This morning Ocean (my 5 year old biological son) came into our bedroom at the first sound of Denekew awake, like every morning since we've come home with him. While playing, Denekew had a serious look on his face and Ocean claimed he was thinking about why we (Ocean & Denekew) have different skin colors. I ask him if he knew why. He answered: "Cause we're from different countries." So I thought I'd ask him some other questions about skin color and here is how our discussion went.
Mom: Is one skin color better than the other?
Ocean looks totally confused and finally slowly answers "Yes?" watching me to see if it's the right answer.
Mom: No, no skin color is better than another. They are just different.
Ocean quick and confident: Oh, Yeah! (He knew this all along.)
Mom: Is one skin color prettier than the other?
Ocean: Yeah! Denekew's skin is so pretty cause it's darker.
I just laugh - cause this is not the answer experts say kids answer!
Mom: Some people don't like people just because they have dark skin.
Ocean interrupting and lunging to hug to Denekew: And some people do like them!
End of discussion. We all toppled over on the bed!
11 March 2008
05 March 2008
Daddy Love
Monday was Caleb's first day back to the office since we went to Ethiopia to get Denekew. He took two weeks off just like he did at the births of Ocean and Jaguar.
I was making dinner and Denekew was just hanging out in his favorite spot; sitting in the johnny jump up in the door frame in the front hall (it's really a wide hall way so he has lots of room to jump and not hit any walls!) Caleb came home and walked in through the front door and instantly Denekew was jumping like crazy and squealing and laughing! Caleb got such a kick out of it. Me too! Denekew definitely knew who Daddy was and was so excited to see him home!
I was making dinner and Denekew was just hanging out in his favorite spot; sitting in the johnny jump up in the door frame in the front hall (it's really a wide hall way so he has lots of room to jump and not hit any walls!) Caleb came home and walked in through the front door and instantly Denekew was jumping like crazy and squealing and laughing! Caleb got such a kick out of it. Me too! Denekew definitely knew who Daddy was and was so excited to see him home!
03 March 2008
Pictures!
I finally located where Caleb hid all of our Ethiopia photographs on the computer! (Ok, he didn't really hide them. I just had trouble locating them!)
Here we are getting to see and hold and have Denekew for the very first time in person! It is Monday Feb 18 at about 10am we are inside the Hannah's Hope Orphanage Compound.
I got to hold Denekew first!
Caleb was the first to get him to laugh. But we found out soon enough that he laughs and smiles easily and often! 
Here he is fast asleep in the tummy carrier!
--------------The building on the left has all the nurseries. The open building on the right is where all the babies sun bathe each day!
--------------Here we are outside the compound gate. These are the other two families that we traveled with to all bring home our children!
Here is Denekew fast asleep in the moses basket that the orphanage let us use while we stayed in Ethiopia. As you can see both the pajama and the basket is a bit small for him! Poor guy!
--------------Here is the crib that was Denekew's bed. Above is the cute painting that was on the wall opposite his crib.
We have so many more pictures and stories to share. For now I hope you enjoyed seeing a glimpse of our first day in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.