Ho Ho Ho!

I have the coolest/craziest family. It's officially Christmas in the Markle family and every hall has been decked at my parent's home. Today I baked cookies with Meghan (sister), Maya (niece), and Kohen (nephew). Each year my family exchanges baked goods at Christmas time. Everyone gets to go home with 10+ types of cookies in their basket. This is Mark's ideal situation and single-handedly guarantees the success of my marriage for years to come. This year I am bringing White Chocolate, Macadamia, Cranberry Cookies and Pumpkin Whoopie Pies. I'll post the recipes for both after I learn whether or not people like them.

Later this evening my mom and I decorated the Christmas tree. It was the greatest hour of Toto's life. After learning just how easily she can climb and play in the tree, we were forced to avoid any breakable ornaments but it still turned out pretty cute, huh?

Do not be deceived

This kitten is only sweet while sleeping. I'm officially in GA and have been busy playing with the menagerie at my parent's house. They have an adorable new puppy, Tuffy, and a new satanic kitten, Toto. I'm the biggest cat lover I know and I can't stand this thing. It bites, growls, hisses, and then seems disappointed when you won't pet it. The worst is that it comes to you under false pretenses purring begging for love only to attack you moments later. Tuffy, on the other hand, is so darn cute. Except when he pees on me. That's not so cute.

It feels good to be here but it's never felt more obvious to me that this is no longer home. Maybe it's that my parents moved away from my childhood home or maybe it's just because DC has, over time, become the place I hang my hat. I like to think that Mark is home and whenever we are together, no matter the city or country, we will be home. Here's to hoping this theory holds water in Addis...

Farewell, DC

Today was my last morning waking up in the house we have worked relentlessly to make a home. It's sad, thrilling, and anxiety-inducing all at once. Mark and I met in DC, fell in love in DC, planted roots here, built our careers here and learned that we were becoming parents here. It's a tough place to say goodbye to.

I'm headed down to GA to spend quality time with family before our departure to Addis. This Friday, Mark and I will learn if our baby is a boy or a girl and we will then spend our weekend celebrating Christmas in October with my extended family. It's overwhelming how blessed we are to have a family with such a sacrificial love for us.

I will skip that line, please.

I've got two diplomatic passports in hand stamped with two visas for Ethiopia!! It's all going to come together after all!