Ethiopia Day 5

November 3, 2011

We woke up to delicious pancakes that Chile had made and C.T. LOVED them!!  He decided to learn how to use a fork and it took him about 10 seconds to master it.  He was so funny and intent on using it! He cheated a couple of times when he would hold the fork in his hand and pick up his food with the fingers of his same hand....he's so funny! We pretty much have to wear or have washed new pajamas each day, because each morning he has a total blow out and let me just tell you I have never seen or smelled anything like it...It is a two man job, and would really be best with three!!

cheater!

pro!

angel boy

Many of the families had court today and so we got some house keeping and errands ran.  We took C.T. to the pediatrician to get his faced looked at and his cough.  The Dr. was great. Very nice and knowledgeable.  He told us that his face was excema and gave us a prescription for a cream to put on it and since his lungs were not clear he also gave us a prescription for that.  C.T. did great at the Dr.! He only cried for one little second...he was ate about 3,000 puffs in the waiting room and shared his trucks and cars with the other little boys who were waiting. Afterwards we went to the pharmacy to pic up his meds which cost about zero dollars.  

We got home to the great news that everyone had passed court!!! This is so exciting for them and for us since we go to court TOMORROW!! It's a very good sign and we are praying we hear the same news! I already love this boy with all of my heart, but I can't wait until I am officially and legally his MOMMY!!

C.T loves Mr. Michael

such a boy face...definitely trying to bust the glow stick open

CT loves Michael Jr. too!

CT can really throw!

silly daddy time!

The tide is turning on who C.T is preferring. He is definitely turning into a daddy's boy. He is definitely bonding and attaching with both of us, and at the beginning of the week when he just wanted to chill and be held he was a mommy's boy. But now that his crazy boy personality is showing through he really enjoys that time with daddy and is starting to prefer him over me...in the middle of the night last night he even wanted Nate to be the one to get up with him!! I'll be honest, I've never had a child not be totally attached to Mommy...while it was kind of nice to sleep during the night last night, hopefully we can find a happy medium...

sleepy signs!

family photo

pizza time!

We gave C.T. pizza for dinner and then put him to bed and decided to go out to Yod Abyssinia, a traditional Ethiopian restaurant with traditional Ethiopian dancing....some friends stayed behind with their little twins and since CT's first sleep stretch always lasts until just after midnight he stayed with them and the Nannies at the guest house.

the crew...minus me (the picture taker) and yonaton(parking the car somewhere really far away)

apparently this is what you drive when you have lots of $$ in ET.

me and crystal..yes, we matched

We had a complete blast at dinner. The music and dancing was so fun and the Archie's little boy, Getu even got in on the action!! We laughed the ENTIRE night and the food was delicious. If you are in Addis you MUST check it out. We will be back again for sure!! 

Tomorrow we head to court...The BIG day!!

Blessings From Ethiopia,

Ethiopia Day 4

November 2, 2011

Ethiopia Day 4

C.T. didn't exactly sleep well last night...and I actually  lost count of how many times I got up. He has a good stretch at the beginning of the night, but the second half gets smidge rougher :) So please excuse the "I need sleep" look in the following pictures!

Today we went to the Lion Zoo...The symbol of Lion represents the Lion of Judah and is an important party of Ethiopian history and you see it quite often (read more about the Lion of Judah and some other ET facts HERE!)...so I can only assume that is why they have a zoo dedicated to lions. Lions are cool no matter what...but the conditions were quite sad. C.T. enjoyed looking at all of the animals and did great just being toted around in the ergo carrier.  We bought him an ice cream cone at one point and he wanted nothing to do with it! But, he loves him some puffs and gerber banana cookies. 

After the zoo we went to eat lunch at a restaurant called Lucy's which was super delicious and the atmosphere was very cool. C.T. just eats off of both of our plates like a mad man and makes the biggest mess you've ever seen! He loved the veggies on my plate and I think he considers utensils as cool new toys. He groups them together, separates them, throws them, puts them in cups, etc..He discovered the flowers and was a total boy when he grabbed them, crushed them, and then threw them on the ground...ha!...such a change from our girls who seek out and cherish every single flower! And of course he told everyone "chow" as we left...it is quite possibly the cutest thing EVER!!! 

While we were out we passed where the president and prime minister live (two different locations). They were both very cool and very large, but I didn't have my camera out and missed the moment. But we are just loving seeing and learning more about Ethiopia.  C.T. loves to be on the go, so we have been exploring quite a bit!

Ethiopia Day Three

November 1, 2011

Have we really only been here three days?? We feel so at home here already that Nate's first words this morning to me were, "I could definitely live here." We love this place so much and are so enjoying soaking in every piece of this country that we can!

I am pretty sure we are just going to cry every day that we are here, and I'm okay with that! I woke up more than once in the middle of the night to see tears coming down my husband's face as he was totally overcome by the emotion of this trip.  I certainly don't think that he expected to fall in love with this place and this boy so immediately.  But, God is good and the transformation of Nate's heart since we have started this adoption journey has been so amazing that it can only be God! I am so thankful for this man that God has blessed me with and his willingness to be wrecked for the Lord and what He says He holds dear...the orphans, the widows...the least of these.

Today we mostly had a chill day hanging out with our little man. We played in the court yard quite a bit and CT was just SO funny! He wanted to do anything the big boys did. If they walked somewhere, he followed. If they bent down, he bent down. If they played soccer, he played soccer. We had so much fun playing with him and enjoyed seeing his personality show! He loved popping the bubbles and would pop them with all of his boy vigor...he would smirk and almost smile while he was popping them, but we got our good smiles later in the evening when he was rough housing with daddy. After months of pictures and videos without seeing a smile on our sweet boys face, we FINALLY got one today. Oh how good it felt to see the happiness in his eyes and to reach this milestone in our bonding!  His smile is worth about a million dollars, I'm sure!

first smile

We had our first Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony today and it was so very cool to experience this tradition! Coffee is one of our most favorite things here...it is the best I've ever tasted!

Later in the evening we all went with the Brockman's to the transition house to drop of their girls since they are heading back to the states tonight. It was the first goodbye we have witnessed and it was pretty much heart breaking! I pray that they will be back so soon to bring their two girls home!! CT loves riding in the car...we have taught him to say vroom...and he vrooms at every car that passes! He hasn't ever been to the city before and he LOVES taking in all the sights!

the ladies

solomon...one of our awesome drivers

professional

After the T-house we went to eat at a chinese restaurant and it was SO delicious!! I thought it was totally random to have an authentic chinese restaurant in Africa and I think it was the hardest place for us to communicate thus far...there was quite a bit lost in translation!  Ct just hung out in my lap during dinner as he played with his car and imitated everything that I did...If I cut up food he pretended to cut up food. When I tie his shoe he unties it to try to tie it himself.  I am telling you, he is a little genius!

CT fell asleep at dinner and we walked the short walk back to our guesthouse and put him to bed...he only woke up one time last night, so we are praying for another great night tonight!! He has yet to drink milk or take his bottle from us, but he is a professional water bottle drinker!

After we put CT down we started a game of spades with the Archies (wives against husbands) and it got a little heated (mostly because Nathaniel and I are pretty competitive against each other!)...if you are wondering who won, let's just say, the men cheated!!! :)

We were sad to see the Brockman's go, but two more families flew in tonight and are staying here with us...I am sure they are going to be awesome as well!!

Blessings,