She didn’t really want to lay still and snuggle with her brother for this shot… but I still love it anyway.

Here she is in her authentic Ethiopian dress and head wrap. It is clear that I have fallen in love with this little girl. I think it would only be fair if they shared her with me!

She was the happiest baby I have ever seen… smiling at everyone she saw. Especially her big brother! What a sweetie… congratulations Tunheim family!

Just look at those little pigtails… they just make me happy!

Happy Birthday Emma!

My heart just melts looking at these images… How much do you LOVE that little curl hanging on her forehead?

The amount of PINK in this house just doubled!

And I love this last image so much it has already been blown up for the studio! Thanks “H” family for sharing your new little peanut with me… she is a total doll and I am in love with her!

Throughout the trip, she told us stories about growing up in a family that valued ministering to the poor and underprivleged, especially those in Haiti. She told us about the numerous mission trips she had experienced, and introduced us to her one-year-old “son” Isaac that she was planning to adopt from one of the orphanages in Haiti. Because of the long adoption process, she had been able to visit him several times, but knew it could be years before she would be able to bring him home to America. [I find it so sad that the process is so difficult, involves so much paperwork, and takes so long... there are so many wonderful parents here longing to adopt internationally. I have heard that the wait to adopt from China is up to six years now.]

Fast forward to January12, 2010. Amanda was actually IN Haiti at the time of the earthquake on yet another missions trip. You can visit her blog and read about her experiences here. For the short version, Isaac and the orphans survived the earthquake, but their building was destroyed and all of the adoption paperwork that had been in process was lost. Amanda had to come back to the U.S. without her baby boy, not knowing what would happen to him and all the other children she had come to know and love throughout her visits. I am so so SO very happy to report that because of some heavy lobbying by a senator, Isaac was granted Humanitarian Parole and was able to fly to the United States to be with his mama. I can’t imagine the joy that must have filled Amanda’s heart knowing that her baby was safe and coming to live with her forever! I am so happy for you Amanda and so proud of everything you are doing to continue to help the people of Haiti.

To watch a quick video of Amanda and Isaac’s homecoming click here…