These two days, October 3rd and 4th, is really special to me and to our little family. 3 years ago, on these two days, me and MT met in Addis Abeba - and became family.

I’m not good with remembering every date that matters, but these two stands out in my mind.

I smile every time I remember his big smile and his love of kicking the ball. I almost cry when I think about how sad he was the first half an hour away from the other children and nurses he had spent his life with for so many months. He cried his heart out in frustration and fear of the new life. But I also remember his curious smile in the morning and the happiness when he was given a ball to play with and how our connection grew stronger each day. Becoming mother to him is the most important thing that have happened in my life. It’s not always easy, but I have no doubt that we belong together and that we love each other.

MT doesn’t care that much about this day, though, for him the most important stuff is here and now. But he enjoys looking at photos and asks “when are we going back to Ethiopia again? Tomorrow?!“

I dumped into this today, and I had to laugh!!
There is hope for all off us

For some reasons I can’t put the video here so please follow this link.

For his and mine one year anniversary of becoming familily (october 4th) he got a new cap, a one of a kind too. I love the colors and he loves the stripes. I love his eyes and he loves to have fun!

One year ago today I saw him for the very first time. This is my very first portrait of him. What a cutiepai, I still do think I hit the jackpot and won it all!! He sure was worth the wait and hardship of the adoption process. It’s been a short year. And it’s been a long year. So much has happened, so many good things. I can’t wait for tomorrow, then we have more time to spend together than we did today. And that is the anniversary for when I got to take him with me and care for him. One year ago tomorrow. October is a special month for me

And this is how the big boy looks today; he has grown. A lot!

I love you baby!!

I’ve been the proud mother of MT for 6 months now. It’s amazing, tiering and wonderful!

Even though I have problems remebering every detail, I have a clear memory of our first half an hour together; alone. MT cried and cried. He had been so happy walking away from the home, but when we had to say goodbye to the other boy (we lived in the same building down there, but not the same room…) he started crying loudly and desperate. Poor MT didn’t understand my words, and when I tried to comfort him he got even more angry. So I sat there close enough to awoid being hit all the time, I talked to him and sang for him, told him that eventually everything would be good again. But I so understood why he cried and I think I cried a little bit with him as well.

After what seemed like forever (but was only about 20 or 30 minutes) he calmed down and after a little while his smile was back on his beautiful face. That was one of the first things I saw meeting him the day before, his smile. He often shone up in a big smile when he had fun or was happy. He was (and still is, in fact) easy to amuse. I so love that smile! Anyway, back to the story: We went to the bathroom, wiped off the tears and then we went out and he was rejounited with the other boy. During his cry I had tried to tell him that they sould meet soon, but he didn’t understand and had no time to listen either. Together we went to a resturant and celebrated our new kids.

We had a few days together in Addis Abeba. Some very packed days where we started to grew together as a family. I’m glad I got to see, smell and hear this land, it’s so different from Norway and almost impossible to imagine without being there…. This is where he had his first 2,5 years in life and even though he might not care one bit about it when he’s older, I know this still will follow him as the place he started his life non the less. And if he want to listen I have many things to tell and also many photos to show him! And one day in the future we will return back and visit the town he was born, I hope.

One thing I clearly remember (the days in Addis I’ve told about here) is the journey home to Norway. We were so tired when we finnally got here!! MT was so excited about the flight. He just loves airplanes. All day he talked about it, while I and my firend packed our suitcases tried to get all of our new stuff to fit into them… (hard work, I tell you!). When we drove to the airport MT and also the other boy and his brother almost lifted from their seat in antisipation. Sadly the flight was a late night one and the many hours on the airport was not so much fun. MT should have been to bed a long time ago and there was so much new things, so off course he cried and cried in frustration and tiredness, by the time we got on the plane I was so tired. But MT was finally happy. HE LOVES AIRPLANES! He sat in his seat smiling while the plane lifted from the ground, so amazed about the lights that got smaller and smaller. And he had great fun eating dinner at 1 am (!), even he understood there was something not quite right about that! He slept a little, but not much, and he kept falling off his seat too bad I didn’t think of making him use the seatbelts all the time. Guess I was to tired to think straight.. I did not sleep, but rested a bit. We arrived in Frankfurt early (I mean early!) in the morning and had some time to kill there. Now we had to say goodbye to the other boy and his family since they took a plane to another city in Norway. But first we spent some hours together at McDonal, thankfully they had a play room that kept them occupied for a little while.

When we arrived at Gradermoen airport in Norway I thought the hard part of the journey was over. But no, the trafic at the airport was slow and we had to wait over 2 hour extra before our final plane was ready to take off. Most of that time (and some hours before that) we spent with my parents, but still I so longed for my own house and my own bed. When the plane then had to make an extra landing in Bergen because of to much fog on our local airport I almost started to cry. MT slept beside me, I so much wanted to join him. Luckily the fog lifted and we were able to land later on - several hours too late. I can’t tell you how good it was to see my friend Benedicte standing there waiting for us, ready to drive us home.

And then the days went on and became weeks and months. When I look on photos from back then and compare them with MT today I can see lot of changes. He’s bigger, his hair has grown and he talks Norwegian like he has done it for ever. He still smiles a lot and laughes easily, but can also get quite angry if things isn’t going his way. He sleeps well at night and seems to have adjusted well. I can’t imagien my life without him and feels like I’ve been giving the best gift of my life. And even though he’s adopted I find it so amusing when I can say; well, he got that from my side of the family. I find myself in so many things of his and feel that we are so made for each other…

I love you kid, can’t wait for the next days together with you

Today it’s one month since we met, my son and I. So much has happened since then, for both of us. Thankfully I feel we have a connection between each other, I’m so curious what the next months will bring. I’m glad we have plenty time to get to know each other so much better before I have to start working again. 10 more months :D. This is a time to enjoy!!

I’ve been home for almost a week, it’s about time I start writing some about the journey to Ethiopia.

It all started with me leaving Sognefjorden behind and travelling home to stay for the last days before take-off. It was a wonderful day, but the fact that I had to travel with bus instead of train, was a real boomer!! I stayed home at my parents for a week. Got to see some friends and a lot of family, even ones I haven’t seen in a while. It was nice!! I also prepared a little for our stay in December and January - and painted an old bed in blue and some kind of purple for MT. I was quite happy with the result, hope he’ll like it as well

Saturday
The day before take off I had many “nerves”, wisely enough I had accepted an invitation to my sister in laws parents, so for some hours I had other things to do than worry and wonder. When I got home I packed our suitcases and around an hour before I had to leave, I was ready to go

Sunday
The flight was an early one. Leaving from Gardermoen, Oslo at 6:40 am. I had to be there early, with three hours journey it meant taking the bus at 1:55 am. I tried to sleep on the bus, but that was not easy.

The flight to Frankfurt, Germany was a nice one. I relaxed and enjoyed the thought of finally being on my way to my son. The stay at Frankfurt airport on the other hand was sooooo boring!! - and far to long. But finally it was time to board the next flight.

It was then I saw someone else with the same envelope as I had for my ticket, and when I looked around I saw a family with one son from Africa (I guessed). So finally, after having had it so boring for several hours, I was glad to find my travel companions. They where on the same mission as me. One family should bring home two boys, one should bring home one boy and anther should bring home a baby girl. We felt connected, and it was good to talk and get to know each other a little on the plane.

It was a long flight. But finally we could see the light of Addis Abeba, it was like magic. Finally close to the new beginning. After we landed all off us was brought to different places around the city (later on two of us moved, so then we lived in two places - it was good to be close to another family, and the children where friends). The city of Addis Abeba was not a city as you would imagening. Here the cattle goes in the streats and there is few tall buildings. It lookt kind of like an overgrown country village (ok, not quite, but still!!) It was busy and dirty and it took me by surprise. I had never imagening it to be like what it was (!)

Monday
I woke early, so excited about the day. A cab came and got me at 8:30 am, the cabdriver was a good man - we became friends during our many drives around the city. He also knew the children and was so good with them. I’m so grateful for all he did for us and for the way he told us and showed us Addis Abeba and Ethiopia.

And then we was at the gate to the home. Would I recognize him from the photos I got two months earlier? Would he recognize me from the photos I sent him a few weeks earlier? Would he cry or smile, be shy or straightforward? So many thoughts rushed by, but when I got there and saw him right there in front of me I was only happy. He was my son, that I knew. With his big brown eyes, shy approach and big smile when he got to see himself on the screen of my digital camera.

I was with him most of the day, it was nice. Good to see him warming up to me slowly. Funny to watch him play with the others. See his skills with the ball and how found he was of the little car toy he got from me.

At noon it was time for coffee, in Ethiopia it’s an whole ceremony of things that shall be done, from browning the coffee beans, graining them to cocking them in the right way. The coffee tasted really good, as long as they didn’t put sugar in mine!

While he slept I said see you tomorrow and went with another family out to eat Chinese (of all things ;)). After making arrangements for moving in the morning I went back to my guesthouse and had the evening for my self there. Thinking and wondering and enjoying the photos on my digital camera.

Tuesday
Surprisingly the night went quickly and in the morning I was ready, with all my suitcases packed. This was the day when I should take over the care for MT. And I was happy to move to a place where he had room to play, and friends to play with.

After spending some hours at the home we got to take the children with us. It was both scary and so fun. Finally he was mine to care for! The trip back went okei, but when he had to say goodbye (for a little while only; but he didn’t understand that) to his friend he cried loudly and hard for half an hour. We had no time to change our clothes or anything, since we had a deal with the other family to go out and have some burgers.

Wednesday
The first night went fine. No problems of any kind. He slept so good and didn’t wake up at 5 am like I was afraid off For the first time I got to clothe him with his own clothes - and he looked really cute, even though the pants are a little bit to small already.

This day we took it easy. Stayed at home, got to know each other. I used some time to prepare him for Siv’s coming ( my friend that was willing to help me and stay with us in Ethiopia). I didn’t want him to be scared or something.

Thursday
When I went to the bathroom, MT was already busy giving Siv a great big smile as a welcome. It was so good to see. He got his first gift from her, didn’t know what to do with it back then - but he is a quick learner; now he tears the paper off as soon as possible

This was the first day out shopping. And MT got himself two new pair of shoes and a caps so he could sit with the cool guy’s - he loved it!!

Friday
We was picked up early in the morning, today we should see Addis Abeba from up above. Entoto is in fact the first place the city was, for over a hundred years ago. We got to see a museum and see the house of the emperor back then. MT wasn’t to much found of going into places, but in the end he got to see all of it. The guide carried him the last part.

After we went even higher up to a view point, it was beautiful to see the city from up there. Looked so much more prettier, not so dirty and noisy…. Ethiopia is a really poor country and one of the hardest thing was to deal with beggars, children and adult, on a daily basis. Before I got there I had decided not to give money, I’ll rather support someone to go in and give them food and so on, but it was hard to say “no, sorry” several times a day. I so much want poverty to be history!!!!!!!

Saturday
Our first trip out of town. We went south, to Debre Zeit. Not a must-see in my opinion, even thought it is the resort spot for city people, but nice enough. MT refused to go into the pool, but when he got to the restaurant and discovered that they had half a car on the wall he was so happy! On the way home he fall asleep on my lap, the journey was a little to short though so he was not happy when he was woken up and hour and a half later.

The evening we spent with our cab driver and his family. It was so special to be invited home to them and the food (injera and wot) was fantastic!!! A wonderful memory to bring home.

Sunday
Another field trip was waiting us. This time north of the city. It was beautiful scenery, I loved it, like the farmgirl I am ;). The people was poor though, and there was much sad to see and be told about.

This trip was my favorite and I recommend everyone staying in Addis Abeba to try and get a drive to Debre Libanos (the monastery was not a high point, though). We ate lunch outside at the road side. When I got over the people standing around looking at us(!), it was quite good. Travel-injera.

On the way back MT fall asleep on my lap again. This time the trip was long enough and he had a big smile on his face when he woke up. The rest of the day we spent at home.

Monday
Another day to go shopping for gifts to bring back home. We only had a few hours and didn’t get to finish, but got a few thing home. This day it was real hard rain in the afternoon, even thunder. We spent most of it at home, trying to figure out whom we had to shop for the next day…..

Now we were bonding. MT said mamma (mommy) to me and seemed at ease with the changes. The act of getting him to sleep during the day and at night, though, was not easy. Usually there were some screaming before he exhausted fall asleep in my arms.

Tuesday
Me and MT had our last trip to the ambassador to get the last paper in order. Now he was both allowed to leave Ethiopia and to get into Norway. Such a good idea

After we got Siv out of the bed and went shopping. We did the shops we forgot the day before and ate delicious pizza for lunch before heading home.

In the evening we went to Ghion Hotel and an Ethiopian evening, with food and dancing - and off course: coffee! I discovered that my son was a really good dancer, with the African rhythm in his bones. I was so proud and it was funny to watch.

Off course the going to sleep that day was no fun. He was so tired and there had been so much going on. But finally he had to give in to the last night at Ethiopian soil.

Wednesday
Our last day in Ethiopia. Because of the flight in the evening we tried to calm down and take it easy. But we had a small trip to the post office, a shop and the pizza place. Some last minutes things to do.

At around 6:30 pm it was time to say goodbye to the room and to our friends there at the mission guesthouse. The suitcases was packed. Leftover food given to somebody else and the excitement for the flight was raising.

In no way can I say that the journey back home went easy, but the plane and the flights themselves went so nicely (with a little fight at each of them to fasten the seatbelts - things they never had to do in Ethiopia, even with the terrible traffic there!)

Thursday
We took the night flight from Addis Abeba. MT ate dinner at midnight and then went to sleep. He slept a few hours, not to comfortable in his seat. When we landed at Frankfurt, early, early in the morning no one of us had had too much sleep. Mommy nothing!

As on the way down, there was some waiting in the airport. This time we where lucky to find a McDonald with playroom to stay at while we waited. It was nice to be there with some of our friends from the trip as well. MT ate french fries with a lot of ketchup on them and throw balls into the air (not at the same time).

Right before 10 am our next flight left Frankfurt and two hours later we landed at Gardermoen, Oslo. MT slept the whole way. Mommy slept some - finally.

Now it was time to say goodbye to Siv. It was so sad, both for me and MT. She is an old friend and I’m really glad and thankful for her coming along with me on my life’s journey. MT grow so found of her too and cried hard and loud when we parted. Poor kid.

Later he discovered that meting his grandparents wasn’t so bad after all. They spent some hour with us, while we were waiting for the last flight to take us home. But at last we had to say goodbye to them as well and get through the custom control. I was afraid of big crying again, now I had all our things and stuff (not suitcases, but still) - and I couldn’t carry him around like I had done earlier that day. But he was so good. Guess he looked forward to another flight (he loves airplanes) and also that he understood that there was no way I could carry him as well as all the other stuff.

Sadly our flight was late and the flight took a lot longer than usually - three - 3 - hours longer. MT slept most of it, thankfully, but I was awake and soooooo tired. Finally when we landed I was so relieved to see Benedicte standing there waiting for us. She took us the last bit of the journey.

And finally at 10:30 pm we were home in our own house. So worn out, but so happy. Finally my boy was home with me

My suitcases is packed. Almost all of what I need are in them. I guess something is forgotten, but hope the most important is there

Tonight we have been with my sister-in-law’s parents and family. So nice to see them, too long time since last… The food was good and so was the weather!

But now I’m wondering. Have I remembered it all??! Hm… I very well might have Soon I’m going over to the other house to paint the last bits on the bed MT shall use when we’re here. It’s blue and some kind of purple (I mixed it my self of left-over paint - didn’t know what color it would be but am pleased with the result! I’ll show some pictures when I’m back home later this month.) Later I have to do some work that I should have done a long time ago, hope it won’t take too long to finish. Lastly I have to go read through and copy the words I think I need from my sister-in-laws amharich word book. Since my son and I don’t speak the same language; just yet….

Tonight I’ll take the bus to the airport. And at 6:40 am my flight has take-off. My life’s most important journey shall begin. I’m scared, but mostly happy. Finally I’m on my way On Monday we’ll meet for the first time!

So this is why I won’t be here talking for the next days. I’m quite busy getting to know my child Will miss you all, though, so I’ll be back later to tell how beautiful he is live!

This is the very very last day I’m alone in this house. Early tomorrow I’ll leave for a visit to my parents and soon I’ll travel to Ethiopia to bring home my son. It’s a real special day to me, so much to remember and so much to feel. Later I’m going to pack my suitcase and see if I can remember to bring all the things I really need for the next three weeks or so. Also what Matias Tinsae needs too, I’ll have to bring it all with me now.

Next time I enter my house, my son is with me. I so want him to feel like it’s a good house to get into and hope he will be happy about the things I’ve bought for him. From now on this is his home as well as mine.

Soon some friends of mine will come by and help me move some heavy furniture around. And then we will have some coffee and ice, and talk some. But the evening is all mine. I want to go from room to room, worry about if I have packed all I need and so on, in peace and quiet. My mind is full of things to remember. Hopefully by nightfall much of it is in my suitcase ready to go!!

To add to a special day; the sun is shining from blue sky and it’s hot and lovely outside. A good sunny day, just like I wanted.

For weeks now I’ve been wondering how to get from here and home to my parents and then from the airport near Oslo and back here when we are coming home from Ethiopia. With or without car??

But now I have decided. The car is staying put. I’m taking the train, got myself a real bargain ticket right here on the web. I guess I can borrow moms car when I’m there next week - and then me and my son can take a plane back home. I have friends that will pick us up on the airport here west - lucky me

So then I’m off to bed.
Tomorrow: a fun day with Benedicte at IKEA!

..to think that far south, in Ethiopia there was a judge today signing his name on some papers and making it possible for me to be a mother

I feel blessed!

I’m sitting here, waiting for a phone call from the travel-agencies, want to close the deal on my flight out of here on October 2nd and also make arrangements for my friend, Siv, that shall join me in Ethiopia on Wednesday night (I get there on Sunday). They said he was in soon, about 10 minutes, now it has gone 30 minutes and I got bored of waiting!

So I’ll write some words here about my days.

Yesterday was a strange day. I just wanted to take vacation when I got the letter, just get out of there and leave it all to others to care for. Off course I didn’t. And to be honest, there are some things that I want to take care off my self. Clear the desk, put files into order and so on… So I stayed at the office, did a few things that can be called work and the I left to speak with some relative to prepare a funeral for tomorrow, Friday. I used all my energy to stay focused on the family, my thoughts tend to wander to other things…. But it went ok and at 6 pm I was back home. Then there was time for some food and an hour later we had a little service or maybe devotion is closer to the truth. At 9:30 pm I got a visit from a friend that needed some help from my broadband to download some stuff. And then we talked some -and soon midnight was close. And it was yet another late night for me.

Today I plan to take most of the day off. I have to write some for the funeral, but will do it in the evening. As soon as I get the call I’m waiting on, I’ll head for town. The original idea was a trip to ikea, but I haven’t that energy left in me - and Benedicte couldn’t join me either. So I’m just going to town and I might make a little visit to Benedicte and family when I’m there. But no talking into the night this time

Still no phone call, it’s been almost 45 minutes. If I still haven’t got a call by 2 pm (12 minutes) I’ll call them up again! I want to go to town now

Today, with the mail, I got the message I’ve been waiting for so long. On September 2nd, Friday, my case will be heard before a judge in Ethiopia (not sure if this is the right way to put it in English, but any how…). This means that in a little more than a month I can go down there and bring home my son. I can hardly sit still in my chair typing this - I’m so happy and a little bit overwhelmed. Now I have all this things to prepare! And some calls to make.

Yippi! This is a good day

But hard to get any real job done at work, though…

Yesterday I couldn’t resist paying you a visit to show the photos of my son. And even though you just got home from vacation, and spent the day at your office, you told me to come and bring my parents along. It. Was. So. Nice. To see you, and family, and to share the joy of my adoption coming through!

Hope you did have a slow day today!!

Love you guys!!
Hugs

Finally, yesterday, I got the photos. And he looks absolutely gorgeous
One of the photos is the official photo taken in the end of April, this year. He has a funny look on his face. He’s not smiling, though. He looks straight into the camera and looks like he is quite curious about the thing - and maybe a little worried about what’s going to happen. It’s nice to see the whole of him, and not only face and chest. My mom said: “Oh, he’s so big!” And I said: “Yes, 2 years old usually is!” It was so strange and so nice, at the same time, to look at the photos for the first time. He didn’t look like anyone else and it took me some time (a few minutes….) to get used to the fact that this is my son. And now I hardly can do anything but look at the photos. He’s getting more and more cute each time!!

I also got three photos of him, taken by another family while they was down there in late June for their own son. Those photos are the most precious, both because they are more recent but also because they are far better than the official one. He’s not smiling on those either, but he looks straight into the camera with an open and curious look. Boy, do he have some beautiful dark brown eyes!!

I so want to show you all how beautiful he is, but since I’m not legally his mother just yet, I simply am not allowed. So that’ll wait till later! Yesterday I accepted him and today I’ll send a paper with my signature saying the same thing. Today my representer in Etiophia will ask the judge if he can please take this cases even though their vacation starts on Friday. If the judge accept I’ll leave for Etiophia in late September, if not probably in November. My hope is for the first!!!