Ethiopia Day #5

Before I launch into today's list of events and milestones, let me just take a few lines to rave about my husband.

Aside from being the kindest and most compassionate man you'll ever meet, he's also (no kidding) the world's best parent. It's so deeply ingrained in him that he doesn't even realize it, but he has mad parenting skills - mad skills with any kids, for that matter. He's confident in his ability to connect with his children (something I so wish I had) and endlessly creative and resourceful when spending time with Daniel or Violet. He's a marvel to watch, and I'm grateful for such a great resource to learn from.

I have been enjoying watching him approach this new challenge with patience and excitement - and watching him enjoy MY bond with Violet only further elevates him in my eyes. He is amazing, and I'm lucky to have him.

Violet woke up happy and playful this morning, thrilled to see us and wrestle with us in our pajamas before breakfast. She has so much more personality than I was expecting - she's just a ball to be around.

Today was our appointment at the US Embassy where we had to pass three security check points and one interview to get approval for Violet's visa. We dressed up for the occasion and once we were in the waiting area, Violet stole the show - everyone kept telling us how beautiful she was - including adoptive parents of other kids. She really is something special.

But first, we had a few quick near run-ins with the law. Fernando handed the security officer his passport, forgetting that he had tucked a $100 dollar bill in there for emergencies. It took him a minute to explain that it was NOT a bribe. Then he handed him my passport... with another $100 bill inside. The guard was laughing too by this point. He stopped laughing when we set off the security alarms and they had to search our bags. (You are not allowed to take in cameras or cell phones - and we had neither thing - which is why there are no photos of this part!). But we DID have a toy cell phone for Violet that set off the alarms. So her red plastic phone was solemnly placed in the grid of "confiscated phones" on the wall behind the scanning equipment. It was hard not to laugh!

The interview was easy - very straightforward. The actual appointment took place inside a room that looked like a bank, or maybe the DMV. We walked up to a window when our name was called. They asked about her history, and our intentions regarding the adoption - did we understand that this was full and final? (Easiest question we've had during the whole process.) They handed us the visa packet and that was that. Mercifully, Violet waited until moments AFTER the interview was done to load up her diaper with a doozie job that would have knocked out the entire room.

On the drive home from the embassy, we passed through some of the poorest parts of the city. Housing that was no more than a niche in the wall... layered twenty niches deep. Extreme poverty surrounded us and all I could do was hold Mari closer, my heart simply relieved that my daughter would never have to walk barefoot through the sewage. The unemployment rate is over 75% in Ethiopia and an abandoned orphan without any way to get an education would not have a chance at that 25%.

After we got home, we grabbed a quick lunch and nap, and then headed off towards Acacia Village, our agency's mission site. It's a big plot of land with one building under construction and many more on the way. The vision is amazing - to house orphans, yes, but also to serve as a hub for local mission and outreach. To provide prenatal and family services to those who are able to keep their family together. To house missionaries when they visit to ease the cost of doing international mission work.

We toured the facility, marveling at the amount of work done without construction equipment. The stick scaffolding surrounded us, as did workers carrying buckets and bins of dirt, by hand, up multiple flights of stairs. Some painting had already begun and the cheerful hearts and colors contrasted with the construction still underway.

On the drive home I hopped in the front seat to shoot some more scenery photos out the window - we had driven out of the city, into the country. The rolling green hills are simply amazing and we could see more traditional Ethiopian huts mixed in with other homes. Kids walked home in their school uniform, cheerfully waving at us as we went by.

Back at home, we enjoyed a few more lazy hours with our beautiful girl. Her personality is emerging more every hour. She's fiesty. Playful. Inquisitive. She loves laughing hard and playing hard. She smacks things (including us) when she's happy with them. It's like layers are peeling away - layers of defense mechanisms and being on guard - and her shyness and uncertainty has almost disappeared completely.

I love how she...

Wrinkles her nose when she smiles big.

Sings to any and every song.

Loves "clap clap clap your hands"!

Doesn't quite close her eyes when she falls asleep.

Attacks us affectionately - a sweet tiger.

Is learning to kiss, and make the kiss noise.

Eats like she's on a mission - almost anything!

Imitates any noise Fernando makes - she's good.

She had her first bath with us tonight - she's so tiny and dark in that big white tub. This was the first time I really noticed exactly how thin she is. It's not just "cute and petite" - she has ribs, collar bone and spinal bones sticking out everywhere. Her stomach is definitely distended in the bad way, and her limbs are just nothing and so weak. It's heartbreaking yet amazing given the amount of energy she has. She wanted out of the tub until she figured out how to splash - then it got fun (and really wet for those of us sitting on the edge of the tub to help)!

A lot of her behaviors make sense in the light of group living - especially tantrums when food is taken away or when she can't get to a toy she wants. She cries hard and fast when something is taken away, and seems to be very acclimated to being pacified with either bottles or toys. She is definitely not used to NOT having her way. In a strange way, I think she's been neglected AND spoiled at the same time. And she does not like being laid on her back to have her diaper changed - it takes both of us to hold her down to change her! Our sweet little 16 pound pitbull!

Tomorrow we are just hanging out here at the guest house doing nothing but relaxing and spending every waking minute gazing into Violet's big brown eyes! I can't wait.