Rudolph Program

Today was Evi's Rudolph program at preschool. They all lined up with reindeer ears and red noses and sang Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, Jingle Bells, and Must Be Santa. Evi was great, quite the little star. It really wasn't much but all the parents were there, cameras in toe. Oh what we do for our kids. I even dressed her in red and green. I have to admit I got teary eyed. These are the moments that I was waiting for. I remember when Evi was an infant I would think of the days when she would be performing in school programs. I couldn't wait. Now I hope that time stands still because before we know it she will be 16 and boy crazy (although I hope she is never boy crazy). They grow up too fast.....
I'm so proud of our little girl.

What's for Dinner?

So tonight we had tacos for dinner. I know, there is nothing especially exciting about tacos except......the experation date. April 2003. What? Can this be right? The taco shells are older then Evi and have been moved with us twice? See, I told you it was exciting.

Why a Blog?

Well, I guess I really have nothing to do. LOL. Well that is sort of the truth. Mostly I just want a way to keep track of who we are as a family from week to week, month to month, and year to year. I don't really think we are that interesting or that we have anything important to say. But...I hope that we can save all that we post here and some day Evi and Robert will enjoy reading about their lives as children. Some days some really funny things happen and I tend to forget all the best stuff.
So, to begin our first entry is all about the wait for Christmas. Evi is almost 4 and is really into Santa and the idea of presents left under the tree for her. Over the weekend she woke up and said "I'm going to check under the tree to see if Santa left any presents yet." when I told her that it wasn't Christmas she said "that's okay. I'll check anyway." It's so great to feel the anticipation again through your child's eyes. I think this year I'll have just as much trouble sleeping on Christmas Eve as she does.
As for Robert, well he is just getting bigger and bigger everyday. He really makes us laugh and I often find myself saying that he is so cute I could eat him. His smile really does light up a room. He is starting to talk and communicate more and more everyday although we really have no idea what he is saying. He too is enjoying the Christmas season, especially the tree. I find ornaments in the oddest places almost everyday. At least he isn't trying to climb the tree right.

Robert is 1!!!

I can't believe that this little guy is a year old. He still seems so new. We are so blessed to have him in our lives and are so greatful to the FTC staff for making it all possible. He is a dream come true. Here are some pictures from his party.

Our Happy Guy!

Home 4 Months.

I can't believe that we have been home with Robert for almost 4 months. He is such a perfect part of our family. He has transitioned really well and definitely knows who his mommy and daddy are. I can't even imagine my life without this precious little boy. His smile melts my heart and his laughter is music to my soul. Big sister Evi is settling in as well. She loves her brother so much and loves to help mommy keep him out of trouble. Since coming home Robert has learned many things. He now crawls, pulls up on things, points to objects he wants, claps his hands and follows commands. I have attached some recent pictures of him, as you can see he has gotten so big. Thanks to everyone who prayed and supported us through this process. Adoption is never easy but the end result is so worth it and for anyone going through the process right now, you really do forget everything once they are home and in your arms forever.

Coming Home

Kerry and Evi have been living in Antigua, Guatemala with Robert since December 28th. I came down to join them on Jan 14th. We can now finally answer the question we so often here, "When is he coming home?" The answer is Wednesday January 24th, sometime between 8:30 and 9:30, depending on whether or not we make our scheduled flight. We land in Houston at 4:23 pm and depart for Chicago at 5:40. With only 1 hour and 17 minutes between flights we will literally have to run through the airport to have any chance. Normally, this would be enough time, but this being Robert's first time in the states we will have to go through a special line at immigration and then disappear into a mysterious room where they open the envelope that we are instructed not to open, before then continuing on to our connection. We are very, very excited to be bringing him home soon, although we have been told that it is freezing in Chicago, and it has been about 70º and sunny the whole time we have been here in Antigua (not the island, it is a colonial city in Guatemala). It is amazing here, and definitely a future family vacation destination. The weather is in the 70's pretty much all year long.

Kerry came down to Antigua to finish the waiting process after finding out that we were out of PGN (see previous post). We were fortunate that my sister Mary, and a friend Jamie were able to join Kerry for the first week to help in caring for two children for the first time, but also a big deal, help Kerry get through the airport with luggage for herself, Evi, Robert, a stroller, car seat, and of course Evi. If Mary and/or Jamie were not able to go, Kerry would not have been able to go until I was able to go with her. After Mary and Jamie left Antigua and returned to their respective schools (one a teacher the other an Assistant Principal), Kerry, Evi and Robert were joined by Kerry's father for the week. One interesting side note on this visit, Kerry ate breakfast everyday. I'm sure I'm off a little on the details but ... Kerry would tell Evi to eat her breakfast, and Evi would ask why? To which Kerry would respond, because I'm your mother and I said so. To which her father told Kerry that she needed to eat her breakfast, because he is her father and he said so.

So Sunday the 14th came and Kerry's father went home and I arrived. This is my first time in Guatemala seeing much more than the inside of a hotel room. In Antigua we are able to go all over this beautiful city with our children. We ate breakfast at a five-star hotel/restaurant, Casa Santa Domingo, or a total cost of $15.00 you won't find that in Chicago. We have eaten at Cafe Sky and had the best Chicken Quesada while enjoying a 360º view of the city, mountains and volcanoes. And near daily walks for helado (ice cream) a double scoop for me, and a single for Kerry and Evi to share all for about 15 Quetzals (about $2.15. Yes, you read that right, Kerry eats ice cream, actually hers is Mandarin orange sorbet. Evi and her both love that one.

We have ridden in an interesting form of transportation the Tuc-tuc. It is sort of like a motorized Rickshaw. It is basically a three wheeled golf cart that zips through the city bouncing along on the cobble stone streets. I've only been on them once but apparently it was Evi and Papi's (Evi's word for grandpa) favorite means of transportation. Evi loves them and Robert falls fast asleep in seconds.

Everything about this place is great, but the best part is being here as a whole family and knowing that we are going to be bringing Robert home so soon.