The Balcony & The rest of the first day

So, at GLA there are three levels (I think).  The first floor is where we came in and met.  Down there are the offices, the table for staff/volunteer/parent meals, and the kitchen.  Then next level are the nurseries. I would share pictures, but those include other people's children and so I will describe it instead.  There are 3 different areas of children.  First there is the NICU.  There were perhaps 8-10 babies in here.  Pretty amazing room, with nurses, warming beds and incubators.  The next room has about the same number of babies...maybe 8.  These are the non-walkers.  It is a small room with cribs and pan-n-plays. Off of this nursery, as well as off of the NICU there is a balcony that the babies can be brought out onto.

Then there is the larger nursery.  There are technically 3 different rooms.  First you walk into a small room with maybe 8 cribs.  I think this room has children that are mainly walkers, but maybe not quite so stable on their feet yet.  Inside the next door are two large rooms with LOTS of cribs and LOTS of kiddos ranging from age 1-3.  It is "dangerous" to enter this room unless you plan to pick up lots and lots of little ones :-)  I made the mistake (only it was on purpose) of squatting down and then I was plastered with love from every direction!  It is actually a room I would love to spend ALL day in!  There is a large closed in balcony off of this room that the children play on.  There are nannies that watch the children all day and night.  Hats off to these women!!!!  They have quite the job and I am grateful to them!!!

Finally you reach the top level of GLA.  This is a large balcony that is covered yet open.  The view is spectacular!  There are lots of toys, swings, places to sit and rock and plenty for little ones to do.  There were 6 or 7 volunteers here this week.  Each volunteer is assigned 7 children and they bring their children from the nursery to the balcony one at a time.  This is also where parents spend the morning and afternoons with their children.  Each child has a bin (if they have an adoptive family) and in this bin are items sent to the child. I spent time playing with M with things I sent him.  This is also something volunteers do with the kids to help them attach to the things and remember the mamas and papas so far away that are waiting for them!  So without further adieu, I will post some pictures of our first day up on the balcony :-)

Views from the Balcony!

I would NEVER tire of this view!

Grandma and M

We didn't sit too long reading...just sitting and taking rest happened just every once in a while, the rest of the time its GO, GO, GO with this guy!

As you can see!

Grandma getting a little cuddle time and M rehydrating :-)

He's trying to get one of the volunteer's flip flops, this kid loves trying on every pair of shoes in sight!

Giving Mama a hug!  Yeah, I loved it!

Trying on my shoes :-)

Getting a little leg workout and looking pretty cute!

More rehydrating and a little snuggle time for me :-)

Trying to blow bubbles but not quite figuring it out yet!

We were up on this balcony until noon each day, and then after lunch and nap (which he did not always take, and he can climb right out of his crib!) until 5 pm.  Today at one point in my school day, while looking out at the snow and cold I LONGED to be with him up on this balcony!

We also went out on a little walk today.

M looking back at GLA.  You can see the balcony we were on.

This is not the end of day one, because we ended the day at a most fabulous guest house, eating a most fabulous meal with a great family!  I will not post pictures of this either as it is their home, but it was a great place to stay!  The children from the older home at GLA have preschool here and there was an amazing balcony that we could use.  This I suppose I could post a picture of.  I sat on this balcony early morning and late at night thinking, praying, listening and just taking in all of Haiti that I could!