i heart faces - completely candid

This wasn't taken with any kind of fancy camera, I didn't have one at the time.  But ooooh... do I love it.

Look how tiny my Little One is here!  I remember this weekend very well.  We hadn't been home from Ethiopia terribly long at all, but were invited to a family get-together we really wanted to attend.  We knew the crowds of curious family members would be overwhelming, we knew the change in scenery and routine would throw her off, we knew it would all be so, so much to ask of this tiny little soul.  And we did it anyway.

We did however end up packing up and leaving the function early, and did not spend the night like we had planned.  About twenty minutes away from the hub-bub, and you could physically see her start to relax.  Ten minutes after that, and she was sound asleep in her salad bowl.

We were very foolish parents.  Thank goodness she is such a forgiving soul.  You look at this picture, and you probably wouldn't guess how stressed she (and in turn, I) was.  Lost in a moment, she wasn't the kid who couldn't understand the white lady who never seems to leave her side yelling in a language she doesn't understand to "be careful" - she was just a kid who found a jungle-gym, and after her short little legs doing hard work, had made it all the way to the top by herself.

Just look at that smile.  Still a little sad, but resilient.  Proud.  Trying to figure it out.  Beautiful.

Oh baby, you melt my heart.
I'm sorry I was so foolish.



Peace.