I'm As Ready As I'll Ever Be

I'm ready for Abby. I hope she is ready for me.

Ever since I got my visa appointment two weeks ago, my life has been turned upside down trying to finish all the last minute things I needed to do to prepare for Abby's homecoming. Shopping, putting the crib together, hanging curtains, babyproofing the house, and more shopping. Not to mention the countless forms our government requires must be filled out in order to get her visa. My generous friends and family came through with fantastic gifts for Abby, but it didn't prevent me from sneakin' out to buy one more "perfect outfit". I have NOT exercised self-control at all! I got my last pictures and report on Abby last week, and she is filling her clothes out a bit more. At least it seems that Abby's foster mother, Gloria, doesn't have to pull her pants up to her chest like I did when I first put her in the outfit. Thankfully, a baby can pull off the pants to nipples look while the rest of us could not and should not.

Abby crossing her legs while she relaxes watching a telenova
Abby sitting up with just a little help from the pillows
Abby and her amazing smile. It gets me every time. Does that wear off at some point?
I have some pictures here of Abby's room. The room is pretty big, so it was hard to capture it all, but you get the gist. Apparently one of the most common questions the US Embassy personnel asks prospective adoptive parents (known as PAPs in the adoption community, but I don't like that acronym because I think gynecology when I see PAP, and that is not really where I want to be with my thoughts) is "Is the nursery ready?" Strange question if you ask me as if that is really not one of the most important things in the scheme of things, but hey, I'll play along. Yes, it is ready. Now please give me Abby's visa, and thank you very much.






I can honestly say I have never been this happy. I am not generally an unhappy person, but I don't walk around smiling for no reason. Not a good quality, but that's me, for better or worse. But, now I walk around smiling. It is so strange, but when I think of Abby (and I think about her almost all the time), I smile. I smile when I think of her smile. I smile when I think of her laugh. I smile when I think of her curly hair. I smile when I think of her curious nature. I smile when I think of her love of music. I smile when I think of her smell. I smile when I think of her touch. So, this wait is almost over for me, and I will see her in just a few days. It doesn't get any better than this.