Thursday, July 10, 2014

Happy Gotcha Day Andrew and Annabelle!

So by now, you know the story...

Two ridiculously eager, totally clueless people got on a plane and flew for two days.  Those two days were filled with excitement, restless sleep and video diary that is equal parts hilarious and horrible.  Picture Bill at 2:00 am sharing his feelings about becoming a dad while eating beef jerky and dried fruit.

We arrived at the orphanage and waited for about 10 minutes.  Possibly the longest 10 minutes of our lives.  We had seen many videos of people meeting their children just like this.  Waiting in a room for a stranger to bring in a baby that was both a stranger and your child all wrapped up in a tiny little blanket.  Watching those nannies walk down the cobblestone sidewalk was the most surreal experience.  Only surpassed by the experience a few seconds later, of having someone hand you a child.  YOUR CHILD! Those faces!  We had been dreaming of those faces for years.
Andrew's referral pic.  We should have know he was going to be a busy guy!  Two months old and can't stay still!!

Annabelle's referral pic.  Everyone comments on how beautiful her lips are.  Even I knew she would be a sassy pants!

We could never have imagined how we would feel in those moments left alone in the "Family Room" with our children.  We immediately unwrapped them and counted fingers and toes.  If you remember the story, Andrew's hand was blurry in the picture so Bill was sure he only had his left one.
We prayed and marveled in the wonder of these sweet babies and then immediately panicked when we realized we were in Ethiopia.  With our babies.  On our own.  To figure it out.

Napping after her first bath in a sink

Trying to figure our the "pookie" principle.


God is so Good!  He took us to Ethiopia and gave us the gift of these two adorable little faces.  We couldn't believe how blessed we were at that moment, to be the parents of two perfect little people.  Still now we marvel at the blessing it is to parent them each day.

Happy Gotcha Day Yechy and Hamme!