We Are Home!

It is such a wonderful feeling to have the girls running around in our house and playing in their playroom! Everyone is doing great!

We had a wonderful trip to Guatemala and took the girls on a tour of the city with us. Of course, Hannah enjoyed eating at Hacienda Real (i.e. steak house near the hotel). We toured the relief map and went to the market. Hannah and Papa shared a 7 Up while Mama did what she does best - shop, shop, shop....

We are so blessed with these two girls. We hope you enjoy the Gotcha Day and homecoming pictures below.

We Got Pink!

We can not believe it! Baby girls we will see you next Tuesday! Papa John and Mama "Sasa" can't wait to get you in our arms forever! It has been a long, long journey. Now that we are at the end, it almost feels surreal. All the bags are packed, nursery and playroom finished, and Christmas tree up! Just counting the hours now until our plane leaves on Monday and we see our two princesses on Tuesday morning.

To all of our family and friends, thank you so much for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers during this journey. Words could never really say how much you all are appreciated.

Baby girls, we will see you soon!

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