What A Messy Girl

Yesterday, I decided to make some fruit dip and to make it easier to mix, I used the hand mixer. Afterwards I decided to give Lili her first experience with "licking the beaters" and here is the result.

Considering the fact that she wanted the entire bowl of dip after licking the beater, I'd say she likes the dip.

Tonight Lili asked for a drink. I don't know if I've shared this with my blog readers or not, but I've been teaching her some sign language and drink is one of the signs she knows. Her favorite drink out of her sippy cup is ice water, so into the kitchen we went for some ice water. She was drinking her water and would carefully sit it down on the sofa in between drinks. I'm sure she would used the end table, but it's not convenient unless you're sitting on the sofa or one of the chairs. Apparently, she was done drinking her water, but still had some left in her sippy cup and didn't want it to go to waste so she proceeded to put a drink in her mouth and then let it dribble out her mouth onto the rug or down the front of her clothes. Afterwards, she would look up at me with a big cheesy grin and then laugh. Fortunately, it was just water.

Since she wanted to play with water I decided it was a good time to give her a bath. I got her washed up and as usual let her have some playtime. Suddenly she started sucking water into her mouth out of the bath tub and would stand up and try to dribble it over the side of the tub. I'm not quite sure what came over her tonight, but I hope it doesn't become her game of choice. I must admit, it is pretty funny to watch and is probably something I should try to catch on video.

Also, what is it about bath water that makes kids want to drink it? Things that make you go, "hum?"

Guatoberfest Information Posted

If you plan to attend Guatoberfest in Myrtle Beach this October, please make sure you check out the registration information and itinerary now posted on the blog http://www.guatoberfest.com/.

Another FPF on Saturday

For those checking in yesterday, I apologize that I didn't get pictures out there. We were gone a lot of the day and my computer time was limited when home.

I'm told that the theme this week is "friends." However, since I don't have permission from my friends to post photos of their children on my blog, I decided to show you some photos of Lili in the morning.

Even with serious bed head and running around in her p.j.'s, she's just as cute as can be.

Switching Agencies

During the paperchase for Lili's adoption, our agency informed us that Guatemalan adoptions were becoming increasingly uncertain and they strongly encouraged all families adopting from Guatemala to come up with a Plan B should the worst happen and adoptions stop. Although adoptions have stopped and it is certainly having negative effects, it didn't have much effect on our adoption of Lili (fortunately). Of course when our agency told us to come up with a Plan B, we had no way of knowing what would happen so I started researching information on other countries. This research required that I contact some other agencies and one agency in particular was very helpful. For a matter-of-fact, I've traded emails with one of the program coordinators off and on since the Spring of 2007 about a couple different country programs. Last week I received an email from the program coordinator and as we traded emails I discovered they have an Ethiopia program. She sent me information regarding their program and answered several questions for me. I liked what I read and as Dave and I discussed the email conversations I realized just how much time and effort this woman had put into answering my many questions over the last year. We weren't clients of this agency, yet no other agency I had ever dealt with had given me so much information. I researched the agency and was again pleased to find that several families were very pleased with the agency. So much so that some had completed 2+ adoptions with them. We decided to make the switch and I'm now working on our application and hope to have it submitted within the next couple of weeks.

Because we're moving to an agency with a smaller Ethiopia program, our timeframe will most likely shorten by 3-4 months which means this time next year we may be getting ready to leave on our pick up trip. Things are always changing in the world of International adoption, so I'm not going to hold my breath on that one, but I also realize it's a distinct possibility.

Favorite Photo Friday on Saturday

Yesterday was a busy day at our house and I didn't get around to posting anything for FPF. However, this morning I attempted my first double pony on little miss wiggle worm and thought I'd share the outcome.

Not too bad for a first attempt if I do say so myself. At least they are somewhat even :-)

Ways to Save

With gas prices continually rising and thus the cost of everything else rising, Dave and I have been discussing ways of saving money. Slowly but surely we are making some cost saving changes so last week we cleaned out one of the rooms in the basement to make room for shelving, a freezer and fridge and joined Sam's Club. Today we made our first Sam's Club trip and here is what we have bought so far.

Aren't you glad you checked out my blog to see this photo!!!! LOL

I'm sure our first few visits will be trial and error while we figure out exactly how much a month's worth of groceries are, but this gets us started down the road to bulk shopping in an effort to save on groceries and fuel costs.

Because I realize that most of you check in to see pictures of Lili, I tried to get a few of her this afternoon for your viewing pleasure. Let me just say that it's getting harder and harder to get a still photo of Ms. Lili. Here's what I was able to get.

She had shorts on, but when I changed her diaper she didn't want them back on. She's been walking around the house all smiles ever since. Little did I know not wearing shorts would be so much fun.

Coming in for her close up. My new camera is faster than my old camera but apparently not fast enough.

Look mom, I have Jada and Lexie's toy.

Her new thing is pulling the dog toys out of their toy basket. However, she rarely pulls her own toys out of her toy basket.

Myrtle Beach, Here We Come

We are going to Guatoberfest this year at Myrtle Beach, SC. I've never been to South Carolina and am so looking forward to this trip. Not only will it be great meeting so many other adoptive families, but our friends Josh and Nicole are going too. Nicole and I became email buddies while waiting for our babies to come home and we were on our visit trips in Guatemala during the same week and were able to meet in person. That was October, 2007 and now in October, 2008 we'll meet again, but this time we'll be bringing our kids with us and taking them back home with us.

I have many other email and blog buddies who I would love to meet at Guatoberfest, so make sure to leave me a comment if you'll be attending.

Guatoberfest

I'm still following my Guatemala adoption forums and just read some information about Guatoberfest. Because I realize there may be some who read my blog, but don't follow the forums I thought I'd post the information for those who might be interested in attending.

http://www.guatoberfest.com/

If you click on the above link you'll discover that Guatoberfest is taking place at Myrtle Beach, SC. Dave, Lili, and I are very seriously considering making the trip since it's within reasonable driving distance for us. I'll keep you posted (as if us going is going to be the deciding factor for others going. :-) Ha, ha, ha!!!)

No, I Was Not MIA

Okay, I realize it probably seemed like I was MIA, but I'm still here. I actually started a blog post a few days ago and didn't finish it. Someday I'll get back to it, but since it's a more serious post, I decided to take my time and really think through what I want to say.

So, what's been going on here you ask?

Our 4th was quiet. We decided not to attempt fireworks since we were worried that Lili would be a bit too scared of them. I didn't want her traumatized over the celebrations here in the U.S. Instead, we hung out at home. It's probably a good thing since Lili ended up with a fever and has had one ever since. Tonight, however, I figured out why she has had a fever the last few day . . . . . . . .

Lili is the owner of her very first molar!!!!!!!!!!! Her gums have been swollen for the last 2 + months, but those stubborn molars have refused to make an appearance. I gave her a bath this evening and while drying her off she gave me a big smile and there was the tooth. Since I had my fingers in her mouth yesterday and it wasn't there, I know it just popped through sometime today.

In honor of Lili's first molar I decided to try and get some pictures of her. I hope you enjoy Lili's cheesy grins.

Here she is walking toward the camera.

Check out the after bath hair.

Thank you, thank you very much!!! (Say this in your best Elvis voice)

Yes, I'm going to squint in every picture.You have to admit, I'm pretty cute even if I won't quit squinting.

Now, for some non-Lili news.

We submitted our application to Children's Home Society and Family Services for our adoption from Ethiopia and after a short game of phone tag, the social worker contacted us today. She asked for some additional information, but said everything looks good, so we are officially on our way to daughter #2. Although I would like everything to happen yesterday, I'm trying very hard to not get overly anxious about things this time through. We won't be able to begin our home study until the end of September, so we have time before things really get moving, but it is exciting to know that sometime in the fall/winter of 2009 Lili will have a beautiful little sister from Ethiopia to share her life with.

That's it from the World of Weeks for now!!!