Day 4

Thursday, November 22nd 2007 It is Thanksgiving Today!!! By far THE coolest Thanksgiving I have ever had. Today we went to the Gladney office again and met their birthmom. It was such a unique experience that it is really hard to explain. She was crying when she came in the room but was sooo happy when she left. Josiah was cranky anyway today because he didn't have his nap but then, when we had to leave, he did not do well at all. He was crying and I hope he never has to go through anything like that again! We spent about three hours with her and my parents got to ask her all sorts of questions. It was such a blessing to have been able to meet her. We then went back to the hilton and to cheer Josiah up, took him to the pool. We bought him some little arm floaties and he loved being able to swim all by him self. He is a little dare-devil. We had to keep a tight grip on him because once he took off running ( laughing hysterically) and just jumped in the water!! Luckily my dad was in the water and pulled him up out of the water just in time. Even with water up his nose and coughing he had a huge precious smile on his face like "That was fun!", crazy child!! He does that alot though. (If he can get his little hand out of yours he will take off running (fast) laughing the whole time. Once in a parking lot and about ten times in the airport on the way home to the US pulling his little rolling backpack behind him.) He LOVES his little rolling backpack and takes it everywhere. He will go get it in the morning and his little 'cars' shoes and stand at the hotel door asking "Ciao?" He is soooo cute!! The girls are beautiful, I just want to eat them up!! We just got back from the Sheraton for Thanksgiving dinner. We got to meet some other Americans and had a great time with all the gladney staff. Here are the McConomys. We traveled with them and they stayed at the same hotel with us. It was so nice to have another family with us especially since there were no other Gladney families traveling at Thanksgiving. The Gorgeous view from the Sheraton: The weather tonight was gorgeous and Josiah had so much fun running around on the balcony area outside our table at the Sheraton with the 'mimi' or Silas, Avery, Marta and Enoch. Apparently 'mimi' means children in amharic. Well yesterday, Silas and Avery went outside while Josiah was still eating and he cryed and cryed "MIMI!!!" That is when they told us that he was crying for the kids. Silas can't really say the letter 'L'...plus he is from Texas so He called Josiah Abel, "Abayo". ( we didn't start calling Abel Josiah until we got to America.) Silas and 'Abayo' are totally BFFs :) P.S. Silas is Hilarious. I am sure everyone that travels to Ethiopia from now on is going to want to eat him up. He got so excited when he saw this. "Look Daddy! A book clock!!!!!" Not quite :)