Guatoberfest 2007!

We had an amazing time! It was so much fun. It started out a little hectic--our cab was coming at 4:15 a.m. and I was getting up at 3:00. Well I got up at 4:15, the cab driver went to get coffee and came back and then it felt like a mad rush. But we made it. Ava was so confused as to why I was waking her up in the middle of the night for a change! Those of you who know my fear of flying can probably guess that all I kept thinking was maybe I was supposed to miss the plane so my paranoia set in big time. The flight was uneventful. Ava fell asleep before we took off and was only awake for a little bit at the end. She just played and was her happy self.

The hotel was amazing, so nice. We got to Atlanta at 8:10 a.m. so our room wasn't ready. We walked around Olympic park and had lunch. Eventually other babies arrived and that was exciting. I never had the Marriott experience in GC so it was new to me to look out of my room and see other families at any time of day sitting in the lobby with their children. Everyone was really nice and the kids were all so cute! Ava scooted on her backside throughout the hotel and by the end many people were calling her scooter! Poor thing. I know for sure now that this is not normal to all babies because people found it so entertaining and filmed her doing it. I loved watching Ava get to play with other little ones even if it was sharing goldfish and anything else they found on the floor!

We played in the park together and that was an amazing sight! All of these beautiful children--crawling, walking, playing and so loved! I couldn't help but keep thinking about how these adoptions may stop and it is heartbreaking when you look at these kids with their families. We all went to the aquarium and that was a lot of fun. Ava loved it and took an extreme liking to the penguins. Of course she left with a stuffed animal one, as if she needed another stuffie! One of the highlights for me was when all the kids dressed in their Halloween costumes. It was the cutest thing ever!

As we were leaving the hotel the valet turned to me and said "God bless you for what you all have done". He then explained that he too was adopted. We talked about what gifts these children are to all of us and how they make everything and everyday better than before.

We got home at 6:00 on Monday night and we were so tired. Ava slept on the plane on the way home too!

I have more pix but I cannot figure out how to download them form a DVD, when I do I'll post them. A huge thank-you to Julia and Kerry for organizing this weekend and everyone else who helped pull it off. I look forward to next year!