Re: Life with Lucy Melat

We are doing so great. We had a very low key day yesterday, just hanging around the guesthouse. We are loving every minute with our girl. She seems to be attaching well to us both...Matt is enjoying her saying Da-Da, and she enjoys fun time with him, when she wants to be comforted, she seems to prefer mama, which I, of course, LOVE. She is such a happy smiley girl, we are eating it up. She is just a little ray of sunshine!

 

This morning we visited the Gladney Care Center. What an amazing place! The babies are so incredibly loved...moms and dads who are waiting, OH MY. Your babes are precious!! We so enjoyed loving on them. We totally spaced it and left the care packages at our guest house...but don't worry, our driver kindly went back to get them. I delivered them to your sweet sweet babies. Prepare your hearts to be totally melted, those babies are just amazing.

 

We were kind of nervous about how hard the day would be for miss Lucy Melat. I mean, really, how confusing! For months she's with these women, then she's delivered to us, we have some wonderful days together, and then we take her back?What in the world must she be thinking? She was very happy to see her caregiver, but kept turning back to look for us. I assured her that we would not leave with out her. She grinned and reached for me, and I kissed her and patted her hands and she seemed ok. Her caregiver was so so sweet and obviously loved her so much. She wrote her a really precious letter telling her how much she loved her and how they would see each other again when they meet God. Really, how sweet! She loved her so much. She kept for awhile, and then brought her back,and she was so happy to see us. She immediately reached for me and melted into me. I was so releived and felt like she is getting it, we are her mommy and daddy. She snuggled down and sort of was skittish the rest of the day, like she thought we might leave without her. It was great to hang out with the Gladney staff we've heard so much about. They are really incredible people, who are working hard for all of us and our kiddos. Amazing people!

 

We had lunch at Top View, which felt like a place we could eat whatever we wanted without worrying. It was a very nice place, felt very "western" and like something we were used to . And...incredible view of Addis. We took the little Miss back the care center to visit the Gladney Dr. Poor girly has a case of diahreah (i never know how to spell that!). She's on some medication, and he wanted us to check in today. She is happy as can be, but every time she eats, seriously like clockwork, a little explosion follows. We haven't had any blowouts yet, thank goodness! She is doing great though. As we drove home today, I was emotional. I felt like today, she chose us. We have wanted her for so long, but today, she WANTED US. It was wonderful. It feels so right. I can't really describe it.  We knew we already loved her, but didn't know her. But, she feels easy to know, and already we've learned so much about her. It feels just perfect. She is busy but so happy. She is trying her best to crawl around, which really feels like is new since we got here. I think she's been on the verge for a few weeks, but she's gotten alot more confident in the two days we've been together. It's so amazing what the undivided attention of a mom and dad does for a little one. We so take it for granted.

 

Today did remind us though, (and even around those here at the guest house) how important it will be for us to lay low for awhile. It's as if every new face makes her wonder "are you going to give me to them?" She has changed hands so many times in her little life, and I think it's a genuine feeling she's having. She wants us. She's comfortable with us, and she fears that she won't stay with us. It's horrible to watch your child wonder that. But, it's an honor to reassure her, we're not going anywhere with out her. We are here to stay. She is ours and we are hers. I can honestly say that we love her everybit as if I gave birth to her myself. (I hope that doesn't sound weird to say...I genuinely hoped and prayed it would be that way, but honestly, I wondered if it would be the same). We are completely in love with our daughter and can't imagine life without her already!