A friend (Anna) of a friend (Jamie) is in Ethiopia right now picking up her little boy. We sent a photo authorization letter to Anna before she left in case if she got a chance to take a few pictures of our little guy for us. This afternoon, I received the sweetest email from her! She and her husband were able to pick up their son today and she checked on Baby Coco. Here is an excerpt of her email, minus some identifying information I can't post.
"He is SO BEAUTIFUL! When we walked in one of the nannies was holding him, he was so alert and smiley and just so pleasant and cheerful, he was even laughing for a bit! I wanted you to know that he is happy and looks so healthy!!!! He's adorable!!!!! Hope that brings a smile to your face!"
We couldn't have received any better news!
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Can't help but notice someone's missing...
Merry Christmas Baby Coco!
(scroll down and pause the music)
(scroll down and pause the music)
Thursday, December 23, 2010
White Christmas
Will we have one? Ha! This is Arkansas...probably not. They say there may be a slight chance this year. I doubt it.
Watching the movie, White Chrismtas, is one thing Justin and I have to do every year. I think we took it from my mom's house the first Christmas we were married because we didn't want to spend money renting a movie and wanted something to do. Neither of us had ever seen it. Well, it's been a 'must' every year since. I love the humor, the story line, the music, the actors..... Gotta love some Bing Crosby!
We have it playing tonight and this song really says it all. It's been hard for me to fall asleep with so much on my mind with planning and logistics and getting things ready....oh, and it's Christmas, right? Don't have enough to do for that! :) I usually fall asleep lately thinking of that sweet little face, how thankful I am for him, and for the journey that has gotten us here. SO thankful!
When I'm worried and I can't sleep
I count my blessings instead of sheep
And I fall asleep counting my blessings
When my bankroll is getting small
I think of when I had none at all
And I fall asleep counting my blessings
I think about a nursery and I picture curly heads
And one by one I count them as they slumber in their beds
If you're worried and you can't sleep
Just count your blessings instead of sheep
And you'll fall asleep counting your blessings
Watching the movie, White Chrismtas, is one thing Justin and I have to do every year. I think we took it from my mom's house the first Christmas we were married because we didn't want to spend money renting a movie and wanted something to do. Neither of us had ever seen it. Well, it's been a 'must' every year since. I love the humor, the story line, the music, the actors..... Gotta love some Bing Crosby!
We have it playing tonight and this song really says it all. It's been hard for me to fall asleep with so much on my mind with planning and logistics and getting things ready....oh, and it's Christmas, right? Don't have enough to do for that! :) I usually fall asleep lately thinking of that sweet little face, how thankful I am for him, and for the journey that has gotten us here. SO thankful!
When I'm worried and I can't sleep
I count my blessings instead of sheep
And I fall asleep counting my blessings
When my bankroll is getting small
I think of when I had none at all
And I fall asleep counting my blessings
I think about a nursery and I picture curly heads
And one by one I count them as they slumber in their beds
If you're worried and you can't sleep
Just count your blessings instead of sheep
And you'll fall asleep counting your blessings
I got my Christmas wish
Well, yesterday morning I opened my email to see an inbox full of the most beautiful pictures of Baby Coco! He's growing! It made my day and Cooper is so proud of the pictures. We printed them and took them to church last night for all to see.
It gets even better though! Today, when we got back from running errands, I checked my email to see a sweet video of him! He didn't really make any sounds but those expressions and the light in his eyes were fabulous. I keep watching it over and over and not getting the Christmas stuff done that I need to!
As soon as we get back from our court trip in February, I'll be sure to post pictures of him.
Best Christmas present ever!
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Court Date
We finally have a court date! It's February 15th!
Since there have been so many questions that I haven't been able to answer over the past month, I'll try to put out as much information as I'm allowed at the moment.
Baby info: Because the Ethiopian government does not recognize him as our child until after court, we aren't allowed to send his picture electronically in any form or put out any type of identifying information. I can say he's now 6 months old and he has minor special needs but nothing other than that. Oh, and I think he's absolutely beautiful! In person, I can tell you all about him, though...except for his personal history which will be his story to tell someday. As soon as we pass court in February we will have all legal rights to him and will share his picture here!
Tentative plans: Our court trip is the first one and we have to appear in the Ethiopian court to gain legal custody of him. We plan on leaving the weekend of February 11, arrive in ET on Sunday the 13th, meet him on Valentine's Day!!! and then go to court on Tuesday the 15th. We will probably leave that evening and travel all day Wednesday to get back home. It's a short trip and the jetlag will definitely be a beast when we go back to work on Thursday but SO worth it.
We get to meet our little guy on Valentine's Day...the day of love.
After we get home, we will await an Embassy date. We will have to do a Visa interview at the Embassy about a month after court (so sometime in March) and by then his visa papers will be filed and his passport will be ready. Hopefully, we will be able to have a meeting with the birthfamily at this time and tour the country some, etc. I think the second trip will be so much fun!
Also, there is a family from our agency who is leaving tomorrow to get their little one and they have offered to take more pictures of him! When they get back home, they will email us pictures and I will have them printed and with me so if you see me anytime after Christmas, I'll have updated pictures! The two we have right now are outdated, as babies change so quickly. I can't wait to see how he's growing!
I've been so behind on this blog...I started an 'October' post ummmm back in October? Yeah, it's not even finished yet. I think I may catch up by doing a quick photo update on the past few months soon. I have updates on where we stand with money, etc. but tonight, court is the most important information so that's what got posted.
**Please pray for our baby's little body...pray he grows big and strong. I will be able to disclose more information about this after court. He's already gained 4# in the past 6 weeks! We're so proud of him.
**Please pray for Cooper to be accepting and understanding of the family transition that will be taking place very soon.
**Please pray for birthmom...that she finds comfort. We pray that she is willing to meet us when that time comes and have an open conversation. We don't want her to be intimidated, or ashamed.
Since there have been so many questions that I haven't been able to answer over the past month, I'll try to put out as much information as I'm allowed at the moment.
Baby info: Because the Ethiopian government does not recognize him as our child until after court, we aren't allowed to send his picture electronically in any form or put out any type of identifying information. I can say he's now 6 months old and he has minor special needs but nothing other than that. Oh, and I think he's absolutely beautiful! In person, I can tell you all about him, though...except for his personal history which will be his story to tell someday. As soon as we pass court in February we will have all legal rights to him and will share his picture here!
Tentative plans: Our court trip is the first one and we have to appear in the Ethiopian court to gain legal custody of him. We plan on leaving the weekend of February 11, arrive in ET on Sunday the 13th, meet him on Valentine's Day!!! and then go to court on Tuesday the 15th. We will probably leave that evening and travel all day Wednesday to get back home. It's a short trip and the jetlag will definitely be a beast when we go back to work on Thursday but SO worth it.
We get to meet our little guy on Valentine's Day...the day of love.
After we get home, we will await an Embassy date. We will have to do a Visa interview at the Embassy about a month after court (so sometime in March) and by then his visa papers will be filed and his passport will be ready. Hopefully, we will be able to have a meeting with the birthfamily at this time and tour the country some, etc. I think the second trip will be so much fun!
Also, there is a family from our agency who is leaving tomorrow to get their little one and they have offered to take more pictures of him! When they get back home, they will email us pictures and I will have them printed and with me so if you see me anytime after Christmas, I'll have updated pictures! The two we have right now are outdated, as babies change so quickly. I can't wait to see how he's growing!
I've been so behind on this blog...I started an 'October' post ummmm back in October? Yeah, it's not even finished yet. I think I may catch up by doing a quick photo update on the past few months soon. I have updates on where we stand with money, etc. but tonight, court is the most important information so that's what got posted.
**Please pray for our baby's little body...pray he grows big and strong. I will be able to disclose more information about this after court. He's already gained 4# in the past 6 weeks! We're so proud of him.
**Please pray for Cooper to be accepting and understanding of the family transition that will be taking place very soon.
**Please pray for birthmom...that she finds comfort. We pray that she is willing to meet us when that time comes and have an open conversation. We don't want her to be intimidated, or ashamed.
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