1-31-08 We have news!

Today Emma turns 10 months old! We are so blessed to have her home. We are enjoying every day with her but are also very aware of the present issues in Guatemala and the struggles of those still waiting to bring their babies home. We pray that they get to do that soon...Guatemala is struggling with the "what's next" part and we have several frustrated friends still in the process. Please keep them and their children in your prayers.

Exciting new news....these pictures will say it all!

There were times she wasn't so sure...





But finally she HAS IT!






Now NOTHING is off limits! She is actively exploring every inch of every room she is in! We are so proud of her! She worked hard to learn this!

1-30-08

Just a few pictures for those of you who check it every day and are missing your Emma "fix". I am going to try to do an update tomorrow and more pictures! Rob, Jay and I have been sick--- Jay has been home 2 days sick. We are all feeling better now....and praying Emma and Drew don't get it.
Hope you enjoy!
Emma in her carseat.....we worried that she wouldn't like it or do well....as you can see she is so OK with it. She seems to really like it and likes going out---she is JUST like her Mommy!

She is also really into eating--another way she is like her Mommy! She enjoys chasing her bananas around and gets so excited when she gets them into her mouth!



She also really likes her Daddy. I think I am going to have a Daddy's little girl on my hands! She likes when Rob play "rough" with her...she likes to be tossed, tickled and put on his shoulders!


I promise more pictures soon!

My thoughts on Dateline

Many of you watched the Dateline special that was on last Sunday. We had many phone calls and people very thankful that Emma is home. We are so very thankful too. I am happy to see people who are doing wrong things in Guatemala are being held accountable. My heart breaks for the families that were affected by people and agencies who are not ethical.

There ARE good stories that come out of this process. Not everyone child is the product of something corrupt. There are birthmother who are just in a very difficult place in their lives and are unable to care for their child. They do not all "produce" baby after baby to "sell". Lawyers do not go and "steal" "trick" or "buy" all the babies they place. Does it sometimes happen???....I cannot say it does or does not but I think the media likes to focus on all the bad and looks right past the good. I have faith in our agency and in our lawyer. I do believe Emma's mom was in a tough situation and made the best decision she could for herself and her baby. She was present at a DNA test in June where she had to sign again and swear that she was making this choice because she was unable to parent this amazing little girl, she had to hold Emma for a DNA lab photo. (We have the picture and are not showing it to anyone until Emma is older and sees it first. We want her to be in charge of it because it is her story...her mommy...her choice who she wants to show and when.) She had to swear and sign off 4 times. She had to be present---so I do NOT believe for a second that Emma's mom did not want this process to happen.

Until you visit Guatemala you truly cannot imagine the condition of the people there who have NOTHING. It is so sad. There are little children standing by the road who look dusty from the traffic, hungry and tired. There are children you see working in the fields in the hot sun carrying carrots or other foods on their backs up a hill to the make shift "family store." There is no means for medical care for the people who cannot afford it. It is a horribly sad situation. But there are people there who have amazing spirits, are proud of their beautiful country, and are longing for better times to come.
Here is a link to more of what I would have liked to see on Dateline.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/22721799#22721799

Emma has been feeling the greatest the last two days. She is trying to adjust to Ohio weather---just like we all are. Alergies are HORRIBLE here...even when it snows! Here are two pictures of our HAPPY SLEEPING little girl!

1-20-08 Our first week home

I cannot believe it has already been a week. We have had a great week filled with visitors---Emma has seen so many people who love her and feel like they already know her from this blog. She has been a trooper with all the attention. I say she is my little ROCK STAR and I feel like we are on TOUR! We have been about everywhere with her!

Here are some pictures of my little ROCK STAR!


First we had my grandpa (my dad's dad) "Old Pappy" come on Saturday morning. He couldn't stay away. He was so excited to see her. Then Rob's grandmother, Shelby, came as soon as she got off work around 2:00. She has been one of his BIGGEST supporters and she works delivering meals to the elderly. She would show Emma's pictures and update all the people she visited. I am sure the prayers of many of the people Shelby told about Emma helped to bring our little girl home.





Sunday we had Christmas at the Hxxxxxxers. It was great. Emma got her presents and got to meet her family on both sides. Rob's other grandmother, Fran, was there. She even got to meet two little girls that I am sure she will LOVE to play with---we don't have that many little girls in our family...mostly BOYS!









After that Mom and I took Emma over to see Skip and Sybil. They were so excited to meet her too! They think she is great.


Monday morning Emma and Daddy walked Jay to the bus and meet his bus driver. Jay LOVES Linda and she has been such a blessing for us with Jay. She really takes wonderful care of him and is always so happy to see him in the morning. She tells me how well behaved he is and that is such a joy. Jay got off the bus Monday afternoon with a present for his sister from her future bus drive...it was a fisher price school bus---too cute!



That afternoon, Rob and I took Emma to the doctor for her check up and it started to snow! Emma's first OHIO SNOW! Rob's mom is a nurse there and of course she got to show off her new granddaughter to everyone! The doctor said Emma looked great and was "very healthy". She weighed 21 lbs 15 oz. and was 27 7/8 in long---putting her at the 85% for weight and OFF the chart over 100% on length on the AMERICAN charts. Typically Latin American babies are smaller than American....not our Ms. Emma.








After her appointment, we went to Drew's preschool so he could introduce Emma to his friends. I was so excited for his teacher, who is one of my DEAREST long time friends, to get to hold Emma. Teresa LOVED Emma and Emma felt right at home and comfy with her. Drew was asleep and we had the hardest time getting him to wake up to show Emma off!




Tuesday Emma was supposed to go to Jay's school but due to a snow day, we had to wait till Wednesday. Now Emma got to be a ROCK STAR at Jay's school. His class has used our journey to Emma as an educational tool. They have talked about her country and her language. They talked about the volcanoes Jay saw and he took a Guatemalan flag in for his class. They loved Emma so much. Several of the students wanted to hug her---of course I agreed. I am not nearly as germ phobic as I used to be!




Thursday was Mommy and Emma's day and you have already seen our bath time pics. If not, scroll down.

Friday mom and I took the boys and Emma to the mall. We needed to get a few things and Jay had a waiver day so everyone was home. This ADORABLE outfit was a gift to Emma from Kelly---our friend who took the awesome pictures for us at the airport. I think Emma looks so cute in baby blue! Barb, Brett and Laci came to see Emma Friday evening. They took pictures---maybe they will share one with me and I can post it later?! (Hint hint)



Saturday I asked Mom to come with me to Prestonsburg. The college I work for has extension sites in several locations in Kentucy. We have yearly pinning ceremonies where we recognize students who have earned their degrees. Shelia--my friend, my boss and EMMA's fav auntie from Kentucky- begged me to bring her so everyone could see her. Many of our professors come to the pinnings even though for some it is close to a 5 hour drive. So we went to Lindsey Wilson's Prestonsburg pinning at 1:00 yesterday and again she was a ROCK STAR.






As you can see we are keeping very, very busy. Emma loves it. She is so doing so well. She wants to see me and know that I am close but she is going to people, reaching for them, laughing, walking holding fingers, and loving all the attention that comes with being a ROCK STAR. She really is a wonderful little girl. We are so lucky to have her home and a part of our family.

Hope you enjoyed our first week in pictures!

1-17-08 Mommy's day with Emma

Today was the first day it was just me and Emma! The boys went to school and Rob went to work. So for the first time since we arrived home I had Ms Emma all to myself. We had a great morning...she had breakfast then her morning nap. We played in her room and then we did something EVERY girl LOVES....BATH TIME. She LOVED my big tub. She played and played and was upset when I made her get out. The air jets kick on so many minutes after you have been in it....I thought it would scare her but no....SHE LOVED it bubbles and all.

Here are some pictures from her bath time.