MSN article

There is a fantastic adoption article on MSN this morning. Click here to read it.

It features info on the different types of adoptions as well as personal stories of families created through adoption. I just had to share. AND post my new favorite Lily picture. Is this girl a beauty or what?

Bravery

This community never fails to bring tears to my eyes and joy and strength to my spirit. Along with many others, I was recently nominated for Jenna's Flame of Fortitude. I want to quote her post here:

"You are receiving this honor because you have embodied perseverance in the face of difficulty and shared the journey of your experiences with others proving that a single voice can both be a light of support and a source or humor for those in the midst of their struggle. You are acknowledged here today for allowing others to share in your personal story and providing camaraderie through the power of your words. Each of you has faced a struggle that seems insurmountable to others and you have persevered. For some of you this resiliency was always a part of your character and for others, it was your struggle with infertility that awakened it from deep within you. Regardless of passion, stubbornness, a calling to a greater purpose or a refusal to admit defeat, you are an eternal flame of commitment. You are a veteran of your circumstances and you deserve recognition for your journey."

I want to send this honor straight back to her. She has been through such a year. So have so many of us. I want to pass these words and this honor on to anyone who reads my blog who has been in the trenches this year or last year or EVER. It's something unique to this community - so many women who, rather than tear each other down as is often the case with females, unfortunately, continuously build each other up and offer support, encouragement, a shoulder to cry on and eventually, laughter and a heart full of joy at the birth, adoption, fostering, etc. of a beautiful child. It's an awesome honor to be a part of it.

Make that TWO teeth! :)

This morning as I was feeding Lily her oh so yummy looking sweet potatoes, I noticed a SECOND little white spot next to her brand new first tooth. My girl has gotten TWO new teeth within a week of each other! She never ever cried or acted like they bothered her. She is such a sweet, happy little girl. I finally got a picture where you can sort of see the teeth. She likes to keep her tongue over them, so it's been tough, but here you go. Look hard and see those pearly whites! The camera flash kind of reflected off of them:) I'm also posting one of my new favorites. We'll call it, "I help mom change the sheets." :) I can't believe how big my baby is getting!

We.Have.A.Tooth.

Finally!! After three months of the world's worst drool...we have a tooth:) And it's the cutest, whitest, sweetest little tooth you've ever seen. I'm going to attempt a picture this weekend, so you can bet it'll be on here if she opens up! :) She rubs her little bottom lip over it all the time. She's probably totally weirded out by me constantly picking her up, smacking kisses all over her cheeks squealing, "You have a tooth!" You'd honestly think she'd performed a concerto or something - that's how proud I am of that tiny tooth!

In other news, my dad is out of the hospital. He's still going to need some serious recoup time, but I'm so glad to have him home!
Hope everyone has a great weekend! I'm looking very much forward to catching up on the blogs!

Bad week

Sorry for the delay in posting a few pics. My dad unexpectedly had to be admitted to the hospital over the weekend. He's still there and having a bit of a rough time. Prayers, positive thoughts, etc. are very much appreciated:)

Here are a few pics, though, from the finalization so this post isn't a TOTAL downer. Hopefully this blog is stil anonymous enough that my family won't mind having their picture here! :) I guess I'll find out, huh? :)

Finally Final! :)

Yesterday was by far one of the happiest days of my life. It was SO emotional - honestly, more so than when we were matched. Everything back then was such a whirlwind and so scary - and yesterday's finalization had none of that. It was just pure joy. We swore to always take care of her and that she would have all the rights of any biological child. I just felt strong and so proud of our family. Our judge was so nice. She posed for pictures with us, our families, and Lily's attorney. We laughed so hard that Lily needs representation:) We have a picture of the two of them, too. It better be the ONLY time that girl needs a lawyer in a courtroom! :)
Anyway, I cried, my mom cried, everyone cried:) But tears of SO much joy! To hear them proclaim her with her full name and to write up a birth certificate listing us as her parents. It was amazing. To have your family held up as good and right feels pretty darn great.
Pics coming soon!!! :)

So I'm a big baby!

It has been the weekend from HELL!! I have been so freaked out by that stupid mouse. Just an update, it wasn't a baby mouse - it was full grown, but it just wasn't a rat. We were stupid and left our cat food in the bag under the sink and it got in through an old dryer vent. Nice. Anyway, we tried all weekend to be humane about possibly catching any others in the house. We bought a "Haveaheart" trap and put food on it. Yeah, it's little cronies took all the food from it and didn't set it off. SO, Terminix is coming out today. I feel a bit guilty about it, but at the same time, we have a six month old baby who is on the floor all the time. I don't want anything like that around her. What a mess!!

Thanks for all the support and those of you who said, Yep, we've been there. :) It made me feel so much better!

Lily has been in her crib playing a lot this weekend. Yes, I kept her off the floor. I'm super neurotic; I know. Anyway, I took the cutest set of pictures of her. I swear, she is starting to look like a little girl and not like a tiny baby anymore. It makes me sad, but also so proud! :)

Take a look; doesn't she look like she's thinking, "You've got to be kidding me, mom! Get over it!" :)

Um.GROSS.

So I am freaking out. I swear we have a nice house and that I am a GOOD housekeeper:) Tonight as we were sitting watch our football team lose yet another game, my husband saw a tiny little mouse scurry under our couch. Yes, I screamed. Seriously, I am a total girly girl; we have pest control out to our house about once every two or three months. I freak if I see a tiny little bug anywhere in the house. A mouse. We spent about two hours trying to entice our fat cats to want to help us get it out from under the couch. We flipped it over so it couldn't hide there and finally it ran under the bookshelf. The dummy left his tail sticking out. We finally got a giant beer brewing bucket from downstairs and some rubber gloves and my husband grabbed it's little tail, stuck it in the bucket and we deposited him WAAAYY down the street in a field. Yes, it was teeny tiny and it looked soft, but I don't think I'll sleep tonight at all. You guys!! A mouse. What in the world is that about? Does this mean there are more? What should we do?
Terminix is getting a very early morning phone call from yours truly tomorrow. I think you should be able to call an emergency pest control person, don't you? :)

In a rut

I know I just posted about how all this motherhood stuff is finally clicking. And it still is for the most part. Lily's a champion sleeper, she has no eating issues now that the reflux has been figured out, and she is SO good natured. The little tiny problem I'm having right now is boredom. I know that's awful, but it's true. I feel like I'm running out of things to do with her. We can play in the jumperoo or with toys on the floor, but then what? We're using just one car to try to be more eco-friendly, so when my husband is working, we're kinda stuck here. Any ideas for things to do with a 6 1/2 month old? Great toys to invest in? Silly games to play? I'm not sure how much longer I can listen to the songs on the jumperoo...they're invading my dreams at night. :)

Finalization / the situation in Guatemala

I really can't wait. I know I've said it a million times, but I didn't think it would mean this much to me. It's just a "formality." But, I've been reading up on the situation with Guatemalan adoptions. Have you heard about this? I've read blogs about parents who have been in Guatemala since being matched with their baby. One couple has been there for five months WITH their child and now there is the alarming possibility that they might not be able to adopt him. And where would he go? Right back to the orphanage. Why in the world would this happen? Who in their right mind would say this is the best thing? According to this site the Guatemalan government feels there are too many unethical adoption practices linked to international adoption. I won't waste anyone's time and argue that it's not true, because we all know adoption can be ridiculously corrupt. So fine - go ahead and reform laws and work on the system. But do it starting now. Don't say that couples already matched and in love with their baby have to go home or start the process again. They're already parents to that child in their heart. It's not like buying a new car - like they can just get back on the list and start over and be fine. We're talking about families here. Families already made.

The good news is that apparently both sides (US and Guat.) are caving a bit and saying that adoptions already in the process can proceed, but how long with that last? It makes me NUTS!
So, back to my original reason for this post - hearing about families already so bonded and in love with their babies makes me want our finalization done NOW. It's a formality, but it's one I want to be over and done with.

Also, if you have more news on the situation in Guatemala, please comment. I'd love to learn more!