Big Man on Campus

Marley is already going to high school!! Well, yes it may just be in my classroom, but he does look pretty big!!

Minnesota Zoo

We spent a day at teh zoo, and although there were many cool things to see and do, the only thing I managed to take a picture of was Marley's encounter with a turkey who was roaming around in the tropical zone....a lovely and large exhibit that is 72 degrees and balmy! We also happened to run into and meet two moms from the forum...how random!!

Minnesota Children's Museum

We were completely amazed at how many things there are to do in Minneapolis if you don't want to venture out into the snow! We spent a snowy afternoon at the Children's Museum, where there were a ton of kids and a ton of things to do! Marley's favorite was the wall with the magnetic kogs (I think that's what they are called are pretty certain that's not how it's spelled). We had to rip him away from them screaming and crying so he could explore the rest of the museum. We only made it through one floor before the tired melt down began..So we put him in the Ergo, in which he zonked out, and went across the street for some delicious sushi!!

More Minneapolis Mayhem

Ok...finally I can update the blog!! These are some pix from Dukem, an Ethiopian restaurant in St. Paul where some our CHSFS forum friends got together to welcome us to the fabulous Twin Cities. As you can see Marley used his new found skills in the ancient tradition of Greek wrestling to secure himself a friend in Eliav...I'm not sure Eliav's mom was as impressed as Mike and I were!! I'm also a bit uncertain about the expression on his face in that first pic...

No Marley's Were Injured in the Making of This Video

This was taken at josie and Mark's when we were in Minneapolis. He was chasing their dog Matisse around the table when he got distracted by our praise...the rest is pretty obvious! Of course he recovered like a champ and resumed his Poodle chase!

Minneapolis Marley

We had a really great time in Minneapolis and didn't even mind the cold too much! Especially because Marley looks soooo cute in his winter gear! We met fabulous new people and really epxlored the city! Here's a pic of Marley enjoying the Nicollet Mall and the famous Carabou Cafe....

and here he is enjoying lunch with our new friends Josie and Mark (although they aren't in the picture)....
On Saturday night some friends from the CHS forum met us in St. Paul at Dukem for some tastey Ethiopian food! Marley made a new friend in Eliav, but his tackling techniques are a tad questionsble...apparently it's not just Dad who gets to wrestle!!

My camera battery just died, so i will continue later...

Don't have my camera up yet...but here are some more pix! This is one of Marley with Mark at Dukem. Josie and Mark have received a referral for their beautiful son and we can't wait until our two boys can play together!!

When Mike and I went to the Vikings game, Tanya had the arduous task of watching the little man! She did a fabulous job and Marley had a wonderful time...so much fun, he even slept in the dog bed!!

Our First Christmas!!

We went over to Gram and Gidtu's on Christmas Eve to celebrate our first Christmas together as a family! It was so much better having Marley with us in the oh so cute flesh, than having hang in one dimension from the tree!!

LL Cool Fam!!

It's really hard to contain such coolness in this family of three!! Marley's coolness is even exploding out of his hair!!

It's hard to compete with Master Marley's cool factor...but we try!!

All three of the Marcos clan is going through some hair changes...Marley's is getting big and beatiful, Dad's is growing and I cut and colored mine...all by myself!!

Just Can't Get Enough

So the kid absolutely loves to read!! And he knnows that in order for me to read to him, he has to sit on my lap! Sometimes the urge to read overtakes anything that either he or I are doing! Lately he has taken to pushing me to the couch so I can sit and read to him...but sometimes he will want me to read wherever I am sitting...even on the toilet! I love his expression in the first pic..."don't distract her from reading Dad!!"

YUmmmm....knobs....

Marley is refining his palate and apparently likes the taste of brushed steel knobs!! Don't judge!!

TOMS Shoes

The shoes are great and the cause is even greater! I ordered three pairs of shoes yesterday, 2 for me, 1 for Marley. The shoes that go to the Ethiopians are actually made in Addis Ababa! So, not only does TOMS give people shoes, they also give people jobs! What a wonderful thing!!

Sweet Sleep Seized Suddenly

Dad took Marley to a soccer game yesterday while I got a hideous haircut! Apparently they played pretty hard, becuase he crashed out before he could even eat his dinner...at 5pm! Poor little guy slept until 9 this morning!!

Our First Thanksgiving

So many things to be thankful for this year...one big thing obvioulsy! I was reflecting on the last year, the last two years actually...that's when it all began! Two years ago in November the booming voice that woke me in the middle of the night urging me to "GO" forward with the adoption; a voice so clear and deep I started the following day. Two years ago we began the roller coaster known as the adoption process; ironically enough we met with our social worker at a Starbucks in Little Ethiopia to turn in one of our many applications.

Two years ago friendships were tested and true colors came out loud and clear in those we chose to help us along the way! So many ups and downs for 16 long months...and I know that 16 months doesn't seem like that long to some who have already been waiting longer! Two years ago at Christmas I remember crying at my computer because I already wanted my little boy to be in my arms...wondering how I would ever survive the wait! Last year, I thought I would lose my mind as we inched closer to a referral and dealt with the toughest decision of our lives.

It's funny how when you are in the middle of the something and you know there is a lesson to be learned, but you just can't figure out what it is until you are through it; when you reflect on it afterward it seems so clear... I learned something on Sunday night while watching, of all things, Evan Almighty.

When I pray for something, God will undoubtedly test my desire to really have it! In my case I prayed for patience, and instead of being given the calm and serenity that comes with peace, I was tested like never before to listen to my intuition, discuss with my husband and put my impatience aside; something I am not good at doing. But now, one year later, I look at my little boy, my darling little guy who has been mine before and all along; I know we made the right decision, and I learned that having patience, although perhaps not gratifying, is something I am thankful to know I have, and chose to exercise.

So this Thanksgiving I am thankful for being tested, I am thankful for being bent and almost broken during this most trying of adoption processes, because ultimately I have been rewarded with the ultimate gift...my family, my new friends, my being complete and perfectly content! I am happier than I have ever imagined possible!