Pictures

Sorry the pictures are small but the place we had them done only lets you save the thumbnail version and not the larger version.  But hopefully this gives you a small idea of how adorable her pictures came out.  She was a trooper and aside from wanting to run all around, she did a great job.  I'm very pleased with how they came out. 

We did make it to see Santa and as I predicted she howled when it was time to sit on his lap.  She was fine looking at him before we got in line.  She was fine in line. But when I started to walk towards him she clung to me for dear life and when I tried to put her on his lap she cried to the heavens.  We did end up getting a picture but it was of me sitting next to Santa with her on my lap.  She isn't crying in the picture so that was good. I wasn't expecting to have a family picture taken but all things considered, it came out OK.  Sorry, I don't have a scanner so I can't post it.  Can I just say that the pictures cost a small fortune.  I got 1 5x7 and four wallets and it was $27.99.  Highway robbery! But I have to say we have the best looking Santa I have ever seen.  Glad to know that they send the real one to Massachusetts.

Guess What We Got?

Last year my sister Kate and I left on the Friday after Thanksgiving to go to Ethiopia to meet Grace.  This year, our journey is coming full circle because I recently received our court date to finalize Grace's adoption in the US.  We go to court on November 23rd, the week of Thanksgiving.  I am already Grace's mother and no piece of paper will change that but it does solidify her as a US citizen and it allows me to change her name and she will receive a US birth certificate.  What it does is put the icing on the already fabulous cake.  It will be good to have all the paperwork finished and finalized.  We have a small group of family coming with us and since our meeting with the judge is first thing in the morning it will allow us to go off and do something fun, though I haven't yet decided what that fun will be.  If Grace has a say it would be eating a hot dog and staring at a big fish tank. 

Today we are going to have Grace's Christmas pictures taken.  When we had her pictures taken in March I made the appointment for early in the morning as I thought that was most convenient.  Being a rookie mom, I totally forgot that would mean that she would miss her morning nap.  While we got some cute pictures, it was a bit of a battle and I thought man, I won't do that again.  This time I scheduled the pictures for a little afternoon time which gives her time for a nap and gives me time to bathe her and get her ready.  Let's hope that she wakes up in a happy mood!  After we have the pictures taken we're going to try to see Santa.  I know.  You're probably thinking what is wrong with this woman, it's not even Thanksgiving and generally, I would be in agreement.  However, her pictures are being taken at the mall and she will be wearing one of the dresses I wanted her to see Santa in so I thought we would try to kill two birds with one stone.  We'll see how that works out.  Last week we were at the mall and we passed by where Santa was and she was oohing and Ahhhing over the setup.  I don't actually have high hopes of her sitting with him this year but we'll give it a try and see how it goes.