The first time ever I saw your face...remembered.

  I can hardly believe that today marks one year since we first held our baby girls in our arms in the Widows & Orphans Home in Adama. I will never forget what it felt like to hold them close taking in the miracle we were living out in that very moment.

 To commemorate this sweetest of days I wanted to post some pics of our first meeting :)

He is Faithful!

Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes Five hundred twenty-five thousand moments so dear

On November 16th, 2011 we first heard about the twin girls from Gimbie on a transition plan call.

On December 19th we got a call from our agency asking if we would be open to adopting twins, and minutes later got an email containing the first pictures of our beautiful baby girls. It was love at first sight!  

On December 25th we shared the news with Alex and Avery by putting gifts from Santa under the tree for M&S, and showed them the pictures of Meryn & Saryn. Read here to find out why Avery was not at all surprised.

And on this Day, December 29th, 2011 we received our I-171H from Homeland Security. The next day we drove to Montgomery to have it authenticated with our state seal, and then mailed it to our "stork" in Washington D.C. for the U.S. Department of State Seal, and authentication from the Ethiopian Embassy.

So,  all that was going on this time last year. 

What a difference a year makes! 

 last year looked like this....

This year we had this...

last year it was this....

This year we had this....

Last Year we had two precious angels at the Tree Farm....

This Year we had FOUR....

                                                                             2011

                                                                             2012

   In one long short year we went from a desperate longing to see just one more picture, to receive just one more document, to hear just one more good report.....from crying,  praying, & clinging to what He'd promised...to sharing the story of Jesus' birth with them huddled around the nativity set, holding them in our arms singing songs about the Savior surrounded by many of the people who supported and prayed us through the past year in a candle lit service, & cuddling up in bed awaiting Santa's arrival. We are so overwhelmed by His goodness. He has blessed us beyond what we could have ever imagined.

 Hallelujah! Everlasting songs will rise. 

For all You've done. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! 

Thanks be to our God!  

Melekame Lidete! ~ HaPpY Birthday My Loves!

  Today was cause for celebration. Our sweet angel babies turned 3! Not only was this their first birthday in America, it was also, more than likely their first time to celebrate their birthday period. Anyhoo, this is going to be one of those warm & fuzzy kind of post. The kind that are easy to read, and FULL of pictures chronicling our adventures. So here it goes! 



We kicked off the Bday celebration @ one of our favorite Italian restaurants on Birthday Eve.

Meryn- Almost too much cuteness.

 

Say Say- Could she BE anymore adorable?

Me & My Favorite Boy~ love him SOOO much!

Poppa, Meryn, & Dalday Loves :)

Meryn & "Dal~day" getting their pouty faces on.

This is a locally owned home that goes all out with their Christmas decorations. Viewing the "Wrights Lights" is a family tradition that goes back as far as I remember. We'd all load up in our pjs and head out there every year. 

My Mom & Dad brought them out there this past weekend, and they enjoyed it so much that we decided to bring them back there all bundled up in their pjs as part of their birthday celebration. If I had a dime for every time they yelled, "Wook, Wook!"...well I'd have at least four dollars.

Early Morning Birthday Cuddles had to be one of my favorite parts of the day.

As well as this, "Mommy has a headache babies, let me lay here for just one second til my ibuprofen kicks in...well all right...who can say no to more snuggle time with these two?" 

Not this girl.

Then we celebrated with the help of a local bakery. This is M with the "please take my picture already so I can devour this cupcake" look.

...and Saryn with the "let's get this over with so I can blow out this candle and eat chocolate" face.

"I'm free!"

"I'm free!" well...almost Say Say but if

the feeling so strikes you, you are definitely ready to rock.

The much happier..."Now that's what I'm talking about" face after M 

destroyed the Cookies & Cream cupcake.

A little birthday love...

and a lot of birthday goofiness, because that's how we roll.

Saryn Loves her "A~wex"

Feeling Fly in our new clip on earrings from Mimi.

Look who dropped in @ Yummies to bring us a special treat.

And we capped off the afternoon by attending our first ever gymnastics class with the ever so amazing Mrs. Sandi and staff. A year of gymnastics was their big birthday/ christmas gift from their grandparents. How awesome is that?

Meryn in her typical stance :) I believe we are in this for the long haul. 

They loved every minute of it.

                                         

                               And the hijinks continue at home with Ave's   

                               awesome *ahem..."recycled" birthday gifts.

                                                  And more silliness...

                       And, as always, awesome visit from Bubba and Katy.

    I asked Say Say to show Bubba what tricks Gymnastics Dora does. She           proceeded to literally show him the tricks Dora did. 

        I meant push the button Saryn, but way to be an over achiever :)

And what birthday would be complete without pony rides. Move on over Brad & Angelina. Ya'll ain't got nothin' on us!

Yep, they talked me into letting them sleep in their leos. I mean seriously...

just take a look at this adorableness.

Meryn & Saryn,
You two are such an incredible blessing to us. You are Wigintons through and through. You have brought so much joy into our lives. As I am writing this now, I have the goofiest smile on my face. You two are a ray of sunshine in this world. You radiate happiness with every ounce of your being. I have tears in my eyes too, because I seriously cannot believe that I have the privilege to hear you call my name, and not just any name, but the one you have chosen to crown me with, "Momma". 

I wanted to come back and add these pictures of the girls birthday party! We celebrated their birthday with family and friends on December 1st. The girls had an absolute blast playing with their friends, jumping on the inflatables, and eating birthday cake.