the day after we met

Ladybug and I recently had our 5 year anniversary of being a family.  It is an important day in my life. 

I was clueless.  Really.  First time mom.  Tired.  On the verge of being sick.  In a a foreign country.  Jet lagged.  And questioning just how I got to that point.  As big as that day is for me...it is the second day story that she prefers to hear about.

I went back to the orphanage after a fitful night of sleep.  Wondering if the day held more promises.  I waited out in the courtyard as the nanny's dressed her.  In many, many, many layers.  Ethiopians don't want their children to be cold.  Later in the day I would find that Ladybug was dressed in an undershirt, tights, a t-shirt, a pair of pants, a long sleeve shirt, and a jacket.  No wonder she was  sweating.

They dressed her.  They opened the door to toddler building.  They helped her off the front stoop.  They pointed her in my direction.  She began to toddle in my direction.  She wandered toward me.  Then she saw me.  She stopped. 

Then she turned and ran in the opposite direction. 

I had to chase her to catch her.  She was having none of this.  She didn't know who this strange white woman was but she wanted no part of me.

I got out my hip sling, stuck her in it, and didn't let her down all day.  She slept on me.  She peed on me -- no really -- peed right through her many layers and onto me.  She pooped on me -- she had belly issues.  She ate while sitting on my hip.  And she wailed for her first mom while she clung to me.

And I learned fast.  Sink or swim.

Mean Mama