Netzanette was really into shopping. She wanted it all! She would point to jewelry and before you could answer her silent request for it to be bought for her, she would be trying to put it on. She had to be on a short leash when shopping. She loved the clothes, loved the jewerly, and LOVED her new doll.
Kim had found a cloth doll that was dressed in tradional Ethiopian clothing. The doll was flatish (I know, that isn't a word yet!). She had huge eyes, big arms and legs, and a cloth scarf that matched the dress. I wanted to get my girls dolls, too, but this doll was less than beautiful and hardly reflected the beauty that the Ethiopian women really do have. Anyway, it was the doll that Nettie needed and wanted and likely the best money that Kim spent on our trip.
This doll went everywhere with us. And what was amazing, was to see how Nettie played with this doll. Nettie was the mom, and this was her baby. It was like looking into a time machine for us- a glimpse into Netza's past. Nettie got home and began to put real clothes onto this 12 inch doll. She would laugh. She would put the doll to sleep and wrap the doll's head with the scarf, tucking her in for "the long night ahead". And the cutest thing happened, she wanted to carry the doll on her back the way the people in Ethiopia carry their babies. They take a large piece of cloth and tie the baby onto their back, stomach of the baby is to the back of the mother. Nettie would throw her baby up over her head, holding the hands. Then try and hold the baby still and put the scarf that came with her over the baby's back. She clearly did not have enough hands for this so hired Mom for the job. Kim TRIED and TRIED to tie the baby and Nettie would get more and more mad. Though the baby was tied and it looked right to us, it was NOT right and Nettie knew it. She would pull the baby from her back in complete disgust, only to ask for it to be done again. I tried. I was no better, apparently! Anyway, it was really neat to see. She did know how to take care of the baby and it encouraged us that someone, at some point, took care of her.
This doll went everywhere with us. And what was amazing, was to see how Nettie played with this doll. Nettie was the mom, and this was her baby. It was like looking into a time machine for us- a glimpse into Netza's past. Nettie got home and began to put real clothes onto this 12 inch doll. She would laugh. She would put the doll to sleep and wrap the doll's head with the scarf, tucking her in for "the long night ahead". And the cutest thing happened, she wanted to carry the doll on her back the way the people in Ethiopia carry their babies. They take a large piece of cloth and tie the baby onto their back, stomach of the baby is to the back of the mother. Nettie would throw her baby up over her head, holding the hands. Then try and hold the baby still and put the scarf that came with her over the baby's back. She clearly did not have enough hands for this so hired Mom for the job. Kim TRIED and TRIED to tie the baby and Nettie would get more and more mad. Though the baby was tied and it looked right to us, it was NOT right and Nettie knew it. She would pull the baby from her back in complete disgust, only to ask for it to be done again. I tried. I was no better, apparently! Anyway, it was really neat to see. She did know how to take care of the baby and it encouraged us that someone, at some point, took care of her.
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