I am over-flowing with gratitude that from your pictures you look healthy and loved and as though you're being taken care of! Your cheeks are full and your hair is growing in so much! In fact, the picture we received a few weeks ago... I wasn't quite sure it was YOU, so I hemmed and hawed for a full day -- comparing that picture to your referral pictures.... I even asked for some "expert advice" from my dear friend Karen from Liberia, and she LAUGHED and laughed at me!! Because your hair is getting so curly, and your lips are filling out! And she reminded me that this is what happens to African babies. :) But you are absolutely precious and beautiful and I can't wait to hold you.
Tonight the house is quiet. Daddy took Johnathan and Tenleigh to the pool to swim. I love a quiet house!! But I do notice that the quiet makes my heart hurt more. It forces me to slow down, and in so doing, my mind automatically thinks of you, sweet boy. Sometimes it's really hard for me to stop the tears. But it's also a really good time for me to Be Still and Pray.
Sweet boy, you have a name!! You have a beautiful Ethiopian given name, with very special meaning to us... but because Daddy has a hard time pronouncing it :), we're going to use your special Ethiopian name as a middle name. Daddy and I narrowed down our choices to 2 names that we love, and we left the final decision up to your brother and sister. We thought that would be a special thing to do! And it was! When we explained to them that THEY got to choose your name, Johnny had the sweetest, biggest smile. Tenleigh was ready to go right away and nodded her head, grabbed the pen from my hand and knew exactly what she was going to do. She got down to business right away! :) We love the name that Johnathan and Tenleigh have chosen for you:
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| The votes are in!! Johnny's vote is on the left, Tenleigh's is on the right. (Good thing they're the same!) :) |
And so your name will be Eli A------- James Vick. James is Daddy's middle name. I love the meanings of each part of your name too. Eli = "Lifted to God", A------ (Ethiopian-given name) = "Our Hope", and James = "servant heart" or "supplanter". {I like "servant heart" better, so we'll go with that one :)} Not sure if we'll use James or A------ first, so the order of your middle names may change.
But it feels SO GOOD to have a name for you! And we love the name! :) And I think you most definitely look like an Eli.
Sweet Eli, we are praying for you all the time! And I know that others are too! Your auntie and uncle, Grandma and Grandpa, and very special friends. We are hoping and praying that your signed contract would hurry up and get here from Ethiopia so that we can submit all of your paperwork to NBC (National Benefits Center) to be reviewed. The new PAIR process (Pre-adoptive Immigration Review) starts up Sept. 1st. (TOMORROW!) I was SOOOO hoping we'd have our paperwork submitted and ready to be reviewed right away.
Still in God's timing though. Always has been, always will be.
Love you so much, sweet Eli.
XOXO,
Mommy
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