Mia resting for her first big pool adventure

Mia´s first swim

More pool time

A nap after a swim 

Antigua´s public transportation (aka Chicken Buses)

Central Park 

Mia´s new toy

Back in the process as of July 1st

Hello,

I found out yesterday that we are back in PGN as of July 1st. PGN is the last stage of the process. I´m hoping for a speedy approval and trip home. The lawyer will check back in the next few days to see if there has been any progress. Things are going well in Antigua. Not much to report. I´m waiting for friends to arrive tomorrow and looking forward to the company. Mia loves to have people stay with us because it gives her more things to watch. She loves to stare and I call her a little ¨news nose¨ because she is always watching everyone...

We miss everyone and can´t wait see you.

More soon.

Mia´s 5 months

Hola,

Mia is now 5 months and changing every day. She is eating cereal and as you can see...really filling out. Heather left this morning at 4:00am. She was such great company for Mia and me. Mia keeps looking at the stairs waiting for Heather. I´m not going to break the news to her that Heather is gone until later today. We found a wonderful little place for food. It is called Frieda´s and we´ve been there at least three times over the last couple of days. We keep trying other places but nothing compares. Tomorrow we are going to the pool at Hotel Antigua. I´m not sure how Mia will react to swimming. She likes her bath time, so maybe that will be a good sign. I (Heather) was able to send Dennis a short movie of Mia saying goodnight. Every little bit helps when you´re this far away.

We miss everyone. Enjoy the pictures and happy 4th!

Mia´s new little friend Mel gave her a doll.

Mia and Heather 

Mia and mommy�s morning coffee stop 

Mia with her cousin Heather 

Bath time 

First day of cereal with a spoon. She really didn�t get the concept. 

More laughs... 

Mia and mommy 

Fiesta at the Embassy

Due to the holiday, the embassy is closed today, tomorrow and Monday. We are still not back in the process of review and now will be delayed at least another week. On the bright side, I´ve heard once my case returns to the reviewer it will go fast. One can only hope. Lately, Mia and I have been hitting the town every night. It isn´t a big surprise to my family and friends that we are eating out three times a day. They know Mia by name at Cafe Condessa and she is becoming a real night owl. We already have a few favorite spots. Many places are owned by Americans that have moved to retire in Antigua. I´m getting pretty comfortable with finding my way around the city and even using a little Spanish every now and then. Heather has been such a huge help. Mia loves having her around. We both agree she should stay with us a little longer.

Mel was adopted from the same agency as Mia. Mel�s mom referred us to the agency that gave us Mia. Mishel came to Guatemala this weekend to take Mel home. Mia and I are very happy for them! 

More of Mia and Mel... 

Mia thinks Mel is funny 

Mia and Mel meeting for the first time 

Heather arrives in Antigua

Mia´s cousin came to visit for a couple of days and we are very happy to have her. Heather has been such a great help and Mia loves her already. Things are moving along and we are hoping the process moves quickly. We are still waiting to enter the last stage of the adoption process. Our agency sent a new document and our attorney should receive it over the next couple of days. I´m pretty certain my stay will be extended by 2-4 weeks. This is assuming things progress as normal from this point. Initially, we thought mid-July. Now, we are thinking possibly August. I´m hoping it will be sooner, but I would rather be surprised than disappointed by unreal expectations. I have friends coming down the 7th thru the 11th and then again on the 16th or so. I really enjoy sharing Antigua and it keeps my mind off the process. Mia is doing great and has changed so much in the 2 1/2 weeks that I´ve been here.

Hope everyone is doing well and having a great summer.

So happy with my nanny! 

Hola Pappa...I miss you. 

Good morning... 

baby room test-run:

molly and i worked diligently on preparing the baby room for mia yesterday, funny thing is, zeke thinks we are doing all this work for him.

i just had to indulge him for the moment!

Conversations with Mia

Hello Everyone,

Mia and I were just talking about how much we miss everyone and can´t wait to see our friends and family. We have plenty of time for conversation since she has decided that sleep is over-rated and teeth really don´t feel too good when they start to pop through.
We also talked about her eating habits because she doesn´t like carrots or peas and that isn´t a good thing for a vegetarian. I´m sure she will love a good tofu scramble. I´ll have to wait until I return to Minneapolis. I´ve come to the conclusion that tofu is not available in Antigua. She did tell me that she hasn´t made up her mind yet if she is going to adopt her mom´s eating habits and wants me to let her decide. We´ll see about that :)

I´m hoping to be back in the process this week. Keep your fingers crossed for an early approval. Dennis is busy getting things ready in Minneapolis for Mia and I´m hoping to take a trip to St. Louis when we return. Mia´s cousin Heather is coming on Monday and we are both very excited. We are going to the big market today to try and find the textile pattern from her village.
Wish us luck!

kate's last day

i think mia really likes kate...

on the streets of antigua

group shot!

kate's visit...

laurie, kate and mia
at the cafe condesa.

hello from the dogs...

oliver and zeke are really wondering where laurie is these days... and they asked me to write to you about them. they want you to know that they wake up in the morning and do their usual routine, but at night when i come home and walk zeke, oliver stays at the front door and waits for you. he sometimes hears a neighbor's car door and barks diligently thinking that you will be walking through the door at any moment.

they are doing just fine. both sleep much of the day, and play in the yard in the evenings as usual. zeke's ear is better now that he has had a full week of drops, and truth be told, ollie is still more interested in snausages than waiting at the front door... little does he know that when you do walk through that door you will have mia with you, and as much as i tell him all about her, i'm sure he will be confused by that.

bottom line is the dogs miss you, they are happy, and well taken care of... and they know you are on your way home soon...

xoxo

oliie & zeke

likes the neighbor's toys better than her own...

mia has fallen in love with lucita's swing, she is facinated with the little green fish.

kate took this photo of mia's first tuk-tuk ride. a tuk tuk is a small moped-taxi service that is really bouncy... as you can see she slept the whole way.