One week...

Today marks the first full week being with Natan!
He seems to be adjusting well, although his eating is hindered by bland Western food choices which will be remedied asap by some Ethiopian recipes. Someone said we should immerse him in "American" food--why! Why, when we can all make the switch to excellent ET food??
He is slowly attaching to Jason and me--this will take time, and we knew that beforehand. Most people do not understand adoption & attachment, especially when the child is older. You have to offer opportunities to bond, and not assume it will happen. It can take months, no matter how loving you are. Natan has been very loved by many people, so we need to move him from viewing us as "nanny" figures, to being mom and dad. Just because we already love him, doens't mean he feels the same...
He is asleep now with George in their room. I left them with Natan groggy and George rubbing his back (I think mainly to keep him from crying again because Mommy really had to pee!).
George goes for an MRI tomorrow...just another day in the life!

Here is an article written by Will Connors, the writer from the NY Times who spent time with us in Ethiopia. He moved there because he was feeling reseltess, and has been living in ET for two years. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/20/world/africa/20lights.html?ex=1337313600&en=0b2a1e60dd40d357&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss
The article on ET adoption has not run yet--I'll post it when it does.

I haven't written much about the trip, mainly because it is still an overwhelming jumble of thoughts/experiences that I am having trouble putting into words!
Most people, when they think of Ethiopia, think POVERTY. I certainly do not want to downplay that side of it, however, there is the promise of something better there, seen in the faces of the people. Yes, there are beggars--children and elderly beggars--lining the streets for food and birr. But if you can look beyond that, you can see a whole other side of ET. It is beautiful. The culture is rich and old--Lucy--they didn't find her in Georgia!!

Home Sweet Home!!!!

We made it safely home--Natan was fantastic on both plane trips. Mimi and George are very good with him and do not seem bothered by the extra attention he is getting right now. I think George REALLY likes having a roomate, and Mimi loves having another baby budder!
Natan is a very happy boy now, although I am sure he is still very disoriented and sad--he has only been away from his family for four months...has to be some strangeness there for him.
Selena...got your email and we would love to see you!! (Mimi calls you "eena!")
And, Deforia, of course you're an auntie!
Thanks everyone for all the great messages...the trip was more than I dreamed, from meeting his parents to the very last day. Can't wait to go back!!!!
Click on the Picasa album (right hand side) for pictures of the trip.

Second message from Ethiopia

Hi all,
Well, Natan's adoption is official--we made it through the embassy yesterday and it was easy! Two hours of waiting...three minutes in front of an official! While we waited at the embassy, I gave Natan the two pictures of G and E and he kept pointing at them and looking--like he knew they belong to him!
We are getting ready to have the Farewell Ceremony in about a half an hour--it's the party that is thrown for the kids in our group as they leave this wonderful place. I cannot say enough about this care center and its staff. They truly love what they do, and they love the children beyond measure. Natan held his arms out to the nannies yesterday when we returned from the embassy, clearly glad to be rid of the strange woman who had been holding him all day (me!). He is so sad and so fearful...
We had a wonderful evening last night at a traditional ET restaurant complete with fantastic music and dancing--I kept Sally fairly under control!
This group of people we are with is great, and we are grateful to be going through this together. Actually, we had our lunch today with a writer for the NY Times who is writing an article on ET adoption...very cool!
Jason has missed out on some fabulous food--every meal has been delicious--I am really going to miss that part of the trip! ET is a beautiful country, and the people are warm and welcoming. I hate to leave...
Direct quote from a couple who is standing here with us: "Sally is a blast--what a riot!" Need I say more...she has taken a fancy to one of the young men on the trip...there's no stopping her!!!! We are now just calling her my mom, since that is what everyone assumes!!! Not sure she likes that!!!
As you can tell, we are getting some good sleep now, so the typing is coming easier! I won't bore you anymore...
Take care...
Araminta

First message from Ethiopia

Hi,
JuST A QUICK note on a computer i am not famliar with!!!
After a long trip here, we made it late saturday night.
The trip to hossana on sunday to meet birth parents is impossible to put into words.
I finally met natan this morning. he is very sad with me, but i expected that, considering what he has gone through. i have held him twice, and both times, he cried himself to sleep.
he is beautiful and when you get to see him smile, it is heartbreaking...
the food is out of this world--homemeade ethiopian dishes!!!! I am loving it!!
ethiopia is a beautiful country with a sharp contrast between poverty and wealth. the countryside which we saw on sunday is lush in parts and then turns slightly drier. the weather is great, especially at night to sleep.
we are with a great travel group and we are having a wonderful time getting to know each other.
it is hard to write what an experience this is...it is beyond words.
i can't post photos here, but there are some great ones to show once we're home.
wednesday we go to the embassy and natan will officially belong to jason and me!!!!
sorry about the typing---not working with a full deck of cards, without much sleep!!! for those at home, give mimi and george big hugs!
bye for now...araminta (mother of three!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Last snuggles...

Tonight was pretty difficult. I kept the kids up too late, just to hold on to those last moments before I leave. I love bedtime snuggles, when they're sleepy and all they want to do is snuggle. Ten days isn't that long...I know...it just feels long right now! I have never spent this much time away from both of them...but I survived China, I'll survive this. I don't understand why some parents relish their time away...I love these kids and before you know it, they're going to be busy and then gone. I don't ever want to wonder where the years went or wish I had spent more time with them. If I need a break, I'll take when they're in college!
Bon Voyage!

All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go....

Everything is packed...for the third time! Two bags of donations and one bag of mine and Natan's stuff. Usually Jason is there to lug everything around, but this time...it's all on me!!
Sally met a woman who lives in ET as a missionary and we are meeting up with her in Franfurt and will be on the same flight to Addis. What a journey this will be!!!!
I will email updates to Jason and he will post them here--hopefully daily, but maybe not! This website is blocked there so I can't do it myself.
Send us positive thoughts for a great trip--although it will be great no matter what!!!
Ciao for now!

We belong in the zoo!

Took Nana to the zoo today and had FUN!!!! We saw the new baby panda, Mei Lan...a baby gorilla, and the elephants!! As always we ended our trip with a carousel ride and then a trip on the train. George was asleep almost out of the parking lot, but Mimi was a trooper and stayed awake for the entire ride home!
Mimi is asleep now for the evening with her new stuffed giraffe, and George is asleep with his plastic elephant...not so comfy, but he loves it!
And...both kids wee-wee'd in the potty at the zoo!!!!!!!
Hard to believe I'm leaving this Thursday...better check on Sally and see how she's doing!
Don't forget to check the link for pictures..."Picasa album."

The journey has begun...

Well...the journey has begun with the arrival of NANA!!!!!! The kids were very excited at the airport, and it was actually Mimi who spotted Nana. We had a delish supper at Truman's (I believe George has a boy crush on David--Sally, you've got some competition!!!).
Nana is already exhausted and concerned that the kids continually ask where Mommy is if I step out of view for a moment...

Officially ours!!!!!

We received Natan's birth certificate yesterday. Yes, his name isn't Nathan as we were told. It is "Natan." We will wait to see what his nannies call him and go from there...
Anyway, we are that much closer!!

7 1/2 days to go!!!!!

Getting everything ready...Nathan's stuff is ready to be packed (OK, it has been for weeks!!), and the donations fit nicely into our two checked luggage pieces. Jason and I are wading through the paperwork, some of which cannot be done until we get Nathan's birth certificate next week. Basically, I'm ready and excited to be going!
Nana (my mom) flies in this Saturday...I think she's a wee bit nervous! Can't imagine why!!
It seems most people do not realize that Addis Ababa is a modern city. Yes, there is extreme poverty there, but it also has businesses, shops, restaurants, etc. Someone commented to me the other day that it "certainly won't be like China" (duh...it's on another continent!). China also has extreme poverty--we saw it while there. I know of cities in North America that have poverty, and there is no excuse for it here...
My pet peeve for this week is people who make assumptions and moreover, comments, regarding places and people they know little or nothing about. If you haven't left this state, country, or continent, kindly shut it!!! You have no business talking to me about what you think I should expect!
I know that it will be difficult to see the poverty, but it's not another planet--it's just another part of the world. I am not afraid of places/people that are different...and I feel sorry for those who are.

Poop City!

For anyone who has ever gone through toilet "training," you will appreciate the fact that both Mimi and George pooped in the potty today--not the first time, but a memorable time!

Choo...Choo!

Yesterday was awesome! We spent the day in Chattanooga, TN at Day Out with Thomas. Met Sir Topamhatt (M & G were SO excited but then freaked out when we stood next to him!), rode on Thomas, had our picture made with Percy, and then headed downtown to one of our favorite haunts for dinner where George and Mimi each wee-wee'd three times ON THE POTTY!!!!!!! The funny part was that they announced it to the entire restaurant each time they did it: "Mommy/Daddy...I WEE"D WEE"D!!!!!!!" Yeah, we thought it was cute too!!
We did see something rather unsettling at the Thomas event. We had been waiting in line to have a picture made in front of the Thomas train, and he started to pull off. A young woman with two kids (sadly), jumped in front of an older grandma (not much better) and had her kids' picture done. Young mother did not like that , and they began to fight. It was horrendous! We just stood there, frozen. The word b--ch was thrown around--remember, kids present. Both women will someday wonder why they've been called in to school because their kids are rude and act out. It was awful!!
Anyway, it was a great day--I'm trying to move all our website stuff to this blog, but pictures are still at jasonminna.com for the time being--lots from yesterday!

WOO HOO!!!!!!!!!

Finally got our travel date--we have to be in Addis on Friday, May 18. Took alot of juggling, but we are flying out on the 17th, and leaving on the 25th. We ended up not being able to go via Paris and use Sally's airmiles, but how cool that she even offered...!!!! Sally is da' bomb!
The main thing is that we have a date!