COOL NORA!

SCRAMBLED EGGS FOR BREAKFAST!

NORA MEETS MORE OF HER FAMILY

Nora meets cousins Olivia and Hannah. Nora thinks they are two potential babysitters but can they change poopy diapers.




Nora meets Aunts Lori and April. Uncle David's number #1 Bud rating is in jeopardy.

NORA IS HOME!

Nora has finally made it home. She did very well on the plane ride to Texas. She slept part of the way and then entertained all of us the rest of the way. She was scared on the take off but was okay after the plane leveled off. Here are pictures of our day:

Nora's feet touch US soil for the first time at the DFW airport which automatically made her a US citizen:


At home with Nora in her Johnny Jump Up. She took to our house very well because of the toys. Thank you Uncle David and Aunt Lisa for taking us to and from the airport. Uncle David is now Nora's big bud.




Nora trying out more of her toys. Thank you Gammer and Gaffer, Nora loved the exer-saucer.




Photo Sharing - Upload Video - Video Sharing - Share Photos

And thank you Greg and Kim Byrd, the dinner you brought us was very much appreciated. We had not eaten since breakfast which was a long time ago.

And another thank you to everyone who prayed for us and Nora on this long journey.

TEXAS HERE WE COME!

We received Nora's visa and passport this evening so we are ready to come home. We already obtained our boarding passes at the hotel however we found out that we need to be at the airport by 6:15 a.m. so we are looking at another very early morning wake up.

LAST DAY IN GUATEMALA!

Everyone is doing great. Nora is charming everyone in the hotel. We finished up our shopping and we will start packing later today. They are suppose to be bringing Nora's visa and passport between 3:30 - 4:00 p.m..





Photo Sharing - Upload Video - Video Sharing - Share Photos

MORE PHOTO'S & VIDEO's

I forgot to mention on the earlier blog that Nora also participated in the US Embassy process. Just before Pam and I were asked several questions, we had to raise our right hand to swear that the information in the documents was true as far as we knew. When Pam and I raised our hands, Nora raised her right hand as well which amused the Embassy employee.

I was amazed by the number of people waiting outside the Embassy to get visa's into the US.

Photo's of Nora and Zachary. Zachary was the other baby in the foster home with Nora. Zachary is going home next week:





Video's of Nora at play:


Photo Sharing - Upload Video - Video Sharing - Share Photos


Photo Sharing - Upload Video - Video Sharing - Share Photos

VISA APPOINTMENT OVER!

We have just returned from the US Embassy from Nora's visa appointment. Nora got a little upset because they were talking to her parents and not to her so they had to take a minute to talk with her. We were at the Embassy for about two hours. Nora did very well considering she had to get up very early. Now we are waiting for her visa document to be completed and brought to us at the hotel around 4:00 p.m. tomorrow. We then can come home.

ANOTHER GREAT DAY WITH NORA!

Everyone is doing well. Nora continues to laugh, smile, baby talk, and charm her way with others including Dad. One of the volcanoes was smoking this morning which had everyone talking but it stopped later in the day. Tomorrow, we get up bright and early to be at the US Embassy by 7:00 a.m. for Nora's visa appointment. We have been told to expect a two hour wait.













You remove the diaper off the baby......




Photo Sharing - Upload Video - Video Sharing - Share Photos



Photo Sharing - Upload Video - Video Sharing - Share Photos

MORE VIDEOS!

The French Fry Queen:


Photo Sharing - Upload Video - Video Sharing - Share Photos


Nora on the prowl:


Photo Sharing - Upload Video - Video Sharing - Share Photos

MORE PICTURES

Everything is still going well. Nora seems to be really enjoying being with us. Things are great here but we are looking forward to getting home.

HAPPY EASTER!

Happy Easter everyone! We had a great day. Everyone is doing well and Nora is happy. We watched Nora eat or chew her first french fry today at lunch. She does not like ketchup. She is getting a top front tooth coming in and has not fussed at all about her teeth. However, we are getting use to her personality i.e. gets mad when she does not get her way, throws toys on the floor, and does not like the word No but we love her just the same. When you say no she does stop what she is doing. She has also learned to turn on some of her toys which makes her beam and smile with pride. She has also learned to eat toddler bites which is like a cereal but it melts in your mouth. Every time she puts one in her mouth her smile gets big and you can tell she is pleased with herself (except in the video below). She also likes salsa music.






Photo Sharing - Upload Video - Video Sharing - Share Photos

MORE PICTURES & VIDEO

Photo Sharing - Upload Video - Video Sharing - Share Photos

NO MORE STING IN OUR LITTLE HORNET!

Everything is going well this morning. Nora is laughing and playing. She did call me Da Da. We did not get 12 hours of sleep. Nora woke up about three times during the night. Here are first photos:

WE HAVE ARRIVED AND HAVE NORA!

We arrived at the hotel around 8:15 p.m. and they brought Nora to us while we were still at the front desk checking in. She was mad as a hornet for awhile but has now calmed down and is sleeping. We are going to do the same. America said Nora is sleeping 12 hours straight so we will see what happens. More later.

TRAVEL ITINERARY

We will be arriving in Guatemala City on Friday evening April 6. We are not sure when they will bring Nora to our hotel. Our appointment with the US Embassy is at 7:15 a.m. on Wednesday, April 11. We will be arriving in Dallas at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, April 13.

GLORIOUS NEWS!

We received our pink slip on Friday from the US Embassy. Our appointment is on April 11 at 7:15 a.m.. Nora's visa picture will be taken and her visa can be picked up the following day. We anticipate Nora coming home on Friday, April 13. This will be the day Nora will become a US citizen.

UPDATE!

Praise God!
We found out today that the Guatemalan government has completed Nora's passport and it has been sent on to the US Embassy. WOW, it is amazing how things have changed in 24 hours!

Now we are waiting for the pink slip (visa appointment date at the US Embassy).

ANOTHER SETBACK!

We found out today that Nora's Guatemalan passport (which has been taking one day) is taking a week or longer. Our attorney will not be submitting our request for Nora's US visa until she has a Guatemalan passport. Our submission will be at least one week away and then depending on how many days the US Embassy is closed it may take a while to get everything submitted. After that we will be given a date to pick up Nora's US visa.

UPDATE!

We found out today that Nora's birth certificate has been completed by the Guatemalan government which means Nora is officially our daughter. The birth certificate still has to be translated and a Guatemalan passport prepared then sent to the US Embassy. This should take approximately two days. The US Embassy will then need a few more days to to issue a visa appointment. Once this process is completed, the US Embassy will then issue a "pink slip" which identifies an appointment date and time for Pam and I to be at the US Embassy in Guatemala to get Nora's visa and other official documents so that we can bring her to the United States. We have no idea when all of this will happen because the US Embassy will be closed several days over the next month for President Bush's visit, an international adoption conference in Guatemala City, retraining and then for the Easter holiday period.