Diapers....and toys....and snacks Oh My!!!

I had forgotten how much stuff you have to pack to just get out the door with a small child! It seems Libby's things take up the whole back of the van! Sunday we took Libby to church for the first time, I had to pack enough stuff to keep her busy thru Church and Sunday School, since I didn't want to leave her in the nursery. I know that the staff is capable of taking care of her, but I am not leaving her anywhere yet. I found out that a wipe will entertain her for about 15 minutes, she loves to clean things, herself other people and her toys.

Yesterday, We spent the day with Mudder(her sitter and my good friend). We took Libby to get photographed. Libby did really well , too well, I ended up getting All of her pictures!

Today, Libby, Mudder and I are going to the nursing home to visit. I am sure we will have a good time there.

Love, Anna

Update on Libby

Our Daughter Elizabeth Fay Weinantz is doing great! She is really fitting it quite well at home, is the princess of this house no doubt. The boys and Mark cater to her every whim. She is s down to taking a bottle only at nap time and bedtime. I still have her eating the cereal in the baby jar because the regular oatmeal has to much texture and she won''t eat it. The baby cereal, she gobbles down, so I feed it to her just before bedtime, it seems to make her sleep better. Other than the cereal she eats anything we do. She also love apple juice(half water) in her sipper cup. She is also drinking whole milk.

She is no longer afraid of Snuffy, I think that Snuffy is afraid of her, but all in all they are tolerating each other. She likes attention from others, but is not ready to be held yet. She screams in the store and waves to get attention.

Libby weights 22 pounds and is wearing size 18 months perfectly. She love shoes and clothes, and prances around when, I put them on her. She has a temper and when things aren't going her way she soon lets you know. She loves books and will set for a very long time and let you read them to her. She plays with her dolls alot, her favorite ones are Dora's baby brother and sister twins, she kisses them over and over and sometimes throws them at the dog. We have no language barrier, as she makes clear what she wants, and if I say something, she is like a parrot, she usually repeats it back.

I am enjoying my time with her, we don't get much done around the house, but we are having fun, playing and hugging and napping together. I wish it would never end.

Mark and I since we first were married have wanted to adopted a child and give them a childhood like we had (Mark and I were both adopted), finally our dream has come true, thanks to God! Now we have the child of our dreams.......Libby........

What a Celebrate! A Day I dreamed about!

We had a wonderful day! It was so great celebrating the home coming of Libby! A day, I will never forget. Libby got to meet her neighbors, church family, friends, and family. Thanks for making it such a special day for our family! We love you all!!

Libby is doing wonderful. I was taking everyone to see her room, and on about the 12th trip she said, when we enter her room, "My room!" I was so proud of her, she is adapting very well.

Now, she is warming up to the dog, the dog has decided he doesn't like her. I think that this week when I am home with her things will change.

Well, I am beat......

Love, Anna

Never a dull moment around here

Today was the first day back to school for me. Mark gets the week off because Libby is home. He is taking care of her this week. Then I have the next two weeks off. I will drop the kids off at school, and then go to the babysitters and stay with Libby for a couple of hours and then we will go back home. We will do this for the next two weeks. I want her to feel comfortable at her sitters. We are lucky that we have a wonderful sitter, who will only watch Libby and will give her the love and attention she needs. If I feel that Libby is not adjusting, I will just take a few more weeks off.

Libby is doing well, she loves taking a bath and wanted to take a bath this morning. So far we haven't had any jealousy issues from the boys. I sure that will happen sooner or later. She follows Jamison (our 7 year old} around all the time. She runs to Dad for hugs and kisses. She still hasn't warmed up to the dog, but has calmed down a little bit, she doesn't scream quite as loud.

I will try and post a picture on here tommorow of her. I know, I need to get a digital camera.

We are working this week on sprucing up the house for Libby's Open House this Sunday.

Hope to see you all there. It is from 2-8 on Sunday.

Love, Anna

We are home!!

We arrived home Sat. Morning about 1 a.m. Mark and Jamison met us at the airport. Libby acted like she has known Jamison all her life. She babbled to him in the car and they made faces at each other. She started calling Mark Da Da and is starting to bond with him.

Things are going well at home except for the fact that Libby is scared to death of the cat and dog. She screams when she sees our dog or cat. Our dog is an indoor dog. But we are keeping him in the garage, till she get use to him. Mark held him last night while I held Libby she screamed the entire time. If anyone has any suggestions, please post!

Libby took a bath last night with out screaming, she even played in the tub, tonight we will attempt to shampoo her hair.

I cannot tell you what a relief it is to be home, I am very tired but home. Now we are Truly a Party of Six!!

Love, Anna

Adios Guatemala!!!

This is a day that I have been waiting for a looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong time! I
am so happy! In a few short hours we are getting on a plane and heading home! With our Guatemalan Princess. It has been a long journey, but worth it all for our Libby.

Thank you for all the prayers and keep praying that everything goes smoothly, plane arrives at about 10:45 p.m.


Love, Anna

We are getting ready to come home!!!!

Our Visa pick-up went well. I checked everything and then Addison re-checked it because we wanted to make sure that we are leaving for home tommorow. As soon as we were back from the Visa pick up . We got our Lap ticket for Libby. Then we were both starving and went to Champs for Lunch/Supper.

When we got back to the room we saw our message light blinking and guess who the message was from?? It was received at the hotel at 3:24 and it was Evelyn saying that she could not make it to pick us up for the Visa appointment and that we would just have to catch a Taxi. A little late to call don't you think? By that time we were at the Embassy. We left at 3:10.

She still has her our paper work and she ask me what time I needed it. I told her I needed at 8:00 we are not leaving till 9:30 because our flight is at 12:14. I told her early because she ALWAYS waits till the last minute.

I think I will do kiss the ground when I get on USA soil and get thru immigrations.

Well, we are going to have Victor drop of a package for our foster mom, finish shopping and get pack, and Addison wants to go to the pool one last time.

Thanks for all your prayers and please pray that the last steps in this adoption go well.

Love, Addison and Anna

Good Morning from Guatemala!!

Libby had a good night except for the fact that she woke up diaperless, next to me. P.U.!!!! She is adjusting as well as to be expected. Today is the first day that when she woke up, she was ready to get up and explore the room, and at breakfast she was acting like a normal 21 month old, she was trying to climb on the table, eat everyones food but her own and was making faces at the waiter. So we are making progress.

We are going to be adventourous today and go to the zoo. It is about 5 minutes away and we can get a taxi driver from the Marriott to wait on us while we are and take us back for $10.00.

I will post again after we go to the Embassy today and get Libby a Lap ticket. I am afraid of how much that is going to cost they are now adding a $150.00 surcharge to the Lap tickets, but it doesn't really matter, I am bring Our baby girl home, so matter what it cost!!!!!!!!!


Talk to you all after 3:30..............Love, Anna

Believe or not everything went smoothly.!!!

My facilitator's Sister show up and on time! Yeah! Whoo HOOOOO!!!! She stayed the whole time which was four hours. She had my binder with her. They didn't ask for any paper work. I just had to sign the D840 (not for sure if this is correct numbers) and the Vacination form in froNT of the interviewer. They ask me three simple questions and it was over!!! Libby slept for 2 hours and ate and played for the other two.


We are on our own tommorow. I am going to get a taxi driver from the Marriott and he is going to stay with us, until we get the visa.

I feel so much better today! What an experience this has been. But I would do it over again in a heart beat for a little girl named Libby!!!

Our facilitator took all of our papers, which I had in binder on Sunday and said that she would give them back to me on Monday. She also said that Libby was missing a record of a required shot. Well, on Monday she called and said that she would be coming on Tuesday Morning with all the paperwork needed and also my binder. Well, I called her at 9 am and told her that Addison and I were going to the pool area, she said she would be right over, we stayed down at the pool area for about an hour and a half. So Addison was tired of swimming went up to the room and Libby and I went to the Lobby, to wait on Evelyn. We he came back from changing his clothes, he said Evelyn at just called and said that she couldn't make it, because of a road closing? She said that she would be there at two. So we we ate lunch and played in the baby room. We went down to the Lobby and 1:45 and waited till 3:00 she didn't show up. So about 5:00 e got a call from Evelyn that she said she was sending someone over to the Marriot who didn't speak English, so they would give it to someone at the desk. I ask her how long it would be, she said no problem that they would have it there in 15 minutes. Being that they are about the most important documents in the world to me and my family after 15 minutes elaped I was down waiting at the Lobby. It was 7:15 when I got those papers. So I have a packet that Evelyn said not to open. So, I am hoping all the documents are in there. My Binder sure isn't because there is no way that it will fit in there, I have been trying to get a hold of her to talk to her. When she called early she said that her Sister was going with me, I told her I hope someone does because I don't know what to do, and this is my child we are talking about. She assured me that her sister was coming. So please pray that everything works out tommorow, I am nervous.


Remember Pray! Appointment is at 7:15 and I am number 19!

Love Anna

Libby Day Three!

Libby is doing much better today! She was restless during the night but she did sleep. The only issue we are having is Bath time. She is scared to death of the bathtub she screams, when I try to put her in it. I have to give her a bath standing up. I haven't tried shampooing her hair, that should be a real treat.

She is a little bit smaller than what I expected they told me she was wearing 24 months and 2T. The foster mom brought her in 12 month clothing, with a onsie on under it and it was 12 months.
I brought along 18 months and they are a little big, but I haven't washed them yet. She does have very long legs for her size.

Her personality is starting to bloom, No doubt she is a girly girl. She loves looking in the mirror at herself, and putting on clothes and will sit very still while I fix her hair. She loves to rub baby lotion on herself. She cannot stand a dirty diaper and will come right to me to have it changed.
She loves her stoller and will climb up in it and say Adios!


As far as food goes she doesn't each much as far as quanity goes, but she will try about anything.
She does drink alot, which I think once I get her to eating more solid food, that will diminish.

It is so wonderful knowing that I am actually going to get to bring her home. I just can't wait to get home!

Love, Anna

Libby Day 2

Libby is doing a little better, she doesn't want to be put down . So Addison and I one have been holding her all day. We went to McDonalds today. She loved the french fries. She would go Mmmm....Mmmmm. Addison is like a different kid with her, he kisses her all the time, which he would rather die than to kiss his Mom in public.

We have met many adoptive parents and have heard some interesting stories, that have helped pass the time. I can't wait to get home to Mark, Jamison, and even our dog Snuffy.

Love, Anna

Libby's First Night

We had a rough first night. She didn't want to have anything to do with a bath, but I decided that I needed to start the routines, so that she would feel more secure, every child feel more sure when they know what is going to happen next. Then it was time for bed. Well, she laid down for awhile and then the tears started flowing. She said a lot of things all I could make out was "MA MA". I had to cry with her cause I felt bad for her. I took her down to the baby room, and we just cried together as I held her tight, she feel asleep about 1o minutes later. I took her back to the room, she would sleep awhile and then make a shrill cry I would hug her and she would go back to sleep, this continued all night. She slept till 5:30 and then cry I picked her up and she immediately stopped.

She only came with her bottle, which was a mixture of honey, milk and some cereal in it. Since I have no idea how they make it, I gave her some Next step formula for toddlers. She just finished drinking 8 0z of this. I want to get her off the bottle as soon as possible, I brought all kinds of sippy cups with me, but she will have no part of that, I will continue introducing different juices in that hopefully she will take to the sippy cup soon.

Well, I will post later today about Libby. Addison is hungry and you know teenage boys they have to eat. So I have got to get Libby and I ready.

Love, Addison and Anna

Day One with Libby!

Libby arrived around one. What a sleeping beauty she was!!! Her foster Mom, I could tell have put a lot of effort into dressing her. Everything matched, even her earrings, and she was wearing a Id bracelet with Libby engraved on it. She slept for a long time while Evelyn talked. We then carried her up to the room and placed her on the bed she slept for about another half hour.

When she woke up, my heart broken for her she was crying hesterically, and I couldn't comfort her. Then finally she latched on to me and hasn't let go yet. She still has outburst of tears, but they don't last long and I can comfort her. I would say for a first day everything went well,
I know that I won't get much sleep tonight, but that's ok.

Addison has been such a help to me, He is such a good brother and I can tell Libby already likes
him.

Well, It's time for supper!

Love, Addison and Anna

We are here!!! In Guatemala!

Addison and I made it here. We had a wonderful flight and no problems. The Marriott van was waiting for us when we got out of the airport I hope everything else goes and smoothly. I will have Libby in my arms forever tommorow around Noon. I can't wait!!!!

We are getting the room ready for Libby and then we are going for a swim. Then it is off to Champs for supper and then early to bed!

I talk to Mark and Jamison on the cell phone when we arrived in Texas. Jamison told me to get Libby and come home now!!!! He misses us. I miss him and Mark also, I wish they were here.

Keep us in your prayers......until tommorow Addison and Anna

Guatemala!!! Here We come!!!

Praise the Lord! We are going to Guatemala to bring Libby home!!!! I am still in a state of shock, and truthfully, it hasn't sunk in yet!! I am going through the motions afraid to feel for fear, that I am dreaming and I will wake up!

Addison and I are going and it will be an awesome experience for both of us!!!!

We are leaving from home at 4 a.m. and hopefully will be in Guatemala by 11:30.

The next time I will post will be when we get to Guatemala!!!
I cannot wait to grab a hold of that little gal and kiss and squeeze the puddin out of her!!!

Please pray that everything goes smoothly for us.

Love, Anna