We Got Orange!

Just wanted to let everyone know that today we received word that we received our "Orange" slip, which is the request for the second DNA authorization. We are so excited, I can hardly think straight. We better get busy putting the final coat of paint on the girls' playroom. Please continue to keep our girls in your thoughts and prayers. As always, we will continue to update our blog as we approach that magical day - "Gotcha Day"!

We Got Birth Certificates!

On Thursday, November 1st, we received a copy of both Hannah and Haley's birth certificates. We are now hoping that we will be submitted to the Embassy for "Orange" the first part of next week. It is really exciting knowing that we are in the final steps and will be able to bring our girls home very soon.

Today, we started painting the girls' playroom. The primer is currently on the walls, and we will be painting the final coat later tonight. We will post some pictures of the room after everything is complete. We originally were not going to turn the guest bedroom into a playroom; however, the toys seem to be accumulating quick (very quick). For some reason, I don't think we had this many toys to choose from 20-30 years ago as kids. A very good friend earlier in the week gave us three musical instruments (i.e. loud noise makers) because she said, "every kid needs these". As I took them out of the boxes, I noticed that they are loud enough to rival that of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Makes me wonder what the definition of a very good friend is? :)

Seriously, Sarah and I are walking on cloud nine as we anxiously await these final steps to be completed. We will update our blog as the final steps towards getting "Pink" are completed. Thanks to everyone for continuing to keep our family in your thoughts and prayers.

Baby Girls Here We Come; WE ARE OUT!!!!!

October 9, 2007. It started out like most any other day. Both Sarah and I were at work (probably both dreaming about our girls all day long if it was like any other day). Around 1:30 p.m. this afternoon I get a phone call at the office from the adoption agency. The adoption agency said, "Are you ready to celebrate tonight?".

I was like, "Do what?". Then that's when they said it....those three magical words that every adoptive parent longs to hear from the very first moment that they start an adoption from Guatemala. Those three words that you hope for all those months that you are tied up in PGN, that keeps you up in the middle of the night, that makes you jump at every call you get in anticipation, that causes you to cling to your cell phone as if it was a pace maker. Those three simple words - "You Are Out". For those of you that have gone through the experience, you would probably agree that it is almost a surreal experience when you hear those words after such a long journey.

We are so close to bringing our two baby princesses home! For the last ten months I have carried around a picture album of the girls in my car to look at every day. On our way home from the celebration party tonight, I opened up the back seat to grab my work from the office and had a huge smile on my face. As I looked down in the back seat, there was the picture album on top of my suit case. Then I thought, instead of a picture, there they will be very, very soon - kicking the back of my seat, eating/spilling Cheerios, and drinking/spilling juice. Baby girls...you can kick and spill all you want! Mama "Sasa" and Papa John will be there soon!

We Love You,

Papa y Mama

Pre-Approval - The Second Time!

Eleven weeks. My how slowly they can crawl by when you're waiting to get back into PGN. Today; however, we are one step closer to bringing our two princesses home. We received a call late this afternoon indicating that the US Embassy has released the pre-approval for Haley! After approximately eleven weeks out of PGN, we are now getting ready to re-enter PGN tomorrow - for hopefully our final approval.

To our girls - we send you a million hugs and kisses! We hope to have you in our arms very, very soon. Please know that there is not a moment of the day that you are not in our hearts, thoughts, and prayers!

To our friends and family, thank you for keeping us in yours.

And to Mama Claudia, thank you for all that you continue to do for us and our girls.

We are truly blessed.

Our Girls

Update & Pictures

We are currently waiting to re-enter PGN following a recent kick out. For those of you that have followed this journey, you obviously know that it certainly has been a roller coaster ride. We are anxiously awaiting to hear if we have been resubmitted this week and hope and pray that our case gets approved quickly.


Our girls are doing great. We recently got some updated pictures of them. Haley is trying her best to try to take those first steps on her own; however, she is not quite there yet. Hannah, as usual, continues to be a little mommy to her sister. At night, she will lay beside her sister and rub her head until she goes to sleep. She also loves to give her sister kisses. Haley will actually lift up her head so Hannah can give her a kiss. It is the most wonderful thing in the world to see the love between them.



Claudia, our foster mom, is doing such a great job with the girls. We continue to be so blessed to have her in our lives. Hannah recently memorized a story that Claudia's daughter, Ararat, was giving at school on Peacocks. Hannah grabbed the report from Ararat and pretended that she was giving the presentation and reading from the report. We laughed so hard when Claudia told us this story.



We pray every single day that our girls will be home soon. Thank you to all of our friends and family for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers. We hope you enjoy these recent pictures.

Haley's First Birthday!

Tomorrow is Haley's first birthday! It is so hard to imagine that Ms. Haley is already one year old. When we first started the adoption journey back in September '06, Haley was only three months old. Although we can't be with her on her birthday, we have some special things planned to celebrate her first birthday! Sarah is bringing cup cakes to work and we are going out with some friends tomorrow night to celebrate the big day. Obviously, when the girls come home soon, we plan on celebrating again with Haley.

Join us in celebrating Haley's birthday tomorrow. Let's all make Haley's birthday wish for her on this special day, and pray that the girls will be safely home very, very soon. Thank you to all of our friends and family for all of your support. It is appreciated more than words can ever say.

Happy Birthday Our Little Princess!

We love you,

Mama y Papa