (especially in the last month). A new language, new environment, new family, a lifetime of sorrows and lack of opportunity (until he came to us that is) .... and he's come this far!

That's my Malachi!

Malachi and I are Famous!

My Dad just sent me a link to this blog that was written by a man named Tony Reinke. We went home (to NE) for Christmas. While we were there, Malachi and I were in worship service together. Tony sat behind us, and as a result, was inspired to write a poem about M and I. Kinda cool!

Check it out....

3 Months Ago ....

Three months ago today our lives were forever changed by one, tiny, Baby Man. We met Malachi for the first time and our hears will never be the same. He was unsure and scared, malnourished and weak, sad and lonely. Remember???




Just 3 short months later, he is a different child! He's secure and lively, fed and strong, joyful and loved. And it shows.

"How big is Malachi?"
"SOOO BIG !!!"

"Peak-a-boo!"

"Look at my big belly!!! Yum!"

Malachi continues to steal our hearts and wrap them around his little finger every single day. He is such a joy. The 3 months have flown by, and yet I feel like he's always been part of our lives. Proof that God made a place in our family for him long before we did. It hasn't been easy by any stretch of the imagination. But it has been blessed. God continues to guide us as we figure out and learn just who our Baby Man is. We see Jesus in his eyes, and hope and pray that others do too. He's made us laugh and he has made us cry .... and not a second goes by that makes me think I wouldn't do it all over again! I would ... in a heartbeat!

Look who is mobile !!!!

Well, he did it! Malachi crawled! Despite being told by the Dr. and the Therapists that Malachi would 1) Walk before crawling, or 2) Not ever crawl ... he proved them wrong! They told us that "tummy time" wasn't necessary for a child his age, it would just make him mad. They were right, it did. But I wanted to see him crawl. He's never been given opportunity to do anything but sit. He's a smart one, and aside from many tummy time tears, he got it! Time to get out the baby gates! :)

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