Our boys and their hair!

Here is a ridiculously long post to answer the question, "What do you use in Easton's hair?"
All of the products can be purchased at Walmart or Target. I've heard of wonderful products available online but I have been happy with the over the counter, inexpensive products found locally. It's been a journey of trial and error to see what works best with the texture of his hair. I actually started writing this post months ago but I keep finding different products and techniques that I wanted to share. Hopefully, this will be a starting point and a good reference for you!
Easton's hair is tight curls. When you pull them out you can see how long it is!


Baby Shampoo- (very mild for Easton's hair)

Our favorite leave in condition! We use a generous amount of this conditioner each bath. I believe the key to Easton's hair is rich conditioner and no tangles.

A good comb is necessary! I try to comb through it twice a week, in the tub with lots of conditioner. I keep the scissors close by too because I typically just cut out the tiny knots on the ends. Easton can tolerate this for about 5 minutes so I work fast!

This was Easton's hair at 12 months old. This is combed out! I haven't combed out his hair in a long time. I'm pretty sure he would have atleast a 4 inch fro!

This is what it looks like when it's completely soaked. Tight ringlets that I love!


I just have to share some silly pictures of Preston's comb over and natural mohawk. Looks like Preston is going to have to have his 1st haircut this week. We are just going to trim his bangs, since they are in his eyes. I guess I just like long hair because I don't intend on actually cutting either of the boys' hair!

2 Videos to show you:


Some hair samples:
(Twist and Lock)
Our favorite product for styling his hair (special occasions-It's too much work to do daily) I use a generous amount and twist locks of hair around my figures. I do not use a comb to part it. I simply grab a tiny chunk and twist it between my figures.
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(Poof Ball) Here is Easton's hair once I sprayed it with water and rubbed Cantu Shea Butter leave in conditioner through it:

We love all of the Cantu products!


(Curly Q)
Easton's hair after a bath with Palmer's coconut oil, hair milk in it:


(A Hot Mess)
Inevitably what Easton's hair will look like after 10 hours of sleep in his crib!! Time for a bath and to start all over again!! =)


Mama's hair doesn't get half the attention that the boys' hair does! =) Thankfully my hairdresser friend Brittny insist on taking care of me!

A BLAST FROM THE PAST:
Incase you are wondering if your baby will have hair like Easton's, here are a few pictures to help you compare. His hair was never course, it was always soft, curly and fine.


(I love this picture!!!! I'm 5 months pregnant with Preston =)

Hopefully that gives you more information than you could ever need on Ethiopian hair care!

If you have any questions please leave a comment or email me at Ryanashlie@aol.com

Cell Phone Pictures Wednesday!

Yep, I just made that up!
I have a ton of adorable cell phone pictures that I want to share and I'm sure my Facebook friends have seen enough! So, I will post them to my blog on a weekly basis~ (well, we shall see how often that happens)
Here's a little bit of this and a little bit of that!
ENJOY!

Preston's 1st Birthday

Our beautiful baby boy!

One picture from each month of Preston's 1st year!









We celebrated Preston's 1st Birthday on November 26th at the park with all of our friends and family. The weather was beautiful and Preston was adorable in his 1st birthday outfit. All of the kids loved the All Star Turns 1 Theme! The soccer ball pinata was a hit (no pun intended). Preston actually ate a good portion of his cake and was all smiles as he played on the slide. Preston's first year was filled with smiles, laughter, and lots of food! Preston loves to eat and play with his big brother Easton. Preston's first 6+ months were tough. He had colic and didn't go a day without hours of crying. I am so thankful that those days are behind us and now he can easily be entertained and has the funniest chuckle I've ever heard. Preston nursed for 13 months, which I absolutely loved and will forever miss my moments with Preston. He never slept in his beautiful crib. He preferred Mommy and Daddy's bed or the floor over his crib. Silly boy! Now, at 13 months he sleeps in his pack-n-play in his room. This is progress my friends. As soon as I quit nursing he slept through the night. Although he doesn't go to sleep without a fight! Preston was an early crawler and walker but we weren't surprised, he has Easton to learn from and to catch up with! Preston says a few words, Mama, Dada, ball and car. His favorite toys are anything he can ride, balls, and silly dancing and singing toys. He loves to play chalk outside and starting climbing up his slide at 12 months!! He isn't afraid of anything! He will go down the slide head first or simply try to walk down it! He's given me quiet a few heart attacks!! Preston always has a bruised leg or arm and a boo-boo on his head! He's ALL BOY!!! Preston, we love you so much and are so thankful for you!

Here are some of his milestones! (This blog is our family scrapbook, sorry for the boring post)
Birthday: November 29, 2010
8lbs, 11oz- 21 inches long
1st time at the park- January 15th
1st time at the beach- March 20th
1st time eating rice cereal- April 6th
Starting getting up on all 4's and pushing backwards-May 18th
Full out crawling- June 5, 2011
1st Steps- September 8th
Full out walking- October 8th
Preston has beautiful blue eyes:

Sleeping on Daddy:
Just one picture of Preston's newborn scream! (I did 2 whole pages in his baby album of screaming pictures!!)





hanging out with daddy:

crawling:

Nov 2011 in the GA mountains:

You are such an important part of our family Preston. We love you so much!

Going back to Africa this August!

There are lots of reason not to go. The timing isn't perfect. I have two babies who need their mommy. I'm starting back as a teacher in late August. It's risky. Yes, I know all of those reasons are valid. However, God keeps telling me to go. So, it's pretty simple. I'm going!
I am happy to share that I will be leading a Visiting Orphans Mission Trip to Uganda and Kenya in early August! Just 8 months away. The itinerary is not set yet but I will be working with VO this week to put it together. All of the details will fall in place but for now I am looking for 10-12 FUN, LOVING, COMPASSIONATE, ADVENTUROUS people to join my team.

Katie Davis' book, Kisses by Katie, was just one of the reasons my heart pulled back to the orphans of Africa. Below is the paragraph that I have read over and over again with such conviction. I have read it to my hubby, mother and best friend. It helps the people closes to me understand why I must go and why I must serve!
"People often ask if I think my life is dangerous, if I am afraid. I am much more afraid of remaining comfortable. Matthew 10:28 tells us not to fear things that can destroy the body but things that can destroy the soul. I am surrounded by things that can destroy the body. I interact almost daily with people who have deadly diseases, and many times I am the only person who can help them. I live in a country with one of the wolds's longest running wars taking place just a few hours away. Uncertainty is everywhere. But I am living in the midst of the uncertainty and risk, amid things that can and do bring physical destructions, because I am running from things that can destroy my soul: complacency, comfort, and ignorance. I am much more terrified of living a comfortable life in a self-service society and failing to follow Jesus than I am of any illness or tragedy." -Katie Davis' Kisses by Katie Introduction

Picture from Katie's Blog: http://www.kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com/
I have always loved this verse!
Isaiah 6:8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" This is exactly how I feel. I am willing and able, so please God, send me!

Often I look into the eyes of Easton and Preston and it takes my breath away. They are absolutely beautiful children and have blessed my life beyond belief. The fact is that my children could have been children growing up in an orphanage. Easton was in an orphanage with no one to rock him, to hold his bottle or to sing to him. It breaks my heart. Typing those words instantly fill my eyes with tears. It hurts to know that he was an orphan. It hurts to think about the 163 Million orphans that do not have someone to hold them, feed them, and sing to them. For 10 days in August, I will be THAT PERSON to any child that I can get my arms around. This is why I am going because I am needed.
This is a picture of the cribs in Easton's orphanage:

If you have any interest in serving beside me please email me at Ryanashlie@aol.com

In Christ,

Merry Christmas!!!

Free Christmas card contest!!

Check out my Facebook page! Just share the picture and comment to be entered into a drawing for 50 free custom photo cards.

Gina Roots is a dear adoption friend who is designing custom Christmas photo cards to raise money for her African mission trip. She and her husband are leading a trip to Uganda and Kenya to love on orphans this summer. Gina has 2 adopted children from Ethiopia and 3 biological children. Her family was a mentor family for Ryan and I through our adoption journey. Please consider usifng her this Holiday season.

Children's HopeChest Child Sponsorship

These are the faces of 10 beautiful children in Ethiopia that I am matching with Sponsors. I have partnered with Children's Hopechest, a trustworthy organization, making a huge impact on the lives of children living in poverty. Children's Hopechest has partnered with the Kechene School, located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where children in the community can come to connect with the staff, have a safe place to play, to receive schooling, and physical, medical, spiritual and emotional support. Ryan and I sponsor a seven year old girl, named Tadeleche, who comes to the Kechene Care Point. My long-term goal is to go to the Kechene Care point to meet all of the children and serve to meet their needs. I have a personal friend who is traveling to Ethiopia to deliver care packages to the sponsored children. She will hand deliver a t-shirt with bubbles, stickers, toothpaste and toothbrush wrapped inside, to our sponsored child. I write Tadeleche a monthly letter and we are anxiously awaiting to hear from her. My hope is to be able to hug her one day and tell her that we love her and have been praying for her.
I am hoping to find 10 people who are willing to be sponsors. A sponsorship cost $34 per month. Perhaps, this Holiday season you and your family can include this in your charitable giving? Perhaps, you have been waiting for an opportunity like this. Perhaps, you start a sponsorship today and then travel with me to Ethiopia to meet your sponsored child one day....There are so many possibilities and I hope you will consider them.

If you are interested in sponsoring please respond and I will give you all of the details! Also, please feel free to share this with friends or family who might be interested.
Thank you for your time!
Love you all,

Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine Article!

We are so excited to share the article that the Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine published this month.
We are thankful that they are featuring our story of adoption.
Happy National Adoption Month Everyone!
Love,

Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine!

Photographs by Steve Poisall, The Gallery Studios, Tampa (813) 254-9575 (800) 317-2479

I was honored when I received a call from Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine asking me to be their November Women Extraordinaire. Although I do not find myself "extraordinaire", I graciously accepted their offer. The month of November is National Adoption Awareness month and the magazine editor was given our blog by a sorority sister of mine. Honestly, I will pretty much do anything to advocate for orphans and adoption. I have prayed for ways to share our wonderful miracle of adoption and I believe this is just one way that God has opened a door for us to share. Bottom line is that ADOPTION ROCKS and I want everyone to know it! I'm excited to see the November issue when it hits stands next week! I'll be sure to come back and share the link.

Check out my facebook status for the link to the behind the scene photos and a couple of the professional photos that didn't make the magazine.

With Love Always,