A little over a month ago we got to celebrate Mekdes' first birthday with us, turning 6 years old. Mekdes was SO excited in anticipation of the big day. They don't celebrate birthdays in rural Ethiopia, so Mekdes had never before had a birthday party, but, as in so many instances, she copied Ella's emotion, and Ella was very excited for Mekdes to have her birthday.
We started the day by opening a special present from Mom and Dad, a new doll
Greg and I were able to go into her school for the beginning of the day and watch for a little bit as she did her morning routine and then shared a bag of 5 things that told about her (we packed her swim suit, a bike bell, and ballet slipper as she loves those activities, a cross- because she loves Jesus, and an Ethiopian basket to represent her 1st home.) Mekdes' teacher told me that later in the day when a game was stopped so the teacher could talk to some of the boys who were misbehaving, Mekdes took off her crown and stated "this part IS NOT my birthday!" I found this very cute.
We had her party that afternoon at a nearby park, 13 friends came and helped her celebrate as well as both sets of grandparents, quite a treat!
Nana made this amazing Princess Tiana cake and also did face painting at the party, she's got talent!
Mekdes had a great time, other than one incident when she was playing chase, tripped and fell and then another kid fell on top of her pushing her face into the cement. Poor girl! It looked so painful! Her forehead, lip and both knees were bleeding. She was a trooper though and after some cuddles, ice and with the enticement of opening presents she was able to recover and even play some more.
One cute moment was at the end of the party when she looked at the gifts, picked one toy up and asked "mommy, can I keep this?" and I told her she could keep them all, they were all for her. She got wide eyed, like she hadn't realized this, and she quickly gathered up all the bags.
Here's a little bit more about our newest 6 year old:
The great majority of the time she is a very happy, bubbly, silly little girl
She loves to sing and has a beautiful voice
She has an athletic ability that leaves us in awe. She got on her bike and within days was riding it well, by the end of the summer she was riding without training wheels. Her hand eye coordination with games like badminton if far beyond other 6 year olds we know. We love that she has this love for sports and what we see as being gifted athletically, we feel this will be a healthy way for her to differentiate herself from her sister.
She loves to run; she loves to go jogging with me, she actually keeps me going if I slow down. And I love watching her run, her long stride, it is truly beautiful. (Yeah, we've done a little olympic day dreaming.)
She had no food issues, which I had anticipated her having d/t lacking food at times in her life. But if she's not hungry or doesn't like the food she won't eat it. She didn't like chicken or cheese when she first got home but now likes them both, and she's good with eating veggies, she asked for seconds of kale and mushrooms at dinner tonight, kale! Really what 6 year old asks for seconds of kale before asking for seconds of mac n' cheese?! This one!
She's great at sharing. I'd had thought that a child who hadn't had much would cling to what she was given, but she doesn't, overall she is very willing to share and even give some of her things away.
Her english is amazing, it's been such fun watching it progress by leaps and bounds. On the downside she has forgotten both her other languages, this makes her sad and I hope one day we can give her Amharic lessons. (some cuteness while learning english: In Amharic "Buna" is coffee so when she got a cold and was coughing she'd say "oh, big buna!" )
Her foot has grown from a shoe size 11 to a shoe size 2 since being home!
She really like being helpful and to clean, this makes a mamma happy! Sometimes I'll hear her "whispering" to Ella that they should clean and surprise me, so I'll happily occupy myself elsewhere until they are done.
She loves cooking and we've had some good bonding time when she helps me do my dinner prep in the afternoons.
We started the day by opening a special present from Mom and Dad, a new doll
One cute moment was at the end of the party when she looked at the gifts, picked one toy up and asked "mommy, can I keep this?" and I told her she could keep them all, they were all for her. She got wide eyed, like she hadn't realized this, and she quickly gathered up all the bags.
Here's a little bit more about our newest 6 year old:
The great majority of the time she is a very happy, bubbly, silly little girl
She loves to sing and has a beautiful voice
She has an athletic ability that leaves us in awe. She got on her bike and within days was riding it well, by the end of the summer she was riding without training wheels. Her hand eye coordination with games like badminton if far beyond other 6 year olds we know. We love that she has this love for sports and what we see as being gifted athletically, we feel this will be a healthy way for her to differentiate herself from her sister.
She loves to run; she loves to go jogging with me, she actually keeps me going if I slow down. And I love watching her run, her long stride, it is truly beautiful. (Yeah, we've done a little olympic day dreaming.)
She had no food issues, which I had anticipated her having d/t lacking food at times in her life. But if she's not hungry or doesn't like the food she won't eat it. She didn't like chicken or cheese when she first got home but now likes them both, and she's good with eating veggies, she asked for seconds of kale and mushrooms at dinner tonight, kale! Really what 6 year old asks for seconds of kale before asking for seconds of mac n' cheese?! This one!
She's great at sharing. I'd had thought that a child who hadn't had much would cling to what she was given, but she doesn't, overall she is very willing to share and even give some of her things away.
Her english is amazing, it's been such fun watching it progress by leaps and bounds. On the downside she has forgotten both her other languages, this makes her sad and I hope one day we can give her Amharic lessons. (some cuteness while learning english: In Amharic "Buna" is coffee so when she got a cold and was coughing she'd say "oh, big buna!" )
Her foot has grown from a shoe size 11 to a shoe size 2 since being home!
She really like being helpful and to clean, this makes a mamma happy! Sometimes I'll hear her "whispering" to Ella that they should clean and surprise me, so I'll happily occupy myself elsewhere until they are done.
She loves cooking and we've had some good bonding time when she helps me do my dinner prep in the afternoons.
1 comment:
I love all the stories you tell. What a treasure they will be in the years to come!
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