Up on the Roof

Yesterday the weather was perfect, so Cohen and I spent some time on the roof of our apartment building. (Robby has been working from here, so he came up for some work breaks.) The view from the roof is just gorgeous! We can see three different volcanoes along with La Merced, which is a beautiful church. Cohen enjoyed splashing and kicking in his "swimming pool."

Today Robby went with another fostering dad on an adventure. They drove up a mountain and rode mountain bikes back to Antigua -- about an 18 mile trip. They said the views were amazing, but neither of them had a camera with them. :)

Cohen and I went with another mom to Cuidad Vieja, a nearby village, to help with a feeding program for children. We rode in a van, picking up kids along the way. I am sure we had over 20 kids, 5 adults, and three babies! The family we were working with cook a huge meal every Saturday for kids that would normally not have a meal that day. It was another lesson for me about how fortunate we really are and how much we take for granted.

News on our case... We were submitted to the Embassy for our pink slip last Thursday and hope to hear on Tuesday when our appointment will be. We will be going to the city on Monday to see Hunter, Terry, and Taylor. They are visiting for Taylor's first birthday. Please pray that they will get out of PGN soon along with all the others who are waiting.

When are we coming home?

So now that we have Cohen's passport and birth certificate, when are we coming home? Here's what needs to happen:

Our attorney will submit us to the US Embassy and our case will be reviewed once again. (The US Embassy has already reviewed our case months ago before we were submitted to PGN.)

We will take Cohen to a doctor designated by the US Embassy, which is necessary in order for him to enter the United States.

We will receive a pink slip from the Embassy -- commonly referred to as getting PINK! That will tell us when our Embassy appointment will be.

We will contact the Embassy (although our agency encourages us not to) requesting that our appointment be moved up to an earlier date.

The day after our Embassy appointment, we will pick up Cohen's visa from the Embassy. The following day we will fly home!

The wait is so much easier with Cohen in our arms!

Passport...Check!

It was a busy day here, so no new pictures. Below are a few pictures of Cohen playing with our neighbor Isa. She is the sweetest little girl... just look at her dimples! Isa and her mom Megan are the best neighbors. It is so nice having someone else to talk to about the frustrations of Guatemalan adoption and laugh about all the strange things we see in Antigua -- like today we all walked to La Bodegona (the grocery store) together, but there was a huge mob of people holding signs that said "Free Hugs" in Spanish at the entrance of the store, so we kept on walking and went to an ice cream shop instead. :)

Anyway, we took my mom to the airport this morning and she should be getting home late tonight. We are so happy that she was able to come with me to Guatemala. She was such a huge help!

After the airport, we went to get Cohen's passport! Yea! I have to tell you, it is the cutest passport in the world! He sat in the chair by himself and the picture is just priceless. They make the passports while you wait and flash your picture on a large television screen when your passport is ready. How much did I want to cry tears of joy when his sweet little picture flashed on the screen with his full name...Cohen Isaac Wheeler!

The Cutie Pies at Semillas de Amor

Today we went with my mom to Semillas de Amor for her last quilting class. The kids were sad that this was her last day, but we had a great time with them! I kept the ones who had finished their quilts entertained by letting them take pictures with my camera. They thought that was so much fun and enjoying looking at themselves after taking each picture. They also loved Cohen -- tickling him, holding him, and making him smile. He definitely had the girls wrapped around his finger.

Here's Cohen in the tuk tuk on the way to Semillas. He usually loves the bumpy ride, but today he was a little concerned...


Sweet little ones who came out to tell us hello...


How much do I love Carmen and Sonja!

There's a new Wheeler!!!!

Just got the call from our attorney's office that we finally have Cohen's new birth certificate...which means he is officially a Wheeler! We will go to the city on Wednesday to take my mom to the airport and get Cohen's picture taken for his passport. Tonight Robby and I are going to take advantage of Nana being here to babysit and celebrate at Santo Domingo for dinner.

We Moved...

We've had a crazy few days. Things are still up in the air with Robby... Still waiting to hear what his boss says about him working from Guatemala. If I do need to be here by myself for a little while, I want to be near other fostering moms. One of the moms we know told me on Friday that she was moving to an apartment where there were other adoptive families. She said there was an available apartment right across the hall from the one she was moving to and she used the same realtor as us. So I called our realtor and told her we were interested in looking at the apartment. She took us out that evening, we really liked it, and moved the next morning!

I wish I had a picture of moving day... The crib we are using does not fold up, so we were not sure exactly how we were going to get it across town. Our realtor was helping us move using her small car and there was no way it was going to fit. She suggested we just put it on top of her car. They threw a few towels on top of the car, put the crib on top, and off they went. There were no ropes to secure the crib, so Robby just leaned out of the window and held it in place! Just another reason why I love Antigua -- no one thought this was strange at all.

So we are now settled in our new place. It is much smaller than our first apartment, but so nice being near other families. One of our new neighbors has a little boy named Jake who is a few days younger than Cohen. We laugh because they are both very big by Guatemalan standards. This mom said that the locals think her son is two years old! We think Cohen and Jake are going to have lots of fun together. They came over for a little bit this afternoon. Jake jumped and jumped (with his mom helping) and Cohen tried to imitate him. It was precious! I will definitely have to get some pictures of the two of them together.

Playdate in Antigua

Today we met Holly's friend Lissette who lives here in Antigua. She has a small, in-home daycare and fosters three girls as well. It was so nice meeting her and the children. Cohen loved playing with some new toys (he is getting a little bored with the toys we brought) and watching the kids.

It was quite a journey finding Lissette's house. We planned on asking some of our local friends like Ruth and Clara for directions, but did not run into either of them in the park. So, we asked the tourist police...men with a big dog on their porch...ladies working in a tienda...schoolgirls on the street...group of ladies with a chicken in their yard...husband and wife walking their dog...and finally just called Lissette who told us to wait where we were and she would come and get us! Turns out she lives very close to our apartment, we just didn't know it. The weather was perfect, Cohen was content, and we really did enjoy seeing parts of Antigua we had not seen before.

Thank you for your sweet comments and encouragement about our case. I know that one of these days we will be home with Cohen and enjoy thinking about all of the adventures and new experiences we've had here in Guatemala.

Some good news... and some bad news

Here's the good news first: Robby and I met with Randy and Harvey from Orphan Resources today and it went so well! They stopped by our apartment and answered all of our questions about a mission trip in the future. It sounds perfect -- there are so many needs that I think everyone who is involved will be able to find a need that they can help with. Orphan Resources is currently helping about 40 orphanages in Guatemala from supplying beans and rice to helping build new buildings. They are going to take us to at least one or two orphanages so that we can see the needs first hand and bring pictures and information back to our church.

Now for the bad news: I called our attorney's office this morning for an update. As of last week we still didn't have Cohen's new birth certificate, so I thought for sure they would have it by now... nope! When we arrived one month ago today, we were told we would be home in one month. It's been one month and we still don't have the birth certificate, so who knows when we will be submitted for our pink slip. I asked how much longer and they said, "One more month."

As you can imagine, we're frustrated. There is nothing we can do. We've paid the attorney, but she didn't do her job and now we are simply at her mercy. Robby is going to contact his boss to see if he can work from here and I hope his boss is flexible.

I feel bad about complaining. I know there are so many people who would love to be in our position -- at least we are waiting with our baby. I am so thankful that at least we are here with Cohen. It just makes me sick that it has taken our attorney over a month to do something that should have taken a week or less.

We will post again when we know a little more...

Today we toured Finca Filadelphia, which is one of the coffee plantations here in Antigua. Views from the plantation were just gorgeous! It was pretty cloudy today, but on a clear day you can see three different volcanoes from the plantation. I thought the best part of the tour was tasting the coffee, but guess what Robby enjoyed the most...


Cohen is just as sweet as ever. Today, after waiting for over 45 minutes in line at the bank, here's Cohen waking up from his morning nap.


Tomorrow we are meeting with someone from Orphan Resources. I am anxious to hear about their needs and how we can possibly help in the future. Should I mention that they are also looking for a director for one of their orphanages? It sounds like my dream job... just way too far from home!

Semillas de Amor

The kids at Semillas de Amor are still loving their quilting classes. They applaud when they hear that my mom is coming. Some of the kids have now finished their quilts! While we don't know about all the children at Semillas, we do know that Bryan will be going home to North Carolina soon! (He's the cutie with the sunglasses.)

There are several other orphanages in Guatemala with much greater needs than Semillas de Amor. Robby and I have been in contact with another orphanage just outside of Guatemala City. We hope to meet with them the next time we are in the city (probably when Cohen gets his passport picture taken) to discuss a mission trip for our church in the future. Of course if some of you are reading this blog and do not attend our church, but would like to be involved with the mission trip, just let us know. It is exciting to think about what God may have planned for our next trip to Guatemala!

Sights from Antigua

Another great day in Antigua! We started our day at the market. There were so many things I wanted to take pictures of (random pigs, a young boy carrying his baby sister in a sling, another little boy with a straw poked in some round fruit) but didn't want to stand out too terribly much. We already get plenty of looks, so I fought the urge to take pictures.

Today was Antigua Day so there was a lot happening in the central park -- live music, clowns on stilts, and lots of booths. There was even a mini-marathon and I was able to get pictures of a few of the kids running.

As much as I try, I just can't capture Antigua in my pictures. As you walk down the street, you see a tuk-tuk (pictured below), a motorcycle, a horse carriage, and a Mercedes. There is such a mixture -- from modern to Mayan.

A Three Hour Tour...

We enjoyed being tourists this afternoon and were able to see some nearby villages. Our favorite parts were the view of San Antonio Aguas Calientes (I'm sure the picture won't do it justice) and learning about the differences in Maya weavings.



This is the Archbishop's Palace in San Juan de Obispo, which is also the home to a small order of nuns.


We also visited the home of one of the most respected weavers in Guatemala. They dressed my mom in traditional Mayan clothing, but I promised her I would not post the pictures. :)


These are wash basins in a small village we visited. Our guide explained that not only do the women come here to do laundry, but also where they can visit and catch up on the latest news.



My friend Amanda asked me what we were eating these days. Today for lunch we had a pretty typical Guatemalan lunch -- beans, rice, tomatoes, and avocados. It was delicious!!! (Cohen LOVES fresh avocados just like we do. He smacks his lips togeher after every bite.) We plan on going back to the market tomorrow for more fresh fruits and vegetables... Wish us luck, Saturday is the busiest day at the market and our first time braving the busy time.

What do you do when Cohen gets fussy?

Watch Latin American Idol, of course! Cohen's fussy time is usually around five or six in the evening. Usually we just have to wait it out, but last night we found out what really works...just turn on his favorite show. I really think his foster mom must have watched this with him. He was absolutely glued to the t.v. until the commercials came on. He would play until the instant he heard the American Idol music. It was hilarious!





Tomorrow we are going to act like tourists. We are taking a tour of several of the nearby villages. I think it will be a lot of fun! We are also planning on taking a tour of a coffee plantation another day. We were talking to another adoptive family today who just got back from that tour. They said they saw some amazing views. So check back for some touristy pictures soon!!!

The Sweetest Kisses

Cohen continues to amaze us with how fast he is learning! Now he gives me a big, wet kiss when I say, "Give Mommy a kiss." I just can't get enough of them!!!


In our kitchen there are two sinks. We use one for dishes and one as Cohen's bathtub. We can't walk past "his sink" without him leaning toward it and wanting to get in. He is definitely going to be a little fish!

What's going on at home? We tried to watch the news last night, but with our limited Spanish we didn't have much of a clue. We rarely turn the t.v. on -- the main channel that is in English plays reruns of the Gilmore Girls and the OC pretty much all the time. One morning we caught Go, Diego Go! in Spanish and Cohen really enjoyed that. Still no word from the attorney's office. We pray that we will be able to go home soon!

Baby Carriers...

As I prepared for this extended stay in Guatemala, I found that many people in the same situation bring several different baby carriers along with them. Before I left, I thought this was just ridiculous. I mean, one baby... one carrier, right? My friend Holly passed on her Baby Bjorn, I threw it in my suitcase, and checked that off my list.

Well, Antigua sidewalks are just an adventure. If you stop to take in the view, you are probably going to either trip on the cobblestones, bump into someone selling tortillas, or fall off one of the 2-foot curbs. While we LOVE having the jogging stroller, sometimes it is just faster and more convenient to use a carrier and breeze through the crowded streets.

Here's where the baby carrier saga begins. Cohen is a big baby (Remember his nickname here has become Gordito!) and to my disappointment he broke the Baby Bjorn! I mean, after only 30 seconds, the snaps come unsnapped! After the first day of this I got out the safety pins. Two on each side should fix that, right? Nope! Snaps and safety pins immediately come undone as soon as I put him in.

After the Baby Bjorn didn't work out, I decided to buy a Mayan sling, which is what most of the locals carry their babies in. These ladies are truly amazing. It is common to see these mothers carrying not only their baby in a sling, but a large basket on their head as well. So I found a beautiful Mayan wrap and even had some vendors on the street help me tie it. (We have made friends with several of the vendors here and we know each other by name -- Ruth and Clara are our favorites and they are not shy about telling me when my wrap is not tied correctly.) The problem with this sling is that I am not a pro at tying knots and even when Robby ties it it loosens up.

On to sling number three... At the mercado I thought I found the answer to my problem. A sling that is made of traditional Mayan fabric that I love, with the convenience of being adjustable. Perfect! I negotiated the price to $17 and was so proud... until we got home, tried it on with Cohen inside and discovered it was way too big. This sling was designed for the baby to lay down and Cohen is just not about to miss seeing the sights as we walk through town.

So this morning Robby and I headed back to the mercado to see if Teresa could help us out. (Thank goodness she gave us her card!) Teresa was happy to exchange it for another carrier (for a few additional quetzales of course!) that is very similar to the Baby Bjorn only with Guatemalan fabric. We tried it with Cohen, he loved it, and we were set!

We shopped for about 30 minutes when I started hearing a familiar popping sound... this carrier was breaking too! I had reached my limit... and I cried at the market! We went back to see Teresa and she felt so sorry for me that she told me to wait at her booth while she sewed the carrier for me. After her repairs, we were able to walk many, many blocks with Cohen in the carrier and no popping sounds!

So that is the end of the baby carrier saga for now. I may be heading back to the mercado each day for Teresa to sew a little more reinforcement on the carrier for our little Gordito...

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Another great day in Antigua! Saturday is the busiest day at the market, but it is also the day when you get the freshest fruit. So we headed to the market for a little shopping. Cohen got a Guatemalan soccer jersey with matching shorts for about seven dollars. We also got some strawberries, avocados, bananas, blackberries, and tomatoes. The produce was so inexpensive we didn't even have to bargain for it.

Tomorrow we are going to church for the first time since we've been here. Our friends from North Carolina told us about a little church that meets in the upstairs of a cafe. The pastor speaks English and there is also a Spanish translator. It is very casual and I am hoping that Cohen will enjoy it. We were told they sing for the first thirty minutes, so I know he will like that part at least.

No more news from our attorney, but we are planning on calling their office Monday to check in. Hope to be home soon!

My mom taught her first quilting class at Semillas de Amor this morning. Robby and I went along, but were not much help since we were busy keeping Cohen happy. I thought for sure we had timed it perfectly so that he would nap while we were there, but he was much more interested in watching the kids than napping.

The kids were so excited about using the sewing machine and making their very own quilt. Two of the girls were bilingual and did an excellent job interpretting! A friend from home also sent some candy for us to give the kids -- that was also a big hit!





Just a few more pictures of Cohen from today... One of his favorite games is peekaboo. He puts the blanket on his face and starts laughting and kicking his feet. We say, "Where's Cohen?" and he just laughs and kicks harder. Like most kids his age, I think he could play this game all day.






He was also the little entertainer tonight. Robby and I got together with a couple from North Carolina adopting a sweet little girl named Bridgette. Cohen did all of his tricks for them. Ask him any question (we like "Do you speak English?" and "Are you spoiled rotten already?") and Cohen smiles and shakes his head no. He is also very sneaky... He really wanted a bite of my dessert, so I passed him to Robby. As I was passing him he grabbed my dessert right off the table!