Home and doing well

Sorry that it has been so long since I've given a final update. I know that a few of you revisit this blog to see how Charlie's adoption was going. He is home and settling in! There has definitely been an adjustment period. He KNEW that there was a change in his life. At 7.5mos, I could see it (whereas Patrick did not seem to go through it when he came home at 5.5mos). Charlie has been very sober since coming home - not very quick to smile. That is becoming less so (especially when his big brother dances around in front of him - at the height of silliness!). He is incredibly sweet and very laid back. As we walk around the neighborhood, Charlie ALWAYS has at least one foot up on the stroller bar - just kickin' back!

Patrick has been a GREAT big brother. He is so sweet with Charlie. As I mentioned, he LOVES to make Charlie laugh. We're still working on what is too rough play, but other than that he really loves having Charlie here. Two cases of rough play:
1) As I was in the kitchen making dinner, I could hear laughter in the living room (both boys - hysterical laughing). I poked my head out to see Patrick spinning Charlie in the excersaucer. YIKES! That was curtailed immediately.
2) Tonight, again I was in the kitchen and could hear laughter in the living room. You'd think that I would have learned and gone right out? Not so much. A little later I look out and Charlie is soaked - as is the front of Patrick's shirt! Turns out, Patrick was taking mouthfuls of water and spit-spraying it at Charlie. That both found this hysterical. Unfortunately, I did too - and had a hard time explaining not to do it again! If only the battery on my camera was charged!!

Attached is a slideshow of the boys so that you can see how they're doing:
http://s100.photobucket.com/albums/m40/ldaly550/?action=view&current=cfed32c0.pbw
as well as a slideshow with a few cool shots of the Chicago Marathon as it came past our home:
http://s100.photobucket.com/albums/m40/ldaly550/?action=view&current=ccfd0a40.pbw

Greetings from Guatemala!

I wish that I could have posted last night, but I had trouble getting to the blog. My mom is here with me and things have gone really well. Charlie´s foster mom was to bring him here yesterday at 6am - prior to our 7:15am Embassy Appt. I only learned later in the day that she arrived at 4:30am! But he arrived safely. It was a very tough goodbye. I did not get to meet his birthmom as I´d hoped (but expected that to be the case). The embassy appt was a breeze (oh, except Charlie pretty much screamed for most of the waiting time - the waiting area is like the DMV). This afternoon was the Visa pickup (again - at the embassy).

Other than that, we´ve stayed at a very nice little b&b type place right next door to the embassy. We walked around town yesterday and did some shopping. Today we stayed close - reading in the garden.

We leave very early tomorrow (up at 4:45am which 5:45am CT) to catch our cab at 5:30 and our 8:30am flight.

We look forward to seeing everyone and will post pics when we get settled!

Guatemala Bound

Well, here it is...the pickup trip is finally here. In some ways this seems like forever ago. In other ways, it has gone so quickly. We'll be bringing Charlie home in 4 days - such a quick trip. Thanks for all your support through this. We're off tomorrow am. The hotel we're staying at doesn't have great internet connectivity so I may not post until we're home on Friday.

Until then please keep us in your prayers that our trip goes smoothly.

PINK PINK PINK!

In this case, getting your pink slip is a VERY good thing. I talked to the Guatemala US Embassy today at 3:50pm to find out that we have pink! Our US Embassy appt is next Wednesday, 9/12 and we will return on Friday, 9/14.

I'll try to post from Guatemala if possible, but will definitely post pictures of Charlie when we get home. Thanks to all of you for your support through this!

And we still wait...

Still no word on pink. Will probably need to bug my agency today. I don't want to wait too long or my Embassy appt will be over a week out!

As for my condo - the inspection went well! YEH! Now, once kid #2 is home, we need to find a place to live. Hey grandma - are you getting your basement ready for us??? :-)

Tomorrow is a BIG day...

we seem to have a lot of those recently. But tomorrow is my home inspection (for the buyer of my condo) AND we hope to get pink (US Embassy rec'd 2nd DNA last Thursday). I SO hope that this is all settled and we're off next weekend for a Monday embassy appt - just need the stars to align.

Then when we get home, I have to find a place to live before my condo closes on Nov 1 and figure out new daycare (and maybe have a christening - we'll see!) before returning to work on Nov 19. Deep breadths...one step at a time...

I'll update you later this week. C'mon US Embassy - I want to make travel arrangements!!

Second DNA Results Received - on to PINK!

It won't be long now! My agency received the results for the 2nd DNA test and they'll be sent to the US Embassy tomorrow. With the proper star alignment this means that the US Embassy will issue my pink slip (in this case it is a good thing) to my atty and embassy appointment date. I'm guessing my embassy day will be 9/10!!!

All this and a contract on my condo today too. Now to find a new place. YIKES!