Makeda's Christening

Last Sunday we celebrated Makeda's Baptism Day. It was a beautiful day. There were seven babies being baptized at St.Luke's. Father Mike did something special that I had never seen done before. He had all of the parents, godparents and of course the babies to be baptized go outside in front of the church. He asked us what name we have chosen for our children. We also talked about what we wished for our children who were being baptized. Then he had the parents and godparents trace the cross on the babies' foreheads. It was a beautiful sunny warm day too. Meanwhile inside the church family and friends were singing a hymn. Then we all walked in while they were singing. He said it was a welcoming ceremony for the babies. It was beautiful. Makeda was the first baby back inside the church. After the baptism we had many family and friends over for our own celebration. Some of our family had not met Makeda yet. She looked so beautiful in her traditional Ethiopian dress. It was a beautiful day on so many levels.

Back to work.

Today was my first day back at work since Feb. 5th. We left for Ethiopia on February 6th. It was hard for me to leave Makeda Meskerem for the whole day. The good news is that my work approved my request to return 3 days per week. I can keep the insurance as well. Makeda will be able to stay at home with family for those 3 days so it makes it a little easier for me to leave her because I know she is in good hands. They are moving me to a new unit. We'll see how that goes. It was nice to see some friends that I have missed. It's true I do have mixed feelings about going back. Ok gotta get ready for bed now the alarm is going off at 6:15 and that will surely come too soon.

It's about time!

I know, I know it was getting rediculous that I never got rid of the ticker at the top even though we have been home with Baby M since February. I was going to try to fix the ticker so that it would stop when we traveled but I couldn't figure out how to do that. I had wanted to have the blog turned into a memory book of sorts for the baby (there is a website that can do that for you) but the ticker thingy doesn't work that way. Anyway here we are, ok is anyone out there reading this?? I think I have lost everyone. Well... We are so thrilled to be home with our new baby girl. She is just amazing. Learns something new every day it seems to the delight of her big brothers, sister and doting parents. Let's see...She has been crawling for a few weeks now. She can pull herself up to standing. The newest thing is the high five! You can say to her give me a high five and she will raise her little hand up and if you give her a little tap on the hand she will giggle! Too cute. And most importantly...she says "Ma Ma". Now I know what you are thinking, that she doesn't know what she is saying, just babbling but no she is calling me Mama and she knows exactly what she is saying. If you were here to witness it you would believe it too! Ok well I promise to try and update this blog if anyone out there is actually reading it. That's all for know.

Ethiopia Travel Preparations!

You may be wondering what we have been up to since we received the exciting news of our travel date. Well here is a list of just some of the things we have been/still are working on to get ready to meet our little Meskerem.
1. Fill out paperwork for the U.S. Embassy appointment and get it notorized.
2. Make appointment for Meskerem to see the pediatrician within 24 hours or next business day upon entering the U.S.
3. Make appoint for international adoption specialist to see Meskerem in March.
4. Collect donations for the orphanage- formula being the biggest need.
5. Put together a photo album for Meskerem's birth family including all the pictures we have of her, they don't have any and some pictures of our family, home, schools etc.
6. Get Meskerem added to our medical insurance
7. Paint the baby's room.
8. Buy bottles, formula and nipples. I spent a long time in this aisle at Target trying to figure out what to get.
9. Sterilize the nipples for the trip.
10. Secure some 100% DEET and mosquito netting for trip to Sidama region- malaria zone.
11. Locate some extra suitcases for the trip from some kind souls who have offered to loan them to us. Thanks, Jen, Sheri,Mary & Beth.
12. Get prescriptions filled for various meds to take with us.
13. Get schedule organized for Gabriella & Nicholas at home.
14, Find gifts for the 2 nannies who have been taking care of Meskerem since she was one month old.
15. Of course there is the packing itself for us and the baby. No suitcase can weigh over 50 lbs or you pay dearly.
That is all I can think of now. I have several lists going so I will have to consult those lists.
We leave in a week!! Can't wait to meet our baby girl!!
Will try to keep you posted.
Laura

Meskerem is officially our girl!!!

I am so excited to report that our case successfully made it through the Ethiopian Courts today and Meskerem is legally our daughter! The adoption is final in Ethiopia. What does this mean? It means we can travel to bring her home! We received our travel date today of Friday February 6th and will be in country for one week. There is SO much to do it is unbelievable. Booking flights, paperwork, getting the 2 kids who are staying home settled and organized and just getting all of our stuff together. We are really hoping that Anthony will be able to travel with us, he REALLY wants to come. I don't know if anyone even checks this blog anymore since I rarely update it. So if you are reading this let me know!
As usual we will try to keep you posted!
A very happy and at the moment overwhelmed.
Laura

We have a baby girl!!!!

We got "the call" yesterday! I am thrilled to announce that we have a baby girl. She was born on August 2, 2008 so she is about 12 weeks old. I was at work and talking to my friend in the office next door saying that I didn't feel like it would ever happen and she said oh it WILL happen and then I went back to my office and I had a voicemail from our social worker to call her. She said you have a baby girl and I was really in shock at this point. I couldn't call Tom because he was on a plane coming home from a business trip to Oregon so I had to sit on the news until he landed. I texted him and told him to call when he landed. He did and I told him the news. Then I went home and called Anthony and put him on speaker phone and told the 3 kids together but Anthony couldn't understand what I was saying because I was screaming and it was on speaker phone. It's just totally amazing!!! Now we have 2 boys and 2 girls. I am still in disbelief. Not sure when we will be able to travel and get her home anywhere from 2 to 5 or 6 months we just don't know at this point. I don't know what else to say. We are off to D.C. for family weekend tomorrow and to do some celebrating in "Little Ethiopia". I have 3 pictures of our new little one and she is just precious.
Thanks to everyone for their love and support!
Laura

Our family update.

I hope everyone is doing well! Things have been very hectic here with school starting for the kids and my transfer at work.Nicholas is starting clarinet, too cute! I did make it to yoga class tonight for the first time in a while and I'm thankful for that. Just wanted to let everyone know that we took one baby step closer (pun intended!) to our referral today. Someone who was on the infant waiting list for either gender, one of our two lists, got their referral so there is one less person in front of us on that list. They waited about 16 months to be matched. As you may remember we are first on the list for siblings one being under 5 and the other being an infant. We have been first on that list for 4 months. Anyway... if you are reading this and haven't voted in our poll please do so, there is only one week left to vote!