Now This is SNOW

Well Nathaniel had his first experience of New Brunswick winter...25 cm + overnight...and we had a great time playing in it this morning. He enjoyed the sled and didn't seem to mind the cold.
Above are some pics of our time outside.

Going Private

As expected, now that Nathaniel is home...I will be going to a private blog. If you would like to continue to follow our journey please email me at Weezyreid@yahoo.ca
Thanks....will probably go private sometime next week.
Louise

Attempt at Christmas Tree FAILED!!!

Well what can I say...the best laid plans right! We got this new tree this year from Canadian tire. We were also excited because it was pre lit...so it would save sooooo much time stringing those lights (not to mention checking the lights, untangling them, connecting them, etc.). Well after an hour of assembling the tree and getting it in the right spot.,...I went to plug it in and only the bottom half lit up !!! Can you believe it!
So no amount of wiggling and playing with the cords helped and apparently even if it was a light bulb burnt out..the rest of the lights would stay lit.....so it has to be a wiring issue. So back to the store with this tree...but not tonight because of the snow storm. Oh Well ....Nathaniel will have to wait a few days more for his first (second) Christmas Tree. I am about ready to go out and get a real one...except last year when we did that the tree ended up being like 4 feet wide in branches!!! Huge Huge Tree......
Louise

1st Birthday

wow you guys should be sooo proud of me...2 posts in less than 10 minutes hehe
So Nathaniel celebrated his 1st birthday 3 days after getting home. What fun we had! Just my family and my cousin, her mom and her 2 kids. Here are some pics of the day. Nathaniel had a piece of cake but he mostly squished it than anything else.

Trying hard to catch up :)

Okay so I will blog more on the trip later...but here is a bit of an catch up in blogging :) LOL
Arriving home.....
Well after being away from home for more than 2 weeks..it was sooo nice to know we were almost there. We arrived into Toronto on the 11th at around 7pm. I am lucky to have an Aunt and Uncle who have worked their entire careers in the Immigration dept. at the Toronto Airport. They met us there with open and waving arms. As quick as she could my sweet Aunt was kissing Nathaniel and hugging us, welcoming us home. We went through Immigration without a problem...while my aunt showed off her new Grand Nephew (not proud at all). Then off to meet my dad and Step Mom...we snuck through a "secret" back way...so instead of them greeting us, we were able to sneek up behind them...it was fun. We were then able to head to the Sheraton Hotel (which is actually in the airport). It was so nice not to have to stuff the luggage in and out of a car. Everyone visited for a short while, and then we were ready for something to eat and bed. Being the starving Canadians that we were...I could not wait to have Chocolate milk and Cheese cake...and that's exactly what we ordered lol lol...but by the time it came...I was sooo exhausted I could barely finish it. Nathaniel was also ready for bed...and so a bottle and a diaper change later he was sound asleep.
That next morning he was up bright and early and Hillary was sick...so we left her to sleep and went down for breakfast. If you have never been to the hotel...you don't know how crazy expensive their restaurant is.....23 dollars for Breakfast Buffet (insane!!!). Anyways it was good though...and Nathaniel was given a stuffed toy and a bib that says Sheraton Loves Me...cute!
By 10 we were all packed and ready to go...Our flight left at 11 and we made it to the gate by 10 30...just in time (cutting it a little close I know). PS if you are in the airport Sheraton...get a porter to take your bags..they are GREAT!
A quick flight home (not...a stop over in Montreal and 17 dollars later on Starbucks...another well missed home staple)...and we were landing in Fredericton.

Words cannot even begin to explain the emotions. I was crying before we touched down. Nathaniel was awake and in a good mood...I was sooo ready to get off that plane. We had to get off the plane outside...as we walked towards the terminal I could see my Mom and Barry standing in the hall...I couldn't get to them quick enough. Once I entered the terminal I was SHOCKED...I couldn't focus..there were SOOOOOO Many people there. I will let the pictures do the explaining :)
We Were Home FINALLY!

We Interupt the Reguarly Scheduled Broadcast

Honestly I don't know if I will find time to finish Blogging about my trip untill after the holidays....Honestly there isn't enough hours in the day...and yes if Dawn had the time to check this blog she would be laughing at how she warned both Lisa and I of this.
So I will interupt this blogging of Ethiopia with some Holiday wishes. Nathaniel and I hope your family has a wonderful Holiday Season. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Day Two and Three

Since Jill is not getting any work done while she is suppose to be working..I figure I better get this blog updated LOL :) :)
So Thursday....
Nathaniel woke up twice during the first night...but unlike what I had been told, went right back to sleep after his bottle (I had been told he liked to play after waking for a bottle) So we got a bit of sleep that night. Thursday we spent hanging around the guesthouse, just getting to know one another. Nathaniel had his first tub bath. The guesthouse had these pink plastic tubs which were great except the one we had leaked. I didn't know it until I felt my sock and pantleg getting wet. The video was cut short on account of the flood that was taking place on the bathroom floor. The other families that were in our group arrived late Wednesday night, and despite my best efforts to stay up, I was not able to hold out untill they arrived. So the next morning (much to their surprise) Nathaniel and I greeted everyone in the dining room. It was sooo nice to finally meet all the families that we would be spending the next week with. Today was also the day that two of the Kid's Link families were able to bring home their babies. Jada and Judah were great playmates for Nathaniel. It was nice to have a few other babies around for Nathaniel to hang out with.
We discovered the hallways of the guesthouse and the mirrors were great play areas as well as the dining area. Much of our meals were had in the dining room. The only thing missing was a high chair (which would of made my meals much less of a fill your mouth as fast as you can competition while trying to keep little fingers out of the pizza). I do have to say the guesthouse staff was amazing and helpful! They often offered to take Nathaniel so I could eat...although he would only stay with them for a short period of time.
Thursday night we went out for Ethiopian Meal at the Crown Hotel. The show was AMAZING!!! I don't know how they did some of the dancing. One of the women twisted and waved her hair in ways I just can't even explain. All I know is that I wanted to see a chiropractor for her!
Nathaniel was asleep before we arrived, and when he woke..his expression was hillarious. The music was very loud, and he was like "where the heck are we mom!!!"

Friday Morning,
We went to the Sheraton to exchange money. This hotel is ludicrously (sp??) lush and decorated! You even have to go through metal detectors to enter the hotel. Once in, I felt like you didn't even feel you were in Ethiopia. It felt like a totally different place. Once done there, I took Nathaniel to the clinic to see the doctor. He had a very congested cough at times and also had been tugging his ears. The clinic is a private one, but there were tons of people there. Walking through I couldn't help but feel like a great big schmuck! I felt like ( and we probably did) we were bypassing the waiting line to be seen. Once registered we still waited...but I sure felt watched for sure!! The doctor said his ears were fine and chest was clear...so I was relieved. We waited for another mom to have her daughter checked out and we were on our way back home. While waiting outside to see the doctor..Nathaniel wet through his diaper...so there was no place to change him. I ended up changing him on my knee...that was quite a feat!
Once back at the guesthouse, we spent the rest of the day hanging out. That night we all went to bed very early..but at around 10 I woke to a very nice and big wetspot...ala Nathaniel. he had soaked through. So down to the front desk for clean sheets, and a clean boy settled into his "doll" crib. Once the bed was made...Hillary and I spent a good hour laughing out loud at the apparent Band that was playing at the bar across the road from the guesthouse. I thought it was sooo funny because they were singing the cheesiest english songs. "I shot the sherriff", " Macarena", Celine Dion Songs, and the list goes on and on...I actually got the video camera out to record the I shot the sherriff...toooo funny!!
The rest of the night was however not as funny. By 330 my sister was soooooo sick..she couldn't keep anything down..and was not feeling well at all. I was up from about 330 on and by morning was sooo exhausted. I think the last few days of sleep deprivation and all the emotions had caught up to me. After breakfast I had a great big cry in our room...I was worried about my sister as well I guess as she wasn't drinking anything at that point. By 1030 though, she was able to keep liquids down and we were moving rooms into a much brighter and bigger room. Things were looking up :)
Louise
PS yes you do count right...4 changes of clothes for Nathaniel in one day...

DAY ONE

I left for Ethiopia on October 29th, and arrived there at 2 am on the 31st. The airport is Addis is nice. The Metal Detectors are very old though (I think). Getting through was no problem...except when we were getting our luggage...a man (who had no id) wanted our luggage tags. I had to assume he worked at the airport. We got our luggage and met Selemnah our driver.
On the way to the guesthouse he asked me if I wanted to see Nathaniel that day...ofcourse I did. We were sooooo excited to get to the Guesthouse. Finally I was in Ethiopia. The guard and Selemnah brought our luggage up for us to the 2nd floor and we settled to sleep. 7 am I woke up WIDE AWAKE!!! That was not a great idea...4 hrs of sleep after 24+ hrs of travelling. But we got unpacking and went down for Breakfast. The breakfast at the guesthouse is really quite good. We got orange juice and tea every morning. I had an omlet most mornings and Hillary had the pancakes.
Selemnah came at 10 and said we could leave in 15 mins. I ran up those stairs soooo fast and started packing a bag. I threw in toys, clothes, diapers, bottles...I had no idea what I would need.
Off to the van we went and met Selemnah downstairs.
Soon we were off. I had not seen Addis in the daytime yet and this was quite an eyeopener. So many people, so many disabled men, so many children selling kleenexs. There were women cutting the grass by hand with a small hatchet (no lawn mowers there). Soon we were going down a dirt road and we stopped outside a gate. I asked if we were here,...and we were. The gates opened and one of the caregivers met us. I was already crying. We were ushered into that famous living room with those awesome couches. I have been waiting forever to sit on that couch and see my son come through the doors. Haregewain came in and we hugged for what seemed forever.
Soon Nathaniel was in my arms...I couldn't believe it. He was real and I could hug and kiss him FINALLY!
After about 10 minutes he relaxed a bit and we played. Selemnah then came in and asked if I wanted to take him with me today...OFCOURSE I DID!!! (Not thinking about the 4 hrs of sleep I got). So after getting formula and Diapers we were back at the guesthouse. He had a great day (minus a few crying bouts after his nap). And was in bed by 730. I was soooo happy to have my head hit the pillow with my sweet baby boy sleeping in the little crib next to my bed!
More on Day 2 to come.

WE ARE HOME!!!!

Oh its soooooo good to be home!!! Ethiopia was amazing, the flights were sooo long, but the time in Ethiopia was so nice!
Nathaniel is amazing, I will be a while trying to get posts done...but will try to get them on here eventually! I have over 600 pics...so that will be some time to get them onto disks, and printed!
I am soooo glad to have him home and to be able to hold him and have him sleep in his own crib. So far no jet leg...we are both onto Canadian time basically. He goes to sleep between 630-730 and wakes up around 6 (gets up once or twice a night still for a bottle.)
Here are some pics

Leaving for Ethiopia Today!!!

Well today is the day I have been waiting for!! I leave for Ethiopia at 9:05 pm tonight! I woke up this morning, soooo excited!!! Can't believe this day is finally here!!!
Louise

1 more day till I leave Fredericton

And I won't return to Fredericton again without having my son with me...sooo very neat to think the next time I arrive home, Nathaniel will be in my arms!
I have one more day to go and I am going just a bit nutsy hehe. I went out today and bought a neck money holder, I have one for the waist..but I did not find there was enough room for passports, tickets, money, so I bought the neck one as well. So now I am all set. I went to the bank and got 50 GB pounds for the Heathrow Airport (hopefully I won't spend that all in one place :) :) )
I had a lot of 20 USD bills so I went to the bank and exchanged them for 100 USD bills. I don't know how much cash I should exchange into Birr right away. I am thinking 600 maybe?? What did everyone else do. I have to pay Guesthouse and Selemnah in US money...so really I am not sure how much Birr to have??
I found a great way to bring the Umbrella Stroller. I have put it into the bag that use to carry the canvas chairs that we use for summer camping. It fits great and it gives me a bag and handle to carry it in.

One last post tommorrow..then it will be quiet around here for a while.


Louise

Little Man's Feet

Since I am not posting pictures of Nathaniel till I take custody of him in Ethipia, I thought I would post a picture of his feet :). In the latest update that I just got, the agency had taken the time to trace his feet for me so that I can kind of choose what size of shoes to bring.
I can't tell you how neat it is to see these. Just another little tidbit on who this little guy is. I am thinking the squiggles on the note pad might be wiggly little feet hehehe
Louise

And She's Off

Well Part 1 of Expedition Ethiopia is complete. My younger sister as some of you may know is travelling with me. She left this morning for Toronto and will then be off to London a few days ahead of me. She spent a year in Wales last year on an exchange...and since we were making this expensive flight anyways..she decided to do a stopover in London and take a bus up to Swansea Wales for a few days. So next Tuesday I will meet her in London where we will begin the last leg of the Journey to Ethiopia together. Seeing her off this morning was so exciting...it was step ONE!
So yes that is right...I have to make my FIRST long haul transatlantic flight by MYSELF...eeekkk...did I mention I have only ever flown twice in my entire life..both times to Disney! For those of you who have been down that way you know the 4 hr flight is nothing compared to the number of hours you spend on a plane flying across the ocean. Am I a wee bit nervous...maybe...but the excitment I am feeling far outweighs any nervous butterflies!
Ohwell ready or not I make my first flight to Toronto on Friday..and then fly out Monday for Ethiopia.
Something funny at the airport. Hillary had not weighed her suitcases yet...so when we got there...the first one was 50.2 fine. The second one I had drug in from the car...and I could barely lift it. 49.2....geeshh I could have put another .8 lbs of diapers in that hehehe.
Oh and for those of you getting ready to travel. It is only one bag of liquids in carry on per passenger...not per bag...silly sister of mine! Hehehe

Louise

VISA APPROVED!!!`

Wow what a relief to know this before I travel. I heard today that Nathaniel's visa was approved in Nairobi, now all it has to do is come to Ethiopia by diplomatic pouch. That means it should be here this Friday or Next. YAY!!!
Louise

6 Days to go and I still have a Cold

What is up with bad timing...I still have this cold and its not going anywhere. I worked a night shift last night and by morning my throat was super sore. I decided to call in sick tonight as working is not helping me get rid of this cold...and I NEED it gone by the time I leave.
BUT Now for the POSITIVE....in 6 days I leave for Ethiopia.
And in less than 2 weeks I will be holding my son for the first time. I keep playing over and over in my head what that moment will feel like...but I don't think anything I imagine will even come close to it!
I have been so blessed by the Friendships I have made over the last two years and can't wait for the years to come to see our children play and develop their own friendships with each other! I am looking forward to future gatherings when I won't have to be the one venting about the process..but the one who can finally say..it really does happen, you really can get through it...and there is a light at the end of this tunnel.
Louise

11 Days till I leave Fredericton

And the next time I am back in Fredericton I will have Nathaniel with me. So I leave for Toronto to visit family for 3 days on the 26th. Then I leave in the Evening on the 29th for Ethiopia. I will be connecting in London(30th) and arrive in Ethiopia on the 31st at 2 am.
I am still waiting on the itinerary but I know that the planned Gotcha Day is Nov 2nd....so that is sooo exciting!
We leave Ethiopia on the 11th and arrive home in Fredericton on the 12th. We actually arrive in Toronto on the evening of the 11th but will be spending the night in the hotel there are will arrive home at 4 the next day. I am really looking forward to arriving home in Fredericton. I cannot wait for my mom
to meet her grandson...she is soooo very excited about the whole thing...and I am sure she will be crying even before my plane touches down.

THANKSGIVING

I have sooo much to be thankful for this year. I can't believe that I got this special gift that is so very precious to me. I can't believe that in just a few weeks I will be holding my son for the very first time!

Leaving on a Jet Plane!!!! October 28th!!

What an awesome, overwhelming, amazing and wonderful day!! I got that email I have been waiting the last 2 years to get :)
The "your travel dates are" soooo amazing!!! I am tentativly leaving October 28, arriving in Addis Ababa very late on the 30th, We will fly back home somewhere around the 9th.
I am sooooo excited!! My feet have not touched the ground all night!
Louise

MEDICAL IS DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I heard today that Nathaniel's medical was completed yesterday!! YAYAYAYAY!!!!! Its sooo very exciting!! Will have more details this afternoon!
Louise

So it's been a while!

AND YES...I AM STILL WAITING...hahaha...seems to be a broken record around here.
I am actually very excited about this week..because I am waiting on confirmation that the medical arrived and will hopefully go back to Nairobi this Friday or Monday?
So I am really thinking I will be able to get Nathaniel the first week of November. Its not too far away..though I am dissapointed he won't be home for Halloween! But wow he will be home for Christmas...I can't wait to see him under that tree and to finally have him home and home forever!
I am thinking about how Nathaniel will adjust coming home in the middle of November...poor thing. It gets pretty cold some days here already...so come November I am sure it will be down right chilly.
Guess I will have to just bundle him up warm and snuggle him close!!
Will post again when I know more...maybe today??
:)
Louise