Forever Family Day

February 29th (yes, leap year!) 2008... together forever.

Take a look back at the emotion: Daddy Is Here!

The very next day, we woke up in the pink apartment in Antigua, together as a family of four for the very first time! As I sit here next to Luciana this morning while she "colors" and plays with Play-Doh babbling on about one of her latest adventures, I am taking in all the memories of those first moments when we found our way into this new family of four. Albums out, old blog posts to sniffle over, I am feeling that familiar feeling of gratitude for all that life has blessed me with.

No big plans today. Keith and Sam are skiing, Lucy and I will likely take a long walk before yet another storm heads our way. My folks will be coming for dinner, and I imagine we will raise a glass to commemorate the day. In the meantime, I am strolling back in time, cup of coffee and a sweet girl by my side.

March 1. 2008: So Happy Together

March 2008 was an unforgettable month in the timeline of our families milestones. I have gone back to look at all the posts from February and March and have to remind myself that I am reading about my own life and not a strangers! I am proud of who we were one year ago, and I am relieved to be home where life is exciting for all it's regular, everyday, ordinary adventures!

Much love.




PS- It seems like "going private/password protecting" is on the back burner for the moment... thanks for the support. I have all my contacts tucked away safely if the need arises. Until then, Peach and Cin are staying put. Thanks!

A Special Visit

Enjoy a few snapshots of our memorable weekend with Bobbi, Steph, and Donna's families!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

By the way... tomorrow: FOREVER FAMILY Anniversary!!!

Coming Together

This weekend, after more than a year of support, laughter, tears, and long-distant friendship, "Peaches & Cinnamon" will FINALLY meet Little Pea!! And the very next day... Party of 5 and Heart's Journey will ALL be at my house celebrating a grand "Feb-guate-rary" OR "Guate-urary" OR... okay, okay... I give up on the clever name... they are coming!!!  

I am so excited to finally meet, Donna and Steph with Bobbi this weekend.... going through the journey to Guate and back to complete our families would have been that much harder without the support of women like these ladies!  SO, think of this weekend... four families, totaling 8 kids and 8 adults, all coming together to celebrate friendships made along the way.  

Stay tuned for pics!

Impossible

It just does not seem possible that on this day last year I was packing last minute things, checking and double checking flights, itineraries, and passports, and getting ready to somehow say good-bye to Keith all the while trying to calm the butterflies in my stomach preparing to be reunited forever with my sweet baby girl.

One year ago tomorrow is playing over and over in my mind like an old family movie... I can see each moment... Sam and I grabbing hands, Mom and I wiping away tears of anticipation, walking off an elevator in a strange land straight into an embrace I will never forget.

Tomorrow?!? How is it possible?

Done!

Luciana and Sam getting ready to head to the courthouse.

Happy moment after the proceedings.

Sam proudly holding the paperwork that officially recognizes Luciana's
adoption here in the states and has her new LEGAL name!

Order in the court!

So, in this mostly ceremonial (though still emotional) step, we celebrate the finalization of all the legal details that put on paper what we have always known in our hearts. Luciana is Luciana legally, and she is ours... all ours! We were joined by my Mom and Dad, and Luciana's Godmother, Barbara, and Sam's buddy, James! It was great to have their support and even more fun to celebrate with them after the proceedings! While in the courtroom, and in true Lucy fashion, my little nap-deprived toddler ran in circles
charming the robe right off the judge! She was a riot!

Today was special, but I am also glad it is done. I feel like I took that final deep breath. Like any milestone in Luciana's life, I have had Lucy's birthmother and foster mother in my heart. I pray they know how loved this sweet girl really is.

I am going to leave the final thought for this post to Sam... as we were driving away from the courthouse, he broke our reflective silence with, "Well, Mom. We did it." Yes, buddy, we sure did.

Much love.

High School Half-Time Show

Checking out the H.S. trophies. Just 7 short years away...

Routing for GHS!

The Big Finale!

PS- Will make the move to private in about a week, so please get me your email if you want to keep up with the journey.

Our own little Captain Sully!

One Final Step

We are quickly approaching several anniversaries, so it seems even more timely and fitting that we will complete the final step in Luciana's adoption in just a few weeks. We will appear in court of February 4th to appear for what many refer to a "re-adoption". It will be the legal process of completing Luciana's adoption in the respect that her name will legally be changed and a new birth certificate will be issued with that beautiful name. It's a big deal, and we are pumped for it!

Then, that's that. No more home studies, no more documents, no more notarizing... just our messy, noisy, full of love and laughter little life. Cheers to that!

PS- Getting ready to go private due to some advice from bloggers... if you'd like to keep up with the kids, please send your email address and I'll send details. I'll delete addresses from comments as soon as I reply. Sorry... but it does seem like it's time. This blog has seen us through an amazing journey, and now I want to tuck it away safely. I will probably use it more to update pics of the kids after we come through our anniversary posts. Thanks for all the support.

Look Back...

I had to step over 3 dolls and around a life size doll house, past a toddling beauty, and through a trail of toys to sneak off to my laptop tonight... how great is that?!?!

I had this pull to peek back at "this time last year", knowing it would stir up all kinds of emotions and memories... and it did, but looking back is soooooo good for me. I can't explain it, except that I can remember writing many of those posts last year through a haze of tears, and when I read them now, my cheeks hurt from smiling because it was all worth it.

So, with that said, and with a little wild woman waiting in the next room, I am signing off... leaving you with a linkback to January 2008 if you want to remember, too. Remember, start at the bottom... oh, blogger!

Much love!

Making Memories and New Traditions

Ok. Here's the story:

Our first holiday season with Miss Lucy has been a little different than we had magically imagined. My grandfather (whom I think the absolute world of) has not been well. To be brief, and so not to go in a direction I am not prepared to go, I will just say that our time with family has been spent in a different and far more important way. Needless to say, Christmas has snuck up on us...

So, determined to create memorable moments and to begin family traditions, I made my little family of four trek to the mall for the quintessential photo with Santa Claus. I went online to be sure what time to be there, and packed my little family into the car at 8:00 this morning. Lucy was decked out in a gorgeous silver sparkly dress, and Sam chose a handsome button down all by himself. They were adorable, and Sam was psyched up for his first real visit with Santa. (In past years, he has opted to send Santa a wave from the sidelines, not feeling brave enough for a face-to-face it the man himself.... this was his year!) All the way to the mall, Sam rehearsed what he would say when finally facing the big guy, and he was feeling very "big-brotherly" in his role of ushering Lucy into this tradition.

Well, we arrived near 8:30 only to discover that Santa would not be rolling in until ELEVEN o'clock! Hmmm. That was the first sign of what was to come. But, determined to make the most of things, we took advantage of the nearly empty mall and attempted to make a dent in our pathetic shopping list. Both kids were true sports. Finally, with 30 minutes to go, we decided to head to Santa's Workshop and join the small cue that had formed. At that exact moment, a white haired, jean wearing, tattoo sporting jolly old soul arrived on the scene... yup. Sam's eyes were glued to this character who looked familiar but so quite right. I think I heard him whisper, "That guy is not Santa....". We tried to divert his attention, but the damage was done. Naturally, he accepted that that man must be one of Santa's many helpers as St. Nick himself is a very busy man these days. Fine, good enough.

While waiting in line, and waiting, and waiting, we befriended some other families and shared war stories of Santa's past. We swapped toys and crackers and went to great lengths to keep our gaggle of children content while waiting. Finally, at 10 past 11, Santa made his grand entrance... and, truly, the crowd (with seeming memory loss of the jean wearing fella of a half an hour ago) went wild! It was a magical moment... just as I had planned! ;-) We were the fourth family in line and ooohed and aaaahed and giggled as each child timidly approached the now rosy cheeked Santa.... the first one was a screamer, and we all thought it was precious, knowing he could easily be our own... and, as you can see, folks, that is just what happened. Three hours, a big hit to the VISA, and half a bag of goldfish later, here is our first Santa photo!

Merry Christmas!

May yours be filled with laughter and joy... and loved ones to share it with.

Much love.