Ethiopia: Day 2

Monday January 4

Ok, going to bed at 8 last night was not the most terrific idea we've ever had, since we were both awake by 230am. (But we were so tired!)

This morning our tour of the National Museum was postponed for an hour because our luggage came in! (Apparently getting it picked up was a nuisance because they didn't want to give it to John since the bag was actually listed under my name.) That was a relief to say the least- tho in all my awake time this morning I'd devised intricate plans to make do without. Thankfully, now I can just wear my original clothes that I packed.

The tour of the National Museum was very interesting. There were a lot of artifacts from Ethiopia's long history, as far back as the 5^th or 6^th century BC. And then Lucy, the oldest skeleton. Fikker does a great job of tour guiding, and seems really knowledgeable about the history of the country.

This afternoon was just relaxing and getting papers ready for tomorrow. Fikker (our CHI rep who comes with us everywhere and gives the tours and such) helped us out.

The food here at the HOH is SO good! I'm going to be obese before I roll on out of here.

One of the other families took their baby to the doctor. He said the baby was “American sick, Ethiopian healthy”. Guess they think we're weenies.

Isaac Tamirat continues to be a snuggler, especially when he is tired, but we've gotten more smiles and a even few giggles. Although most of the giggles were when he was playing with Almaz.

They have then drink hot orange juice to boost the immune system. Just a smooshed orange with hot water, I guess. Or maybe just smooshed orange without water, heated up. They like it steaming hot tho, none of this sissy lukewarm stuff.

The Emperor's Throne

These are Pillows. They look very comfy.


Lucy.


Peeking out the Window

And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.
Gen. 1:8

Ethiopia: Day One and Traveling

From my Trip Journal:

Friday to Sunday January 1, 2, and 3

We left The Fort January 1 at 1025 in the morning and finally arrived in Addis Ababa at 10pm on January 2 (Saturday). We got in the wrong line about 3 times at immigration and then finally got our visa and through customs. In the end, we were the very last ones. :( Then finally to the baggage claim, where we found we were sans the suitcase with all our clothes in it. The donations and all Isaac Tamirat's things were safe and sound, tho. It took forever to get the baggage claim people squared away (they even weighed our other bags, like maybe we were over the limit in total and they'd just dumped it out of the plane to get up over a mountain or something) and finally around midnight we found the Hilton guy, and shuttled to the Hilton for the night.

We slept ok, but were awake before the alarm from the Muslim prayers broadcasting through the neighborhood. And probably nerves, and the bed was sort of hard. But after many many hours in airports and on airplanes, I was thankful for any mattress at all.

In the morning we hung around and coordinated with the other families as to what was the plan. We were finally able to connect with Tsegay and our ride to the HOH came around 1130. Shortly after that our babies arrived. There were two other families with us, all with little boys. They are all just dolls. ;)

So in toddled Isaac Tamirat with Almaz (Tsegay's wife). He came to me reluctantly, but only cried for about a minute. Once he settled down, he wouldn't go to John at all. He would slap his hand away. But eventually John took him anyway, and he again only cried for a minute or so. He did ok, as long as one person held him, and that person didn't move. Any sort of transition wasn't good. And he clung like crazy to the book we'd sent him with our pictures in them. Not that he really wanted to see the pictures, but I suppose the book was just about the only familiar thing at that point. He did at one point sort of look from the picture back to us, and maybe he realized we were the same as in the book, although it didn't seem to make him any more happy to be there.

So after the HOH meeting, we took our kids back to the HOH2, which is the guest house. We settled in our room a little. Again, Isaac Tamirat did fine unless you moved (as in, you had to stay sitting, or stay standing, not pass him to the other parent -Parent?! I've never been one of those before- and he hated anything new such as the toys we brought him). He got more comfortable throughout the day, tho, and by evening was exploring the new toys and books we brought, and had even smiled a few times.

He's an eater, that's for sure! He can really put it away, which explains his big chunkalicious belly. His skin is so delicious brown, and he's a snuggler. At least so far. But then, so was Stanley for about the first 3 days, and he turned out to be a total spaz. Haha. (Ok, now I'm comparing my little boy to my dog. Sigh.)

Almaz sort of said he was a little jabberbox (At least I think she did. I sort of had a hard time understanding a lot of what she said, unfortunately), but for the longest time didn't make much noise unless he was crying. By evening he was saying “Es” and “Ma”. (Which we later found to mean "ball" and "give me")

He sits on the potty well, and even had some success tonight before bed, tho John got to change his first dirty diaper this afternoon which was highly entertaining. He did a great job, when he wasn't gagging. hehe.

In the afternoon we also went on a tour around Addis. It was neat to see their different monuments and important landmarks and learn a bit about the history, although most of it I probably don't remember already now. Hopefully some of our pictures turn out ok, tho shooting from a moving vehicle with a baby on your lap isn't necessarily greatly conducive to great photography. Case in point:

Nice. This is a monument of the Headless Horseman.
At least that's what we're telling people.


First Family Picture.


City Streets


Sure, I'll climb up on that scaffolding.


Dinner.


Almost a smile.

And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.
Gen. 1:5

40 hours, and The Latest Breaking News

We've been back now 40 hours. We've been to the doctor (and met my coworkers). We played Kick the Volleyball with Grandpa at the office yesterday, and met John's coworkers. Isaac Tamirat was totally sacked out last night, and fell asleep around 4. We woke him up at 6 enough to eat (wouldn't miss a chance to eat for anything!) but he was so grumpy and sleepy we had him back in bed by 730. This morning he's been wide awake and in a really good mood... since a little before 5. :)

He tolerates the dog better already. It sort of became a game to yell at Stanley when he came close instead of a scream of terror and death grip on your neck like at first. By now, Isaac's even reached out and touched him a couple times, as long as he's safely perched on the couch where Stanley can't reach. :) Not bad for a day. I think they'll be best buds in no time.

I got my first kiss today! It was very wet there on my cheek, mildly snotty, and deliriously precious. :)

Since there was some degree of nonsensical-ness with his measurements, this is what I learned at the doctor: (at 22 months)

Weight: 26 pounds (between the 25th and 50th percentiles)
Height: 33.25 inches (between the 25th and 50th percentiles)
Head Circumference: 19.25 inches (between the 50th and 75th percentiles)

So look at that! He's on the charts and dare I say it... Normal?! :) Notably, he's off the charts for hair curliness, and of course cuteness. The doctor said he looked extremely healthy except for his snotty nose, which he is now being treated for, so hopefully it'll get better soon.

Speaking of snotty noses, both John and I picked up colds in Ethiopia, so lately I've been clearing my throat a lot and making this highly attractive snorting/hacking/coughing sound trying to get the drainage out of my throat (I know, right? Great mental picture for ya. You're welcome.). Isaac Tamirat finds this quite amusing and has taken to imitating this with a sort of growling, snorty cough sound. (I think he might be making fun of me. I'm not quite sure what to do about this.) ;)

He found a birthmark on my skin, and keeps trying to wipe it off. "Caca" he says. He thinks it's dirty.

Ok, so... this is becoming a serious Grandma post (as in, any other human would find this horrifically and narcolepsy-inducingly boring.) so I'll just post a few pictures for now. :)

Almost a smile- Our First Day


Ready for Bed


In his Christmas Best

Home Sweet Home, and one Little Boy Richer

We are home!!! We got back last night and were dead tired. Our dear friends who had been house-sitting and dog-sitting for us had dinner ready, along with Welcome Home signs and a balloon, and scrumptious cupcakes! John's parents picked us up at the airport and stayed for dinner. It was fun, despite our exhaustion! And Isaac was pretty happy too, even tho he was a tired little boy as well. Thanks guys!

I have meticulous notes of the week, which I'll get to in the days to come, but I had the following email ready to send, and then never got back to use the internet. So, we'll start with this:

We hit the jackpot!

1. He's cute as a button.

2. He eats like a horse.

3. He loves to sleep.

4. He screams when he really gets the giggles.

5. He has a mouthful of teeth.

6. He has chunky leg rolls and a big round belly. :)

7. He has loads of soft curly hair.

8. He's a snuggler, especially when he's sleepy.

9. His first word was “poop.” Ok, well, not really his first word. It was just the first word I recognized as an actual word. (Which in Amharic is "caca" by the way, which is what he actually said.) Also note this word is also used for dirty or for trash. But in this particular event, it meant poop, because he was sitting on the potty trying to go, which I'm sure he'd be really glad for you all to know. :)

10. He jabbers a lot. I don't know how much is actual words, and how much is jabber, because I am not good at Amharic. But we have recognized several words so far: beep (car), hello (phone), pee-pee (self-explanatory), caca (see above), ennan (mine), es (ball, which is actually kwahs), up (up- John taught him this one since we got here), ma (give me- I don't know what the real word is in Amharic, but this is what he says), tootoh (bottle), woohah or wooah if he's feeling lazy (water)

11. He is sort of potty trained. He tells you if he needs to go - sometimes (see number 9), or if you just sit him on there at an opportune time he usually goes.
    

For some reason, I can't get more pictures to load right now.
I'll try again later, but for now, this one'll have to do ya.

Now. In case you are one of the CHI families for whom I took pictures, this is on my list of things to do tonight. I'll get to it as soon as I can, I promise! I was not long ago in your shoes... :)

Hey All!!

We are nearing the end our our stay here in Ethiopia! It's been great. Isaac Tamirat (mostly he responds to "tami" pronounced like "tommy") is a very snuggly happy boy. I wanted to attach a picture, but we stopped here kind of spur of the moment and I don't have my camera along to load a picture for you, and on a public computer, I'm not sure I would have anyway. but I just wanted to say hello. Things here are going remarkably well. He seems to be adjusting pretty smoothly, and he's really a happy boy. And so cute! :) Anyway, we'll see you soon!
Sheresa and John and Isaac Tamirat

We Made It!!

Hey everybody- Just letting you know that we made it safe and sound (minus the suitcase with all our clothes in it) and we stayed at the Hilton last night and got a bit of sleep at last. We woke up to Muslim prayer this morning, which I'd never done in The Fort. hehe. Anyway, in a couple hours we will be heading to the HOH and meet Isaac!

I don't know that I'll get many chances to write. Internet is not so easy to come by as in the US, and certainly not free wifi, but I just wanted you all to know that we made it!

I'll attach a picture for you, it doesn't look like much, but it's the view from our room here. We haven't seen much of the country except for our transfer from the airport to here, and that was at midnight and thus dark, so there wasn't much seeing done.

Well, I guess we'll talk to you all later!
Sheresa (and John)

Into the Wild Blue Yonder

So we are sitting at the Fort's fine Airport. All alone. Haha. Ok, well, I think some other people are here now, but for quite a while, we were the only passengers in the whole place. Guess we were a little early.... We made it through security in 30 seconds! Heck, they even arranged my stuff in the basket for me. Hopefully the rest of the trip goes as smoothly. :)

Anyway, so we are off! This will be my last post til I get back, tho my sister might be posting for me if I can get her pictures or something to post (or, now that she has my password, I suppose she can post anything she wants. heh.) Apparently the internet access is a little sketchy there in Addis, but we'll see what we can do.

So anyhoozle. I guess this is it: 3... 2... 1... Blast-Off!

Happy New Year, and many blessings to you all in 2010!