Alyssa

Alyssa, I love you, I miss you and I haven't forgotten you!! I wish I could say I have hope, but have been told it is best not to hope.
I do want to say that a great deal is being done because of you. I know it isn't fair, and you will never know, that at your tiny age of 13 months, you have to be one of the few that makes a difference for others, but you are making that difference! Because of you and just a couple others, things are changing! Very bad people are being sought and will be severly punished. More importantly than that, there will be countless other little girls and boys just like you who will never have to go through what you have, and continue to go through. I know it is difficult and unfair to pay the price in order for others to be safe, but you are my sweet and spunky little girl and even though you had no choice in what happened to you, I am very proud of you.
Missing you and praying you are safe and someday will be happy,
Mom

Justice??

A Night Out =)

I had the greatest opportunity last night. To spend the evening with other people from the US in their room. They are staying in a much nicer place. There was actually a table and chairs for dining! The food was the best and they are a really nice couple! Alyssa was able to play with their little girl, named Jennifer. At first Alyssa was confused because she has been looking at her sister Jennifer's picture and getting all wound up. So we started calling her new friend Jen. Anyway, just having someone other than mom to play with was great. We had taken some of A's toys over there for play and we traded for a while, so new toys for both kids! yay! Not sure when the opportunity will come again to repeat...it just isn't cool to be out and about. But any risk was worth it last night, I came back here feeling so much more human! My lawyer was there and he said there was NO reason not to file on Monday, that all his work is done 110%.

Here is a great picture of Alyssa being creative last night. She found one of our host's travel pillows and decided it was a hat...

West Wing

While we wait out the next who knows how many days, until I can file for Alyssa's visa, I thought I would tell you about something funny that Alyssa did the other night. When I can't sleep I watch the West Wing on my computer next to the bed. I have ear phones and put one in my ear and leave one out so I can hear her if she cries. It was around one in the morning, when I felt her lay across my back. I thought she was still asleep until about 10 min. later I rolled just enough to see her watching West Wing! I spent a fair amount of money on a set of Baby Einstein to help her learn English etc., but she couldn't care less...turns out she is a West Wing fan! I slid out from under her to get my camera. She never took her eyes off the screen. When I came back she had figured out there was sound! She actually got the plug in her own ear! She will certainly learn English, but what else?? (Side note...this wasn't a one time thing. I turned it on the next day and sure enough she came scampering right over...please tell me it isn't Toby...)

Court

In case you haven't read it anywhere else, or heard me yell it from the top of the roof. I passed court at 3PM our time. According to this country's government, she is now my daughter. It will take a day, maybe two for the paperwork to process. Keep the prayers going, we aren't finished yet, but awfully close.

Tomorrow

Tomorrow is the big day. If everything goes well, then I will be posting pictures of a celebration lunch. I am supposed to appear at 9AM our time on Tuesday Oct. 13th. If all of that goes well, then maybe tomorrow afternoon, but more likely Wednesday morning I will apply at the American Embassy for Alyssa's visa. That should take a week or less, and then it is home sweet home. Now where did I put those ruby slippers?

Here is a random picture of hanging out playing. Other pictures to follow when I get the chance. She does keep me pretty busy!

A Day At Nana's Pool

Today I decided it was getting a little too “Flowers in the Attic” around here and I needed to come up with a plan. So I thought of the things I miss about home and decided to do a theme day each day. One of the things I miss the most is hanging out at my mother’s pool. So I told Alyssa all about it and together we spent the morning pretending. First we had to walk up to her house, so I got Alyssa dressed in her best sun suit and hat (which you can tell she was just thrilled about). Next we got out the stroller and walked up to Nana’s house (around the room about 20 times). Once at Nana’s we played with the beach/pool ball for a while. We got pretty hot doing that and went for a swim in the pool (bathtub). Alyssa had a lot of fun with that part of our game. I think next summer she will be quite the fish! Then we walked back home and Alyssa, exhausted from fun at Nana’s zonked out on the bed. It was a nice way to pass the morning.
This afternoon we went to the doctor’s for her “official medical”. She passed with flying colors! She weighs 20 pounds, exactly what I had guessed (pulled my back out tonight) and she wears a size 12 mo. But for now is having to squeeze into a bunch of size 9 mo. because I thought that would be what she would need. That’s ok, we hang out at the pool a lot anyway, thanks Nana =)
Things have settled down a lot since Monday, thank you everyone who has been saying their prayers. =)

Toys

Smartest thing I did was bring stacking blocks. Least smart was not realizing they might have her age wrong. At almost 13 months I should have brought more toys, but then again, I played with kitchenware when I was little ... according to my mother it was usually 4AM! I almost forgot to tell you all ... she also made friends with a rather large black ant on the floor the other day ... I let it go on for a short while, but when she decided to eat her newest friend, I had to set him free.... =)

Hanging Out

My mother knit this sweater for her. It was hot that day so I couldn't keep it on her, but she kept running her hand up and down the soft sleeve =)

She is learning to walk. She loves it and claps whenever she stands and bounces.

Making New Friends

Alyssa made friends with the baby next door today. Then when her friend started to cry she knew just what to do!

At Long Last!

She arrived sound asleep! =)

I just bought a ticket on one of these ... will be leaving on the 25th of September! I am coming Alyssa!!!!

Approval!

I met the nicest man in the South Portland USCIS office via email today. I had been writing to the wrong office, but once I mailed a plea to the correct office, this gentleman wrote back and said he would go and look for my app. and work on it today. I of course ran outside and did my "happy dance". Several emails later he wrote to inform me that I had met the guidlines and would be receiving my approval in the mail!!! He certainly didn't need to work on mine today. I am sure he had a pile of paperwork sitting on his desk, what a nice guy! So, it is now time to get my visa, then my plane ticket and then off to meet and love all over Alyssa =) YAY!

This picture was taken today!

Second picture of my little sweetie ... will be adding bow to hair asap =)

Dreams Really Do Come True!

I got THE call today! I still can barely breathe or stop crying ... but had to let you all know that I will be on my way to meet my second daughter in 2-3 weeks!
She is a healthy 12 month old little girl and it would appear she likes to eat! Word is she is happy and affectionate.

Finger prints finger prints and more finger prints!

In the past when I have sent in my I600 I would get a date usually three months down the road. But, God took care of this, just as He has everything else since I started my new adoption. I had been worrying because my turn to travel looks to be approaching quickly and my home study wasn't complete. Just days before I left for Haiti, the HS was finished and I sent off my I600. The day I returned there was my appointment in the mail...date of finger prints August 4th!! Wow! So cool!

Opinions?

A friend sent this picture as an idea for Alyssa's nursery. After I move a wall about 2 feet giving the room a bit more closet space I want to start painting. The room is actually quite large for a bedroom, but that leaves plenty of space for stuffed animals and tea parties. What do you all think of these colors and decor? I think it is peaceful.

When Love Takes You In