COURT: "Then it's done, you have a son."

Thank you hotel for laundering and ironing our shirts by 8am!:) We woke up, had breakfast, and were so nervous to go to court. We drove up to the large court house building, and picked our way through the crowded stairwells up to the 4th (?) floorof this district court. We waiting in a waiting with about 30 other people sitting on the chairs that outlined the otherwise empty room. Among the group were adoptive parents, birth families, lawyers, representatives from adoption agencies, Ato Teklu, and Ato Girma.

They finally called our "Ajuuja" and I gripped my hands together tighter, trying to swallow but finding my throat too dry. Something was said, and Ato Girma told us that it was our turn. The judge was a beautiful young Muslim woman, with a scraf wrapped around her head. She asked us in clear English for our passports and we looked at each other with fear and shock in our eyes- we had asked if we needed to bring anything and had been told no... Feeling like a complete idiot, I fumbled an apology and said we didn't know that we had needed them. Tonio showed his driver's license but of course I had nothing. She said it was OK and carried on with the questions: Why do you want to adopt? Why Ethiopia? How old are your children? Do they know you are adoptin? Have you told your family? Are they supportive? What training have you had? Do you know that this is permanent and cannot be revoked? YES! She stamped some papers, and then proclaimed "Then it's done, you have a son." Tears welled up in my eyes and I tried to tell her "Thank you so much," to which she replied, "No, thank you." We passed court! They told us that we were the very first family our of all of the agencies to pass court since the rule was made requiring 2 trips.

We were so excited and kept reminding each other of our new titles: "Hey mommy to 4!" "Papi to 4 kids!" It was such a relief that court was over, and the wave of emotions washed over us. We all walked to a nearby cafe for some macchiatos, and so the adoptive families could meet with the birth families.

After our eventful morning, we spent the rest of the day shopping for souvenirs at the shops by the Post Office- excellent shopping if you are in Addis!!!