Home...

-- and we've been here since Sept 16th, but my oh my, all that needed to be done before I could even take a calmer breath, much less write a blog, consumed my time. Truth is, I am only part way through, but Malia is at school, and Shaela is napping, and I just read a news stroy (http://www.nwcn.com/home/?fId=130822743&fPath=%2Fnews%2Flocal&fDomain=10212) that has me so sick to my stomach, that I honestly can't do anything else, right now, except write.

So, as I said, we're home. The issues I had blogged about as a timeline in my post, below, continued- in fact, they worsened, multiplied, had babies together, including my dad hospitalized for nearly 2 weeks, until the last blow when I discovered that, in Ethiopia, the KLM agent had booked me for February 15th and NOT, September 15th!  Many phone calls later, $1,300 later (and this on top of the nearly $9,000 already shelled out for the travel portion of the trips, alone!) and many crazy moments later, we got it changed to Sept 15th and hit the air before Shaela did become illegal in Portugal.

Now, here, things are finally settling. My house was chaos when I arrived (never leave someone painting while you're gone) and it is now, um, better.  I say it like that b/c Shaela is still sleeping in temporary arrangements-  I need to do the back room (currently a computer/laundry/catch all room) as the girls' bedroom before I can set up the "real" crib(as in made of wood, not screen walls).  Should be done by end of next week-  that is my own personal deadline.

So, to the girls:

Little girl:  doing great, except that getting to sleep is an issue most nights.  In Portugal, she rocked it, but here, well-  it's been a big change. This too shall pass, right?
Otherwise, she is growing into an amazing little beauty and dang, the kid is as smart and sharp as big sis, for sure.  She is not verbal like Malia was at this age (Shae will be 13 months tomorrow), but the girl understands EVERYTHING and just watching her figure something out is awe inspiring.
She's going to be a fashionista, too,  I think-  ANYTHING that can go around her neck, she puts it on, in layers. This morning, she came into the kitchen (doing the downward dog crawl :) with 2 of my bras on around her neck LOL. So cute. 
Not so cute are the high pitched (as in neighbours might one day call the cops!) screams she'll do if she is frustrated or angry- and oy, can this little lady get angry!  She wants so badly to communicate, to talk, and when it doesn't come out one way, it comes out another. :)
She eats like a champ and DEMANDS her food, believe me, and is just an easy, relaxed, little babe.
We're together, home alone during the day, until May when I go back to school, and until then we journey each day closer and closer to being FULLY Mama and daughter.

Big girl: is loving school (s/k) with her new, awesome teacher (and yep, Mama went in the first day and let her know what Malia has been through in the last 4 months), though taking the bus has not been as happy a new event as she'd hoped. I am waiting one more day (I mean today is only the 4th one) to see if 'the big boy who pulls my hair" has cooled it with her, and if not, then the Mama Bear shall go into action.  She is taller and stronger as she nears her 5th bday and man what a mouth on this one-  she knows when she has crossed a line and now gives herself time outs, too LOL

Together: they are definitely bonding, but Malia has ups and downs in regards to Shaela-  I mean, she is uber protective of her around others, but will admit she is upset that Shae doesn't look like her, or will cry b/c I gave Shae something before I gave something to her.  She has had a couple of regressive issues, too, but I think she is just finding her new place.  I hope I can be patient, and understanding and loving until she realizes that Shaela is part of our family, not the center of it, and that neither is she and we will all come together and gel, soon. :)

As for Shae, well she idolizes Malia, watches her like a baby hawk, tries to do all she does. 

well, I know this is a bit general, and there really is sooo much more, but the bloggy space I started out writing in, today, has evaporated with the morning dew, and Shae is up from her nap. :)