I met our lawyer (Daniel Were — pronounced “Wear-ay”) at the lower courts at 9am this morning. We were seeing a new magistrate because our previous one was transferred to Nakuru back in the spring. The new magistrate’s office was all business and very quiet. There were 3 other lawyers in the room and about 12 clients like myself. There was a very small amount of Swahili spoken back and forth before Were started things off by announcing our case, etc. After some shuffling of papers Were stepped out and beckoned me to follow. (Uh oh, not good!) He tells me we somehow fell off the docket! The problem with that is our official file is off in another building and not in the magistrate’s chambers! Some disorganization with the changeover of magistrates must have caused it…so frustrating! Argh!!! Kenyan courts drive me crazy!!

Because I leave on Monday and because I was not able to stay in the courts all day we had to be seen this morning if I was to attend. …and now Were thinks its very important that I be there because “Baby Eden” is not. So Were started to work his magic: He called an assistant to go and fetch the papers and bring them to us at the building ASAP. Only 15 minutes later we go back to the chambers and see everyone waiting outside because the magistrate received an important (and private) phone call. Were chatted with some of the other lawyers there in Swahili but otherwise everyone is perfectly quiet while we wait in the tiny crowded hallway. We’re let back in a few minutes later and I found out that Were was getting himself pushed back to the front of the queue! So he just reads off what the magistrate should say while she hand writes it out for our file. She doesn’t even bat an eye at any of it! Were suggested April, she said mid-April was fine, and we’re done! I love the Kenyan courts!

We slip out and now I’m back at the training I’m giving this week with an hour to spare! I had arranged for several other guys to give all the talks this morning so I had plenty of time to type up this prompt update for you all!

Our unofficial “backup lawyer”, Milkah, was one of the other lawyers in the room because she had other business with the same magistrate this morning. So if Were had not been able to convince the magistrate I am sure Milkah could have!

The magistrate has the power to do anything from put Ben in jail (obviously that would be VERY drastic and is unlikely) to sending Ben on to the high courts to apply for the adoption (the other extreme). Please pray that the magistrate accepts our documentation and at the very least grants our request for an extension. God has done awesome things in our adoption process on the Kenyan side and we know that with God, all things are possible. We appreciate your prayer and support!

On another note, both kids are sick.  We went to the doctor yesterday and Eden had to do a breathing treatment.  She now has an inhaler that she uses every 4 hours.  It hasn’t moved to Andy’s chest yet and we are hoping that it doesn’t!

Ben will post an update after he goes to court!

Today we ventured to the Indiana State Fair. We got there a little before 4 and it was pretty empty. We zipped through a few kiddie rides and then headed on to the food. We ate an early dinner and then checked out the pigs. Eden was able to pet one of the little piglets that wasn’t scrambling for food (watching those piglets rush to their mother to eat kind of reminded me of Andy…) and then cried when we left. Fortunately, we were able to quickly find an open horse barn where she visited with several horses. THEN she got to go on a pony ride. It was really cute and she was very excited, but cried and screamed when Ben took her off of the pony. For $5 per ride she wasn’t getting endulged. However, just around the corner from the pony ride was the ELEPHANT RIDE!! Eden and I both rode the elephant, which is 36 years old. She also wanted more rides on the elephant, but at $12 per ride I’m not sure she should even have had a first!

After that Eden and Ben played on a swing set and watched the parade while Andy and I visited the Lactation Station. It was the highlight of Andy’s trip to the fair. Eden ate half of a bowl of baked ziti and part of an elephant ear, ice cream, applesauce, and some apple dumpling. Then we headed back to the car which took forever because the place was packed! It was sort of a cranky ending to the fair. Can anyone explain why people think it is acceptable to stop directly in the middle of the walkway to talk? It makes me crazy! I had to fight the urge to just run the double stroller right into them. Anyway, we got home and put both kids to bed. They were so tired that it didn’t take long.

Those are both great things but the most exciting thing that happened recently occurred yesterday. Andy rolled over for the first time! We were outside and he was very interested in the grass. I scooted him away from the grass so that he wouldn’t eat it and then ZOOM! He rolled right over onto his belly in the grass. We’ll post the video soon.

Eden’s Sunday school teacher came to me while I was working in the nursery today to ask me what I think about bumping her up to the 2’s class. They said that she is much more advanced than the kids in her class and they feel like she would enjoy the 2’s class more. Plus, there is a potty in the 2’s classroom and there isn’t one in her current room. It was nice to hear but the best part of her Sunday school time today was that even though Eden could see Ben in the nursery, she stayed in her class and did the things her teacher asked her to do instead of crying and trying to crawl over the gate to Ben. It’s nice to see her growing up, even if it’s also a little bit sad.

Eden is now completely potty trained during the day.  She tells us when she needs to go and has only had one accident so far.  She has been wearing diapers during her naps and at bedtime but that’s changing tonight!  This afternoon during her nap time she discovered that she can climb out of her crib.  I think she was quite surprised to find herself on the floor, but not nearly as surprised as I was.  She then spent the afternoon begging to be put back in her crib wanting to try it again.  Ben and I had been debating when to move her to a big girl bed and I was hoping to hold out until she turned 2, but tonight is the night.  She is in a toddler bed and she’s going without a diaper.  We’re probably crazy, but she has been waking up very early in the morning to go to the bathroom and we just decided that we would give it a try tonight.  Her potty is in her room so if she needs to go, we hope she will get up and go by herself.

Andy is sleeping through the night now without waking for his pacifier.  He has figured out how to put it back into his mouth so he doesn’t need us during the night.  Last week he officially moved into 9 month clothes (at only 5 months old!).  It’s hard to believe how quickly he is growing and learning.  He still hasn’t rolled over but gets very frustrated when he’s on the floor attempting to roll.

The kids got a little swing set for the back yard.  Andy likes the swing and Eden likes the slide and Mommy and Daddy like them being contained and entertained so everyone is happy!  We went to the zoo today and Eden was able to feed the twigas!  She loved it!  We also saw the dolphin show and both kids were completely fascinated.  There are new pictures and a video up for your viewing pleasure!

Eden is also getting much better at playing with others. She has been playing with her friend Clara and also Emery and Colton and loves being with other kids! She loves the water and has no fear of it. She will jump in, put her face under water and blows bubbles. She even went off the diving board at the Cook’s house.

To see how Eden is growing and changing, check out the videos! We hope you enjoy them!

It is unbelievable how much she is changing. Though she hasn’t changed much in size (she is an inch taller and one pound heavier than she was 3 months ago!) she is getting so much more independent, verbal and expressive. She still loves to dance and has recently started singing. She gets the tune and sings a mixture of jibber-jabber and words. Her favorite is “asjah, asjah, ugha du DOWN!” (ashes, ashes, we all fall down!) She even started singing in Swahili. They sang a very simple song at the Sally Test Center that goes, “Lala, toto, lala” which means “sleep, baby, sleep”. She now sings along with me when I sing it to Andy in the car.

In addition to singing, she is also stringing words together. We turned Eden’s car seat around before the DC trip and she can see everything much better now, especially Andy. We often hear her yelling from the back, “Oh no! Baby, paci!” which means that Andy’s pacifier has fallen out.

Another new thing, which is not as pleasant as the others, is that Eden is now very afraid of thunder. The recent storms have put her on edge and she flies into my lap practically shaking every time she hears a loud noise. We hope that the summer is going well for you and that the recent storms have been less traumatic at your home than at ours.

1/31/09
The truth is, you may not have even been born yet. But I can already see your baby fingers and toes and beautiful, curly hair. My arms ache to hold you and I can’t help but cry when I start to think about you being in Kenya without us. I’m worried that you won’t get enough to eat and that you won’t be held enough. Who will love you and sing to you and rub your back until we get there? I can’t wait to come and get you and if I knew where you were, I would leave tonight.

My last entry read:

5/21/09
…We have to get a move on it so that we can come get you in September. I can’t wait! After our meeting with Alice I was jumping up and down with excitement because we are now one step closer to coming for you. September will be here before we know it and then you will be ours!

I am blown away by how God worked through all of this. Even when our plans were changing and we thought we would adopt from Lesotho and when our travel plans were in flux and when I got pregnant, God still knew where Eden was and was preparing her (and us) for our future together. And how perfect that Eden was at the Sally Test Center waiting for me when I went for the very first time on September 21, 2009.

It’s so different being able to experience the beginning with Andy. It’s amazing to watch him learn and grow. And it is SO fun to know that he recognizes us. When I go get him out of bed in the morning he always has a big smile for me and now when we put him in bed at night he cries when we walk away from his crib.

Tonight I have a very happy and thankful heart because of my wonderful God and the beautiful family he has given me.

We left early Saturday morning so that Ben could watch the US World Cup game. We spent Saturday night in Pittsburgh and were able to be there to celebrate Ryan and Anna’s birthdays. Sunday afternoon we drove to Rockville, MD where we stayed the night. Monday morning we got up early and headed out in search of the Kenyan embassy.

It only took 2 1/2 hours to go 17 miles thanks to several wrong turns, wrong exits, wrong addresses and near crashes. When we finally arrived, we walked right in and were escorted to the board room where we met with the Third Secretary. He talked with us for a few minutes and then wrote a letter for us to take to the magistrate in Kenya.

After we left the embassy we decided it would be appropriately patriotic and educational to visit some of the highlights of DC. We walked the sleeping babies to the White House and then to lunch. We drove to the Washington Monument and walked down to the WWII Memorial and the reflecting pond. Given that it was about 99 degrees with 99% humidity we felt that we had seen enough and dragged our stinky, sweaty bodies back to the car for the drive home. We got back to Pittsburgh in time for dinner and then got up Tuesday morning and headed back to Indiana.

We spent about 20 hours in the car in order to spend 20 minutes at the embassy but it was a fun trip filled with laughter and we created some good memories. The kids were wonderful in the car and we were blessed with mostly good weather. We hope you enjoy the new pictures!

• Andy started using a Bumbo.  It has already made a difference in his ability to control his body and head.  He now sits in his swing in the upright position.  He can’t stay that way for too long because his head tends to flop when he gets tired, but it’s a good start!  It’s amazing how quickly he is growing and changing.

• Eden is getting more and more independent and verbal.  She talks constantly (to her baby doll when no one else is listening!) and wants to be involved in everything we do.  We know that she understands more than she can communicate and has started expressing her frustration by hitting.  This has led to several visits to the ‘time out chair’.

• We continue to get updates and good news from our US lawyer and our Kenyan lawyer.

• We have done some travel in Indiana and out.  We’ve been to the lake and took the kids out on a boat.  We’ve been to West Lafayette and played at Tropicanoe Cove and this past weekend Ben, Andy and I traveled to St. Louis for a wedding.

If you’re interested in the details, keep reading!

THE ADOPTION

In order for Eden to be recognized by the US as our adopted child, we must have a local adoption completed in Kenya, and we must have joint residency and custody for 24 months.  Originally, we thought that the 24 months would all have to be spent abroad and that we would have to appear in court on September 2, 2010.  Recently we have been told that our time here in the US will count towards the 24 months!  This is great news because it means that even with the maximum time in Kenya, we would only be there for 1 year instead of 2.  Also, we are looking into acquiring an extension on Eden’s travel visa.  Our Kenyan lawyer, Were, is going to request that the magistrate grant us an extension until April or so.  This would allow Eden to complete her treatment for latent TB and would give Andy a chance to get all of his immunizations for the first year.

TRAVEL

We’ve been very fortunate to have several opportunities for me and the kids to cool down in a pool this summer.  We’ve been to Tropicanoe Cove (with the help of Colin and Heidi) and have spent some time at neighborhood pools with friends.  Most recently Ben, Andy and I traveled to St. Louis for a wedding.  The family took a vote and decided that Eden would have more fun (and so would everyone at the wedding) if Eden stayed behind with Dida, Papa and Uncle Colin.  Andy was a trooper and slept almost the entire time in the car.  He swam in the pool and then posed for pictures at the Arch.

We are having a fun and busy summer and are so thankful to have time together.  We hope that you are able to find some time to relax and reflect on the blessings in your life!