Some great things about our sons

They remembered us. When they saw us, they came toward us with their arms up for hugs.

They claimed us. When other kids were around, they sat on our laps. They gently pushed others away. We're theirs.

So far they mostly understand our Amharic and we mostly understand them.

They liked seeing themselves on the videocamera.

When they were playing, they were a team. They took turns. They held things for each other.

They were curious about their new pull-back cars and their talking photo album. They figured out how to best balance things on the cars, and how to record their own voices on the photo album.

They said they liked our dogs. So far the only names they've learned from the photo album are the dogs' names. D even kissed their pictures. He liked Buki's tiliq milas - big tongue.

They each had a turn leading prayers and they both did a great job.

They put stickers all over Tabb's face.

D covered our faces in the photo album with stickers, then asked us where our faces were. Comedy gold.

A played demolition derby with me for almost an hour.

D looked at the photo album with Tabb for almost an hour.

D LOVES the photo album, especially the picture of the house and the car. At snack time he shoved his bread in his mouth all at once so he could finish and come back to the photo album.

When we did something D liked, he patted us on the shoulder.

A likes soccer.

A showed us where everything belonged when it was clean-up time.

They gave us kisses and accepted kisses.

They're cute as all get out.

A took lots of photos with Tabb's camera.

They stopped when it was time to stop, and didn't touch when I told them not to touch (I know this will change once they begin to test limits, but it's great to know they can do it).

They were sad when it was time for us to leave, but understood when we said we would come back.

When I told A to give a toy to a little boy who was crying, he didn't want to, but he did it.

When it was time for everyone to go in for a bath, D snuck back out to be with us.

They laugh when we tickle them.

They are full of smiles and hugs.

We are so happy to be with them.