Homecoming

Ok, I am finally getting the chance to post our homecoming pictures. This girl keeps me busy! These are all pictures my friend Megan took for us (thanks Megan! They're great!). Our flight from Guatemala to Atlanta went really well. As soon as we got onto the plane, Shiloh got so excited an super hyper, bouncing all over the place. It was so fun to see, but exausting. The flight went pretty quickly. We took forever to get through immagration and then caught our flight home to Oklahoma. By this time it was late and we were all exausted! Shiloh started fussing and crying as soon as we got on the plane. The only thing that kept her quiet and semi happy were the Gerber puffs. The flight, although it was less than 2 hours, felt like forever! Shiloh finally fell asleep right as we were touching down. We were then stuck on the plane for about 30 minutes because we were early and they didn't have a ramp ready for us. Finally, we got off and went to meet everyone waiting for us. There were about 30-40 friends and family all waiting, holding pink balloons. It was such a sweet sight. Shiloh was asleep at first, but woke up when we passed her to my mom. I was expecting her to be fussy, especially because it was so late, but she happily was passed around and took it all in stride.

Everyone waiting for us

Here we come

Meeting most of the family (I didn't get any pics with Kim, Andre, Jenna or Tara if anyone out there has any.)

I can't believe it has already been a week that we have been home! I have to admit, I feel like I am living a different life, like there was my adopting life and now my baby life. I am so thankful she is home with us that it brings tears to my eyes. I am praying hard for all of you who are still waiting for your babies to come home!!!

Picture blitz

I know I haven't posted pictures lately, but I have an excuse. Somewhere along our trip we lost the power cord to our laptop where we have been putting all of our pictures. We finally emptied the camera out onto the desktop, so here are a few random pictures we have taken over the last few days. I'm warning you, there are enough of them that I probably should have spread them out into several different blogs, but honestly, this girl is keeping me busy enough that I probably wouldn't and then I would be behind agan. Enjoy!...

Here are a few pictures with my parents and younger brother. I didn't get any with the rest of the family, those will have to come later. Everyone is completely smitten by her and she has taken real well to all of them! Who could resist all that love.

Filipe and I are Borders and Barnes and Noble freaks. It is our favorite past time t go there and chill out with some coffee and a book. We used to talk about how we would have to enjoy it while we could, because it would be all over once Shiloh came home, but I think we are breaking her in quite nicely.

My neice, Jenna, has long held all of the attention of everyone around her, but she has done great sharing some of the love. She is such a sweetheart. Whenever Shiloh cries, she says, "Is ok, Shi Shi." She loves to share her food and her "munchy" (her blankie) with her. It is very cute!

Yesterday, we went to Kim and Andre's house for some fun in the sun. They have a cute little kiddie pool for Jenna to play in. Shiloh wasn't real thrilled with the idea at first, mostly because she had to sit in it without us holding her, but she eventually got the hang of it. Jenna kept running around her, playing and stopping to give her kisses. Very cute!

This girl is a crazy sleeper! She flips and turns all night long. The picture of her laying on top of me is actually how she fell asleep. Crazy, but cute.

And last, but certainly not least, this is my little beauty on her first Sunday morning after church. Her sweet little face just kills me! I just want to eat her up!

Hope this wasn't overkill for you all! I am a little behind. I should have the homecoming pictures tomorrow. Also be praying for Eric and Tara. They should have Malak in their arms tomorrow!!! It is so crazy and exciting!

Home!!!

We're home!!!! We got in last night at about 11:00. She did great. I was worried she would be fussy or nervous around so many people on the plane, but the second we got on, she got super hyper excited. She was up and down, looking out the window, looking behind the seat, rocking back and forth, and jumping up and down. It was pretty funny. She hasn't been crazy about taking a bottle, so we fed her those gerber graduate puffs during take off. I figured she would have to swallow them at some time and it should help with her ears. During the whole take off she was laughing and talking, so it must have worked. The second flight was a little harder. By then she was so exausted she didn't know what to do with herself, but once again the gerber puffs were a lifesaver and the only thing that kept her happy for those last two hours. I highly recomend them!

She as been sleeping much better since that first night. She is only waking up once or twice during the night for a bottle and then she will go back to sleep. She is also coming out of herself a lot more. She is very smily and talkative. She has us both wrapped around her finger! We had a friend take pictures at the airport, and I will post them once I get them.

Day two- Embassy day!!!

Last night was a pretty rough night. We ended up having to sleep holding Shiloh, and she would still wake up every hour or so crying and we would have to rock her back to sleep. Needless to say Filipe and I didn't get much rest last night. I think she was just feeling skiddish with the new surroundings and people. I was a little worried about what today would look like with the was she was last night, but she woke up smiling and laughing. It was so fun! The Embassy appointment went by easily and we have been chilling out today. Shiloh has gone from being smiling to fussy and back all day long. I think she is a little constipated, so isn't feeling her best. Be praying that we have a better night tonight and that she continues to adjust and feel better!

Day one!!!

We are here with our little girl! We woke up this morning very anxious and excited. We went to pick her up at the hogar at 10:00. She was fussy for a minute while her nanny handed her to me, but calmed down quickly. She started off really slow and mellow, but as the day wore on started playing with her toys and even dancing to music. She cries whenever we set her down, which is proving to be a bit of a challenge trying to get her to sleep, and she isn't eating real well, but I'm sure it is all because of the big changes she is going through. Hopefully tomorrow she will feel a little more comfortable and adjusted. Keep praying for us! Here are a few pictures from the day.

First moments at the hogar.

Playing around.

We're here!

We made it!!! The flight was fine, though we had to get up at 3:40 this morning. We are now chilling out a the hotel. We will be picking up Shiloh tomorrow morning!!!

Pictures

I got some pictures from Jane today. Probably the last ones we'll get before we are with her!!!

Jane said that when she walked in, Shiloh was sitting in a walker just laughing and smiling. As soon as she pulled out her camera, she refused to smile. The nannies were all laughing. Shiloh just looked at her like, "would you just leave me alone and go back to where you came from." I guess a girl likes her uninterupted play time.

We only have about 3 days before we leave!!!! I can't believe it! It really doesn't feel real. I have so much to do, but it's hard to motivate myself because I don't really feel like I am getting on an airplane on Sunday! Tonight Filipe and I spent the evening chilling out and watching a movie. About 3/4 of the way through it hit me and I thought, "what the heck am I doing? I have a million things to do and I am sitting here watching a not that good movie." Oh well. Tomorrow is another day. I am starting to get nervous about how she is going to be with us at first and if it will be a really hard adjustment for her. Be praying for us!

At Last!!!!

We FINALLY have pink!!! I am so happy! We leave on Sunday and we will be coming back on Thursday. I will get to be with her for my birthday on the 21st, which has been my birthday wish for the last 5 years. Every time my husband would ask me what I wanted for my birthday, I would say, a baby. Now I am finally getting the best birthday present! I am so relieved! More relieved right now than excited, though I'm sure that will come. Yesterday was not a pretty day when the day passed and we still didn't have pink, so I am just so relieved to not have to deal with those emotions anymore. It still doesn't feel real that we are actually going to be with her in 5 days and get to bring her home with us!!!! WoooHoooo!!!!!!!!!

I am officially going crazy!

I am so anxious and frusterated right now!!! Another family, who's DNA arrived at the embassy in the same shipment as ours, got pink today. I have been checking my email like crazy, and nothing. Come on!!! I feel a little silly about making such a big deal about waiting an extra day or two, especially with how long we have already waited, but I swear, these last couple of days have been the longest ever! Please pray that we get pink tomorrow so that I don't lose my sanity over the weekend! It would be the best Mother's Day present ever!

Pink Watch

Ok, so I'm not wearing pink today (I don't have anything pink), but I am definitely on the watch. I am glued to my email in the hopes that we will get something soon. I know of someone who's DNA got to the Embassy the day before yesterday, got pink yesterday and are traveling on Sunday. Although it would be a little crazy, I am hoping and praying for a little craziness! Wait, I think I have a pink necklace. I am off to put it on! Keep you all posted!

AHHHH!!!!

I was planning on making this huge post about my current cleaning frenzy, but then I checked my email and saw that our DNA is done and heading to the US Embassy today!!! I can't believe it happened so quickly! I figured because of the weekend it would be a few more days!!! AHHHH!!! Next stop is pink!!! Does anyone know how long it usually takes to get to the Embassy?

On a cleaning note, I am in a total nesting/cleaning frenzy. We worked like crazy all weekend long doing stuff (I will post pics of our amazing bathroom transformation later). Sunday after working in the yard, I was exausted. I came inside to sit and rest for a while. I could literally only sit for like 2 minutes before I felt like I had to get up and do something, then I would sit to rest again, but just couldn't do it. Needless to say, I slept like a log last night. I am sure today is going to be more of the same, especially with this new news!!!

DNA

Just got word that the DNA is at the lab!!! We are moving along! I was nervous that the Guatemalan Labor Day would delay things, but it looks like we are in the clear on that!

If you can, please be praying for my brother and sis-in-law and their baby boy Malak. They have their fourth court date today and they found out that yesterday was a holiday in Ethiopia, so they my be delayed again (they were already delayed on Monday because of a different holiday). Pray that it will go through this time and that they will get some really good news tomorrow! It's so crazy because we will probably be traveling to pick up our kids at the same time!!!