Gabi has started waving and can't be stopped. She waves at everyone. It's usually with a straight extended arm just from the wrist and a one-sided shoulder shrug. If she waves at you, she really means it.
Gabi's also quite the accomplished climber. She climbs everything. She's also the best imitator south of the border. She does everything we do. It's hysterical. She's also doing obvious things like following objects that are dropped or disappear. She's clicking her tongue-- which is very funny to watch. But she thinks it's even funnier to watch me do it at the same time.
We are loving all of the cuddling. She WANTS both of us. But at the same time, she is unhappy about strangers entering her space. She doesn't like when the waiter comes to our table or the parents get too close in the baby lounge. It's good to see that her desire to come to us isn't indiscriminate. She actually wants her Mommy and Daddy. We love that!!! What a little cuddlebug we have.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
New Tricks
Nothing Much... But Some Pictures
Check out that Elvis hair
Our girl is ridiculously happy. She's eating well, slept well last night and has taken great naps today. Gabi is a mess. She's chattering, playing and silly all the time. We went swimming again today and she loves it. She was slow to warm up yesterday because the water was so cold. She wasn't too sure about it. But today it was warmer and she stayed in for about 40 minutes. She just loves it. And she got a new bathing suit ensemble from Kyra, Gina and Anna. She was the coolest kid at the pool! Thanks ladies. She's so stinkin' cute, I can't even stand it.
Jeremiah is OUT too!!!
I just found out that a friend of ours just got out of PGN! Jeremiah has had a very similar timeline to ours and they found out today that he is OUT of PGN after many, many months! We're so excited for them. Jeremiah is 14 months old right now and it will only be about another month before he is home forever. Congrats G.s!!!
Saturday, March 15, 2008
More News about our Squatty Guat
Gabi is taking her morning nap so I thought I'd post. She woke up happy as a clam this morning. She is dreamy! We opted to try feeding her regular food from the breakfast buffet. She is such a good eater. She feasted on refried beans (breakfast of champions), peaches, banana yogurt, and cheese. She did great! So I'll take advantage of that while I'm here.
She just woke up and we're headed to the pool-- our favorite place. For the record, I am less stressed out than I have been for at least a year. That is a tremendous burden lifted. More later...
Friday, March 14, 2008
Our First Day
Gabi wants to walk. She's cruising everywhere and wants to walk so badly. She LOVES Daddy. She thinks he's so funny. And she's such a little climber. She's talking up a storm. There's just so much that's fun about this age. The biggest thrill is that she's wanting to cuddle all the time! I mean all the time. She just wants to snuggle up to you. We're so bummed about that.
The only sad thing to report is that Gabi's foster mother said that she has really been grieving for Ella. They said that she's cried a lot more and has been looking for her. If that isn't pitiful I don't know what is. I knew that she would miss her fiercely, especially since we think that they shared a crib. How can you sleep without your big sister? Breaks my heart.
In other news, our attorney brought us the document from PGN that says that we're approved. He will go get her new birth certificate in Escuintla on Monday. It will have her name as Lili Esmeralda A. and Edward and I as her parents. We will then get her new passport in the same name. Once we have the birth certificate, she is legally our daughter. This step alleviates some of the concerns I had about fostering her without her being my legal child. We expect to have DNA authorization early the week after Easter, according to our attorney's plan.
That's all I've got. I'll post new pics tomorrow. Have a great night.
There aren't words, but I'm gonna try...
We have our girl. As I type, my eyes are welling up with tears because it's finally hitting me what a huge moment this is. And it isn't just me, it isn't just Edward, it's all of us. We're a family. God has never given a greater gift than family. And He has blessed us with the most precious addition on this planet.
It was heartbreaking to take Gabi from her beloved foster family. But we promised that we will have dinner before we take her home for good. That seemed to ease the pain a bit. We are so incredibly grateful to what they've done for our daughter this past year. She is happy, healthy, silly, loving and precious because of them.
It took her all of 20 minutes to completely come around and start grinning, giggling and playing with us. She was thrilled to see her duck return (from her cousin Rita) and that made her transition easier. Gabi is probably the most joyful baby I've ever been around. We are so looking forward to bringing her home to share her with you all.
Gabi has 4 teeth now-- 2 on top, 2 on bottom. She is talking up a storm and is as playful as she was when Mom and I were here last month. She's so much fun and we've only been here an hour.
I promise to keep blogging while I'm here and maybe forever. But Gabi had something to interject. Gabriella's message to the masses is:
Thursday, March 13, 2008
I Dare You to Knock Us Off our Cloud...
'cause we are OUT!!! We are out of PGN. We were signed off yesterday by the big guy. Just under the wire as we are headed to Guatemala tomorrow morning. It is a HUGE relief to know that we are no longer waiting for this part to be over.
After 8 months of praying, begging, teeth gnashing, screaming and crying, we have passed the test. Our Gabriella is coming home. We estimate the last step to be 4-6 weeks. When we get Gabi tomorrow, she will be ours forever. Not just in our hearts, but by law. Thanks for all the prayers. I know many of you have been on overtime.
We'll post tomorrow when we arrive.
