We have been working hard around the house getting ready for your arrival. We painted your bedroom a very nice “Utterly Blue” color on the walls, with white trim. We have your crib, which we got from Babkie, and bedding which used to belong to your cousin Jillian, but is now yours. We sure hope you like moon and stars! We have had two baby showers so far, one hosted by our friends the Kims in June, and one hosted by your Aunt Jojo and Aunt Mia that we just had on Saturday. Both were wonderful, and people have been so generous in getting gifts for you. Everyone loved so see your pictures and your video.
The shower this past weekend was especially funny – you know how funny your Aunts can be. They cooked Guatemalan food and decorated Aunt Jojo’s house for a fiesta. Everyone loved the food, because Aunt Mia is an excellent cook. Then we played games. The first game required the contestants to match the English and Spanish names for various baby items. Your cousin Mary Ann won even though she has never studied Spanish. “I’m very competitive,” she said, and it is clear she is part of our family since we all love to compete in games. The second game and the most hysterical required the ladies, who had been divided into two teams, to compete in an adoption game. Two people from each team were selected to be Angela and Jerry. Your cousin Judy played Angela, and your cousin Beth played Jerry on one of the teams, and Nana played Angela and Aunt Vera played Jerry on the other team. The game was played out on the driveway at Aunt Jojo’s house. The first step of the game required “Angela and Jerry” to fill out an adoption application. They had to write: “I really want a baby” and sign their names. Then various friends and family members of “Angela and Jerry” had to write out references. Next “Angela and Jerry” had to clean the house for the home study. This required them to pick up a few items from the driveway and put them in a basket along with the application and the references. Next they had to “jump through hoops” by stepping through a hoola-hoop. They had to endure the wait by sitting in a chair for ten seconds (our wait has been a lot longer than that!!). There was a group photo, and then it was time for them to travel to Guatemala. “Jerry” had to pull “Angela” in a wagon decorated with a sign Air Guatemala down the length of the driveway. Waiting in Guatemala was “baby Mario,” a doll baby. Then “Jerry” had to pull “Angela and baby Mario” in the wagon all the way back to the top of the driveway while “Angela” changed the baby and sang a lullaby. Your cousins Judy and Beth won, but the race was very close since both teams were very competitive. It was so hysterical!
We have received lots of toys and clothes and other baby items for you, and are so looking forward to using them with you. I am also reading a couple baby books and learning about what you are probably able to do week by week. It is exciting to hear about, though also a bit sad, since we would like to see you making all this progress ourselves. But we know that you will be our son forever and ever and ever, so waiting a little bit longer is what we’ll have to do. I know it will be well worth the wait! I also have made appointments with a couple different pediatricians to check them out and see which might make the best match for us. They both come very highly recommended, but it will be good to meet them in person.
Oh, and Spanish class! Your daddy and I are enrolled in a Spanish class and are learning a lot! We have two more classes to go, out of total of eight. I definitely want to sign up for the next session, which will begin in early September. I’ll have to make sure to study a lot on my own in August in between the two sessions. I also have recently joined COTW’s listserv on Yahoo and have been looking at some of the messages other ladies have been leaving. There are lots of other families out there who are waiting on their babies, and many more who have their babies already. I haven’t written a message yet, but am learning from others’ experiences.