60 Hours. . .

.  .  . from now I'll be boarded on my plane.  Hopefully I'll be done crying from the heart wrenching goodbyes to my sweet babies and husband!


I'm almost packed.  I've found my TSA locks and my bright luggage tags.  I have 3 money belts to choose from (hate those things), and my passport is out.  I need to find my yellow fever paper, but my granola bars and wintergreen lifesavers are ready to go.  (Road trip or international travel- I always, ALWAYS, have wintergreen lifesavers!


I am focused.  I am excited.  I close my eyes and can feel Ethiopia.  Oh, I can't wait.  And I'm just so thankful.  I haven't done my Father's Day post yet, but I still have to shout out to the Daddy of my babies.  Honestly, as much as Joel loves Ethiopia, and as grateful as he is to Ethiopia for giving us Rebeka, he hasn't felt the pull or the urgency that I've felt and that has culminated in me returning.  But.  He's supportive.  He understands that I have to go.  Without his blessing I couldnt't and wouldn't do it, and I am so thankful.  And also, through all my preparation, I realize what a great team Joel and I are.  I'm going to really miss him on this adventure.  So, thank you Joel! I love you so much!

Last Days of School

These kids are getting bigger and bigger.  It's okay though, they are still pretty sweet!

Last Day of Kinder 

 Last Day of Sixth Grade

Last Day of Fourth Grade

Big Bigs walking to the bus together.  Sweet. 

If Mrs. M looks familiar it's because she's been in our first/last pictures for the past FOUR YEARS. Garrett had her for K, 1, 2, and now Carter had her again for K.  (And before all that, Maddy had her for K.)  We are going to M-I-S-S her- major!

Proud of my kids this year.  They worked hard, were responsible, and stretched themselves socially and academically.  It was an awesome year!

Out With the Old

Out with the old teeth, that is.  And the old kindergarten.  Tomorrow is the last day of school for my little Carter Mac here and today he lost his very first tooth.  That first sweet little tooth that first showed up about 5.5 years ago.  I cried when it came in then (no more toothless grin from my tiny baby boy), and I cried when it came out today.  Milestones, and all that.  He's such a big boy now.  He can ride his bike and swim and hit a baseball (t-ball).  He's scored soccer goals and can read books and do math in his head.  He's funny and smart and curious and the thought of sending him to first grade next year just about does me in.  (He'll have a wonderful teacher, I just will miss him so.)

I wish I would have gotten Abby's face here too- it was pure amazement, even though she's lost SIX TEETH already! 

 Congratulatory hug from Nana, who happened to stop by, just before the big incident!

So, yesterday Carter discovered that his tooth had gone from moderately loose to very wiggly, complete with a drop of blood.  This alternately sent him into hysterics, curled up in my lap- "I CAN'T MAKE IT THROUGH THE NIGHT LIKE THIS!  YOU HAVE TO SLEEP WITH ME!" to pure excitement, even going next door at 8:00pm to show off.


He did make it through the night, and this evening that tooth was even more wiggly and twisty.  (I know, it makes me squirm too.  Carter told Nana Pam, "My mom doesn't do teeth!" when she asked if I was going to pull it.)  He tried an apple, but it hurt too much.  There was much wiggling, twisting and a little tugging by many family members, but we finally all gave up when it was decided that it wasn't quite 'hanging by a thread' yet.  Maybe five threads.  Carter wasn't sure he could make it through another night in this state, but Nana (who had stopped by to see the very loose tooth) gave Carter a cookie and he was happily munching it, when he came over and declared that he had a loose tooth on the top too.  What he in fact had, was a WINDOW IN HIS MOUTH because that sweet little bottom baby tooth had popped right out .  .  . AND WAS NOWHERE TO BE SEEN!


Cue the huge tears and deafening sobs because swallowing one's first lost tooth was just too much to bear.  Thankfully I found the little thing, in the carpet, near many telltale cookie crumbs.  All happiness was restored and Carter paraded around his siblings and closest friends.  Happy boy.  As you can see!


Before he went to bed Maddy gave him her 'tooth pillow', which was mine as a little girl too.  His white and pink and frilly, and he is so happy.  He said to her, "Maddy, I've never done this before.  Do I just put it in there, and the tooth fairy will come?"  {He melts her heart too.}  She got him all set up!  Hopefully the tooth fairy remembers to stop by The Gibson Six household tonight!


{Had to jump back here and add this link of when Garrett boy lost his first tooth.}

Rebeka, today.

Today Rebeka woke up at 5:40 or so.  That is unusually early for her, so Joel pulled her from the pack-n-play into our bed to snuggle her back to sleep.  (She still sleeps in the pack-n-play next to our bed.)  About 10 minutes later, Rebeka whispers to me, "Mama?  Go downstairs?  Eat yogurt?"  I answered her that it was just too early and not time to get up yet.  Joel gently shushed her.

About 5 minutes later she tried a different approach.  In her syrupy sweet voice she said, "Mama?  Go downstairs?  Get coffee for Mama?"

I couldn't help but giggle, even though it wasn't even 6!  She has this mama all figured out, doesn't she?

Making Plans (17 'Sleeps' to go)

The countdown seems to be spiraling faster and faster while my lists are getting longer and longer.


Today I spent some time pinning down what we want to do on our days in Addis.  As I told some friends, I think I struck an emotional geyser because I spent the afternoon in tears.  Ethiopia does that too me.  I really hope I don't just ugly cry the entire time I'm there!


When I sat down to think through what it is really going to mean to be there again, when I imagined it .  . . oh, it just overwhelmed me.  And what it is going to mean to be where my daughter drew her first breaths?  I never thought THAT would be an incredible privilege to me, but here we are.


Meanwhile, in living color, right here in front of me, Rebeka is amazing.  She's funny and vibrant and is coming back around to be sweet and snuggly.  For a while she was the opposite of snuggly, even with me, and it was starting to scare me.  But she's back and she's wonderful.  She's still busy and exhausting and curious and a little bit naughty, but more and more she's stopping when I tell her 'no' and she's answering with "Okay Mama!"


Today she pointed to a picture from Ethiopia that Joel hung and she said, "Daddy make it!"  I answered that yes, in fact, Daddy had hung it and that it was from Ethiopia.  She agreed, "Like me!"


I laughed and said, "Yes!  You were born in Ethiopia too!"


She said, "And you come and get me," as she nuzzled into my chest.


Yes Baby, I came to get you.


And that, my friends, is why I'm going to Ethiopia.  Because my baby is just two now, and she already knows that I went to Ethiopia to get her.  As she grows and her understandings multiply, exponentially, I want to be able to answer her questions.  And when I can't answer them, I want to be able to look in those incredibly deep brown eyes and tell her from the bottom of my heart that I tried my hardest to get the answers for her and to understand for her.

Three Weeks and Donations!

In three weeks I will BE in Ethiopia!  I've been alarmingly relaxed so far.  I don't know what suitcases I'm going to pack and I don't know what I'm taking.  I do have probiotics and my shots and Ehtiopian VISA are still good from the last trip.  It's probably about time I start making lists, but honestly I'm more worried about getting things organized for my crew here than what I need to do for me.


But I am excited.  I've thought a lot about what I will be doing there- visiting the city where Rebeka lived until she was 3 months old.  I'm looking forward to seeing the orphanage and getting a feel for the city, so when she's older, I can tell her about her roots, as much as possible.  


I have had many people ask me if I'm taking anything, and I am.  The orphanage we'll be visiting is fairly lacking, and I am really excited to be able to take some things for them.  I'm collecting some diapers here at home, to fill my suitcases.  The orphanages usually use cloth, but during the rainy season it is difficult to get diapers to dry.  So I'm taking a bunch of disposables.  Also, I'm collecting cash donations so I can purchase goods in Addis to take to Rebeka's orphanage.  My plan is to buy formula, flour, etc.  We will have a guide with us to help us purchase things for a fair price and also to help with delivery.  If you are interested in donating diapers or cash, please email me or leave a comment on here and I will get back to you.  I don't want anyone to feel obligated- I have had individuals ask, so I thought this was the easiest way to let people know!  If you do want to participate, please let me know asap.  I need to start packing suitcases and I also need to order money SOON!! (New, crisp bills are required for exchange in Ethiopia.)  


Can't believe I leave in less than 3 weeks!