It's Almost Time to Dash for Adoption!

Thank you to all who have already mailed in your registration forms for this year's Dash for Adoption. This year's race is almost here! I plan on calling the t-shirt company this afternoon with the final number of shirts and sizes, so if you haven't let me know about a shirt size please call today.

We are so excited about our second annual event! We have some great prizes from some of our favorite stores and restaurants. And I think the shirts are going to be adorable this year. It should be another great day -- we are expecting a range of people from the runners at Georgetown College, new runners just starting out, and of course my favorite -- moms with strollers! If you live nearby, we hope to see you at Briar Hill Park on November 10th!

Party Pictures!

Yesterday was the big day -- we celebrated Cohen's first birthday! We kept the party pretty small and just invited our family over. It was a beautiful fall day and the kids enjoyed the pinata. Cohen was interested in all his presents, but I think his favorite part was definitely the cake! He was a little unsure at first, but after a little experimenting he started digging in. He had no trouble finishing the whole piece of cake either.

It's hard to believe that our little man is almost one! (Tuesday is his actual birthday.) I just want him to stop growing so fast. He learns something new everyday and he is turning into quite the little entertainer. Robby taught him to put his hands on his face and shake his head when Robby says, "You're driving me crazy!" We'll definitely have to get that on video. Cohen's latest favorite game is pretending like someone is going to get him. Robby will usually be the one to "get him" but during the day Cohen also likes to pretend like the dogs are going to get him. He starts laughing and hurrying over to me and buries his head on my shoulder -- just the cutest thing.

He is pulling up on everything and cruising the furniture and I think in no time he will be walking on his own. I am perfectly content with him not walking right now -- I stay pretty busy keeping up with him as he crawls everywhere!

And now the best part of this post... PICTURES!

Taylor's Finally Coming Home!

We first met Hunter and Terry last March when we were visiting Cohen. They were also there for a week meeting their son Taylor for the first time. They were so much fun and we seemed to instantly become friends. When we arrived home I started following their blog and Hunter and I would check on each other through emails. In July, Hunter and Terry spent another week with Taylor and we were able to visit with them again.

Well after a very long wait, Taylor is FINALLY coming home! I just read an email from Hunter saying that they arrived in Guatemala City today. They will all three be coming home on Tuesday! Hunter and Terry, we are so excited for you guys! We will be praying for a Taylor's smooth transition and for your safety as you travel. Next time we get together, let's meet somewhere in the States, OK?

Reflections at the beach...

Although Cohen wasn't a huge fan of the beach, he did start to like it a little more as the week went on. He was still not so sure about standing in the water, but he did enjoy playing in the sand and shells.






This time last year we were also at the beach. I remember walking on the beach with Robby as we wondered when our baby would be born. Looking back on this past year it is amazing to think about all the experiences we have had. We saw the first pictures of Cohen while he was still in the hospital and immediately knew he was our son. Friends and family joined us in praying that Cohen would soon come home to be with us forever. Our hearts ached as we watched him grow older and older through pictures, but we knew he was being loved by a wonderful foster mother. In March we were able to spend an unforgettable week with Cohen in Guatemala. We fell even more in love with him as we got to hold him in our arms, hear his laughs and his cries, and get to know his sweet personality. Months continued to pass and we thought we couldn't wait another day for Cohen to be with us. A generous annonymous gift allowed me to go to Guatemala to foster Cohen until his adoption was complete. Robby joined me two weeks later and the opportunity to live in Guatemala for two months was absolutely amazing. God used that time to not only allow us to bond together as a family, but to soak up the Guatemalan culture. We look forward to telling Cohen all the many things we came to love about his birth country and will forever be changed by the things we experienced there.

In just a few days we will celebrate Cohen's first birthday. We are filled with gratitude that God has blessed us with such an incredible son.

Beach Bums

We have been spending the week at St. George Island in Florida and enjoying just being lazy. I haven't even turned my cell phone or the computer on all week and it has been so nice. But I couldn't resist posting just a few pictures from the beach today.

Everyone who meets Cohen comments on how happy and content he is. He really is the happiest baby and he goes with the flow most of the time. Which is why we were so surprised by his reaction to the beach -- he hates it! I don't know if it is the sound of the waves or the way the sand sticks to his feet, but he is not a big fan. This makes his Daddy proud because Robby would choose a trip to the mountains over the beach anytime.


"Walking on the beach isn't so bad..."

"And I enjoy the view when Daddy is holding me..."

"Just don't put me down in the sand!"

Perfect Day for the Zoo

Today Cohen and I met my cousins, their little ones, my aunt, and my mom for a day at the zoo. We couldn't have asked for better weather -- it was just gorgeous! The "big kids" enjoyed Cohen and wanted to hold him. He's always on the move so it was hard for them to hold him, but we did manage to get a few cute pictures of all of them together.

Cohen has lots of new tricks these days. He says Mama (at last -- seems like he's been saying Dada forever!) and signs more and all done. You can ask him where his tongue is and he sticks it out -- hilarious! Of course when I tried to get him to show everyone his latest tricks he didn't feel like putting on a show.

Dog Show

My brother-in-law Ray was asked to play the Call to Post for a dog show this weekend. My sister and I had never been to a dog show so we took the kids just long enough to cheer for Ray and take some pictures. Poor Ray spent most of his day there in his costume just roasting!

Let's Make Some Noise

OK, I know this is a long post, but we've just got to make sure the political leaders hear our voice on this issue. There are currently 5000 children in Guatemala that will be affected one way or the other. Let's make sure that these children have the best life that they could possibly have.

I am posting information from Adoptive Families Magazine:

Guatemalan President Oscar Berger has announced plans to suspend all intercountry adoption with American families on January 1 2008. The Joint Council on International Children's Services strongly opposes such a suspension and asks for your support in their efforts to ensure that all children retain the right to permanency through Intercountry Adoption.

President Berger's plans also call for the suspension of adoptions currently in-process. Such a suspension would be extremely detrimental to the children referred to adoptive parents. If President Berger's plan is actually implemented, up to 5,000 will unnecessarily remain in foster care or orphanages indefinitely.

This situation represents a pending crisis for the adoptive families who have lovingly chosen to provide permanency, safety and love to a child in need and most importantly a crisis for 5,000 children of Guatemala.

What can you do? Make five simple phone calls and send one email.

1. Call your U.S. Senator
>>You can find your Senators' phone numbers at www.senate.gov
>>Ask to speak with the Legislative Director or Chief of Staff

2. Call your second U.S. Senator

3. Call your representative to the U.S. House of Representative
>>You can find your representative at www.house.gov
>> Ask to speak with the Legislative Director or Chief of Staff

4. Call or fax UNICEF Headquarters
>>Ask to speak with Ann Veneman, Executive Director
>>Telephone: 212-326-7000
>>Fax: 212-326-7758

5. Call or fax UNICEF Guatemala
>>Ask to speak with Manuel Manrique
>>Telephone: 011-502-2327-6373
>>Fax: 011-502-2327.6366
Please note that calls and faxes to Guatemala are international calls.

6. Send an email supporting Intercountry Adoption to guatemala5000@jcics.org
>>Write briefly or at length
>>Joint Council will use the cumulative email petition in our advocacy for Intercountry Adoption

When should you call? Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday (October 9th, 10th 11th). For maximum effect, we are asking you to make these calls within a 72-hour window!
What should you say or write to member of the U.S. Congress? Speak from your heart and give them the following information.
>>Inform them that you are calling regarding Guatemala 5000
>>Ask them to sign the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) sponsored letter to President Oscar Berger
>> Ask them to sign the Joint Council on International Children's Services sponsored letter to UNICEF
>>Inform them that the Guatemalan government has announced that all intercountry adoptions with the U.S. will be suspended on January 1 2008.
>>Inform them that President Berger's announcement also indicated that there will be no 'grandfathering' of adoptions already in process.
> >Inform them that if children referred to families are not allowed to be adopted, they will languish in institutions or foster care.
>>Ask that their office get involved and sign the sponsored letters to the President of Guatemala and UNICEF. These letters ask that all adoptions in-process as of January 1 2008 be allowed to process to completion under the existing notorial laws.

>>SAMPLE STATEMENT<<

Hello,

We are calling/writing on behalf of the Guatemala 5000 Initiative. We, as your constituents, are asking that the Senator/Congressperson add their signature to two letters. First, the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute sponsored letter to Guatemalan President Oscar Berger. Second, the Joint Council on International Children's Services sponsored letter to UNICEF.

As you may be aware, the Guatemalan government has announced that all intercountry adoptions with the U.S. will be suspended on January 1 2008. Their announcement also indicated that there will be no 'grandfathering' of adoptions already in process. If children referred to families are not allowed to be adopted, they will languish in institutions or foster care. Your office must get involved and sign the sponsored letters to the President of Guatemala and UNICEF. These letters ask that all adoptions in-process as of January 1 2008 be allowed to process to completion under the existing notorial laws.

Sincerely,

[your name and contact information]


What should you say or write to UNICEF? Speak from your heart and give them the following information.
>>Inform them that you are calling regarding the Guatemala 5000
>>Ask them to support the right's of children and lend their considerable influence to ensuring that intercountry adoptions currently in-process be allowed to process to completion under the existing notorial laws.
>>Inform them that the Guatemalan government has announced that all adoptions with the U.S. will be suspended on January 1 2008.
>>Inform them that President Berger's announcement also indicated that there will be no 'grandfathering' of adoptions already in process.
>> Inform them that if children referred to families are not allowed to be adopted, they will languish in institutions or foster care.
>>Ask them again for their support of the Guatemala 5000 Initiative.

>>SAMPLE STATEMENT<<

Hello,

We are calling/writing on behalf of the Guatemala 5000 Initiative. As financial supporters of UNICEF (through our tax dollars), we are asking that UNICEF lends its support and considerable influence to the Guatemala 5000 initiative.

As you may be know, the Guatemalan government has announced that all intercountry adoptions with the U.S. will be suspended on January 1 2008. Their announcement also indicated that there will be no 'grandfathering' of adoptions already in process. If children referred to families are not allowed to be adopted, they will languish in institutions or foster care. UNICEF must get involved and help ensure that all intercountry adoptions in-process as of January 1 2008 be allowed to process to completion under the existing notorial laws.

Sincerely,

[your name and contact information]

Can you explain the problem behind the pending crisis? Here is some additional information…
>>Guatemalan President Oscar Berger has announced plans to effectively stop all adoptions into the United States including those children who have already been referred to adoptive parents
>>Over 5,000 children have been referred
> >The birthparents for these children have already relinquished their parental rights. As a result, they currently have no family and the Berger suspension will result in these children having no prospect for a permanent, safe and loving family
>>The government of Guatemala currently does not have the finances or facilities to even provide housing for these 5,000 children
>> The Berger plan is a crisis waiting to happen

What else can you do? In addition to your primary calls to U.S. Congress and UNICEF, you can call the following.

SOSEP (Guatemala)
>>Director Teresa Echeverría de Bastarrechea
Office Phone- 011-502-2383-8400
>>Assistant Director- Edin Palma- Same office phone
Office Phone- 011-502-2383-8400
>>Jaime Tecu
Office Phone - 011-502-2239-0000 ext 2766
Please note that calls and faxes to Guatemala are international calls

Guatemala Ministry of Foreign Affairs
>>Minister Gerth Rosenthal
Office Phone 011-502-2410-0000, 2410-0010
>>Vice Minister- Marta Altoaguirre
Office Phone 011-502-2410-0020
Please note that calls and faxes to Guatemala are international calls

PGN (Guatemala)
>>Carlos Victor Hugo Barrios Barahona
Office Phone 011-502-2248-3200 Ext. 207/208
Please note that calls and faxes to Guatemala are international calls

Procuraduria of Human Rights
>>Dr. Sergio Morales
Office Phone 011-502-2424-1717
Please note that calls and faxes to Guatemala are international calls

Embassy of Guatemala in the U.S.
2220 R Street N.W.
Washington, DC 20008
Office Phone 1-202-745-4952
Office Fax 1-202-745-1908
Website: http://guatemalaembassy.com/

I Love You Through & Through

We had a great weekend! We were able to meet Jackie and her daughter Jenna at the airport Friday night. Jenna was just as cute and smiley as I remembered her. Cohen and I can't wait for them to get settled in so we can have playdates.

Saturday Cohen and I had lunch with some friends and found a new favorite restaurant, The Cheddar Box. Their tomato-artichoke soup was absolutely delicious and I am going to see if I can make it at home.

Saturday night we got together with our friends Emily and Kenneth. Even though they live in our neighborhood we had not seen them since we came back from Guatemala, so we were long overdue for a night out with them. Kenneth is not the world's biggest fan of babies so we had a long talk with Cohen before dinner. :) Cohen was great though so I think Kenneth will agree to have dinner with us again soon.

Sunday was Cohen's Baby Dedication at church. It was so nice having our family there with us as we committed to raising Cohen in a Christian home. Cohen did a great job on stage -- Robby's beard seemed to keep him happy and quiet. I don't have any pictures to post now, but our friend Tom did get some great shots of the three of us together.

My friend Amanda gave Cohen the sweetest book and it has become one of his favorites.

I Love You Through & Through
By Bernadette Rossetti-Shustak

I love you through and through.

I love your top side.


I love your bottom side.


I love your inside


and outside.


I love your happy side,


your sad side,


your silly side,


your mad side.


I love your fingers


and toes,


your ears and nose.


I love your hair and eyes,


your giggles and cries.


I love you running and walking,


silent and talking.


I love you through and through...


yesterday, today, and tomorrow, too.


Edited to add: I just saw on the Love Without Boundaries site that Joey (see his picture on a previous entry) has been matched with family! This makes my heart so happy!