A Week From Today...

A week from today we will be holding our little girl! We can't wait. Our Power of Attorney made it safely there late yesterday afternoon, so the process has officially started. Let the countdown begin...

I met with a pediatrician today that specializes in international adoptions and she was great. She thought Natalie's stats and labs all looked great. I will send her the monthly medical updates so she can get to know her and track her before she actually gets home. It was nice speaking with a doctor who had this kind of experience.

Anyway, will update you when we hear something!

POA sent to Guat!

Well today we finally sent the Power of Attorney to Guatemala. Once there, it will be translated and then our process can officially start. We already sent our Parent Identification Letter (which the US Embassy in Guat needed). I hope that's the last of the paperwork for now, yuk! We can't wait to see our baby girl! 10 more days! Two of my agency buddies received there referrals this week: Amy and Terri Anne, woo hoo!!!! It's been a fantastic week, huh Guatemama's? The next step: DNA will be taken from both Natalie and her birthmom. Natalie will also have her DNA taken at the end of the process and have it compared to this first DNA. This is how the US makes sure that all is on the up and up.

And away we go.....

First Slideshow

Of Natalie's intake photos and her first doctor's appointment at 2 days old. We will receive three sets of pictures every month or so. We will receive pictures from her monthly medical visit, then pictures from a monthly visit with our agency, and then surprise visit pictures every 6 weeks or so (we have an AWESOME agency). We will also receive any movement-in-the-process updates every 10 days or so if there has been any significant movement.

We Have A Name....

After much debate, my subconcious need for alliteration, and in keeping with the "N" tradition, we have named our princess:

Natalie Maria

Maria was her birth name and we really wanted to keep it for her.

I've also planned a second trip to Guatemala on 9/20 so I can be there for her 2nd month birthday. We can't wait to meet her - it's so hard to wait....