# 2 and # 3

Today we signed again on the dotted line to bring home more of the Shatto family. We had our 1 year post placement visit with our agency and we told her that we were ready to start for # 2 and # 3. We are ready and excited to extend our family.

Thanks for your prayers and support as we travel along this journey once again!

+ 365 days

One year ago today we received "the call". One year ago we became parents. One year ago our lives were forever changed. One year ago we had new names; mama & dada. One year ago God placed a little life in our care forever. One year ago we fell in love with this little one.

Diesel Alazar Shatto

Abdisa( lives in MI), Isaac Takiso ( BFF & lives 5 miles away), Diesel Alazar
All three little ones are home!

time well spent

We spent a beautiful day at the park with some friends. It was a last minute plan, but turned out to be a wonderful time to gather and refresh a friendship. Diesel had his first egg hunt and he turned out to be a pro. Sebastian graciously shared the egg hunting field with Diesel and they both had a good time.

Diesel has been fighting another ear infection and he has been a tropper. He also is walking more steps by himself when we help him. He still resorts to crawling when wanting to move quickly.

Around the house he is a mess maker. He enjoys finding the one cabinet that has the bags in it and taking every single one out each day. You'd think we'd move them,but it is pure enjoyment for him and it occupies him for a few minutes. He also makes a bee line for the dog food and then stop just short of it and looks back at us. He's a sneeky one!

Well, it will be his 1 year birthday next week and we are celebrating this Sunday with a BBQ. I can't believe that he's been home 7.5 months. He has enriched our lives more that we could have ever expected. Pure JOY!

** Pictures from Rachel( thanks for letting me swipe them from your flickr :) )

almost 1

I know it has been a long time since the last post, but a lot has been going on here at the Shatto house.

This Spring break, Diesel and me(Katy) went to California to visit Nana and Poppy. It was a good visit, they really loved on him. While we where there they had a pre 1 year old birthday party. It was wonderful to meet some of my mom's friends and they had a good time with Diesel. There were a couple that are waiting for their daughter from Ethiopia, so it was fun to share tips and stories.

Diesel celebrated with a cornbread cake. My mom also couldn't help herself from taking naked pictures of the boy after his bath. I know that these will be helpful should I ever need to really embaress him later on in life :)

On another note: Diesel is sleeping through the night...can we get a YEA!!! He does wake up, but only for a split second and most of the time he can find his own pacifier and put himself back to sleep. Sometimes Adam has to aid in the retrieval of the pacifier, but no more sleeping on the ground in his room. Also Diesel now has 8 teeth and trust me he uses them. He tends to only bite my shoulder, but ouch it hurts. We are trying our best to teach him that it hurts and not to do it. When I tell him "no-no, no bite" he looks at me and says "no-no". I think he's growing up too fast.

Well, we are off and running, literally he's on the move so I have to go. Ta-ta for now..

can't get enough, well here's more

Can't get enough of this little one. He growing so fast and quickly learning new talents. For all those in far away places, this post will catch you up on what is happening with Diesel. For all others that reguarly see him, this may be redundant, bear with me.

We are dog people, but Uncle Andrew got him this black panther for Christmas and he LOVES it. We call it Kitty, Kitty and it sits on the rail of his crib. He looks for it every morning and waves to it. He also snuggles with it while him and daddy read at night before bed.

Once again it looks like we don't feed him and he has turned to alternate food sources, but really he just likes to blow raspberries on the side of the tub.

Walking with assistance is he FAVORITE thing to do now. He cries when we stop walking and he is not finished yet. This was a day that he cried while the diaper was being changed and right when he got up, he was in a better mood. Needless to say, Adam and I's backs are paying for it.

Bottom's up! He has mastered the sippy cup and when he is finished, he likes to bang it on the tray. Very demanding at times.

Diesel is training for the circus, if you didn't know. Adam and him have a balancing routine and they don't use a net. This is a pre balance shot, but you get the idea. Diesel cracks up laughing while he is balancing in Adam's hand. It really quite amuzing.

Well, you now have been caught up to date.

50/50

Yesterday marked a big milestone in Diesel's short little life. Yesterday was his 10 month of life and it meant that he had been, to the day, exactly 5 month in the orphange and 5 month at home. Today marks the day that he has been home for more time than he was away from us. We celebrate each day that his smiling face(and sometimes non smiling face) greets us in the morning. He is truly HOME!

Look at the difference being home and knowing you are secure makes. He has gained 15lbs, 7inches and 6 teeth since he has been home.

In this picture, he weighs 6.2lbs and he is 5months old. He was wearing newborn diapers and you can see that they are big on him.

Yes, folks those are jowls on the little one, he doesn't miss a meal.

Yeah for Diesel! We can't imagine life without this precious, precious little bear.