Christmas Morning

In our house, Christmas isn't just Christmas... It is Grandmas Birthday too! So the first present that is opened is Grandmas birthday present. Once grandma is done we start Christmas... Well, little Miss Angelena felt the need to stand on top of Grandmas present and clap as grandma opened the rest....

Now that she is up there, even though is is only a few inches of the floor, she can't seem to figure out how to get down!

Little miss TIDY, opens her presents SO Slow... and hands me every piece of paper as she pulls it off.

She moves on to the Ball... Question to everyone... How are you suppose to wrap a ball?

Won't put that ball down, still has more open... She became a pro at opening presents 1 handed... But the neatness started to fade!

Now, mommy is on the floor trying to put together the new Dora Big Wheel... And of course, Little Miss Angelena is all into helping! I still can't figure out where she came up with an extra part!

More to go, but not till the rest of the family get here... Baby Cages come in handy when you don't want little hands opening present that don't belong to them, and talking all the little balls of the tree and throughing them! And, a side note... Santa is a good babysitter... He has a motion senser, so if you get to close he will start to dance and sign... Needless to say... Angelena tries to stay FAR away... HEHEHE...Cheap Babysitting!

TADA! Big Wheel Motor Cycle Mamma can't even reach the pedals... But she loves all the little lights and noises it makes!

After an exhausting morning of opening presents, I put her in her High Chair with a bottle as I fixed her something to eat... She never made it to the food... I put a blanket over her and she sleeped for 2 hours... Enough time for me to get the Turkey and Ham into the over!

And then a little Shower and Shine, and we have little RED RIDING HOOD, with her PINK basket Ball!

Thats all for now...

We had a wonderful Christmas, and I keep telling Angelena, enjoy it now little girl, cause this is the last one you will be the only child! Next year Bo Bo will be here!

HUGS and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Ellie

A midnight Letter to Angelo

Angelo,

As I sit here a write this, I wonder what you are doing... Who is holding you, loving you, whispering in your ear, telling you all about us. I always thought you would be with us by now, and spending your first Christmas with your Forever family... But things didn't happen the way they were supposed to... So, last night, I sat wrapping presents, getting food ready for Christmas day and decided to write you a little note.

My Angel in waiting... I have held you in my heart from before you were even born. The brief encounter we had when you were only 7 weeks old felt like a dream. I loved you from the moment the thought of you had entered my mind... I cherished you the moment I met you. I never realized just how big my heart was until I looked into that little face that laid in my arms and asked you... "If you want to be with us, be a strong little man, and you will come home." My heart broke when I had to hand you back. I was afriad that I would never see you again. All I could do was Pray... Wonder... Hope... Dream... I needed you with us so you would have the best possible care. I dream of the day that I will hold you forever in my hands... I dream of the day we are reunited again... I dream of the day your Big Sister will finally meet you.. I wish I could just swope down hold you and run home. Someone, somewhere had a plan for us. We are seeing it through, and will be together forever! So, my little Angel in waiting... On this day, you will be in our hearts and on our minds all day... Knowing that in just a few weeks, we will all be together again, FOREVER.... I know your are with a very loving family that only wants the best for you... They will truely miss you, as I do now. We love you so very much little man.

Merry Christmas -

Love your Forever Mommy

FFF = FAVORITE FRIDAY FOTO

ENOUGH SAID!!!

GUESS WHAT!!!!!

Here I am being GOOFY~ Cause this is the last time anyone is going to have to come to Guatemala and get updated pictures...

DO YOU KNOW WHY?????

Because the next time you see me, I will be in my mommy arms forever...

YEP... THATS RIGHT! WE ARE OUT OF PGN...

I will be coming home!~

FFF

Little Miss America in her Christmas Digs, and she will not let me put her hair up to get it out of her eyes... - ON THE RUN!

AND THE NEW MR. AMERICA... Looks like he is on the run too! Do you all think that because these two look so much alike, that they are Telapathic and Angelena is telling him to be just like her???? Lordy save me...

He don't look like anything is going to stop him!~

SUPRISE!!!!

Well Lookie here... My Big Little Man... Angelena's Look A Like, with Side Burns, and Attitude... Yep... They SURE are Brother and Sister!

Angelo Edward 7 months old... Ok, now... I HAVE TO GO TO GUATEMALA... I need to squeeze those little chubby cheeks. - And, shall I mention that hair!

I can't wait to get home today to show Gramma and Angelena... We have been waiting for over week, cause we knew we would be getting them. Every morning... Did you get an email today... Well this morning, I got 39 Pictures!

He is getting so big, and he looks VERY healthy...

HUGS

ELLIE

The Long Awaited Down Load from Camara!

This is Angelena's Best Cousin, sharing her food... Note: they are only 2 months in age different

This was taken on the day we went had her Photo shot with the Photographer with Celebrating Adoption... This poor child was so tired when it was over with... Yes the balloon is tied to her dress...

Here she is just cheesen for the Camara

This was 2 night ago, this dog barks and sings jingle bells... Mind you she will hug him, dance with him, but the minute he starts moving, she RUNS... Big CHickeN!

This was last night, she was playing with her Santa Hat... See her nakedness... Guess why.... CHICKEN POX! That sure was a suprise last night... So far she has 5 big pus spots - under her arm, chest, back and side flank... I am praying this is just a small spot of it. She was vaccinated for Chicken Pox, so I really don't understand why she has them.

This is her Halloween Custom.... See how late I am!

Here, even later... THis was when she was Baptized 10/27/07... Look at my little princess.... She did SOOOOOOOOOO Good, I am so proud of her... This is my Brother and Sister, her offical, Nina, and Nino...




And last for today... Her sleeping in her Toddler Bed...

That's enough for now!

More later... On Friday... I may have a VERY SPECIAL SUPRISE IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS....

Keep checking!

HUGS

OK.. OK.. OK...

We have some news to share...

1) I recieved an email from the Orphan Office in Oklahoma City yesterday, saying that my EXPIRED 171H has been extended, and I should be recieving it in the mail in about 10 days..... (Note: these are basically saying I can adopt from Guatemela, and when I adopted Angelena I was approved for 2 kids... Remember my posting way back... They are only good for 18 months... well my just expired 11/18, so I had to have it extended for another 18 months..) Here is the kicker... Remember when I was doing it way back... My moms finger prints are not readable... Guess what... AGAIN... We have a criminal in the house... HAHAHA Just kidding... Well anyway, we had to get Clearances from City, County, and States for where she lived in the last 10 years AGAIN... Boy that was fun... I recuited friends, and got all the paper work, and presto.... DONE!~ It only took.... 4 months... Imagine that!

and on to some better news...

I recieved an Email from my Agency yesterday... My case is going back into PGN on monday... YA... Everything has been cleared up, and things are starting to look on the bright side again...

FFF

This week I thought I would go back to the very first time I meet Angelena. It was a visit trip to Guatemala 8/06.

This was my little miss america sleeping by the pool at the Westin in Guatemala City.

My next photo is of 2 of the MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN MY LIFE... Everytime I look at this photo, I think... Look at these two faces... I unknown was about to unfold, and these 2 life's have fallen madly in love with each other... Out of all the pictures I have... This is the picture I carry around in my wallet... In fact, it is the only picture in my wallet...

Then you have me and Angelena... Here is something I haven't told anyone before... When I was first handed Angelena, I was so afraid to kiss her. I know that if I did, I worried about rejection. I was afriad, I would fall more madly in love with her, and then have to hand her back... Then as we were sitting by the pool, my cousin wanted to get a couple of pictures of us together, and we started to pose, and then bam... She put her little arm up around my neck, and I just couldn't stand it anymore, and smuggled into the side of her face and kissed her... And it was caught on tape... I LOVE THIS PICTURE. The inoccents of love.

AND then, last but not least... My friend Ginger had planned a trip to Guatemala to see her first referral. Then about 2 weeks before the trip, she lost her refferal, but she still decided to go. Even if it was just to see the country. Well, I know how heart breaking it was for Ginger to see me accept Angelena for the visit, and her have no baby to hold. So later that day, Ginger came to our room, and I handed her Angelena, and said, "Here Angelena, this is Aunttie Gin..." I know in my heart that it was VERY hard for Ginger to hold Angelena. But at that moment, there was no stopping the bond these to hold for each other. And the look on thier faces in this picture is priceless..To this day, when I talk to Ginger on the phone, I will put the phone on speaker phone and she will talk to Angelena. And yes, Angelena get excited when she here Ginger Voice.

So this will conclude my Favorite Foto Friday this week...

THis is TOO FUNNY...

About a year and a half ago, I seen a person very similar to the people on this video, actually... I seen 2... And they were both women... one of these women was my cousin that went with us to Visit Angelena for the first time...

My My how 18 months can change things so quickly...

Ginger, Allen, Wendy... I know you all know who the other person is~!

ENJOY!

Info and OUR HERO

Info and OUR HERO

First I would like to give you all an update to Angelo's Case...

We still have not been resumbitted into PGN, apparently there is yet another piece of the puzzle missing. Something from the Birthmothers village where she was born. I am not really sure what, but I am thinking it may be her Birth Certificate, cause that is what I was originally told why I got Kicked Out...

I really don't know at this point... THis is what was said... "IT IS NOT BACK IN PGN YET.. THIS IS MY CONVERSATION WITH THE LAWYER.. HE SAYS... I NEED A DOCUMENT FROM QUICHE.. AND THE MAYOR IS IN ECUADOR AND ONLY HE CAN GIVE THE DOCUMENTO.. HE RETURNS THURSDAY. MY SONS GODFATHER IS ON CONGRESSMAN IN THAT AREA.. AND HE IS HELPING ME GET THE DOCUMENT"

So in Guatemala time, that means 6 months... HAHAHA... Just kidding, but you know what I mean. This is oh so very fusterating...

Now on to another special story...

In the blog world, I have meet many people, and we have been communicating with some for well over 2 years... We have grown to love some of these family as if they are right next door, even if they are thousands miles away, or even in different countries (do you here me Kate)... Well, this one family, has done a wondeful slide show for everyone... She is always thinking of others... When I read her blog last night, it brought tears to my eyes, as I watch it, I seen many family in there that I have come to known very well... On to top this off, this person did this slide show, and called it a Gift to my Hero's... Little does she know... She is Our Hero...

Take a look...

A Christmas Present For You- My Hero

My hero is not a star in Hollywood. My hero is not a politician or a member of the royal family. Many of you reading this today are my heroes. You are world changers. You see what you want the world to be and you decide to BE the change. You aren't content to close your eyes to it. I am so deeply grateful to be a part of such a dynamic group of people. Today I have a Christmas gift for you. This is especially dedicated to all the mommas out there opening their hearts and homes to little ones who have no greater wish than to have a family. It WILL be a merry Christmas for so many little ones this year because of you. YOU are my hero.

If you would like to follow her journey, and watch how beautiful she and her family is, growing every year ;), here name is Angel... Kind of fitting don't you think!

Here is her blog: http://thevoiceofadventure.blogspot.com/

Thank you Angel~

HUGS
Ellie

FFF

This was a picture of Angelena when she was 2 months old. Look at how much she has changed in a year...

I LOVE YOU HONEY!

Ok... WHAT A DAY... and Night~!

Fist let me start by saying... Yesterday was a very long day... And then when I got home from work, the plumbers were there, they didnt' leave until 5:30 ish, and will be back today... Hopefully to finish up... Not to mention, we have been living out of an Ice Chest for about a week already... Our frig went out... Called MAYTAG, and they had someone come out and check it out... Apparently the MOTHER BOARD went out... and they have to order a new one. It takes a week to come... They will be coming back on Monday... Went to get something to eat... I figured out, I just can't stomach Fast Food... Angelena went with me, passed out in the car, I ate, changed her, did a few things around the house, and we went to bed... The night has started... Angelena tossed and turned all night... Need to be touching me the whole night... Not really sure what is going on... But I am thinking it is teething, as she is GRINDING HER TEETH... ALL NIGHT... She finally feel deep asleep about 4 am this morning...

Now for some pictures...

This is Angelena and her Cousin Danni. This was taken last year at Christmas... They seem to like each other then... Now... THEY LOVE EACH OTHER... They are only 2 months a part, and yes they fight like sisters... They pull eachothers hair, sucker punch, whack each other with toys... But when all is said and done... They ALWAYS KISS AND HUG AT THE BEGINNING OF THE DAY, AND AT THE END! They sure are great pals!

This next picture is when Angelena first came home... This is how she got her strength in her legs... This little bouncy can BOUNCE! As you can see, she wore herself out all the time when she was in this.

And this little picture was when we were doing Cheese Pictures right before Christmas last year... I love this smile... To this day, she has this same smile. It is so innocent, honest, and loving... I just love this little girl~! AND... I MUST SAY... SHE IS THE CUTEST LITTLE GIRL I HAVE EVER SEEN! (YES I AM HER MOMMY, I CAN SAY THAT!)

Well that is all for now. These were a few pictures I ran into when i was looking for some picture the other day... And... THis little girl is the Sunshine of my life!

HUGS

Happy Birthday Cindy

Well every year round this time... Thanksgiving, we would always celbrate Cindys birthday. This Thanksgiving, well let us just say, was different. We usually have a pray before we eat, or go around the table and share what we are Thankful for... Not this year... Don't get me wrong.. Thanksgiving this year was fun. Everyone got along, everyone eat... ALOT... Everyone pitched in and helped with Dishes, kids, food, etc... Then the dessert came out... We used to gather around the table and sign Happy Birthday... Not this year... I couldn't bring myself to even mention anything.

So, on this DAY, CINDY'S Birthday... I want to Celbrate and Be Thankful... So here it goes:

1. I am Celbrating the Life you had on this earth Cindy
2. I am Celbrating the Life you gave, Christina and Christopher
3. I am Celbrating the reunion of you, Christina and Christopher again in Heaven
4. I am Thankful for all the love we shared
5. I am Thankful you ARE a part of my family
6. I am Thankful you were there for Angelena's 1st Birthday
7. I am Thankful you we were not only In-Laws... But TRUE SISTERS
8. I am Thankful you came when ever we needed help
9. I am Thankful you aloud us to be a part of your life
10. I am Thankful we had so many years of being being a family - 30 years!

So, Cindy, I look around my house, and see TONS of boxes, with your writing on them. You are right there with us as I open each box to see what is really in it... Most of the boxes are marked storage... Because that is where they went... It never dawned on us to say Bathroom, Bedroom, etc... But, hey... We still had fun packing some of those boxes... HAHAHA... I can still hear you... "What the Hell is this?" I would answer... Don't know, just throw it in the box...

This year has been a long hard year. Wanting to be close to family, you were on of the people who came out and rescued us from TX... Drove back to CA with me... And, have been there for us... Now, I am here posting this for YOU...

Love you man... HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY SWEET SISTER...

BIG WEEKEND....

The movers came, and the head one has the nick name of Papa Smurf... And yes this name fit him completely.

The other mover was great to WATCH!!! You know what I mean!

They along with a few family members loaded and unloaded the truck at the new house....

We put up alot of the furniture, including a big girl toddler bed for Angelena... She don't like the crib, and has been used to sleeping in Momma's big bed, so what the heck... Well, needless to say... She LOVES the Toddler bed, but don't want to sleep in it... This is something we need to work on...

Our first night in our new house, was just Grandma, Angelena and ME... Then about 7:30pm on the second night... We had Angelena's cousins come and stay the night... 3 of them... HEHE...

Granted the house if full of boxes, the garage is packed to its seams, we still have our family around us. It was kind of sad to be leaving my sisters house, but it was good to be able to see all our stuff come out of storage.

Now, here is some ironic things that happened this weekend...

I walked into the house to shut off lights and lock up to go get some food for the house, and when I opened the door, Angelena's glider as rocking... I didn't say anything to anyone, and just giggled to myself... Then, of the um teen hundred boxes that weren't marked, the 2 main boxes that I really wanted to find; my 1 box that had my iPod and alarm clock, and Angelena's 1 box that had the 2 1/2 cases of diapers, wipes, socks and her favorite blankie that has been in storage for 5 months. Well, lets just say... these 2 boxes were in the correct rooms... Mine was in my room, and Angelena's was in her room... It was as if someone knew that I really needed these two boxes...

All weekend it felt weird. Cindy, my sister in law, would ALWAYS come and help us when ever we needed help. She was there when mom had surgry in TX, when we moved, when Angelena came home, Angelena's birthday, she came and helped us pack to go back to CA... Well, this time, with the move, I kept wanting to grab the phone and call her for help... A lot of the boxes were marked Storage, with Cindy's writting on it. It was so odd to see her writing, and now, I don't want to get any of the boxes... Well, right before I went to sleep last night, it dawned on me... Now that Cindy is in heaven watching over us... She is; 1 Laughing at us cause she didn't have to help... and 2 She made sure those 2 boxes were put where we needed them... I said, out load... Thank you Cindy, and I miss you so much... And I started to cry... and fell asleep. Last night was the first time I actually have come to realization, Cindy is no longer with us... I have been in denial...

Then I get to work this morning and get this amazing email.....

**We hope the necessary document will be in hand on Tuesday. I will let you know when the case is back in PGN. I will see and video her child on my December trip***

**I have no doubt that Ellie's case will be completed.. it wont’ be done by Dec 31 but this child will come home***

Thank you OLGA!!!! WE LUV U MAN!

FOTO FRIDAY...

I know I have posted this before, but this is my MOST FAVORITE PICTURE IN THE WORLD... Don't get me wrong, I love a lot of my pictures... But this one takes the cake...

Angelena had only been home 6 weeks when this picture was taken with my mom. The look on Angelena's face show the love for Gamma... And Gamma is so proud to be holding her youngest grandchild (AT THAT TIME)...

It is amazing to see them now, the love has even grown stronger... I walked in the front door the other day after work, and there was a picture I wish I could have gotten... Angelena and Gamma both asleep in the recliner... Angelena was cuddle up in Gamma's arm and they were both out cold! At night, I tell Angelena to go give Beso's for ni-ni, and she runs to Gamma, and acks as if she is going to give a kiss, and then starts to tess gamma, as if she isn't going to, but she eventually does, and gamma says wheres my hug... And sure enough, Angelena wraps her little arms around gamma's neck and lays her head on her shoulder... It is amazing...

I love my little peanut so much...

OH - More words I forgot to mention the other day...

Tank ou - Thank you

PEAS - Please

Ewww - Ewww

I am sure there is alot more, and when she says them I will be remembering them... Execpt for those that I caught her repeating me... Opps....

Have a great weekend everyone!

Angelena's Vocabulary...

With Angelena being 18 months old... You would think she would start putting words together... Some words are working for her... But she has this uncanning problem with GRUNTING and talking with her month closed... You see the way she holds her mouth above? This is the postition when hold it when she says YES... or better yet... uhha - meaning yes...

But with her mouth open she talks up a storm...

What she says = what it means

Bo ba = Bottle

Uic = Juice

NO = NO/YES

I Momma= I love momma

dawng = dang

wuv u = love you

De De = her cousin Danni

D'sa = her cousin Dasia

D'rse = her cousin Darius

Gama = Grandma

PaPa = her uncle Papa

NaNa = her aunt Nana

Ball = Ball

PeePee = Pee Pee

Duck = EVERY AND ALL BIRDS

Elmo = Elmo

Fart = Self Explainitory... (THANK YOU FAMILY)

Buggy = Buggers

Dog = Dog

Fuffy = Fluffy

Adios = Good Bye

Nite Nite = Good Night

Hola = Hello

Azul = Blue

Sit = Sit

Bo Bo = Baby Brother

and then of course all her non verbal hand motions and grunts... She points and grunts... Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with her...

Put it like this... I am holding her hand and ask her...

Angelena, do you have mommy wrapped around this finger(pointing at her finger)... her response.. Uhha... then next finger... Uhha... and so on... She know exactly what you are saying to her... She is amazingly smart, but she knows what she can get away with...

Now that we will be in our own place again, things are going to be changing... No more, running away from mommy, no more grunting... Girlfriend... You know what you want... say it~ AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING OF ALL...

She seems to be needing to to hold her every minute she is awake.. I have no clue where that came from? I walk in the house... She does this little dance, says Hi Momma... and then comes straight to me and DEMANDS TO BE HELD... She will grab my legs, start yelling and screaming, and stomp her feet until I pick her up. Sometimes I try to just hold her hand and tell her to walk with me... But no... She WANTS UP...

So, you see we have some issues to deal with. I just hated to make alot of changes right away, but once we are settled down in our own place, with our own stuff, and our own dog... (YEP HONEY IS COMING HOME), this will change. Just wait...

As for my previous post... Thank you to all the emails and comments. I realize that people in the Adoption world understands and feel the same way about alot of stuff... I THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT... WE LUV YA MAN~

HUGS
Ellie

FOTO FRIDAY

OK... Foto Friday...

I am trying to get my Happy Back... So it dawned on me... Foto Friday... IS for BOTH MY KIDS!!!

Angelena is carring her small ball, trying to see around it! She loves this ball... I have more pictures of her with this ball, but they are in my camara still!

And the next picture is Angelo, when I went to see him at 7 weeks old. Not many people know Angelo was not feel very well when I went to see him, and he didn't sleep much. But when he did, I took AMPLE pictures.

I wish I could post more current pictures of Angelo, but my agency has been able to obtain updated one for me recently. So, the only real pic's I have are from when I went to see him, his newborn pics and his Doctor appoint the first week on Aug.

Now onto more news...

We still have not been resubmitted to PGN, we are waiting for the SWI (social worker interview) in Guatemala...

Something has been really bothering me... Granted some people just don't understand the "Guatemala Adoptions" and "3rd World Country" statistics, and they really don't know what to say... But it really hurts when you hear comments and you feel you have to defend and explain to people consitantly... Lately, I just don't feel like I have the energy anymore...

These are some of the comments:

Why does that lady keep having babies? (THIS ONE JUST PISSES ME OFF… Are people that ignorant… We are talking 3rd world country)
You know she has to be paid for having kids?
Are you sure Angelo is still coming home to you…Did they give him to someone else?
So you are not in PGN anymore? What is the reason today?
When is he coming home?
Is he ever going to come home?
Why are you putting yourself though this again?
Isn’t Angelena enough?
Just wait; you don’t know what it is like to have 2 kids…
So is he all grown up now?
Just think, by the time he gets home all you will have to deal with is college…
It’s said that you are missing the entire first with him…

My head is hurting now, so I am going to hung up!

HUGS and HAPPY FRIDAY!