Now that Flynn is here and we’re starting to settle in, there are a lot of logistics to take care of. Apparently one does not simply move to Africa without some degree of preparation. Our list of things to do includes:

• Get Flynn’s birth certificate.
• Add Flynn to the travel orders.
• Apply for Flynn’s diplomatic passport (after we receive form DS-1640 of course).
• Receive Flynn’s medical clearance.
• Receive Alex’s new postpartum medical clearance.
• Get visas for everyone.
• Schedule our pack out.
• Book our flights to Benin.
• Get all sorts of vaccinations.
• Buy our consumables.
• Make a final decision on Abbey’s accommodations.
• Figure out our nanny situation in Benin.
• Fill out the paperwork for our per diem reimbursement.
• Schedule some long-delayed dental and eye doctor appointments.
• Buy a few last-minute things we want in Benin.
• And, oh yeah, take care of a newborn.

Fortunately we had some time before Flynn arrived to get organized. Unfortunately, until he was here, there wasn’t much we could actually do except read the regulations and make a detailed timeline of everything that had to be done (yes, I brought these regulations and our timeline to the hospital so we could get a quick start on checking some things off our list).

So far, we’ve managed to make a small but promising dent in our mountain of things to do. The good thing about having a newborn is that suddenly 4am becomes a reasonable time to do some work. But I’d trade that extra work time for a few more hours of sleep any day.