Our Adoption Journey: Day 2.. another great day!

We had a great night! He slept all through the night. Unfortunately, the time change was not working well for Tony and me.. both of us we a little turned round and didn't sleep great but we are not complaining! We continue to be amazed at this little guy. He woke up, looked over at our bed and just grinned at us. He never seemed upset or scared which just blows our minds. He ate a LARGE breakfast. The boy can eat and it comes to a point where we really have to cut him off. There are different theories on this but I think some of it has to do with the fact that he is experiencing some fears during this change and he can control himself eating therefore he is going to just eat and eat. Another thought is that he had to fight for toys and turns at the Transitional home. Nothing was his. This may spill over into the food department.... fear that someone might steal what is on his plate. This is something that many adoptive families deal with so we are not surprised, just have to have some strategy and a plan on our part as parents.

The boy is Independent... yes with a capitol "I". He can dress himself, feed himself with utensils, brush his own teeth and wants to do everything else on his own. Some of this is normal 3 yr old behavior but he obviously was not babied at the transition home. The nannies have to train them young to do some of these things for themselves.

Our morning was easy in the Jeremiah category but hard in the emotional category. We went with another couple and their baby to visit an organization called Embracing Hope. you can read more about it at the link below if you are interested but the basic info is that it is a new organization in Korah that provides daycare for single mothers so that they can go work and provide for her family. Korah is about 30 minutes outside of Addis and is the community where the trash from Addis Ababa is taken. Embracing Hope is just a few blocks from the actual dump so this area would be considered a step up from the actual community next to the trash dump. We toured the facility and were encouraged by the work that this one ministry is having on this community of women. As result, these women are able to keep their children and they are not forced to give them over to the care of an orphanage.

Next, we went a few blocks over to visit Project 61. This organization was started by a woman from Tennessee and is partnered with a church in Thompson Station. Tony and I have sponsored a teenage boy for almost 2 years and were hoping to get to meet him. I was very last minute letting them know we were coming out there so unfortunately we weren't able to meet Zelalum. However, what we did see was hard to see. Once you have seen how these children live, it is hard not to want to do something. No one will ever solve poverty but there are so many ways to help one person. Both of these organizations are doing great things and there are many more out there.

http://www.embracinghopeethiopia.com/tag/korah/

http://www.p61.org/

After lunch, we returned to the guest house for the rest of the afternoon. Jeremiah stayed in good spirits most of the time. We got to play outside in the courtyard with his little friend and they had a blast. There were a few meltdowns this afternoon... the first being bath time... not a fan! Hopefully, this will be better at home once he is more comfortable. The other times can either be chalked up to tantrum because he can't understand us and is upset that we are preventing him from doing something that he wants to do but shouldn't be doing or just plain toddler behavior. We had to play tough a few times and set some boundaries and after a few tears, he was all smiles again.

Tomorrow is our last day as we prepare to fly out in the evening. I think we are going to go to a museum in the morning and not sure how the rest of the day will go. We are dreading the flight. Please pray that he sleeps and he doesn't have any major meltdowns!

We are ready to come home and start our life as a family of 5 in our home!