Bathtime!

Right after we arrived on our first day in Ethiopia, they were beginning to give the kiddos a bath. I asked if I could go watch our son get bathed b/c I wanted to see how they do baths at the orphanage. They start bathtime at 3 o'clock and bathe every kid until they are finished. Justus Derero got in the tub. The kids stand up there in the tub and the special mother dips water from a big 5 gallon bucket. She soaps them quickly and scrubs them hard. Then, she does their hair. Each time she dips out of the bucket to rinse with clean water. Then, it's out they go and into a towel where they get a quick rub down with oil or lotion and then the children put their own clothes on.

So, when we got to the hotel, I tried to do something similar. I knew he'd be scared half to death of a big tub full of water. They had those hand held shower head thingies at the hotel so I just soaped him and let him "help" me squirt himself off. I did shampoo as well. I was amazed at how rough he would soap himself at the same time I was trying to bathe him.

When we got home, I just let the water run out of the faucet and used a cup to rinse. Then, with each bath...I let a little more water fill in the tub. So....now the tub is at least 1/2 way full like a regular bath. He LOVES the bath. He takes a couple of trucks or plastic animals and gives them a bath too while he's in there. He also likes to pretend he's making "injera" and he'll serve me some.

After we got done feeding the ducks, he imitated them in the bath. He's blowing bubbles face down and will lay on his back and giggle when the water gets in  his ears.....I'm thinking swim lessons might be in our near future for April maybe? We shall see...:-) Now, all we need is a rubber duckie.

With Much Love,