lifeinguatemala

http://chickenbus.livejournal.com

And, if it works and time permits, Ill be here from now on:

http://carryingeggslikegoldfish.blogspot.com/

Final self-portrait:


"Strollers are AWESOME, people!!"


Emma hears the blender whipping up mom's protein shake. She finds that even in the United States of America she detests the sound of the blender:







Finds those weird Gerber Biter Biscuits simply too messy:



But ADORES these (sorry no consuming pics...dad took video instead ;))



This week, when my brain is working again, Ill post the name of my new blog.

Be assured it shall be painfully dull.

And, after Guatemala, I do believe that I WELCOME that.

in the ATX.



(new blog coming soon)

The Gemmie jumps right in.

Mom?

She is amazed how different her own house feels after three and a half months gone.

;)

Im so thankful (and equally so) that Emma is NOT discombobulated so far. Slept all through the night/is now napping away and that chris had the house IMMACULATE when we returned.

Getting back with so much luggage is overwhelming enough.

cocooning.

cocooning.

cocooning.


More soon.

(too tired to email :) Got the dvd Tricia. YOU ARE AMAZING)

Yes.

For now :)


We are off tomorrow at 530 am and will be home in the ATX by 3 or so.

THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR EVERYTHING.

More from the Land of Eternal, well, EVERYTHING.

Congrats!!

We have some Baby Bees.

Im so thrilled for you guys and honored to start this journey walking along side you.

As Emma says:

MAZEL TOV.

Subtitle: Mom had on a skirt but decided to change, realized that the JINGLE DRESS would set off the metal detector & she'd have to go to the embassy appt. nekid, and dad brought the Gemmie a new outfit.

Dad dresses a wiggly Emma:











Heading down to meet Sandra in the lobby:
(Mom is ROCKIN the Country Mouse Look while Emma ROCKS her new shoes from dad)



Pool afterwards:



Day COMPLETE:

And that's it I guess.

Tomorrow we get our visa for Emma's trip home and we're off at the crack o'dawn on friday.

NOT EMOTIONAL AT ALL.

It's the little things so much more than the big steps, huh?

Emma? Chris? NAPPING.

Pictures to follow but no more posts until the ATX.

Emma had an awesome night.

Unlike her first NotSoHeavenly evening here at the Westin (where she stood and shrieked in the crib for hours) she conked and slept the entire night.

(People at CCH used to laugh that I deemed it the entire night even though she gets up so EARLY)

Perhaps this bodes well for her adjustment to the ATX?

Again, so glad we decided for me to I foster as Im definitely seeing the WHERE AM I in her behavior but also the HEY *YOU* ARE FAMILIAR STILL there as well.

Off to get ready.

Gustavo and Sandra play with Emma before the Embassy doctor appt.





A HEAVENLY bed. The bonus to being NOT on the AdoptionFamily hall (outside the door I mean...)







Naptime.

Alas, no photos.

I need chris to arrive so I can find the uploadcordything admidst the mounds of chickenbus Emma and I call our possessions.

BabyGirl and I went to breakfast this morning with a spring in our step (Chris loves about me that if I ever feel any stomach distress I assume eating more shall soothe it. Not sure about helping but it certainly didnt hurt.).

Im stunned by how different Emma is, I am, I feel---all over the course of only 3 and a half months.

Rare is the opportunity to start parenthood in one place (here. June. Baby Is It Normal To Cry This Much), depart, and return to see precisely how much youve grown.

I was so timid, naturally, when we were here in May/June.

Not simply with Emma but with my Spanish as well.

I also felt, and probably at times correctly, that the fancypants business men/women were judging us (I know. I know. Perpetual camo coupled with bandannas probably didnt help the matter much).

People, you woulda been proud of me this morning.

Country Mouse Mama popped that baby in her pink camo sling, got her some buffet food (and a pancake for the bebe), whipped the Gemmie out of the sling, into the strapless highchair, unfurled her swath o'Guatemalan fabric, tied said bebe into chair, kicked back and ate.

This trip, when I wanted more food, I simply grabbed a waiter and explained in broken Spanish that I would love him to watch tha Gem as I ran to refill my plate.

Now, Im STILL looking forward to having a partner in all this, but for the first time I can see how far Ive travelled.

THANK YOU EVERYONE for supporting me in all this.

Especially my parents (who may or may not have though I was crazy when I announced I was relocating to Whattamala for what I THOUGHT was six weeks).

The gift of your support has been truly invaluable.

Four hours and counting ;)

Well, after a few immodiumfilled months it seems that Whattamala hath extracted her last revenge on me.

(OR Im just so excited to see chris that my, err, "system" is outta whack.)

Please add that to my So Excited For The ATX list:

Being able to rinserinse toothbrush under water (That's all I can figure out that I did. Can not imagine Im THAT sensitive, but...) without repercussions.

HAPPY CHRIS ARRIVES DAY to everyone.

And MAN was it a rocky descent.

hmmmm.

I guess that's all I got.

I must have done something really really right in a past life to snag such a patient, supportive husband.

Off to beg for a crib (K.? Seems like there is always a shortage at the Westin right now.)

Ours was broken and the nonenglishspeakingman showed me how I could spin the broken side against the wall.

Alas, my spanish isnt quite good enough to say, "Have you MET my daughter? Her nickname is Landrover!"

People, you hath let me fall out of the loop.

The coffee maker is clean and awaits his new owner.

If THAT isnt an indication that Im departing from a domicile then NOTHING is.

No more from Antigua, I guess.

Tying up loose ends this morning, perhaps hitting the bank for one last go-around with the travelers checks (to pay the driver), stumbling to a tienda for one final bottle (and then Im KICKING the habit!) of Mommy Merlot & FAREWELL COBBLESTONES.

As a departing gift here are two of my favorites to keep you busy until I blog again.
(Alas I think we all know that'll be from the Westin)

The first is not *just* a mom-site and also somewhere that Id love to write for (dangling preposition and all).

www.bloggingbaby.com

The second one contains no earthshattering info but since the subject of weightloss has been a hot snarky topic lately I give you:

www.hungry-girl.com

Even if you want to lose nary a pound the newletter is both funny and interesting.

HAPPY MONDAY EVERYONE.

Im in love.

You buyin'?

I mean I have a CHILD to support and all ;) but I DO need to go Off Roading.

Love.

Thanks for the tip.

Second, I had an amazing afternoon here in the Land Of Happy To Leave & Sad To Go.

Packed this morning and this afternoon did what all Guats do on a Sunday: McDonalds.

Thanks to E. and D. for making my last day here so fun & relaxing.

And, what you'd been promised would not happen, a McMontage:

Brace yourselves: I WENT OUT LIKE THIS.

Man it felt FABULOUS to wholly and completely ignore the "proper dress" and let Emma not suffer from being strapped to an overheated mama.

(I would have let her go sockless but I love those ducksocks so the Guats were spared that atrocity)


Scenes from a McD: