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I know you all have been waiting for an update, but my time is now dictated by a 7 month old!
We've been getting settled and trying to figure out what our routine is. I can say that it has been wonderful! We are enjoying every minute of having Aerin home with us...yes, even the poopy diapers, because they remind us of the hard parts that we wanted for so long. Hopefully I'll get a chance to update you all in the next couple days on what happened while we were in Ethiopia, but for now I'll leave you with a few pictures of our sweet, silly girl. By the way, we knew it when we saw her at our court appointment, but we have had confirmed that this girl is NOT camera shy. She can be fussy, see the camera flash, pep right up and start posing. Yes, I do mean posing. If I didn't already know how shady the modeling industry was, she would be a photographers dream baby model.

Heading home SOON!

It's a little ironic that, having just moved this week, I've had at times less internet access than Bryan and Amory have in Ethiopia:) But yesterday I got to video skype with them, and see sweet Tarikua! She was babbling away, looking at her strange new family member on the computer screen, chewing on her rattle . . . generally being her cute chunky self. Speaking of chunky . . . she's close to 20lb and Amory is getting the arm work out of a lifetime. She's eating great (bottles and oatmeal!), sleeping well, and adjusting better each day. Today (Friday) they were going back to Hannah's Hope for a last goodbye. Saturday night they head to the airport for the long journey back to Texas. Keep praying!

SJP

Embassy? Check

Bryan and Amory had a successful embassy appointment today! Their first night with Tarikua (Monday) was tough--as expected for a little one just removed from a familiar environment, she cried and cried. But a bath and bottle and love from her new mama and daddy eventually comforted her and she ended up sleeping a 5 hour stretch that night! Since then she's done well-some hard hours, obviously, but altogether wonderful considering. Amory sent this photo of their beautiful, sweet, happy, baby--THEIR baby. How awesome is this?! Pray for their next few days as they continue to seek to bond with Aerin, comfort her, encourage each other, and travel from Ethiopia back to Texas!

At Last

I have it on good authority that Bryan, Amory, and Aerin are all together, at their hotel!!!

Please pray for B&A as they navigate this crash course in how to parent a 7m old, for Aerin as her world just totally changed and all that was secure is gone, for her precious caretakers who are sad (yet happy) over her leaving, and of course for her birth family.

I'll keep you posted when I hear more!

SJP