Monday??!!

Our adoption coordinator told us today that the facilitator in Guatemala is planning on having the DNA tests AND the Family Court interview on Monday! The Family Court interview involves the birth mother meeting with a Guatemalan social worker. Please pray that both of these go smoothly! We will keep you posted.

Cute Little Boy Conversation

Tonight I overheard this conversation between Mitchell and Max:
Mitchell: "I'm going to write a story about travelling around the world. Where should I go?"
Max: "Hell" (Yes, he really said this!)
Mitchell: "Hell isn't a place on earth."
Max: "Pizza Hut!"
Mitchell: "No, I mean like a country...like Paris or South America."

No adoption news to post. Waiting to hear from our adoption coordinator about when the DNA test will be scheduled. In case you don't remember, the DNA test is a U.S. embassy requirement...DNA is taken from Miranda and her birth mother to prove that the birth mother didn't steal a baby and is fraudulently trying to give the baby up for adoption. If you have read any negative articles about babies being stolen from birth mothers in Guatemala, I can say that IF these stories are true, then the babies aren't being adopted by U.S. families. The U.S. is the only country with a DNA requirement...I believe.

Of course I'll post again when I hear any news.

She's 3 weeks old!

Here is Miranda at 3 weeks old!

Our adoption coordinator returned from Guatemala yesterday and e-mailed us new pictures today. She also gave us an update about Miranda and told us she met the foster mother and the foster grandmother (the foster mother's mom who lives with her!). According to the foster mother, "Miranda is a peaceful baby. At this time she is either drinking or sleeping. She only cries when she is hungry and is a happy little baby." She also told us that Miranda is drinking 3 oz. of formula every 3 hours. Our adoption coordinator said that both the foster mother and grandmother are "exceptionally gentle and sweet ladies." Our adoption coordinator will be visiting again in 3 1/2 weeks, so we'll get more pictures then! For now, here are a few more.

The Truth

So, Mitchell's school is having Reading Week this week, with lots of special reading activities. One of the activities included "Wear a book day" The kids had a piece of paper shaped like a book cover. They had to write the title and description of their favorite book and then it had holes in it with string and they wore it around their neck. Last year, I think he did a "Magic Tree House" book, but this year he did the Bible! Here's what his book cover says:

Truth

Like 5,000 years there was this guy named Jesus

He had 12 followers.

They were matthew, mark, luke, john, judes, moses, paul.

While some of the facts are a bit off, I am so proud of him! Here's a picture, though you may not be able to see the detail.

Those of you who go to Rooftop will remember that while in college, Matt labeled his Bible with the words THE TRUTH on the cover. He talked about it in one of his sermons a few weeks ago...I guess Mitchell was listening!

Update

Our adoption coordinator e-mailed from Guatemala today. She was able to see our daughter and hold her for about 30 minutes! She said she got lots of pictures and will e-mail them to us this weekend. She also met the foster mom and the foster mom's mom! She said the foster mom and her mother really like the name we've chosen, Miranda Ruth, and have been calling her by her name! We're really excited to get the pictures and will post some new pictures when we get them.

Cute girl clothes and Halloween

Our adoption coordinator is going to Guatemala tomorrrow and will be taking our Power of Attorney with her. This is the document that can get the ball rolling and we will hopefully have our DNA test done in the next few weeks. Anne is also taking down a few things for the baby that I have bought over the past few days...I just couldn't help myself! I also sent down a few clothing items that Mitchell or Max wore when they were infants. I thought it would be cute to get pictures of this baby wearing the same clothes that they wore. Here's a picture of what I sent this time. I mostly sent newborn-sized clothes, since she's so tiny. I have 0-3 month clothes that I'll send with our adoption coordinator next month. She will be seeing our baby this week in Guatemala and her foster mother and told me that she will bring us back a lot of pictures!

I have finally gotten around to downloading pictures, so here are some pictures from Halloween. Some friends from church had a party and we took the boys and had lots of fun. Trick or Treating, Cupcake decorating, Pumpkin Carving, lots and lots of good food and candy! The boys decided to be Ninjas this year. They had fun with Matt, going online and downloading "Ninja moves."

Our referral!

Here she is! This is our sweet little girl, born on 10/22/07. She is tiny, between the 5th and 15th percential for weight, length, and head circumference. We received photos and a limited medical record. "Su examen fisical y mental es normal." Translation: "Her physical and mental exam is normal." This is from the embassy pediatrician that will provide medical care to her while she is in Guatemala. We also received a few medical test results on her and the birth mom and even a photo of her birth mom.

So, we sent our power of attorney to Chicago today and hope to get it off to Guatemala next week. Everything is definitely still NOT set in stone...the nature of international adoption won't let us get too excited, yet. The DNA test and family court interviews in the next 4-6 weeks will be very revealing to us. Keep reading the blog for updates!