First a little background: Dan and I had started the adoption process in the summer of 2010 and the estimated timelines at that point had our baby home with us by Christmas 2011. But estimates are just that, estimates. Unfortunately, there were slow downs due to changes by MoWA, the Ethiopian court and the US Embassy. All these changes had turned our estimated wait for four to six months to get our referral (be matched with and see our beautiful daughter's face) to quickly approaching a whole year. I was having a hard time with the holiday since I had spent the last Christmas saying "Next year when she is here..." I was trying to be positive but was having a hard time being patient. I made a real effort to be happy with how life was, enjoying time with family and friends.
I remember very vividly driving home from an SU basketball game Thursday the 22nd truly being at peace with where we were in life and that our perfect princess was just not ready to introduce herself yet. Friday at school was a normal relaxed Friday before break. Lots of cookies and treats being shared, sweet students bringing presents. I even got my first "Greatest Teacher" mug.
As I walked out of school I scrolled through my facebook feed and saw a post that changed our lives. A woman who had I had met on the mission trip I had won last year had some interesting news. I had met this women because I had a bought a shirt off Kari Gibson's mycrazyadoption.com website I had won a trip to Ethiopia she had organized. The woman who on the second trip was Randi. Randi has three adopted children from Ethiopia and recently become an adoption coordinator for IFS. So on the 23rd she posted that her agency had given referrals to all their families and had three health infants available If you knew someone who was I-171H approved please contact her. I couldn't believe my eyes. Honestly I refreshed the screen feeling I truly had lost my mind and was now seeing things. I knew there were children who needed forever families. I had seen it but I knew there were so much paperwork that contributed to all the slow downs, how could this be?
Of course I immediately called Dan who was out doing last minute extra Christmas shopping. The checkout line at Target is not the best place for having phone calls about major life changes. So next I called Randi and she said yes there had been three babies but two had found forever families, did I want her to send me her photo (yes the last baby was a her). I waited to open it with all my might until Dan was home. A lifetime later (ten minutes) Dan was home and we saw her face. At that moment all logical thinking I had try to muster up was gone.
Dan and I knew!
We were looking at our daughter!
There was no logic in love!
Since all offices would be closed for Christmas and Ethiopian Christmas and we had a little paperwork (an entire dossier) to do before we could tell anyone we kept our Christmas miracle just for ourselves for a month but did get to tell our families on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day!
A year later we know we are the luckiest parents. Yeabsira fills our days with joy and gigglies
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Today also marks six months home! We have loved every moment. It is so fun to see you grow!
Dear Yeabsira
You are the most fun baby ever!
You have started walking.
You have seen your first snow.
Enjoyed your first thanksgiving (stuffing turned out to be your favorite).
You turned ONE!!
You are enjoying the holiday events (not sure about Santa yet) but love tissue paper!
We love you!
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