Mommy's Little Helper

God has indeed blessed us with the two best kiddos in the entire world. Josiah and Alexandra are both so wonderful. Alexandra is such a happy baby (when she's not sick) and Josiah is such a cutie (when he's not fussing about bed time). He also is mommy's little helper. Without prompting, he will pick up his toys and put them back in the basket. When asked (and pantomimed) he will pick something up and give it to me (like his sister's pacifier). He also likes to help with the laundry.He thought riding in the laundry basket was lots of fun. Once the basket full of washed diapers got upstairs, he helped take all the diapers out.The cutest thing was when he saw where I was putting with the diapers. He picked up a diaper like mommy was doing and put in on the shelf where they go.Now we'll work on getting him to vacuum next.

We're Home

We have all made it home safe and sound. Ethiopia was beautiful. Our trip was absolutely amazing, but not without it's challenges. I definitely want to go back some day. (Alexandra's nanny suggested we return in 10 years.) Evenso, I am so glad to be back in the States.The trip home was actually not as bad as I expected. The kids are so very good and were my little troopers the entire way. During the longest (17 hour) leg from Addis Ababa to Dulles through Rome, Josiah didn't sleep much on the plane, but he was happy just quietly playing or making friends with all the people in the ajoining seats. He likes older kids, so the 3 1/2 year old girl in the next aisle over was especially fun to play with. Alexandra slept most of the way is such a content little girl who will laugh when mommy sings to her. The flight was long and when the plane landed I think everyone was ready to get off. I'm very glad that we purchased a third seat for Josiah because it gave us much more room. The flight was really full so we would have needed to hold them both on our laps the whole 17 hours if we hadn't had the seat.

Andrea met us at the airport and took a few pictures (more cuteness at her blog). It was so great to meet her! We chatted some with her before leaving for our connecting flight to Philly where my parents would be waiting for us.After changing a certain little boy from head to toe because of a major diaper blow out, we were in the air. That's when he finally crashed for the day. He's funny; he just goes and goes and then finally stops. Here is a picture of him in the plane right after he fell asleep. He was actively looking out the plane window when he finally settled enough to sleep (notice the only change in position from looking out the window to sleep is the droopy head).We quickly made it to Philly where my parents joyfully welcomed our two newest additions. The car ride home went quickly as we began telling about our trip. Gabe's parents had dinner ready for us when we got home and saw the (sleeping) babies then. It was a joyful, but sleepy homecoming.

Today we stayed at home and just relaxed. We did venture out to the doctor's office to confirm that Gabe and Josiah have bronchitis. Josiah also has asthma which they were treating when we arrived in Addis. We'll continue to treat that here and finish the antibiotics that we got while in Addis for his bronchitis. He isn't coughing as much and even that doesn't slow him down. Alexandra is a very healthy little girl. The doctor says that everything with her looks perfect. I agree and all thanks to the wonderful care she received while in the orphanage and in the transition home. They both have begun the adjustment well thanks to the gracious and loving ladies who work there.

There was much other cuteness happening during the trip (like our Alexandra's baby babbling and Josiah's attempts at finger snapping), but that will have to wait. Everyone tells me that I need to sleep when the babies are asleep. Since they are both asleep, I should be too. I have a bit of a cough too, so sleep will do me some good. Thank you all for your well wishes. We can't wait for you to meet the two cutest kids in the entire world. When you do, be prepared for two precious charmers.

Beyene and Edilawit Have Visas

Just before we left for our outings for today, Girmachew came to the Hilton to deliver some wonderful gifts. He gave us two brown manila envelopes (which we are not to open and to just give to immigration in the US) and two passports with two visas inside. Gabe handed these to me and I was very, very grateful. This means we can legal leave the country on Saturday with our two little cuties. Praise God! Next time I post will probably be from home sweet home with our new family of four.

Morning of Laughter

We had a much better night last night than yesterday. Josiah slept the whole night through, ten hours. He didn't nap much yesterday, so this was a very good thing. Alexandra is still getting up frequently throughout the night, but she falls back asleep quickly after a bottle and diaper change.

We're all starting to get used to each other. Josiah and Alexandra are also laughing more. We're starting to figure out what gets them to laugh and they are becoming more comfortable. It's a great discovery process. Some is painful, like figuring out what cry means what, and some is enjoyable, like figuring out what songs make them laugh. It's a wonderful journey we're started and our lives will never be the same.

Entoto Hills

Emperor Minilik and Empress Taitu's Palace

Saint George Cathedral

Blue Top for Lunch

National Museum of Ethiopia

Fun at the Hilton

Josiah and Alexandra have settled into more of a routine now (just when we're about to upset it). We spent the afternoon at the Hilton just relaxing, swimming, shopping, walking, and having fun.

We laughed a lot and sang silly songs, which prompted more laughing.

There were of course tears too and we're getting better at knowing for what the tears are. Our two little ones are a lot to keep up with, but would you trade these two cuties for anything? I know I wouldn't.

The two cutest, best kids in the world are now peacefully sleeping in our room and I'm going to join them and their daddy.

Our Day in Pictures

I never thought I would be so thankful to be this exhausted. I'm not sure how much sleep I got last night be it wasn't a lot. Josiah woke up with a cough half way through the night and took a little while to settle back down. Alexandra isn't sleeping through the night yet, so she was up to be fed and changed. She's such a good little thing and cries to tell you just what she needs. She didn't fuss too much when it was time to go back to sleep. Today our post will be short because Gabe and I need to get to bed while the two little ones are asleep.

Gabe is feeling much better now and thanks you all for your prayers on his behalf. Josiah has a bit of a respiratory infection and the doctor, who Girmachew called for us this morning, wrote a prescription for antibiotics. Alexandra is a little bit congested too, but she isn't bad. We'll try to increase her liquid intake and she should be fine. They are both the bravest little kids I know. This has been tougher on them, I think, than us. They are such good kids though. We are truly blessed as you can see.

The Lion Zoo

We visited the Lion Zoo and got to see the Lions at a very close range. Alexandra slept through the whole thing, but even though he was really tired, Josiah woke up from his short nap while we were there.

Streets of Addis

AHOPE and ALERT

We visited the AHOPE Ethiopia Orphanage today, dropped off the donations, and got a tour of the facilities. It's such a brightly painted orphanage where the kids were so happy to see visitors. Since the orphanage opened, the director told us they have placed about 20 children in homes and currently have about 30 children in their care.

We also visited the ALERT Hospital's gift shop. Where we got to see all the beautiful hand woven and embroidered items. Like everywhere we went, the loved seeing our babies.

Sad Endings and Happy Beginnings

Today we got our children! That was the happy beginnings. Today the nannies had to say good-bye to the children that they love so much and the children had to leave the nannies that I'm sure they love too. That was the sad endings.

After the stress of last night, I wanted everything prepared before we left for the transition home today and then we slept in until 9:10, when we were supposed to leave at 9:00am. Gabe got dressed quickly as the other families waited for him. I needed to get other things ready so I stayed behind to go later. Thankfully the fax with the tax forms that we needed did go through and Gabe took those with him. I needed to get the things for our little ones together and the gifts for the nannies. Bebi had the bus swing back for me a little later.

Once I got to the transition home, I went straight for our little ones. I had missed them so much. To my delight, all our little ones were dressed in traditional Ethiopian clothes. They all looked wonderful in their outfits. It was such a nice last gift from the nannies.

The nannies were very sad when shortly after I arrived we had to leave. I think every nanny was crying. Many escaped to other rooms to grieve privately. Leaving today was heartbreaking and I couldn't help crying myself for the loss these women will suffer.

It was very conflicting because at the same time, I was so very happy to have my two little ones with us forever.

We all decided that we wanted to get to the Embassy appointment on time, so we skipped lunch and went straight to the Embassy. Both our little ones slept on the way to the Embassy and I was hoping they would just stay asleep the whole time. It turned out to be a good thing that we skipped lunch because after we were severely reprimanded by the Ethiopian police for appearing to take a picture of the Embassy (a big no-no, just leave your cameras, cell phones, and toys with batteries on the bus for this trip) and after we made it through the two (yes, two different) security check points, we were right on time for our 1:00pm appointments.

I learned from Gabe that he didn't feel well in the bus on the way to the Embassy appointment. I didn't realize how badly he felt until we got into the Embassy. He got the nasty stomach bug that everyone prays they don't get. He was pretty miserable and not able to help much with the two little ones. In fact, one security guard told me, as I had Alexandra in the sling and was holding the (thankfully) sleeping Josiah, that I should get someone to help me. Gabe is always such a good help, so you can imagine how badly he was feeling.

We made it through the courtyard, into the waiting room, and then to the appointment room upstairs with the six DMV like windows where we would stand to apply for the children's visas. Gabe and I were the first to be called. Our paperwork had already been submitted by Girmachew, so as required, we brought Josiah and Alexandra to the window, presented our passports, swore to tell the truth, signed some forms, answered some questions, and were given their birth certificates and other documents. We did however run into another snag. The Ministry of Women's Affairs (MOWA), who had to present a letter to the US Embassy, put the wrong birth date for Josiah. The Embassy would not be able to process the visa until a new form was collected by our agency, i.e. Girmachew. I know for certain that our embassy date was covered in prayer because I didn't freak out and Girmachew left right that very minute to get the form changed to resubmit. Before we all left on the bus to return to the hotel, Girmachew went to MOWA received a new letter and submitted the corrected one. Praise God that Girmachew (who obviously is working super hard to submit all the paperwork needed for our adoption and for whom we are very grateful) was able to do this so quickly and it was the only snag in the process. We should be getting their visa on Friday in preparation for leaving on Saturday.

During the whole letter from MOWA situation, Josiah had a bit of a melt down. I'm not sure exactly what was going through that precious little head of his, but it looked a lot like grieving. He hit his head which was the catalyst for the whole thing, but the amount, type, and duration of the crying leads me to believe that something clicked with him and he knew that he had left the transition home, whether or not he knew it was for good I don't know. Gabe meanwhile was so sick and looked so pale. He couldn't help me much at all with the kids. I am so thankful for the other families. I'm pretty sure each one of the parents held one of our children sometime during the hour and a half we were at the Embassy.

While I was walking around outside trying to calm Josiah, Caleb David was gracious enough to hold (and be spit up upon by, sorry Caleb) Alexandra. Gabe came back and held Josiah for a short while as I went to relieve Caleb. Josiah started fussing again and Jake Stum offered to take him for me. I am so thankful that he did. Gabe just needed to take care of himself and I couldn't hold them both. Jake got Josiah to quiet down and almost go to sleep. He even held Josiah most of the trip back to the hotel. (Thank you Jake, that was much appreciated.)

Adjustments and Top View

All four of us made a beeline for our hotel room. Alexandra had fallen asleep again, but Josiah started his grieving cry again. Gabe headed for bed with Alexandra and I tried to help soothe Josiah. He finally let me sit down with him and feed him some food. I then went to prepare a bottle for Alexandra who had woken up and Josiah, who I was still holding, just about dove for the water. I thought ah-ha, he really likes the water. So after warming Alexandra's bottle, I let him play in the sink.

He highly enjoyed his time in the sink splashing away and drumming with daddy's toothbrush (reminder to self: sterilize Gabe's toothbrush before he uses it next). I was just so relieved that their was something that helped to calm him, even if it meant that he got himself and the bathroom floor completely soaked in the process. Hearing his laugh for the first time during his play time in the sink made it all worth it.

Gabe decided to take a bath after I got Josiah changed and so off Josiah was to the water again. This was really the turning point for our little man. Josiah stood by the tub and played in the water, but when the tub was emptied, he began to explore the hotel room. After that, he was very content and it was time to leave for dinner. Gabe was still not feeling well, so I left him with Alexandra and Josiah and I went to the Top View restaurant.

I had heard that the restaurant was recommended by other families, so I was looking forward to going. As the name implies, the restaurant overlooks the city. The view and the restaurant are both very nice and I too would recommend it.

Josiah fell asleep in the Ergo baby carrier on the way to the restaurant, but woke up when we went inside. I was hoping he would sleep through the whole thing, but it was probably best that he didn't. I fed him some baby food and water and he was such a good, quiet boy throughout the entire meal, which was very good. It was such a joy having my son on my lap as I ate. Both of these little ones are such a blessing.

After dinner, we went straight back to the hotel. Gabe was still not feeling well and hadn't slept while we were gone. Alexandra has woken up, but after Gabe fed and changed her, she fell asleep. Josiah on the other hand, was not sleepy. I got him into his pjs and he wandered around the room while I got ready for bed. He found a Josiah-size spot to sit under the bed stand and liked to go back there (electrically outlets and all). Gabe (so I thought) and Alexandra were sleeping, so I don't have a picture of that, but it's very cute. Oh, the other cute thing he did (besides smiling and laughing with mommy a lot) was to inspect his rubber-bottom footed pajamas. As soon as I got the pjs over his feet, he grabbed right on to those bottoms to check out what they were. It may not sound cute, but trust me, it was.

So now that that my three babies (poor Gabe must be classified as one of my babies right now because he feels that awful) are sound asleep, the bottles and dirty clothes are washed, and the room is tolerably picked up, it is time for me to join the ranks of my sleeping family. Enjoy the pictures. And to give you something else to look forward to, I'll have videos once I return to the States and more reliable internet access. The first official day as our family of four together has come to a close, I'll fall asleep certain that I am the most blessed woman in the world. Good night.

Our Second Trip to the Transition Home

The early morning didn't seem to go fast enough because after breakfast we were headed back to the transition home to see our children again! After gathering the donations for the home, we all piled into the van and headed down the bumpy road to the transition home. The arrival was greeted with much the same enthusiasm as the day before. Some of the children were asleep, including Edilawit.

Beyene was awake, but looked very sleepy. After about half an hour, he was ready for a nap. Edilawit woke up shortly before Beyene went to sleep and Gabe held her in the sling that I made. She didn't like laying down in the sling, but was happy as a clam sitting up in it. Gabe gave her a bottle and smiled at him contentedly.

While my hands were kidless, I got a chance to visit with a few of the other children in the transition home. They are all so precious and so loved. The nannies are right there for them to take care of everything they need and they always each holding one baby. I know that Beyene and Edilawit were shown much love and for that I am very thankful.

Edilawit became very sleepy after her bottle, but before she went to sleep, I had to hold her again. She and I walked around the home for a while until she could no longer keep her eyes open. I put her in her cradle (where I first laid my eyes on her) where she could sleep.

Now both of my little ones were asleep so I spent much of the three hours that we had this morning visiting the other children. I wish I could post pictures of these cuties, but that'll have to wait until their parents have successful court dates. Thursday, Girmachew, AWAA's in-country representative, will be petitioning the courts for an expedited court date as they have been waiting since October 19th! Please pray that each five families have a successful court date and that the other three families waiting court dates have one quickly. Families, the wait is hard. There is no denying that. While you wait, however, your children are being so very loved. I know it is small consolation. We are praying.

Beyene was still asleep just before we were supposed to leave, but I couldn't just leave without holding him again. Against Gabe's warning, I woke him up to hold him for a few more minutes. When I did, he didn't cry at all as Gabe (and to be honest, I) thought that he would. He just opened his eyes and was comfortable to be held until we had to leave. It was hard leaving them both again, but it was a little easier knowing that we would be returning tomorrow to hold them forever!

Afternoon of Shopping

After our wonderful, albeit brief, visit to the transition home, we went to lunch at Pizza Deli-Roma. The pizza was very good and the company was even better. I have so enjoyed getting to know the other families. We have so much fun and laugh together often. Bebi, an AWAA employee who has been our guide, is so great and joins in the good natured ribbing that has been going on. He and Gabe are both so quick in their witty responses, actually many of the parents are so funny. We just laugh and have a lot of fun.

After lunch and coffee at Red Bean, we went grocery shopping for formula and baby food. I now have a better idea how much Beyene and Edilawit are eating each day, so I think I have enough for the next few days. I'm sure we'll have to go to the store again, but then we'll know just how much we'll need for the rest of the trip. It was fun shopping in Addis seeing all the labels in Amharic. As Gabe just said, he got a gift for him of Addis tea which was in Amharic. He tried to buy a glass bottle of Coke, Fanta, and Sprite, but the clerk wouldn't let him. Apparently they don't trust foreigners to return the bottles, rightfully so, because we wanted to buy them for the bottles. They don't have recycling here, but they refill the glass bottles, hence not selling them to foreigners.

We then went to the Piazza to shop. Think of a very busy out-door strip mall, with bargaining and much begging, and you'll probably be close to what it was like. It wasn't nearly as busy as I thought it might be. I wasn't completely comfortable bargaining, especially when we're talking about a difference of a few dollars, but it is polite to bargain. Gabe was getting into it too I think. We checked a few things off our list today, but not a mesob. I'm still looking. I was very happy to learn that all of the other families wanted to go to the ALERT hospital where the patients make and sell scarves and wooden figurines. I'll try to finish most of my shopping there. Mostly I want to get things for Beyene and Edilawit to have from their birth country. Things to show them the beauty of the country where they were born.

Hebir and Paperwork Scare

We ended the day with dinner at the Hebir Ethiopian Cultural Restaurant. We had another very good traditional dinner complete with one dish of cow stomach. I think Ben, Jake, Bebi, and I were the only brave souls to try the cow stomach. It was prepared quite well, but I can't say I enjoy cow stomach.

The rest of the dinner however was very good. We were even treated to some traditional dancing.

It was a great evening until we started to complete our paperwork for tomorrow. We needed a couple of more forms completed with the help of the staff here in Addis. Bebi helped us complete the forms, but much to my shock, we needed paperwork that we didn't have. I double and triple check everything and felt so stupid that we didn't have the tax returns that we needed to complete one of the forms. Honestly, I got very frustrated and began to freak out. Gabe however is a rock (even when I snap at him when I'm frustrated) and got on the phone to his mom to get her to fax us the information we needed.

Meanwhile, I emailed Duni, our AWAA coordinator in the US, to ask her about the form. She thankfully emailed be back very quickly and let me know that we only need that information if only one parent is traveling. Gabe's mom did send the fax, so we should have the forms. It was such a relief, however, that we now had the numbers we needed and we would also have the forms. We won't know until tomorrow if the fax went through (because the business center where the fax machine is located was closed by the time we were able to get the information we needed), but all should be well. Pray that all does go well at the appointment at the US embassy tomorrow when the US will decide if they will give Beyene and Edilawit visas to enter the States.

It was a rough night dealing with these stresses, but we have great people backing us up. And I can now sleep well knowing that we have the information we need (praise God) and we will be receiving our children forever tomorrow. Oh, happy day.

Behind the Green Door

With every turn the bus made, I expected to see the transition home where our children are. After a few goats, some sheep, and a couple of close calls, we arrive that the green door. A head popped out of the door too quickly for me to see who it was. That's when I realized this was the door! I started the video camera which as soon as Beyene (Josiah's name is Beyene here, so we'll call him Beyene for a while) was brought out of the pell-mell of nannies and parents, nothing else was important and the camera got switched off.

He was smaller than I imagined, but so much cuter. Words can't describe the joy in that moment. I was overjoyed! Gabe and I both got misty eyed and Gabe said the mist condensed a little and dripped from the corner of his eyes. I, however, was missing someone. I asked Fortuna, the transition home nurse (who is holding Edilawit/Alexandra in the picture we received from Rachel), where Edilawit was. She was sleeping in her room. As Fortuna pulled back the three or four layers of blankets, the sweetest little girl in the whole world lay asleep.

I didn't want to disturb her, but Fortuna encouraged me to pick her up. She is so precious! She was so bundled up in four layers including one fleece snuggly sack. Gabe walked in carrying Beyene. Finally the whole family was together.

They both snuggled right in, but Beyene is a mover and shaker. He was a little stunned by the people and the noise. Gabe asked if he was usually this quiet and he was met with uproarious laughter by all of the nannies. He apparently is not quiet and knows how to take off. He is walking! Really, really walks, as in very, very soon will run faster than mommy and daddy can blink. He was a little timid showing off his skill, but he was soon off on his favorite trek. Fortuna told us that he loves to run down the hall to the (second) bathroom completely bypassing the first. Sure enough, he was soon off down the hall and kicking the ball that was in his way too.

Edilawit didn't fuss at all when we woke. She looked around and was happy to be held. One of the nannies came up to me and said "she" "mine" which I understood to mean that Edilawit was taken care of by this beautiful nanny. The nanny is very attached to Edilawit and obviously loves her very much. The nanny asked many times when we would be taking the children from the transition home. She was sad to find out that she wouldn't be working on Edilawit's last day in the transition home. She continued to daut on Edilawit and hold her. I got to feed her and she sucked down the bottle quickly. She lay in my arms drinking and looking at me with those big gorgeous eyes.

Gabe, meanwhile, taught Beyene to "throw" the wrist rattle that I brought with us. While the nanny was holding Edilawit, I played catch with Beyene. I clapped when he "caught" the rattle. He loved that and clapped too. He thought playing catch with daddy and mommy was so much fun.

We got to see how each nanny gives so much love to the children (usually about three) under their care. Each nanny asked the parents many times when we would be taking the kids home. They love the children so much and it is difficult for them to part with them. The children also run up to the men who work here too. There were five men there who do different jobs at the home, but they love to hold the kids. They call the kids to them to hold them and the kids like the attention. While it was hard to be apart from Beyene and Edilawit for all that time from October until now, I know they were given the best possible care and could have received no better care any where else. I am so thankful.

I was so consumed with lovin' on Edilawit that I didn't even notice that the coffee ceremony had started. Gabe had already taken Beyene outside to enjoy the beautiful sunny, warm day. He came in to tell me that Bebi, our "tour guide", one of the AWAA representatives in Addis, was going to give us a tour of the transitional home, the place where all the magic happens. Everyone, Girmachew included, work out of the transitional home which has the kids' rooms in one building and the offices and apartment in another building.

Once the tour was done, it was time for coffee. I'm not a huge coffee drinker; that is to say that I don't drink coffee every morning, but I really enjoy a good cup. I must say, this was the best coffee I have ever had (and the coffee in Italy was pretty good). I had two cups (actually two and a half because Gabe couldn't finish his). We were of course served the popcorn with the coffee. I'm still not sure why they serve popcorn with coffee. Beyene wanted to have some popcorn, but daddy said no.

Our Morning Waiting

I was so excited last night that I found it hard to sleep. We got up this morning, dressed and went down to breakfast. There we met the other two families who flew in late last night, the Singletons and the Mihnovichs. We expected to be picked up to go grocery shopping and to exchange money at about 9:00. We waited for a while and finally got a hold of Girmachew who told us that we would leave when the Stums (the family whose flight was canceled out of Atlanta got in. We are so thankful that they finally made it on a flight and got to Addis!

I think the wait was a blessing in disguise because it gave us a chance to talk to the other families more. Ben Singleton said he could tell right away that Gabe was a farmer and asked him as much. Ben is a farmer (as well as a CPA) himself. They are such a sweet couple. Gabe was so glad to have a fellow farmer on the trip. In fact, Gabe is just really glad that we traveled as a group to get to know all of the families. We had a good time at breakfast getting to know Tracey and her children, Elle and Nash. I'm not very good company in the morning (so not a morning person), but they tolerated me. We had met the Davids the night before, but got to chat with them more. While we waited for the Stums to arrive, we learned where we could buy bottled water right around the corner still on the hotel property for about half the price of the water at the Hilton. We picked up 12 liters and stuck it in our fridge.

Once all the families were assembled, we headed to the Habesha Restaurant for a traditional Ethiopian meal. The meal was very good and everyone chowed down. We did have leftovers which we boxed up and gave to an old woman on the streets on the way back from the transition home. We of course chatted and got to know the other families better, but my thoughts were always on our kids.

Coffee and Good-Byes

During the whole coffee ceremony, everyone was just spending time with their kids and the other kids in the transitional home. The children are all so precious. The older children were so good and liked carrying the younger children. The whole place was just filled with love.

At about 6:00 or 6:30pm, it was time to put the kids down for a nap. I guess Edilawit was already in her bed because she had fallen asleep during the coffee ceremony, but I was still holding Beyene when everyone else was on the bus. Very reluctantly, I gave him to one of the nannies and left. Leaving the two little ones that we had waited so long and traveled half way across the world for was so hard.

I didn't really feel like eating, but couldn't pass up the chance to eat goat kabobs at the Zebra Grill. The goat was a little tough, but very tasty. Ben was the other brave soul to order the kabobs, but a couple others tried them. Throughout the whole meal however, I was just processing meeting our kids. I was so absorbed in my thoughts that when we rose to leave, I remembered that we were in Ethiopia. I had been so focused on our two little ones that while I ate, I forgot about everything else. They are the two cutest, most precious children in the whole wide world. I thought being a mom would be great, but I had no idea!

We’re Here in the Year 2000!

We are in Ethiopia, people!!! I'm so excited to be in the city where my children are. As I write this, if we can leave right after lunch (please, please, please), we will be holding our children in fourteen hours! Tomorrow, these two little faces that have been in my thoughts and prayers for so long, will be looking at me!

I'm so excited that I forgot to tell you about our day. The plane ride from Rome to Addis Ababa takes about five and a half hours. We were late boarding, but I still didn't sleep much on the plane, only for about an hour or so. Once I finally fell asleep, I was awoken by a kind, but persistent voice telling me to take the hot wash cloth that she was holding with the tongs. Ethiopian Airlines has very courteous stewardesses, but Gabe and I did not like getting woken up two and a half hours before we landed to get a hot wash cloth. Slowly we received juice, then breakfast, and then there was no going back to sleep. We watched the monitor with our progress on it and cheered when we passed into Ethiopia.

Once the plane was low enough, I began taking pictures of the country-side, only stopping long enough to fill out the entry form that we tracked down from the stewardess. The land looks beautiful and rugged, valleys and mountains all around the north. As we got closer, I took a few pictures of the city too, but I have no idea what parts of the city they are.

At touch down, we were not greeted by the modern, 21st century, major city airport that I expected. It was a nice airport, but not very large or modern. The computers in the visa room stood untouched as the official moved the carbon copy paper from one sheet to the next. We paid our $20 fee for our visa, then stood in line to have our passport stamped and then onto the next great adventure, luggage.

Our luggage came out quite quickly, except one was missing. We waited and waited and searched and searched. Finally Gabe peeked behind the rubber flap to see our bag looking very dejected on its head having toppled off the belt just after the turn back under the rubber point-of-no-return. After considering and rejecting, the idea to jump onto the belt and grab the bag, Gabe went to find someone to help. As he was waiting, I, keeping an eye on the bag, saw two hands reach down and rescue our little lost bag and place it on the belt. I raced down to the other end to grab it from the clutches of the evil belt before the rubber monster could get it again.

We made our way through customs where Bebi was waiting for us. When I can get his picture, I will post it because at that point he (holding the AWAA sign) was a welcome sight. I'm afraid that we didn't make wonderful company in the huge bus (which Bebi broke the curtains in) on the short ride to the Hilton Hotel.

I had plans to go sightseeing this afternoon, but could not get a hold of any agencies. Later, it dawned on me that today is Epiphany or TimKat. Of course no one would be working today, a holiday, so we spent a wonderfully lazy afternoon at the Hilton. Gabe took a nap while I updated our blog. He helped me unpack our bags and get the donations set for the orphanage.

On that side note, we were able to get all of our personal items into our carry-ons, the two babies' things in one suitcase, and have three full suitcases left for donations for the orphanage and transition home. The itinerary has some down time on Thursday afternoon so we'll probably go to AHOPE orphanage then to bring those supplies.

Before unpacking completely, we had lunch on the Hilton and on the way back up to our room, we thankfully ran into the David's. They also arrived early because they spent five days in Dubai before continuing on to Addis Ababa. We arranged to meet them for dinner at the Pizzaria in the Hilton at 6:30pm.

Dinner was very good, the food, but especially the company. The Davids are such a beautiful couple and we had a wonderful conversation. We shared stories and pictures of our trip thus far while waiting in the lobby of the hotel for the other two families to arrive. I say two (there are three more to arrive) because one family, the Stums, had their flight from Atlanta to DC canceled.

After waiting for about an hour longer than we expected them, we returned to our room to call Bebi to see where the other families were. Not getting an answer, we headed for bed. Before turning in for the night, Gabe (at my behest) called Bebi again. This time he answered and said that the other families had just arrived (at 11pm). We bid him a good night and look forward to meeting the other two families tomorrow at breakfast. The Stums were finally able to manage a flight to DC and will be arrive in Addis on tomorrow morning at about 9:30, probably getting to the hotel just before going to see their son.

Talking about seeing their son, or grandson as it were, my father-in-law just emailed me to say that he found the blog and has it bookmarked to see the pictures tomorrow. I'll get them to you as soon as I can GranPa!

And although I'm not very sleepy - I'm too excited - it is now time to try to get some sleep. Good night.

Piazza San Pietro, then On to Addis

The light was fading quickly as we exited the Vatican, so we scooted to the Piazza San Pietro. We got a specially treat because it was still set up for Christmas with a crèche in the middle of the piazza and another in the Basilica.

Gabe didn't like the VERY tall Christmas tree at the center, however. He said it was "the ugliest tree I've ever seen". I don't know about that, but I wouldn't say it was the prettiest tree I've ever seen. In case you missed it, Gabe "coolest" was Saint Peter's Basilica. I have finally gotten a better answer than "it's huge". He says that of all of the sites that we saw Saint Peter's Basilica was the most spiritually moving for him. I have to admit being in the same place where Peter's bones are (or at least some of them) is pretty cool. And it was impressive. There was Saturday mass happening when we arrived so it was kind of an added treat to hear the choir singing as we made our way through the church.

It was time for dinner when we left the church, so we headed back to the Trevi Fountain to a little eatery that we was there yesterday. I couldn't resist this cannoli that looked (and was) so yummy and I had it with a cappuccino, of course.

When it was time to go, we hopped back on the Metro for a short (ha) ride back to the airport with only one train change (or so we thought). We got to the stop were we should have been able to change trains, also were the Pyramide is located.

The line that we wanted didn't seem to be there. After traversing the same road three times, we finally found the line was only a block away. That line either goes north out of the city or south to the airport. Guess which way we accidentally took? Yep, we went north. Two stops later, I just felt like something wasn't right. Sure enough, we were headed the wrong direction. We got off the train and took the next one heading back the way we came.

We did eventually get to the airport and made our plane in plenty of time. Thankfully, Ethiopian Airlines' baggage limit is more than United (our flight into Rome), so we didn't have to pay the extra fee again. I say we made it in plenty of time because our flight was about half an hour late. We did however make the plane and headed to Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, and (in about 36 from boarding) to our children.

Mvsei Vaticani

Today we head to the Vatican, the smallest country in the world, three times smaller than the next biggest, Morocco. This was definitely my favorite stop; although Gabe liked Saint Peter's Basilica better. There were many interesting works of art, but by far, my favorites were the frescos. I've seen them in pictures. You can view them extensively on the Vatican's website, but it's nothing like seeing them in person. Many of the Piazzas, ruins, and chapels were also like that, but somehow the paintings were so much more majestic in person.

We started, however, with the Egyptian museum which houses among the statues and sarcophaguses, a real mummy. You can see where her brain was removed through her left eye. I'll spare you that picture. Gabe was pretty grossed out. He quickly moved on to this statue of Ramses mother. The museum was interesting and gave me a better picture on the Egyptian view of the afterlife especially.

We then move through other museum rooms where many beautiful statues, tapestries, maps, and other interesting things were on display. I won't bore you will all the details (although Gabe and I must be nerds because we throughout enjoyed them), but I will share my two favorite rooms in the Vatican. They are the Stanza Della Segnatura and not surprisingly the Sistine Chapel.

The Stanza Della Segnatura, where Raphael painted frescos that brightened the room so much so that the Pope used that for his study and later his signing room, hence the name, is intriguing and indicative of the theological culture at the time. The main wall has Christ at the center and other Biblical characters flanking him. On the other walls however are my two favorites. I like the one fresco above the window depicting Truth (if I remember correctly). I also like the section opposite the main wall where the artist depicts himself. I don't know why that moves me so much, but I find something in it thought provoking.

The Sistine Chapel was at the very top of the list of the things I wanted to see while in Rome and I wasn't disappointed; it was stunning. While we weren't allowed to take pictures, I think I could have taken a million and still not capture the essence of the chapel. Gabe however had not heard that photographs were not allowed, so here is our bootlegged picture. Shhh, don't tell.

The Roman Shuffle

Apparently the young boy (~2yo) in the seat across the aisle from us was fascinated in me sleeping. Gabe said that the little boy came over to his side and stared at me sleeping on Gabe's shoulder. The boy was talking, but I must have been out because I didn't hear a word. The flight was actually quite pleasant for me. Gabe wasn't able to sleep much and wouldn't agree.

We arrived in Rome a little late, at about 9:00am. We went through the passport check where I'm pretty sure the guy didn't even look at my passport before turning to a random page to stamp it. We easily located our 216 pounds of baggage (plus our carry-ons that we already had). Next was the search for lockers or some place to store our bags until our return the next night. Thankfully at the end of Terminal C arrivals there is a wonderful place called "Left Luggage". For 3,5Euro per bag per day, we didn't have to schlep all the bags around Rome.

After finding our hotel, Hotel Rex, we headed out to see the sites and do the Roman Shuffle:

Trevi Fountain
Spanish Steps
Piazza Del Popolo
Piazza Navona
The Pantheon
The Roman Forum
The Coliseum

It was a beautiful walk around the city. The old mixed with the new is fascinating. To see the places that I’ve only seen in pictures, to hear sounds of the city, and to taste the gelati was amazing!
I can’t wait to see the Vatican and the Sistine Chapel tomorrow! I’m so glad that we decided to stop in Rome. It’s our own mini-vacation before getting our two bundles of joy!

Gabe has chimed in and wants to give his "top" lists:
Scariest Part about Rome: watching the driving (He kept thinking an accident was about to happen. I wonder what he will think about the driving in Addis Ababa.)
Most Thankful For: walking not driving (see above)
Coolest: grocery store with shopping cart locks like Aldi's (He thinks those carts with the locks are the best idea and every store should have them.)
Most Awesome: Saint Peter's Basilica (when asked why, he replied, "It's just huge", but I’m pretty sure there’s a better reason he just can’t put into words.)

He thinks there may be more to add to his list later, but that’s it for now. If he thinks of any more, I'll keep you updated.

All Planes Lead to Rome

What do two people who are on their way to the Philadelphia airport to fly to Rome and then to Ethiopia to bring their children home talk about in the car? Veggie Tales and V8, of course. We discussed which would be more morbid, drinking the pureed veggie juice of you favorite veggie characters or biting the heads off of your veggies. We didn't come up with a conclusion before Gabe asked, "Are we still going to have fun moments like this after we have the kids?" I think the answer to that one will be a resounding yes. We just won't talk about mutilating their favorite cartoon characters while they are around.

We also talked about how cheap my husband is. Gabe is cheap. He'll admit it himself; although recently he's starting calling himself "economically savvy". Prior to this, he called me frugal and himself cheap. Even so, he was wondering aloud why every one thinks he is cheap. He admitted that there was a grain, well maybe a bushel, of truth in the statement. We concluded that he probably is cheap, but he also makes very wise investment decisions. He will spend money to make more money. So, he's setting the record straight that he is not cheap, he is "economically savvy".

As we passed by the IKEA in Philly, so close that I could almost touch the building, I told Gabe that we could stop there on the way back and he said, "I don't think so." And added, "You almost got a heck no!"

If it's not obvious yet, we have a lot of fun together. It's one of the reasons I love being married to my husband. He's so much fun to be around. He makes me laugh a lot. I'll often ask him a question like "Do you know how much it sucks that we don't get to see the kids until Monday (meaning the 21st) afternoon?" And he'll respond with something very random like "more than stubbing your toe on a door frame, but less than the house burning down." It makes me laugh every time.

I really like the snow, but let me tell you, this is one time that I am really glad to be leaving it behind:After Gabe yelled at the Philly drivers who couldn't drive in the snow (no offense if you live in Philly, I'm sure you weren't one of the cars in front of us), we made it to the Philadelphia International airport without incident. We decided to rent a car and drive it from NY to Philly. With the price of parking in Philadelphia, it was cheaper for us to rent a car then to park our own. Plus on the way back, my mom and stepdad will be picking us up. After about 24 hours of travel - a 17 hour flight, a 5.5 hour layover and another flight - not having to drive home sounds very good to me. I started to type that we had called both our moms to let them know we had arrived safely when Gabe reminded me that both of our moms called us, not the other way around. We have our red stamp on our tickets and are ready to get onto the plane. And this is us in the plane ready for life next big adventure, parenthood:Next I write, we will be in Rome!

Leaving on a Jet Plane

You may have noticed that I have been fairly quiet on the blog these past couple of weeks. I had a few posts in process, but I haven’t had time to finish them. Apryl imagined that she would be running around “like a chicken with her head cut off” when she received her travel date and it is so true. I’ve been slowly checking things off my to-do list, packing, training two people to take over my job while I’m gone for three months, and completely repainting two rooms. (A big thank you to Bill, Emma, John, and Linc for all their help with the painting. Thank you!) Needless to say, I haven’t had much time to finish a post, but I have most of them finished now. Scroll down and you’ll see a little bit of what has been going on in our lives the past couple of weeks.

We are now all packed and ready to go. Here is a picture of everything we packed for the kids:
Thankfully everything fit in one suitcase, which left three suitcases for donations for the AWAA transition home, Kid’s Care orphanage, and AHOPE orphanage. Thank you so much for everyone who donated items for the orphanages: the Williams, the Youngs, the Bank, and the Carpenters (Josh, Katie, and Kyle). Here is a picture of the donations which are in the other three suitcases:
We packed all of the things for us in our carry-on:
Here is Gabe ready to go:
For the curious, here is our packing list. I compiled a few other adoptive parents’ packing lists and personalized them to meet our needs. My goal was to pack just enough, not too much, not too little, use everything we bring, and still have enough room for donations. I’m not sure if I succeeded, but I’ll let you know when we get back.

It’s time to go and next time I post, we’ll be in Addis (or Rome if I can get access there)!

Our Packing List

For Babies:
• Clothing
o 12 cotton outfits (all pre-washed before travel)
o Socks (lots)
o Shoes
• Toiletrees
o Diapers (disposable) sized based on weight of baby/child, 8 to 12 changes per day (Diapers are available in Ethiopia. Name brands are more expensive than in the US, but available. The no name diapers are prone to blow-outs. Use the no name if necessary while in-country and save enough name brand for nights and the flight home.)
o Baby wipes (unscented and without alcohol)
o Desitin (applied with each diaper change)
o Plastic bags for dirty diapers
o Tooth brush and tooth paste
o Disposable Huggies brand washcloths with soap
o Shampoo/conditioner
o T-Gel Shampoo by Neutrogena for treatment of cradle cap
o Comb/brush
• Medication/First Aid
o Infant Tylenol, Infant Motrin, Infant Mylicon (Dose based on weight: Tylenol dose 10 mg X kg of weight every 4 hours; Motrin or Advil 5mg X kg of weight every 6-8 hours)*
o Children’s Liquid Benadryl (liquid) 12.5 mg per 5 ml (1mg X kg of weight every 6-8 hours) (For hives from allergy or itching secondary to scabies)*
o Robitussin (children’s cold medicine)
o Lice medication and comb
o Elimite for scabies (can leave at orphanage if unneeded)
o Teething gel
o Saline nose drops (Ayr, Nasal, or Ocean)
o Triple antibiotic ointment (Bacitracin, Neosporin) for cuts, scrapes, scratches
o KY Jelly
o Eucerin for eczematous skin (twice a day)
o Hydrocortisone 1% cream for eczema
o Echinacea for coughs and colds: 5 drops twice a day
o Bulb aspirator (ear syringe)
o Digital rectal thermometer ear thermometers are useful for children over three years)
o Scissors for infant fingernails and for enlarging nipple openings
o Rubber gloves
o Sunscreen (seasonal) #15 is enough, hat for the child
o Lem-Lem (Powdered Electrolyte Packets) – purchase at any pharmacy in Addis
o Prune juice for constipation (1-2 ounces a few times a day - increase fluids between feeds)
• Feeding
o Avent, Gerber, or Playtex bottles (with refill drop-in bags and 4 nipples)
o Formula as a powder with iron – bring some, but the formula is available at the super market
o 2 sippy cups
o Baby spoon (plastic) and bowl
o Bibs (lots)
o Burp Clothes
o Teething rings
o Snacks
o Dish soap for washing sippy cups, bottles, etc.
• Travel
o Ergo Baby Carrier
o Baby Sling
o CARES Kid’s Fly Safe Restraint
o 4 light-weight blankets
• Toys
o Activity blanket
o Children's music
o Children's books and toys
*To convert pounds to kilograms, divide the pounds by 2.2 i.e. 22 pounds divided by 2.2 equals 10 kilograms

For Parents:
• Clothing for Gabe
o 5 t-shirts
o 3-4 button down shirts (to layer)
o 2pr pants (khakis and jeans) (shorts are not culturally acceptable in Ethiopia)
o 10pr underwear
o 10pr socks
o pajamas
o swim trunks
o sneakers
o hat
o sunglasses
o ear plugs
o light jacket (fleece is great…light weight but warm)
• Clothing for Penelope
o 3 tank tops
o 2 ¾ sleeve button down shirts (to layer)
o 2 short sleeve button down shirts (to layer)
o 1 long sleeve button down shirts (to layer)
o 2 skirts
o 1pr khakis
o 1pr black knit pants
o bra
o 10pr underwear
o 3pr socks
o pajamas
o swimsuit
o sandals
o sneakers
o hat
o light jacket (fleece is great…light weight but warm)
o wrap
o pillow
• Toiletries
o Shampoo/Conditioner
o Deodorants
o Body wash/Dove Soap
o Face wash
o Tooth brush and paste
o Brush/comb
o Saline solution
o Contacts
o Lotion
o Razor, shaving cream, and after-shave
o Make-up
o Travel-size Kleenex packets
o Travel-size toilet paper (it’s often a luxury)
o Feminine products (even if you don't think you'll need them...stress and travel can do a lot to your body!)
o Travel hair dryer (not necessary at the Hilton)
o Notes on toiletries- Erin found that you can find just about anything in Ethiopia, however it may not be the brand you want. I was able to find shampoo, face wash, lotion, etc., however I couldn’t find any brands that I wanted. So if you are picky, bring a little extra just in case.
• Medication/First Aid
o Multi-vitamins
o Antidiarrheal medication (e.g., bismuth subsalicylate, loperamide)
o Benadryl (Decongestant, alone or in combination with antihistamine)
o Dramamine (antimotion sickness medication)
o Acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen, or other medication for pain or fever
o Mild laxative
o Cough suppressant/expectorant
o Throat lozenges
o Antacid
o 1% hydrocortisone cream
o Insect repellent containing DEET (up to 50%)
o Sunscreen (preferably SPF 15 or greater)
o Aloe gel for sunburns
o Digital thermometer
o Oral rehydration solution packets
o Antibacterial hand wipes or alcohol-based hand sanitizer
o Moleskin for blisters
o Lubricating eye drops (e.g., Natural Tears)
o Mild sedative (e.g., zolpidem) or other sleep aid
o First aid kit: adhesive bandages, gauze, ace wrap, antiseptic, tweezers, scissors, Q-tips, paper tape, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide
• Snacks/Drinks
o Thin Mint Girl Scout cookie (my favorite)
o Granola bars
o Fruit leather
o Powdered Drinks - Single-serve Crystal Light, Kool-aid, etc
• Travel
o Books
o Travel belt/wallet
o Deck of cards or travel game
o Voltage converter
o Surge protector
o Travel alarm clock or cell phone
o Lap top
o Gum
o Travel flash light
o Journal
o Pens
o Camera, batteries, memory card
o Travel laundry kit
o Lonely Planet Ethiopia travel book
o Gallon-size Ziploc Bags (to bring home coffee or for many other purposes)
• Paperwork
o Passports with visas (get visas at Addis Ababa airport)
o Photocopies of your passports packed separately from originals (copy to mom)
o Tickets with itineraries
o Photocopies of your tickets and itineraries packed separately from originals (copy to mom)
o Money/travelers checks
o Driver's licenses for ID
o Credit card
o List of phone numbers for contacts in country and back at home (copy to mom)
o Copy of homestudy and dossier and any other important adoption documents (copy to mom)
o Photocopies of any essential adoption-related documents (copy to mom)
o Hotel or guest house reservation info (copy to mom)
o List of restaurants and shops
o List of email addresses
o Contact info for travel agent

9 Days to Blast Off

"A mother is likened unto a mountain spring that nourishes the tree at it's root, but one who mothers another's child is likened unto a water that rises into a cloud and goes a long distance to nourish a lone tree in the desert." ~Talmud

I'm in the thick of planning our trip to Ethiopia. We already have our plane tickets booked through Susan Parr Travel. We had to book our tickets ourselves because we wanted to stop in Rome and not take the straight flight from the States to Addis. We will leave from Philadelphia on January 17th and arrive in Rome Friday morning, the 18th. We'll spend one night at the Hotel Rex in Rome, then leave for Ethiopia late Saturday night. At 8:30am, we'll touch down in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia!

AWAA, our agency, will plan the rest of the trip while we are in country: the Hilton hotel, the driver, the meals, and the sights. Mary at Ethiopia Adoption has some great tips about planning your trip to Addis. She blogged about buying a mesob while in Ethiopia. I've wanted one and her post gives me hope that I can get one home, so it's now added to the "to buy" list. Mary even had some tips about bargaining while in Ethiopia because apparently it is polite to bargain. Here are a few key phrases:
Sent-no? = How much is it?
Wedd-no = That's too expensive
EYE-dalem = No
Ishee = OK
Afelligum = I don’t want it.

Jen, bless her heart, is learning Amharic, but alas, I will resign myself to printing off this post about Amharic Phrases and hoping I can learn a little on the flight. For the flight and packing, I have reviewed the list of permitted and prohibited items and rented the CARES child restraint for Josiah on the trip back home.

I've started to gather the last of the items that we will need for both travel and for when the babies arrive. We will definitely be babywearing both in Ethiopia and at home, so I was very excited this past weekend when my Ergo baby carrier came in the mail. I immediately opened it and tried it out. To simulate a baby about Alexandra's or Josiah's size and weight, I put three 5lb bags of flour in a plastic shopping bag and tied it shut. I practiced getting the carrier on, taking it off, and holding my "baby" in different positions. Gabe came home while I was still wearing the Ergo, so of course, I decided that he needed to try it too. Here are a few pictures of him getting dinner ready wearing our "baby":


Gabe got tired of carrying "baby", so he this is where he put it:

Isn't Gabe so cute? He thinks of things like this all the time.

Melkam Ganna

It's Christmas time in the city. Today, it is Christmas in Ethiopia! Melkam Ganna means Merry Christmas.

To celebrate, we talked about and planned how we will celebrate the Ethiopian Christmas next year. Duni, the AWAA Africa Coordinator, wrote this about celebrating the Ethiopian Christmas:

Leaving your Christmas Tree up is a great way to incorporate. What my family does is save some of the gift opening until the 7th (also a great way to save as the sales are very good after Christmas). Another way to incorporate it is to learn a recipe or go to an Ethiopian Restaurant and have the traditional holiday meal; Doro Wot (chicken stew with boiled eggs). If you are in a metropolitan area there may also be an Ethiopian Orthodox Church and you can go for an overnight service. They actually dance for worship (reminds me of David dancing in the old testament).

I also googled Ethiopian Christmas to see if anyone had some good traditions that we could incorporate into our celebration. At tourismethiopia.org, I found that "Christmas, called Lidet, is not the primary religious and secular festival that it has become in Western countries. Falling on 7 January, it is celebrated seriously by a church service that goes on throughout the night, with people moving from one church to another. Traditionally, young men played a game similar to hockey, called genna, on this day, and now Christmas has also come to be known by that name."

In Amharic, the official language of Ethiopia, their is a Christmas greeting that translates to mean "It is my pleasure to see you in this delightful day of Christmas" and then the other person replies with "Happy Christmas". ChristmasJoy.net has the Amharic phrases to send Christmas greetings.

I also found a really good overview of the holiday at Howstuffworks.com. I found there and on a few other blogs that Christmas isn't really a time for gift giving. If gifts are exchanged, usually it is clothes for the children. I think that would be a wonderful day to give each of the kids a traditional outfit from Ethiopia (It's on the "to buy" list.)


Also Ergo Baby Carrier

On Getting Our Travel Date

Truth be told, I was getting really discouraged these past few weeks. Getting the travel dates so close on the heals of the successful court date was a little surreal (and completely wonderful). At the same time, things suddenly seem so real. I now feel like this really is going to happen. (As if the months of paperwork, months of waiting for a referral, and agonizing wait for a successful court date hadn't given me an idea that this is really happening.)

Thus begins the mad dash to make travel plans, pack, and in general get ready to have my life joyously turned upside down by two little cuties. It's like after going up the long, steep incline of a rollercoaster, finally going down the stomach-dropping hill and starting to scream, the good "I can't believe, but am so thrilled this is happening" kind of scream. It's scary, but great all at the same time. Now's the time to just hang on and enjoy the ride.

But I know there is a ton to do before we leave. As I’ve mentioned before, I have lists, lots of lists. Now is the time when those lists (not to mention the hours of research) are going to come in handy. I first pulled out my “To Do Before Travel” list:
1. Make travel plans and book flight – check
2. Book hotel in Rome
3. Call credit card company and inform them of large purchases and international travel – check
4. Call bank and inform them of our international travel plans, oh wait, I work at our bank, they already know I’m traveling internationally.
5. Update lists: Travel Paperwork Checklist, Packing, Orphanage Donations, Last Minute Purchases, Places to See in Addis, Questions to Ask Nannies, Pictures to Take, Questions to Ask Birth Parents (if we can meet them), Items to Buy in Ethiopia, Return Grocery Shopping
6. Learn Amharic. Take the advice of another adoptive mom and learn the most important phrase in Amharic, “I love you, precious one” and get a good interpreter.
7. Collect travel paperwork.
8. Make copies of travel paperwork to give to our mothers to call on in case of an emergency.
9. Get travel insurance (because our health insurance is no good in Ethiopia).
10. Write out address labels to use for post cards in country.
11. Buy calling card to be used in Ethiopia.
12. Clean house.
13. Collect donations for the orphanages and transition home.
14. Pack.
15. Maintain my sanity while doing all of the above and I'm sure more of which I have yet to think.