I almost didn’t get a post up today… I typically write after I get Belane asleep, and tonight I fell asleep with her.

I am sitting here in the dark of our hotel room, listening to the Muslim prayer chanting over the loud speaker outside and to the rhythmic sound of Belane’s breathing (which gets quieter every night as her cold gets better and better).

We had a fun day today. Another family and I took all of the AHOPE kids on a field trip to Vera Wonderland, an amusement park of sorts. It rained a ton yesterday and again this morning, and it was a big muddy mess. As we pulled up at the park, all of the kids started calling out Belane’s name and running towards us. Some of the bigger kids even tried to hold her. It was awesome to see how much they all love her.

She however, did not return the gestures! She was happy to see some of the kids, but this time she was very standoffish to all of the nannies and AHOPE workers. They would talk to her or try to hug her and she would turn her head and put her face on my shoulder. She was definitely making it clear that she belongs with me now.

I felt bad for the nannies, (who are an awesome group of women), but they were happy that Belane is bonding with me and has a family. I have really enjoyed spending time with them and it means a lot to have their love and support.

One of the women that works at AHOPE said to me, “I remember…you here before…Belane love you very much and you love Belane very much. I know you come back for her.” It was very touching that they had noticed my feelings for Belane back in February.

We had fun at the park…Belane rode a little Merry Go Round quite a few times and had me schlep her to the top of this giant slide (think county fair type of thing). It was fun to see all of the bigger AHOPE kids and I was amazed at how great and healthy they all look!

It was cold and wet when we first arrived this morning, but then the sun came out and it got very warm… I have my first sunburn of the trip! After a few hours we had had enough, so the other family and Belane and I got a ride back to the Hilton and they joined us for lunch.

This family has two 16 year old daughters here, and are adopting a little boy about 6 years old and a little girl around 3 years old. It was really fun to watch Belane play with the kids… I cannot wait to get her home and with her siblings.

After lunch we had a well deserved and much needed nap, and then we played in the hotel room and went to dinner. We know many of the people that work here now, and the Ethiopian people are so kind.

Here are a few examples…
The chef in the “pizza” restaurant here always remembers Belane and talks to her and is so happy to see us. Last night he gave her an apple and a big hug.

One of the doormen said good morning to us as we were leaving this morning. He asked how we were doing and I said we were doing well. He said, “I am sorry you husband go. I saw you crying. You okay?” He was very sweet.

We lost our room key at one point and I took Belane down to the front desk to get another. One of the men that works behind the desk was helping us. He said, “You need a new key?” And I said, “Yes”. And he said, “You lost it?” and I said, “Yes”. And he said, “You must know that there is a charge.” And I said, “How much?” and he said with a total serious look on his face, “One million US dollars.” It took a minute for me to “get it”, and then I told him that for one million US dollars, I would sleep on the floor in the hallway. 

Belane is great. Her cold is MUCH better. She didn’t have any tears today at all, except for when she got scared on the bouncy castle and couldn’t get back to me fast enough.

She is quite the bathing beauty and loves the bath tub…the pool here is a thermal pool and very warm, so I think we’ll try that tomorrow.

We had lots of singing and dancing today, and she has started to really enjoy me reading her the books I brought. She also started playing with the baby doll and playing imaginary things. Today she put on a hat and her shoes and said, “Mom…Ciao! Makena.” (Makena means “car”) and then she pretended to sit on my lap and drive me around.

I don’t think I can say enough how wonderful she is…I am totally in awe of her and how loving and sweet and happy she is, and how willing she was to embrace me as her mom.

Today we did hear that one of the children close in age to Belane at her orphanage has been in the hospital with TB, and it was a stark reminder for me how grateful I am to have her out of there and with me.

I am trying to enjoy our time here and not spend all of it stressing about the waiver…there is not much that can be done over the weekend anyway…I want to cry every time I hear “Halloween” though, because I am feeling very badly that I will miss that with my kids…holidays are so much fun at our house and Halloween is one of the most fun days of the year.

Anyway, enough rambling. I am going back to bed with my baby girl.

More soon.