Trip journal - Day 2
Monday, June 21, 2010, 1:20 pm
As I write, Abel sleeps in the bed in front of me. He clutches his tiny truck with his right hand as if it were a teddy bear.
We have now had him for over 24 hours -- wow. We have seen a few smiles -- a couple for us, and a few for his friend Bereket (Jeff and Christy's son), and a few for the staff speaking Amharic and kissing him affectionately. As he grows more comfortable with us, he gives us more sounds. One sounds like "Up" and one sounds like "Buh, buh" (maybe for "Bereket"?).
We went on a driving tour of Addis this morning. The city reminds me of Los Angeles -- strange correlation, I know. There is much green and many hillsides and streets one above another. Unlike L.A., houses are made mostly of scraps. Dogs roam free. People are on every street. Some smile and/or wave as we go by in our van full of American families with Ethiopian kids. The tourist points of interest (palace, monuments, university, etc.) are quite beautiful.
Our darling boy became very overwhelmed with the sights and sounds of the car ride (probably only been in a car a few times before), and curled into our arms as much as possible. He slept for a while until a coffee stop. We bought bags of coffee for gifts -- roasted right on the spot. Mmm, smells good.
Abel lights up when he gets to play ball in the courtyard at the guest house. He tried playing when we got back, but I think he was too tired to enjoy it much. 
By lunch, Abel was very glum. He ate some baby cereal, then cried from the high chair. These were some of the first cries we've heard from him. It broke my heart to hear him cry. Scott was holding him, but he actually reached for me. Bittersweet.
I brought him back to our room, wrapped him up in the blue fluffy blanket, and he was asleep in my arms within minutes. He whimpered a few seconds when I transferred him to the crib, but was asleep again in a second. He sleeps through the booms and bangs and squeals of the kids playing in the courtyard.
It makes our hearts sad to see him overwhelmed with the outings and still uncertain of us. Saying Amharic words to him seems to help some. We hope to continue building trust with him throughout the week here.
It makes our hearts happy to have him sleep in our arms and cling to us with cuddles.
This afternoon, the plan is to go to the Hilton for money transfer and email. Looking forward to letting those back home know how we are. Miss our sweet girl, but are grateful for the time alone here to get our boy more comfortable with us before we leave.
As I write, Abel sleeps in the bed in front of me. He clutches his tiny truck with his right hand as if it were a teddy bear.
Abel lights up when he gets to play ball in the courtyard at the guest house. He tried playing when we got back, but I think he was too tired to enjoy it much. 
By lunch, Abel was very glum. He ate some baby cereal, then cried from the high chair. These were some of the first cries we've heard from him. It broke my heart to hear him cry. Scott was holding him, but he actually reached for me. Bittersweet.I brought him back to our room, wrapped him up in the blue fluffy blanket, and he was asleep in my arms within minutes. He whimpered a few seconds when I transferred him to the crib, but was asleep again in a second. He sleeps through the booms and bangs and squeals of the kids playing in the courtyard.
It makes our hearts sad to see him overwhelmed with the outings and still uncertain of us. Saying Amharic words to him seems to help some. We hope to continue building trust with him throughout the week here.
It makes our hearts happy to have him sleep in our arms and cling to us with cuddles.
This afternoon, the plan is to go to the Hilton for money transfer and email. Looking forward to letting those back home know how we are. Miss our sweet girl, but are grateful for the time alone here to get our boy more comfortable with us before we leave.
Comments