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There is no one but us.13 years ago
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amazing photographer
.......she captured our trip on film
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
day 2- meeting eyasu
Thanks for the motivation to keep plugging along with the trip updates! I had someone ask about the shirt I had on yesterday (well you know, yesterday on this here blog) and you can find it here. You may recognize the hand pic in her header. She was given permission from Kristin to use. :)
We woke up (well didn't sleep all that well actually, jet lag, butterflies and all) and were excited to get moving and head to meet our boy. We were told the night before that due to a meeting and another family flying in that morning, that we may not be able to go get Eyasu until after lunch. We were thrilled when Travis called that morning to ask if we could be there by 9:30!! Of course. We ate a fabulous breakfast at Bejoe with our new friends, Paul and Stacey, and then we were off.
The drive to Ayat was amazing. Just being back on the streets of Addis filled my heart- the people, the buildings, the cows, goats and occassional discarded horse simply made me smile. We got to the Gladney care center and immediately I could hear all of the kiddos playing in the yard. I had no idea what to expect with a toddler. I prepared myself for tears, kicking, screaming and this is what we got- pure joy!
It was just one of those moments. Eyasu had been asking when we were coming for weeks. I think since he had been in care for 13 months, he had seen this happen time and time again for all of his little buddies and he knew this was HIS TURN! He obviously remembered meeting Moody this summer as he ran straight to him.
We hung out for awhile with the kids, spent some time in his room and then he was ready to move. He was so excited to go in the "beep beep". He got really quite driving back to the guest house though. He clearly had so much to process! He had watched the scene play over and over with his friends, but had no idea what happened after they got in the car and drove away.
Mommy and Eyasu in the room he spent so much time!
Silly daddy!
Eyasu loved the nannies and I think the feeling was mutual! :)
We headed back to the guest house to begin the rest of our lives together. Immediately we were able to see the wonder of toddler adoption. So many firsts happened that afternoon. I brought a sippy cup with a straw for him. He watched me put juice in his cup, put his mouth on the straw and then nothing. He got really frustrated as he knew the juice was there, but he had no idea how to get it to his mouth. It never occured to me that he had never drank from a straw before! :)I wish I had Moody and I on video trying to teach him how to drink from a straw. We were shrugging our shoulders as we were making sipping noises with our mouths- comical I'm sure. Moody then showed him it was like kissing as he puckered his lips. That was it. He got some juice and the look on his face was priceless. Watch for yourself. :)
Our sweet friends, the Funderburks, are currently living in Addis and working for Gladney, came to visit us. Eyasu got very upset when he first saw them and was clinging to Moody. Poor little guy only knew them from the care centers and was worried they were coming back for him. It breaks my heart! We had several of the ladies from Bejoe explain to him that we were friends and they were only here for a visit. He relaxed and we all enjoyed playing in the yard together.
After a full day it was time for a few more firsts! He was terrified of the potty and the bath at first. He said he thought he was going to fall in the potty and the tub looked so big filled with water. :) He got used to both, but it just further showed me just how much transition this precious little one was going through. We had a few tantrums that first day, but wow overall the day was so far above and beyond our wildest expectations. He had Moody and I in stitches most of the day. He is a character for sure. The only downside was knowing just how much the kiddos at home would have eaten this day up! :)
After a really good brushing from dad, we were all off to bed. He did great going to sleep and Moody and I simply marveled at the incredible blessing we were just entrusted to raise! God is good.
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About Me
- emily
- "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from becoming polluted by the world." James 1:27
27 comments:
Seriously....LOVING THIS. Can't wait for day 3 - no pressure though. Well a little pressure, but you know, whatever you can swing is fine!
Thank you so much for posting this. It brings back such beautiful memories for me. All of those "firsts"... the first sight of your child, the first touch, the first tub, the first night of watching them sleep, are just too precious to forget.
I bet Eyasu was spellbound at the airport! I remember Hunter Biruk was giddy on the escalator and when he saw the plane for the first time!
So happy for your family!
Yea...I'm so happy for you to have your sweet son with you. He is so cute!
tears..... thank you SO MUCH for sharing this... brings so much back watching my nephew the first day and oh Ethiopia.... can't wait to go again!!!!
more tears!!! BEAUTIFUL MEETING!!!
Amazing. It brings back so many memories. Tears just thinking about those sweet firsts. God is so so good. Our boys could tear up the town for sure.
Oh! When Eyasu is running across the yard to the two of you...oh!
Soooo sweet!!! Awesome!
I love these posts! It makes me miss Ethiopia so much!!
Oh, Emily, what a beautiful post! These "first time with out new kids" posts ALWAYS make me cry, both for all the emotions associated with it and because I miss Ethiopia so much! Thanks for posting and allowing us to witness it!
BEAUTIFUL update!!!!! :)
Emily- you guys are such an inspiration! Awesome story and he is such a character! Can't wait to see day 3.
LOVE reading about your first meeting! I had a gigantic smile the whole time I read this post that when I was done my jaw hurt (either it was such a huge smile or I'm a really slow reader :) So precious! So many wonderful memories. Eyasu is darling. I agree, toddler adoption is super special. Congrats again!
Oh how sweet! Love the videos! It's so much fun to hang out with your expanding family. :)
Teary-eyed reading about precious Eyasu watching his little friends leave--hallelujah that it was finally his turn! The videos are just precious. Look forward to the next installment.
the vision of him RUNNING into his daddy's arms... I mean... WOW! the miracle of it all... and what an incredible image of how much we are loved by our father in heaven... how we will run to him... adoption is such an amazing gift to us!!!!!
he is precious emily!!!
becca
What a beautiful child! So exciting! I always love hearing the stories of when you first meet your child. What a beautiful story. I can't wait to meet my little boy from Ethiopia. God IS good. :-D
You know I am sitting here at work in tears, right? So so so happy for you! Just one more friend for Meron!
Congratulations, friends!
Love,
laura hoffman
i am loving reading all of this...step by step! thanks for taking the time to share!!!
oh man! running up to Moody is priceless! I LOVE seeing every detail of the trip! Im so filled with joy for yall! Cant wait to meet the lil guy and his brothers and sisters :)
Oh I cried when I read and saw this post! What a sweet boy! I can't wait until it's our turn to give our son all those first experiences!
So funny, I bought our boy a sippy cup with a straw to put in his stocking. Now I can't wait to watch him use it!!
Love this post! Love to see the video and experience a little clip of your time there! We are here now...when do you leave for Colorado...?
I love reading about your trip!! What a sweet story!
As we are on the verge of our referral, I'm eating this stuff up! I can't wait to see the rest, thanks for sharing!
Love it!!! What a cutie your little guy is!!! Love your story and love seeing the Gladney center in the background! When he ran right up to you guys... OH! My heart....
"We headed back to the guest house to begin the rest of our lives together"...sigh...that video of him running up to you is amazing. his sweet spirit is written all over that gorgeous face! i so want to return for a toddler boy and this only adds fuel to the fire!
Eyasu should be in the movies!! He has such a personality. It shows through even in your clips.
I love that your blogging about each day. Seriously, the video of him running to you all and straight into Moody's arms made me burst into tears. Thank you, thank you for sharing your experience with us!!