Reverse....

We spend all this money on toys...and what does Henri like to play with? Tags. He is obsessed with tags...on clothes, bibs, toys, stuffed animals...if he can find a tag...it goes instantly into his mouth. He loves his play doggie our friend Missie bought him...not only because it is a rattle...but because it has a nice, soft tag...that he loves to chew on. His Grandma Schultz just sent him a great "tag" blanket...complete with all kids of ribbon tags. Instant entertainment.

Here is the excitement in our house. Yesterday...Jeff went to take the garbage out...and he came running back in (with Henri in his arms) saying there was a big problem. I'm thinking...Henri has a messy diaper? Henri grabbed for the garbage? Our garbage was over-flowing....

No...unfortunately...much bigger...the water main to our house broke. No water in the house at all...but lots of water flooding the yard outside, and of course it was a Sunday evening. Luckily...we were able to track down Brian at Frank Gay Plumbing...and he came to do an emergency repair job.

One hour and over $300 later...we were back in business. Made me think becoming a plumber might be a good career move. :)

Little Henri is so ready to be crawling...unfortunately, he is only able to master the reverse slide...he can't quite seem to get himself moving forward. Today...I found him scooting across the floor...backward...and caught under a chair. :) If I could just attach a swiffer to his stomach...that would make my day so much more efficient!

We have teeth!

Yesterday...we could see the beginnings of a tooth popping through Henri's lower gum. Today...it was a ten bib day...he kept drooling and drooling. Now we know why...both his bottom teeth are now showing. Upper teeth should pop through any day. Thanks to Cousin Linsey for the natural teething tablets. They are great! A few photos from tonight's bath....

Meeting Henri for the first time...

OK...trying to catch up on posts from our trip to Ethiopia. Can't believe we have been home for only five days. Feels like we have always had this little one in our home. :) Here are a collection of pictures from when we first went to the Transition home to meet little Henri and bring him back to our guesthouse. Above is the group of children that met us at the Transition House door. There were about 20 or so children there...all/most placed with families and waiting for their paperwork to be completed to start their new lives.

The view from the Transition Home.

Out of order...but having posting problems...so I will take what I can. :) This is Jeff holding little Henri as we drove away.

Henri's bed for the first few months of his life. We sent a photo for him to become acquainted with our faces. Unfortunately...it didn't work quite like we had planned (see photos below...)

With Hewitt, Henri's nanny--who gave him such tremendous care! Our pediatrician just told us that Henri is the healthiest internationally adopted baby she has ever seen. His health can be contributed to Hewitt's dedicated care--we are forever grateful.

Meeting Henri for the first time...we are so excited...Henri...not so much.

Saying goodbye to Hewitt...a very sad moment...still makes me tear up to look at this photo. What an amazing person Hewitt is...to love those children as her own, and give them, week after week, to their new families. Heartbreaking and uplifting...all at the same time...

We are thrilled...Henri...not so sure...

The great news...although it was heartbreaking to watch Henri cry for his Hewitt...we were so thrilled to feel Henri's attachment...and said our prayers that he would quickly find comfort with

us as his parents. More to come...

For Carol and Tim

I will continue our posts about our Ethiopian experience....but had to post these two pictures of our little Henri. Our cousins, Carol and Tim, sent this fantastic baby jogger for our little Henri. We took it out this afternoon for the inagural voyage. Henri loved it! The photos were so cute...we had to share. :)

Ethiopia Day One

As soon as we landed in Addis Ababa, we went straight to the Guesthouse we were staying in. It was like a Pension...we rented a room, they had a staff that cooked all of our meals on-sight, and a driver/translator for whatever we needed.

Above is the view from the balcony of our room. Below...the room we rented, and crib for our little Henri.

The dining room where we ate our meals. Ethiopian traditional food is a sour-dough bread-like crepe, that you use your hands to dip in various meat and veggie stews to eat. The seasonings are very strong...they tend to use shallots, garlic, and a red berber pepper seasoning to spice everything. Needless to say...my stomach didn't survive the full week...but it was great to have traditional food available.

The "family room" of the house where we could relax, watch tv, use the internet (dial-up...yikes). Jeff was thrilled because the one station they had in English was of course, SyFy. :)

The entrance to the guest-house (looking from our balcony). The house was located in one of the nicest sections of town. Each home has a gate, complete with gatekeeper. It did feel a bit like a compound at times, but was nice to feel secure and safe in our surroundings.

After we dropped off our bags...we headed right to the Transition House to meet our little Henri for the very first time!

Dubai

We made it home...Henri is doing great. We tried to update our blog from Ethiopia...but my computer was suddenly transcribing into Middle Eastern languages. So...Henri is taking a quick nap and while he is peacefully sleeping...I thought I would try and update what I could. Here are a few shots from Day One of our trip.

We flew from Orlando to NYC, NYC to Dubai. We arrived in Dubai at 8:30 p.m. and had to leave early the next morning. But...we had a great opportunity to take a night tour of the City...and couldn't resist. Dubai is an interesting city...only 38 years old...and despite the crash...the construction appears to be going strong. While we out on the town...we saw this sign....



The famous Sail Building...complete with a helicopter landing pad. Now, in hindsight, it seems so strange to start our trip in this "new" city, with tons of wealth and oppulance, to fly into Ethiopia...one of the oldest civilizations, and filled with poverty. More on that later....

We saw the Burj, touched the Ocean, and took tons of night photos. None of which turned out. :) Here is the one building you can vaguely see....

Emirates Air...a great way to fly! The service was great...and even better...the ceiling panels of the plane lit up to mimick the night star-filled sky. Fantastic!

Atlantis Dubai...the indoor fishtanks, complete with a whale shark. Here I am "petting" one of the locals.

Inside the airport...it was so modern, streamlined, and absolutely bare...even though tons of flights were landing. They mastered "hiding" guests, so you feel that you are the only person in this calm and serene futuristic setting.

Next stop...Ethiopia!

We made it to NYC...

Having post problems...the internet at the airport is not so fresh. :( Is this not the sweetest photo...just came last night. Several families have been traveling and someone sent this to Sue at our agency. Can't wait to meet this little one...just little bit longer...

A photo for the nanny that has taken such great care of our little elf. :)

Ah...IKEA family. Yes...so true!

We made it...four giant bags for the transition home...a carry on for me and Jeff...a diaper dude...and a partridge in a pear tree. :) Or at least that is how we feel. We are heading out soon to Dubai...will try to email/Skype/post from there. xoxo

Five days until departure...

Our quiet, semi-organized, non-baby-proofed life is about to end. Here is the latest photos of baby Henri...he's not so baby...can't wait to see him with our own eyes...and hold him in our own arms...just a few days away. Thanks Brooke for the pics! :)

Travel details...

We have our flights confirmed. Details are as follows:
Saturday, January 9th: Leave Orlando
Monday, January 11th: Arrive in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Meet Henri!

Saturday, January 16th: Leave Addis
Sunday, January 17th: Arrive in Orlando

We can't wait. We have two layovers on the way over...an afternoon in NYC...and an over-night in Dubai! Of course...we probably won't feel much like sight-seeing...but we do hope to travel around and see the city. On the way back...not much time anywhere...but we'll have our little Henri...that will be all we need. :)