Preparing for Maria

We have exciting news: our world is about to change dramatically again! Yippee!!!!!!

These are the most recent pics of our beautiful daughter.

We got word about a week ago that our adoption of Maria is final under Guatemalan law and that her birth certificate showing us as parents is completed. Now, we are just waiting on the final steps, including 1) 2nd DNA test to make sure there was not baby switch since the intitial DNA test matching surrendering mother and baby and 2) US Embassy appointment to finalize on the US side and obtain VISA and Guatemalan Passport. If everything goes smoothly we expect to bring Maria home sometime in mid to late March. She will be approximately 13 months old when we bring her home. We will have "Irish twins" since they will only be 5 mo. apart.

We never really used a stroller with Joshua as I just wore him in an EllaRoo wrap, and still often do. So... in preparation for having a second 20+ lbs to carry around, I have gotten a double stroller. It's a really cool double stroller as it takes up no more room than a single stroller. It is from Phil & Ted's of New Zealand. We took it on an outing today and it works like a dream. I couldn't even tell I was pushing a stroller. Yeah!

I still plan on wearing Maria and/or Joshua at times, but as I only have one back in this life, I want to make sure I am prepared to protect it.

We have also been finalizing the nursery to accomodate 2 children. We have 2 cribs; I have hung up all her clothes and put up her shoes; I have gotten a couple "girl" crib sheets; and I got matching sage green striped dust ruffles for their cribs.

We got 2 Phil & Ted's Me Too seats (see pic) to use as high chairs at our breakfast room table and to take with us if we travel. The seat has a 5 pt safety harness to fasten the child in. Joshua already loves his because he is up at the table with us. Also, we have Maria's carseat ready to go.

We already have all the cloth diapers and wraps we will need.

Yeah, our family is almost complete and Joshua is a big brother!!!!!!

Art Museum Party, Cooking, etc.

Here are a couple of pics from the art museum gala we went to last weekend. John's office sponsored a table and sent several people from work with their choice of date. We had a wonderful time and spent the evening enjoying the activities set up by the art museum. The gala was themed Carnival and around the Indiana Jones movies. There were people dressed up in everything from mummy costumes to black tie.



Monday was shopping day and I found 25 lbs of oatmeal for $11.00. So.... I have been working on getting the rolled oats put in various ways. Yesterday I made some really yummy granola bar bites (see below for recipe). John took a 1 gallon zip top bag full of them with him to work and I have a 1 gallon zip top bag here in the fridge. I used my FoodSaver to make "bricks" of rolled oats and put them up in the pantry. I also made two big batches of granola (see pic). Now we can have cold cereal with milk some mornings instead of cooked oatmeal with fruit.



Joshua was having a good time emptying his toy bucket and putting items in a smaller bucket.



Chewy Granola Bar Bites (adapted from a recipe for Chewy Granola Bars on recipezaar.com):

Ingredients
2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 - 1 cup butter, softened
4 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 large eggs
1 cup whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped almonds (optional)
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional)
6 cups rolled oats, regular (not quick cooking)
raisins to taste (optional)

Directions
Preheat oven to 350° and lightly grease or spray 11 x 17 cookie sheet.
In large bowl, beat brown sugar and butter until light and fluffy.
Blend in honey, vanilla and egg.
In separate bowl, combine flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt.
Add flour mixture gradually to sugar mixture and beat until combined.
By hand, stir in almonds, chocolate chips, raisins and oats until well mixed.
Press mixture firmly into sheet (once I got it all pressed into the bottom of the greased sheet, I put my cutting board on top and pressed really hard to get it even on the top), and bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes, or until light golden brown.
Cool completely and cut into 1 in. squares.

I found that these were really yummy the day after they were made. I store them in fridge in zip top bag.