Checking more steps off of the list!

YEA! We have found a pediatrician for our adoption and after. He has lots of experience with international adoption and the special medical eyes to see things others might miss and to put them in context. He also comes with rave reviews from adoptive and non-adoptive families. We really have to thank our local branch agency for having an adoption class where he came and spoke to us about the health and travel needs of internationally adopted children. He has room in his practice to take us on so YEA! He will also make sure that we have all of the medicines we will need for her while we are there. We are really happy to have the ball rolling on that end.

The CDC information for adult immunizations and vaccinations has been sent to our doctor and he will be able to get Mark and I ready to travel. We'll set up an appointment as soon as he has everything he needs for Ethiopia.

We have figured out that we will be getting a changeable ticket and using Emirates Airlines to travel. They have a stopover where they will put us in a hotel on the way there and that will give us a chance to get some good sleep before we arrive and take over caring for our baby. On the way back they have a faster flight that is great for traveling with her. Also their stopover is in Dubai and they do not require additional visas for our baby like other countries do. We have also learned that we will just buy her ticket home at a hotel once we are in Addis Ababa.

I've also figured out that we are going to apply for our one time entry visas at the airport in Bola, Ethiopia. I am working on getting the paperwork for that and all of our travel needs ready.

Mark researched Amharic tapes and books and ordered us one. It's nice because we can work on the basics and expand our learning as much as we can after that. We'll let you know how it's going!

If you have any names that you like send them our way. So far we have Amari, Nia, Shayla, Liana, Amani, and Nikki (after Nikki Giovanni - a fabulous African American female poet). These names all have good meanings too!