First, I have to share the coolest thing. Yesterday, after an exhaustive search, I finally tracked down the meaning of my daughter's name. I chose to keep the name she was given in Ethiopia but it isn't a common name so it took a little sleuthing. I am awestruck at how perfect her name is. Her name, yet to be divulged on the blog as to protect her while I am in the court process, means to be connected/joined by love. How incredible is that? I feel so blessed with this sign. Her middle name, a derivative of my mother's first name which means nourishing, is a traditional Ethiopian name meaning diamond.
Last night I couldn't sleep and I was restless. At about two a.m. I decided to pull out all of the purchases I've been putting in my baby girl's closet that I'll take as donations to Hannah's Hope in Addis. Each time I see things on sale that the orphanage can use, I pick up a few extras. Little Old Navy socks ($.89/pr), toothpaste, toothbrushes, cute little sweatpants (end of season sale $2), bibs at IKEA (7 for $2), diapers. Whatever I see, I buy. Gathering these items in small numbers, I wasn't really paying attention to how much I was collecting (or spending). That was until last night. Here are a few photos before I started to come up with a packing plan.
Now you may think that it looks like I went a bit crazy with pajamas but hear me out. Last winter/early spring when all of this was but a hazy futuristic dream and I had not yet bought my current house (that's key because now I am saving and freaking out about every penny), I started keeping my eye out for sales. I found that pajamas are marked down significantly in the early spring. I'd say "Who knew?" but you savvy moms out there are probably already clear on these things. Me? Not so much. The pjs for the older kids were such fun to buy because I kept reading stories by other families from my agency who were traveling and sharing the needs at Hannah's Hope. And thus it began. The retail therapy for children I don't know yet--or maybe even one of your children out there.
Last night I started to consider what to do with all of this stuff and still be able to pack my own bags. I started packing, rolling, vacuum packing, folding, stuffing and -voila- I fit most everything in three large duffel bags and one medium one. I think from the picture below, however, I may need one more bag. Oh my goodness--I have to stop buying! How fun it will be to share all of these treasures, though, when the time comes to travel. For all of you on the wait list, at least know your waiting children will have some pjs while at HH!
As a side note, the shoes are from my sister, Suzie. She has four children who grow like weeds and she sent over bags of things for me to go through--including brand new items her big babies never wore. I kept the things that I thought my baby girl will use and piled up the other things. Then I bagged the shoes that are in great shape--they really look barely worn--to take with me.
Also, my friend Susie had a little boy early summer. Actually, her son was due on the very day my little one was born and for her entire pregnancy we joked that we were pregnant together. I digress. Susie got some presents at her shower for little girls (she and her husband didn't share the gender) and some newborn clothes that her son never wore because he, too, is a big boy much like my nieces an nephews. So all of those new clothes went into the donation bags!
What does all this mean? I am almost packed and ready to go. Of course I have to wait for the Ethiopian courts to agree. I feel like I have my bag packed for the hospital and now I am just waiting to go into labor. Of course in this case, labor will be at least two weeks (travel planning) and 19 hours (the flight to Addis)!
