Day 3: Our first night with Max & Court Day!

I wish I could tell you last night went perfect and Max slept like an angel, but it would be a lie, a huge lie. To make a long story short we slept about 2 hours through out the night. When you mix a first time dad who is paranoid of his baby not breathing (yes, Anthony allowed me to say this about him), a first time mom who has to get up at every single sound, a baby who is getting used to new formula and new room with no baby “friends” and jet lag…it is bound to be a long night. But the good news is we survived; we survived our first night with our sweet baby boy. At one point during the night we found each other laughing at ourselves.  It is definitely a new adventure for us both, but one we both thoroughly enjoy walking together.

Max is definitely aware we are his parents, the only time he really cries is when he is hungry, has a wet diaper or when we are not around to see him. So the night was spent doing a lot of reassuring. He will lay in his crib perfectly fine when he is seeing our every move, but as soon as we are out of sight he starts to cry. We have noticed a few developmental delays, but nothing of serious concern. I am glad I will be staying here with him and working on some of those things.

Today at 2pm (Ethiopian time which is 7 hours ahead) we had our court date. We went into a room with silence signs on the walls, no light beside the one shining in through the window and waited to be called into a smaller less lit up room filled with files of children being adopted. As we waited we saw many other families go in and out of this smaller room. The joy on their faces as they walked out of the room reassured us of what we were about to do. When Elias’ (Max) name was finally called we walked into the room and waited to be addressed. The judge asked us a few questions like: Do you know other families who have adopted?, How often do you meet with them?, Do you know Ethiopian culture?, Do we have biological children and a few other questions, but the most important one, the last one, was “do you understand that this adoption is irreversible, if so, do you take full responsibility of Elias as your son?’ With out hesitation we both said, “yes.” Then she said the most amazing words, “congratulations, the court approves your case and Elias is your son.” Again, a moment we both thought we would cry and didn’t. Instead we just kissed each other. So great!

After our court date we had celebratory pizza and coca cola from glass bottles and bought all the children at the orphanage biscotti’s. It was so great to see their faces light up as they got their very own package of cookies. On a funny note: Anthony has many admirers here in Ethiopia (nothing new I suppose) from grown men, to old ladies, but the best one is a 1 year old baby at a little market. We stopped to buy the biscotti’s for the children and he wanted to be held by Anthony. The father allowed Anthony to hold the little boy while I paid. Once I finished paying Anthony went to give him back to the father and the little boy was literally sobbing. The funniest thing I have ever witnessed thus far. Then when we were leaving the transition house we stopped by to show the owner Elias and the little boy saw Anthony again and started to cry because he wanted Anthony to hold him so badly. I guess I am not the only one who has fallen for his gorgeous blue eyes.