Packing, Packing and More Packing

Ed and I finished packing for Gabi Sol. Well, almost. I know it becomes a joke how much stuff these little people require, but you should see it. We have at least 10 times her weight in stuff. A lot of the stuff that we take can be purchased once we're down there. However, because neither of us wants to be away from her in the first 48 hours and it has become more dangerous to walk around with babies who are not legally adopted yet, we opt to take it all with us.

To make things even more complicated, Gabi is on baby food now. Our last trips only required that we take formula. Now we have to consider bowls, spoons, food and all that jazz. We also have a swing of about 25 degrees this time of year. It can be anything from 65 to 90 degrees. Sister-aunts, before you start mocking us for how many outfits that princess is wearing, you must consider that at one point in the day she might need pants and long sleeves, while another requires just a onesie. And is there anything more fun than seeing your beautiful girl in all of those sweet outfits that everyone has given us.

That brings me to another point. Not only have we been incredibly blessed by so many of you bringing Gabi Sol beautiful clothes, blankets and toys, but a few of our friends/family have given us hand-me-downs to beat the band. Nicole Z. gave us 2 huge Rubbermaid bins of beautiful clothes from her girls. This has literally saved me from spending piles of money on outfits and pjs that she could only wear once. Michelle T. has given me some adorable Emma outfits/shoes that we'll be taking on this trip and Gabi will grow into over the next 6 months or so. So cute! Our cousins Cindy and Audra have passed so many pieces of equipment, I can't keep up with it. A stroller, multiple car seats, feeding utensils, blankets (which Cindy couldn't bear to throw away) that have been a staple for us in Guatemala are just a few of the things Cindy passed along. Audra recently gave us a HUGE octagonal playpen for Gabi. It's awesome! Finally, Gabi's Aunt Hilary sent us a pile of great necessities-- mattress covers, sheet protectors, and a handprint kit (among many, many other wonderful things). We're so grateful for your willingness to share with us! Gabi really appreciates it too!

Final comment-- we are so looking forward to spending Thanksgiving with our daughter, Gabi's foster sister, Ella, and family and our Ohio friends, the H.'s, and their Emma. You'd be amazed at how much families bond and stay in touch through these relationships. Kristin, Ryker and Reagan are visiting friends they made when Kristin was fostering Ryker in Guatemala almost 3 years ago. They've stayed in touch and they're celebrating Brooklyn's 3rd birthday. This is more typical than you can imagine. The type of support you experience from people who are going through this process is unparalleled. And it's one of the most emotional experiences a family can have. So we're excited to hang out by the Marriott pool with these friends and their beautiful children.