Coming home

We're in NY. Should be home 5ish. Our little man was a charmer all the way from Dubai, except for one hour when Mama thought he was sleepy not hungry. Can't wait to be home and see our little girl.
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Introducing...

Leo Dawit Inman!

Leo Dawit Inman...

...is ours! We breezed through the embassy after a little disturbance when a man fainted in line. Dawit stayed awake until the man at the window said, "Congratulations." And two seconds later, he was out. I know you're dying for a photo, and I may be able to post one later today. Technology here is sketchy at best. On the way to the embassy appointment yesterday, we decided on Dawit's name. However, we are calling him Dawit. 

The first day he was curious but tentative. Yesterday he started smiling and today he's all smiles and giggles. So far he's been incredibly easy. He eats like his sister, loves to babble. He has the cutest little curly mohawk. He sleeps about 8 hours, then has a bottle, then sleeps 2 more. We're eager to extend that! The best thing we packed is Mylicon. When he eats our American cereal, which he loves, he gets gas and he screams louder than anything I've ever heard. Caroline's gas cries had nothing on this boy's lungs.

Later I'll post a day-by-day account of our adventures, but wanted to give you a few tidbits on our little bundle. We are having so much fun with him and in Ethiopia. Yesterday we met Mesay, the young man we sponsor through Yezelalem Minch, and his brother. It was great. Dan, Shadley's husband, showed them iPhoto, and made everyone crack up. We had a wonderful visit with a translator from YM. Mesay is so handsome and his brother is a little joker. You'll see the pictures soon. Mesay's brother needs a sponsor if anyone is interested. I can send you some pretty hilarious photos of him. I don't know his age, but I guess 8.

We're getting ready to eat a traditional Ethiopian breakfast and visit YM. This afternoon we'll go to Gelgela and tonight a traditional Ethiopian dinner and dance.

Can't wait to show you our giggle box. We love him!

Back in Addis

We just arrived back from Awassa and are sitting at the guesthouse with Shadley, Dan, Esias (what a doll!) and Lindsey from the Bethany Iowa office. We had a wonderful time and saw amazing countryside. I'm half delirious from being in the car for a zillion hours so I'll post the details later. But here's one tidbit:

Shalom Orphanage is amazing, so wonderful. Yesterday, June 6, they celebrated their first anniversary. They waited for us to arrive and we celebrated with cake and a coffee ceremony and the director made a little speech. We were so honored to be part of it, and it was clear they all loved Dawit. I will share some great stories they told us about him later. Here's the really special part: One year ago June 6 when Shalom first opened its doors, our dossier was leaving the U.S. en route to Ethiopia -- the very same day!

We've arrived

Greetings from Addis Ababa. This is going to be quick as we're leaving for Awassa this morning. We arrived in Addis yesterday and had lots of time to relax and unpack. Birtukan and Nesibu are the BEST hosts and we love the Morning Coffee Guesthouse. We had a little snack of Shiro Wet and beets with amazing injera, then we had an informal coffee ceremony. And yes, I had three cups of the best coffee that has ever crossed my lips. Starbucks be gone! Then...Birtukan took us across the street to the Yezelalem Minch office where we met all the staff and learned more about our sponsored son. After that, she took us way across town to meet the most beautiful baby boy. There are no words to describe him, so I'll leave you with that until we can post some photos. We met all the babies as well, many of whom will soon be going home to America too. They are all adorable. We only got to visit for a few minutes, take a tour of the house which is just pristine, then leave for the guesthouse as it was getting late.

We had dinner and went to bed and slept wonderfully under the haze of Lunesta. We're starting to feel normal again.

Okay, gotta run. Spence is jiggling his pockets for me to get up. We'll leave for Awassa this morning and come back tomorrow afternoon. Shadley and family should arrive while we're gone.

Oh yeah, we miss Caroline to the point of tears. Please give her hugs and kisses for us. Love to everyone!

We're off!

Sitting at BNA waiting to board a plane to JFK and ultimately ET. Oh
boy! Posting from my Blackberry and preparing to be incommunicato for
a while. Love to Little C.

Happy day!

On the eve of our departure, my 40th birthday, I got the best present ever: notification that our Visa 37 (reprint approval) is en route to Ethiopia. That is hopefully the last paperwork hurdle we'll encounter in this long journey. Now we can board the plane with peace.

I hope our cheap old suitcases hold together. They are stuffed to the gills, mainly with donations and gifts.

Last Sunday, our church held a send-off party for us and gave all these items to donate to the various organizations we'll visit. Many also gave us money so we can purchase one or more big-ticket items once we learn what their specific needs are.

And this is what Caroline did to her room this morning while I packed. Allison, you asked for a housesitter's to-do list. Here's item #1.