To my precious baby girl

I realize that I have not written a lot about how I feel during this whole adoption process. After all isn't that what a blog is for? Maybe I feel that I would be to vulnerable if I did write my true feelings. But I also feel that it is important for Annalyn to know how much my heart aches for her everyday. There is not one day that goes by without me praying or wondering what she is doing. Everyday I ask is she loved? Is she happy? Is she even born? At least when a baby is conceived and growing in her mommy's belly the family knows that she is safe and well cared for. I just have to trust that God is holding you in His arms loving and protecting my baby girl as I would. So as we continue to wait and wait, and wait I have to trust that this is in His perfect timing. Everyday I fight the feelings of bitterness, resentment, and try not to be angry with God for keeping us apart but then I remember that through this time I also am being chastened, refined and learning the art of patience.

So to my precious Annalyn: Your forever family loves you so much. Even though you may not exists in this world yet, you live in our hearts. Our family is not complete with out you with us. You are treasured and special and we are waiting with open arms longing for you to come home.

and we wait. . . . .

Statement on the Pending Reduction of Intercountry Adoption in Ethiopia

Last week the Ethiopian Ministry of Women’s, Children’s and Youth Affairs announced their

intention to reduce intercountry adoptions by 90% beginning March 10, 2011. The Ministry’s

plan for a dramatic reduction is apparently based on two primary issues; 1) the assumption that

corruption in intercountry adoption is systemic and rampant and 2) the Ministry’s resources

should be focused on the children for whom intercountry adoption is not an option. Without

further announcements by the Government of Ethiopia, it is our understanding that the Ministry’s

plan will be initiated this week.

The Ministry’s plan is a tragic, unnecessary and disproportionate reaction to concerns of isolated

abuses in the adoption process and fails to reflect the overwhelmingly positive, ethical and legal

services provided to children and families through intercountry adoption. Rather than eliminate

the right of Ethiopian children to a permanent family, we encourage the Ministry to accept the

partnerships offered by governments, NGOs, and foundations. Such partnerships could increase

the Ministry’s capacity to regulate service providers and further ensure ethical adoptions.

The Ministry’s plan which calls for the processing of only five adoption cases per work day, will

result not only in systemic and lasting damage to a large sector of social services, but will have

an immediate impact on the lives and futures of children. Moving from over 4,000 adoptions per

year to less than 500 will result in thousands of children languishing in under-regulated and

poorly resourced institutions for years. For those children who are currently institutionalized and

legally available for adoption, the Ministry’s plan will increase their time languishing in

institutions for up to 7-years.

Joint Council respectfully urges the Ministry of Women’s, Children’s and Youth Affairs to

reconsider their plan and to partner with governments, NGOs and foundations to achieve their

goals and avoid the coming tragedy for children and families.

I love Germany!

We went to Garmisch, Germany to go skiing. I don't know if I have ever seenmountains so beautiful. I mean REALLY incredible. Reid went to ski school during the day and "kids night out" in the evenings so Andy and I ran around like college kids. We stayed in an American military run resort called Edelweiss. It was a little slice of heaven for us. American beds, American pools, American workout facilities and Starbucks coffee. Sigh. . . truly a vacation. Yes, we will be going back for ski week next year. . . definitely!

Diaper duty

So my beautiful 5 year-old is officially day and nighttime potty trained!! Funny thing is that he has been for some time now and I had not even realized it. Yes, I am a not a perfect parent but this makes me seem down right negligent!

About 6 months ago we tried to go a few nights without pull ups. The first night success, the next, not so much. So I decided that I would rather spend the 15 euro on pulls ups than constantly wash dirty sheets. After that I kind of forgot about it.

A few weeks ago it occurred to me "my boy is almost 5 now he should not be wearing pull ups!". Reid and I sat down and had the mother/son chat about being a big boy and getting up in the middle of the night to go potty etc. etc. He looks up at me with those big brown eyes and says "Mommy I do get up in the night to go potty. My pull ups don't have pee pees in them." Ah!" I thought, "no way!" I didn't believe him.

We have been monitoring for the past 3 weeks and not a pee pee in sight. My son was telling the truth after all. Last night was the first "big boy pants" night and everything came out dry. I think back to all those wasted pull ups and wonder how long has Reid not needed them. But am I proud to say that the Anderson family is officially diaper free! well, at least for a few months :)

Exchange? Or not to exchange?

Went to Auchan today. It is kind of like Europe's version of Super Walmart (I use that analogy very loosely). I got the usual, eggs, milk, tape, and christmas lights. I checked out and as I am leaving I realize that I bought blue christmas lights instead of white. Annoyed with myself I go up to the cashier and explain (in very bad Italian) that I made a mistake and can I go and exchange the color really quick. She smiles and tells me sure but I must go to customer service first. Ok, so off I go wait in line ( the Italian version) and finally after "elbowing" my way to the front I explain my situation. She gives me some paperwork to fill out makes copies of my documents and then sends me over to a second customer service "line". By this point I am starting to grow annoyed with the system. .. . really? two different steps in this process? So I get up to the second counter explain my situation again. He has me fill out more paperwork, makes copies of my documents and then sends me off to yet another person. REALLY?! This person explains that I must go get my item and then bring it to the security guard to check. I do this get the guard's "official" approval and then he sends me BACK to the first customer service counter. Forty five minutes has already gone by, I have to pee, and I am going to be late to pick up Reid. The lady at this counter was very pleasant. She checked my product, checked my receipt, gave me money back from the first item and then tells me to go back in the check out line and repurchase my item. Well, there is no turning back now and I finish the deal but left with white lights AND 4 more white hairs. Lesson Learned: In order to return an item in Italy you will exchange your sanity along with it.

Thanksgiving Adventure 2010

Day 1 (The day before Thanksgiving)

Armed with a three hour early release (darn my ambition, I only used two hours of it), we left Rome on the front cusp of traffic and drove up the A1 into the most beautiful region of the world: Umbria and Tuscany. We stopped at a gas station to do my favorite thing as a diplomat: buy toll passes and cell phone recharges using gas coupons! I love being supplemented for my cell phone bill :). We arrived at our agritourismo - a beautiful restored farmhouse on the Umbria / Tuscany border. It was night, so instead of a hilltop view we enjoyed a plethora of the stars. All our friends had either just arrived, or were fast approaching. Dinner comprised of a shmorgeshbort of apertivos. After a long dinner, it was time to put Reid to bed. Kate (being the more social of the two) went down to mingle with the crowd in the great hall. After putting Reid down, I did what I love to do: sat by the fire in our apartment and just relaxed. I have a lot to be thankful for.

Day 2 (Thanksgiving)

Traditions are traditions. Therefore, after waking to a breathtaking hilltop view of olive groves, colorful fall trees, a lake in the distance, and mist in the air – I tied my shoes and undertook the most solemn of thanksgiving traditions: the Turkey Trot. Not knowing exactly where I was jogging, I took off down a dirt road and wound through olive tree lined paths. Not sure if I ran more or less than the traditional 5k, but the hills made the work out a work out. I came back to a sick child. Reid has just lost his thanksgiving day cookies in the trash can, and was lying on the couch looking as pitiful as a sick child on Thanksgiving. The rest of the day consisted of naps, naps, and more naps. Dinner was at 5:00 – there were 23 adults and 19 children. Each wife wanted to outdo the other wife in culinary skill, resulting in a cornucopia of food. Reid and his friend Isabel said grace in Italian (the prayer said at school before every meal). After grace, Reid didn't have the energy for dinner, so he watched Jungle Book in out apartment while Kate and I stuffed our faces. During dinner I learned that this region was called 'Colle San Paolo'. Translated in English it's called the 'Hills of St. Paul.' Although Italians obviously don't celebrate Thanksgiving, it's fitting that Paul tells us to be thankful. And sitting in such a beautiful setting, I have a lot to be thankful for.

Day 3 (The day after Thanksgiving)

We slept until 11:00. I'll repeat that. We slept until 11:00. It was amazing. Reid woke up a different boy. Although he wasn't yet to 100 percent, he was fast approaching. We awoke in time to take a quick shower, eat some leftover pie, and hop in the car for our second Thanksgiving meal: the Italian one. It was an adult only event. The older kids (high-school age) watched the younger ones. Our biggest fear was a call at lunch saying that Reid threw up all over the monopoly board – but the call never came. We drove to Città della Pieve and ate the traditional Italian feast of antipasti, two primis, two secondis, a dolce, and a cafe'. Afterwards we rolled out and walked down the street to the narrowest alleyway in all of Italy. It was so narrow, in fact, that we missed it the first two times. The alleyway was called “via Baciadonne”. Translated it means “kiss a woman street”. The name resulted in a mass of unflattering and risqué pictures. Of course Kate and I did not partake... The evening was filled with games, cards, more games, and a general air of joviality. Looking at my beautiful wife laugh while playing 'catch phrase', I have a lot to be thankful for.

Paris and Disney land

So I must say we definitely saved the best for last. On friday we made a last minute decision to take a day trip to Paris. We really had no plans but thought if we could have lunch and see the Eiffel Tower we could deem this day a success. And success it was! The day started out a little rough as we wondered around the outskirts of the city trying to find parking. We settled on one garage which I must admit was in a sketchy part of town but we all decided that if we leave before dark we should be just fine.

We caught the metro and had lunch at a cute cafe (with "real" french onion soup) that over looks St. Paul's cathedral and then started meandering. We only had a few hours before we needed to leave but Blake in

So as we were looking for our car in the garage and we heard this girl screaming. We started to head cautiously in that direction and out of nowhere a motorcycle comes screeching right towards us. Sure enough there were two young kids on the back of it with terror in there eyes. They flew past us and off they sped. I kept thinking thank you God for keeping us safe! That could have been us. But I can't let that change my mind about my favorite city. We will just have to park in a safer area next time.sisted that we get a picture of him in front of the Eiffel Tower smoking a "fag". We stopped at a local market for the essentials, you know, champagne, plastic cups, a baguette and chocolates.

When we reached the tower we found a spot and relaxed the rest of the afternoon. We took pictures, ate, drank and acted like stupid Americans. It was great! On the way back to the car we stopped to get crepes at a road side stand. I could get really fat in France ;)

The next day we went to Disney Land Paris. . . so much fun. Blake and I hit the haunted house which we swear is a lot more scarer than the American version (a lot of dead brides). Reid had a ba

ll. I think his favorite ride was the Pirates of Caribbean ride. And to finish the day we had dinner with all the Disney characters. It is fun to be a kid!