These are a few of my favorite things!!

So I thought it would be fun, and helpful to those just beginning the process if maybe I made a list of a variety of things both mom and I have grown to love over the course of the adoption. I think every post I will do something different so that it doesn't become overwhelming. I will especially do a post about things that were essential to our travel when we get back! Hope you enjoy!!!
BOOKS!!
"I'm Chocolate, Your Vanilla" by Marguerite A. Wright is a great book about raising children of color.
"There is no Me Without You", you should read this if you have adopted, are considering adopting or are just a human being! When my grandma read this book it helped to put Ethiopia's struggle into perspective and she has become much more supportive of the adoption now.
"Held at a Distance, my Rediscovery of Ethiopia" was a great book, I only read about 10 pages, then Mom misplaced it.. oops.
"My Family, My Journey: A Baby Book for Adoptive Families" is by Zoe Francesca and Susie Ghahremani and a really great option for adoptive families who want baby books!
"The Soul of a New Cuisine" by Marcus Samuelsson- an Ethiopian adoptee has great stories and recipes from all over Africa. I would strongly recommend his Ethiopian chocolate cake recipe from this book, its amazing!!
"Foods of Ethiopia" by Barbara Sheen is a great cookbook we just received a few days ago that has a lot of recipes and explanations to go along with them.
"Lonely Planet Ethiopian Amharic Phrasebook" is essential for those traveling and/or bringing home older children to help with the language barrier.
"Kinki Kreations" by Jena Renee Williams is a step by step (with pictures of super cute kids) instructions about doing hair from ages infant to teen.
"E is for Ethiopia" which is a rhyming alphabet book about things in Ethiopia that supports education in Ethiopia and is available at http://www.eisforethiopia.com.
"The Perfect Orange: A Tale from Ethiopia" by Frank P. Araujo is a great illustrated book for slightly older children.
Both "Pretty Brown Face" by Andrea and Brian Pinkney and "Shades of Black" by Sandra Pinkney are great books that celebrate the beauty of African children.
"In the Small, Small Night" by Jane Kurtz is a great children's book about traditional childhood stories from Ghana.
"The Beekeeper of Lalibela" by Cristina Kessler is a great book for older children with wonderful illustrations.
"Why I Choose You" by Gregory E. Lang is AMAZING. I got it for Sophie for her Christmas present (weird I know) and while we were reading it the other night I was just crying out loud it's so moving! It has great pictures of beautiful adoptive families and 100 reasons why "I choose you". I think it would make a perfect present for any one who is adopting/ had adopted.