Gotcha Day

One year ago today we held Biniyam for the first time! And then on August 2 under the darkness of night (the electricity was only one every other day in Ethiopia and it was off that day) we returned from Awassa at 9pm and were allowed to go pick up our son and bring him with us to our guest house. He was awoken and flashlights were shined in his eyes, he was changed out of his clothes into ones we had brought, as the social worker snapping pictures with a bright flash, he was handed to strangers and brought outside into a waiting van, and he didn't make a peep- no crying, just big eyes looking at us and lots of sucking on his ring and middle fingers (his major comfort mechanism.) Our sweet little guy, only 5 months old, must have been so scared!

For me the bonding was instant. Here was my child who I had spoken of, dreamed of since my early 20's "someday I'm going to adopt." I had years of love built up and since he was so little and so peaceful it was easy to place all that love on him and know he was mine. For him it took a bit longer. I think he recognized right away that we were his caregivers but it was a few months before he first rested his head on my shoulder with his face in my neck that wonderful way that babies do.

Today Biniyam is joy and laughter and the most delicious snuggles bundled up into 26 lbs of boy. He is very busy, exploring everything. He is walking now, this was a long time in coming. He took his first steps in June at 16 months and this is the first week that he's been walking more than crawling.

He's doing great at talking, I attribute much of this to his chatty older sister. He'll mimmic most words if asked and although we've been teaching him signs he usually starts saying the word right away (and using the sign, which make it easy for us) He makes animal noises for cow, horse, duck, snake, dog, cat, bear, dinosaur, sheep, fish, monkey, wolf, it's adorable. I love hearing his voice and getting insight into what he's thinking.

Since I never posted pictures of our adventures in the beautiful country of Ethiopia, here are a few
a coffee ceremony
Lalibela, a short flight from the capitol of Addis Ababa, was amazingly beautiful!
It has 11 rock hewn churches cut down into the earth and often connected by tunnels. Monks sit and live around all the churches.


St George's church

a tunnel we went through

a monastery carved into the cliff




This church in Akum is where some Ethiopian claim the Ark of the Covenant is being held, it is guarded by one monk who once assigned the job lives in the church for the rest of his life.
The town where Biniyam was born is known for its college and for its lake. We got to visit the fish market on the lake...
and feed wild monkeys out of our hands! This monkey was holding an adorable baby.
and travel into the lake on one of these sturdy boats to see hippos
Here the women are roasting coffee beans