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.