Peter and his mom went shopping to get Anna a Gift for Halloween

Well, to help speed along the time here, we (mommy and Peter) decided to go shopping to get Anna a gift for Halloween. It doesn't look like Margaret and Peter will be visiting again, because daddy isn't keen on the idea - due to safety. So Margaret will be mailing these items with a family that is traveling to Guatemala, so Anna gets it in time for Halloween. Peter was trying to find a "Bun Bun" like he has for Anna (but a different color), but we couldn't find one. So tomorrow we will venture out again in search of the "Bun Bun".

We are just in the US Embassy for 20 days, so we still got time. Some families are getting Pre Approval in about 45 days, so I guess that is better than the usual 60 days. But, more than likely Margaret will be contacting her Congressman to see if anything can be done, on day 30........unless someone has a relative in the congress? That would be great...........

Also, to keep busy, Margaret put the Guatemala Weather on the right column, so everyone can see the weather there. For some odd reason, people think it is like 102 degrees there and it's not.

Please keep your fingers crossed and say a prayer or two, for us to get Pre Approval real real soon. Thanks.

We got Pics of the Birthmom and Anna

HI All,

Our lawyer sent us pics of the Birth mom with Anna during the DNA testing that was done last month. He said he emailed them to us when DNA was done, but Margaret didn't notice that there was an attachment to that email. So our lawyer resent the pics. This is the only time during the adoption process that Anna's Birth mom will see her.

The DNA testing is done, to make sure it is in fact the birth mom giving up her own child for adoption. This is the 1st of 2 DNA testing that will be done. The 2nd DNA testing is done after PGN approval, to make sure the baby that was place for adoption is the same one. The DNA lab just compares the baby's DNA with the 1st DNA results to confirm it. After the 2nd DNA is confirmed then "pink" is issued with an appointment for us to go to Guatemala to bring Anna home.

Anna is such a cutie here, and she didn't even cry.

Our Dr. called in regards to Anna's growth and health at two months old

hi all,
This evening Dr. Lee called to discuss Anna. Anna remains to be tiny in size and is still in the 3rd percentile, except for weight - she is in the 10th percentile. He also said, that she is a little heavy for her frame, but he wasn't concerned - because she is eating. But he was happy to see her stay on the growth curve. So our little Anna remains tiny, but she does have a big brother to protect her. :)

We are out of Family Court and we got updates on Anna

Hi all,

Just got an email from our lawyer today, and we are out of family court. This is what he wrote in his email = "In her social report She give the favorable opinion to you. She explain you are a good resource to Anna, because you have the necessary quality that the adoption request. "

Today we also got an email of Anna's updates with her weight and size and a few new pics. Our little angel definitely got an appetite - at two months old she now weighs 9 pounds, and her Length 51 cms., Head Circumference 36 cms. Anna also had her doses of vaccination DTP, POLIO, HIB, Tuberculina, Hepatitis B, the doctor said she is doing great, she looks normal, she is very alert and active, she looks very healthy, she drinks well her formula Enfamil Premium 1 x 4 ounces every 3 hours. So I guess she enjoys eating just like her big brother Peter - he managed to eat 3 hot dogs at dinner this evening.

As for the adoption, we are out of Family Court and are now just waiting for Pre Approval from the US Embassy so we can enter PGN (similar to the Attorney General's Office). Margaret is thinking positive that just maybe Pre Approval will come in 30 days (Oct. 4th), instead of the usual 60 days. Keep your fingers crossed that it happens in 30 days.

Today Peter had his 2nd Birthday Party!

Today was a busy, busy day! We had to get ready for Peter's Birthday Party this evening. The day started off with Margaret getting up early to bake a Thomas the Train cake and cupcakes, while Peter was still sleeping. Then it was time to get Peter up to have breakfast so he can go to "school". We went to school and Peter loves it, and today he even played with a couple of boys in his class. On the way home from school, we stopped by the grocery store to pick up last minute items for the party this evening. Once home we ate lunch, and Margaret started to decorate the cake while Peter played in the living room. Well, Peter thought mommy was having so much fun, he decided to help with the cake decorating, instead of taking a nap. Peter also enjoyed eating all the extra icing. Margaret had just enough time to decorate the cake and cupcakes (NOTE TO SELF- next year buy the cake!), just in time to pack up the truck and head to the place where the party was going to be. Daddy just came home in time to change his shirt and come with us in the same truck. On the way to the Party place, Peter decided to take a nap. Once at the place, we let Peter nap while we unloaded the truck. Peter was able to take a 15 minute nap, before the guest started to arrive and we had to wake him up. Everyone arrived at the party and the festivities began. Peter was still a little tired, so he wasn't his usual self, but all his cousins and friends had a blast. Then they did face painting, which one of Peter's cousins got his face painted into a Tiger, and Peter was absolutely scared of his cousin. Every time Peter saw the "Tiger" he got scared and started to cry. Peter's mommy asked his cousin to not come near Peter since he was afraid of the painting he got done on his face. Margaret had to try her best to keep Peter away from the "scarey Tiger", just so Peter wouldn't get soo scared. The activities took a break, when the pizza arrived so everyone could eat. After the pizza, all the kids and adults were able to go into the "backroom" where the inflatable house, rock wall, slide, and bouncer all were. The kids enjoyed this very much, this was probably the best part out of the whole night. Mommy & Daddy attempted to bring Peter into the bouncer thing, but Peter didn't want any part of it. Since Peter didn't have his nap - he wasn't a happy camper - nap time is the indicator of how the rest of the day will be with my little guy. Peter did go into the bouncer thing with his Uncle with assistance, once in the bouncer Peter had fun. We then had birthday cake and the night ended. We packed up the truck and headed home. Mommy still had the kitchen to clean up, it was a mess with all the baking, mommy didn't have time to clean up the baking mess before leaving, so that was done once home. Peter remained awake, so we opened up all his gift. While opening the gifts, he managed to keep the R/C motorcycle and the Thomas the Train Jack in the Box, close by to him and he would play with each one in between opening the gifts. After the gifts were opened, Peter got his PJ's on and went to sleep.

Peter Turned 2!

Today was Peter's Birthday - and he had fun, fun, fun. The poor little guy was so tired come the end of the day.

This morning we woke up had breakfast. Then Peter got a phone call from his pal Emily along with her family - singing happy birthday to him - he was just smiling ear to ear while they sang over the phone to him = thanks O'Dea's. After breakfast we went to Chuckie Cheese - Peter loves this place and managed to spend 3 hours there. Usually when we go to Chuckie Cheese Peter never uses Tokens, but today he wanted to use tokens and he had fun playing the games. Peter managed to eat an entire individual Pizza himself, but he was nice - he gave him mom one slice of it. After spending 3 hours there, Peter decided it was time to leave - and his mom was very happy about it. On the way home Peter fell asleep and once home continued to nap in his bed. After nap time, we met up with Emily and her mom Pam for dinner, then we went to see Peter's older sister in a Marching Band Competition. After the band competition, Peter and his mom went by the book store to buy more books for Peter. Then we headed home, where Peter kept on counting his chuckie cheese tickets. But, what would be a Birthday with singing to the Birthday boy with candles. So we got out the candles and the little cake and song to Peter. He did pretty good blowing out the candles too. Then he finally fell asleep with chuckie cheese tickets still in his hands. Sweet dreams Peter.

This morning Margaret checked her emails and found these adorable pictures of Anna in an email sent by our lawyer. It was a very nice surprise to open our "email box" and find this..........she is such a cutie!

Another nice surprise would be to get an email saying we got Pre Approval..........and then we can finally enter into PGN (the last big step in bringing Anna home).