Today was a great day with Cullen. This little boy is so amazing. He can walk, he loves to dance to music when its on tv or on his toys, and he is really opening up to a lot more people. Kelly is definitely his favorite, and he rarely lets me hold him when she is in the room.
We went and picked him up a few sets of clothes. We also went to one of the orphanages and Becky gave all the kids sunglasses and a few soccer balls. There are soooo many kids here that need homes. These kids were all so sweet...we have our eye on a ten year old boy..he is so nice and his smile breaks your heart.
Tomorrow is court. Our appointment is 2:00 tomorrow afternoon, which is 7:00 AM EST. Most appointments over the last two weeks have been getting pushed back by half a day. We hope to go tomorrow, but it would not be a shock if the appointment was not until Tuesday AM. Some families are also waiting on a few documents and it seems pretty common for the case to go well at court but contingent on a document or two.
Electric is out here, and tonight might be our first night without our sound machine. It just went out, but we have a huge mag light with back up batteries. The barking dogs are already going, and we are really looking forward to hearing the call to prayer at 12:30AM and 5:00AM.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Cullen - phone
It hasn't been easy to find a phone, but we are hoping to figure it out tomorrow and we really want to talk with Kaden and hear his little chuckle!!!
Cullen Day Two
Cullen slept great last night. He woke up once last night, took 4 oz from a bottle, and went right back to bed. We went to bed at 10:00 pm Ethiopian time (3:00 pm EST) and woke up at 9:30 am. The sound machine is paying dividends as everyone else complains about the call to prayer, the barking dogs, or the cat fights all night long.
After a quick breakfast of cabbage, carrots and green beans, Kelly and I split up early. She went with Chris, Becky, and a driver that works with our agency to the Mercado. I stayed with Cullen and really got a chance to bond with him. I fed him a bottle and the folks at the Grace House made injera that Cullen absolutely loved. We sat in the yard, and he would not allow me to set him down. We played with his truck and ball and I had the privilege of changing two very nasty smelly diapers. When Kelly left, Cullen only liked the person that was holding him. If I had him, he wanted nothing to do with her, and vice versa.
Kelly went to the market. She was able to get some baby food from the local grocery store, a scarf, and Cullen a very cute baptism outfit.
As Kelly returned, Cullen got sooooo excited and started babbling all sorts of really cute things. He even started saying "Mamamamama" very early. He now refuses to come to me and really enjoys his mama. He is speaking and talking all the time and reminds us a lot of Kaden (who we miss sooooo much). He stood up grabbed a toy, and then took two steps back to Kelly. If we can get him out of our arms, we believe that he can walk - but it will take another day or two to get him that far.
We really enjoy this time with Cullen, but we really want to get the entire family together. The next 6 weeks is going to be a loooonggggg wait - but worth it!!! We really hope to have him home by Christmas.
After a quick breakfast of cabbage, carrots and green beans, Kelly and I split up early. She went with Chris, Becky, and a driver that works with our agency to the Mercado. I stayed with Cullen and really got a chance to bond with him. I fed him a bottle and the folks at the Grace House made injera that Cullen absolutely loved. We sat in the yard, and he would not allow me to set him down. We played with his truck and ball and I had the privilege of changing two very nasty smelly diapers. When Kelly left, Cullen only liked the person that was holding him. If I had him, he wanted nothing to do with her, and vice versa.
Kelly went to the market. She was able to get some baby food from the local grocery store, a scarf, and Cullen a very cute baptism outfit.
As Kelly returned, Cullen got sooooo excited and started babbling all sorts of really cute things. He even started saying "Mamamamama" very early. He now refuses to come to me and really enjoys his mama. He is speaking and talking all the time and reminds us a lot of Kaden (who we miss sooooo much). He stood up grabbed a toy, and then took two steps back to Kelly. If we can get him out of our arms, we believe that he can walk - but it will take another day or two to get him that far.
We really enjoy this time with Cullen, but we really want to get the entire family together. The next 6 weeks is going to be a loooonggggg wait - but worth it!!! We really hope to have him home by Christmas.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Cullen - More Battery
Cullen's mom was soooo nice. We have him with us now. Kelly and I got a few photos with her, and will share when we get back to the states. He is with us until we leave on Tuesday.
He loves his vegetables, but does not like the marshmallow gold fish that Kelly tried to give him. He also does not like crunchy food or drinking from a bottle. He likes to drink out of a glass.
He seems to like whoever is holding him at the moment. When we were at the orphanage, I had him and he would not look at anyone else. I got to hold him all the way home. When I gave him to Kelly, he began to cry, and wanted me back. After a minute or so, he would cry if I was even in the room with him - she is doing her best to spoil him.
He is such a fun little boy. He really enjoys his toys - balls and trucks have gone a long way with him (the fruit snacks did not hurt either!!)
When we arrived, a friend videotaped the entire thing and we will share that too when we get back to the states. His mom has a lot of courage. Her request was that he learns, and continued to thanks us. She was very excited when she found out that Kelly used to teach at NKU.
He loves his vegetables, but does not like the marshmallow gold fish that Kelly tried to give him. He also does not like crunchy food or drinking from a bottle. He likes to drink out of a glass.
He seems to like whoever is holding him at the moment. When we were at the orphanage, I had him and he would not look at anyone else. I got to hold him all the way home. When I gave him to Kelly, he began to cry, and wanted me back. After a minute or so, he would cry if I was even in the room with him - she is doing her best to spoil him.
He is such a fun little boy. He really enjoys his toys - balls and trucks have gone a long way with him (the fruit snacks did not hurt either!!)
When we arrived, a friend videotaped the entire thing and we will share that too when we get back to the states. His mom has a lot of courage. Her request was that he learns, and continued to thanks us. She was very excited when she found out that Kelly used to teach at NKU.
Cullen Meiser
We went to three orphanages today. We started out seeing Jeff's baby. We took a small video and took some pictures and then played keep away with the kids - it was a lot of fun. We then went with Mark to see his baby at the transition house. The nurse changed him when we got there and Mark got to take a picture of his baby with his Western Kentucky t-shirt on.
After the first two houses, we visited Cullen's orphanage. As soon as we saw him, our eyes lit up. We then noticed that a serious lady was holding himhim very tight and didn't want to let him down. The lady at the orphanage quickly told us that the lady holding him was Cullen's mom. We were worried about why she was there, and if she was going to take him back - if so, then we thought that we had wasted the entire trip.
Kelly went to talk to our driver, and quickly resolved the matter. Cullen's mother was here for court on Monday. She was soooooo sweet. We worked through two translators and tried to ask some basic questions Running out of battery...will post more soon.
After the first two houses, we visited Cullen's orphanage. As soon as we saw him, our eyes lit up. We then noticed that a serious lady was holding himhim very tight and didn't want to let him down. The lady at the orphanage quickly told us that the lady holding him was Cullen's mom. We were worried about why she was there, and if she was going to take him back - if so, then we thought that we had wasted the entire trip.
Kelly went to talk to our driver, and quickly resolved the matter. Cullen's mother was here for court on Monday. She was soooooo sweet. We worked through two translators and tried to ask some basic questions Running out of battery...will post more soon.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
We're Here
We survived the flights and are all settled at the guest house. We will get to see Cullen tomorrow morning!!!
If you thought New York City driving was crazy you should come here. I hear they butcher sheep in the road too.
If you thought New York City driving was crazy you should come here. I hear they butcher sheep in the road too.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Baggage and Flight Status
We worked through the baggage and are all set now! We also talked with the guy at the gate and he said that the plane is only one third full, so we may be able to kick our feet up a little bit.
At DC Airport
We are waiting at the DC airport right now to board our flight to Ethiopia. Our flight takes off around 8:30 tonight (10/27/2010). It should be a long/fun flight.
We got to the ticket window and saw a sign that the carry ons had to be less than 15 pounds. I think the wheels alone weigh 15 pounds. They didn't check our bags, and let us proceed. However, every subsequent person had to check their carry-ons that were too heavy. We're still trying to figure out how to deal with it, but if we have to pay to get the bag there - so be it.
HERE WE COME CULLEN!!!
We got to the ticket window and saw a sign that the carry ons had to be less than 15 pounds. I think the wheels alone weigh 15 pounds. They didn't check our bags, and let us proceed. However, every subsequent person had to check their carry-ons that were too heavy. We're still trying to figure out how to deal with it, but if we have to pay to get the bag there - so be it.
HERE WE COME CULLEN!!!
Monday, October 25, 2010
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Extra Stuff
Kell and and her Mom headed out shopping for a few hours today. I couldn't believe all the things they brought in the door. I have no idea how we are going to travel with all this luggage - I guess we'll find a way.
Let us know if you have anything that you would like us to take and leave over there.
Let us know if you have anything that you would like us to take and leave over there.
Friday, October 22, 2010
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