[Adopting1Soon]

Ok, this is the next best thing to me being there.... but.... my mom just landed in Addis and gets to see my soon-to be-daughter tomorrow and I'm stuck here in the states!

I just explained the whole thing on my blog.... the why's, how this came to be, why I had to stay home, etc. Ethiopian adoption journey

At least I will get video and a first hand account on what my daughter's personality is like!

But I wish I was there too!!!!!!!!!!


But it's ok, really. This is the next best thing to my being there. Really.

So, if you could send an emissary to see and hold your child before the adoption went through, what would you ask them to do while there?

[2xaround]

OMG! I would be extremely jealous if any of my family members got to see my child before I did. On the other hand, what an amazing opportunity.

Get pictures, get video, get information!!!! And you can't get too much of either. Even though you can't be there, you will have an amazing story to share with your daughter one day.

[Rapids]

Lucky Mom! Bummer for you, but definitely good to get some info from her when she gets back.

Because of visa and citizenship issues (we live in Italy but are adopting through a US agency) we will be making 2 trips. The first will be soon after our referral, to meet our daughter. We are so excited!!

We plan to bring empty suitcases and just load up on things that we will be able to give her as she grows up and wants to know about her culture. Items of traditional-style clothing, hair ornaments, art, etc. Just whatever strikes our fancy at the time, I guess. We also will take photos and videos, and leave a laminated photo of us for her to look at while we are gone. We'd really like to experience the culture while we are there so hopefully we'll make some contacts to be able to do that. I think the more experiences and information we will have to share with our daughter as she grows up , the better.

[Adopting1Soon]

My mom figured out how to download and mail pictures and sent me 11 pics of the two of them! My daughter is sooo beautiful, smiley, happy, curious, alert, chubby, and happy to be held in her grandmother's arms.... what a blessing! And now I'm really going nuts to go over there and pick her up myself!!

[Adopting1Soon]

This is a total gift.

One can tell so much just from the pictures of the two of them, also from what my mom says. She seems to be advanced for her age as far as cognitive and physical development (sits upright at 6 months???? Maybe they got her age wrong?) She makes eye contact, smiles when cooed at, follows voices, is curious. PHEW!

[Pizzamoma2004]

What a wonderful gift for you and also for your Mom. This is most certainly going to create an incredible bond between the two of them.

[Ms.Judi]

I did not visit my daughter in Guatemala-but some very good friends were going to visit their son and I arranged to have my daughter brought to their hotel by our Foster Mother-Do i wish that I was the first one to meet her-of course-but this was the next best thing. I sent a disposable camcorder and they took lots of pictures and the video they took was wonderful.

[Adopting1Soon]

Thanks for your responses! It is too exciting :-)

My mom brought back VIDEO for me and so I could see my little one in action. Boy is she precocious! She can also make raspberries with her lips and crack herself up. She is so smart too... when her nanny puts her toy a distance away from her, she crawls halfway and then reeeeaches out to get it instead of crawling all the way! Like mama like daughter! I'm like that too ;-) She can also turn herself over on a bed after several attempts of throwing her leg over.

She is also the most gorgeous creature I've ever seen. What a smile! I really can't wait to post photos so you all can see.

Working on the nursery. A little more than a month from court. I'll post on my blog when I'm allowed to post pictures