We witness a mircle everytime a child enters into life. But those who make their journey home across time and miles, growing within the hearts of those who will love them, are carried on the wings of destiny and placed among us by God's own hands --K. Larson
Hello--I hope this finds everyone well and ready to enjoy the holidays. I had another snow day last week so on that one day I got my cards out and my shopping done. Ava was a trooper through the malls. She is a Santa-Junkie though, she sits with him constantly telling him ho-ho-ho and playing with his buckle. It is very cute, she gives him high fives and blows kisses.
Ava is sprouting teeth like popcorn. I can now see her two top ones and it just makes me laugh, she looks so different with them. She also keeps feeling them and loves to brush them. She will walk with one hand being held now but she is hesitant to take that first step on her own. She has learned to give actual kisses now and we have to kiss every stuffed toy good-night, it's quite the lengthy ritual. She continues to be my little dancing queen and I just love it. Thankfully she is sleeping again, yesterday she didn't get up until 10:00! I have off for two weeks so no daycare for awhile. I went back to work at a great time, due to snow I only had 4 full days. Works for me!
We called Ava's foster family and spoke for about a half an hour. It was so great to connect with her again. She was so excited as were we. I had Ava on speaker phone and Blanca kept saying "hi my baby, how are you?". She said she thinks of us everyday. She said she prays all the time that we will go back and visit her one day and we will. She has another baby girl which I was so happy to hear. She is a wonderful person and that new baby is in great hands.
This Christmas season is so special and I still cannot believe that Ava is really here this year! I also keep thinking about her birthmom, I see her face in my head constantly and I hope she is at peace and knows how very loved her baby is.
We are off to my parents house for the week. Take care and enjoy the holidays!
This was our yard at 2:00 today...
So Ava got bundled up...
And out we went...
Ava loved it...although she quickly realized she is not in GC anymore!
She took this off the Xmas tree and opened it herself!
My little boot girl...I love her tights!
No work today! Yipee...it was a nice day. Ava was fascinated by the snow. It's the 4th time it has snowed but the first real accumulation. I'm guessing we have at least 8 inches. Of course shoveling out is no fun.
On Sunday the adoption agency I used asked if Ava and I would go to NYC to one of their seminars for people considering adoption. I hope that we can although we may be getting a huge storm again.
We did a photo shoot today so tomorrow I will get Xmas cards. I was going to post some but that will ruin it!
Ava discovered the dustbuster so I turned it on and she helped me out!
Ava with her new stuffed parrot--lou-lou bird--from her Aunt Lou Who
Just lounging around...
Ava's one blue outfit...
Happily dancing to the wiggles...
Ava is not happy with this whole snowsuit deal
Hello--so the mystery of the cards is solved. I am part of a private group but I have zero time these days and didn't realize there was an address list. I also recently checked the mail and didn't see it so I feel badly that it must have been awhile back!
I went back to work on Monday and I am exhausted! I have not had to get up in almost 6 months and Ava sleeps late so this 6 a.m. thing is torturing me. I am happy to be back at work, something I never thought I would say. I miss Ava but it's so nice to look forward to seeing her when I get home. My role at work has changed and that was the hard part--I am teaching a 5th grade class, something I have never done and they are so young! I teach college on Thurs. evenings and now 10 year olds during the week. They are very cute though and very chatty! The pre-k class is next door and I feel like I'm so out of place. The little ones are so darn cute and if you're an adult they just assume they can come to you so yesterday I was putting on coats, stopping a boy from pinching the girls with a fork and learning the names of numerous stuffed animals. A far cry from the high school kids I'm used to. I always ask them if they have questions and they always ask about tests, grades, etc. Well I asked the 5th grade if they had questions and they did--what is my middle name? Will I give them pretty pencils on the last day before winter break? It was funny. All the boys also renamed themselves with superhero names so I use them. There's a black rat snake who lives in the back of the room, good thing I like snakes! He is in a tank by the way, not just hanging out in the back. For those of you who don't know me well, I teach one class (I was a math teacher initially) and the rest of my day is counseling kids. That end has been so busy. So I feel like I'm getting back in the groove.
Yesterday was the first day I had to get up and get Ava to daycare. I managed to get in a shower, do laundry and get her up and out with time to spare. She goes in her pjs and her babysitter dresses her and gives her breakfast which makes it easier for me. Ava sobs everyday now when I leave her and I just keep walking which is so hard but I know she stops right away. Then when I go to get her she doesn't want to leave, she wants me to stay there with her. The other kids really play great with her. One little girl asked me yesterday if she could be Ava's sister. I am so thankful that I don't go to work worrying about Ava, Rams (the daycare provider) is wonderful.
The weather here is cold and we're getting more snow--again! So I went back to work Monday and we had a two hour delay, tomorrow we may not have school at all and next Thursday we start vacation until January 7th so going back was made a bit easier.
Ava had her 15 month check-up. She was 21.5 lbs and 31" tall. She screamed from her shots, I hated that part. She also cut more teeth--we're up to 6. Notice her shirt, she's the drool monster but is on strike against her bibs.
So I have to still make Ava's cards and shop. 6 months of being off of work and I'm not ready for Xmas...craziness!
Hope this finds you all well!
I spoke with people from my agency, none of them are getting cards so I'm stumped. It is quite odd, I keep looking at my blog to see if my last name is anywhere but no that's not it. I'll see if I get anymore today. I decided I'm going to look one of them up to get their phone number and politely ask how they know me!
I finally am motivated to make Xmas cards so if anyone wants one, please e-mail me your address (cswdon@aol.com).
Thanks!
Okay, so I have been getting Christmas Cards everyday from people who I have never met. Beautiful Guatemalan children but I don't know how they know my name or where I live! They are not from Guatoberfest, so is this happening to anyone else?
My baby girl turned 15 months old this week! I cannot believe it, so fast. She has grown so much since she has come home. She is now 22 lbs! Part of her rapid weight gain is that she's not walking yet. That is right around the corner though. She is everywhere. Some of her newest words are Santa, ho-ho-ho, stop (in which she holds up her little index finger, too cute!), and my personal favorite--Donna. Yup, she pats me and calls me Donna. If I'm out of her sight I'll hear her yelling my name. She also calls me momma which is why it is funny to me versus concerning. We have been together for 5 months and boy does time fly when you're not living at the mercy of people in another country.
Another huge thing of the week--daycare! I go back to work full time next week but decided to give Ava adjustment time. She has gone for 3 days, 4 hours a day. The first day was cake. She kissed me good-bye and was fine. The next 2 she sobbed and it broke my heart to leave her. I have been around babies long enough to know she would stop right away. And she did. She is in a home daycare a couple of miles from home. It is a nice place and during the day there is only Ava and the providers two year old daughter. The provider said Ava is such a happy baby and she is amused by her constant dancing. She told me that she just can't get enough of her. It's very cute, all the bigger kids are all over Ava when they come at the end of the day. They wave her out like we're in a parade!
