Thursday, March 12, 2009

Here Comes the Sun

Yesterday afternoon the phone rang, with news of our child. She is 8 months old. She has lashes upon lashes and deep, wide, moon-shaped eyes. She is heart attack cute. The only word I can think to describe her is sunny. She beams. I thought seeing pictures of a child would be devastating as I figured she would look scared and alone and unwell. This is a little girl whose parents have both died, and whose older siblings are all staying in the care of an uncle. None of that is fair or right. All of it will keep me up nights. And yet in the five photos we were given I swear it's as if she were lit from within, saying "I got this. I'm fine. Now you two get your shit together." I look at her and feel knocked in the gut by our outrageous luck to get to know her.

We're underwater with stunned, swollen hearts.

We've decided to name her Ava.

Waiting friends, your time is now. I used to hate it when people would tell me the call will come when we least expected it. How could that be, when all I do is wait expectantly? In the end, the call comes when you least expect it. Time will go goofy on you, and the floor will open up and the phone will feel on fire. I can't wait to compare notes. Ring, phones, ring!

Thank God. She's almost here.

43 comments:

Elisabeth said...

Hallelujah!!!!!!! I am so exuberant for you!!!! Yippeeeeeeeee!!!!

Kat & Stacy said...

!!!!!!! I can barely see to write this because I'm all teared up! Ava Lende is a gorgeous name...and she sounds gorgeous...and your post was gorgeous...and suddenly the day and the world seem so much happier. I am at a loss for words...But I am smiling big time for you guys. What a happy happy day! I can't believe I'm the first to comment! i feel like I just got let in on the BEST secret! Seriously...what a happy day!

Julia said...

Much better than my referral post.

Yay for Mama Dogs, Papa Dogs & puppies that beam sunshine.

filoli said...

Holy shit! All I read was the first line and had to comment...because I am so freaking excited for you guys!

Okay...back to your post...

filoli said...

I have nothing to say. My eyes are watering up. You said it all.

Life.

Ernessa T. Carter said...

Oh my God! Super yea! I'm so excited for you. And what a gorgeous name!

missy said...

YAY!!!! so thrilled for you and your precious ava. the way you described her it so beautiful. can't wait til you can paste pictures of her everywhere!!!! congratulations on the puppy, mamadog!

Christine said...

I am so excited, tears in my eyes, can't write!!!!!!!! Ava Lende, beautiful. I love knowing the name. She is almost here, thank God. I wonder how you will sleep tonight. Congratulations, you mama and papa dogs!!!!

Christine

More Dorrs said...

YAY! Beautiful name for I can only imagine is a beautiful little lady.

-beka

Stacie said...

WOW!!! MAMA DOG!! Congratulations a million times over. So very excited to read this wonderful news!! So happy for you!!

Julie said...

Happy tears here. Ava Lende. Beautiful. Just beautiful.

Lori said...

Oh my, oh my, oh my! Congratulations you two! Yes! Ethiopian children are "lit from within" (first heard this from Julie) and you are completely right about time standing still and going all wonky on you when the call comes. WOW.

Jana said...

OH, joy. Happiness.

CONGRATULATIONS.

Enjoy.

Heather said...

That is such wonderful news! and a very beautiful name, I might add.

The Journey said...

Congratulations! I just found your blog via a link on another (Kevin and Stacie's maybe?)and LOVED reading your recent posts. Ava Lende, what a beautiful name.

jen said...

Congratulations!! I'm so happy for you. Congratulations! Beautiful name, really lovely.

Neil, Amy and The Girls said...

Congratulations!!! I am so happy for you and your sweet little baby girl! She sounds like a dream come true!

If you get a chance, will you please email me at neilandamyarnold@yahoo.com. I have a quick question for you. Thanks!

coffeemom said...

OH MY GOODNESS~!!!!! I can't believe it!!!! OK, I CAN!!!! WOW! I am so thrilled for you and her too. These referral posts always make me cry and give me chills....and now I will be praying for a swift and successful court date. now the waiting gets hard (for me at least it does) but now you have a daughter!! Beautiful beautiful news! M

SOUCYQ said...

W00T! I am so very happy for the both of you. Our situation is similar in that Z's parents are both deceased and she was being taken care of by her uncle. She has siblings too. She is just under 2 years old.

Ms. Fricknfrack said...

Mazel tov to all of you!!! Wishing you a speedy court date and travel. Oh and more pictures during your wait.

Meredith said...

My Little Sweet Potato is doing the truffle shuffle day and night over this fantastic news! I now feel certain Ava and Stella will be friends for life. Congrats!

Christine said...

Congratulations to all three of you! What wonderful, wonderful news. We are thrilled for you and can't wait for more news. XOXO!

Jen said...

We got our referral the same day! Isn't it like no other feeling in the world. Congratulations.

Ryane said...

Congratulations! What exciting news! Praying for a speedy court date and passing the first go 'round.

Beautiful name.

Ryane

Gretchen said...

Hell yes! I am beyond thrilled for you and yours- YOUR CALL CAME! YOUR DAUGHTER IS ALMOST IN YOUR ARMS!!! Oh, sweet Mama Dog- your time is NOW. I raise my beer bottle your direction- CHEERS!

Rachel said...

How wonderful! Many congratulations! And such a beautiful name!

Harvard to Homemaker said...

Hi!
I just linked to your blog from Little Ethiopian - we brought our then 5 month old daughter home (using Gladney) in September - congratulations!! My stoumach did turns for you as I remembered the way it feels when you realize that this is "the call" - great news!
Elise

msl said...

Such wonderful, joyous news!!! Congratulations on your DAUGHTER!!! Ava Lende such a beautiful name for a beautiful girl!!! Let the sun shine!!!

Meagan Brown said...

Been thinking about Ava Lende all day. Can't wait to see her picture!

Jennifer said...

Congratulations on your little ray of sunshine! Beautiful name!

kn said...

Congratulations! This is my first time arriving on your blog - what a sweet day.

You write and I can feel a bit what it must be like to get that call.

Simply love her name!

Hope she is in your arms very quickly.

Blog Shmog said...

Yay! That is awesome news! Can't wait to see her sweet face!

Alex said...

First time reading your blog & all I can say is "Yipppeee!!" Ava, your mom is a beautiful writer, and you are going to have some fun with these parents! Huge congratulations, Mama Dog, from another ET waiter.

~Alex

Shauna said...

Congratulations!! I found your blog through Julie's. I just read your whole blog and I love it... I too am adopting a baby girl from Ethiopia.. I look forward to following your story.
Shauna

Rachel said...

A beautiful name and a beautiful post. Congratulations.

Laura said...

I just stumbled on your blog today and was so moved by your post - I read the entire blog! I am thrilled for you...and what a beautiful name. Can't wait to hear more about your journey.

los cazadores said...

Congrats!!! Beautiful!

Cindy

Jen said...

March 11 is the best. Now we just wait for a court date:) Hopefully we will both go smoothly and quickly. have you come down from cloud 9 yet? I am starting to think again but just barely.

Claudia said...

Oh wow, wow, wow! That's wonderful news! Am thrilled for you!!

LOVE the name, by the way. LOVE IT. Can't wait for pictures!

April said...

Congratulations!!!

mama becca said...

WOW. Amazing!!!
I'm late in reading this... I've been away... please forgive me... but my total joy for you is no less, just late!!! AWESOME!
becca :)

Farmboy and Buttercup said...

Wonderful news!

Your family is blessed.

Juliet said...

Hooray! Happy, Happy.