Ella Update

I have been a very bad blogger lately. I like to think it's because I'm working so hard at being a fabulous Mommy! It's actually because I'm horribly unorganized. Sigh.

Many people have asked for a posting with new photos. Here it is:

In March, Ella cut her two bottom teeth. They came in right around Chip's birthday. She also started saying "Da-da" at about the same time.



In April, Ella sat up on her own, learned to wave, and started crawling. One day, I found her in her room with her toy basket turned over and a big smile on her face!




This month, she has learned to pull herself up to standing, and she has started cruising. She's all over the place, and FAST! It won't be long before she's walking. Hard to believe Ella is already 11 months old. Time is flying!

Bonding

I did all the research - read books, surfed the Web, completed the mandatory training provided by our adoption agency. And after all of that research, I was prepared to bring a baby into our family and struggle a little. I was prepared to have a difficult time bonding with our baby up front. All the experts (including my Mom) told me it was a possibility.

Instead, Ella and I bonded really quickly. She and her dad did as well. In fact, they have an even stronger bond these days. Ella just said her first word..."Da-da."

Was the bond instantaneous? Was it love at first sight? (Chip would probably answer "yes" to both questions.) I'm not sure. Our first few days together were in Ethiopia, and they were a bit of a blur for me. There was a certain euphoria that I experienced when we first met Ella. And that 30-hour trek from Addis Ababa to Dallas certainly helped us get to know each other well! But, it wasn't until we got home, and we settled into the rhythm of our new life as a family of five, that I realized the process hadn't been the struggle I anticipated.

The bond I have with Ella just kind of happened. She is so easy to love. And her brothers feel the same way - most of the time! (As I mentioned in an earlier post, we've had our hiccups. But, they are the kind of hiccups every family has when a new baby comes home.)

I think Ella is an incredible little person. All smiles and sweet - but feisty - personality. I do believe that we're all born with a certain nature, but I also believe that who we are is largely shaped by the influence of the people and energy around us. I think Ella's ability to love and bond is a result of the sweet loving care she received at the Gladney Infant Care Center in Addis. And I think the care she received is a testament to the Ethiopian culture in which all children are loved and celebrated.

Photos of Ella

Eleanor, my good friend and next door neighbor, was Ella's first babysitter. She and the baby spent a couple of hours together last week while I got a pedicure. Eleanor also happens to be a talented photographer. Check out her blog here to see the sweetest photos of the sweetest baby girl ever! Thank you, Eleanor, for capturing her personality perfectly. Can't wait to see more.

Ella at Home

We cannot believe our good fortune. Ella Serena is a fantastic, easygoing, funny, happy person. She fits. We've had a few hiccups the last couple of weeks, but for the most part, our family is functioning beautifully. Both Nathan and Ian have fallen in love with their Baby Sister. They have their moments of resentment because a 7-month-old requires so much attention, but the positive moments and feelings far outweigh the negative.

At the Airport

We've been home almost two weeks, and we've had lots of visitors. Many friends have come bearing gifts and dinner, and we are so grateful! Trying to settle in after our adventure overseas has taken quite a bit of time and energy, and our friends and family have been so thoughtful. I'd forgotten how many loads of laundry and dishes a baby can generate!

Ella with Auntie Kiersty (my dearest, bestest friend)

I'm trying to remember to take photos, but the days seem to get away from me. Here are a few images we've captured of life with Ella at home.

Random Moments in Addis Ababa

Sheep are a common sight in the city.

Ella in the garden at the Bejoe Guest House.

Coffee Ceremony at Gladney Care Center

Yoftehe (our driver) dancing at Fasika.

Dinner at Fasika

Black-maned lions at the zoo.

Trinity Cathedral

A typical road in Addis.

Wednesday, January 7 - Ethiopian Christmas

Christmas in Ethiopia was celebrated January 7. We had the opportunity to spend some time at the Kolfe Orphanage. The Kolfe home is for boys 12 and older, and many of the guys have lived there for years. Of all the places we visited in our travels, and all the wonderful people we met, this place and these boys spoke to us the loudest.

Sunday, January 4 - Meeting Ella

We arrived in Addis Ababa late Saturday night, so we knew we probably wouldn't meet our baby until the next morning. Chip was incredibly bummed, but I went into hyper-Mama mode and appreciated the opportunity to prepare our room in the Bejoe Guest House for the arrival of an infant. I put away diapers and clothes and set up a bottle-making station. I even made sure to put my water-proof mascara on the counter in the bathroom because I knew I'd need it when we met Baby Sister. Neither of us slept much that night.

We had been told that someone from Gladney would call around 10 a.m. Sunday morning, but instead of a phone call, our driver showed up and announced that we were headed (right that minute) for the infant care center to meet our baby. I hadn't packed a bag, or prepared a bottle. I didn't know what to expect. Should we bring our humanitarian aid? Our gift for the caregivers? Who would be there? Did our baby need clothes? We were the first family in our group to check in at the guest house, so there was no one there to ask. Apparently there was some mix-up, because Belay was waiting for us at the infant care center, but Ryan was planning to meet us there later in the afternoon. Ultimately, I realized that all of my worrying and questioning was unnecessary. I discovered that no schedule or procedure was needed. All that really mattered was meeting our baby. If there is one piece of advice that I have for families about to travel, this is it: surrender control and go with the flow.

When we arrived at the care center, we met Belay and headed for the living area. We waited a couple of minutes, and then Baby Sister was brought in by one of the caregivers. Chip and I both knew at that moment that the name we'd picked for her was perfect - Ella Serena. I expected to cry the minute I saw Ella, but instead I just felt profound joy and excitement. It wasn't until I saw her caregiver - her "special mommy" - begin to cry that I lost it. The love and attachment this woman had for our daughter was overwhelming. Chip and I had resigned ourselves to the fact that we'd never meet Ella's birth mother, but in that moment, I realized I was being given the opportunity to meet someone even more important. This was the woman who had cared for my baby when I couldn't. She was there when Ella was sick and had to go to the hospital. She was there when Ella first smiled and laughed. She was there when Ella first rolled over and sat up. This woman was important. Chip and I both boo-hooed when she handed Ella to us. I even handed the baby back to her at one point. After all, I get to love on this child for the rest of my life. I didn't mind sharing her for a few more moments.



We discovered that Ella was much smaller than she looked in her photos. She always looked different from update to update, but somehow I had pictured her bigger. We had only known Ella from a few photos and one video snippet (thanks, Grace). This 3-D baby was even more beautiful and animated and funny than we'd expected. Meeting Ella and holding her in our arms after all the paperwork and waiting was incredibly rewarding. The only thing that would have made it even more perfect was if I'd remembered to actually use the water-proof mascara that morning.

Ella Serena

Home Sweet Home

We are home safe and sound. I promise to post about Baby Sister and our time in Ethiopia over the next few days.

Dubai

We went from 25 degrees and snowing in Paris to 80 degrees and sunny in Dubai. We're off to Ethiopia tomorrow evening. Should meet Baby Sister Sunday morning. Trying to take advantage of our ability to sleep through the night before we become parents of an infant!

Fun with Nona

We've been able to talk to Nathan and Ian most every day. They are having a wonderful time with their Nona, Grandpa and Zazas. It's hard to be so far away for so long, but knowing the boys are in good hands helps. They've been bowling, to the DMA, McDonald's and Baskin Robbins. My parents are also hosting my nephews Milo, Chance and Collin this week. They have their hands full! We miss you guys. Can't wait to see you.