Thanks for visiting our blog about our journey to adopt our son from Ethiopia! It's been a long process and we are finally blessed to share the stories from the other side of the earth, in beautiful Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Catch up on previous post to this series by clicking Part 1 and Part 2 Meeting Our Son and Part 3 Warming Up and Part 4 Company and Culture.
At this post, we have legally adopted our son through court, but we have waited to remove him from the foster home where he has been living for nearly a year. Through twice daily visitation times we are able to play with him and spend time with him so he can feel more comfortable being with us before we take him to our forever care!
Each visitation time we have, we can see his once fear filled eyes, gain a little more light and trust in us. See this post for our first visits with Tarik.
Resting with momma is sweet and a very special time as we first start to bond. Sleeping however, is also a way for him to cope with a stressful situation. So although it's great to snuggle, we want to play and interact with Tarik as well.
Looking at pictures of babies with his daddy, Tarik is awake and calm, interested in doing thing together with daddy. That's a good thing!
Comfortable enough to get down off our laps, this seems so small, but it's a huge step for him and for us in our play times. Tarik loves everything we bring him. The first several visits, he would only hug the toys close to his chest and not play with them at all. Today he is letting the toys open to share with his Sissy. Again, this is a big step from his hoarding toys prior. To play cars and balls with his sister is a beautiful sight!
We put the cups on our heads and laugh, while Tarik, well, he just kinda looks at us like this look. We learned the Amharic word for "hat" and we tell him "Kofeeya" as we giggle at the cups on our heads. Still, no grin yet.
Tarik had a poo diaper so we got to change our first diaper! No problems, he was a trooper.
It was a very lovely day outside today, so we enjoyed it while the rain held off. Playing shoes kept us busy the entire visit. The end of this visit, Tarik waved good-bye to us. He is getting to know us for sure!
At this post, we have legally adopted our son through court, but we have waited to remove him from the foster home where he has been living for nearly a year. Through twice daily visitation times we are able to play with him and spend time with him so he can feel more comfortable being with us before we take him to our forever care!
Each visitation time we have, we can see his once fear filled eyes, gain a little more light and trust in us. See this post for our first visits with Tarik.
More visitation time and more time playing off our laps! Sitting close and together on this mat, and stacking cups today has kept us busy.
Another visit, August 12th, Wednesday: Today we played shoes or "Cha-mah" in Amharic and we sat on the stoop outside. Tarik did a nice job playing with little puffs in stacking cups taking the puff pieces in and out and in and out.
At our afternoon visit today, the agency case manager told us we were to go to with him and get Tarik's passport picture taken. We drove there, the driver, the case manager, Tarik and I and another mom and her son. We arrived at the offices but they had just closed. We'd have to try again tomorrow. On the way home in the back of the car, Tarik threw-up on the both of us from being car-sick. I took his shirt off and did what I could in the car, but I had no diaper bag or supplies. Poor little guy. To drive him back to the foster home and give him back today, broke my heart.
Thursday, August 13th. This morning we went again for the passport photo. The driver, case manager, Tarik and I along with another mom and her son again. This time I was more prepared and was able to take his diaper bag with us. At the passport office, immigration, we waiting about 30 minutes until it was our turn. We sat on benches in a hallway type breezeway outside of the photo taking area. I took Tarik in for his photo and he sat on my leg while they took the photo. He did great.
A milestone here was that some of the nannies from the foster home were also there waiting with little ones for their passport pictures to be taken. The nannies called for Tarik, but he wanted to stay with me and stay on my lap. It was a mommy moment that I cherished that he knew me to stay with me.
I was holding Tarik and walking around waiting for the other mom and son to get their pictures done. During this time a lady came over to me and put her hands on Tarik's head. She prayed over him in Amharic language and after she was finished I said, "amen." The spoke to me in English and said "God bless you" and talked to me about going home to America. Another man was there with his 3 children. He was getting their visas so they could go see their mother who had gone ahead of them to the U.K. He was a pastor and shared his struggles. It was eye-opening to hear his story and to hear the other lady talking about America.
Tarik and I played with his "beep, beep" car still at the passport offices and waiting. I was tickling his neck and saying "tickle bee" and he laughed! He tickled me back then too and said "tick ick bee." I can't believe the growth we are making!!
Again, dropping Tarik back off at the foster home after having him out with me just broke my heart. It won't be long now. He is ready and knowing us well. I shared with Quinn and Todd about our progress while we were out today and they agreed, it was time to take him with us. Tomorrow, will be the last day he is ever in the foster home!
This afternoon, we traveled about an hour outside of Addis Ababa and went to the city of Adama where Tarik was first placed in an orphanage. His story is here and we were blessed to take this journey and learn all about his roots that we could. This trip is most dear to us as we learn more about our son. Please take a minute to visit.
Next? Taking Custody, read about it here :)
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