Growing like a weed

Well, we have been home for about 3 weeks and we are all settling in nicely. Sitota continues to be a very happy and easy going little guy. It is weird... I can't imagine our life without him. He sort of completes our family (I know, I know, cheesy old movie line but it's true). We have been to the doctor's office and are happy to report that Sitota is the picture of health. While he wasn't even on US growth charts a month ago, he is now 18lbs (50% in weight) and 27.5 inches (25% in height). All of his blood tests and stool samples came back showing absolutely no problems. He had 5 shots and 5 vials of blood drawn and was a little trooper. He cried for a bit, then held onto me tightly for a few minutes then was back to his smiley little self. He has been making huge strides developmentally as well. He can now roll over both ways and sit on his own. He can eat solid foods without gagging and is starting to crawl. I would never have imagined the physical and developmental progress would be so quick! He babbles a ton, and we even catch him saying "dada" but I am not ready to concede to Aaron that it is intentional on his part! Both Isabel and Sydney said "dada" as their first word and I am holding out hope for Sitota to bust out a "mama"! We couldn't be happier with our new little man as a part of our family!

Everyone is invited!

You are all invited. Here is the link to an open house this coming Sunday, March 1st.

http://www.evite.com/app/publicUrl/MRIBKZJMETAFTGKULSLH/sitota

It would be helpful to e-mail Sara Sterley if you are planning to come...so we can plan for you. She can add you to the evite list. Here e-mail is: sarasterley@yahoo.com.

Sitota continues to be one happy kid!

Sneak Peek at our family photos!

Take a look at some of our recent family pictures at Maya Laurent Photography!!!!!

Picture Ethiopia...

Today I was looking through the Flickr site of Randy Jackson (one of the fellow adoptive parents that we travelled with) and just wanted to share some more pictures of Ethiopia. It really is a lovely and rich country, and I hope one day you will find yourself there.

A woman walking

A tukul (traditional Ethiopian house)

Such beautiful scenery... the trees and landscape are beautiful

A common sight... modern roads and cars with livestock!

Love this picture of this man!

Another landscape... ahhh

Kids near Hosanna in the south of the country

Not sure how... but random foosball tables appear at roadsides and seem to create a gathering

One of the many beautiful and exotic flowers

Many roadside shops like this one dot the streets all over

Family Pictures

Today we had family photos done (yippie). Sitota was only mildly amused and seemed to grow bored after the first 10 minutes. After a half hour or so, he went from mildly amused to fully torked off and proceeded to whine off and on for the rest of the session. But they took soo many pics, I know there are some of him smiling in there! In typical Isabel style, she had what I refer to as her "Tyra" pose going on full force! The girl loves to have her photo taken! Syd flipped back and forth from trying to pose like her sister and just wanting to build a fort out of blankets in the family room. We had our photos taken by maya laurent photography and once they are online I will share the website so you all can see them! Maya and her husband Pat did the photos for my sisters wedding and we were so excited to have them shoot our family. They are amazingly artistic and I LOVE their work. Keep checking back here for a link to our photos... but in the meantime check out some of maya's stuff HERE

They do weddings, family and senior portraits... way better than any "leading" place around town and a great price too!

Silly Sitota

Home!

Well, after 3 planes and 31 hours, we made it back home to Indiana! Sitota did marvelously on the plane rides but did not sleep much. He does have an uncanny ability to drop a deuce at the most inopportune times... like right before our U.S embassy appointment causing us to appear before the embassy with him in a Onesie smelling like poo. Or, right as we push back from the gate on the plane so we can't get out of our seats until we hit cruising altitude 30 minutes later. Or about 30 seconds after we start a decent and the seat belt sign comes on... well you get the point.  But, all in all it was a great trip. We are so overwhelmed at all the support we have received throughout this journey. We arrived back in Indy to meet Emily and Kristen (who were holding a welcome home Sitota sign). We came home to a shoveled drive and walk (thanks to Jeff G), a fridge full of food (thanks to Sarah) and some casseroles in the fridge (thanks Kristen). We had friends take us to the airport (thanks Kathleen) and pick us up (thanks Emily), loan us luggage (thanks Jacksons), watch our girls and take them on a Disney cruise (thanks Jerry and Jane), dog-sit (thanks again Gibbs... we owe you!), make sure Sitota is dressed in style (thanks Erica), and support us in prayer and many other ways (thanks family and friends)! Sorry if I left anyone out... the 8 hour time change is making my mind mush! Point is... we couldn't have done it without you!

Sitota is adjusting so well despite the time change. He nearly made it through the night last night (just got up a few hours before we would like) and continues to be so easy going and such a sweet boy!

Sleeping in the bassinet on the plane.

Big sister Sydney

 Big sister Isabel

We feel so blessed and can't imagine our family without him.

Our time in Ethiopia was priceless. One day we hope to return with Sitota and introduce him to his homeland. Several of you have been asking, and we did get to meet with the lady we were hoping to. The meeting went well (despite having to play "telephone" through 2 translators to "speak" with her) and we are so glad it happened. It is too hard to process through the whole trip at this time but it was amazing!