Monday 23 November 2009

They are Napping

I'd never realised just how magical those words really are. Especially in the plural - yes, they are BOTH napping, at the same time. It's my first day looking after them on my own, because J has gone back to work today, with his suit and his tie and his briefcase and his annual train ticket, back to the land where grownups do grownup things.

So far, it's been okay. The fact that I've fired up the computer means things must be okay. We have been for a walk, and delivered our official notification of adoption letter (hopefully to the right address! Failing to notify the authorities within 14 days of an international adoption turns out to be punishable by 12 months imprisonment, which seems a little over the top to me).

But anyway. Lately, here, it's all been about me-me-me when I know that the reason you are really here is to see the babies! I've been meaning to post photos, but have found it hard for two reasons - firstly, the two new little people in the house never letting me get near the computer, of course, but secondly - unexpected freaked-out-ness about their early little selves. I look at their early photos and they are still my beautiful babies, but honestly? They are so thin that I can't understand why I wasn't more scared at the time. Don't get me wrong - I was scared, especially after we went to a (wonderful, kind, local, cheap) doctor in Ethiopia who used words like 'serious malnutrition' but it's only now that they are filling out that I can really see how terrifyingly titchy they were. And that makes me feel all kinds of sad.

So, I am going to post the photos with a commentary about when they were taken, otherwise you'll think you're looking at different babies.

Stage one: This is the babies on their first day home. They are cute, but did I already say terrifyingly titchy? I can hardly bear to look at these photos, and that's not just because I look h.a.g.g.a.r.d. (By this point, we'd had a very difficult meeting with MO.WA, and had to attend court which was NOT fun (more about that, perhaps, another day) and we'd had my cancelled flight and pretty much no sleep and SURELY things were about to get easier, yes? Heh heh heh, says current-me to then-me. Definitely not).

No, it's because my beautiful girl and boy look like elf-children.



Stage two: The next few days. We've dressed them in tiny clothes that are somehow still way too big, and they are just beginning to figure out which way is up. We get some smiles, but there is a lot of uncertainty. As indeed there should be. (And that second to last picture? Yes we let my mother hold the babies. If she hadn't done all she did for us on that trip, I really have NO idea whether we all would have made it home. Not joking. While she was holding the baby, I was probably off in a corner either crying or throwing up. Or both).



Stage three: Ahhhh, this is more like what the babies are really like. They are starting to fill out and their personalities are really beginning to show. Tummy time is still a complete mystery to them, by the way.

Yes, baby girl, it's all been a bit of a shock to mummy too.
Stage four: A few weeks in. Is it just me, or are they starting to just look like ordinary spoiled children here? Maybe it's just the light, but I think they are starting to glow.

So, that's the baby pictures from Addis. They have woken up, so I must go. More later.

22 comments:

  1. mmmmmm. So glad you have finally posted - with photos even! They were terribly thin and tiny and scary little but they look like they are making a great turnaround!! ~Amanda

    ReplyDelete
  2. wow! What a transformation so far.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh, IlovethemIlovethemIlovethem. So beautiful! So happy!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. They are glowing, Claudia. Beautifully so. Thank you for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  5. They are sooo beautiful!! getting rounder in the cheeks...the smiles! what tiny wee things... wow! (here in Canada the process is so long I rarely see babes that young coming home)

    You went out, they napped...if you went out then you must have gotten dressed....these are great accomplishments!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Are you kidding me with these photos! They are ADORABLE! Thank you for posting them. They are glowing.

    ReplyDelete
  7. They are beautiful- then and now (but especially now!)

    I love the picture with both of them sleeping with the heart blanket. That's so cute!

    ReplyDelete
  8. these pictures are so amazing. they are tiny little angel cutie babes. i love seeing them together. i love,love,love seeing them!!! thank you for sharing your family!!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. They are a.d.o.r.a.b.l.e.

    Such a change since being in your care. Yay!

    :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. OMG! They are the most beautiful children ever!

    Pam

    ReplyDelete
  11. I gave you a kreativ blogger award nomination for being so creative at being anonymous. (Trying to get original here!) See my blog if you want to play along. Amanda

    ReplyDelete
  12. Wow! Wow! Wow! Look at those babies! What a perfect way to end my day. So amazing to see how they've changed in so little time. The are beyond cute! Hoping for more common naps so we can get more updates and so you can rest :) Lots of hugs to you!

    ReplyDelete
  13. They look like they're doing so well. What a difference a few weeks of loving care makes. They're gorgeous.

    ReplyDelete
  14. My eyes have tears --- I know the feeling of "all kinds of sad"...I am soooo thankful they are with you and getting all the love and nourishment they need. They are truly beautiful and so are you and J. Watching them transform in a few weeks is amazing!!! I am sooo thankful that you mum was there with you - What an incredible gift for you four!!! I am thinking of you often and praying for you - the sleep deprivation was killer for us with one baby so I am really praying since you have two babies! :-) Much love and hugs!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Claudia,

    I gave you an award on my blog. As Jennifer told me when she gave it to me, feel free to ignore :)

    Christine

    ReplyDelete
  16. They are glowing!! I am so happy for you! What tiny little babes you have! They are gorgeous and perfect and miracles!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Can I just say that notwithstanding any haggardness might there be, a brilliant radiance is betraying the hard work, the long hours, the worry. You are a beautiful mother. Your babies are beautiful children of yours.

    Cindy

    ReplyDelete
  18. They're amazing. I'm so glad they're putting on weight and looking so good.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I love all of the pics! Such sweet little babies and a beautiful mum and dad too.

    Hang in there with the mid-night wakings. In a few months it will all be over and you'll kind of miss that sweet bonding time right smack in the middle of the night when everything else around you is so peaceful and quiet.

    What? you don't believe me?? You'll see ;)

    hugs!
    Emily

    ReplyDelete
  20. YAY for pictures. I would have been scared too. You are doing so great, as are they. They really are filling out!

    ReplyDelete
  21. They are so beautiful, C. A transformation filled with so much love.

    I hope all is going well!

    ReplyDelete

Over to you!