I left for Guatemala to pick up my sweet little Elizabeth and bring her home for good! The pictures of Elizabeth from April 30, 2007 bring tears to my eyes – I can just see so much in that little face – I see sadness and fear and hope and tenderness. At this point I kept telling her “you’re going to love me.” I think back to her foster mom, Julvia who lovingly cared for Elizabeth for 10 months. In preparation for this day she gave Elizabeth a haircut, a bath, put her in the outfit I bought, and some shiny new black patent leather shoes. I also think about Elizabeth’s birth mom, Dora, and the agonizing decision she made to give this precious little life away and trust to someone else. At the time of going through the process many of these things never really sunk in, and today as I look back and think about this past year I fully realize all that Dora gave up and so appreciate the love and care that Julvia and her family showed to Elizabeth.
Being Elizabeth’s Mom is a very special and wonderful thing and has changed me forever. I fall more deeply in love with her with each day. Recently while Elizabeth and I were playing with her toys, she flashed me a look that I have given her many times and I was so taken aback! I was not expecting my 21 month old adopted daughter to so accurately imitate my disapproving “no, no, no” look. That has made me realize the depth of the responsibility I have in raising Elizabeth, providing her with the right values, and opportunities, and experiences.
May 8 is what I have decided will be our official adoption day. That is the day Elizabeth landed in the US, became a citizen, and met her extended family. I am not sure how we will celebrate it this year – maybe a trip to the zoo or something fun!
Well, Grammy knew the day was coming, and it's here... Chrissie took Elizabeth to get her 2-year old pictures taken and the company was so pleased with the pictures that they have selected her photos to post in the store as examples! :)
Here is Elizabeth trying on her pretty dress for Tia Sarita's wedding next month! Isn't she so cute! Looks like she isn't quite sure what to do with her arms.. but after a few moments she realized she could still watch the Little Einsteins (her most favorite show of all time - when she wants to watch it she pats her legs as they do on the show!) and play with her toys..
Today is Washington's Birthday and Elizabeth's new school was closed... Chrissie still had to go to work, but thankfully Auntie Ki's office was closed too - so she and Elizabeth spent the day together.... they met up with one of Carrie's friends who has a 14-month old and they toured around the mall.. it was a gorgeous day so Elizabeth got to go to the playground where Auntie Ki snapped this adorable picture of her in the slide!
Here's Elizabeth with her Mommy about to go to her first Christmas Eve service - she was all excited, and so good! After the 5pm service she came back to Grammy and Papi's, ate some dinner, got a bath and had the traditional "Night Before Christmas" read to her by her Papi. While her mommy and aunts loved hearing the story, she was more interested in opening and closing Papi's glasses case! 
She went to sleep while the rest of the fam enjoyed a yummy dinner. Then it was time to go home and she transferred wonderfully from her bed at Grammy's to the car and then to her own bed.
playing with her granddaughter! :) She was really excited to see her new "shopping cart" - wheeling it around and around... Christmas afternoon she was reported to be pushing it around her 1st floor, throwing little peoples and other items out of the cart, while a patient Auntie Ki went along after her picking them all up - what fun!
