Trip 1 Hannah's Hope Day 1 continued

K

So after returning from HH yesterday, we went for the cultural dinner. The food was awesome! There was music, dancing, and coffee. Here's some pictures from the night.

Wass even got up on the stage and danced during one song. He was good. One of the dancers picked Mackenzie out of the audience and she also went up on stage to dance.

When it was over, we returned to the hotel. Here was another first. We have never been greeted at the door of a hotel with an AK47 and a pat down. We have a safe hotel.

We leave in about 45 minutes to see you again. We are also visiting one of the orphanages you were in before HH today.

Love,
Mom

1st meeting--through dad's eyes

K,

Today, was the first day I got to meet/hold you and it was every thing I had hoped it would be(and more).  After a very long day yesterday and a very short night I knew I would need extra energy so I started the day off with a good breakfast (I never eat breakfast and your mom yells at me).......And then it was time to meet you.

As Wass was driving to us to HH all of these thoughts and feeling were pouring through my head and when we were pulling through the gates I was ready to jump out.  As we waited in the court yard I saw you in the window with your special mother and she brought you out  to us and of course you went straight to your mom.  Then all of a sudden you opened up and you cried and cried and cried.  Your mom will say you only cried for only 30 to 45 minutes-----I think it was more in hours.  We tried everything.  Since I have no fathering experience the panic sunk in.  I didn't know how I was going to do this. 

Then we started walking around and as we walked I got the bright idea to sing to you what makes me happy---Chelsea Dagger-----you stopped!!!!!!!!!!!!!  You would still give out little cries but you calmed down quite a bit--my son. :)  Then we were told it was your nap time (no wonder you were so fussy).  As your special mothers got you ready for your name they changed your diaper (again panic hit- you had a blow-out and I missed it) and put you in a Jordan outfit--again my boy!!!

For a special treat we were told we would get to come back to HH after lunch around 2:30.  As we waited for Wass again panic started to hit again, thinking back to all of the crying, finding out that I hadn't been pronouncing your name correctly, and missing the diaper blowout--am I ready for this.  As soon as we got to HH we were told we could go see you in your room.  As we opened up the door to your room  you were laying on your back wearing the bib we had brought for you and looking very content.  You let us hold you, you let us sing we you, and you let us dance with you!!!!!!  I had so much fun I couldn't believe it when Wass said it was time to go(it seemed like we had just gotten there).  You had made me realize K---I can do this.

Love,
Dad

1st meeting

K

Because the people at home are wondering. . . 

this is what the bathroom looks like.

Today we held you for the first time. Wass picked us up from the Riveria at 9:30 am. (This was after our breakfast of pancakes, spring rolls, French toast, and coffee. We both had two cups.) The ride to HH was interesting. I don’t know if either of us have ever been on such a bumpy road. Then we saw them, the black gates leading into HH. Wass honked the horn and presto, they opened. (Okay, it wasn’t exactly like that.)

The G family’s kids met us at the van. They ran off at some point. I just remember following Wass to the “baby house” and you. He told us to wait in the courtyard and we saw you through the window. You were in your special mother “B’s” arms. She had you wave to us and brought you out. Wass took the camera and captured the moment. It was amazing, holding you for the first time. 

{The picture everyone has been waiting for and requested by Aunt Kristi. This was after I got to hold you.}

K, you cried the whole first 30 to 45 minutes you were with us. (Your Dad thinks this was much longer.) We sat with you on a mat outside of the house, you cried. We tried walking around, you cried. We tried giving you a bottle, you didn’t take it and you cried. We fed you a rice cereal, you cried as you took the food. At different moments different special mothers from the “butterfly room” tried taking you so you would calm down. As soon as you were given back to us, you cried. So we tried walking and singing. You didn’t like “You Are My Sunshine.” Dad says it is because I sang it. You did stop crying at this point. Why? We started singing the introduction of “Chelsea Dagger,” the Blackhawk goal song. We didn’t get to the words, those made you cry, just the chorus. We did this for 30 minutes because you were taken from our arms for nap time. (You are so our son!)

While you were napping, the C and G families, along with us went over paperwork with John and Tsigie. We had money exchanged and ordered coffee. We learned your name doesn’t mean “heavy” like we thought, but instead means “to the honor of God.” That is way better. We also learned we have been saying your name wrong. This has been corrected. Sometime around here the S family showed up, they are here for embassy and to bring their twins home.

Speaking of your name. . . You have a song. Your special mothers sing this song, using your name, to cheer you up. This gets sung a lot. Sorry Grumpy Bear. 

Following this meeting, we went up to your room to see you sleep. So sweet. Following our time at HH, we stopped at a market for water. After this we went back to the hotel for lunch. Doro Wat. Yum!

At 2:30, Wass picked us up again to return to HH. We went up to your room. You were lying on a blanket on the floor, wearing your birthday bib. Guess what, you didn’t cry on us!!!!! We got to be with you up in the butterfly room until 4pm. We fed you, sang to you (you really liked “Living on a Prayer”), danced, looked at your picture book, and best of all, you cuddled with me. Not your Dad. HA! (Side note: L, K is finally grabbing his blue elephant. He didn’t like it this morning, but he was holding it this afternoon.)

All too quickly Wass came to say it was time to go. Tonight, we go to our cultural dinner for great food, music, and dancing.

Love,

Mom

here!

K

We are here in Ethiopia!!!!!! In 9 hours we will get to meet you!

Just wanted to tell you a little about our trip so far:

• Your Aunt Kristi, Uncle Justin, and P took us to the airport. They picked your Dad up at home and me up at school. On the way to the airport we got lost. We drove by what we decided was a murder house.
• We sat on the tarmac at O'Hare for 3 hours.
• We ran through Frankfurt airport. We (and a couple we met in Chicago adopting 3 siblings) were the last ones on the plane. They closed the doors as soon as I walked through.
• We stood in line for a visa for 3 hours.
• We got to the hotel.

We get to see you today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love,
Mom

730 + 4

K

So two years ago today (730 days) we contacted L at The BF to talk about adoption. We were  lost on what type of adoption we wanted to do and had so many questions. After a lot of talking, praying, and research we decided on Ethiopia. It sounded like an adventure. Who doesn't dream about going to Africa? (Side note: A couple of years ago for Secret Santa, I had mentioned on my "info" sheet I wanted to go on safari in Africa. Maybe I have seen The African Queen too many times.) We were also excited about the idea of a "fast" adoption process.

At the time the process only included one trip, we liked the idea of not having to leave you behind. I didn't think I could do it. Well, it is no longer just one trip, that changed while we were still working on our home study. Two trips? Sure, twice the fun. We didn't know how we would handle leaving you, but we said we could cross the bridge when we got there.  

495 days ago we officially made the "wait list" for our international agency. There has been tons of "ebb and flow" in these 495 days. Our official numbers, on at least one list, always moved, but it was slow at times. What was supposed to be a 9 month wait at the longest stretched to over a year. We got a call about a little boy named KJ, 15 days later another call came breaking our hearts, informing us we would not get to raise him. We still pray for KJ and his situation.

On September 26, I got an early birthday present. A call telling us about you. You had just turned 10 months and were large for 10 months. We were told you were 30 inches tall and weighed in at 20 pounds. Your head was on the international growth chart in the 95th %tile. We were in love. The second picture we saw of you is still our favorite. It is the one where you are sitting on your special mother's lap with your hands on your knees. The expression on your face just seems to say, "Okay, I am ready to come home."

K, we are so ready to have you home. Your room is kinda ready. (I still need to put up your Star Wars valence and I am thinking we might need to get you a mattress for your crib.) While waiting to come home, you have turned one years old. Your Dad and I have a "birthday party" planned for you when we get to Addis. Okay, we got you a bib that says "Happy 1st Birthday" and a tuxedo bib (we wanted to be fancy). When we get to Germany we are planning on finding a cupcake or something cake-like to bring to you to celebrate.

In two days we leave to see you for the first time. We get to hold you for the first time in 4 days. 734 days from beginning this journey, we will hold you. We get to hold you and play with you for 4 days before we have to cross that bridge. I know the distance to that point is 8 days, but I don't know when after that we will hold you again.

I would like to say I am having a total Scarlet moment saying, "I can't think about that right now. If I do, I'll go crazy. I'll think about that tomorrow." Well, tomorrow is kinda here and I have been having my Scarlet moment for some time. I know when we separate, you will be carried away from us. I know we will try to have our game faces on, so you don't see us cry.

K, please know we love you. Right now we are all over the place. We are excited, nervous, scared, worried, and a bunch of other things (your aunt Courtney laughed at some of my worries/concerns I shared with her on the way home from school, which some of them are pretty ridiculous). We love you. We have only seen your face, but we do love you.

Love,
Mom

PS- I so can't wait to hold you.

Gingerbread Traditions

K

So usually I do two Gingerbread parties during the Christmas season (okay, only 2 in the past 2 years). The first one started several years ago with your aunt Jennie, her sister, and other friends. (Which since it is with your aunt Jennie, you know it is ALL OUT gingerbread and Christmas stuff.) This is a Gingerbread House competition. Okay, so maybe it isn't a competition, but I like to think it is. A lot of planning goes into the building, blue prints are drawn (in my head), but you don't know for sure what you will be able to do until you get there. You can only use the supplies provided. Which at times makes you change plans.

Well this year there was a change of plans. The Gingerbread party was postponed for a year due to the original date being the Saturday we get back and other times just not working. So I don't get to show you a picture of this year's house, but I can show you last year's. I like to have a theme in mind when I do my gingerbread house with this group. (Past themes have included snowmen, an ice skating rink, hot tub, and a Ferris Wheel that ended up being a merry-go-round.)

The beginning. . .

Cutting out the door. How else is Clark Ginger(Gris)wold going to get to decorate?  

The beginning of the roof. Fruity Pebbles make great "lights." 

One side of the roof. 

Front view. Clark is just coming out of the house and has a string of lights in his left hand. 

You can't see Clark, but you can see his lights. You can also see the "reindeer sleighs." That is supposed to be (a chocolate wrapped) Santa, but he had issues with standing. 

Overhead(ish) view of my house. 

The back of the house. 

Here are some of the other houses from Jennie's.

This is Karen's house. 

Mallory's house. She was trying to do a maypole like thing with the licorice. She also had a snow fort out of sugar cubes. 

Jennie's houses. 

So I told you there were two Gingerbread Parties. We also have one at Marcia's with the kids. We started this last year and used the left over Halloween candy, so it could officially be gone. We did the same this year, plus we found Easter Peeps, and some shower candy (I had to get it out of the house). This is always interesting since it is kid directed. All the adults do is put it together (we had hot glue this year) and put the icing where we are told. The kids come up with their design and what candy is used where. Next year, you will get to share a house with L, J, and L. You will all be 2 or under, so we are thinking by the time you each do about 5 minutes, it will be good enough.

For some reason, Marcia didn't want 3 houses at her house, but she got them. :) On the left is A's house. We worked on it together. That's right, there are both bunny and chick Peeps on the roof. The house Sarah did is in the middle, with E's house on the right. 

W and G's houses. 

A close up of the rock candy door on A's house. 

Sarah and E's houses. The Cinnamon Toast Crunch roof is on W's house. 

So next year, you get to join the Gingerbread craziness fun! Luckily we buy our houses a year in advance.

Well K, we are at 5 days until we leave. In 7 days I we get to hold you for the first time!!

Love,
Mom

Happy Birthday K!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

K

Your Dad and I just wanted to say,

Happy 1st Birthday K!!!!!!!

We so wish we could be with you on this milestone, but we get to see you in 10 days. We are so looking forward to holding you for the first time. I am really hoping I get to go first. :) We love you and so want to meet you. Don't worry, we have something special planned for your birthday while we are there. 

Although you don't get to see it, or eat it, I just wanted to share with you what your birthday cake looks like.

 

Hopefully you like trains. In almost all of the pictures we have of you, you have a train bib on, so we have decided you like trains, mainly Thomas. (Plus, if you are lucky, there might be some people who will share their trains with you.) Your Papa isn't too sure about the Thomas thing, but I think he will come around. He would probably prefer you just like "normal" trains.

Love,

Mom

BTW- Your next birthday will be Star Wars, this way we can use the R2D2 cake pan. We might also be able to get a Stormtrooper to come for the party. . .