First Pictures from Ethiopia and Grandma Update!
Jul. 27th | Posted by Ena
19 comments
Great News, people! We have pictures! It was such a nice surprise to find this in my inbox this morning. Thanks to Nicky’s friend Leah for making this happen! Below is a great update from ‘Gramma’ R….the description of the pictures are from Nicky. I can’t wait until Gramma R gets back next week and I can see more pictures, and hopefully some video, too.
Oddly enough, these are the first pictures of the girls where I can’t tell them apart! Enjoy!
This is of us and their teacher. This is the teacher they love so very much… the first few days they just cried and cried and called out her name – for like 1 1/2 hours at a time.. serious agony. Now we avoid nap times… we’ll ahve to start reinstituting them soon, but at first it was too painful for them, since they used to sleep with their teacher every afternoon.
This is of when we first met them too – the first day. They were SO shy… now they are bouncy and happy! and even with strangers they are less shy.. as long as they are holding my hand 
These are of the girls getting their packages the first day that we met them – they were really stoked about the pictures. They look at their photo albums several times a day, which is awesome… They can point out daddy and mommy easily – and occasionally gramma.. (and, apparently, their Auntie Ena!)
Here are Sugar and Spice passing out in the bed the first day. They have consistently gone to bed easily,,,, and sleep through the night until precicely 7am!
The two below are from a few days ago – you can see I have an eye infection so I am wearing my glasses… we are out in the courtyard playing with the other kids.
Grandma’s Post:
The girls are doing very well. They have now relaxed with Nicky and seem quite attached to her. A few crying jags from Sugar helped; Spice attached much more easily. We have modified their schedule from the transition house and so have avoided some of the triggers that were creating problems. Both the girls are loving and affectionate – they love to be tickled and to play games. Nicky is holding “school” most days. It
involves pictures that she sketches of familiar word (bear, ball, etc.). These pics are taped to the back of the door and once the girls say the words a few times, they run to tag the picture. They love it. Both girls
seem very bright and eager to learn. Spice likes books and drawing more than her sister; Sugar tends to be more athletic while Spice has better fine motor co-ordination. Sugar is the bossier twin; she can be quite
determined and is adjusting to being told “no”. I don’t believe that happens at the transition house – they just redirect the energy. Spice is the more demonstrative of affection. Both, however, are typical 3 year olds
and full of fun and mischief.
Nicky has developed an eye infection (already seem a doctor and aretreating it – 30 birr or $3 to see a doctor). Between that, sleeping with two active children and all the activity here she is tired. Today she will
get a nap while I play with the girls. I had the nap a couple of days ago – sure feel better now. (One of the big ‘triggers’ for the girls was nap time, so it has been cut out for the time being…it led to much greiving, as nap time was with their teacher at the house. Nicky says they’ll phase it back in eventually, but for now it seems to be better for the girls this way ~ Ena)
So far, our tourist activities are limited. It’s been more important to just spend time with the girls. We’ve been to a shawl-making co-op, a pottery co-op, a silver store, a coffee shop where they sell bags of
beans, etc. and the Ethiopian immigration. The paperwork is coming along -we now have the ethiopian birth certificates and taken pictures for their Ethiopian passports. They should be ready on Tuesday or Wednesday. Then Martha, from the transition house will send them to Nairobi where the Canadian
passports or visa will be issued and sent back to us. Then Nicky and Jrock can take
them home. Jrock is booking a flight here – he’ll arrive as I leave. We may take a couple of day trips out of the city to see some of the countryside but Nicky and Jrock have some longer trips planned now the girls have settled down. I am looking forward to seeing some of the country.
Addis is a strange city. Poverty and wealth go side by side. However even in the poorest places, the trees and many shrubs are preserved. The laws are quite strict about leaving the 3 types of eucalyptus trees alone.
The smog (very bad, with vehicles blowing black smoke in our faces when we travel on the streets and with heavy industrial smog as well) hasn’t bothered me as much as I thought it would. I take extra Benydril and Advil all day long and it keeps the head aches, etc. at bay. I think that’s why I am tired all the time.
We went swimming at the Hilton yesterday. Girls not too certain about getting in the pool but Nicky fanangled them in up to their necks (on her knee). Afterward, they were really hungry so spring for the brunch bufet. At $34 US for Nicky & I, we won’t do that again. Sure enjoyed it though. Everyone is entitled to one big splash! Most of our meals cost us $10 to 20 (100 to 200 birr).
Today, the girls insisted on putting on their bathing suits again. Nicky tossed them in the tub with them on and they went “swimming”. Had a ball.
Hope you all enjoyed this as much as I did! I’ve turned into a bit of a blubbering idiot lately, it seems, as the unexpected pictures, (particularly the ultra cute sleeping pic and the ones of Nicky and the girls in the courtyard, ) had me in tears…yet again ;-D ~Ena
Oh my goodness! Look at those little sweethearts, I don’t know how you can stand it, they’re soooo cute! And they have their little hoodies on that you bought them, too! (And the Van 2010 stuffies that I saw in the pic of Nicky and Jrock in Okanagan Life)! Very cool
Sounds like things are getting expedited and going smoothly, what a huge blessing!
I love the sleeping pic! Good to hear things are going well and progress is being made with the paperwork. Please keep the updates coming for us at home – this is just the pick me up we need!
Good to see everyone is well! Hope Nicky’s eye infection gets better soon. We are going through our photos right now and will send over ones of your girls!!
Michelle
How wonderful to see the girls with Nicky for the first time! She looks so happy and the girls are soooo cute! I also love the sleeping picture. Thanks so much for posting them. With a 3 year old at home I can imagine Nicky is tired! Sending lots of good luck for quick visas home.
What a great update!!!! And the photos are fantastic!
Can’t wait see Jrock in the pictures too.
It is SO good to hear another update! and the girls are super cute!
What a treat to see them all!! Can’t wait to see you all together as a family soon!
hugs and blessings!!
nathalie
A wonderful update- thanks for sharing! And I agree- the pictures tell the story. I hope Nicky’s eye infection quickly clears up and that she is able to sneak in a few more naps. I recall the fuzzy headed jet lag feeling I had in Addis and I barely got over it before we headed home…Looking forward to seeing the whole family together!
What a pair of sweethearts! I am so happy to hear they are adjusting so well… and that Mom and Grandma can get some naps in!
The girls are beautiful! So glad you could post some pictures. Soon, Jrock and you’ll all be together at long last!
Wow! Great to see some photos with those little ones in your arms at last. Enjoy Nicky! Can’t wait to see Mom & Dad in the photos together!
that sleeping pic!!! oh my gosh they are soooo sweet!! it is fantastic to see and hear more of the grama/mama/daughter details…three generations of women!! can’t wait to see Jrock in there too….first family pic.
Thanks for the amazing update! What beautiful little girlies! I love the picture of Nikki holding the girls. I hope that her eye infection clears up soon
OMG- the butt to butt sleeping- precious! Hey, you can get around the fees at the Hilton. Go in, turn right in the lobby and go past the phone kiosk, the bank, the travel agencies, turn right and follow the hall as it goes left. Soon, you will see the pool and courtyard on your left and a little gate. As a guest there, in my last week in Addis, I discovered it was ALWAYS open and saw lots of people come through- no questions. LOL
PS: I got an eye infection, too, but had anti-biotic EAR drops with me, so with a q-tip just put a tiny bit across my lashes and in a day- voilá- itchiness, redness, stickiness- GONE!
It is wonderful to finally see Nicky and the girls together. Now we just need to see JRock with his girls too. The sleeping picture is precious.
love the pic of Sugar and Spice curled up on the bed! Soooo happy to see you all together and smiling. I can’t wait for JRock to get there too. Missing you tons, but love the updates!
So nice to see pix of the girls and hear that things are going well. We LOVED the pool at the Hilton, went there 2 or 3 times (in a month). Especially nice as it was January!!!
I hear Nicky met my friend Tina who was in Addis last week to assess the situation regarding her daughter’s care. Tina told me things are somewhat sorted out at least as far as the care of the children and staffing the TH are concerned. She also said a lawyer (from BDO?) was helping to improve paperwork to make sure visas/passports would be issued more quickly. Good to hear. Hopefully nobody will have to wait 3-4 months for immigration/citizenship paperwork.
All the best to the new family!
That picture of the two of them back to back in bed is beyond adorable. It had me all choked up. I’m so glad they have each other and now you guys for parents!!!