Monday, 12 February 07

The electricity came back on last night, so we woke up with the call to prayer from the nearby mosque. We showered, got dressed and headed out to Layla/Wanna with Gail and 2 of the 3 families that arrived last night. There was excitement in the air, as they all headed off to meet thier children for the first time...

Suzanne Vedder is here from Michigan, to pick up Bisrat, Yabsira and Mihret. We have seen them a few times on Waiting child videos. Wanda Heinz is here from Maryland with her sister Pat, to pick up Unikeh - who she plans to rename JaRee. We pull into Layla and Suzanne and wanda are led away to meet the kids. Jon, Leyton and I go into Wanna to pick up Sidisse. Leyton plays with the toddlers in the courtyard. I go in, to find Ava being fed and burped by one of the house mothers. She finishes the job, and then hands her to me, saying something about 'Mama'...


Sidisse having breakfast with the caregivers.



Toddlers getting ready for lunch.


Preschoolers watching a little tv before lunch.

We take a few pics of babies who have families waiting for them, and then head out to the soccer/basketball court and watch Group 3 play ball and do gymnastics. Kids come and ask our names and states. They kiss Sidisse's hands and cheeks. We hang out there for an hour or two, and then make the trek over dirt and rock roads, with 4 and 5 foot drop offs on either side.



Jon is not feeling well today, and when we come into the house, we meet Suzanne and Wanda and thier kids, who are already here. They have called Dawit, a contract driver, and he is coming to take them shopping for clothes. The ones Wanda brought for Unikeh a re too big.


Leyton, Bisrat, Yabsira, Suzanne, Mihret & Unikeh


Wanda, Pat & Unikeh

We hang out in our room, playing with Ava Sidisse, she smiles at us today, and seems to recognize us. She is the sweetest baby, and we love her so much!





We spend as much time as we can snuggling, and interacting with her... It seems to help. She is more responsive than she was yesterday. Her eyes brighter, and her smile more deliberate. She is an angel. We head back to Layla with Suzanne, Wanda and the kids to drop Ava off. We spend a little time with the older kids as they get ready for bed. When we get back to the guest house, I put on a DVD, Narnia, for the kids. There is a party in our room, as they all gather round to watch Lucy and the gang hide in the wardrobe. About an hour later, they are all tired.... we stop the movie for the night and head off to bed.