Friday, December 28, 2007

We are home..

Well, we have been home now for one week. We left for Ethiopia on 11/24 and arrived home with our little one on 12/21. Over the next few weeks I will post what one could call a wrap up of our trip. There is so much to cover day by day, so I will try to cover the highlights.

We arrived late in the evening on 11/25, minds and bodies numb from being awake almost two days. Queued for our visas, then for immigration, for our bags, and finally for customs (which was nothing but an x-ray machine). Outside we found our driver, Alazar, who proved to a trusted ally and resource on the streets of Addis, and made our way from the airport to our guest house.

The next day, we awoke, called our lawyer, Abebe, and made arrangements to meet our little one. We arrived at Toukoul Orphanage, had coffee with the director, and left there to go to Toukoul 2, where little Sophia waited for us. A short car ride down the street, around a roundabout, a left turn, right, then another left, we were there. The culmination of our journey was upon us.



Amy and Sophia --taken just after she was placed in our arms for the first time around 11:00 on 11/26. This is the first picture taken and is by far my treasure of the entire trip.


Second day, morning visit. She is just too precious.

Our first family outing--Metro Pizzeria. They make some of the best pizza you will find anywhere.


A close up on the way to Metro. Sophia loves the Snugli!


Kidist and Sophia. Kidist runs things at the Addis Kidan Guest House. I can only begin to tell you how wonderful and caring she is...


Just a happy baby hanging out, entertaining her parents.