Practice

Tabitha is officially registered for daycare, she starts this coming Monday. I am ready to get back to work, I think. I know that our bank account is definitely ready for me to get back to work! I had said in the past that I would love to be a stay at home mom. I changed my mind! I'm more exhausted taking care of this 1 year old than I am after working a full day! I think that daycare will be good for Tabitha, they can teach her so much more than I can. I mean I know all of the nurturing kind of stuff, bathing, feeding, clothing her, cuddling, but I suck at the "play" stuff and teaching is not my strong suit. We've been "practicing" for her starting daycare. By "practicing" I mean, that we've been getting Tabitha up earlier in the morning because when I do start work, I'll have to have her to daycare by 7:30am. So, Tim's been getting her up around 6:15am! She's not really a morning person! Of course with her getting up earlier, she's in bed earlier. I pray that everything works out for the best!

FFF

It's time for another Friday Favorite Foto!

Favorite Foto Friday

It was very hard to pick a favorite, I love them all. This picture goes back to May when we visited Tabitha for the very first time. This photo was taken right after the foster mom gave Tabitha to us. I think that we make a fine looking family!

It's official!

Today Tabitha received her Certificate of Citizenship! We knew that she was a citizen of the United States once we got back on U.S. soil, but now we have the paper to prove it! Now I can go to the Social Security office to see about getting her a social security number. We also can see into the readoption procedures. Yuk, more paperwork!

Pediatrician visit

Well Tabitha saw her pediatrician today for the first time. The pediatrician said that Tabitha is right on target for her developmental and language skills! She did voice concern about her wt. gain or lack of in Guatemala. She said that since we have gotten Tabitha 2 months ago she has definitely done well. She weighed 17lb 2ounces today. That is a weight gain of 3 lbs 5 ounces since we have had her! Yeah!!! The pediatrician did say that she would have called Tabitha failure to thrive in Guatemala, since she didn't gain but a few ounces in 3 months. SO, I wasn't so paranoid for being concerned about her weight! I was starting to begin to feel like I was crazy for being so upset about her size and my feeling the need to go to Guatemala early. BUT....I wasn't! I wasn't so concerned that she's small, because I do realize that babies from Guatemala are smaller than babies from the U.S. as much as I was concerned about her weight staying the same--she wasn't gaining wt.! Miss Tabitha is also now 28 1/8 inches tall. She was only 27 inches at her last pediatrician visit in Guatemala. Miss Tabitha did really well at the Dr. considering she had to get 3 shots! Ouch! Poor baby!

Look who's 1!

The birthday chair
The birthday girl
"Her royal highness"
Opening gifts
Her royal subjects

This cake is good, but not as good as the one at Anna's party!

Opening presents at her shower/birthday party


"It's talks to me and plays music"

We got so many nice things today, it was a great party. Tabitha had a ball and she sure didn't lack for attention! Tomorrow will be her 1st pediatrician visit----oh no! Let's not spoil the fun of today, don't tell Tabitha!

Baby dedication

Today was a big day for Tabitha and our family. We as a family dedicated Tabitha to the church and promised to bring her up in a good Christian home and promised to teach her about Jesus. The church also agrees to help with her Christian upbringing as well. She was a doll, a big ham actually in front of the congregation. The picture is a little dark, but it was taken right after Sandi, the Children's Minister had asked us a question and Tabitha had put her 2 cents in. The whole place chuckled.

Second time around!

Well after thinking about it, I wasn't quite satified with the pictures that were taken of Tabitha last night. I had wanted a picture of her standing or sitting next to one of those little numbers, in her case the number 1, to signify that we were having pictures taken for her 1st birthday. So, I booked an appointment at the Sears Portrait Studio for this afternoon. I'm much more pleased with the results of the pictures from today! Our little girl actually does know how to smile! We also got a CD with all of the shots on it so I can share them with you all!

Say cheese!

We took Tabitha tonight to have pictures done. It wasn't with a fancy photographer or anything, but we did go to the photo studio at WalMart. Tabitha does not like to smile for the camera, at least when she knows the camera is out! The photographer was very patient and we did manage to get a few good shots. It will be about 2 weeks before the pictures are back, I'll be sure to post when we have them. In the mean time I thought that I'd post a few of my favorite pictures of Tabitha SMILING!

Happy New Year

I can't believe that it is 2008, where has time gone? I'm so happy that we were able to have Tabitha home before the holidays. It is sad to look at our agency's website and there be no more waiting children for Guatemala listed. It is concerning as to what will happen to the thousands of children who would have been relinquished to be placed for adoption. Now that the private sector of the adoptions is being removed, where will the children go?
I made my New Year's resolution, well sort of. I resolve to be more relaxed, and worry less. Life on earth really is short. We should enjoy the time that we do have here. God put us upon this earth for a purpose and I don't think that it was to sit around and complain about things. I intend on enjoying this time now while Tabitha is so small and innocent. Before I know it, she'll be grown and out of the door. Happy New Year, everyone!