Gifts...Gifts....Gifts for Baby E!

My last day at work (a couple of weeks ago) was such a fun day, a relaxing day. I had spent that week giving my kiddos a goody bag of treats and on that Friday a lot of kiddos gave both me and Baby E gifts. The gifts were so thoughtful. Here's what Baby E received:

This was given to me by the entire class. They all signed their names to it!

Here's what it reads:

All I Really Needed To Know I Learned In Kindergarten by Robert Fulghum

Most of what I really need to know about how to live

And what to do and how to be

I learned in Kindergarten.

Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain,

But there in the sandpile of Sunday school.

These are the things I learned:

Share everything, play fair.

Don't hit people.

Put things back where you found them.

Clean up your own mess.

Don't take things that aren't yours.

Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.

Wash your hands before you eat. Flush.

Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.

Live a balanced life. Learn some and think some.

Draw and paint and sing and dance

And play and work everyday some. Take a nap every afternoon.

When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic.

Hold hands and stick together.

Be aware of wonder.

A few days later my husband brings home a cute little gift bag and says that it's from our next-door neighbors...the neighbors that have been so kind  to us by notarizing all of our paperwork. This is what was inside the gift bag:

The cutest little HuggyBuddy and travel pillow I've ever seen. John and I have been taking turns sleeping with the HuggyBuddy so we can get our scent on it. We plan on taking it to Ethiopia and leaving it with Baby E until we can go back for the Embassy appointment.

Then on Christmas Eve, my stepdaughter came over bearing a huge wrapped box (gift). John & I had just seen her and our granddaughter K the day before, so we were very surprised to be receiving anything. I asked her if what was inside the box was going to make me cry and she replied "No, I don't think so." I had been very emotional those last several days and I just wanted to prepare myself (no haps!) I sat down and opened this box and this is what was inside:

A picture frame and the cutest, softest Pillow Pet!

The Pillow Pet is a dolphin and goes with everything in the baby's nursery. The theme of her room is Sea Life. The frame says "Sweet Baby - The moment we saw you, we fell in love." Needless to say, I was a pile of goo. The only thing going through my brain was how we felt that first time when we saw the referral pictures. It was a good day!

It is so wonderful to see how friends and family have started loving and welcoming Baby E before she even gets here. I pray that she always knows just how much she's loved here and in Ethiopia.