Amazing Day!!!!!

We are here and with Anika! Our trip was great and we met with her foster family 2 hrs after we got to the hotel. So far things are going so much better than I could have imagined. She has been happy and playing. She loves silly songs and games. I am in the "baby lounge" and I can't figure out how to do the pictures..... I am so sorry and hopefully will get some up tomorrow. She is already sleeping for the night.

I can't wait until friday when Alex finally see's her. Thank you all for everything and I will try to post again in the am with pictures.
Love from Guatemala with my girl
Tracy

Alex I am so happy that you are having so much fun with Grandma! I am so proud of you and I am so excited we have been able to talk so much. I am going to take a picture of the Volcanoe for you!!!!! Have fun at school I am glad you are all better. LOVE YOU MOM

Come on Sunday...

These pictures just came to us today! I can't get my head around the idea that I get to hold her on Sunday and every day after! WOW This week has gone a lot faster than I expected. Alex has been sick and home from school the last 3 days. He has a cold and a fever so nothing serious thankgoodness. I was stressed thinking that I wasn't going to be ready to go on Saturday. Once I sat down and made a final list I realized really cleaning and getting a few groceries are the only things left to be done. Now that we are down to the wire I am glad I got this time with Alex. Too bad I did not have that mindset Tues or Wends when I was stressed thinking I had so much to do. We got all the major projects ready last Saturday before we went to the water park so we are in good shape. Man I am shaking looking at these pictures. I can't imagine how I will be on Sunday!

Water Park

We took Alex to a local water park yesterday for a family fun day. It was so much fun. Our last trip as a family of 3. Less than a week until we are an official family of 4! The suitcases are all packed and ready to go. Alex is so excited about his Grandma coming to stay with him and seeing Anika finally. Life is good...

Thank you!

First let me say how much fun the last 16 hours have been. We would
like to say THANK YOU to all of you for the emails, phone calls and blog comments. It has been a long long year and a half since we first started with our homestudy and you have supported us the whole way. For that we are thankful!

I also wanted to ask that you keep Anika's foster family in your thoughts. I emailed them last night to tell them we will be there on the 3rd of February. I received a wonderful email in return and let me just say that while we are overjoyed and thankful to be at the end of this road, they are trying to prepare to say goodbye to a member of their family. They are wonderful wonderful people to have loved Anika and taken care of her when we could not. I will keep this email so that Anika can see how much she is loved by her Guatemalan family.

OK on a happy note I did find out that Anika has the same sleep schedule as her big brother! WOW Could we really get that lucky? She goes to bed between 7:00-8:00 and gets up at 7:00. She likes to have a bottle in the night. (Ok not like her big brother :)) She loves to walk in her walker and loves any toy that moves. In 9 days we will begin our lives together!
Thank you
Tracy

WE ARE

Pretty in PINK.....
I just got the email. Our appointment at the USE is Feb 5th at 7:15am!!!
I emailed this morning to check and the letter I got back is dated the 17th of Jan. It looks like they forgot to email last week. Our apt has been set for a while.. NO MATTER We are coming Anika!!!
(Grandma we are hoping to fly out the 3rd)

Well still no Travel Dates...

After waiting through the long weekend. I just KNEW that today was going to be the day we got the email from the Embassy with our long awaited appointment date. NO SUCH LUCK. I am feeling frustrated tonight. I just need to know when we are going. I am still thinking it will be the 5th or the 6th and we will leave a few days before that... Please check back tomorrow. Hope to have news then. Hmmmm I have heard this somewhere before.

Favorite Foto Friday

Ok well technically it is Favorite Foto From Friday on Sunday...:)

This is Alex and his friend Zachary. Zachary and his little brother Jason are both from Guatemala also. The boys really get along well and I am so thankful to have found both them and their parents here in the small town we moved to. I am glad that they can share being from Guatemala together as they grow up. Zach and Jason's Mom has become a great friend of mine as well so a lot to be thankful for. I can't wait to see them again with Anika. Four blessings from Guatemala!