I know, I know, another post about hair. A few months ago my friend who also has an Ethiopian daughter demonstrated some hair styles for me. After a few weeks of learning new techniques I decided to try something a little more challenging with the yarn braids. Basically, each one of these braids is one strand of hair and two strands of yarn finished off with beads. It took me a little while to get the hang off and it and for the first hour, it took both Pete and I working together to figure out how to get the yarn to stay in tight at the beginning of the each braid. Then I did a little more research and watched a few video demonstrations and I was able to finish the rest by myself. It was a big project but we worked on it over two days and it should last awhile. From what I've read, yarn braids can last several weeks but for our first try I'll be happy if we get two weeks.
The boys like it when I do Aliyah's hair because it means a little extra t.v. time. They've also gotten to be very helpful with loading the beads on the threader. Nick commented once I was done that he liked it, but it's maybe too many beads (such polite critiques from my 7 year old!) I told him I agree and I have some ideas on how to do it better next time. It's a learning curve but we're getting there!
Pete and I both feel pretty strongly about trying to steer Aliyah away from the whole princess craze. However, this morning as she was pushing a toy truck around the kitchen in Noah's handmedown firetruck pajamas, it occured to me that we might be swinging too far in the other direction :)
One year ago, Pete and I flew to Ethiopia to meet our little girl. When I look at pictures and videos of that first trip, I think of her as Mesi which I guess makes sense since it is as if she really is a different child than the one who sits on my lap now making up songs about socks and pizza. On October 18 we went before the judge and she told us two words that changed our family "She's Yours!" 
