Tentative Travel Plans!!

I have tentative travel plans!! Yahoo!!
I heard from my adoption agency today and my tentative U.S. Embassy appointment is Thursday, February 25th. This means that I will travel that week. I'm busy working with my travel agency on specific dates.
I am asking for some prayers. Since my adoption has taken so long, I had to have a U.S. form updated by our immigration office. This form needed to be renewed and it was mailed over a month ago, but I have yet to receive it. This form is needed in order for me to travel. I would appreciate your prayers that it will be received soon.
Grace will turn six months old when I get her. It was the exact same time line with Abby. She also turned six months old when I was picking her up in Guatemala. Doesn't God have a sense of humor? :)
Yes, the travel dates are about a month away, but after waiting almost two years, what's 30 more days!!?!!?
Let the preparations begin!

New pictures!!!

I got new pictures of Grace!! One of our families from my agency just got back from Ethiopia and they were able to take pictures of Grace!! Woohoo!! They were so kind to check in on her and to let me that she's being loved on by the nannies and the nurse. It does my heart good to know that she's being taken care of, but it also makes me want her home even more. Isn't she just the cutest!!!

Books for Grace

We're still getting things ready for Grace. Today we went through a few more boxes and uncovered a few more things. I found this baby book that you fill with pictures of your family. Abby has her own matching book. I brought it down with me when we brought Abby home and she loved it. Sometimes she still pulls it out to look at the pictures. So I thought Grace should have one too. It has close up pictures of me, Abby, my parents and one picture of her cousins. I was cutting all the pictures and fitting them into the book when Abby declared that she wanted to make a book for Grace too. So she immediately ran to her table and started taping a book together and writing Grace's name on it.

She put a picture of her with Princess Ariel (which she is sure that Grace will want to see) and she drew a picture of our family. I guess she's "nesting" too! :)

not much, just a few pictures

All that's consuming my mind lately is Grace. What's she doing? Is she eating? Is she growing, both spiritually and physically? Is someone holding her when she cries? What is her love language? Does she know how much I long to be with her?
I'm still waiting to hear about my travel plans. Hopefully I will hear on Monday about the Embassy appointment and that will determine my travel. I am still waiting for my updated I-171H form from US Citizenship and Immigration. This form is vital to the adoption. Since it's taken me almost two years, I had to update my form. I'm starting to get a little nervous that it won't be here on time. It's a daily prayer that I'll find it in my mailbox.
I have started to get a few more things ready for Grace. Baby food was on sale this week so my cupboard is stocked and ready. I even finally painted her name and decorated it. I'll hang in on the wall in her bedroom right next to Abby's name. They look really cute together. Abby's been busy too! She so creative! You should see the shows and dances that get performed on a nightly basis. She was chosen this past week to bring the special "show and tell" to school. She struggled with what special thing to bring. First it was one thing, and then another, and then yet another. Finally we settled on her doll Susie. It's the one on the left in the picture. It's by far her favorite doll. I was so excited to hear how the show and well went when I got home, but Abby told me that they ran out of time and she didn't get to share. But she does get to bring Susie again next week so we'll see what happens then.

Abby's also been fighting me lately for the computer. Haha! She loves to sit down and play her games or play around on her favorite websites. I can't believe that she knows so much about the computer and she's only four years old! She's a professional on moving that mouse around and on moving all over the websites. Let's hope that computer savyness continues!

Welcome Grace Elisabeth!

We can officially welcome Grace Elisabeth to our family!!

We passed court yesterday!!

It's been almost two years since I started the proces to adopt another daughter. Through these years God has remained faithful, gracious and loving. Today He heaped another blessing into my life. I will sing of his praises forever!

I'm not sure when I'll travel. My agency said they would call me later in the week to let me know more details. I'm pretty confident that it will be in February, just not sure if it will be the first two weeks or the last two weeks.

Isn't she beautiful?

Ahh...I'm a momma in love!!!!!!

New picture and measurements!

I got an email today from my adoption agency about Grace. She was moved during Christmas break to a different orphanage. My agency feels this is a good idea. The new orphanage has a full time nurse and the doctor is closer because it's in the capital city. It's just so hard to know that she's been moved again. She's had so many different caregivers since she was born. I just wish I could go and get her right now.
With the email I also got updated weight and head measurements. She's ten and a half pounds. This is great! She's gaining weight nicely. She's also able to lift her head and chest up from a prone position and tries to roll back. I was so happy to hear that she smiles and responds to voices, which is certainly a good sign!
I also got a new picture!!! This was my favorite part!! I wish I could post her on the blog, but I'm not allowed to post anything until I legally pass court. She's SOOOO adorable. The only other picture I had was her referral picture. She was 3 weeks old in her referral picture, but in this one she is 4 months old. I couldn't believe how much she's changed! She's super cute!! When Abby saw the picture she wanted to hold onto it and even kissed it. What a great big sister.
My second court date is on Tuesday the 12th. Please pray with me that Grace will pass court and that I will be able to bring her to her forever home soon!

Welcome 2010

It's a new year! It's the year that I will bring home my daughter Grace!! I'm excited to see what God has planned for this year. I'm expanding my family this year so there's bound to be some good blogging. I don't really have any New Year's Resolutions. The only one I could say is to love my Savior more and more each day and to learn to trust him with all aspects of my life.
The week of parties is done and I'm headed back to work tomorrow. I'm not excited and neither is Abby, but work must come if we plan to eat (or to go to Disney again someday!) Here are a few more pictures from our various parties. Enjoy. These four girls were inseparable all week. They get along so well and Abby ADORES them!

I love this picture! We don't have any pictures that have my sister, mom and me all together. This is a keeper!

My brother Dave and his wife, Jodi, are hanging out with my Aunt Eva and Uncle Cal.

This picture is a keeper too. My grandparents are in the middle and they're surrounded with all 7 (soon to be 8) of their great-grandchildren. God has been good to us from generation to generation.

We even had time for some arm-wrestling! It was hilarious!!

Cousins just hanging out together while eating lunch.

AND!!! Our Jessie came home from Argentina!! We missed her so!! It'll be nice to have her around every week again. Abby LOVED seeing her!