Peek A Boo

This week we mastered the art of Peek A Boo.....

Happy One Month

Three Weeks

I can hardly believe I have been home with Theo for 3 weeks….

Some of his favorite things….Soccer games, well truth be told he really just likes to be outside, feel the grass or sit in the stroller…but usually I am watching or coaching soccer while Theo enjoys his surroundings…

He also loves ….

The Exersaucer (thanks Olson family)

The Johnny Jumper (thanks Nancy & Frank)

Sophie the Giraffe (a baby addiction… I am not kidding!)

Bathtime

Balls, balls and more balls

This week we visited The International Adoption Center at Children’s Hospital We are so very fortunate to have this center in Cincinnati….The doctors, nurses, therapists, social workers, and everyone in between are fantastic… even the nurse who took 6 vials of blood (not such fun times) was talented enough to get it in one stick, and both Theo and I were grateful. Theo’s Aunt Katie was nice enough to distract us for a portion of our 5 hour appointment. We also appreciated Lynn who stopped by and brought new toys just in the knick of time! It is pretty great to have friends and family who work at Children’s Hospital! Theo seems to be adjusting quite well….He responds to his name and he always seems to know where mommy is…He has accepted the car seat which is a new experience for this 9 month old.

Cousin Cara was Theo’s first babysitter this week…

quite appropriate since I was Cara’s first sitter 22 years ago :)

I seem to be more popular these days…Lots of fun times with family and friends...I truly have one of the happiest kids….He was appropriately named Gemechu which means Happy in Amharic….

I am enjoying settling in to my new role: Mom.....

and this new US citizen is handling everything in stride.

HOME!

Happy Homecoming….

What a trip….Theo had a good trip….. eat, nap, people-watch, eat, nap, people-watch….you get the idea Needless to say, I feel safe getting back on a plane with Theo in the future…. In the Dulles airport at approximately 9 am on September 24^th Theo became a US Citizen exactly one year from the day I said YES to Ethiopia- The trek was long and filled with lots of memorable events and exhaustion…..

We were greeted in Cincinnati by family and everyone is happy to have the newest Kopf home! I appreciated the amazing cards and decorations left by the students at St Susanna School, the Facebook messages from friends far and near… it has been just the best!

Theo had his very first Kopf-Kunkel family gathering on Sunday night… it was overwhelming ….he crashed early… but it was great to share that sweet smile with the people who have waiting so long to meet him. Welcome home son!

Our Last Day in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

It is bittersweet to leave this beautiful place….

I know someday we will return but it will not be for a long while.

I am excited to get home and experience many firsts with Theo… including the meeting of ‘neediest dog of all’ and sweet Theo…. hmmm.…could be very interesting….. the first night I may have a canine up all night instead of a little boy! Last night was the first night Theo enjoyed 10 straight hours of sleep…. I am hoping for a trend, as it would be so nice for him to snooze through a majority of our flight this evening… It is quite the task to pack a carry on for a single child for 24 hours worth of airtime and quite amazing that in his short life Theo will fly more hours than some fly in a lifetime…. Would love a smooth travel day I look forward to introducing Theo in person rather than photos….

See you soon!

Embassy Day

Today was the next to last step in the trek…. Of course the final trek is a very long flight home….it is best not to think about that yet.... We headed to the US Embassy for our 1pm appointment. The car ride alone is entertainment for Theo- so much to see…. The lack of traffic lights, stop signs, and speed limits makes each trip much like a carnival ride… The US Embassy was huge – the largest US Embassy in Africa…. After a short wait we were called to the window and asked a few questions, again nothing fancy just extremely important to both Theo and myself, it was the first time it seemed real and luckily my mom was there because after the agent said approved and flashed his passport I cried…. FINALLY FINISHED… FINALLY APPROVED! On the drive back to the hotel I learned a new mom thing…short car naps can destroy the afternoon and evening…

Thanks for all the emails- many people have asked how it is going and I believe it is going well…. He eats and sleeps like a champ…. Thank goodness for bibs and towels… two naps a day, and about twelve hours of sleep each night…. He usually wakes up half way through the night, maybe for a bottle or a diaper change… this morning he was up – very happy, smiling, talking and playing with his stuff elephant in his crib … what a wonderful way for us both to start the day.

Thank you to my awesome friends who have donated clothing to me…. You may see a few things you recognize if you look close enough…He is the best-dressed kid around here and I must admit it is still a bit of a thrill to choose an outfit in the morning…. I learned from the best to dress Theo like the little man he is (thanks Amy!)

This evening we had a celebration at Alemu’s home with the other adoptive families… We wore traditional Ethiopian outfits for the coffee ceremony. Although Theo slept through most of the evening it was a very special way to round out our BIG DAY.

Gotcha!

Today was the day I walked sweet Theo out of the orphanage and got into a car and drove away. To be honest, I have visualized it my mind a million times. It was without pomp and circumstance, it was to tears of the nannies and nurse that have cared for him so well for so long. It was …as I was told …the way it is suppose to be.

The nannies and nurse were elated to have the pictures we brought with us and they shared others that have been given. Most of the children we met in the summer at Enat Alem have transferred to their forever families and some are waiting anxiously for the day they too will leave. It was both more and less emotional than I thought it would be…. Theo was literally spellbound staring out the windows on the way to the hotel….he is such a sweet boy- I will acknowledge that he is very fond of being held …this however, has not been a problem :)

September 24

No worries buddy- we have loads of boy clothes waiting for you

Reservations are confirmed, tickets are purchased, and Gemechu Theodore will become the newest little US citizen on the 24th…. The irony is one year ago on September 24, 2010 I said YES to Ethiopia and YES to boy or girl…. I remember where I was … I remember who I was with…. And now this date will hold another kind of special memory…. I can not wait!