Let's have a break.

I don't know about you, but I am ready to have a post from today, right now. I love having my post already written and just having to edit it before publishing it, but I just need to talk.

So first of all, I have to admit to you, that I began editing my last, (sob), journal entry from Ethiopia. There were a few days left to the week, but they were about the same. Belly Boy is great, Belly Boy is cool. Belly Boy drools! Just kidding. Not about the drooling part, it's true. I'm just in a mood. Oh boy, right? So I'm editing this, and I'm coming up will all sort of things to write in parantheses.

So let me put these parantheses into a post. First, I'm just amazed and shouldn't be, but am, astonished at how God has worked through this adoption process. It's been so cool. As I think back to my first post, I think it's funny. We were planning on twins. After all, there are so many boy twins in our church, why wouldn't we have twins? But that's not what God had planned.

I have to go already. Count this as Part 1 of a post. I will try to write more as soon as I can. Schoolwork calls throughout the day!!! But you might find it interesting to read my first few posts. God has worked amazingly.

The next post from Ethiopia

It’s hard to keep track of which day it is over here and which it is back home. Today, (Tuesday), Miss Bossy turned six!!! Congrats, Miss Bossy!


But also today it was great because we got to bring Belly Boy home with us.

The schedule was that we would pick up the kids at the Care Center, have a goodbye ceremony there, and then that afternoon, go to Embassy.

At breakfast, some of us were trying to decide whether we should dress up for Embassy now or if there’d be time when we got back. Most of us decided it was best to do it now so that’s what we headed up to do after breakfast. Well, then suddenly, one of the ladies in our group poked her head in our bedroom and said that there was a change of plans, and we were doing Embassy this morning and the farewell ceremony this afternoon. So we quickly had to finish changing clothes and dressing up.

We got in the bus and headed for the Care Center. I waited on the bus while Dad and Mom went to get Belly Boy from his room. The poor nannies at the Center were so confused. And one nanny actually gave Belly Boy a bath while Mom waited to bring him quickly to the bus. I think we left the Care Center later than they were hoping. We stopped at the office for a CHSFS lady and then we were off for Embassy. We had to cover the babies heads walking from the bus to the building, and Belly Boy did not like that one bit! Finally we made it to the building. We had to wait outside while people went through security. Then we waited in a little covered area until the CHSFS lady told us to come up to the next building. Then we went through a better security and waited in a room until our name was called. I had to stay behind when Dad and Mom got called and people were teasing me that they hoped Dad and Mom would come back or I was stranded. I figured Dad and Mom would, and they did. We had to wait for everyone else, but it really didn’t take that long. I guess there wasn’t much to do when you were interviewed.

We headed back to the guest house, fed the hungry babies, cuddled and played with them, and then we left for the care center. When we reached the Care Center, Belly Boy was snatched from us by a nanny and they hurried off to get him ready for the ceremony. We went downstairs and sat on the couches and chairs down there. The other kids at the Center were sitting, sometimes wildly and noisily, waiting for everything to begin.

Then the social workers announced that the nannies and children were coming. We stood up and clapped with the other kids in a beat as the nannies came downstairs. All the kids being adopted were wearing Ethiopian traditional clothes. Belly Boy’s actually looked like the ones we got him even! Their special nannies held each child and also were dressed about the same. They were so gorgeous!

First each family got a heart shaped card from the Center with a special note for their child inside. Then we made a circle around the nannies holding the children, and a lady said a prayer in Amharic. It was so cute, because the children not being adopted, would say, “Amen” at certain parts of the prayer. Sometimes together, other times not. Then we had an opportunity to pray, but no one did. After, the nannies handed over the kids with sometimes tears.

Then the kids at the Center clapped their hands in rhythm and chanted each being adopted kid’s name as they came up to get their hand print on a paper for the Care Center. It was so cute. When it came to be Belly Boy’s turn, the kids had a hard time chanting his name, so they shortened it, (which is what we call him anyways)! Belly Boy did not want his hand painted!

Next, the older being adopted kids, (4 and 6), cut a line in a cake. While the workers handed out sodas and cake, the older children, (including the older adopted kids), performed a few songs. It was cute, first, because they had motions that were adorable, second, that we couldn’t understand them most of the time, and third, because they kept repeating the same verse over and over until someone older helped them get back on track!!
We ate and drank and then we got our picture taken with the camera men who had been taping the whole thing. We said goodbye, but no one wanted to leave. People were taking pictures and saying good bye to the kids at the Center. It was hard knowing that we wouldn’t see the kids or the Care Center again. Then we took Belly Boy home to the guest house.

Once we got home Belly Boy opened right up, even though he was probably exhausted because he didn’t have a good nap and his Ethiopian clothes were so hot. We discovered his ticklish spots in his underarm, his belly, and thighs. His neck is also a little ticklish. He was being goofy, throwing his toys off the bed and then fussing until someone got them back. Then he did it all over again. I also held him and pretended to reach for the ceiling. He copied me, giggling the whole time. So we got him laughing quite a bit so that Bob, Sports Dude, Miss Bossy, and Grandma could hear him. Mom also gave the phone to Belly Boy so he could talk to Sports Dude and Miss Bossy. He grinned and didn’t fight against the phone really.

Earlier that evening we took him outside and put him in one of Sports Dude’s old hats. He didn’t mind it and was so cute. All he does outside is pace up and down the patio. Oh, and run to us when a ball is rolled towards him.

I taught him to wave bye-bye when we asked him to. And he was waving bye-bye to the cats that ran off outside.

At about 10, Dad and Mom fixed Belly Boy a bottle. Oh my goodness, the kid knew what to do. He snatched that bottle and sucked away. It took him a while to eat though. He ate one ounce in a looong time. Finally Mom switched to a sippie cup and he downed his milk. He loves his milk.



Mom and I are sleeping in the same room because Mom is uncomfortable with me sleeping in my own room. So Belly Boy slept in our room. He slept so well! We fed him at 10 and then he slept until 6:30 or 7. We got up with him once when he was having a coughing fit, but he never woke up and really fussed when we tried to. So the night went well.

Fourth Ethiopian Entry...

Monday was a great day because FINALLY we got to take pictures of Belly Boy. We got up and then we left for the Care Center. It’s always funny because the nannies just let you go in the kids’ rooms even during naps and take your child out. The only reasons they might stop you are if the child needs a diaper change or bath. So Mom went in Belly Boy’s room to get him. We weren’t able to see him the day before because of the Hosanna trip, (which was hard and sad), and Belly Boy didn’t reach out for Mom until she turned away. Then he lunged for her. But the nanny had to go change his diaper, so we had to wait FOREVER! Then we finally got him. He was very sweet, but quiet as usual.


The social worker came over a bit later with Belly Boy’s nanny. Mom asked tons of questions to the nanny through the social worker interpreting. She asked a lot of questions like, “What’s his schedule like?” and “Is he being potty trained?” (YES!) That was great, except the social worker had to go on with the other families. After they left, we played some more with Belly Boy.

Next came the part we’d been waiting for. Taking Belly Boy home to the guest house. Oh, that was great. Well, not the ride there.. Belly Boy has never been on a bus so he clung to us on the way back. I took videos thinking that he was going to be fine and cute as usual, but he was so nervous!

When we got to the guest house, Belly Boy was so cute. It was like being alone with him, brought out his real character. He was crazy!!!! He crawled around on the bed being goofy. I took a lot of video!

We got to feed Belly Boy his lunch which usually doesn’t go very well as he doesn’t have a good appetite, but today he ate it all. I taped the whole thing basically. I was hoping to get his face when he teasingly shows he done eating, but he never did it. 

Afterwards, we took the kids back to the Care Center for the LAST time. Belly Boy was asleep, but when Dad put him down in his bed, he woke up. Mom said he had a sad face on his face when they left.

We next went to the Turkish airlines to drop off a family who had to check their flight. So we waited in the bus for them. And who came to visit us? The Beggars. :( First they’d begin by poking their head in the bus door and then they’d circle the bus pleading for money. An old woman was persistent! She came to my window, but I had to ignore her. I had no money and she wouldn’t be able to understand me if I tried to tell her! So she went to the person behind me who also ignored her. And slowly the woman went around the bus calling sister to all the women. Finally the woman made it to Mom’s window. I was looking the other way when suddenly I heard a scream. And then people in the bus were laughing and Mom was too. Finally I understood what happened. Mom had been in her own world when suddenly the beggar called to her outside her window. Mom wasn’t expecting it and screamed!!!! It was hilarious. I couldn’t stop laughing!

Next we went to a museum. It was actually the one where Lucy is. This museum- “The National Museum of Ethiopia” had very few signs on the exhibits. It was hard to know what things were. There were crowns and capes and thrones and chairs and lots of things. The skeleton exhibit was in English which was kind of amusing since we were in a foreign country.

We next went to the market and bought more stuff. One store gave me a discount cause Mom bought so many things last time. I think we got a lot of things, but I wish we still had more time to buy stuff. It is so crazy trying to bargain. I wasn’t in the mood, so I just paid whatever they said. I guess that’s considered rude. Oh well. I got stuff for my friends and another Ethiopian traditional dress. It’s cool. It looks better on Ethiopian women though!!!

After the market, which we stayed past time at, we rushed home to freshen up for a cultural dinner. I REALLY didn’t want to go, but did go. When we got there, a guard actually used his metal detector thingy on the men entering the restaurant. It has been crazy going through security places everywhere. It’s kind of funny cuz I told my friend that the only thing I was nervous about was going through security at the airport. Well, we’ve gone through a lot of security now. I’ve been patted down twice!!! Ughh..

The restaurant was set up really cool. It was painted and decorated to look like it was outdoors and the “tables” were set under a thatched roof sticking out of the wall. The tables were tiny circles with basket type “hats” on them. There was also a stage with some musicians and dancers. It was difficult ordering because we didn’t want anything spicy. A man helping us told us what to do, what we might want to order and so on. Then we got our drinks. The drinks are funny because you either get bottled water or soda in a glass bottle with a cap.

The seating was really weird. It was basically a bunch of chairs with a couple teensy circular tables in front. When we were seated, they pulled off the “hats” to the tables. After we ordered, a man came with a pitcher of water and soap. He put down the bowl and we took turns putting our hands over it while he poured water on them and squirted soap. It wasn’t too bad except we had no towel to wipe our hands afterwards. They were soaking wet. I had wiped my hands on my skirt before Mom offered me a napkin.

We watched the dancing while we waited and while we ate. The music is so different over here! I can’t catch the “catchy” part, just cause I’m not used to their kind of music! Sometimes singers came out, but it was hard because we couldn’t understand the language. The dancers were amazing. It was so cool how they could keep moving constantly. Some of the men were getting sweaty. They had one dance and in the middle, the man dancer fell. The music stopped and everyone was shocked it looked like. Someone asked if he was okay and he just grinned. I still don’t know whether it was fake or if he really did lose his balance. I thought it looked fake, but I dunno..

There was also one part when during a dance, a man dancer kissed a woman dancer. I assume this was part of the dance because it just seemed to be set up like a play! The woman dancer was mad and the other women were helping her get up from the ground. The man dancer was agitated and the men dancers were trying to calm him down. At the end, they get the couple to hold hands. Once again, it was hard to understand what was happening cause we couldn’t understand the singer!

This one dancer kept doing these weird neck moves. (By the way, I kept thinking of Sports Dude as I watched these talented, flexible dancers). At different points in her dance, it seemed like she was waiting for applause, but we weren’t sure what to do, so we didn’t clap and then she’d look angry and start dancing again.

At one point, the men dancers “chased” the women off the stage. A bit later I saw one of the women dancing in front of someone’s table. Then I looked on stage and one of the men dancers was talking to another and nodding towards our table. When he came over I tried looking away, but he came to my table and motioned toward me. I didn’t get what he wanted. Mom told me he wanted me to dance with him. So I smiled and shook my head no. He kept asking. Finally, he turned to a 12 year old boy in our group and pulled him in front of our table to dance. He would do a move and then the boy would copy him. It was so funny. I was laughing! He danced with someone else in our group too, and that was REALLY funny! I’m still glad I refused to dance with him, but I had a lot of fun watching other people!

For our food, Mom got this “sample” dish full of many kinds of sauces and also a big bowl of meat. They delivered our food by placing a round dish, the size of the table, on our table. Inside was injera rolled out, and injera rolled by the side. Then the waitress, hurryingly and messily spooned the sauces and meat onto the injera. Some of the food was TOUCHING!  Then we pulled off injera from the rolled part and pinched the meat or sauce into it. Some of the sauces were good. Some were very spicy and the meat was kind of chewy.

After dinner, we went home tired. I think it was the latest many of us had ever stayed up over here.

But I was looking forward to the next day!! Embassy and bringing Belly Boy home to the Guest House!

Third Ethiopian Entry

Our loooong Ethiopian tour could be described as this…




Take the CHSFS bus down to the city of Hosanna! Enjoy the gorgeous mountains with their many layers and foggy “steeples”. Take pictures of the many exotic plants found in the southern part of Ethiopia. From flat topped trees, to “fake banana trees” , Ethiopia’s interesting plants will keep your eyes fed.

Enjoy the animals of Africa. No lions, giraffes, or elephants are likely to be seen on this trip, but more animals like donkeys, stray dogs, and monkeys are more likely to be found. Keep your eyes open for the monkeys as they could be found in the trees, crossing the road, or running pell-mell through the brush. Donkeys are likely to be found as often as you would find squirrels back home. Donkeys are used mostly for carrying heavy packs like water and food. It is a usual sight to see young children or women beating and leading the donkeys.

Women and children walk for hours to rivers where they will scoop up the muddy water in yellow containers to take home. These women also will take the chance to clean their and their family’s clothes. Watch for these popular water spots and enjoy the sight. WARNING- Do not be shocked to accidentally see someone swimming nude or washing their clothes no longer on their backs in these rivers. This is a common occurrence.

As we tour the Southern Ethiopian area, you will meet and play with many children along the way. These children love the sound of a bus and will pour out of their houses to run alongside grinning and yelling. The children love foreigners as they are likely to give money. Do not be surprised to hear the children yelling, “Money, money” as we pass. Do not feel obligated to give to them even if they do command you to give them money. Remember, although these children are poor, the majority of them and their families are very happy. Although money is a treat, so also is a kind smile, word, or motion.

This tour will take a little more than three hours each way. (This is only an estimate amount of time. Stray dogs, donkeys, cows, people, especially very young children may not only make this trip a swervy one, but also a long one. Your driver, knowing you may have somewhere to go, will try to keep the bus at about 60 mph, dodging and beeping at anything in his way, including children).

If at some time, we come to a complete stop for donkeys crossing, cars jammed, etc., please beware that there are likely to be many beggars coming to the windows. Although they have very limited English, they usually are able to get their point across. Depending on whether you’re male or female, they will call you sister or brother. This is normal. If you do not wish to give them money, the best way is not to shake your head. They will not listen. The best way to get rid of them is simply to ignore them and look the other way no matter how many times they beg, tap on your window, or stick their hand in. If you do not wish to have beggars at your window, it is best to keep your window shut.

You may also be approached by men or women trying to sell you things. The prices are usually outrageous and again if you do not wish to deal with them, it is simply best to keep your window closed.

 You will want to wear modest clothing and a scarf to cover your mouth from the dust. Sunglasses and water are a great idea. Please also pack a lunch, as we do not provide it. NOTE: Because of the amount of dirt and dust, do not plan on wearing your outfit again during your stay in beautiful Ethiopia.

By Emily

 The above is a pretty good description of what we saw on our trip to Hosanna, Sunday. We woke really early so we could set out in the bus at 6. CHSFS did not provide lunch so we brought our own food. Yum.. cereal bars, Chocolate-peanut butter oatmeal bars, sausage bites, nuts, peanut butter crackers. Mmm… The trip to Hosanna was good. It was long, but it was so amazing seeing all the houses and villages. The houses honestly are what you would see in picture books. Thatched roofs, children leaning in the doorway, cows and goats in the front yard.. We stopped at a hotel to use “western” toilets. The problem was that although they were western toilets, nothing else was the same. The stalls were in a room for men and women alike and inside the stalls there was no room to move. The front of the toilet basically almost touched the stall door. Yeah. Then only a couple sinks worked.

After being amazed with all the views and scenery, we finally made it to Hosanna. The bus crept through the streets with children on each side yelling hello and that they wanted money. One family said that a little boy waving at them as he ran by the road, ran into an open door of a bus. They have before and after pictures of that! And Dad actually had a teen boy come to his window and say, “Give me money!”!!! That was funny! When we stopped at a gate and prepared to back into it, children surrounded us again calling for money. They were being so cute and grinning at us. Then I heard someone gasp and looked up to see someone whipping the kids back with a long grass blade. They continued to smile at us!!!! 

We had a special meeting and ceremony and then we got in the bus and headed next to a school built by CHSFS. It was so different than our schools. But they had posters on the walls. In fact, one had a bunch of rules and one was NEVER to ask to use the bathroom during class only during breaks. Oh, and that bathroom- it was a squatty-potty. You had to walk down this hallway and turn to the left and there it was. No doors. Someone had to guard the hallway!

There were kids again at the school. They weren’t actually at the gate. They just met us at the bus and again at the school’s gate when we were done. They were adorable. There were 4 boys there and three girls hanging shyly behind them. When we came out from our tour, they were smooshing their faces between the bars of the gate. One man took their picture and then came around and showed them. The boys were shy about it, but you could tell they were pleased. Then he took a picture of each of them. They liked to look at themselves afterwards. A woman, (which this is a good idea for future travelers), had candy in her purse, so she asked the man in charge if she could give them one and he said they expected it! So she did and gave some to the girls too. They were so happy in a shy way.

Then we continued on our long journey. We stopped once at a beautiful spot on the road for pictures. We had to step over the guard rail though and that is tough with skirts!! I followed a woman who found a pile of dirt to step on to. There we saw the monkeys. They were either running across the road or running down a hill trying to get away from our pictures. We took tons of pictures. A guy in our group took pictures of some women walking down the road and then showed them. They loved it and made some poses and motioned for him to take their picture. Then they would crack up laughing when they saw the picture!! :-) We also got some pictures of donkeys, but unfortunately not any of the baby donkey. :-(

When we came home we had a couple minutes to freshen up from the dirt before we had to eat supper. I think that might’ve been the day we had spaghetti. It was very yummy. These cooks are so good at giving us yummy, American, food. I love it. But they add an “Ethiopian twist” to it!! They also, quite a bit, make Ethiopian foods like injera and spicy sauces.

My Second Ethiopia Journal Entry

This is the third entry I wrote, but I think it's still the second day....

The kids at the Care Center are so cute. I so want to play, cuddle, and adore Belly Boy, but these kids here grab you, hug you, and want attention, that it’s hard not to play with them. I, of course, prefer playing with Belly Boy to swinging little kids around in a circle and doing hand games with them, but I love it still.


When we first got there, the kids were so loving. They wanted to show you what they could do and wanted to be held and wanted to play soccer with us. One boy wanted Dad to hold him. When he did, I leaned toward the little boy to smile and he placed his hand against my cheek and kissed me. It was so sweet.

Today I spent the most time with the kids. Belly Boy was tired and cuddly today, so when one of us was holding him, the others really had nothing to do, so we did the next best thing- play with the kids!! One little girl grabbed my hands and spun me around until I eventually was swinging her around by her wrists. She couldn’t understand me, so I had to motion that I was dizzy and done with that. It wasn’t long until other kids were grabbing me to do the same thing to them. I kept trying to show that I was dizzy. The first girl kept yelling at them in Amharic. Then they’d pout so I’d motion that it was her turn right now. Another girl got mad at the first and hit her. When she pouted, I ignored it as I played with a little boy. Later she and the little girl were hugging on to me front and back as I leaned over playing with a little boy! After the kids understood I was tired of spinning, the girls wanted to play clapping games with me. I played along. One hand, clap, next hand, clap… We got a great rhythm going. I tried to speed it up sometimes. The kids quickly understood that they had to take turns with me so they would push each other away when someone else was trying to push their way to me and point to whoever was playing with me and basically say it was their turn. It was so cool. The first girl ran off for her friend and got my attention as she showed a new clapping game. I watched and learned and then offered to try it with one of them. I actually caught on quickly. It wasn’t that hard. One hand, clap, next hand, clap, both hands, clap. It was just hard doing it faster. I had to think through each move.

The older kids that I’m guessing are around 7 or 8 still would ask you to hold them. They’d say “up, up!” (the opposite of the “big” kids back home), and I would say, “No, no, you’re too big.” But obviously they could not understand me. So I’d shake my head no. Occasionally I would let up for this one adorable girl and she’d clasp me around the neck and giggle. Once she gave me a kiss. But she was like a monkey and I’d have to tickle her to get her to let go.

The kids loved Dad’s watch and my pony tail holder on my wrist. They wanted to make Dad’s watch beep and were intrigued with it. The little girls liked putting my pony tail holder on their own wrist and then back on mine.

Mom played jump rope with the kids , kicked a soccer ball about, and just played with the kids and made them feel special.

Today we brought fun toys for Belly Boy, and before we knew it the ball and two books were taken away by the kids who hang around the adopting families. We found the ball, but a little girl took to naptime at least one of the books. How sweet. So we left her alone.

The kids are so eager for attention, but it’s not like they don’t get any from their nannies. They love their nannies too.

It’s cute because the kids call out Mommy , Daddy when we leave and when we come. They also found how to squeeze through the gate to us!

We're Home!

Hey, it's great to be back. Many, many thanks to Lindsey, who wrote for me as I didn't have computer access. (applause..)

So we're home and doing great. Belly Boy is adorable and we are thrilled to have him home. He is very comfortable with us, (enough even to throw tantrums! :-) and loves to play and snuggle with us.

So, because I wasn't able to blog, I am going to fill you in now. Each day, (as much as I could), I tried writing about our day on Microsoft Word so I could share with you all when we got home. But they're really long, so I'm gonna share one with you every day. I think there are 7, so hang in there.

Here we go..

There’s a lot to write about in this post. I could talk about the plane rides, the airport, our tiredness, or Ethiopia in general. But I want to share with you the highlight of our day. That was when we met Belly Boy!

We got up early to get ready for the day and eat our breakfast. In the meantime, we got to know the other families here. During our breakfast we counted down the minutes until we met Belly Boy for the first time. Unfortunately the social workers were late getting here, so we had to wait a long time before we could leave on the bus for the Care Center, (which we can see from our bedroom window).

Mom thought she spied Belly Boy being hurried away by one of the nannies when we got there, but later we thought no. We were brought down to the “basement” sorta and were surprised and amazed at the beauty of the room from marble steps to the decorated ceiling.

Then the social workers took two families at a time to meet their baby(ies). We were not the first, but thankfully not the last. Instead of taking us upstairs like the others, we were led to the toddler room. A camera man walked backwards in front of us. The social worker asked Mom if she knew which was Belly Boy when we got in the room. Mom guessed right. He was picked up and given to Mom. It was so cute. He was so nervous and worried. We have a picture of him worried back home so it was fun to see that expression. His eyebrows are so expressive. With each rising and falling he has a different face. He and Miss Bossy will have to have contests when we get home.

After saying hi to him, and hugging, and touching him, we joined the other families outside. Oh my goodness, were the kids cute!  Belly Boy had his bottom lip stuck out and looked like he was pouting. He didn’t smile, babble, motion, or really anything. He sat in Dad or Mom’s arms looking at everyone he knew and occasionally cuddling in to whoever was holding him. Mom took him to the nannies who told her he could walk so she put him on the ground. Oh you should have seen him take off. Not running away, just in a hurry to get nowhere. They put him on the plane that we actually bought him for at home and after getting pushed a minute, he figured out how to push himself. As he went, he threw his upper body back and forth trying to get the plane moving. When Dad started pushing him later, this was how he got Dad to keep pushing him. He seems to really like the plane.

Like I said, he’s walking, almost running, and is cute as can be. Unfortunately he doesn’t look where he’s going. He’s too busy watching his spectacular feet move. He ran into a pillar while we were there. He cried, and Mom comforted him, and he quickly recovered. Mom gave him to me next and while I was leaning to pick up a toy he dropped, Belly Boy suddenly started grinning. I discovered he liked to fall like that and got quite a lot of smiles. No laughs yet.

Next they fed Belly Boy his lunch. I got to hold him on my lap while the social worker tried to feed him. We were laughing so hard, (which we are going to regret later when he does it to us), because he got this Belly Boy teasing grin on his face and turned his head from the food. I can’t describe his teasing. His eyes light up, his mouth draws into a smile, and there he goes.

So Belly Boy refused to eat so he was taken to his nanny who after a few tries, got him to eat quite a bit. After that, Belly Boy got a few more squeezes and then we had to leave.

We had orientation and lunch and then some of the families went to a meeting and we went to the Care Center to see Belly Boy again. Unfortunately he was having a nap and we didn’t want to wake him. Every time the door opened, I’d walk across the room to get a view of his crib to see if he was still sleeping. And he was. Man, those nannies were so LOUD! They kept slamming the door when they walked in and it’d echo, and then they had music on in his room, and the nannies were moving around in there, as well as some nonsleepy babies.

FINALLY, when we had about 10 minutes left, Mom went into his bedroom to see if Belly Boy was awake and he was! She brought him out and cuddled him on the couch and then gave him to Dad. It wasn’t long, but when Mom had to bring him back to his room cuz we were leaving, Belly Boy cried!! He didn’t want to go to his nanny and was reaching out for Mom. She took his head to kiss it and the nanny took that as a sign she wanted him, so handed him over. Finally Mom tore herself away as he cried more. Although it was hard leaving him, this is SUCH A GREAT SIGN! He’s already getting attached to us. Thank you all so much for your prayers.

Dad and Mom went to a meeting next and I had to sit in a lobby by myself. Occasionally men walked in and I was nervous, but then some women came in, so I felt comfortable again. Mom and Dad had some papers to fill out, and a video to watch.
Then we went to pick up a group at the Care Center, but was happily surprised when the bus driver told us we had 20 minutes at the Care Center. We took off to Belly Boy's  room and when Mom walked in he stood up from where he was playing with a grin and held up his arms as he walked towards Mom. It was SO COOL! SO ENCOURAGING! He was the most active during this visit. He babbled occasionally. And apparently really likes crayons. He’d keep grabbing a green crayon and scribbling on a book. Mom tried to take it away from him, but he grinned and ran away until I caught him and brought him back. Then a little bit later when he got a hold of that crayon again, I took it away and oh boy, was he mad. Mom comforted him. When we had to leave, Belly Boy’s nanny distracted him while Mom walked away.

We see him again tomorrow morning before we leave to go shopping. I just want to bring him home with us. Like U.S. home.

Mom looked at Belly Boy’s clothes to see what size he was and was surprised and a little dismayed to find that he was wearing a 3-6 mo. shirt, and either 9 or 12 month pants. We packed 18-24 mo. clothes for him!!!! (Note: He actually does fit in 18 mo. clothes. The nannies at the Care Center don't really care about size, or matching, actually!!! :-)
So that’s the deal on Belly Boy. We can’t wait for the morning. Tuesday, (our time here), we bring him to the guest house with us to live with us forever.

We love you so very much, Belly Boy! We are so glad we got to leave so early to get you. You are already starting to become attached to us which it was wonderful. Love you, you big tease!

One other thing, the kids here. They are a little spoiled and a little rough sometimes, but they are the most charming, adorable, smilie kids. They LOVE attention and will just eat it up.

Belly Boy!

Emily called our family and gave me some stuff to write about on her blog. She has no internet access in Ethiopia!


They arrived on time and are adjusting to the time change well. Emily says Belly Boy is super cute! He is also a tease, giving little smiles and rolling his eyes at his nannies. By the third visit, Belly Boy was running to Em's Mom with his hands up asking to be picked up! They went to the market today and had to bargain a lot, which Emily said was strange. They are so thankful for the prayers.


They will be home in about a week so Emily will be able to resume writing then.
~LindseyMarie

So this is What Its Like..

This is what it's like to wait for a plane! FINALLY, I understand what Dad goes through when he's on a business trip! Tickets, security, waiting, etc.

Right now we are waiting in the waiting room for our plane. Our plane is at 3:30, so we have quite a ways to go yet. Mom is on the phone with my siblings and grandma and Dad is looking over our paperwork.

We came really early and fortunately too, because we had some ticket stuff to work out for Belly Boy.  We made friends with the people at the airport and they are sorry they won't be working on the day we come back with our new baby boy!

We stayed up really late last night, (to 1:30) and got up at 6 today so hopefully we'll be able to sleep on the plane and avoid much jet lag.

We packed all our stuff up this morning. We filled 6 suitcases, have 3 carry ons, and 3 personal belongings!!! We look like we're staying for more than a week. Oh well. Better be safe than sorry.

Mom had butterflies in her stomach this morning, but says they're gone now. The most nervousness I've felt was when I said bye to my friend, Rachel, who saw us off at the airport. My hands, knees, and everything were shaking. Right now I feel great, though. And as for Dad, he's used to flying.

I remember when I was little, I sat in this room and watched my Dad board his plane. But now they have so much security, that they don't allow anyone to come back here. Rats!!! We are sitting in front of a big wall full of windows and right now I'm watching a plane take off. We have the best seats!

I will try to write again soon. Until then, bye.