Per the Embassy - "No Return Policy"

We had a great night last night.  Maura Rohama is on a very strict schedule, and we are trying to follow it very closely as she needs routine.  We had to give her a bottle last night about midnight and she did really well drinking it down.  She slept until about 5:30 a.m. and we could hear her lips smacking, so I had just gotten up to fix the bottle when I heard, "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"  She was hungry, so she ate and then we played and got ready for the Embassy trip.  She did so well! 

 

Oh, Melodie, thank you so much for the hair products - they work great on her!  I love the smell and her hair is so soft and the curls are so defined.  By the way, I gave the pics of Desta to Fortuna yesterday because the other nannies said that Desta's nanny was no longer there.  I was told that Fortuna will try to contact the nanny so she can get the pics.  Give Desta kisses for me!

 

This morning at 10:20 a.m. (Ethiopian time, of course), Maura Rohama became ours completely!  The trip to the U.S. Embassy took forever but thankfully we didn't have any problems and all our paperwork was there!  The lady at the counter looked at me and said, "Now, is this the same baby you were referred?  Do you realize that we have a no return policy for children?"  I said, "Ma'am, there is no way I'm returning my baby girl!"  She just laughed and said congratulations.  That was that!

 

We have had a wonderful day together but we are so ready to come home!  We have Maura Rohama's visa and Ethiopian passport, so we could actually leave for the US tonight but there's no flights out until our scheduled departure on Friday evening.  Until then, we are going to enjoy the rest of our trip and get to know one another better.

 

Maura Rohama is doing great!  She hardly ever cries.  She likes to babble, squeal, and most of all laugh.  She has such big, expressive eyes that are so chocolatey brown that you can't even see the black pupil.  She just laughs all the time.  She loves to be held but she goes right to sleep on her own and in her own bed!  She is still on the specialized F-100 formula made in France and not available in America, so today when we were out, we tried Similac Alimentum but she didn't like it at all.  We brought her back to the room and immediately fed her a bottle of F-100 and she gulped it down.  She eats best when she sleeping, so we are learning. 

 

After the Embassy appointment, we went to a restaurant by the Ethiopian National Museum where "Lucy", the oldest skeleton ever found resides - only Lucy is on tour right now, so there's a fake on display.  We ate at the "Lucy" and well, I don't recommend it.  Jason and I both got grilled chicken and it was raw - totally disgusting.  The others seemed to like their meal, so if you ever go, just remember to stay away from grilled chicken!

 

We have spent the rest of the afternoon in the guest house with Maura Rohama.  Jason was tired and she was squealing with laughter and rolling around all over the bed, so we went for a walk and let Daddy sleep.  Now, he's playing with her so I can update.  We are having a lot of fun getting to know one another.  I can't wait for Ashton to meet her as I know he is going to be so excited and she will just love him too!  Just a few more days and I can hold my Ashy!

 

Ashton, Daddy and I miss you SO MUCH and can't wait to see you!  Thank you for your video.  We could only hear a few seconds of it, but it was so wonderful to hear your voice and see your face!  Call us again soon!  I hope you are having fun with PaPa and BoBo!  We love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Here are a few pis of our morning before we went to the US Embassy.  The quilt that Maura Rohama is on is very special because it was made from my mother's favorite uniform top and pants.  Aunt Elsie in Mississippi took Mom's clothes and quilted them together for me.  I wanted Maura Rohama to have something special from my mom and this is so perfect!  It says, "Love, Granny"  Thank you so much Aunt Elsie!