Hello from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

I'm sorry for the delay in communication. After what became a 17-hour flight, we arrived very late at Bole International Airport. After having some soup in the dining room, we went straight to bed.

Because we went straight to visit the lawyer Monday morning and then to meet the kids, the time became just a little too short to make it to the Addis Hilton (where I am now) to use the internet. Add the time change to that and now you're reading this on Tuesday.

There is so much I could write, but I know everyone really wants to know about the kids.

Yesterday around 10 AM, we met Mariah Hani and Elisha Israel. They are so much more beautiful and amazing than any pictures or stories we've received from the orphanage. If we weren't completely in love with them before yesterday, we're more than in love today.

And they seem to be warming up to us. From the moment they were placed in our arms until the end of our time together, there were no tears but plenty of smiles, laughs and fun time playing together. They love to crawl to us and climb on us. They listen as we talk to them and tell them about ourselves. (I don't think they really even understand Amharic, so English is most likely out of the question.)

Mariah Hani is especially cheery and enjoyed just about every moment. Elisha Israel is more solemn, which may be due to the viral infection he's fighting right now. The nurse has informed us that he is on antibiotics. He doesn't laugh as much as his sister, but loves his toys, especially anything noisy.

After we leave the Hilton, we're headed to the Merkato, the largest outdoor market in Africa.

After a couple hours of bargaining, Mariah and Elisha will spend the rest of the day at the guest house with us. Our embassy appointment has been moved to tomorrow which will finish up our official business in Ethiopia. After that it is mostly free time and bonding time with the kids.

We love you all very much. I hope to post again--maybe next time with pictures--at least one more time before the end of the week.