Christmas Card Photo Shoot :)

Decorating for Christmas

First Snow

Lily looking at the first snow the morning after Thanksgiving

Package from Grandpa & Grandma L!

THANK YOU!!

Give Thanks

We had a nice Thanksgiving day with our friends.  Here are a few pictures from the day.

What is a Date?

Proud Girl

Lily has been making her own bed and is very proud of herself!  She wanted to show all her new skill!

Quiet Time

I love quiet time.  It helps me be a good mom :) Lily probably does not appreciate it quite as much as I do, but she is a good sport!  We gather up a few favorite books and a couple toys, set the timer for 45 minutes, and quietly rest/play. It gives us both some "quiet" time to recharge.   Lily's naps dwindle as she grows, so we are thankful to still have a structured time of rest for both of us.  Today I was able to sneak a video of her 'reading' to herself.

Thank You Auntie Kris for the early Christmas Package!!

We love Hair

This post has been requested by many.  I am finally getting around to it!

Products I use for washing Lily's Hair:
When a Baby....Suave Kid's Smoothie 2-1 Shampoo (tear free) -or-
Now...Suave Naturals Almond & Shea butter Shampoo & Conditioner (not tear free)

Note: You can use suave smoothies for older children too, I just like the almond...

How:
Comb hair out of hair style thoroughly before shampooing.  Wet hair and GENTLY message shampoo into scalp, run your fingers through hair from scalp to hair ends to get the rest of the hair clean...you can't wash like a white person's head, you will knot up the hair.  Rinse.  Then add conditioner..lots or it...from scalp to ends...let sit for a few minutes...comb through with wide tooth comb..then rinse.

Then gently towel dry and put in leave in conditioner...scalp to ends..comb through...I like:
Pantene Pro-V relaxed and Natural Daily Oil Creme for Women of Color.  I do not recommend this for babies.
For babies use: Africa's Best Herbal oil.

I do not blow dry Lily's hair.  I am sure there will be a day when I need to, but I do not like unnecessarily drying it out.  What I like doing is sectioning her hair while it is wet and putting it in large twists or braids until it dries (overnight if I wash her hair at her evening bath).  When dry, we undo the twists, spray it with a little oil/water (Africa's best put into water bottle and add just enough water to allow it to be sprayed) and get to work on the hairdo!

I really recommend "Kid's talk Hair" from Cornrows & Co.  . Every white adoptive mom of black children should own this book.  It is so helpful for hairdos, how to work with African hair, how to treat lice, get sand out...etc....They also sell products, but I have never used them.

After the hairdo I keep Lily's hair moisturized for the week or so by either spraying my oil/water mix on it very morning or Palmer's Olive Oil Formula with Vitamin E Conditioning Spray.

We get our beads from Hobby Lobby..the nice light wooden ones....Here

It is also important to have a nice comb/brush set.  I like the Pro Results ten piece bone comb kit from Walmart in the African Hair care section and the Wav enforcer Fade Brush.

My pro Aunt Jerri will probably read this.  She gave me most of these tips when we got Lily...Am I missing anything Jerri?  Put it in the comments if I am :)

Orphan Care Sunday...November 7th

Why Love Orphans? from Christian Alliance for Orphans on Vimeo.

For more information go to:
http://www.orphansunday.org/