Happy Birthday "H"

Today is his first birthday.  Definitely bittersweet.  We can't be with him but we know he is taken care of and is a healthy, happy baby.  He did officially become our son last Friday, December 3rd.  This was a very emotional day.  Waiting for the judge seemed like an eternity, especially for my stomach.  She asked us seven questions which all of our answers were, "yes" and then she said, "He is yours."  The best three words I think I've ever heard.  We have been on this journey with six other couples and it was such a blessing to have this connection.  We should travel again in about six weeks to get him.  We are waiting for his birth certificate and passport to be processed.  When we return we will be there from a Thursday to Thursday (along with travel).  We will travel to Awassa to hopefully meet his mother.  This will be an emotional trip for sure.  We want to go there anyways to see where he is from.  The big city of Addis doesn't give a picture of the whole country.  We then will get him on the Monday and go to the US Embassy on Tuesday.  His paperwork should be processed then and be ready by Thursday and we will leave that Thursday night.  We will keep you updated on the progress of his paperwork.  Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you!