We are on Cloud 9

For two reasons.

1) Our Luci May is 9 months today! The past month has been really significant as far as attachment goes. She now holds out her arms for Bill or me to hold her which melts me. She also gives hugs, especially when we get her out of bed. Every time I get her, she will give me a big hug. Then she'll pull back to look me over and smile. Then another hug. Pull back again for smiles and usually another hug. It's so dear. To celebrate her 9th month, here are two of my favorite poses of hers. The first is what we call the "flirty". You never know when she's gonna pull it out to charm the socks off anyone who is on the receiving end. It looks like this with the tilted head and coy smile...
The other pose, her Yoga Baby move, has a different kind of charm, but is just as flirty if you ask me...
We love you from every angle, Lulu!

2)We had a reunion with our travel buddies from Ethiopia. They came all the way from Oklahoma (the second best state in the USA, Christine) to spend the weekend with us. God knit our hearts together in Ethiopia, so we were on Cloud 9 to be with them again and get to know their precious kids!

Luci and Halina are BFF's, even though they don't realize it yet. They had fun playing...

And grabbing...
And posing (in matching dresses, of course)...

And hugging...
The babies aren't the only ones who got quality time to bond. There were the big girls...
And the boys...

Sweet Carter spent his own money to buy Jack a skateboard.

And the Daddies...
And maybe even a little time for the Mommies too...
Shopping at Target...

Don't we look happy? It's a proven fact: Target releases happy endorphins.

Here I am justifying my purchase of two pairs of shoes at TJ Maxx...

Don't judge me. Do you see how cute they are? Do you know how pathetic my shoe life has become after my foot surgeries?

Christine invited me to go on a run with her. I thought it might ruin our fun weekend to have me rushed to the ER, so I biked alongside her...

I knew my husband was going to take this unflattering shot (his hobby), so I was prepared by covering my bootie as best I could...

Why I oughtta!

All of this fun and bonding was built around a little college football rivalry. Our team won, but we didn't gloat. Except for taking this picture of Halina...
Can't wait 'til the next time!