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introducing baby elsabet

July 12, 2013 Teresa Swanstrom Anderson
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introducing elsabet

We have now been home a week and I have yet to share with you not only photos, but our new baby girl's name.

I can only begin to tell you what an INCREDIBLE trip it was and how grieving & heartbroken I am to have left my children in Ethiopia until we get the green light from the US Embassy and can bring them home.

Friends...she is breathtaking.

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{meeting for the 1st time}

meet our baby girl

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Ben really wanted to keep her name a secret until we met her, so though we've referred to her in our home as Baby Elsabet, we haven't publicly announced it. 'Till now.

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{anton meeting her for the 1st time}

Elsabet: I've searched & searched for the meaning of her name. From what I hear, it's of Hebrew origin but not an uncommon name in Ethiopia. I always thought we'd have a Swedish looking Elsa running around our house, so it's fun that we have the African variation of it!

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Hannah: When we were brainstorming & going through baby name books, Ezekiel asked if we could name her after his sweet older sister, who still lives in Asosa...which is right on the boarder of Ethiopia & Sudan.

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From the stories Ezekiel has told us, it's a very dangerous area. He misses her very much. Pray for sweet Hannah, if you think of it. Last we heard, she was a maid for a family. But that was 2 years ago.

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It's an honor & privilege to incorporate her name in with Ezekiel's newest little sister. He prays for them both daily.

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Milki: No one seems to know where this name came from, or who gave it to our beautiful daughter, but this is her given name...and we felt it important to keep it.

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She was born at a hospital in the Capitol {Addis Ababa}, which is extremely uncommon. Sadly, her mama left her there when she was discharged to go home. I wish so desperately we had more information on her mother.

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I'm sorry Elsabet that I don't know more, my love. When you're older and reading this, know that your mama loved and cared about you so much to have left you in such a safe place. She knew by leaving you at the hospital, you'd be cared for, well-fed, and a loving family would be found for you.

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God brought you specifically into our family. He has a purpose for that. I ache for you, not having you cuddled into me like I did for every moment of the 2 weeks we were with you.

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You are every bit mine, as you would be if you came from my womb. I love you and would give my life 10x over for you. You captured my whole heart the moment my eyes met yours and your tiny little hands searched my face.

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My heart physically aches not having you with me. I count the seconds until I get to bring you home.

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{my amazing friend Kognit was in Ethiopia the same time we were. It's so fun knowing she'll be a familiar face when they get home}

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{hamming it up for her passport photo}

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{baby girl, your brothers absolutely ADORE you...to think, you have 2 more brothers & a doting sister waiting to meet you!}

photo

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{there is no doubt...she will be well-loved}

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Elsabet, my love. Come home soon. We miss you!

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{don't worry...you'll meet Aberhem next!}

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In Adoption, Family Life Tags adoption, baby girl, elsa, elsabet, ethiopia, introducing elsabet
← meeting abrehamtravel: how to look like a million bucks {& only pack a carry on} →
teresa-headshot.jpg

Writer, speaker, and busy mama of six

2 biological & 4 from Ethiopia

I have a fervent eagerness to build a place where we can get filled up, when we feel like all we do is pour out.

I do my best to be real and honest about life, our struggles, and how God stretches me through (so many) mistakes along the way.

May this be a place of nourishment for an everyday, beautiful life.



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Thank you!


Instagram

Have you purchased faux plants that come in a pretty pot? I went through a bunch of mine that just look old and soooo not real (🤷🏼‍♀️😂) and ripped them out so I could keep the fun vessel and toss the fake plant portion.

I’ve loooooved having these flowers in what used to hold faux ferns from @target’s #threshhold collection a few years back. (In case you’re wondering, the stems are pressed into floral foam)

I’m wondering how many more days they can be enjoyed before having to give in and toss ‘em...this part of fresh flowers SO bums me out!

Fresh flowers are the BEST!! But now I’m remembering why faux are my friends, too.
😂
Give me a little 🙋🏼‍♀️ if you have a hard time throwing away your flowers...even WAY after they need to be!
One of these things is not like the other 😂😂
.
Imani won the big prize at school and Elsabet is wondering why hers suddenly looks so small
🤷🏼‍♀️😂😂😂
I’m horrible at creating a Smokey-Eye (you too?!) but tried my hand at it today after @katprostudio and I did a tutorial on it (because Elsabet told me I needed to “dress fancy” today for her Valentines Party 🥰😉).
💕
Head to my IGTV station to watch it and to my Stories if you’d like to Swipe Up and get the gorgeous @beautycounter palette we used!!)
💕
Happy Valentines Day, friends!
🌸❤️💕🎈
.
TIPS:

1. Apply Nightfall over the lid.

2. Go in with the color crown on the center of the lid to add that pop for sparkle!

3. Apply denim in the corner and crease with a blending eye brush( that will be a fluffy brush).
.
4. Then apply bone in above the tear duct area and below the eye brow.

5. Apply your eye liner to your desired look.
false lashes if you would like ✨Boom! You got yourself a fabulous smokey eye!
Seriously you guys, balloons are the EASIEST (and lets be honest, most fun!) way to add whimsy to a party!! I’m slightly obsessed with decorating for preschool parties and had so much fun helping with Elsabet’s this morning!

WHAT YOU NEED:
.
✔️ Balloons (obvi)
.
✔️ Hand-held balloon pump (you can get online or at Hobby Lobby, Walmart, Party City, etc)
.
✔️ Glue Dots

DIRECTIONS/TIPS:

For doing a table like this, I’d just blow them up halfway, not too big. Use the Glue Dots to stick them together in a haphazard way, making sure the tails are tucked under so they don’t show (much). Don’t overthink it! Just build it up and have fun with it!!
🎈💕🎈💕🎈💕🎈💕
To my favorite weirdo who has helped me raise more weirdos...I love you! @ben_c_anderson
What if I were to tell you I’m starting a podcast for @theandsociety?! What working-moms would you like to hear from...and what would you like to know?!
🌸🌿
PS the website officially launches SOON!!

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Nov 16, 2018

The party is over on instagram

Have you purchased faux plants that come in a pretty pot? I went through a bunch of mine that just look old and soooo not real (🤷🏼‍♀️😂) and ripped them out so I could keep the fun vessel and toss the fake plant portion.

I’ve loooooved having these flowers in what used to hold faux ferns from @target’s #threshhold collection a few years back. (In case you’re wondering, the stems are pressed into floral foam)

I’m wondering how many more days they can be enjoyed before having to give in and toss ‘em...this part of fresh flowers SO bums me out!

Fresh flowers are the BEST!! But now I’m remembering why faux are my friends, too.
😂
Give me a little 🙋🏼‍♀️ if you have a hard time throwing away your flowers...even WAY after they need to be!
One of these things is not like the other 😂😂
.
Imani won the big prize at school and Elsabet is wondering why hers suddenly looks so small
🤷🏼‍♀️😂😂😂
I’m horrible at creating a Smokey-Eye (you too?!) but tried my hand at it today after @katprostudio and I did a tutorial on it (because Elsabet told me I needed to “dress fancy” today for her Valentines Party 🥰😉).
💕
Head to my IGTV station to watch it and to my Stories if you’d like to Swipe Up and get the gorgeous @beautycounter palette we used!!)
💕
Happy Valentines Day, friends!
🌸❤️💕🎈
.
TIPS:

1. Apply Nightfall over the lid.

2. Go in with the color crown on the center of the lid to add that pop for sparkle!

3. Apply denim in the corner and crease with a blending eye brush( that will be a fluffy brush).
.
4. Then apply bone in above the tear duct area and below the eye brow.

5. Apply your eye liner to your desired look.
false lashes if you would like ✨Boom! You got yourself a fabulous smokey eye!
Seriously you guys, balloons are the EASIEST (and lets be honest, most fun!) way to add whimsy to a party!! I’m slightly obsessed with decorating for preschool parties and had so much fun helping with Elsabet’s this morning!

WHAT YOU NEED:
.
✔️ Balloons (obvi)
.
✔️ Hand-held balloon pump (you can get online or at Hobby Lobby, Walmart, Party City, etc)
.
✔️ Glue Dots

DIRECTIONS/TIPS:

For doing a table like this, I’d just blow them up halfway, not too big. Use the Glue Dots to stick them together in a haphazard way, making sure the tails are tucked under so they don’t show (much). Don’t overthink it! Just build it up and have fun with it!!
🎈💕🎈💕🎈💕🎈💕
To my favorite weirdo who has helped me raise more weirdos...I love you! @ben_c_anderson
What if I were to tell you I’m starting a podcast for @theandsociety?! What working-moms would you like to hear from...and what would you like to know?!
🌸🌿
PS the website officially launches SOON!!

Let's stay connected

I'm just so thankful you're here. May this be a place where you can sit back and feel nourished...take a few moments for yourself so you may be filled up. No one can pour from an empty bucket.


ForMERly known as HUGS + PUNCHES

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