coming home

Finally, After 26 days waiting, Rachel and Gabrielle will be on a plane for home tomorrow.  the balloons and streamers are up.  We are ready.  Thank you everyone for your prayers and support.  This journey is over, or maybe it just started, either way the blog is not over.

Aaliyah at the Salon

In anticipation for Mommy and Gabrielle's arrival, Nana took Aaliyah to the Salon to get her hair done. They braided it and  used a flat iron on the ends.  Aaliyah sat still for an hour while two lady's fussed with her.  she sat still so long , when it came time for photos, getting her to sit still was a different story.  

We are SO Thankful for Gil, Erin and Naomi!

"Two Week Check-Up."

The traffic was thick this morning.   We were up and traveling by 7.  (Well, I was up, she had just decided to go to sleep a few hours earlier, so she was in a deep sleep.)  We had an early morning appointment across town.  Seeing the pediatrician for a well-check, shots and second PKU was a relief. (I had previously made an appointment at home, thinking that we would be there in plenty of time. When we missed that date last week- the scheduling department understandably asked that I refrain from making another appointment till we got home.)  

I really liked the Doctor.  Getting to talk with her was meaningful to me- because she was the physician who saw her at birth.  She was informative and interested in Gabrielle's digestion and constipation issues.  

Our little Gabrielle is now 20.5 inches long, and weighs 8 pounds, 4 ounces.  A healthy growing girl.  She got a shot, and heel stick for a few blood tests.  I was amused at the bandage she received.   

I am more than ready to go home.  We trust God with all the details, and are praying for travel clearance ASAP.  It's hard to believe that our baby is over three weeks old!  I can't wait to have my girls together in the same room!!

"What did I do to deserve this?"

PKU

9.22.2008-

The woman who drew blood from Gabrielle's little heel wanted to make sure the band-aid stayed put.  It was cute and I took a photo.  Once I viewed this photo on the computer, I realize that It looks like my three week old broke her ankle! 

1am...

Yes, you read that right.  Gabrielle and I had a little photo shoot this morning.  She just wasn't tired.  So I took the opportunity and LUCKY you!  This is what we got!

I have to be careful where I set her, she rolls, "army scoots" and lifts her head.  She isn't awake a lot, but when she is WATCH OUT!  She is a strong little bundle of joy!

A few weeks ago....

A couple of weeks ago,when we took these pictures, I knew I would be happy to have them.  As I sit (impatiently) in  Texas, I have had fun looking through them- here are a few I thought would be fun to share. 

ICPC

Rachel and Gabrielle are still in Texas  ARGH! we are told that the hold up is the ICPC in Ohio, I guess there has been cut backs and one person is handling this paper work for all adoptions coming to Ohio.  Please be in prayer that they will be home soon.  And for those that wonder what an ICPC is;

Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC): An interstate compact, or agreement, that has been enacted into law by all 50 states in the United States, and the District of Columbia, which controls the lawful movement of children from one state to another for the purposes of adoption. Both the originating state, where the child is born, and the receiving state, where the adoptive parents live and where the adoption of the child will take place, must approve the child's movement in writing before the child can legally leave the originating state. This Compact regulates the interstate movement of both foster children and adoptive children.

Creativity

I had to get a picture of this.  A couple of days ago I purchased some insulated faucet covers for outside. Yesterday Aaliyah was wearing it as a hat calling it her bicycle helmet.  Today she was dancing around with it on, singing "Merry Christmas, have a happy day"    So for cheap entertainment and something with many uses I recommend a Styrofoam Faucet Cover.

how does your garden grow

Aaliyah helped mommy with a cherry tomato plant. she watered it and picked the tomatoes.  look out Trader Joe's.

WAIT....gain.

Gabrielle is changing before "our" eyes!  I wonder if Aaron will believe that this is the same baby girl he held "two weeks" ago! 

It's getting even harder to wait as I hear Aaliyah ask "When are you commin' back mommy?" and "Are you with 'Gabby-Elle' in Texes?"  

Im the big sister

Yesterday we got a package in the mail from Nana, it was a sweatshirt and onesie.  Aaliyah wanted a picture taken "outside" with her new sweatshirt. She is proud of it and "wants to were it to church"  unfortunately I couldn't get her to stand still to take the picture.  the sweatshirt says " Im the big sister" 

of course the onsie says "Im the little sister"   Thank you Nana

and Thank you Aunt Karin for putting Aaliyah's hair in a bun, I couldn't do it for the life of me.     We need you home mommy and Gabrielle!

I Love This Expression- We See It Often!

Naomi- sweet baby girl

Naomi and Gabrielle- getting to know each other.

To Aaliyah with Love from Mommy-

When were here last, we took a trip to the Zoo.  Aaliyah loves the Zoo.  I decided to take a second trip- take some photos and post them here for Aaliyah to see.  Waiting around is hard- but necessary, I am anxious to get home.  We are a family of four that has yet to be together in the same room.  :)  SOON!!!

A Walk Down Memory Lane

What a difference two years makes.  We have two totally different, yet beautifully similar adoption experiences.  Both roads were rough, and ended with the daughter God had planned for us.  We are thankful.  We are blessed.   We are going to be BUSY!!

AWAKE!

Gabrielle is such a great sleeper, it takes a little effort to wake her up.  Bath-time did the trick!!

missing mommy and baby sister

just a note from the home front.  Aaliyah is doing well, talks about mommy and Gabrielle, she has pointed at a few planes in the sky and has said "there is Mommy and Gabrielle" so I guess she thinks they are still flying.  Every thing has been fine until bath time tonight and we had a melt down when daddy tried to shampoo and detangle hair. By the end of the bath we both needed mommy. 

Sleeping Beauty-

Gabrielle is proving to be a wonderful sleeper.  Right now, she is peacefully laying in the middle of the living room here at Gil and Erin's while life goes on around her.  She slept through all of church service and all the way home.   She is a total joy.  

Speaking of Gil and Erin...we are privileged to be staying with them here in Dallas.  They are translation/linguistics students at Wycliffe, preparing to travel to Vanuatu.  (A small tropical island in the pacific ocean.)   I am especially grateful to be here with them as we wait for our travel paperwork. 

18 inches...

HAIR!

LOOK at that Head of hair!!!

SISTERS!

It 's already begun!  The matching "onsies" are SO cute on both of our girls.  The photos were taken in different states, but the similarities are striking don't you think?

U-decide.

 

I saw this "car" (?) going down the road.  Good idea?  Bad idea?  U- decide.  

Welcome to Texas! (where everything is BIGGER?) 

A picture is worth a thousand words....

I am counting on that! 

Here are a couple of photos of our precious girl. 

We were at the agency on Wednesday night, the director had stayed late to facilitate our evening arrival.  

Gabby is doing WONDERFUL.  She has gained an ounce or two since leaving the hospital, she had a great check-up on the 4th. 

She is a peaceful, content, sleepy little girl.  She is a good little eater and has regular bowel movements!! (HUGE plus!)

We are tired, and happy.  

This morning was very emotional, we met with Gabrielle's birthmom and maternal grandparents.  We are so appreciative of everything they gave us.  

We hope to update again soon- pray for travel paperwork!

A second look....

A Second...and THIRD look.  

Brooke from our agency is taking care of our precious Gabrielle this evening.  She took these photos and sent them just a few minuets ago. She reports that our girl is doing great, and her children are enjoying having her in their home. 

I am seriously thinking about "HI-JACKING" a plane!  I need to get to my little Gabby Rae!

Gabrielle first photo ( with an iphone)

NEWS!

We are so excited to announce that our daughter has been born!

Gabrielle is a healthy 7lb, 2 oz baby girl.  She is 18 inches long and has a beautiful FULL head of hair.    

We fly on Wednesday morning!  We are eager to get to Dallas!

Aaliyah is doing GREAT!  She is getting used to talking about a baby SISTER instead of a baby brother.  

Pray with us for travel logistics, the remaining finances and our precious baby girl.  We also ask for prayer about meeting Gabrielle's birth family.  Official paperwork has been signed, so there is no danger of them changing their minds.  We want to meet with them to express our joy and love for our baby girl. 

We hope to have photos soon!!!!!  We hear she is a darling little thing with a healthy appetite and dark thick hair.  

Love from the FOUR of us!

Wait...

...we continue to wait. 

We will be posting our update after 8pm tonight.