Chasing the Dream... Finding our Daughter

The Time Has Come...

2008-09-02T21:00:00.002-04:00

to close this blog. I want to end this story only to begin another. Our new blog, about our family adventures, is The Magic of Monkey Feet... where the jungly fun has just begun. .

Please come join us.

Love,
Amanda, Ed and Gabriella

My Cousins are Here! My Cousins are Here!

2008-08-30T22:22:00.004-04:00

Well, it's true. Gabi's cousins are here!!! These are her only first cousins, Spencer and Griffin. They are so smart, so sweet, so much fun. We have had a ball. They arrived yesterday with Aunt Hilary and Uncle Steve in tow. I am so impressed with the kids. The boys are so sweet and patient with Gabi. They hold her hand, they help, the look out for her and they kiss her.

The kids were in the pool for most of the day today. Griffin learned how to swim with his water wings by himself. Before he needed to hold onto someone. Not anymore!!! Once he started doing that, he spent a lot of time in the spa swimming back and forth and back and forth. And then he would swim across once, kiss Gabi across the separating wall and swim back to the other side. He did this over and over. Adorable!!!

We also set up an obstacle course for the kids this morning. There is a circle upstairs because the bathrooms between two of the bedrooms is a jack-and-jill. They would run around from the playroom, bedroom, bathroom, other bedroom and back to the playroom. We set up the tunnel and Gabi's ladybug chair as obstacles. They had to go through the tunnel, jump over the chair, yell "hooray" and then through the rooms. They loved it. Occasionally, Gabi would sit in the chair so they couldn't jump over it. In that case, they either had to kiss her or give her a high five. They had the BEST time! We wore them out. And the exciting part is that I can tell already that Gabi is becoming more social with her peers. She is playing WITH them, not next to them or by herself. At this age, that's so common, but she is already playing cooperatively with them. She thinks her cousins are sooooo funny!

Unfortunately, Hurrican Gustav is headed right for us, so they are going to have to leave earlier than planned. We are disappointed, but certainly understand their predicament. We have to hunker down. GG is supposed to arrive on Monday to stay for the week. We're not sure she'll be able to get in, but we'll see.

The pics aren't in a logical order. But enjoy them anyway...

Pics from Dante's Inferno

2008-08-26T21:04:00.004-04:00

Oh, she's gonna kill me for this one.

Interesting Early Word...

2008-08-26T20:32:00.004-04:00

When my sister, Paige, was little, she talked... a lot! Her first word, so the story goes, was pickle. She walked around repeating it as fast as she could--- pickle, pickle, pickle. It's funny since she later grew to love a pickle of virtually any nature. Another squirrelly word that she used a lot was "budla." According to Paige, a budla was a washcloth. Well, Gabi takes after her aunt in a lot of ways. She talks a lot, she sleeps a lot, she's bright and she has crazy hair. Although it isn't an invented word like "budla", it is an odd word to use in your early repertoire. It's "bucket" and it's critical to Gabi's every day conversations with the world. The only things she talks about more than her bucket (from Aunt Sue and class) are her mama and daddy.

Enjoy the video...

Promised Pics

2008-08-21T10:17:00.004-04:00

The Playground for Toddlers and Preschoolers

The stables, paddock and cow beside the Toddler House-- they have an equine program

The pool

Big Kids playground

Gabi's last day with AMZ and MK

Getting ready for school--backpack and 1st day dress

Playing before school

Worn out after lunch and all that learning

Gabriella's First Day of School

2008-08-20T10:42:00.002-04:00

Well, I did it. I took Gabriella to her new school this morning. She was supposed to go yesterday, but she was under the weather. In fact, all of us were. However, she was able to go this morning. It's a better situation for her to start today. She'll only go from 9-1 today and tomorrow. On Friday, she'll have to go all day. I'm not looking forward to that. She will have pretty long days with someone else.

The bright spot is that I met her teachers and they are wonderful. She got down from my arms, walked right over to Ms. Maria and sat in her lap. She's really into saying "mama" now and after a couple of minutes, she was showing Ms. Maria her mama. When I went to give her a hug and kiss, she started crying. That'll break your heart and make you feel like a terrible parent all rolled into one. But I know she's doing great. I was ecstatic to hear that they teach Spanish in their classroom as well. Woohoo! That was the only thing I was bummed about with this arrangement. I am so excited about this school, I could just flip.

I have pics to post of her from before school, but I thought I'd take some of her in her new classroom today when I pick her up. I just hate that she's big enough to go off to school already. But she is one cute student!!!

BIG News at Gabi's House

2008-08-18T13:11:00.003-04:00

Gabriella Lilisol has had a major accomplishment! She went peepee on the potty this morning after her nap. She has been waking up from her naps dry and I wanted to make certain that we didn't miss the opportunity to cash in on this little development. Yesterday, MK and Amanda Z and I went to Target to do some important shopping. The big item on the list was a new potty chair for Gabriella. I waited until this morning to show it to her. She practiced sitting on it in the living room before her nap. After her nap, we had major success. And she's very excited.

Immediately following the big girl potty incident, I ran to yell downstairs that she pottied. When I ran back in to the bathroom to do a dance with Gabi, I ripped my pants. I'm telling you-- it's a big day!

Our Gabi girl is growing up so fast!

Playing, playing, playing with silly friends

2008-08-17T20:45:00.005-04:00

Gabi and Daddy blowing on hot food.

The Girls hanging out with Levi the Bear

Gabi has been so lucky this week. With Mary-Kelsey (aka Our MK) and Amanda Z here, Gabi has gotten an obscene amount of attention and cuddles. It's a bit ridiculous. We tried to take a lot of pictures today because we've been so busy that we keep forgetting.

Also, yesterday we had the first meeting of our Guate playgroup. We were not aware of one in our area with other Guatemalan adoptive families, so we started one. We hosted the first one. We had burgers from the grill and were able to swim after the rain subsided. It was great to meet some people from the area and watch these adorable kids interact. It looks like the group might be a success. Unfortunately, I was so busy hosting, I didn't get any pictures. Next time...

Here are some photos from today. Please note Gabi's beloved Levi. This is the bear that Gabi's cousin, Emmie, very carefully and lovingly picked out for Gabi long before we even met her. Gabi loves this bear so much that there is rarely a moment when she doesn't have Levi. She kisses him, hugs him, says "bear" and loves on him all day long. He sleeps with her and we think we're going to have to find Levi Dos--just in case.

Gabi's newest spoken words are "book, bucket, GG, car, bear, go."

Big, Big Friday!

2008-08-15T22:50:00.007-04:00

Amanda Z and MK are here! We are having a lovely time hanging out in the pool, playing with Gabi, shopping, eating and avoiding the August heat.

Today, we went downtown to the Galleria to shop and get Gabi's ears pierced. Let me say that Gabi is a trooper. These pictures show her crying. However, she cried during the prep process and was barely bothered by the actual piercing. She didn't like having to hold still and she didn't like me holding her head so the woman didn't pierce her brain. That was what made her so angry. She stopped crying within 15 seconds of the actual piercing and was giggling. She is so cute with her new pierced ears. I wanted to get her ears pierced because it is customary to pierce infants' ears in Guatemala. She is beautiful!

Pics... Enjoy!

2008-08-14T22:22:00.003-04:00

Farewell to our Beloved Izzy

2008-08-12T22:30:00.002-04:00

We said goodbye to Izzy just a few minutes ago. She is going to live with two brothers who live together with their 3 other Vizslas. They have had Vizslas since they were 4 years old. They love these dogs, have no children in the home and the dogs get tons of attention and lovin'. This is exactly what we prayed for our sweet Izzy. We know she will be so much happier than she was with us. Poor girl was always in trouble for something and Gabi made her nervous. I truly believe that she will be happier.

My heart breaks for Gabi who adores her Izzy so much. We hope to have a dog in the future-- once we decide what our overseas plans might be. We do not feel complete without a dog in our home. But safety for our daughter, future children and other children who might be in our home have to come first. Some breeds and backgrounds of dogs are much more suitable for small children. I hope Gabi doesn't miss her too much. Let's hope that our visitors who arrive tomorrow will distract her from Izzy's absence.

We love you, Izzy!

A Little Update

2008-08-11T17:52:00.004-04:00

The last hurrah for her cowboy boot slippers-- she's outgrown them.

Gabi is delightful. Her face is healing well, she's off her antibiotics and she is as feisty as ever. She recently developed a hysterical excitement for the equestrian events in the Olympics. As any bad parent does, we were watching the Today show. A piece on one of the equestrian champions came on. As soon as Gabi saw the horses, she went into belly giggles. The lasted the entire piece. What should one do in the midst of such a discovery? Call your Aunt Paige and tell her that your love of horses is deep and real. Aunt Paige's response was that if she isn't going to be a gymnast, she just might make it as a jockey. (We're constantly looking at career options for someone who is likely less than 5 feet tall. Just kidding-- she can be whatever she wants to be.)

Waking up from naptime on the wrong side of the crib.

Playing with Daddy after church-- isn't she cute?

Paige Beat me to the Punch

2008-08-07T18:45:00.003-04:00

I was going to post about this today, but Paige beat me to it. This was one of the funniest conversations I've had in a while. It took place in a gmail chat and it was remarkable how in sync we were about these thing. So check out Paige's blog. If you know any of us, it will make sense.

Brilliant Blogger Award

2008-08-07T18:20:00.003-04:00

My lovely friend, Robin, nominated me for this lovely award. I'd like to thank Robin, the Academy, and of course, my family.

This is how it goes: 1st I have to answer a little questionnaire. Then, I have to choose 7 bloggers who I feel are BRILLIANT and I give them the award. They will post their own answers to the questionnaire on their own blog and they will choose 7 more recipients. And so on!
A. Attached or single? Attached
B. Best friend? Ed & Liza
C. Cake or pie? Cake-- um, chocolate please. Preferably my Gran Gran's.
D. Day of choice? Saturday
E. Essential item? Reading material before bed, preferably a delightful book.
F. Favorite color? Orange, Go Illini. Well, it's just a bonus that the Illini are orange.
G. Gummi bears or worms? Worms, but not a fan of either.
H. Hometown? Mt. Vernon, IL
I. Indulgence? too many to list here.
J. January or July? July
K. Kids? One serious sassafras from Guatemala
L. Life isn’t complete without? Gabriella Lilisol
M. Marriage date? 6/18/98, 10/10/98
N. Number of brothers & sisters? 1 freakishly brilliant big sister
O. Oranges or apples? Oranges
P. Phobias? Falling up stairs and breaking my teeth
Q. Quotes? "It is difficult to discover new oceans if you never have the courage to lose sight of the shore"
R. Reasons to smile? Gabi and lots of friends and family to love.
S. Season of choice? Autumn
T. Tag seven peeps! (see below)
U. Unknown fact about me? I have very few fears. See above.
V. Vegetable? I'd have to say green beans, too.
W. Worst habits? I'm a chronic napper.
X. X-ray or ultrasound? Ultrasound
Y. Your favorite food? spinach artichoke dip
Z. Zodiac sign? Gemini
http://finallyfive.blogspot.com/
http://adoptbellagrace.blogspot.com/
http://strawnequine.blogspot.com/
http://adoptingbabyz.blogspot.com/
http://jodianddave.blogspot.com/
http://nickandkatie19.blogspot.com/
http://tyleredwardcarlos.blogspot.com/

I Need Help

2008-08-06T15:24:00.002-04:00

I really want to close this blog out, print it for Gabi and have it bound. But I'm having a really difficult time coming up with a name for my new blog. Until I come up with a name, I can't have a new blog stylized and started. So I need my creative readers to assist in the continuation of our family blog. Start brainstorming and send your suggestions in... Thanks.

Silliness... and a brave face

2008-08-06T15:13:00.003-04:00

The morning after her dog bite wearing her sad face, her Park City t-shirt and her worry doll headband. She thought she was big stuff with that big girl headband on.

Day 3

She isn't the slightest bit afraid of Izzy... which we're very relieved about.

This green dress is the first thing that Aunt Hilary bought Gabi. She gave this and another one to her for Christmas 2006! That was before Gabi was born and when we thought she would come from Vietnam. These dresses were actually given to Addison from Vietnam. Well, God had other plans for our family. So they were later given to Gabriella from Guatemala. It has taken forever for Gabi to grow into this dress. Finally. Check out her new kicks. She's stylin' and they are size 3s.

By the way, at the hospital the other day we weighed Gabi. She's over 21 lbs!!!! What a big girl.

Oh Lordy! Dog Drama

2008-08-04T22:26:00.003-04:00

Drama continues at the A. house. Today's events included our dog, Izzy, biting Gabi in the face. Follow that up with the chaotic phone call to Edward to find out where the closest ER is and then a 3 hour wait to see the doctor.

I just love ERs. They're horrible. They're such painful places. No one can give you a timeframe, there is limited compassion and extra frustration. Usually the doctors/nurses are fine once you get in, but not always.

Gabi's nurses and doctor were very nice. And she wasn't in pain after the initial bite. I must say that the actual bite incident was terrifying for her. She cried harder and differently than I've ever seen her cry before. Of course anything on your face bleeds a ton. It can be very misleading. I assumed that one of the holes was pretty deep. It was not. They were actually two small tears. One is very tiny, next to the left side of her mouth. The other is on her right cheek and a quite a big bigger. They flushed them out with saline and then used Dermabond to close them up. She'll take antibiotics for several days and then be fine. Bless her heart.

The irony of this whole incident is that my mom-in-law was attacked by a pit bull on her bike almost two weeks ago. The dog bit her leg pretty good and thankfully did not attack her further when she was knocked off the bike. The dog went into quarantine because its shots were not up-to-date. On Friday, Animal Control called her to let her know that the dog died and they don't know why. Guess what that means? Rabies shots!!! So she started that series in the ER out in Park City. Could we ask for anymore dog drama?

If this doesn't make your day, I give up...

2008-08-01T11:14:00.004-04:00

My Little Summer Sassafras...

2008-07-31T14:59:00.004-04:00

Robin made this adorable "G" t-shirt for Gabi. It's just like the one Ella has. Isn't it so cute? Robin wins points for major craftiness! Thanks, Robin!

Every time that we told someone that we were moving to Houston, s/he would say, "Holy cow! It's going to be soooo hot!" Obviously, we knew that. And it isn't a 'dry' heat like so many geographically-challenged people think. We aren't in the dry part of Texas. We're in the disgustingly humid, drippy part of Texas. Needless to say, we cannot play outside during the day unless we're in the pool. The pictures of Gabi outside were taken at 7 p.m. and within 2 minutes of stepping outside I was dripping-- literally. Those of you who know me well, know what I'm talking about. You can imagine that when we get ready to run errands and get loaded in the car, I am sopping wet by the time I turn the car in. The whole ordeal of getting Gabi in her carseat and settled is too much. Yuck!! I can't wait for some of this to subside. I'm pretty sure that I have another 2-3 months before it does. Oh good!

Aunt Kristin sent a box of happies this week too! Gabi received lots of new bows, several outfits that Reagan wore (including the gingham top outfit in these pics) and some shoes. Gabi finally grew out of her sandals. She has the tiniest feet, but we finally had to buy some new shoes. I was ecstatic to see that these feet are not going to be size 2 forever. Thanks Aunt Kristin!

Gabi received another box this week that sent me over the edge. I have been friends with the G.'s since I was 8. I grew up with Jenny and Jessica at church, playing sports, swimming, lifeguarding. Janet, their mom, just folded me into her brood. I love her dearly, as I do Doc and Janet's mom, Grandma Betty. Well, Janet and Doc sent the most elaborate outfit I've ever seen. It is a layered tutu of sorts in dark pink and a 'twinkle' shirt to go with it. I will have to put GAbi in it and post pictures. It is hysterical and darling! Thanks Janet and Doc!

Busy, Busy Days

2008-07-28T11:54:00.004-04:00

Gabi is keeping us busy. She recently removed the 'p' key from my laptop. She has several new words-- "hot", some version of "I love you" and a couple of others. She's still learning new signs, dancing, exploring her house, swimming and pushing various stationary objects around the rooms.

On Saturday, we went to the aquarium downtown and she enjoyed it a lot more than I thought she would. I wasn't sure how aware of the tanks she would be. But she surprised us by touching a stingray and excitedly pointing to the fish in the tanks that surrounded us. When the fish would swim by, she would pull her finger away as if they were going to get her. So funny.

Gabi is a champ at following directions. She helps us by bringing her diaper when she needs to be changed, picking up her toys, bringing a book to us to read and helping us cook. She's even pretty good at multi-tasking.

Here are some pictures of our girl from the last few days.

I Got a JOB!!!

2008-07-25T17:10:00.002-04:00

As of this afternoon, I became the newest employee of a nationally award-winning school district in north Houston. I will be working at an early childhood/Pre-K school. I am very excited that this opportunity arose considering my previous employment plans fell through in a big way, just last week.

Woohoo!!!

Long Awaited pics

2008-07-21T17:45:00.004-04:00

Sorry but these are of the house, not Gabi. Hope you aren't disappointed.

Also, I went to the doctor today ( I got in in an hour) and he gave me delicious drugs. Or at least I think they're delicious. I haven't taken them yet. He was lovely. While we were there, I weighed Gabi. She's well over 20 lbs. I was so excited.

In other news, I witnessed Gabi's first moment of slap-happiness today. She started laughing at Izzy and could NOT control herself. It went on and on. I thought I'd wet my pants. I didn't. No worries there.

And Gabi gets serious points for being the best kid to run errands with ever. I know it won't last, but she is so great about going from place to place. I know it can't be fun, but she's such a trooper.

More Pics Coming Soon!

2008-07-18T21:28:00.002-04:00

I apologize for not posting more this week. I had two herniated discs in my neck last year and I think they are back. I woke up on Tuesday in terrible pain. Wednesday was better. Thursday was worse. Today was better. But I'm almost certain this isn't my usual pinched nerve. So I'm doing all I can to get things done around the house, run errands, entertain Gabi while trying desperately to nurse myself back to health.

I made new curtains for Gabi's room which turned out so cute that even I'm surprised. They are perfect for what I was envisioning. I also finished the bathroom up. Well, almost. Ed is going to hang the hooks up tomorrow and then they'll be finished. He's very precise (read: nerdy) about these things and he has about a hundred things to hang up. When that is finished I will take pics of Gabi's new bathroom and post them.

Please continue to pray for my friend Jill's baby, Logan, who is making incredible progress in the NICU in Springfield. We are so optimistic about this little guy. He's such a fighter. And he's a whole 2 lbs. 7 oz. today. Go Logan!!!

Braids and Stuff

2008-07-17T09:48:00.002-04:00

Gabi let me braid her hair 2 days in a row. Obviously, it doesn't look as good at the end of the day as it does when I do it in the morning. That's primarily because I refuse to put hairspray on her beautiful hair. And it was just an experiement to see if she would let me braid it. Now that I know she will, I can do it occasionally. Despite my best efforts, the pictures are not great and they were taken right before her bath last night.

Gabi's Gone Bananas!

2008-07-14T16:33:00.003-04:00

Mike, Can Gabi join your soccer team if you go back to coaching?

Gabi's Room and then some

2008-07-14T14:36:00.004-04:00

I still have to make some curtains for the windows. It's low on the priority list at this point. I have to get the bathroom painted so that it is functional again. I also have to find the fabric I'm looking for. Then her room will be complete.

New Accomplishment for Little Miss...

2008-07-12T22:02:00.003-04:00

I'm not sure if this is even a big deal, but I thought I'd put it down just to remember. Gabi stood from a sitting position completely independently tonight. We were wondering if it was something she would just figure out or what. She always needed to use some support to get up. We've been trying to show her she could do it for a couple of days. Tonight we caught her trying on her own. After a little verbal encouragement, she DID IT!!! She was so proud of herself that she almost fell over. She is the stinkin' funniest kid ever. Now, if I could just get her to stop putting things in the toilet and the Diaper Champ, we'd be all set. Oy!

Logan P. Arrives Early

2008-07-12T16:50:00.002-04:00

My friend, Jill, had her little boy on July 4th! Unfortunately, he was born at just 26 weeks. It seems as though he was quite the bruiser. He was 14 inches long and over 2 lbs. Still, little guys like this struggle so much with lung development, possible brain bleeds, holes in their hearts, and a whole host of other things. At just over a week old, Logan appears to be out of the woods for brain bleeds and the hole that was initially seen in his heart valve. He's a tough little guy and they're starting to wean him from his ventilator and decrease the settings.

This has been an incredibly scary experience for Jill, her husband, Danny and the rest of their families. Logan is in the NICU in Springfield and they expect he will remain there for at least another 8 weeks. So far there have been many answers to prayer and we know that will continue to be the case. Please pray for little Logan and the peace of his family as they deal with the ups and downs of this difficult time.

My Little Ladybug

2008-07-11T10:37:00.002-04:00

I hope I'm earning points on the blogging front for posting so much over the last week. I'm trying very hard to keep from being verbally assaulted any more than necessary.

Isn't my little ladybug the cutest bug you've ever seen?

Stairclimber

2008-07-11T10:17:00.003-04:00

I've been wanting to get a video of Gabi climbing the stairs. Usually she goes up as fast as she can manage... and that's pretty fast. But my camera battery died, so this is as good as it gets.

New Pics to Follow...

2008-07-10T14:56:00.002-04:00

My friend, Robin, has requested pics of the Gabi's new room. I promise to post them after this weekend when everything gets hung up. We painted the stripes in green and the two pieces of furniture-- the dresser and bookshelf-- in red. It turned out so well and I'm really thrilled about it. The changing table and crib are in a normal wood finish. Gabi's bedding is white with a green border and ladybugs on it. I think it all ties together pretty well.

Anywho... I'll post pics of the new bedroom and the ORANGE living room after this weekend when we've gotten some things on the walls.

More Pics from GG and Grumps' visits

2008-07-09T21:56:00.003-04:00

Another Video... Our Little Furniture Mover

2008-07-07T23:20:00.002-04:00

Work, Work, Work

2008-07-07T22:45:00.006-04:00

My parents are here. So I am taking advantage of the ability to complete some projects. I painted Gabi's dresser again and painted a mirror frame and bookshelf. The mirror and bookshelf were mine and my sister's. To be fair, they were Paige's first since she was first. I digress. The point is-- I've been painting like a lunatic. Furniture and our living room. The living room is orange. It's one of the most glorious colors I've ever had on a wall. Nope-- the MOST glorious.

Today, Mom, Gabi and I ran several errands. The biggest accomplishment was getting about 8 big picture frames to frame some of the watercolors that we've collected in Europe, Africa and Mexico. We've been carrying these prints around for years and we finally have permanent walls to put them on. Unfortunately, most of them are from street vendors from places that use the metric system. It is not easy to find frames that will work on our English measurement systems. So we decided on floating frames that eliminated the need for custom matting and framing. That would have been way too costly. I'm quite pleased with the results.

The video below is of Gabi at the restaurant tonight. The purpose is to show how she says "down" and "up." "Down" requires the puckering of lips and comes out as "nooowwwwn". "Up" has no sound. It looks like a guppie. It's very funny.

Happy 4th of July to all the new citizens of this great country...

2008-07-04T15:20:00.005-04:00

Not-Great Video

2008-07-03T08:53:00.003-04:00

Painting, Playing and a New Job

2008-07-02T07:50:00.002-04:00

That's what we've been up to. We finished painting Gabi's room. I think it turned out very cute, but now I have to paint the furniture... again. I'll do that while my mom and dad are here this next week.

Ed started his job at ExxonMobil on Monday. He's really enjoying it, which is a huge relief. That left Gabi and me at home to fiend for ourselves. We've done just fine. We've actually gotten a lot accomplished. I even made Ed a special first-week-of-work-dinner last night and it was heavenly, if I do say so myself.

Gabi is putting aside her desire to walk with flailing arms. She is now walking with her arms to her side. However, she doesn't move them at all, so she ends up looking really defeated. It's actually hysterical. She goes from one extreme to the next.

Flailing and Such

2008-06-26T21:31:00.005-04:00

Gabi has developed her own personal flair while walking. Her arms flail. It looks voluntary but it might not be. Hmmm...

Some Pics

2008-06-25T22:06:00.004-04:00

It's not jacked up. We just didn't have the cushion fixed yet.

We got new furniture delivered today. The truth is that it looks like old lady furniture in the pictures, but it's actually beautiful. This sofa and two chairs are in our downstairs living room that is a little more formal than the one upstairs. We're pretty excited. We also got a new kitchen table since ours was too small and will be used elsewhere. We did not buy chairs yet though. So that's next on the list. In the meantime, we are super-ghetto with our lawn chairs in the kitchen with our new table. And the chairs are far too low. So we are like oompah-loompah ghetto boys. Very, very funny.

Poor Izzy. Gabi LOVES her. Izzy doesn't dislike Gabi. She just doesn't have the same passion for Gabi as Gabi has for her. Notice how quickly she runs off when Gabi comes her way. And then Gabi looks perplexed as to why.

Photo Contest

2008-06-25T11:14:00.002-04:00

I was on the Parents Magazine website and they're having a photo contest. So I uploaded some pics of Gabi in the Cover Photo Contest section. You can see her, leave a comment, recommend her or whatever.

Go to the Parents Magazine site and search "Gabi Sol" in the search section on the left side of the page. It will bring up her gallery. Enjoy!!

Will it Ever End?

2008-06-23T22:17:00.002-04:00

I feel like we have been unpacking, organizing, reorganizing for a month. Really, it's only been 5 days. But the whole process is so obnoxious. It never ends. And the best part is that much of what we're doing is not permanent. Ed will not let me paint Gabi's bedroom yet. He won't let me paint the living room yet. He won't let me do anything. So nothing is going on the walls. It all leaves me very unmotivated because there is only so much I can do. Enough whining.

Gabi is a mess. Today, Ed was playing with her upstairs and she started laughing hysterically. Why? Because Izzy walked by her. That's it. For some reason, the same things that Izzy does every day set Gabi off. She belly laughed for several minutes. How funny is she?

Gabi's personality changes when you put her in the pool. She LOVES the pool so much that she could be fussing and instantly change when she touches the water. It's such a riot. That's how I always was about the water. I LOVED IT! Paige and I spent most of our waking hours in a pool in the summertime. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that Gabi loves it too.

And she's far too brave for our comfort. We have a sitting ledge around part of the pool that is the perfect depth for her to walk around while holding the edge. She'll just turn around and walk to you even though she knows that the ledge falls off in only a couple of steps. She's more than a little crazy. But it is so much fun swimming with her that we've taken to swimming for a while every night after dinner.

Yesterday was... 2 months home!!!

2008-06-23T11:03:00.002-04:00

Yesterday, June 22, marked 2 months since Gabi came home. Well, 'home' is used loosely in this particular situation considering the chaos we've been dealing with since then. Nevertheless, this child is curious, sassy, loving, funny and smart, smart, smart!!! She has learned about 15-18 signs that she uses regularly. She has a great receptive vocabulary. She is so interested in how things work. She won't take no for an answer and she shows great boldness in everything she does.

Gabriella Lilisol is the joy of our lives and we can't imagine anything without her. Edward says to me every day, "Could you just watch her forever? I can't stop looking at her." He no longer feels as if she isn't ours. Neither do I. She is an A. for sure. We are blessed beyond measure. After all the heartache, our cup runneth over.

Allright Already!

2008-06-22T23:53:00.004-04:00

You people are sooooo demanding...

I finally gave up. Our camera was stolen by the movers and we had to replace it.

Here's a brief catch-up:

We are Houstonians!

We love our house, despite it's disaster status.

Fear not! The Welcome Wagon is alive and well. Literally.... Two neighbors introduced themselves, asked about a church home, brought cookies and wished us well within 48 hours of arrival. Also, the official welcome people came with about $476 of free stuff. Delightful.

Kurt, Sandy, and JM brought dinner on Friday night and went for a dip in the pool.

Gabi loves her new house.

Izzy loves her new house. She's most delighted that she has more room to hide from Gabi.

Gabi loves her pool.

Izzy hates her pool. She has great anxiety and will probably wither away to nothing from circling it obsessively.

Gabi sweats a lot in Houston. I fear she will never be that cute kid with the dry hair ever again. Every time we take her out of the car seat, the back of her head is saturated. Lovely.

Gabi fell into her high chair while she was walking around it and gave herself 3 head injuries-- fat, purple lip, scratched, swollen eyelid and bruise on her forehead. This occurred after returning from Linens n Things and declaring publicly that if she didn't stop yelling, I was going to beat her. I shant be returning to that store anytime soon for fear of having DCFS come after me.

Gabi was delirious to discover her ladybug letters in her new room. She's at home finally.

We sat next to the two nicest men EVER on the two puddlejumper flights from St. Louis. Both were very gracious and didn't mind Gabi's animal crackered hands waving about. I couldn't have lucked out more with my seatmates.

It took the cable guy 3 days of working many, many hours to get our cable going. Guess what?!? Our wireless internet does not work. We are defeated.
Gabi is off the bottle. We did not push this particular issue because it seemed as though she was enduring plenty by waking up somewhere different practically every day. We thought we'd try to make a clean break with the move. When we got here, all the bottles disappeared. I seriously don't think she even noticed. Either she is very, very easy, or very, very oblivious. Whatever.

Finally, our house and pool are glorious!!! We are so thrilled to be here with our daughter. Ed does not start work for another week and we should be ship-shape by the time he starts. Well, at least until I start painting. Did I mention that I love my house?

P.S. Don't get concerned about the nekkid picture of Gabi in the pool. Although, she was skinny dipping, her Daddy had his britches on.

On the Road Again...

2008-06-17T22:41:00.003-04:00

Today was our last day in MTV. We had breakfast with some of the Sisters, lunch with Auntie Li and the afternoon with Aunt Vivian. I got to have dinner with Liza tonight. I wasn't able to leave the house for most of the day because I am without automobile. One car was shipped and the other was driven to Houston by the husband.

Tomorrow morning, Gabi and I embark on the last big travel for a few months. We are headed to Houston out of St. Louis via Memphis. It doesn't look like I'll be able to get her to sleep on that first flight so let's hope that I get a gracious person next to me who doesn't flip out over my wiggle worm.

I just talked to Ed in Houston and the movers have been there all day. He says that the house is an absolute disaster. He sounds exhausted. Tomorrow the unpackers come and hopefully the cable guy will return. He says that Izzy spent most of the day in the panic room while all the chaos was going on and wasn't too thrilled about it. Poor girl.

Ole Murph-- you'll be glad to know that we've just about survived this crazy 8 weeks. Check in with me later this week, just to be sure.

Some pics from the last couple of days...

More Family Fun...

2008-06-16T10:40:00.002-04:00

Over the last week we've been in Champaign, Effingham, Mt. Vernon and Edward is now in Houston. We had a great time in Effingham with Edward's extended family. We celebrated FIL Bill's birthday and Father's Day. We hung out with Gabi's cousins, Spencer, Griffin, August, Regan and George. August and Regan were the greatest helpers when we left Gabi with a babysitter for the first time. I knew I could trust them to tell me if Gabi had any trouble and to help soothe her if she did. No worries whatsoever!

Gabi also had her 15-month appointment last week before we officially move. She weighs 19 lbs. 9 oz. and is 28 1/8" tall. She is in the 8th and 4th percentiles respectively. The doctor says that she can already see that she will be at least 5 feet. We did high fives in the office. Our little Guate-girl.

Yesterday, Edward drove to Houston and arrived at 1:15 a.m. All is well. The house is in immaculate shape as the previous owners have been taking care of it for us until we could get there. They are amazing people! Izzy the dog is with him. He reports that she is running through the empty rooms checking things out. He'll be tending to domestic duties until we arrive on Wednesday.

In the meantime, Gabi and I are at my parents' house. Paige and Barry came over for Father's Day. Gabi loved playing with them. We were going to go swimming at their house but a storm came through. Last night, Gabi spent the night here with GG, Gran Gran, Brenda and Charlotte. I had a sleepover with my Liza. We watched Army Wives, talked and went to sleep at a reasonable hour (we're old). It was just what we both needed.

I have a lot of pictures to post. When I get to Houston, I promise to catch up on them. They are still all on Edward's computer.

Uncle Barry and Aunt Paige's Fun House

2008-06-10T00:29:00.002-04:00

My sister has this great camera that shoots beautiful pictures. She's snapping pics all the time, usually of her various creatures. Here are a few that she took of Gabi at her house tonight. Note the one of Thor's leg with Gabi in the background kissing his foot. She just loved him and he's so gentle she can snuggle him up close and he never even flinches.

Some Pics from the Weekend

2008-06-10T00:15:00.003-04:00

Notice how Paige and Gabi are making the same face? What could possibly require that much concentration?

Monday Adventures

2008-06-09T21:56:00.002-04:00

Today we headed out to Project CHILD to see my old work buddies. I love these women and I knew they were following the blog and praying for us. So off we went to hang out with the crew minus Cary and Tranae. Unfortunately, they were off doing other things that were more fun than seeing us. It was great to see everyone and I think they got a kick out of Gabi.

We then went to lunch with my sister, Paige, and friend Rita. Gabi is crazier about Paige every time she sees her. Paige lets her explore things and encourages her curiosity. And she's silly.

We headed home for a nap and later went to Paige and Barry's so we could see Uncle Barry. We didn't get to hang out long enough, but at least we had almost 2 hours with them. They have 4 Great Danes and Thor hung out with us for the evening. Gabi kept playing with his enormous feet and kissing him. That was fine with him as long as he didn't have to get off the couch. She liked hanging out with them on their turf. Such cool things at their house.

More pics in a bit.

Big, Big Sunday

2008-06-08T23:49:00.002-04:00

Today we had another open house, this time in MTV. Friends from St. Louis area and locally came to meet our girl. We were disappointed that some old friends could not make it because they were sick or out of town. Despite that, other old friends were able to meet our girl. Gabi was, of course, in great spirits and ate all of the attention up! She woke up from her early nap slowly until she saw the crowd in the living room. She immediately turned on the charm. She is a mess!

We started the day with mother/daughter haircuts from Auntie Li and Cousin Emily. Gabi did much better this time. She sat still and cruised around while I had color on my hair. When she wasn't cruising, she was doted on by Emily and Auntie. The kid wants for nothing. Aunt Paige dropped by to see her niece and she was once again appalled at my insistence to cut her hair. If she only knew how out of control it gets. Nevertheless Aunt Paige got lots of attention from Gabi while they shared a beverage and some fruit. Paige is relieved to hear that she has some words, even if it meant that she had to keep asking what they meant. Very cute!

Three Reasons Salt Lake Airport Hates Us

2008-06-07T11:48:00.005-04:00

We just returned from Park City, UT with Nana and Papa. We had a great time. Ed went fishing for 2 days with his dad. Jane and I hung out in beautiful Park City. Unfortunately, we did not have great weather. It was cold and rainy most of the time until we left yesterday. Regardless, we had a wonderful, relaxing visit.

Evidence of Salt Lake City airport's sincere distaste for us:

In 2003, I flew to SLC for Christmas without Ed. He was stationed in Iraq at the time and couldn't come home. We lived in Germany, so the flight was long. I was delayed out of Germany, missed my connection and 15 minutes after boarding the 8 hour flight, I came down with the flu. Needless to say, it was miserable. To add insult to injury, they lost my luggage for 10 days. It had my ski gear, Christmas presents, all my clothes, etc. in it.

On the way to St. Louis to visit my family, Bill (father-in-law) drove me to the airport in a horrible snowstorm. He dropped me off and drove the 1.5-hour (usually 45 minutes) drive back to Park City. Just as he sat down in the comfort of his home and says, "I'm glad I don't have to go out in that again," the phone rings and I'm calling to tell them that my flight in cancelled and I can't fly out until the next day.

In January 2007, we were again headed back to Illinois and arrived at the airport only to discover that our flight had been cancelled. We wouldn't be able to fly until the next evening. Bill and Jane had to pick us up and take us back to PC again.

Finally, yesterday, we were scheduled to leave SLC at 2:35 for Chicago. Due to high winds in the Midwest, we were delayed for 3.5 hours. We didn't get into Chi-town until 10 p.m. We did not get to visit my cousins because it was too late. We then drove 2.5 hours to Champaign to pick up our other car and continued driving to Effingham in horrible rain storms. It took forever to get there. We finally arrived at 3 a.m. We woke up this morning and drove to MTV to my parents' house.

We are beyond exhausted. But Gabi is a trooper!!! She did great. She played at SLC, fell asleep right before we got on the plane, woke up 2 hours later, played on the plane and fell asleep once we got in the car to drive home. Her whole world was upside down and she didn't notice.

Gabi was glad to get to GG and Grumps' house so she could see her dog, Izzy. GG and Grumps have a lot of new toys and books and she is very excited. She even has her own patio chair that is just her size.

Tomorrow, we're having another open house for friends in MTV who would like to meet Gabi. We'd like to spend the week hanging out with Aunt Paige, Uncle Barry, Auntie Li and GG and Grumps. We have a lot on our plates. If Ed and I can get a nap, we hope to head to the pool later today.

We didn't take our camera to PC because it was momentarily lost in a box in Champaign. Hopefully, Nana will send some pics from this last week and I'll be able to post.

A Year Ago

2008-05-31T23:30:00.002-04:00

A lot of APs do these "year ago" posts. We've had a busy week and I didn't have my computer with me last weekend when we passed a significant milestone in our journey to be parents. On May 25, 2007, I met my daughter, Gabriella, for the very first time. I was alone. Ed did not arrive until the next day. I don't remember being scared or nervous. I remember feeling in awe of that little miracle. Every inch of her was beautiful and lovely. She already had a big personality and even bigger hair. I remember feeling incredibly proud to be her mother as I walked around the hotel.

But one year ago today was the last full day that I had with Gabi on that first trip. I know that I thought that I would be okay to leave her the next day if I just didn't think about it in the meantime. I remember mourning the passing of our sweet Karen who died only a month earlier as I learned more details of her situation. I remember being so grateful that Kristin was there with me. I was tired, in love, sad and humbled all at the same time.

I remember the next day when Kristin and I gave our girls back to Mariela. We cried as we watched them drive away. We laughed at the absurdity as we saw Mariela put Reagan in her lap (no CARSEAT!) and pull away from us. And then we cried. And then we laughed. And I remember thinking that after that week I would never be the same. How far we have come in this year! How blessed we are!

Moving, Moving, Moving...I think We're Homeless

2008-05-30T19:05:00.005-04:00

Ed and I are in the marvelous process of moving. We have had movers at the house for 3 days. The loaders came with the big truck today and they had to call a second truck for all of our stuff. This happens almost every time we move. They estimate the amount of stuff that we have. They can't believe how much there is so they underestimate it. Then they have to get more supplies and an additional truck. Poor guys.

Gabi and I have moved over to Kay's for the duration. Thank goodness! I don't know what we would do without this place to lay our heads. Gabi is mastering her other signs. Her "mommy, daddy, water" were all looking pretty similar. Over the last 24 hours, her "daddy" has drastically improved, so has her "mommy." She's such a little smarty.

Sunday, we're headed to Park City to hang out with Nana and Papa. Two vacays in two weeks. Are we spoiled or what? The answer is "YES!" I think Nana and Papa are enjoying their time with Miss Gabriella before we move. We're loving the time with them. When we get back, we'll go to MTV and hang out with GG, Grumps, Aunt Paige, Uncle Barry, Auntie Li and the rest of the crew. We have a pretty full dance card these days.

I'm using Ed's computer which doesn't have all the pictures on it. So here are a few OLD favorites...

I Keep Forgetting... this is for Jan

2008-05-30T16:55:00.002-04:00

Jan, you can email me at amanda.austin@gmail.com. Please do!!! I want to hear how the homecoming has been with Tucker et al.

Love,
Amanda

More Weekend Pics

2008-05-28T23:02:00.005-04:00

I don't think I've ever seen a sweeter performance than Spencer singing "What a Wonderful World"

Party in SC!!!

2008-05-28T16:27:00.005-04:00

It is safe to say that we had an incredible vacation in SC. It was beautiful, relaxing, fun and easy. Gabi met her cousins and aunt and uncle. She loved them all. Griffin and Spencer were very sweet to her. She's very lucky to have such wonderful cousins. Gabi liked hanging out with Aunt Hilary and apparently thinks that her Uncle Stephen is fascinating. She has a thing for him.

As for Kiawah Island... it probably couldn't have been more delightful. We had perfect weather all weekend. We celebrated my in-laws 40th anniversary and my 33rd birthday. We swam on the beach, swam in the pool, rode bikes around the island, watched the alligators and hung out together. It was a very welcome break from the chaos that exists at our house right now. Gabi LOVED the beach and the bikes and the pool and the alligators and the swings and the........

We returned on Tuesday evening and the packers began packing our things early this morning. They'll be here for the next 3 days. Gabi is doing well with all of it. I keep waiting for her to freak out. So far so good.

Some pictures from the weekend.

We Have an Official Walker!!!

2008-05-20T21:02:00.005-04:00

Just one of the girls...

Representation from the E'ham Crew

Gabi decided that today was the day! She has been able to walk for a few weeks and seemed so close to taking off. She just didn't want to let go of that support. Tonight after Her MK and Eileen had been here with GG, Ed and I, she just up and did it. She walked about 8 steps, then 10, then finally 14. She did it over and over again. We're so excited!!! Just in time for our trip to the beach.

Gabi has had a rough 48 hours. Her gums are swollen on both sides of her bottom molars from front to back and on the top too. It is so sad. She's so uncomfortable. Of course, it's making it harder to sleep. And without good sleep, everything seems tougher for a little one. She's been a trooper but we've had to keep the teething tablets, Orajel, and Tylenol coming. Despite that, she walked!

Here are some pics from the last few days.

Weekend in the 'Ham

2008-05-19T22:25:00.003-04:00

We headed to Effingham on Sunday morning to spend some time with friends, family and more friends. Gabi spent the morning with Nana and Papa. Then Aunt Anne and Uncle Frank came over. After Gabi's afternoon nap, the Ts, Zs, Aunt Nancy and Uncle Larry headed over to meet Gabi. We had delicious BBQ and hung out with the people we love. Kaitlyn, Grace and Emma took excellent care of Gabi while the adults got to talk.

This morning, several of Nana's friends came over for breakfast and met Gabi. Gabi was a bit out of sorts from all of the attention the day before. But as soon as the world focused their attention on her, she powered through. She's all about taking one for the team. The team being Gabi. She's a trooper. But we didn't get to the end of the driveway this morning before she was asleep. I have pictures to share, but I'm not completely certain of the location of the camera.

I'll get back to those pics as soon as humanly possible.

My Kid has a TBI...

2008-05-16T21:23:00.004-04:00

Gabi playing with Her MK and Nana C.

Gabi with Kip and Michelle

Playing with Davis

That's Traumatic Brain Injury. Ok, maybe not. But she has a big ole pumpknot on her forehead. She was trying to take her ladybug chair with her around the living room and something went awry. Next thing you know... Gabi was all cracked up. She cried for a whole 30 seconds. I think that's a record or something.

I used to get aggravated when bloggers wouldn't update their blogs regularly once they got home. I now understand. Our house has a revolving door. There is a constant stream of people in/out of this house. I can take the pictures and have the visits, but I can't get them posted. Also, I've been working this week and Ed and I (more Ed than me) have started the prep-for-packing process.

Gabi and her new baby doll from the Ts

This week the Ts (Chris, Michelle, Davis, Emma), the Cs (MK, Kate, Donna), Chaz, Corinne, Eileen, Christy and Lucy, and several others have dropped by. Some of them more than once. We got some pretty cute pics of Gabi playing with her friends-- but not all of them.

I apologize for my lack of correspondence. And I have to do this fast because I have to work tomorrow too and I'm one tired girl. It's not easy going back to work-- even if it's only for a few days. So here are a few pics from the last week.

Signs Everywhere...

2008-05-11T20:22:00.002-04:00

Gabi is amazing. She is now using the signs for "please" and "more" consistently. She is beginning to use "all done, milk" and we're working on "help." It took us a while to get going with "please", but once she understood that it works, the other signs have been coming much quicker. What a smart little cookie she is! It is so exciting to see her learning so quickly.

Another Graduate... Congrats Daddy!!!

2008-05-11T17:09:00.005-04:00

Edward walked in his graduation ceremony Saturday morning. He officially has his MBA and is FINISHED!! We're so glad that this box is checked and we can move on to the next great adventure.

We shared Ed's graduation with his parents, my parents and our beautiful DAUGHTER! I prayed very hard for Gabi to be home in time for this milestone in her daddy's life. Edward has missed a lot of occasions in the last ten years because of deployments and our overseas addresses. I really wanted this to be one that he could share with his daughter.

We went to graduation, had lunch out and returned home in time for Gabi to meet her Aunt Jana and Uncle Leo. Then she took an almost 3 hour nap. Gabi was soooo good yesterday. She sat in the restaurant for 2 hours and never made a peep. She took pictures with her MBA friends/family. And she met a lot, a lot, a lot of people. She barely fussed.

Here are some great pics of a few of our friends and family from Ed's graduation.

Busy, Busy, Busy

2008-05-09T20:55:00.005-04:00

I'm sure I'm probably in trouble for not posting for several days. This is what we've been up to.

Ed finished exams and Gabi and I went shopping with Our MK and Amanda Z
I worked a half-day at the hospital
We completed a post-placement visit
Gabi and I went to Mt. Vernon
We visited with Aunt Cheryl, Uncle Chester and others
We were able to visit Aunt Sue's classroom to meet 7 Gold and all the students who have been following Gabi's story
We went to another party with the lab crew at Laura's
We went to Gabi's daddy's MBA tent party

We've had a wonderful week. We especially enjoyed the party with Aunt Sue's class. The kids and Aunt Sue gave Gabi lots of toys. Gabi received several things for playing in her new pool in Houston. She got a new ladybug towel, bib, Disney Princess backpack, outfit, kickboard, pool toys, a wagon to put them in, a new ball and a TON of attention. Gabi loved every minute of it!!! She especially loves her Aunt Sue. Thank you 7 Gold and Aunt Sue. We love you!

After we visited the school and Gabi had a nap, GG, Gabi and I went to get some new clothes with a gift certificate Aunt Linda gave us last year. We ended up with six new outfits. Gabi is going to be the best dressed kid in Houston. She has the most beautiful coloring and it makes shopping for her so much fun! Thanks Aunt Linda!!!

Bizarro World

2008-05-05T21:46:00.002-04:00

I feel like we're living in our own Bizarro World (remember that Seinfeld episode?). For the last two nights and for one nap today, Gabi has gone to sleep without a peep. She's not one to really fight sleep but she routinely cries for at least 30 seconds when she goes down. The last two nights... nothing. It is so dreamy and delightful, I hardly know what to do.

She has also become quite the cuddler. This morning she cuddled with Daddy for at least a half hour after getting up. Throughout the day today she was so lovey. Tonight, she and I played for an hour on the floor and she just couldn't get enough. Cuddle, cuddle, cuddle! I love it. She is one sweet little girl.

Also, a couple of nights ago I had a dream that Gabi was in bed with us-- which she has never been-- and I couldn't find her. I thought I had smothered her. I woke Edward up while I was still dreaming and yelled, "Where is she?" He woke me up. But it scared him so much that he told me the next day that he had to go make sure she was still okay in her bed. The next night I said as clearly as could be, "Isn't she just beautiful?" I don't think he wondered who I was talking about. I hope that I get over this soon. Edward can't take it.

What's Happening?

2008-05-04T09:29:00.004-04:00

Not much, frankly. We've been running errands, visiting friends, being visited and playing, playing, playing. In unfortunate news, Gabi has decided that she doesn't need to be fed by us even when it's applesauce or yogurt of Cream of Wheat. She spits it out and puts what she wants back in her mouth. As you can imagine, it's very messy, which I can deal with. But more importantly, it decreases the number of foods we can get in her. So she isn't eating as well. It's really just a developmental thing. She wants to be independent and do it herself. So we're waiting it out.

She is such a happy, sweet little girl. And she is becoming more and more of a Daddy's girl. Although, I'm jealous, I'm also so happy that they have each other. If Edward were my dad, I'd be crazy about him too. He's so sweet and gentle with her.

Latest developments are that Gabi is pointing to her dog, nose, and mouth when asked. She finally signed "please" once this morning. She's decided that she absolutely loves ladybugs, which is a bonus since her room is ladybugs everywhere. Every time she gets up from a nap, she points to the wall with her ladybug hooks and name. And she kept returning to the ladybug page in her counting book yesterday. She loves those darn bugs. Does her mama know her or what?

Has it Sunk in Yet?

2008-04-30T22:12:00.002-04:00

I think it's starting to. It has been a very exhausting week. Gabi has done incredibly well. I think the weight of the last year and a half has finally gotten the best of me, however. I am so exhausted I can hardly believe it. I know it isn't from Gabi. I've been with her for over 6 weeks and I was just as busy in Antigua as I have been here. But I think my body is finally purging the cloud that has been hanging over us.

Despite the exhaustion, I do think that it is beginning to register that Gabi is here forever. I love seeing her toys scattered everywhere, her dishes from the last meal, her snacks, her sippy cup, her laundry. All of it is finally being used at HOME!!! It's so odd because much of it was used over the last year, but it is a tremendous difference to see her toddling around our living room instead of a hotel room or apartment.

Maybe this helps too... tonight at dinner Gabi grabbed both of my cheeks in her little hands, pulled me to her and kissed me right on the lips-- pucker and all. There's nothing more real than knowing that you can do that a hundred times a day if you want. She is the most perfect fit with us. And although it is impossible to be perfect, to me, she is perfection.

Just Hangin' Out and Another Surprise!

2008-04-30T21:33:00.003-04:00

It's so nice to have little to report. No sleep problems. No food problems. No attachment problems (yet!). Things are working out pretty well.

Today, Gabi and I set out to visit the school where I did my speech internship last spring. I had the BEST experience and I loved working there. We thought we were visiting everyone over lunch in between the morning and afternoon classes. Instead of just lunch, they threw Gabi a shower. We had lunch and delicious strawberry shortcake dessert and lots of presents. These people were so supportive when we first received Gabi's referral. They celebrated with me and have stuck it out with me all year long. Today, they descended upon us with gifts and sweet cards and wonderful wishes. They rejoiced with me that she is finally home and Gabi loved meeting and hanging out with them. We are so lucky to have the Washington EC on our side!!! Thank you Debbie and crew! It meant soooo much to us.

Tonight we had dinner with MK, Amanda and Amie. Gabi ate enough for two adults and sat back and showed us her belly. Impressive!! Ed loves those girls. I think he welcomed the opportunity to take a break from studying for finals. And he loves to show off his beautiful daughter.

Here are a couple of pics from the last few days.

A couple of Favorites

2008-04-28T12:27:00.002-04:00

These are a couple of my favorites from the last few days...

More Pics from the Weekend

2008-04-27T21:06:00.006-04:00

BIG WEEKEND

2008-04-27T20:15:00.006-04:00

On Friday, Gabi had her first pediatrician's appointment. She weighs a whopping 18 lbs. Ed and I cheered in the hallway when we saw the scale hit 18. She's gained 3/4 lb. in a month. She had been so stagnant that we really wanted to see some progress. She is in great health and our doctor is amazing. She knows exactly what to look for in IA children and was very thorough about child development, vaccinations, current research and overall care. However, Gabi had to get 3 shots, a TB test and blood drawn for several screenings. She was NOT happy. But she's our little trooper.

We went to Mt. Vernon this weekend to spend time with family and friends. Gran Gran drove up and we were able to hang out with Paige, Barry, Liza and Mom and Dad. We saw a lot of friends and Gabi had a great time. I can't believe how well she is taking all the chaos in stride.
Friday night we went out to dinner and Gabi did well for most of the night. She eventually had enough and let us all know. Saturday we went to the park and several "Gabi Stalkers" joined us to meet her in the flesh. It was pretty funny that people just kept pulling up at the park. Gabi got to swing and go down the slide and climb on some things. She loved it! Gabi also stood up from her little rocker and took 3 steps toward me. She's so close to walking independently.

Saturday night, Mom and Dad had a belated birthday party for Gabi. We had cake, present and friends and family. She didn't have a great nap so Edward and I braced ourselves that she might not do very well. She fooled us all! Apparently, this center of attention game is her specialty. She just lit up and reveled in having on those eyes on her. She also tore into her cake like it was the last food on earth. But she did offer some to everyone else.

Today, Gabi had an especially big day! She got her first haircut from Auntie Li. I think it's safe to say that she wasn't Liza's easiest customer. She doesn't know the meaning of sitting still, but she did great and the new 'do is darling! We estimated that Liza took 4 inches off. She still has plenty of hair too! After the haircut, we were able to go out to Paige and Barry's farm to see if she had any interest in going for a horseback ride. Of course she did. She went for a ride on Grandpa and loved every second. Uncle Barry and Daddy held her. She grinned from ear to ear. Grandpa is a sweet old guy and he loves to take kids for rides. She also got to pet Snap before her ride. Snap was sweet to her too.

The final excursion was back to Uncle Barry and Aunt Paige's house to meet Bocephus the Pot- Bellied pig. Technically, his name is Bocephus the Baconator but that requires a lot of energy to say. We call him Boce. And Gabi thought he was a stitch. She laughed at him and tried to walk after him and he sort of thought she was a bully. Can you imagine a pig thinking 18-lb Gabi is a bully? Well, he did. Gabi and the animals were a hysterical source of entertainment today.

And the big moment came when she kissed Aunt Paige on the lips. She didn't let her kiss her. She kissed Paige right on the smacker. She's never done that before. She'll lean in and sometimes she does a pop with her mouth. But that was a first. And it was right after Paige thumped her in the head with her camera. Gabi really, really wanted Aunt Paige to know there were no hard feelings.

Some of these pics are from the weekend and some are from last week. Many of them are courtesy of Paige. Enjoy!!

A Few Pics to Tide You Over...

2008-04-23T22:41:00.002-04:00

Welcome Home, Baby Girl!!!

2008-04-23T16:23:00.001-04:00

For the first time in my life, Ed and I were able to get our daughter up out of her crib in her house! Can you imagine a more perfect moment? We can't!!!

We arrived home at 2:27 a.m. Gabi did an incredible job on the flight. We've had a full day today. Gabi's Papa came by on his drive from Chicago and she got to show him her newest tricks. I think Papa might be a little smitten. We also had dinner with our MK and Gabi thinks she's funny and sweet. MK wasn't sure she would like Gabi and was very nervous (yeah right) about their first meeting. Luckily she's in love with our Gabi and is considering moving in with us to avoid separation.

Gabi's Grandpal, Eileen, stopped by over lunch to say hello. Gabi shared her raisin bread and they had a lovely visit. Anyone who brings raisin toast over is ok in Gabi's book.

We were so lucky to be greeted at the airport by our families. I have a lot of pictures to post but I can't get anything to work so I'll have to wait until tomorrow. We were also able to meet Uncle Josh, Aunt Kristin, Ryker, Reagan and Pam in Atlanta. There is nothing better than sharing this adoption with them. Their enthusiasm for Gabi has been as intense as it was for their own two children. We have been so fortunate to have them with us every step of the way. Kristin has been my voice of reason, wall of strength and gentle listener throughout this adoption. I am so blessed to have a friend who knows exactly how I feel-- both highs and lows. Thank you, Kristin. We love you so much.

When we arrived home, we found several things. First, there were balloons, bows, decorated trees and signs from my friends, Kyra and Kristen. Such a delightful sight!! Then there was a cooler with milk, orange juice, fruit and raisin bread decorated with balloons. Delicious and perfect! When we went inside the house, MK left instructions about how to bake the breakfast casserole that was in the fridge and a full report on Izzy's state of mind. There was also a brand new birthday outfit, book and Kid Sister from MK. Does it get any better than that?

Needless to say, we had a delicious breakfast without lifting a finger and were able to enjoy Gabi's first morning at home. Ed and I kept saying to each other throughout the day, "Our daughter is taking a nap in her bed. Our daughter is playing with her new toys. Our daughter this... our daughter that." We feel like we should just keep pinching ourselves. We're finally home with our family.

I have about a million thank you and some incredible pictures-- thanks to Paige-- but I MUST go to bed. I'm so tired I'm not making sense anymore.

They Don't Accept Mastercard

2008-04-21T21:42:00.002-04:00

They'll only take visa tomorrow. Gabriella will become a U.S. citizen in Atlanta, Georgia. We'll have a short layover and on to St. Louis.

We are having breakfast tomorrow morning with Jackelin, Gabi's foster mother. We didn't think we were going to be able to see her. Fortunately at the last minute we were able to make it happen. We're glad to have the opportunity to see her one more time before we leave. We will keep in touch and visit Guatemala again. When we do, we will always try to see her. She's been such an incredible mother to Gabi. And Ella. And the many other children she's cared for over the years.

So pray for safe travels tomorrow. This is a huge day for our family. We cannot wait. I think it's finally hitting Edward. He can't believe that we're ALL going home. So funny to hear him talk about it.

Pictures

2008-04-21T11:41:00.001-04:00

Our friend Hugo at the Marriott

First Steps...

2008-04-21T10:39:00.002-04:00

Last night Edward and I witnessed a first for Gabriella. She took her first independent steps!!! We couldn't believe it. She doesn't like to do it if she's aware that she's not being supported. For as brave as she is, I think she's more timid when it comes to walking. We were so proud of her. She just beamed. She has the greatest expression when she does something wonderful.

I do have pictures to post of the last couple of days, but I'm not posting from my computer. I promise to get them on when she goes down for a nap.

Final Hours in Antigua

2008-04-19T18:44:00.002-04:00

Ed, Gabi and I went traipsing around town today. We were going to go swimming but opted instead to hit the market, if only for window shopping. Then we hit our favorite crepe eatery, Luna de Miel, for a delicious lunch. Ed and I developed a serious addiction to crepes after living in Europe for four years. We LOVE them. It's deep. It's difficult to find an authentic crepe place in the Midwest. Needless to say, it was a necessary stop.

We were so hot and we decided to let Gabi have some squirm time in Central Park. She is getting really good at standing on her own. She can even stand on her tiptoes and maintain her balance. And of course, she can dance without holding on to anything. So she climbed and walked and finally we decided that she needed to head home for her nap. We bought her a special gift for her 16th birthday and down she went.

Gabi's other new trick is that not only does she point at things that she wants, she now points directly at the object and "requests" it verbally. She's come a long way in this respect since I got her. She used to just ignore something she couldn't reach. Now, she demands it. It's very cool that she can communicate her wants and needs.

We are off to dinner with some adoption friends before this beautiful city. I will miss it. I will miss these amazing people. I know we will return but I will miss it in the meantime.

New Feats

2008-04-18T21:48:00.002-04:00

Gabi learned how to drink from a straw today. Thanks to her SLP mother, she is a genius. She also spent much of the day hugging her mommy and daddy. That's her new thing. Hugging. It's very sweet! We love to watch her learn something new every day. I guess that won't ever get old.

Apparently there is some sort of "stealing my thunder" thing going on in Illinois. They were so jealous of my three earthquakes in Guatemala that they went and fashioned their own. Actually, there were 7. We hope everyone is well and safe. Our friend, MK, who is dogsitting Izzy, said that Izzy woke up early this morning whining, shaking and barking. MK was mad at her at first. She couldn't figure out what had gotten into her until she realized that their world was shaking. Poor Izzy. She's so misunderstood. (Although frankly, we would have reacted the same way.)

GOTCHA DAY!!!!

2008-04-18T15:56:00.004-04:00

First, I've added pictures from the post yesterday. Blogger wasn't allowing me to upload, so here they are.

We had our visa appointment this morning. It all went like clockwork and we were out of there in a little over 2.5 hours. It's a good thing because we were up very early and Gabi was finished. She is sooooo busy now that she is so close to walking. While we were sitting in the chairs, she stood on the floor and cruised between us. Several times she took her hands off and stood (rather, danced) without holding onto anything. Her balance has improved significantly over the last few weeks yet, I don't think she's aware of it.

Anyway, up to a couple of windows, back down again, up again and we were outta there. Today is our GOTCHA DAY!!! We will celebrate this day for at least the rest of our lives, even if Gabi loses interest as an adult. What a special day in our history as a family and her history as an adopted child. We adore you, Gabi!!!

Cameras are not allowed at the Embassy, as you might expect. Nor are phones or anything else. So we took pictures early this morning and later today. Gabi was beautiful in her pink dress and new shoes. I hate to say it (not really) but she received many admiring glances from other parents.

Ed and Hector will pick the visa up Monday afternoon and we'll be on our way Tuesday. Please pray that we are able to get Gabi to sleep on the flight. We aren't worried about her crying since she is a pretty happy kid. We are worried that she is so busy that she won't sit still unless she is asleep. The funny thing is-- paybacks are hell. My mom says that I was exactly the same way. Two speeds-- 90 mph or dead asleep. We'll do our best to wear Gabi Sol out before we get on that plane. Lord, help us!

Pics

2008-04-17T15:46:00.002-04:00

Sorry but the pictures can't be posted right now because Blogger is acting crazy. I'll have to post when we return.

New Pics and Video

2008-04-17T15:35:00.002-04:00

Gabi went swimming today with her friends Jessica and Maria. Daddy was there too. That's a lot of fun. Here are some pics from last night and today. Also a cute video of Gabi with her Daddy.

Headed out of town...

2008-04-17T12:19:00.002-04:00

Gabi is taking a great morning nap. She woke up extra early this morning. I guess she was just so excited that Daddy was here to play that she couldn't sleep anymore. They enjoyed the morning together and Ed let me sleep in a little. Aaaahhhh!!!

We are headed to the pool when she gets up and then we'll head out to the Marriott in GC. We'll spend the night there and go the visa appointment in the morning. We have to be there at 7:15 in the morning and that is simply too early. We don't want to add an hour of drive time to that.

Ed made me promise to add pictures today before we leave because Gabi's Grumps goes into withdrawal if he goes too long without her. So I promise to upload a few pics before we head out of town. We'll be back in Antigua after our appointment tomorrow.

Have a great day!

Daddy's Here...

2008-04-16T18:10:00.003-04:00

Gabi has been showing Daddy the ropes. He arrived right on time and has been so excited since he got here. He is loving on his little girl. Right now they're outside playing in the backyard. There is quite a conversation going on out there.

Earlier this afternoon, Gabi got all of her toys out and showed them to Daddy. Then she climbed all over him and now she's sort of sizing him up. Please excuse the quality of these pics. And Ed's wifebeater. We all tried to take a nap, but Gabi didn't cooperate. See Robin-- Gabi's naps aren't foolproof.

Waiting for Daddy!!!!

2008-04-16T11:08:00.003-04:00

Gabi woke up happy this morning as usual. When I got her out of the crib, I told her that today is the day-- Daddy is coming. She grinned from ear to ear. She had breakfast and then we got her dressed for her big day!

I'm including pics of her new shoes. Today she's wearing her boots and she'll wear her new white T-straps to her visa appointment with her gorgeous pink dress that Auntie Li picked out. She's quite the trendsetter.

Art Projects and Chicken Legs

2008-04-15T21:16:00.004-04:00

Today Gabi and I joined some friends for breakfast in town. Then we went shopping and bought young Gabi some new shoes. They are lovely. This afternoon we joined several other families for art projects and Pollo Campero chicken.

We made gratitude drums and Gabi helped by ripping the paper that we put on the sides. Then we decorated them with sayings from magazines that reflected our experience here. The idea is to keep it positive. Ours turned out wonderfully.

We then picnicked on chicken and french fries. Gabi had her first real chicken that wasn't out of a can or jar. I've been afraid to give it to her because she doesn't have any molars but she did fine. But she was not the star of the show. That would be Jessica. Jessica is about a week younger than Gabi and has not a single tooth. But she can eat ANYTHING!!! It's one of the most fascinating baby things I've ever seen. She eats pizza, whole sandwiches, bowls of pasta, whatever. Not a single tooth. She just gums everything to death. And it doesn't require that it's torn into little pieces. She'll bite pizza right off the piece. But the real killer was today. She ate a chicken drumstick!!! I almost wet my pants. Jessica is tiny like Gabi. That drumstick was almost the size of her head. But that didn't stop her.

In other news, the earthquake from yesterday was a 6.1 off the coast of Guatemala. It wasn't just our imaginations. Since I've been here we've had a 4.6, a 4.8 and a 6.1. I think it might be time to go home.

And finally, Gabi has been up to some of her own tricks. She stood by herself several times. She was so proud of herself. She just lights up when she does something great. It's a riot. Humility is not her strong suit. So cute.

EARTHQUAKE!!!

2008-04-14T23:10:00.001-04:00

We just had another big earthquake. I don't know how big this one was, but it felt much bigger than the last one. And it lasted much longer. It's so bizarre. I just sat here and made sure nothing could fall on Gabi in her crib. Crazy. I feel oddly brave tonight.

Surprise Visitor and Nana's Last Day

2008-04-13T19:04:00.003-04:00

We were on our way to brunch this morning when we got a surprise phone call. Dennis Deters, a friend from Effingham, called and said he was in Antigua and if we had time, he'd love to stop by. Dennis and his son were here on a medical mission for the last week. They were staying in Panajachel, but actually working in Solala, where they performed cataract surgeries for about 12 hours a day. Anyway, he stopped in to say hello and met Gabriella. He is a father of five and was missing his daughter (the baby) and was glad to get some snuggle time with Gabi. Gabi thought he was pretty cool and loved meeting him!

Today is Nana's last full day in Antigua. She leaves for home tomorrow morning. Gabi has LOVED spending this time with her Nana. She thinks she's funny and looks for her every morning when she wakes up. It's adorable. I think Nana thinks she's ok too.

Video of our Cruiser

2008-04-12T22:06:00.002-04:00

More Pics

2008-04-12T19:25:00.003-04:00

New Pictures

2008-04-12T18:10:00.003-04:00

Daddy's Coming

2008-04-11T11:05:00.002-04:00

Gabi's daddy is returning to Guatemala City on Wednesday. We cannot wait to see him and he can't wait to see his girl again. In just three weeks, she has changed so much.

She has two new teeth, she's eating pb&j and all sorts of other foods, she can high five, she's talking even more than before, and is sillier every minute. She's also cruising with much better balance and skill and can stand for a few seconds with no support. That is, until she realizes she's doing it by herself.

Gabi can swim like a fish and often does. She's such a joyful little person. She laughs at other people and kids, especially. Her curiosity is unrelenting. She is physically strong and ready to take on the world.

WE'RE PINK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-04-10T15:00:00.003-04:00

This is the single happiest post of my life!!! We are on our way home!!! We have Gabi's Embassy appointment for her visa on Friday, April 18th. We will return home on Tuesday, April 22nd. We have to wait until Monday to pick it up, but we couldn't care less.

Gabi was wearing pink today with her friends, Kyra, Monica, Gina and MK!! It worked. You did it!! You guys brought our girl home!!! Thank you, God, for wonderful friends and wonderful news!

I hope you guys have as great a Thursday as we're going to!

Good News from Home

2008-04-09T19:54:00.003-04:00

My dad had surgery yesterday to remove some tumors. They will have to be biopsied before we know what's going on. They gave him a dose of chemotherapy as a preventative measure. I was more worried when I heard this. Dad has had several surgeries over the past several months and he's had a couple of bad reactions to antibiotics and other medications. I thought he would feel really lousy after chemo. But I finally heard from Edward this afternoon that he is doing well. His appetite came back, he's home and doesn't seem to have any lasting effects from the chemo. I'm so glad.

So these pictures are for you, Dad.

DNA Arrived!!

2008-04-09T19:35:00.001-04:00

Our DNA arrived at the U.S. Embassy today at 3:56 p.m. We hope that we have pink in the very near future. A few other friends have decided to jump on Kyra's bandwagon and wear pink until we have it. Gabi thought she should too.... for a little extra ooomph!

Better Explanation

2008-04-09T17:03:00.001-04:00

Paige asked for a better explanation of the timeline, so I hope this helps. Once our DNA arrives at the Embassy, they have 72 hours to issue an appointment. Once they issue the appointment, they seem to be at about 7-8 days out for the actual appointment. In other words, if we get an appointment (pink) on Monday, our appointment will probably be the next Monday. No matter what-- it's exciting! We are almost there!! Paige, does that help? Sorry I was unclear before.

DNA News

2008-04-08T20:53:00.002-04:00

Our DNA is a match and on its way to the Embassy. It is scheduled to arrive tomorrow no later than 6 pm. We're assuming it won't be logged in until Thursday. But we're still a day ahead of what we expected. Please pray for a fast PINK!!! My friend Kyra is wearing pink every day until Gabi gets pink. We can feel the love, Ky!!!

Nana's Here!!!

2008-04-08T19:49:00.002-04:00

Jane (aka Nana) arrived today right on time. I was able to take Gabi to the city, do some shopping at the Wal-Mart store and head to the airport just 5 minutes before she walked out the door. Gabi was very excited to see her Nana again. I was actually surprised how agreeable she was. Over the last few days she's been exhibiting some separation anxiety behaviors, so I wasn't sure what the reaction would be. All is well.

We have really just been hanging out this afternoon. We missed the art group because Gabi woke up from her nap too late to go. I really felt like the nap was important since she's teething and somewhat crabby. Sleep goes a long way in curing those woes.

No other news. We hope to hear about the DNA being shipped out tomorrow. I'll keep you posted.

Report on 2nd DNA

2008-04-07T17:00:00.002-04:00

Unfortunately, our DNA did not arrive at the lab in the US until Friday. It is not expected to leave their hands until Wednesday. This should put it at the Embassy on Thursday or Friday. We hope to get pink early the next week. Currently, appointments are only 7 days out from pink, so we're praying for that.

Gabi's Nana is arriving tomorrow for a visit. She'll be here until the 14th. This will surely keep us busy until our appointment. I'm praying the Edward arrives soon after to see his baby girl again. We're getting there, it's just a slow process. As if you needed me to tell you that.

Kristin and Reagan left this morning. They were flying on a buddy pass and I'm praying that they got on their flight. If not, they have to spend the night in the city. We had such a good time. Kristin and I got some much needed face-to-face time and we were able to enjoy our girls together. We want them to know each other so badly. I have no doubts. What a wonderful friend to come down here!

Reagan and Gabi

2008-04-07T10:25:00.000-04:00

Hot Sunday

2008-04-06T22:19:00.005-04:00

The morning started very hot as we took the 20-minute walk to brunch. By the time we arrived, I was sweating and not very lovely. But the food was great and the company even better. Gabi ate like a horse again and enjoyed some raspberries and blackberries, which are new to her.

We then went shopping for a few "necessities" in the market. We found a couple of table runners, toys and gifts for people back home. The girls were antsy, so we headed to the central park and let them play. Reagan found a boyfriend and they blew bubbles for a while. Gabi climbed on the benches.

It was at the central square that we had an altercation with a couple of young girls. These young ladies (probably 12 or 13 year olds) sell their wares in the square to tourists. The police run them off usually, but they typically manage to make their way around. Today, while I was playing with Gabi on the bench, one of them sat down and started talking to me. She wanted me to buy something for $1. I said no repeatedly and then agreed. It was actually something I wanted, but when I went to get the money she said, "It's $20." I didn't even have that much cash on me. And I didn't want it that bad. She kept after me, dropping the price from 20 to 15 to 12 to 10. When I said no, she got upset and said, "You stink!" Well, I laughed. I told her that she was the one that presented her goods for $1.

Kristin talked to these girls for a while and offered to buy them an ice cream instead of buying their stuff. They agreed and told her that they wanted to go to the expensive ice cream shop. I said no, primarily because I didn't want to get into a long drawn out affair. We were already worn out and still had errands to run. Instead, we bought an ice cream from one of the street vendors. They overcharged Kristin 5 times the normal price and were then going to give the money back to the girls. Kristin busted them and asked what the normal price was. The little boy working the ice cream stand fessed up and returned the money. Well, Kristin was hot!!! And I don't blame her. Anyway, we were aggravated by the negative response to a kind act. Oh well.

We finally got home after grocery shopping and picking up a toy for Gabi at the outdoor market. When you get home after walking around Antigua, you are dirty. You are generally hot and very, very dirty. There is a lot of dust and exhaust that circulates in this country. The air quality is terrible. And as you walk through town, it attaches to you like a parasite. You feel like you could peel the layer of filth right off of you. It's very odd that it doesn't seem to bother you as you go about your business. That's probably because everyone else is covered in that same layer of filth. It's lovely. Despite that, I still love it here very much. More every day, in fact.

Outdoor Adventures

2008-04-05T22:47:00.003-04:00

Today Kristin and I took the girls on a couple of adventures. First, we had to repair the flat on my stroller. I would have a hard time figuring out where I would get an inner tube for a stroller in the States. Forget about solving this problem in Antigua, Guatemala. Lo and behold, Lorraine knew exactly where to go. She led me in the bowels of one of the markets to a man who found a tube for me and repaired. He didn't even charge me to fix it, just for the tube. Can you imagine my luck?

Then we headed over to Santa Rosa Apartments on the other side of town where several American families reside while fostering. It is a gated community with lots of yard space and socializing. We had lunch with some girls, played in the yard with the kids, celebrated an 8 year-old's birthday and enjoyed the sunshine.

Gabi had a rough time today because of her teeth. The discomfort makes her incredibly clingy. On top of that, I think she became overstimulated. She was crawling all over me. Finally, in order to settle her down, I took her away from the crowd and sang (yes, sang) to her and she was able to regroup. We then went to dinner with 8 moms and 8 kids. It was obnoxious for the other patrons, but lovely for us.

Reagan had a great time playing with the other kids. There were several just about her age and lots of toys for her to explore. The sunshine wore all of us out, especially since it was such a hot day, but we had such a good time.

Shake, Rattle and Roll

2008-04-04T22:38:00.004-04:00

Our morning started with an earthquake. I love it!!! Kristin and I were just sitting here. We looked at each other and said, "It's an earthquake." And then it was over. That's it. No drama here. I've never been in an earthquake before. Antigua is awesome!

Gabi cut a new tooth on top. She has two more coming in on the bottom. I distracted her today by taking her swimming. It's one of her favorite things. Reagan loved it too. The pool is perfect for little guys and they were both slap happy by the time we left. They both slept well as a result. And so did the mamas.

My computer is fixed!!!!! I don't think I can overstate how important my computer is to me. I feel like I've lost a limb when I don't have it. So when the little computer girl told me it was just the cord and fixed it, I almost kissed her on the mouth. Such happiness. Get ready for Blogamania!!

I'm more in love with this little monkey every day. She is absolutely precious. She's silly and smart and content and active and fearless. And she's just so much fun! When Nana gets here next week, she's not going to believe this girl.

Nothing Much to Report

2008-04-04T11:43:00.002-04:00

The girls are taking a nap and I thought I'd post a couple more pictures. Today we're off to the pool with the crew of moms and kids. We've been out and about this morning airing up my stroller tire that went flat last night, buying antibiotics for my ongoing sinus infection and hitting the ATM. It's been warm here so the pool is a nice respite from the heat. My computer may be fixed later this morning, which would put me back on track in my life.

Reagan saw Gabi's bedhead this morning and said "Pretty." We thought that was a riot. Gabi is feeling so much better than a week ago. She's about to finish her antibiotics and the cough is much looser and productive. Thank goodness for that.