Shhh... I'm reading...

Currently in the midst of three different books. One is on Social Attachment issues, one is a memoir that Emily B gave me about an American boy who grew up in Ethiopia, and the other is "You're Chocolate, I'm Vanilla"-- which was suggested by my social worker about raising a child in a mixed race family. I can't decide which to read first, so I'm reading all of them a little at a time. That and trying to pull my dossier requirements together. I have to go to the Denver Police Department soon and have them write a letter that states I'm not a criminal and notarize it! Even though my fingerprints have been sent to the FBI and the CBI. I guess they can't tell if I have/have not been arrested by that?? Ok, I'm taking a break and taking two nieces and my nephew to the Aquarium! Yea! :)

I've got my reading list for a while

Today I ordered several books from an Amharic phrase book so I can start learning some words that my baby will know, to Ethiopian history/travel books, to books about adoption, mixed race families, and social attachment issues. I am very excited for the books to come! If anyone out there in blog land knows of great books on adoption to read, please post a comment and let me know. :)

Since it is the weekend and holiday I'm on hold waiting for my IAN rep to get back to me about specifics in paperwork I am needing to fill out.

I can't help my mind drifting to constantly thinking about the child that will become mine. He is probably being born this month. I am trying to understand his life now and why he will become an orphan. The circumstances that surround his eventual need for me in his life will shape him forever and I will have to try to help him understand the world and his life before me. I read a little about creating a lifebook for him. I am still investigating that idea. I think if I can educate myself about Ethiopian culture and issues that surround adopted kids I will be best prepared to help guide him and help give him answers to his questions as he grows up.

I am planning on recording the sounds in the orphanage when I am there. And asking his caregivers to sing any of the songs they may sing in the orphanage to me (and my laptop). I know that for a baby/toddler with all of the things in life drastically changing if I can provide one sense-- the sense of sound-- that can be familiar it might help keep a calming influence once we leave. And I will also take photos of his surroundings and caregivers and then put them on the wall around his crib. Ah, well. These are the thoughts that keep me up at night...