Prayer requests...

Today Chrissie e-mailed the adoption agency for a status update, and was informed that her documents are being translated into Spanish and will be presented to the court very soon (hopefully by week's end). The next steps are:

• the law office in Guatemala sends someone to the courthouse to get the case submitted
• a judge and social worker are assigned to the case
• the social worker interviews the birth mother and initiaties the DNA testing, as well as reviewing all of Chrissie's documents

So we're asking for prayers for each step in this process:

• for a fair judge
• for a fast working and proactive social worker
• for a good interview between the birth mother and social worker - that the birth mother would have peace about her decision
• smooth DNA testing

Will keep you updated as we get more information!!

Grammy & Papi

Here are your silly grandparents celebrating your Grammy's birthday in New Hampshire. They absolutely can't wait to meet you!

Maybe they'll even take you kayaking on one of YOUR birthdays if your Mommy says it's OK.

And we'll have lots of cake and ice cream, too!

Love, Grammy and Papi

Belts....

Yesterday I (Aunt Jenny) wanted to share the most recent picture of my precious niece with some coworkers, so in typical over-the-top computer-geek-fashion I created a powerpoint presentation! But I got some flack about the self-serving title: "The Making of Aunt Jenny"... so this blog was born.

While on the (internet/skype/VoiP) phone with friend Brenda (a former pediatric nurse who is currently living in Hungary), Elizabeth's picture was ooh'd and aaww'd over... I commented about our concern re the belt - but Brenda quickly assured me that this was not the case - it isn't a belt - it's the measuring tape the doctor uses!!! duh! So no need to try to "rescue" Elizabeth from tacky dressing - she's ok!!

More pictures!

Chrissie received another e-mail from the pediatrician - with more pictures!

Baby Elizabeth (called Estrella Marina by the doctor) was brought into his office on Friday, 8/18 - at one month she weighed 10 pounds - length 55 cms and a head circumference of 36 cm (apparently that's good!!). He also said she got some shots and is "growing rapidly, has good muscular tone, activity, smiles socially, has good eye tracking movement, still awakes once or twice at nights asking for milk. She looks healthy."

Now honestly, isn't she just the most adorable baby ever!??!

note: the gold belt is a bit much... Grammy-to-be called it her "hoochy-mamma" belt... gracious! Chrissie send that baby some clothes - and soon!

Adoption Announcement

Today Chrissie sent out this e-mail to share her news about Elizabeth (and included the pictures from the 7/27 post):

Hi Everyone,

As many of you know, I have decided to start a family through adoption. I am in the process of adopting a baby girl from Guatemala, and last week the adoption agency presented me with the referral of a baby girl born on July 11, 2006! This is so exciting! :)

She appears to be a very healthy infant, and at 1 week old was 8 pounds – which is a very good weight, especially for Guatemala. I’ve attached a few pictures that the Guatemalan pediatrician has taken.

I will be naming her Elizabeth, and hope to go and visit her in Guatemala within the next couple of months, before she is able to come home for good. It will take 4-6 months to finish the paperwork and legal proceedings, so hopefully she will be here for Christmas. There are a few more hoops to jump through during this waiting period.

Thanks to all for your support! I will continue to send updates and pictures as I get them!

Referral!

On July 27, 2006 while Chrissie was dropping off some documents with the adoption agency, one of the women said oh here's a new baby girl - too bad you're not "paper-ready"... and the other woman said "oh yes she is!" So Chrissie was given a referral!! She had the right of refusal to adopt this baby, pending some lab tests.

They gave her these three 8.5 x 11 color printouts of a baby girl who was born in Guatemala on July 11, 2006. Then Chrissie received an e-mail 2-3 hours later from the doctor with the pictures and additional information.


Chrissie immediately called Mom & Dad, who were at the beach in Montauk, and Jennifer called at the same time so a 3-way call was set up as the grandmother and aunt-to-be hurriedly opened their e-mail to see the pictures.

When Aunt Carrie got home Chrissie shared the exciting news and pictures with her. Then Aunt Sarah called after looking at a house with Rachel, and they were requested to come over... Sarah was given the happy news... apparently tears were shed.. Aunt Jenny arrived later, and it was decided that a celebration was in order... so off we went to La Tolteca, and toasted Elizabeth with margaritas!

Her spanish name is Estrella, which means star. We love her already. She's a star to us!! :)