That's right...I used to have a blog!

I can't believe Alazar has been home for over 7 months now! 2013 was such a whirlwind and now we have settled in to our life as a family of 3!

He is getting so big every day!

He goes to "school" two days per week and he absolutely loves it. He is very social and loves to be around other children. It must be weird for our children to spend their early lives in the orphanage with many other children and then transition to a family lifestyle. Although the latter is more beneficial for many important reasons, sometimes I worry that he is bored with us despite the fact we try to provide him with opportunities to hang out with other kiddos.

Overall it has been a smooth transition. The adoption training and social worker visits really prepare you for the worst so it has been a relief. I understand that issues can arise over time but I'm relieved to say things have been great so far!

Adoption is weird. In one breath, you're like, wow I can't believe (x) has already been home (x) months. Then, in the next breath you're like, it's hard to believe he wasn't always here with us! 

Alazar's Adoption Video

 Here is the link to our video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzVJgb8o2Hk

Melkam Addis Amet!

 HAPPY NEW YEAR!! 

The year 2005 has ended in Ethiopia and it is now 2006. September 11th marks the beginning of the new year, or the Enkutatash, in ET. 2005 was a very special year because my son was born (12/26/12-US calendar = 4/17/05 ET calendar). We also met and brought him home in that year! 

It is unfortunate that ET New Year falls on the anniversary of one of the worst days in US history.

To read more about the ET New Year/calendar,

~See my post from last year:
http://happyhouseofhastings.blogspot.com/2012/09/melkam-addis-amet_11.html

~Read this article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethiopian_calendar

~Check out this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaqxlwS78AY&feature=related

ETHIOPIA PART 5

DAY 7: June 12, 2013:
This day was our final full day in Ethiopia. We woke up early and met Helina, our guide from Children's HopeChest, at a little cafe near our hotel. Our driver, Aweke, met us a few minutes later and we began our adventure to Duber, so we could visit our sponsored child, Bizunesh, at her carepoint Trees of Glory. We stopped at the market and bought two lambs so the staff could make the children a special feast with some meat. We also stopped and bought a bunch of bananas at a roadside stand.

Helina and Aweke checking out the lambs/negotiating a price

Beautiful Bizunesh sporting her new gifts

Showing Bizunesh pictures of herself on my ipad

The few books at the TOG library

Ethiopians are very hospitable, they served us lunch and coffee during our visit

Me, Biz, and Chris

Helina & Simret, the Director

After our once-in-a-lifetime visit with Bizunesh, we headed back to Addis and to our agency's transition house, Jane's House. Early that morning at 4:00 A.M, Alazar and two other boys were transported from Shashemene to Addis. I recently heard from the boys' mom that Alazar "slept and sucked his bottle" the whole way. That definitely sounds like my Alazar.

Chris and I got one last visit with Alazar. I considered this our bonus visit because we did not realize we would get to see him again once he was moved to Addis. I am so glad we decided to stay an additional day in ET and visit Bizunesh since we got the extra visit with our son. It was the longest one too! 3 hours. I felt like he recognized us for the first time and it made me feel good to know he made it to his new "home" safe and sound. It also made me feel better to meet the loving nurse and nannies who would be taking care of him until we returned.

Mom & Alazar

Dad & Alazar

It was finally time to say good-bye to Alazar. I gave him a kiss and the head nurse Mulu swooped him out of my arms and brought him to the baby room. Luckily it was fast and painless at the time.

DAY 8: June 13, 2013:
Basically we woke up super early and headed to the airport. We headed to Germany and back to Boston. After visiting Ethiopia, we will never be the same...

ETHIOPIA: Part 4

Day 5: Monday, June 10th:
Monday was our last full day in Shashemene and Awassa. Like the days before, our guide and driver picked us up in the early morning and we set off for an adventure. This day was shopping day. We went to a shop that made and sold traditional clothing. We went into the backroom and saw the artisans make the fabric and items using big looms. We stopped at a few other stores and purchased items for Alazar and his bedroom. We also purchased a small mesob. Our guide, Zek, was able to negotiate a great price for us, $10. Through our various shopping experiences, we learned that many shop owners will charge a different price to Americans and other foreigners so it is very helpful to go with Ethiopians who will help you out by negotiating.

After shopping, we went to lunch and then went to a restaurant where we had a traditional coffee ceremony. I just love the smell of the incense they burn when the ceremony takes place. After coffee, we headed to CCC for the very last time.

Because this was the first weekday we visited CCC, we were able to meet with the orphanage director and social worker. They went over our children's histories and asked if we had any more questions. Unfortunately we only found out one more detail and at this time we realized we will never know much about Alazar's first month of life.

We had our last visit with A. at his first orphanage. It was bittersweet and we were sad to say good-bye to the kids and staff there. We were not sad to leave Alazar because we knew we would get one last visit in with him once he was moved to Addis.

Day 6: Tuesday, June 11th:
We woke up super early on Tuesday morning because we had to make the 4-5 hour journey back to Addis so Chris and I could attend our court hearing. That afternoon we headed to court and answered some questions. The best part was when she said, "You are his parents!" It felt so good, like we could breathe for the first time in a long time!

That night we went to cultural dinner where we ate yummy food and watched many traditional dances. It was very awesome and we took lots of video so we can share it with Alazar someday!