The most pathetic sound in the world

is the sound of my little girl moaning because she doesn't feel well. She just lays in my arms, or sits on the floor, with this pathetic look on her face, her fingers in her mouth, and cries without tears at a low volume. Breaks my heart to see and hear her so miserable. At least when Garrett doesn't feel well he is just listless and not as active. I think Daddy is going to have an even harder time hearing his little girl when she is like this.

The reason my little girl is so miserable is because she has a fever and maybe a staph infection in her diaper area. She woke up yesterday afternoon with a fever of 101.4 and it's been that high ever since (Tylenol helps but only for two hours). This morning when she woke up she had these white blisters on her female parts too, and not the normal diaper rash bumps. Garrett hasn't had the fever, but he's had the blisters since yesterday and this morning he was swollen, red, and whitish. Needless to say I called the doctor and got an appointment. I can't admit to being familiar with problems that boys might have, especially uncircumcised boysand just looking at him hurt me. Our pediatrician took two cultures on both kids and said I should hear back from him by Monday. To be on the safe side he gave them oral and topical antibiotics for a staph infection. I have no idea how they could have contracted a staph infection, and the doctor couldn't help me either, but he did say that it was strange that they both contracted it at the same time. I hate for my babies to be not feeling well and to be safe we've cancelled our Saturday adventure with Auntie Becky in Myrtle Beach. Double bummer.

The only way I could keep the kids happy this afternoon was to entertain them with their favorite movie, Cars. Crayons didn't work. Bubbles didn't work. Legos didn't work either. The only thing that stopped Garrett fussing and Elena moaning was the movie. Below are photos of the two of them entranced. To verify just how yucky Garrett was feeling, he even let me pose him near Elena for some photos of the two kids together. I'll take what I can get. Also, please note Garrett's new uniform -- his Cars tee and jeans (if he can't have Cars, he'll wear his tractor shirt or Thomas outfit). I guess he really is becoming a toddler now.

Like I said, they were absolutely entranced. I don't even think it registered with them that I was taking their picture. Not one goofy "Cheeeeessssseeee" face.

I also was playing around with my camera more and discovered the color accent mode. Not one to ever miss trying an artsy-fartsy photo chance, here's my first go. Not fantastic, but definately worth exploring more.

6.8 Earthquake off the coast of Guatemala

There was a 6.8 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Guatemala (about 70 miles from Guatemala City) this afternoon. n addition to the earthquake there have been torrential rains in the region which have lead to landslides. Thankfully, so far, there have been no reports of casualties.

From the location of the flashing dot on the TV it looks like it wasn't that far from Santa Lucia Cotz where Garrett was born. Antigua is also close, and that is where Elena was born. I'm praying that my children's' birth and foster families are safe. What an odd sensation for me -- to know that there is this extended part of our family out in the world that we don't have communication with, yet to think about them and pray for them on such a regular basis. I honestly don't know what I would tell either of my children if I were to hear that something had happened to a member of this extended family. Then my brain switches to the reality that we most likely would never hear if something had happened and that just saddens me more than I can say. How do you tell your child that?

I'll be watching the news the next few days and reading posts from families who are fostering down in GC now to hear more. I'll be praying for all the birth families, foster families, and children who are waiting to come home to their forever families. God keep them all safe under your watch.

Goodbye to another dear friend

Today I had to put our dog, Kuma, to sleep. She was diagnosed with diabetes for over two years and her health has been declining off an on ever since. She had cataracts that limited all but her peripheral vision, and even that was failing. She had arthritis that made it difficult for her to climb the stairs at night, and dangerous to come down the stairs without falling in the morning. Things finally came to a head with her this weekend. She stopped eating on Saturday and Sunday night she started peeing all over herself. She looked just so miserable. Not at all like the little ball of fluff that Chris and I first fell in love with seven years ago this August when we first came to town and set up house.

So, today the kids were in daycare and I took her to the vet. I stayed with her when the vet gave her the injection. To be truthful, I honestly thought that I was going to throw up. Thankfully I had time to compose myself before I had to pick the kids up. But tonight Luke looks so lost without his sister -- my heart is breaking for him, too.

This is the best photo I could find of my girl (the blond on the left). Since the kiddos have come home she had shifted off to the sidelines. The better to avoid being clambered over by tikes, I guess.

I pray that she is romping with the best of them in puppy heaven.

Faith

When adopting, especially internationally, there are many times you have to sit back and rely on faith. Have faith that your child is out there in the world, waiting for you. Have faith that your agency and attorney will process your case in the most efficient manner possible. Faith that your child is growing, developing, and flourishing without your direct care. Faith that after all the hurdles are jumped your child will come home, to your arms, forever. Faith.

Yesterday I was checking out a friend's blog and learned about two remarkable women who must have tons and tons of faith. Their cases have been kicked out of PGN (the government agency in Guatemala that approves adoptions) since November. In short, the birth mother's ID card was not signed by the mayor when it was issued because of the civil war in the country, and now it cannot be signed by the current mayor. They are in legal limbo. On the top of that challenge they are in Guatemala fostering their darling babies with no idea when they can return to the US. I cannot even imagine what they are feeling in the face of all these challenges. They are truly courageous Guatemamas! If you want to know more, check out Cheri's website. She is documenting her journey to bringing home her beautiful daughter, Elaina.

I'm not sure what action we can do here in the good ole US of A, since the difficulty is with a foreign government. I do know that we can contact the USCIS, Dept. of State, and our elected representatives in Washington. We need to make sure that when the US implements the Hague treaty (a treaty designed to standardize the process of international adoption) later this year that it is clear about what actions and documents need to be filed/completed. We need to ask our representatives why international adoptions have this needed oversight but domestic adoptions do not. We need to have our representatives in DC do everything in their power to keep international adoptions open during this implementation process. We need to contact the media to relate our personal stories of adoption, so that adoption is not just presented in a negative light for the national and local markets. Finally, we all need to pray for all the families that in are the process of bringing their babies home, regardless of the country in which that child was born. Maybe our collective faith can make these times of challenge that much easier for those who are experiencing them.

******** EDITED TO ADD: Within just a weekend this fantastic collection of Guatemamas that have connected online raised over $3600 to help these two families, and donations can keep coming in until Friday. WOW! May our collective faith help these families come home forever together soon! *********

Then and Now

Garrett, April 2006

This is how my handsome boy looked when his Auntie Becky and I arrived to bring him home. His foster momma simply called him "Gordo" (fat). He was a healthy little chub!








This is the only photo I could find of my little boy with his Buddha belly exposed for all its glorious wonder. Last July his middle was wider than his shoulders -- really deserved the name "Gordo."






Here's my mean, lean jumping machine today. No more Buddha belly for this boy! He looks like a little man now. My baby is all gone.

As for the jumping machine, I've decided to give the furniture a break and sign him up for gymnastic classes. Maybe he'll take after his cousin Andrew.




Here is one of our update photos for Elena, from July last year. She always had great expressions in her photos and looked so happy. That certainly helped me get through the wait until she could come home forever.






February 2007. Finally we made the trip to bring home our little princessa. She just watched us, taking our measure. Smiles were very rare, and usually included a champurada in her hand/mouth.

I had to include this photo of Elena with her Dada -- how my mighty Marine could turn into absolute mush with his daughter in his arms made me fall in love with him all over again.

This was Elena this morning before church. I guess that she has finally decided that she can let her real personality shine through, my happy, giggly, adventurous girl.

Check out that grin -- it's as if she is admitting "I am just toooo much!" I couldn't agree more.



So much has changed in our family in the past year. We are now parents of two toddlers. (Well, I say "we" but Chris has only been able to be home for five months that this bliss.) Yet, though many things have changed, there are still many things that are the same as last year:

1. Chris deployed to Iraq, then and now.

2. I'm learning how to teach my child to sleep well, Garrett then and Elena now.

3. Our house is on the market, to move to a bigger house then, and to move across the country to a new duty station now.

4. I've struggling with being a hausfrau, then and now (bitter-sweet moment last week when I formally resigned my position in the school district versus being on a leave-of-absence then). Oh, the hausfrau part has more to do with having to keep the house Q-tip clean in case someone wants to see the house, and I miss the challenge of moulding young brains on a daily basis. Difference on #4 is that I intend to do something about missing my job once we get settled in Cali.

Today I'm just wondering what new challenges, adventures, and lessons tomorrow will bring. I'll keep you posted.

Sibling Revelry

I have tried time and time again to catch Garrett and Elena in the act of brotherly and sisterly love. Usually I find them loving on each other, but with the camera on the other side of the room and by the time I have the camera they are running away from each other. However, over the past week I have been able to capture a few sweet moments. I'll keep working to catch them in the act.

Garrett often tackles his sister as a sign of his affection.

No, Sissy, it's my turn playing in the car. Go find your own toy.

Right before this, I came into the room to find the two kids lying on the floor with their legs entangled, watching Cars. Of course, the minute I grabbed the camera the moment was gone. This is just post-hug from Garrett to Elena. Darn that capture delay :(

Elena has discovered how to give zerberts and she thinks its quite funny.

Ohh, the fun that is Play-Doh.

My kids have 'tude. Have to admit that face of Elena's makes me crack up every time!

Now I just need to get a photo of the two of them where they are both actually looking at the camera.

ByeBye Momma CiCi and Jack -- See Ya Soon!

So, this week Cynthia, Ian, and Jack head west for California. I'm sad to have my friends leave, but that sadness is tempered by the fact that in four months we'll be heading west as well, and only 30 minutes apart.

Cynthia and I didn't really start out as friends. We taught together for several years and moved in similar circles (namely our respective best friend, Becky B.), but we didn't seem to click. To be truthful, I think that we irritated each other. That's what happens sometimes when you have very similar personalities.

However, everything changed last year when I brought Garrett home from Guatemala. I was a new mom with a deployed husband, and Cynthia stepped in as my experienced mom friend. Jack is eight months older than Garrett and had been home for almost a year by the time Garrett graced us with his presence. We started with trips to the park. Our friendship really clicked when she forced me to read Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child to help me cope with Garrett's sleep problems. Suddenly I was sleeping, Garrett was sleeping, and we were ready to have fun! Cynthia and Jack were ready and willing participants. Dinners at Mi Cabana became so frequent that our sons thought that we lived there (drive into the parking lot and the child in the back seat called the other mommy's name). Any time Cynthia asked Jack if he wanted to see Garrett and I, the standard response was "Beckie? Gar? Eat?" I think our children thought that meals meant time with friends.

Cynthia even earned herself her own moniker from my son. When Garrett started to call me "Momma" he would say it in this deep voice with his mouth turned down, Muppet style. Cynthia thought that it was funny and she would say "Momma" back to him to get him to say my name. From that point on Cynthia became "Mumma" (imagine Garrett saying it in a very deep, little kid voice), and we added the Cici though he hasn't. We pull into her neighborhood, "Mumma!" Into Mi Cabana, "Mumma!" Chick-fil-A, "Mumma, Mumma!" The park, "Mumma! Mumma! Mummaaaahhh!!!!" Still makes both of us chuckle.

Any question about how much this friend of mine means to my son? Just check out this video that Chris's dad videoed while we were in GC picking up Elena. She and Jack came over for a play date and Mick caught this private moment between the two on tape for us.

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Since Elena has come home, and Chris has deployed again, our friendship has continued to grow. We've somewhat continued our morning walks around her neighborhood, lunches at Chick-fil-A, dinners at Mi Cabana or each other's house, and MOPS meetings. Now Ian is home from deployment, and the joke is that he has become my second husband (taking care of BBQ duties for dinner, performing odd jobs around the house, etc.). Guess that's a Marine Corps wives' joke about a deployment husband.

I'm not quite sure how I'm going to fill my days with Cynthia and Jack gone. I do have to admit that moving across the country is not nearly as scary as it could be because we'll have such good friends close by. Let's just say I'm heading out of town as quickly as I can so that the void they leave behind won't be as noticeable.

So, Cynthia, Jack, Ian -- we'll miss you bunches! Expect to hear your phone ringing as I'm very glad we have free nationwide long distance so we can at least continue our once to 5 times a day conversations! See you soon!

WE LOVE YOU!

First Steps

Well, tonight was a momentous occasion in the Merrill household -- Elena took her first solo steps!

I was typing an email to Chris while the kids played and watched Thomas after dinner, before bath and bed. Elena was standing at the edge of the couch, like so many other times, watching Garrett walk away from her. Then she took three steps towards him, as if to say, "Hey, wait for me!" before she collapsed. Needless to say I shouted with joy, which startled her just a bit. Garrett looked very confused. I propped her up against the couch again, and coaxed her to walk towards me with her sippy cup -- another three steps before falling. Then 1, followed by another single. However, with each attempt she looked more and more proud of herself. Too cute. After that she was done, her legs were tired out, but her smile was still 100 watt bright.

Watching her tonight, I couldn't help but reflect on Garrett's first steps. He walked for months holding onto just one finger of mine. Chris was convinced Garrett was just waiting until he came home from deployment. So, anyway, after Chris came home he had a party for work that Garrett and I accompanied him to. Chris's immediate boss has a daughter that has the exact same birthday as Garrett, and there she was at the party running all over the place. I pointed her out to Garrett, "See her? See what she is doing? You should be doing that." It's not like he hadn't been playing with other little people who were walking. However, my son evidently needed to be shown up by a cute girl to finally take the plunge by himself. Propped up next to a table, I held out Garrett's favorite truck, enticing him to walk towards me. Step by sweet step, Garrett made his way towards his truck and all the way to the next table. Once the little man realized what he had accomplished there was no stopping him. And no rest for me for the rest of the night as I chased him around the Officer's Club. By the end of the evening, he was trekking across the entire banquet room and halfway back under his own power. From that point on there was no stopping him. I really do think that he was waiting to show off his stuff to Dada -- Chris was so happy to share that moment.

So, I'm sad that Dada wasn't here to share Elena's moment. But I'm thankful that she didn't wait another three months before taking her first steps. That would have been a little much. Now my real test as a single mommy starts -- two toddlers taking off in opposite directions. I'll fill you in on my progress.

Some random photos for Dada

Here are some photos of the kids hanging out around the house and playing.

Elena loves to talk on the phone like Momma and Bubby -- of course, the phone is attached to the back of her head instead of the side, but it works for her and she looks so cute doing it.

I'm used to Bubby falling asleep in his food, but this little one conked out one night during dinner. I gave the kids their food, turned my back on the table for two minutes to clean the kitchen from cooking. By the time I looked back at the table Elena had inhaled half of her dinner and was sound asleep. Unfortunately it wasn't for the night.

So many books, so little time.

More days than not, Garrett finds a spot to sit and "reads" his books, complete with pointing at the pictures and babbling about the story. I'm so lucky to have a kid who loves books like his Momma, Dada, and YaYa at a young age. Now I just need to get him a library card!

Elena is so proud that she can stand on her own. She practices all the time and is getting better and better at it. I love this photo of her -- she looks like my little Miss Olympia.

I couldn't help but laugh and grab the camera at this. Garrett has long used the underside of the coffee table as a play place, but this was the first time that he used it to rest. It was only 11 in the morning, and the little man looks like he's about to pass out watching his morning cartoons.

Garrett after an uplanned morning nap, complete with bed head and confused stare. 'Nuff said.

Beach, popsicles, and pool with our buddy Jack

Today was an eventful day for the Merrill kiddos. I think the photos will do a better job of explaining than anything I could say.

Hmmm, I'm not sure what I think of this beach, Mom. How long are we going to be here?

Ohhhh, a shell. That's cool.

Of course, while Elena sat back and took in the lay of the land, Garrett jumped right into playing -- with Jack's beach toys.

Jack was very excited to play in the hole his daddy dug for him. Elena just had to check out what he was up to and inspect his work. She wants to do everything that the big kids do.

Garrett later made his own inspection of the hole. I love how his tongue sticks out whenever he is deep in concentration working on anything. Too cute!

Yay! I'm sooooo big! I love the beach!

Even though he's not my own kiddo, I absolutely had to include this photo of Jack. He really got into enjoying a fruit juice popsicle on our front porch after dinner. Almost looks like a vampire with the juice dripping down his little chin! Cynthia -- this is definate 1st date material!

Tonight, Garrett enjoyed a new flavor of popsicle. No, not lime. The wood stick!

After the popsicle and stick were all gone, Garrett decided he couldn't let any of it go to waste. Here he is cleaning up the sidewalk, getting every last drop of his tasty treat.

Umm, Bubby, I'm not so sure that is sanitary. That's gross!

After enjoying our popsicles we threw the kids into the pool. There was a light breeze, but Garrett decided to really demonstrate his flair for the dramatic. Check out my funny kids -- Cynthia and I couldn't stop giggling!

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California here we come

So, Chris has in his hand official orders to Camp Pendleton early this fall. We've had some time to adjust to this news but it still can make my head spin from time to time.

We first heard the possibility of the move back at the beginning of April. Chris had asked to be assigned to this particular unit last fall, but when we made the request we didn't realize that the unit also exists out on the west coast. So, Chris is getting the perfect job, just on the other side of the country. Our orders are for two years out there, and then Chris is to return to a squadron. Of course, that doesn't mean that we can come back here or that Chris will return to 269, his squadron, but I think that we do want to come back to this coast.

Our house is on the market -- our beautiful house that we just bought in November. I think that I am the saddest about leaving because we have to sell the house. It is the perfect floor plan for our family and we all have lots of space. We won't have that out in Cali. In fact, living on base our house will be even smaller than our old house that we moved out of because we needed more space. So, if you know anyone who needs a house in our area, let me know. Otherwise, please keep us in your prayers that the house will sell fast and for our asking price. The neighbors are laughing because this same situation happened to the last owners.

So, that is the big news on our front. It can never be an easy deployment -- started teaching the first time; stopped teaching, became a mom, started a second adoption, and put the house on the market last deployment; now, learning to be a mom of two and planning a cross-country move. At least I can say that life isn't boring while Chris is away!

Finally -- an updated post

Okay, so I know that I have been super negligent about posting on our blog. So, I've decided instead of trying to create posts for everything that has happened in the past three months since Elena came home, I'd just start "fresh". I promise that I'll be better in the future. At least you should have less emails in y'alls boxes and you can just check here if you want to learn what's up with our family.

So I'll start with some fresh photos from this week. The Bubby and Sissy are getting so big so fast. I'm doing much better about recording their growth now than I did when Garrett first came home, so I am improving in some ways.

Garrett discovers the joy that is ketchup --

after stealing food that another little boy left behind at the church picnic.

"Um, Bubby, that looks really good. Wanna share?"

First Popsicles:




I'm not sure I like these things --

Okay, maybe they're not so bad after all

Double-fisting -- popsicle style

Popsicle princess

"Brrrrr ... I'm soo cold" (yes, he did make the "brrrrrr" sound as he shivered)

"Brrrrrrr" -- Wait, Mom has the camera -- "Sheese!"

I have to say again, I am just so darn in love with both my kids. They are a true blessing in my life. Now to remember that in the heat of the moment when they are driving me crazy ...

Leaving on a jet plane

Well, Chris and I made the executive decision to fly to Guatemala on a wing and a prayer. We spent a large chunk of the day on Friday contacting our senators and representatives asking for help with our embassy appointment. Unfortunately the embassy is closed on Monday for Presidents' Day, so the earliest we will hear anything is Tuesday. We just didn't want to be sitting in the states waiting for the phone call only to find out we have an appointment first thing on Wednesday morning. I went through that stress last year with Garrett, and I don't want to do it again.

So, Tuesday morning we are taking off for Guatemala. Chris's folks are staying here with Garrett and my mom is flying in tomorrow to travel with us. That way if we don't get an appointment for Elena's visa this week I will still have someone with me down there. Worse case scenario is that Chris gets to spend four days with his little girl. I really hope that is not the case because this means so much to him. He really wants to be at our appointment, to give the oath that we will take care of our daughter forever (why don't all parents have to guarantee that?), and for us to travel home as a family next weekend. He doesn't get emotional about many things -- worked up about the Marine Corps keeping him from some of the stuff civilians get to do -- but this is a biggy to him. I'm praying that God will hear our prayers one more time on this.

Well, I guess I had best get away from the computer and finish packing. We have lots to do still before we leave and a busy day tomorrow. I'll keep you posted while we are gone -- just can't wait to have that little girl in my arms forever. Of course, the downside is I have to leave my little man behind, and I'm not sure how I'm going to do that for a week plus. Guess I'll see.

Day of Mourning

This is the first Sunday since September that our family has not had football as the focus of their Sunday afternoon/evening. That is good because we had more time to spend together actually doing things (yes, errands count as doing things). However, it is also very sad because Garrett and I have to wait until July/August to receive any news about our beloved Patriots. So, in memoriam I decided to post this picture of Garrett cheering valiantly for the Pats during the AFC championship game. May next year end on a brighter note. Until then, spring training is just around the corner. GO BO SOX!

Ahhhhhh ....

Okay, so I thought that the worst part of the wait was over. I mean, we are out of PGN -- we are legally the parents of Elena Angelina Dayana Merrill (or as all her documents coming into the states will say, Angie Dayana Merrill). Chris and I should be walking on cloud nine every day.

Of course, his deployment date is looming large in the future, so I am starting to get antsy about if he will be able to travel with me to pick her up, have to leave me by myself in Guatemala, or if my mom will make the trip with me. We have a very small window of opportunity for Chris to travel with me and then spend some time in the states with Elena, Garrett, and me before heading back to Iraq. I'm not a normal prayer. I don't ask for prayer requests, feel slightly uncomfortable when one is asked of me, all that. However, this is one event that is truly in God's hands, and so I am praying like crazy. I even asked the online forum that I belong to for a prayer request! I'll take whatever help we can get at this point. Please, God, let us be able to pick up Elena as a family.

Of course, that will then present a whole other bevy of problems. I've moved on from stressing about how I am going to care for two toddlers. Now my nightmare is that Elena is going to have some grieving to do (she's been for 9 months with the same family, and will be gone from everything that is familiar) and obviously I'll want to tend to her. Garrett has decided lately that this is the time to cling to Mom. So he's going to have this little sister move into his house, claim lots of Mom's time, and at the same time Dad is going to go back to living in the phone (seriously, sometimes I still think that Garrett believes Dada lives in the phone he carries all around the house -- great idea when Dada was far away, how is little man going to take that transition?). Alright, I know that I am probably borrowing trouble from tomorrow, but I seriously needed to vent. I'll probably look back at this post in a few months and just laugh, but whatever.

Well, little man is down for a nap right now so I am going to be smart and use this time to clean. Too soon again will I be using nap time for my own naps!

Happy Christening

This past weekend we had Garrett christened at St. Anne's. We were blessed to have many of our family here to celebrate with us. Chris's brother, Travis, and his youngest son, Matthew, flew in from Texas for the weekend, and his Grandma Lil flew in from Cheyenne. This is the first time any of them have been able to visit us in Jacksonville, and we were so glad to have them with us. Chris's cousin, Jodi, and her husband, Mark, also joined us. Diana Riford, Chris's second mom, drove over from Wilson to help us celebrate as well. Becky and Scott drove up and were on hand as Garrett's godparents. My folks flew down and stayed with us for several days. Finally, Cynthia, Ian and Jack rounded out party of well-wishers on Saturday and at church, and Stephanie, Emily, and Jeff came Sunday to celebrate over brunch.

Garrett looked very smart in his faux tux (pictures to follow). However, he developed a cold and ear infection over the weekend so he wasn't too happy. Father Doug said that he has been told that when babies cry and fuss during the baptism that means it really sticks. :) He definately was happier once he was splashed!

All in all it was a grand weekend, and we thoroughly enjoyed spending time with our families. The other positive about the busyness of the weekend was it gave us very little time to think about the wait until Elena can come home.

O-U-T: the three sweetest letters in the English alphabet!

Well, after two weeks of knowing that we were going to get the phone call from our agency today, I decided I needed to get out of the house and away from the phone. Wouldn't you know that meant that I finally DID recieve the phone call -- we are finally out of PGN (the Guatemalan government agency that approves or denies the adoption) after 9 and a half weeks!

Today I was with the cheerleaders at my old school helping them get ready for their competition. I had just finished talking with Jill and KeeKee about some of the changes that can be made to their routine if things aren't going smoothly and was ready to go to lunch. That's when the phone rang. Cynthia had said she knew that the call would come when she and I were together, but she got it slightly wrong. Evidently I needed to be with Jill. See, last March Jill had just walked into my class when I got the call from the front office that I had to call my adoption agency right away. Seems Jill has a more special roll in my children's lives than simply their favorite babysitter! Chris and I are going to keep her in our prayers forever, the special young lady that she is!

So, now we wait for a pink slip which will give us an appointment at the American embassy. Hopefully we can get the new birth certificate quickly, with her last name listed as Merrill and our names as her parents. Then is the passport, and finally all that paperwork is submitted to the embassy and they will give us an appointment for our interview. THREE WEEKS is the goal for all this to be done by so Chris can travel with me to pick up our daughter. That would be good in deed. Please Lord, have mercy on us. I can't take another long wait!

Go go gogogogo GO!

This weekend Chris, Garrett, and I headed to Charlotte for the Navy bowl game. Of course, we had only been back in the States a mere day before heading out, but whatever.

Friday we were refingerprinted for the adoption. Our fingerprints are only good for 15 months, and we had been fingerprinted last September. Earlier our adoption agency had said that this wouldn't be a problem, as we would have her home before we expired, but time just didn't work with us. Garrett was a very good boy waiting for Mommy and Daddy to be done, especially considering how tired we were. We met another family that had just adopted a little boy from Guatemala and was in the process of adopting him a little sister. Garrett thought that he was fun to play with.

Friday afternoon we attended the street fair and pep rally to get the fans excited about the game. Garrett sat on Chris's shoulders, taking it all in. The noise, the lights, the smells, the people. It was a lot for a little guy. We had dinner with Mark and Jodi (Chris's cousin and her husband, who live just outside of Charlotte), and then we collapsed around 10. We have officially decided that we are getting old and cannot keep up without sleep.

Saturday was spent celebrating and watching the bowl game. Mark and Jody came over to the hotel early to "tailgate" as it were in our room. Garrett claimed the football beads that Mommy had bought to wear to the game. Now he had his own pretties to play with. To top it off, he found his first bug, a lady bug, on his foot. We checked it all out, and then she met an untimely end, crushed in his little fist.

Garrett thought that the game was great fun. We watched the march on of the Mids, but somehow missed the fly-by of an F-18. I bought a Cat-in-the-Hat style Navy hat to wear during the game, but Garrett claimed that as well. Chris thought it was good to help hide his Boston Red Sox baseball cap, in case their might be some confusion as which team our son would root for. Of course, we heard the normal "Gogogogogogogo!" at various points throughout the game, and not always when Navy had done something good on the field. Mostly, Garrett sat on Daddy's lap and just took everything in.

Chris met another grad who knew Steve Amiaga, who was the captain of Chris's sailboat the weekend we met, and who sang at our wedding. We hung out with Dave and his wife, Sandy, for the 3rd quarter, and they joined us after the game for dinner. Unfortunately, Navy lost the game in the last 3 seconds to a BC field goal. Overall it was a great game that Navy played very well. We had a grand time and cannot wait to take Garrett to Army-Navy sometime soon with his sister!