When Dave and I first started looking at plane tickets to go pick up Fraol the two cheapest options were to leave on Sat. Dec. 22nd or Monday Dec. 24th. Either way we were going to leave Ethiopia to come back to the states on the 28th. We opted to leave on Saturday so we could spend Christmas Day with Mayes. It was his first Christmas and it was so special to be able to spend it all together.
We picked him up on Christmas eve from the Thomas Center. We were greeted by a few nannies and a little girl dressed in traditional clothing who handed us a bouquet of flowers. A few minutes later a nanny came down the stairs holding our sweet little boy. I was so happy to see him again. She handed him to me and it was the best feeling to know he would be with us forever. We spent about 30 minutes at the Thomas Center seeing his room (it had changed since we were there last time), asking the nanny questions and spending some time getting reacquainted with him. The nanny that cared for him told us that he was her favorite. Who knows, she may tell that to everyone but it made us happy that again he had bonded with someone and he was well loved for the last few months. We found out that she started working at the Thomas Center 2 days after Fraz moved in. It's fun that he was the first child she bonded with and I know he will have a special place in her heart.
On the way back to the guest house he fell asleep in my arms. When we got out of the car he woke up and was as happy as can be. We showed him around the room, played with a few toys, put him in the carrier to see if he liked it, laughed a lot, cuddled and decorated for Christmas. I packed Christmas lights and those gel snowflakes to stick on the window. He didn't help me with the lights but he loved helping with the gel snowflakes. We also tested what he knew like waving, giving high fives, clapping, kissing, etc. He knew how to wave and clap both of which he LOVES to do. He quickly learned how to high five, kiss and throw his football! We gave him a bath that night and put him in his Christmas PJ's which is a Schupra Family tradition.
Christmas morning came early at 5:00am. Fun, Fun! He woke up happy so that was a plus. We read the Christmas story, opened a few presents and enjoyed each other. It was the perfect way to spend Christmas day.
We picked him up on Christmas eve from the Thomas Center. We were greeted by a few nannies and a little girl dressed in traditional clothing who handed us a bouquet of flowers. A few minutes later a nanny came down the stairs holding our sweet little boy. I was so happy to see him again. She handed him to me and it was the best feeling to know he would be with us forever. We spent about 30 minutes at the Thomas Center seeing his room (it had changed since we were there last time), asking the nanny questions and spending some time getting reacquainted with him. The nanny that cared for him told us that he was her favorite. Who knows, she may tell that to everyone but it made us happy that again he had bonded with someone and he was well loved for the last few months. We found out that she started working at the Thomas Center 2 days after Fraz moved in. It's fun that he was the first child she bonded with and I know he will have a special place in her heart.
On the way back to the guest house he fell asleep in my arms. When we got out of the car he woke up and was as happy as can be. We showed him around the room, played with a few toys, put him in the carrier to see if he liked it, laughed a lot, cuddled and decorated for Christmas. I packed Christmas lights and those gel snowflakes to stick on the window. He didn't help me with the lights but he loved helping with the gel snowflakes. We also tested what he knew like waving, giving high fives, clapping, kissing, etc. He knew how to wave and clap both of which he LOVES to do. He quickly learned how to high five, kiss and throw his football! We gave him a bath that night and put him in his Christmas PJ's which is a Schupra Family tradition.
Christmas morning came early at 5:00am. Fun, Fun! He woke up happy so that was a plus. We read the Christmas story, opened a few presents and enjoyed each other. It was the perfect way to spend Christmas day.
On our way back to the guest house.
Decorating for Christmas.
The outcome and our view from our room.
The Christmas lights making our room a little more festive.
Excited about his Christmas PJ's!
A Christmas present from Nama and Papa.
A Christmas present from Grammy and Papa.
His first time hearing "The Night Before Christmas" (read by Dad).
Reading the Christmas story in his Storybook Bible.
I staged this picture to make it look like he was reading the Christmas story, ha!
It was a wonderful Christmas. I hope yours was just as great!
Oh, I posted about Fraz's room here if you're interested!
love it!
ReplyDeleteso amazing that you guys were able to spend his first christmas with him!! such a testament to God's incredible loving-kindness.