July 27th, 2006

Today marks the 10th day of God knows how many in PGN. The wait is okay so far because it has been a busy week.

Luckily, we received an updated report on Maya today!
She was at the doctors on July 20th. We are told that she sleeps from 9pm-6am and takes one or two naps every day. She has started cereal and fruits.
She is now 12.5 lbs and 23.2 inches long.
She is putting her hands and feet in her mouth, and recognizing her foster family.
We are told that she loves music and is very active. Sounds like her and Bryan already have something in common there!

Below are the very cute pictures that were taken for Maya's report.

One thing that helps us through this is her foster mom, Debbie. Meeting her was such a good idea. She is so sweet, kind and loving. I think you can even tell in the picture below. Her husband, Rene is also very kind. Thank God we know she is in good hands until we can get down there again.

Enjoy these extremely cute photos!

They could model a Mayan Cabbage Patch Kid off of this one!
Debbie and Maya
Look, I am standing!
What did you say, photographer? Look what way?

Help a baby out, I am stuck here

Look, there's a hand

Maya is starting to roll

Don't mess with me

Look at these feet!

Can you say "chubby cheeks", Maya??

Pictures of Maya ("Mayita")

We're very happy today. We got in PGN and we also received these photos from the foster father's cell!

She looks so happy:)

She is wearing the gap jean dress that I bought her. You cannot see it really, but it is cute!

DAY # 1 in PGN

Well, today our lawyer is finally getting us into PGN!
This means that she is submitting a petition for approval of our adoption case to the Attorney General's office(Which is the same as PGN( Procuraduria General de la Nacion))
All of our documents that we worked on from June 2005 until now need to be reviewed. If something is wrong, it will need to be re-done. They can kick us out of PGN for spelling errors,
expired notary seals, or anything really. Once everything is reviewed and approved,PGN issues its approval for the adoption to proceed.
Once we get out of PGN, we still will need the birth mother to sign off one more time, a new birth certificate with LEAR as her new last name, a passport and her Visa photo.
We were told that the birth mother in our case has already given power off attorney to our lawyer so that she does not have to travel, unless PGN makes her.

We are told to wait a minimum of 4 weeks in PGN, but right now, cases are stuck in PGN longer than that with an average of 8-12 weeks. That means between September and November for us, although it could be August or it could be next year!

Let's hope and pray that PGN gets moving and we have Maya in a Halloween outfit this year.

Thanks to everyone who is supporting us on this wild ride!

He is a pro at ice cream cones these daysHe was so cute trying to hear the ocean out of this tiny shell
Bryan's first day at the beach this year

Bryan got musical in the poolBryan attempting to ride his bike
Derek is a speed demon on his, WATCH OUT
Baby Aiden, Derek's brother..3 mos old
Our little American boy..he made this shirt and we have no idea why he is showing us his boob

This is the best picture I got of Cathy's brother. Long story short...I was supposed to do the second reading, he was supposed to do the first. I looked mine over a LOT so that I knew it and could make some eye contact with the crowd. When the actual mass took place he got up and READ MY READING!!!! So when I got up to do the second reading, I actually had to read the first reading which I was unprepared for....

Mike and KatieAt the end of the night my brother confessed that I am the best sister in the world and he loves me very much
The bride making her rounds, hitting Mom and Dad in this pic

My Mommy and Daddy, Tony and MarilynProud parents of the groom, Sharon and Phil
Cathy and Scott
It's bubble time
Aunt Lisa and Uncle Joe

JULY 1ST, 2006

My Grandmother(GAMMY) posing with my brother, Michael, and I


George and I are to the left
Below is the groom, Scott, and Mike






This is the Amadoro Family:)

Me, Mom, Dad, Mike

George took the picture:)

NO PGN

Hello...Well, no PGN yet. My agency just emailed me saying that my attorney is having trouble getting into the Embassy to pick up the pre-approval document. She hopes to have that in her hand by tomorrow. Then, our case will go into PGN. Our agency has not had good news from PGN in the last 10 days or so....and thinks that we are not missing anything by not being in PGN yet.

We hope to get in soon and out soon...but that is not what usually happens!

Well, looks like we had a good day today! Pre-approval and pics of Maya eating!!!
We are happy to see those rolls on Maya's arms! She is so beautiful!!
The third pic is her new foster brother Carlitos.

PRE-APPROVAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hooray!
We got pre-approval this morning!!!!!!

This basically means that Maya's visa will be approved when the adoption is completed.

Having pre-approval, we are now able to move into PGN which can take several weeks or several months. Let's hope and pray that it is only weeks...

After PGN we will need to apply for Maya's birth certificate. Once her birth certificate and final paperwork are filed at the embassy, the will issue us a "pink slip".

Ultimately we want the pink slip...that means we can travel and go get our baby!

Hello, just thought I would post a few photos that Maya's foster parents sent us. They do not have a digital camera but do have a cell phone that takes pictures. They are tiny, but we can still see how cute she is!!!!!