Lawyer and Other Stuff

Well we had our first meeting with our lawyer yesterday and, in my opinion, it went pretty well. We found out that the agency in Colorado didn't send us home with one of the documents that we need to finalize. Which didn't really surprise me, but we got the request in for that document and should have it before the end of the month. We also need to get Lola's birth certificate. The lawyer said that once she files with the courts, it should only take 3 months to finalize and would like to have it done by the end of the year. What a wonderful Christmas present THAT would be! The lawyer said she was surprised that I took it well that we don't have everything. Quite frankly, I'm surprised that we've gotten this far as the whole adoption thing is a very mysterious process that I'm still not sure about. Going into this, we really didn't know anything and probably still don't!

I've been introduced to the world of blogging and found a lot of them out there for/by new moms. Tonight I started reading about these babies who have all sorts of problems. I feel so very blessed (and humbled) that the only problem so far with Lola is the baby acne. I discovered tonight that it could be so much worse. I was reading about a little baby, Avery, who was born with numerous defects to her heart and intestines, which turned into other problems and was taken off all life support last month. It was heartbreaking to read and reminds me how fragile life is! I feel so blessed with a healthy baby girl and comfort her cries--even the ones that are for no real reason that I can figure out, with absolute joy! "There but for the grace of God go I!"

We had another failed attempt at a photo shoot.
I made this little tutu for her and thought, "How cute she will be in the middle of all the fluff!"

HA! THAT cry I could figure out! But here is a sample of how that turned out!

She smiled at me this week (not during the tutu incident)...and not the smile she gets when she is sleeping and enjoying the vibrating crib! But it's happened only once and I can't wait for it to be a regular event. She is making eye contact and looking around at the world with wide eyed wonder...I totally am in love with this little girl!

Rodney fed her and played with her a bit tonight. Got a cute CUTE picture of her looking at him. She is getting so strong and stable. Aren't they pretty? So sweet!

Sylvan Shower

What great friends and co-workers I have! Yesterday my Sylvan family had a shower for Lola. It was so beautiful and fun! I can't believe how generous everyone is and how much (apparently) people love little baby girls! Lola was a big hit and was very well behaved...with the exception of 3...yes THREE poopy diapers, she held it together through the whole thing. Here we are after one of the poopy diaper changes:
We got some beautiful things and lots of things we needed. I cannot WAIT to get her in some of those clothes! too too cute! Here is a picture of Lola's first Sylvan clothing! Our business partner has outfitted her nicely for the next year or so!

All the guests made scrap book pages for me, and I guess I need to get some pictures developed so that I can fill the pages. Which I love to do, trouble is, with Lola's arrival, I've had to give up my craft room and will eventually move into Rodney's office, but we will need some rearranging of that room. So I have no place to work! I've decided I also need to have a place to change Lola other than the couch, floor, bed, etc, as my back is killing me from bending over to change her! And, of course, being a baby, that is A LOT. We are so looking forward to this weekend...the parental unit is coming to visit along with my Aunt Betty and Uncle Paul. SO excited! We try to head East about once a year, but with the addition of Lola, we have good family-bait to come here! We are going to see the Grand Canyon, which (I'm ashamed to say) I have only seen (and for the first time, I might add, when I went to meet Lola last month) from the air on my way to Grand Junction. I have been in Arizona for 11 years and have never seen the Grand Canyon. And at the end of the month, we are going to Lubbock to meet all Lola's family there. Again, we are so excited!

Lola's 1st month and Rick

Today is Lola's one month birthday! WOW! Cannot believe that she is one month old! We had our one month check up yesterday and man is our little girl turning into a chunk! At 2 weeks, she weighted 6 lbs. 8 oz. Two weeks later, yesterday, she weighted 8 lbs. 3 oz. Sheesh...Rodney wanted to know if they sent us home to put Lola on a diet! But the doc said that she would hit growth spurts and then plateau. It seems she just came out of a growth spurt! What was really sad about our visit was the shot. She was SUPPOSED to get her second Hepatitis B shot yesterday, but for some reason, they gave it to her last time--which she didn't like. But the doc said it may not be effective if we didn't give it to her again. So we did. this was the first time the little girl cried real tears. And BOY did she cry! And she looked at me like I had betrayed her. And then was cranky all day long. I felt so bad for her! It made my eyes fill with tears...and the next visit has a lot more shots! Fortunately, Rodney will be going with me.

On the up side of yesterday, my friend Sherri, who I went to high school with came to town to see us. We went to see my favorite boy of all time, Rick Springfield. I saw him for the first time when I was 14 years old and have seen him every year since 2004. He really does a good show, sang all the classic Rick songs, my FAVORITE being "What's Victoria's Secret," for obvious reasons, and he always comes into the audience. Sherri got his autograph. It was good girl bonding time!