WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2010

Maura Genet acting like a clown behind LiLi :)

The view from the terrace on the 2nd floor

By the pool at the Sheraton

Having a blast at the pool...the water felt great!

Both the girls swimming. Maura Genet was

copying everything that LiLi did.

The streets of Addis Ababa

Getting her hair washed!

They had two people working on her hair

In the salon after Maura Genet got her hair done.

I had to hold LiLi the entire time since all the

Ethiopian women kept trying to play with LiLi's

hair and kiss her. LiLi kept telling them that they

"kiss too much" and that she "only kisses her family".

I tried to teach her about their culture BUT it didn't work!

Pretty girl!

The stage at the restaurant

Traditional handwashing before dinner

Our happy, go with the flow little girl!

On the ceiling at the restaurant

Hanging on the wall in the restaurant

Today was a fun day. Lisa had some work to do in Ethiopia so it was my first morning alone with both girls and we did okay! :) After breakfast we walked all around the hotel and saw the sights of Addis Ababa from the terrace. Maura Genet was following LiLi as she walked on one of the concrete ledges that was about 18 inches from the ground, when she tripped and scraped her leg. She seemed very satisfied and content when I consoled her. I took the girls to the pool for about 45 minutes but it was more than I was ready to handle, when I saw that Maura Genet has no fear of the water and doesn't understand English. Both girls LOVED the water.

Lisa met us at the hotel restaurant for lunch. We met our driver, Jarod, in the early afternoon to go shopping. He took us to a place called "the post office". It caters to foreigners without taking advantage of us too much! :) I picked up some great souveneirs for Anna, Maura Genet, Bella, LiLi, George, Kelly and Dave and a family who traveled last year who asked me to pick up a few things for their daughter. I got both Bella and Maura Genet traditional clay coffee pots. We also picked up baskets, Ethiopian dresses, small wooden animals, bracelets and more. The girls enjoyed looking at all the different trinkets.

After shopping, we took Maura Genet to a beauty salon to have her hair braided. They washed, conditioned, and braided it for only 53 birr..which is equivalent to about $4. I have tried to take Bella to a salon in Philadelphia and it is at a minimum of $60 (which is why I do it). Maura Genet did great...sat their the entire time (over an hour) without making a peep. For all you who know Bella...this was amazing. Bella cries when anyone pulls out a comb.

We went to an authentic Ethiopian Restarant for dinner called Yod Abyssinia. LiLi LOVED the entertainment. They had male and female dancers that were amazing. They looked like they were really enjoying themselves. During the meal, we had a couple of electric power black outs..which is kind of scary when you are in an unfamiliar place and everything goes totally dark. The food was good but not as good as our favorite Ethiopian Restaurant in Philadelphia. LiLi was very upset when she realized that she left her new basket and wooden animals at the restaurant. Our wonderful driver drove all the way back to get them for her.

Overall, we had a very good day. I miss George and Boo very much but I have been calling them about 3x a day, as well as texting. This should be a great phone bill at the end of the month!

TUESDAY, MARCH 23, 2010

Maura Genet with Samira at Hope's Home

Our driver for the week, Jarod. He was super

sweet and loved LiLi. They played ball together

and had a blast.

Maura Genet's orphange...Faith's Home

At Toukoul (Bella's orphanage)

The playground and kids playroom at Toukoul

Walking to Bella's buuilding

Maura Genet and LiLi standing in front of Bella's

crib!

Some of the staff at Toukoul

Outside of one of the school classrooms

at Toukoul. What is up with my hair? :)

Reading bible stories before bed

LiLi was singing Maura Genet a lullaby..my

sweet girl!

We had a lazy morning at the hotel today. We left the Sheraton at 1115 to go to Hopes Home to go through all the paperwork needed to get Maura Genet's visa on Thursday. I an happy to say that this Type A Mama had all the paperwork completed properly. :)We then went back to Faiths Home to allow Maura Genet to say goodbye to her friends and nannies. It obviously hasn't hit her that she will not be coming back. She looked extremely happy and just went around hugging and kissing everyone. I took lots of pictures to keep for her in her "baby book".

We had lunch at an Italian lunch at the Sheraton. Maura Genet had pizza and appeared to love it. This girl definitely has a big appetite. LiLi loved the spicy noodle dish they had. I have been very cautious about what we eat, even though we are at the Sheraton and I'm sure it is fine but I didn't want to take a chance.

We had a minor grieving episode with Maura Genet today. It appears that when I redirect her or discipline at all ( such as no running down the hall, holding hands around cars), she will get very quiet. Today she started to cry and just laid o the floor and cried for about 30 minutes. She did let me rub her back but wouldn't make eye contact. I can't imagine what she is feeling..being taken away from everything that she has known. Imagine being in a place where everyone is speaking a different language than you...would be very difficult to say the least. I'm sure we have a long road ahead of us but with God's help and strength we will work through everything that comes our way.

We visited Toukoul Orphanage this afternoon. This is the orphanage where Bella lived from Sept. 08-March 09. That was an emotional trip but I feel so blessed that I was able to visit. The staff there was amazing. I brought a photo album of Bella's first year with us and a couple of the nannies, as well as, the nurse remembered her. I was able to see Bella's room (#10) and the crib where she slept. It was a nice orphanage, rather large, and very clean. They had a nice baby room that looked like a hut, as well as, a playground.

After we got back to the orphanage, we sat in the lobby and got the girls sherbet (LiLi's favorite). I have been having cappuccinos and macchiatos everyday. They are wonderful here. We just went back to the room and ordered room service for dinner.

It has been a great but tiring and emotional day.

Monday, March 22, 2010 Gotcha Day

Meeting Maura Genet for the first time!

Maura Genet and LiLi posing with some friends!

Maura Genet's bed at her orphanage

More friends!

Already playing games..even with language

barrier...they are having fun!

With Michael..that's the name he gives to Americans

so we can remember it. LOL

Traditional Coffee Ceremony

Popcorn is served during the coffee ceremony

I love that girl! She has been such a trooper!

Employees at Maura Genet's orphange

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Maura Genet writing in her notebook

Bathtime

Our flight arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on time. We made it through customs, Immigration and baggage claim in a little over an hour. This I'm sure wil not be the case when we go through JFK on the way home.:) The Sheraton shuttle took us to the hotel. The area outside of the airport is very pleasant with lots of beautiful flowers. It's not until you start driving that you see all of the hardships in Ethiopia.

The Sheraton is beautiful. It is surrounded by a gate with guards present at all times. The people were very friendly and seemed to adore LiLi. We checked into the hotel and then had some lunch. We then called the orphanage to arrange for a driver to pick us up to take us to pick up Maura Genet. They said that they didn't have a driver available..would it be possible for them to pick us up tomorrow morning. I said, "no, that I wanted to go today..could we arrange something else?" (I mean come on..I already had my necklace engraved with her Gotcha Day being today!)hee hee They said that they would find a driver. About 15 minutes later they were there to pick us up.

When we got to the orphanage, we were escorted to a room. I looked in the window and saw several adults. When I walked in, I saw Maura Genet sitting in a chair in the corner. I went to her and huged her. She knew exactly who I was and had a huge grin on her face. She was holding the bible and photo album that we had sent her. She also hugged LiLi. We spent about an hour at the orphange. I took lots of pictures of her with her friends. She also showed me her room and where she had slept. You can tell that she really had a tight bond with the friends that she had made during the last 7 months at the orphanage.

The staff at the orphanage was very friendly. They had a readitional coffee ceremony for us, complete with rge popcorn. It was so cute...Maura Genet was serving us the popcorn by walking around with the bowl and offering it to us. I think LiLi ate 3/4 of it! :)

We ended up getting back to the hotel at dinner time. After dinner, I gave Maura Genet a shower and after reading a couple of books and saying prayers she fell right asleep. This was a very emotional day but I am glad that I made the trip to see our daughter's birth country.

Hope you enjoy the pictures!