FFF

I love this picture because it shows Alex's love of all things Magic Tree house. I am so thankful that he loves to read and loves school and books as much as he does.



This is Anika prehaircut eating her favorite food. NOODLES....

Sleep and a Smile

Anika just woke up from a 2 hour nap with a smile on her face. :) YEA!!!Ok it most likely helped that I held her and she didn't wake up in her crib that she is not really fond of but I will take it just the same. She is still the happiest when Alex is here. It is so fun to see them together. Enjoy the pictures...

3 Weeks

As of yesterday Anika has been with us for 3 weeks and home for 2 weeks and 2 days. It is hard to believe that it has only been 3 weeks since the elevator doors opened on the third floor of the Marriott and there she was smiling in her foster mother's arms. It all seemed so surreal as we met with her foster family in the baby lounge asking all the questions we could possibly think of in a moment as monumental as that. It was a good thing we had been emailing back and forth in the weeks leading up to our trip and had most of the information we needed ahead of time because I was just in awe of Anika and in shock that this was really happening. After we said our goodbye's to her foster family we stayed in the lounge for a few minutes to collect our selves and then headed to the room. We were shocked at how little Anika grieved for her foster family in the days right after we met her. It was in direct contrast to Alex who although was much younger at 4 1/2 months was so very sad during our time in Guatemala. In fact Anika seemed not to be phased at all for the first week or so even when we returned home. We were beginning frankly to worry about her lack of grieving. Well I am happy to say that while it is so so hard to watch, Anika is now finally showing some signs of sadness. I am happy because this means she is now dealing with the huge change she has been through and starting to attach to us emotionally. She has started to wake up at night and sometimes after naps crying for "MAMA" and when she see's me is very very angry and distraught. It is not me that she is looking for but her foster Mother. She woke from a nap after Alex got home one day last week and Alex was so upset. "Why is she afraid of us Mommy?" Ok that about killed me. I tried to explain it and he ran and got a picture of Anika's foster Mom. My sweet sweet boy!!!! I have been working with Anika during the day and we are seeing good progress in her attachment. She woke up from 3 naps today SMILING!!!!!!!! :) So I wanted to post this since I know that there are waiting families that read my blog and I wanted to be truthful about our whole experience. Anika is really doing well considering that she was taken from the only family she had ever known 3 weeks ago at the age of 9 months. I am so thankful that we are so privileged to be her forever family! We love you Anika and we will never leave you. I know you don't believe that now but you will. Just ask your big brother! Love to you. Mommy,Daddy and Alex

First Haircut

With Alex as the official photographer we set off to get Anika's first haircut today. It was so much fun. She loved the animals on the cape and Alex did a great job taking pictures and even a few movie clips.



Anika's new look...

New Pictures

Ok everyone has one guess who she is looking at in the first picture! :) I found her shirt in the last picture at Old Navy. Perfect!! I got a few sizes so she is going to wear this one for a while. :)
Tracy

They really do LOVE each other....

These are from Valentine's Day and just melt my heart. I really didn't get how neat it was going to be to see my two love each other. It still amazes me.

Standing is so much fun......

Anika loves to stand! She was so excited when she stood holding onto the dinning room chair today! With Alex as her biggest cheerleader she did this for a good part of the evening. She wants to chase after him so badly and at this rate it won't be to long before she can. OH MY! This is how her hair looks when her ponytail and or clips have come out so many times we don't have the heart to redo them again since she HATES HATES it when we fix her hair. Have a great Monday!

18 Months

This is Alex in August of 2006. This is one of many pictures we took looking for a neat way to announce that we were adopting again and he was going to have a little sister. On Friday shortly after we got home from visitng his kindergarten class I decided to find this shirt. The 2nd picture is Anika finally home and wearing the first piece of clothing I ever bought for her. THANKFUL.....









Our visit to school was so special. I know that I won't ever forget taking Anika there and the look on Alex's face and how excited he was. A special thanks to Alex's teacher for making it such a special time for us both. The kids sang "Love Grows" to us. It was a moment to cherish.

Another Adoption ????????

I made blank copies of all our paperwork that we needed to take to the Embassy, just in case we had made a mistake and needed to redo something. When we got home the blank copies were still with our paperwork so when I unpacked I put it in Alex's pile of scrap paper for drawing, writing etc...Thinking of course that he would use the blank side. Fast forward to tonight shortly before dinner.. I found Alex on the floor of the dinning room very carefully writing P A N D A in the fist blank of one of the forms. When I told him it was time for dinner he says ...." I have lots of papers to fill out. Panda wants to go to Australia to adopt a dingo. " I stood for a second and then gave him a big hug. I told him that he could finish his adoption paperwork after dinner and he says " Good there is so much to be done just so much to be done. " He was home from school the 4 days before we left for Guatemala because of sickness and snow days so he was witness to my "so much to be done" frenzy.

Snow day

Yesterday Alex had a snow day. It was also Jens first day back at work. I had a crash course in "parenting two kids". :) It is true what they say that two are harder than one. LOL It was fun though. Here are a few pictures of the day. Our neighbors were so nice to call and invite Alex out sledding with them for a while. Thank you! He had a ball. We also went to a friends for a while and he got to play over there. Today he is at school and Anika and I went to the Bank to visit Daddy and his friends. Tomorrow we are going to school to see big brother Alex and his friends. It has been a busy and good week. Sleep issues are getting much better!! Yea Anika! Alex got to sleep all night last night and he was so surprised this morning when he woke up. Take care
Tracy

Brother and Sister at last!

I think watching Alex and Anika together has been the most joy I have ever had. I know that they will not always get along this perfectly but really the past few days have been amazing. The love goes both ways. Alex has been nothing short of stellar and always wants to play with and help his "baby sister" . Anika let out a squeal of joy when she saw him walking from the bus today. She looks for him at all times. It is amazing the positions she puts herself in to try and keep him in sight. If she fuses the tinyist bit he asks what is wrong and what we can do for her. WOW so far the 5 year age difference is working out great. Alex's only complaint has been that "she is so loud at night" I can not say that I blame him. Sleep has not come easy here the last few days. We are working on that... Thanks for all the comments, emails and love.
Tracy

FAMILY OF 4!!!!!

Pure joy! That is the only way I can describe the last 24 hrs!! It is so amazing to have Alex and Anika together. I will let the pictures do the talking... I can't put this into words.... The last picture is from this morning and that is the look she gets when she see's her big brother. He was dancing around in front of the swing. The first picture is about 10 min after Alex got off the bus yesterday. WOW

Last post from Guatemala

We are on the way to the airport in a hour or so. It has been a fast trip this time around. We are so excited to have Anika and Alex together at last. When we are home I hope to post more about our trip and all that we have done. Anika is doing better with every day. She is starting to bond with us more and more. She is upset if Mom is out of her sight. She has a big smile for Dad too. Alex did you see the Volcano??? See you on friday buddy!!!! xoxoxoxoxoxo MOM

We have her Visa

We had such a wonderful day. We went swimming for the first time with Anika. Later in the day we met with our coordinator and got Anika's visa to enter the US. I hope that you enjoy the pictures. Thanks again for all the support.

Alex Anika is going to love love the walker! She was so happy to sit in one here in the baby room. We are so excited to see you on friday and to go to the Y. We can all swim together. I love you more than the moon!!! xoxoxo MOM

Embassy Day!

Today was the day we have been waiting for. Our Embassy day. We are all set to come home on friday thanks to some hard work by my Mom. THANK YOU Mom. Thank you all for the wonderful comments and emails!! Going to try to put up a few pictures....See you soon.

Alex I am so so happy that you are having so much fun! I am proud of you. xoxoxoxo MOM

Pictures

It has been a good day so far! We have been to breakfast and Anika is now taking her am nap. She really loved her first bath. She only has cried when she is tired and or hungry and likes to sit and play with toys. She is sitting well. Does not like to stand or put weight on her legs. She can't sit up or roll over but we are so thrilled with what a happy little spitfire she is. She is doing amazingly well for all the change she is dealing with. Her foster family are such wonderful wonderful people and I am so greatful. We are going to go out and do some shopping and enjoy the sun when she gets up. To everyone waiting hang in there. It is so so worth it.

Alex I love you!!!!!!!!!!!xoxoxoxoxoxox Mommy