Taking Off!

We're leaving in about one hour for a final tour around Addis then it's off to the airport for the 19 hour trek to JFK. Ashton Wondemu is doing fantastic. The lactose free formula is working wonders and as long as there are cherios nearby he's ok not eating anything off of our plates (although he still gives it a good 'ol fashioned try!). He's a complete flirt with dad - he'll lift a cherio to Mike's mouth, hesitate a little, then stuff it in his own mouth with a HUGE smile on his face. He definitely knows what he's up to! His naps are always about half in the crib and half on dad, and he loves playing with his My Many Colored Days board book. He has 5 little Tonka toy cars and I swear I've heard him say vroom a few times while we've been playing with them. He hasn't gained much weight, still around 17 pounds, but we're sure his new diet will soon change that. That and the fact that we're having one of the best orphan doctors in the world do his first checkup once we're home (Dr. Aronson, www.orphandoctor.com) have kept us at ease. He can walk as long as someone is holding his hands, and has taken a couple of steps on his own. He's going to be off and running in no time. He notices everything with his huge bright eyes. He's flashed quite a few smiles today and the HOH staff told us yesterday that he's going to make a fine New Yorker. We think so too! 

 

Lot's of firsts over the next 30 hours. First plane ride, first taxi ride, first ride in a car seat, first time at home in New Paltz, first time with cats, first time in his very own bedroom, first time getting over jetlag... Many fun moments ahead!