Apr 24, 2011

first day

I've been SO enjoying my little Lucy!  I will share more pictures (promise!) but I've been a little distracted by another little something I brought home from Africa... a nasty little bacteria that has made it's presence known.  I'm  enjoying my first little something (LUCY) far more, to say the least!

Our first day at home was lovely. Lucy slept 12 hours, with one little snack in the middle.  Heavenly.  Then we woke up and she had her first good bath, which I LOVED and she barely tolerated.



Have you ever seen such a sweet monster?  She didn't like the bath, but she loved the drying off and lotion-ing up.  We played a bit, then I laid her on my bed while I hung up 2 shirts. I turned around and she was out.  Soo tired after our big trip!  She looks so sweet (and little) on my bed!  Love it!



Then we did some more playing, and some more sleeping...




So maybe not the most fascinating stuff, but absolutely thrilling to me.  She's HERE in my real LIFE, and here to stay.  It's just really, really sweet.  I'm so thankful.

Apr 16, 2011

home

Wow!  Lucy is home!  I am so blessed.  She really is a precious little one.  I just hold her and talk to her and can't quite believe that she's here and here forever!  I am really blessed with family and friends, too!  Things have been a little crazy, and I'm headed to bed (yes, at 8 pm!), but I wanted to share a few pictures from the last week.

I hope to make a gotcha video, but for now, here is us driving away from the transition home.

We had lots of smiles at the guesthouse, more every day we were together.



Tuesday was EMBASSY DAY.  Lucy felt pretty relaxed about it all, and rightly so, because it was pretty easy.  However, we did have an incident.  I checked her diaper (with my finger) as we waited in the waiting area for our name to be called.  Rookie mistake.  I ended up with a finger covered in mushy, smelly poo.  We rushed to the bathroom to change her and wash my finger, and as I was walking there I felt like I was leading the way with this gross finger, like I was singing "this little light of mine."  I couldn't put it down, I couldn't touch Lucy with it, so I had it stuck out in front of me!  As I was wiping down my finger, mom opened a really messy diaper and we heard "Northcutt" called to the window!  We slapped a new diaper on and I took her to the window with no pants on and a cleanish (but not actually washed) finger.  And I raised my right hand, smelly finger and all, and swore to be her mama forever.  Fitting, somehow, I think.



After our official business was finished, I was really anxious to get Lucy home, but I was nervous about such a long flight.  I got a little worked up that morning, trying to pack a diaper bag (for the first time) to meet my little darling's needs for the next 32 hours or so we would be travelling, and I cried!  But I shouldn't have worried.  She slept all but 3 hours or so of the 17 hour flight, and the rest was cake.  (In hindsight).  She was so cute in her little basinet on the plane!



This is Lucy's first picture as an American citizen after we landed in D.C.  I think she's quite an assett to our great nation.



We got home about 5:30 Wednesday evening, and were met by the sweetest welcoming party!  I don't have pictures, but my sweet friend Mattie (who got Ethiopia stamped on my heart when we picked up Cooper) posted pictures of the celebration on her blog, so have a look!  (Thanks Mattie!)
 http://gutmanfamilyof6.blogspot.com/2011/04/introducing-sweet-little-lucy-tesfanish.html

Many more pics to come, but here's a favorite from today.  One of the best things about having Lucy home is getting to see my favorite people together!  We call this one "The Cute One meets Little Cutie."


Apr 6, 2011

cleared for takeoff

Praise God!  I just got an email that we're cleared for an embassy date!  We should be able to leave this weekend to pick up my sweet Lucy and bring her HOME!  I'm SO happy for all of you, because you'll finally get to meet her :) and so VERY happy and blessed to be bringing her home!  (Our embassy appointment is tTues April 12, so pray that all goes smoothly!).  (My heart could burst! Thank you Lord!)

*travel notes:  We leave Friday morning for DC, and then a 13 hour flight to Addis Ababa.  We'll be there at 7:45 am ET time, and go get Lucy that morning (yipee!).  Embassy is Tuesday at 1. We leave on Wednesday evening, and after 17 1/2 hours on a plane (with a 6 month old! ) we land in DC.  Then on to Chicago and finally, sweet CVG :) We shoudl arrive at 5:30 or so on Thursday night on United.  Anyone is welcome to come get a sneak peek at Lucy at the airport, (but beware that it could be a lot of waiting around!). 
Key prayer times:  Tuesday's embassy appointment and the long flight home :) , but we'll take 'em any time!  Thanks friends!