Anna's Journey from Guatemala

Last week we celebrated Valentine's Day.  Anna enjoyed a sugar cookie frosted with pink icing and I got my first kiss.   She is just growing every day and learning more words than I can keep up with.  This time last year I was mourning that it would still be another few weeks before I would head to GT.  Soon we will be celebrating her first "Gottcha Day".  I'm planning to take the day off and just play with little Anna all day long.  This last year has flown by!!

I know I haven't blogged much lately, but I feel the need to write a little this evening.  My poor little dog, Casey, died yesterday morning.  He really had a hard weekend and just finally gave up.  He has been such a huge part of my life for the last 14 years and even though the house is now filled with Anna's sweet voice, it feels a bit empty without the clicking of his toenails on the wood floor or the feel of his soft fur under my feet as I sit at my desk.

 

He really was such a good boy and I will miss him terribly.  The evenings have been the hardest, that was always our time.  How do you let go of something that loves you so unconditionally?  I cried many a tear into his fur and depended on his sweet face to find comfort when life threw me a curve ball.  So here I find myself, sad, my daughter sleeping and wanting to just curl up on my bed and hug on my sweet dog. Instead, I'm afraid to return to my room and so I sit here at the computer trying to find some comfort.

 

If you have never loved a dog, you are truly missing out on one of God's greatest gifts.  Though my heart breaks I would not change a thing and one day, again, I will have the blessing of being loved and loving another of God's creatures.

 

This is my favorite picture of Casey. 

I add 3 new photo albums - Orr Family Farm, Gymboree and First Snow.  I'm sure I'll add more to the snow album tomorrow.  I can't believe how much snow we have gotten.  Anna was mostly interested in eating the snow.   The pictures of her in her coat remind me of "A Christmas Story".  She was all bundled up!  I couldn't stop laughing.

 

We are doing great and still having fun as mommy and daughter.  She has 4 molars now, walks everywhere and say "mama" constantly.  I mean CONSTANTLY.  I'm ready for a new word. 

 

Enjoy the pics.  In case you can't tell, she is a REALLY happy baby, I mean todler!

 

 

Anna experienced her first Halloween.  She was absolutely precious in her lady bug costume.  She got to go to a local Pumkin Patch, a Fall Festival at church and then dress up and go trick or treating at mommy's office.  We had great fun showing off.  It's been a big few days.

 

Anna, also, officially became a US Citizen yesterday.  We went in front of the judge at the court house and then joined friends for a big celebration at Abuelo's.  We had a GREAT time!  I've posted pictures from our exploits.  Enjoy!!

Wow! What a day!  Actually, what a weekend.  Anna got to eat, count 'em, 2 cakes.  One Saturday morning and then another one today.  Let's just say she wasn't shy about digging into either one.  You must check out the pictures.  We had several friends over for cake and ice cream.  It was a great party!!

 

It's hard to believe we are already celebrating her first birthday.  Just 9 days from now is the anniversary of the day I got "the phone call".  She is growing so fast and she is absolutely the most beautiful little girl.  She is losing that "baby" look and starting to look more and more like a little girl.

 

As far as milestones....

She has 8 teeth

She crawls everywhere

She is attempting to stand on her own and can manage it for about 2 seconds

She walks holding on to me or the furniture

She actually said "Uh-oh" today when she dropped a toy

She sometimes refers to me as "Mama"

She can sign "more", wave "bye-bye", and point to things she wants

Grandma and Grandpa got her to hold up the number 1

She'll roll a ball (or in her case a plastic egg) to you back and forth

 

As far as "mommyhood"... the only word I can think of is .... GREAT!  She is just so amazing to watch and I just can't get enough of her.  God is so good!!  Happy Birthday, Anna.  Mommy loves you TONS!!

Hello all, I'm posting two new photo albums. One is of a recent visit with my cousin Carin and her family and the other is of July 4th.

 

We had fun today.  We went to a parade this morning and then did a little shopping.  Mostly just spending the day hanging out.  Anna just gets more and more animated each day.  She is crawling and pulling up on everything, as evident in some of the pictures.  She now has 6 teeth. She'll clap any time you say "Yeah" and her Aunt Carin and Uncle Jack showed her how to wave both arms above her head to "Wha Hoo", which she does regularly now.  She waves hello and goodbye to everybody, EVERYBODY.  She is a real flirt.  Anna's also been going to swimming lessons at the Y and we spend most weekends visiting a pool somewhere.  She loves the water.

 

Hope you all are still enjoying the pictures.  I can't help but think she just gets prettier every month.  Please take care and if you would, please continue to pray for my blogging buddy Angel.  She is having a rough time with bringing her little one home.  My friend Robin got good news that her little Sophie is out of PGN, she should be able to bring her baby home in the next 4 to 6 weeks.  The Guatemalan adoptions seem to be having a difficult time these days, so pray it all gets worked out and that we can still continue to adopt from there.  Who knows Anna might just NEED a little sister.

 

 

 

Well, after a week of tests.  It looks like Casey does NOT have liver cancer.  YEAH!!!  However, he does have a pretty severe infection and he is still losing a lot of weight.  So I'm trying to keep him taking his pills and pretty much eating what he wants.  The vet says we'll recheck everthing thing again at the first of June.

 

Thanks for your prayers!!

Seems like a silly reason to post, but I just had to share with someone and it is too late to call Grandma. 

 

Anna has her first two teeth.  I discovered tonight that she started cutting her bottom 2 teeth.  Amazing how something so simple is so exciting (I'm sure only a mother would think so).  But, I finally understand the snotty nose for the last week.  I'm glad she's not sick.

 

We also got some sad news today.  I'm afraid my little dog is pretty sick.  We'll find out more on Wednesday, but the picture doesn't look so good.  He is such a good dog and I had hoped he'd be around for Anna's first few years.  If you can't tell from the pictures, he has always been very well behaved and incredibly sweet.  He's pretty old though and I suppose I shouldn't be too surprise.  He turned 13 last Feb.  I'm still hopeful that we'll get good news on Wed, but the vet didn't seem too optimistic.  I'll let you know when we know more.  For now, even thought it may seem silly, he could use a prayer or two and so could I.  I really love that 'ole dog.

 

Maria

Okay, I know I said I'd make these entires less often, but I have more pictures to share. 

 

We had a good week last week.  I went back to work and missed Anna every day, she had fun playing with the kids and could have cared less that I was slaving away at work.  Of course, Mrs. Jennifer promises me that Anna missed me.  I really think she likes her new friends and is enjoying playing with other kids.

 

This weekend we went to Tulsa for the Guatemala Heritage Weekend put on by our adoption agency.  It was so great to see everyone and all the beautiful kids.  My friend Phyllis and her daughter Kristen went too.  So, of course most of the pictures are of Kristen and Anna. 

 

Hope you all had a great week and next week brings about many blessings.  God is good!!

 

Love,

Maria

Well, tomorrow Anna and I start our new routine.  Her bags are packed and so are mine.  I uploaded pictures from this last week and from a shower I had today.  The girls in my Sunday School and the ones I went to Israel with, gave me a beautiful shower.  Anna got lots of new clothes.  I can't wait to try them all on her!!

 

She is currently bouncing like a crazy person in her exersaucer while I type.  She is so funny to watch.  I will miss spending my days with her, but know that God has a plan for us and we will get use to this routine too.  The trick for me will be to keep the balance between work life and home life.  I'm fortunate I work for a great company and I know they will be supportive.

 

Enjoy the pics and we'll let you know how we are doing as the weeks progress.

I'm posting more pictures of this last week.  Not much exciting happened.  It was a pretty uneventful week, besides visiting with friends and continuing to show Miss Anna off.

 

Monday is our first post placement visit.  I'm nervous, but excited too.

 

Please keep my friends Angel and Robin in your prayers.  They are still waiting to bring their babies home and the wait is taking its toll on their hearts.

So many of you have been asking for an update and I’m sorry I’ve been so slow.  It seems my life is a little busy with the little one.  We are having a blast!!  We got Easter pictures taken last week and they are SUPER!  I can’t wait to pick them up and show them off.

 

I’ve uploaded some pictures from the last week.  We’ve had a few visitors and even took a short trip to Tulsa for the day to have lunch with Grandma and Grandpa.  Anna tried to help Grandpa out a work.  Kristen came to visit and have dinner with us.  Friends have stopped by to play with Anna and help me out.  And, believe it or not, I managed to leave little Anna with some good friends for an hour and half today while I did a little shopping. 

 

Anna is a great sleeper.  She’s been going to bed around 9 and sleeping until 7 or 8 in the morning.  She’s been trying all kinds of new foods and seems to like squash and green beans the best.  I’m getting used to being home and am getting some things done that I have put off for a long time.  It’s hard to believe I’ve been off work for 3 weeks.  It is going by fast.

 

My love for Anna grows deeper every day and I am so blessed by what God has caused to come together.  I can’t imagine not having her here.  And for all my adoption buddies who are waiting, the time that passed does now seem to have flown by (even though just a few weeks ago every day just crawled by).  I know all your babies will be home soon and I keep you in my prayers nightly.  You will soon be able to put this painful time behind you.  (I hope that doesn’t seem trite or that you’ve heard it a million times, I just want you all to know how excited and anxious I am for you to be with your loved ones)

 

Enjoy the pictures!!