The Big Thank-You Post

I've been composing this post in my head now for weeks. Over the past days, weeks, and months so many people have helped us out along our adoption journey. It really is humbling to see the love that has been poured out on us by our family and friends! I am so thankful for everyone and below is just a summary of things that Matt and I are grateful for.

• so many people praying for us
• helping us out with $ for the adoption
• giving us adorable gifts for Miranda
• giving us gently used girl clothes for Miranda that are sooo cute
• helping watch our boys
• calling and sending encouraging notes to us
• lending us stuff for our trip, like books and a laptop and a laundry hamper and DVD's and CD's
• buying us a new set of luggage
• buying the boys fun activities and toys for the trip
• driving us to the airport at the crack of dawn
• picking us up from the airport
• having a "Herndon family of 4-no more" party for us
• giving baby advice
• being so totally excited for us
• AND leaving us comments on our blog!! I love comments!!

DNA is at the lab!

I got an e-mail this morning from the nice lady at LabCorp. She said that the 2nd DNA sample arrived at the lab in the U.S. today. I have looked back at many of my online friends' timelines and it seems that for most of them, the time between the arrival of the 2nd DNA sample at the lab and their U.S. Embassy appointment is anywhere between 16 and 22 days!! YIKES!!! That's so soon! I may be staying in Antigua for a shorter period than I had imagined.

We've been busy here, working on Miranda's room. Below are some pics of the boys working on the crib and what her room looks like today...with all the suitcases spread out all over the floor!

We ended up using the crib bumper and ruffle that we used with the boys. It is a light colored denim. We bought cute flowered girly sheets to go with them and they look good together!
Here is a picture of the cute bag that my friend Melissa from work gave me last night for Miranda. It's the first thing we have with her name embroidered on it!! Thanks so much Melissa.
Finally, I have to give a shout-out to our friend Lisa from church. She has basically served as our private notary over the past 9 months, helping us with all of our documents. Thanks so, so much to her for saving us lots of money in notary fees and for being so excited for us in our adoption!

The countdown continues

We leave in 9 days! There has been a change in plans regarding where we are going to stay in Antigua. We are now staying at a place called Posada La Merced. Here is their website: http://www.merced-landivar.com/

A friend from college is living in Antigua fostering her son and she went to visit Posada La Merced for us and took a few photos. We will have a two bedroom suite---one room has a double bed and one room has a twin bed. We have use of the shared kitchen in the hotel. This place is much more family-friendly than the other inn where we were planning to stay. Here are the pictures of looking into the room with the double bed and of right outside our rooms. Apparently, the table is "ours" so I imagine eating there and having the boys do homework there.

The only thing I'm a little worried about is that our suite is right by the kitchen, so I'm afraid it may be a little louder than other areas of the hotel. Well, that's what earplugs are for, right?

We found out on Friday that the Guatemalan facilitator already has Miranda's new Guatemalan passport and birth certificate. These documents state her given first and middle name, but have "Herndon" as her last name! We expect that her DNA test will take place Monday or Tuesday.

Plans

I have been busy making so many plans! It is hard to think about much else besides getting to Guatemala and picking up Miranda!

The boys and I are going to be leaving on April 21 to fly to Guatemala. We will stay in Guatemala City for two days, then the boys and Miranda and I will drive to Antigua, where we will live for 2-3 weeks while we wait for our U.S. embassy appointment. Matt will come down sometime near the end of our stay.

Here is a link to the hotel we will be staying at: www.cameliasinn.com

We will have the apartment, which is two rooms and a bathroom. There is a shared kitchen where I will be able to cook lunch and dinner. Breakfast is provided.

I have talked with the assistant principal from the boys' school and we will be taking lots of schoolwork with us! This will help to fill our days, but otherwise we will just be spending time together: walking to the market and the town square, relaxing in the courtyard, visiting with other families in Antigua.

I am taking a laptop (thanks Dan and Michelle!!!), so OF COURSE I'll keep the blog updated while we are there!

Say Goodbye to PGN!!!

SHE'S COMING HOME!!!

It really is true!! Miranda's case has been approved by PGN!! Anne called us today and told us that we were approved and out of PGN sometime last week, the final decree has been signed (that means the birth mom has signed off for the final time), the new birth certificate should come later this week, and the 2nd DNA test should be next week!!! CRAZY!!! Thanks so much to everyone for all of your prayers and support. We'll keep you posted!

The room and the boys' new (old) toy

If you've been wondering, here's Matt painting Miranda's room. The color is a bit brighter than we were wanting, but it's on the wall and paid for, so we're going to make do!

Last Tuesday night after small group, our friend's Dan and Michelle brought in the box seen below for the boys. This had been in their attic for at least 10 years (Dan's sons are in their late teens now). Matt swore that we were going to wait to set it up until AFTER our houseguest moved out of the basement, because he didn't want it to take up the whole living room. Well, that lasted about two days and it is now, indeed, set up in the living room. The boys love it and had all the neighborhood kids over this weekend to play. The last picture is Mitchell playing it with a neighborhood friend.

Curtains, anyone?

So, I took down the two old curtains in Miranda's room. They are super-cute, but just dont match with the new colors of her room. They measure approx. 36 X 54 inches and have cute ribbon loops at the top to hang them on a curtain rod. If you are interested, please let me know and I'll get them to you!
If no one claims these, then I'm going to cut them up and use the fabric for quilting!