BACK IN LOUISIANA

My visit trip with Dominick was fantastic! I was really concerned that I was making a mistake because of how hard it would be to say good-bye to him, but it was definitely not a mistake. It was worth every dollar spent and every tear cried. I don't know how to explain it, all I can say is I am so glad I went. Although giving Dominick back to the foster mother was hard, it wasn't any worse than I had anticipated. What helped was knowing that he is so well taken care of and how happy he is with his foster mother and father. They couldn't love him more than their own natural child.
Mom and I went shopping with 2 ladies who were also there visiting their baby, after we had all said good-bye to our babies. The shopping really helped. I bought tons of souvenirs for Dominick. I will save everything and give him a present from his country every year on his adoption day.
Because of bad weather in Miami, our plane couldn't land there for several hours and was put in a holding pattern in the air and then stopped in Fort Lauderdale for refueling. Needless to say, we missed our connection flight in Miami and we had to stay over night in a hotel, so we didn't get back to Louisiana until yesterday (Wed.).

My first dinner with Mommy and MawMaw.


I was so sleepy after that big breakfast. I just had to take a little nap.

OK Mommy, I'm ready to go jogging in my new clothes.

Look at my big manly belly, I'm so proud of it.

Everyone tells me I have big kissable cheeks and beautiful "black" eyes.

These are the little motorcycles that will deliver your McDonald's food to you.


This was a sweet Guatemalan lady that gave me permission to take her picture in one of the market shops.

The pool at the Marriott.


At the airport, saying bye to Guatemala. It is absolutely beautiful in Guat. full of volcanoes and mountains; the landscape, weather, and flowers would probably be comparable to Hawaii if it were run by are more prosperous country like the USA.

LAST DAY WITH DOMINICK (for now)

Aren t I cute! My Mommy always has to put these dumb hats on me...too bad I have not learned to pull them off yet.


My Mommy says I look so handsome in yellow, but I am confused...she says that about every color I wear.


It is a little difficult for my Mommy to get up with me before sunrise. In the summer time, she usually sleeps until about 10 am. I guess she better start going to bed earlier.


Look at the little outfit my PaPa bought for me in Hawaii. Doesn t he have good taste?


There goes the hat again. I don t understand the big deal with the hats. She bought 2 more today at the marker. Geeez!


Here is my little friend from Guatemala. He is a month older than me and his name is Samuel.


I like when she kisses my fat cheeks...sometimes I even kiss her back.


This is the picture we took right before my Mommy had to say good-bye to me. Her and Mrs. Irma were both very sad and crying, but I was so happy to see my foster mom again. I have been missing her a lot.

DAY # 3 WITH DOMINICK

Since Dominick was not with us at the airport on the way to Guatemala, we used his stroller to carry our luggage. EVERYONE that walked by us looked in our stroller and half of them asked, Where is your baby! At first it was funny, then it got a little old.

I am riding my horsie so I can burn off some calories. My Daddy is a little concerned that I might weigh a little too much. Hee Hee!


Me and my Mommy just hung out today while MaMa went on a tour to Antigua.

Hi Daddy! We miss you and Mickey & Gizmo! I hope we get out of PGN soon so you can come and see how cool I am! I have been told that I am quite a character. See you soon.
Love, Dominick

HERE AT THE MARRIOTT WITH DOMINICK!!!

Hello Everyone! We have been here in Guatemala with Dominick for 1.5 days now and we are enjoying our time with him so much. He has sooooo much character and is already wearing me out. Mom and my arm muscles are so sore for carrying around his little 19 pound self.

Here is MaMa (my mom) at the New Orleans airport. While getting our tickets, I looked up and noticed the Guatemalan flag.


This is when I was first handed my baby! The lady next to me is Dominick's foster mother.


Proud MaMa!!!


Happy Little Chunky Monkey! This picture was taken right before we went to La Vista restaurant where Dominick ate 1 egg, 2 bowls of oatmeal, and some fruit.


Just hangin out by the pool with my Mommy and MaMa!

Only 3 More Days!!!

Only 3 more days until I hold my baby! I cannot believe it, it seems unreal to me after all this time. My mom and I will fly out of New Orleans on Thursday and my baby will be brought to me at our hotel early Friday morning. He will stay with us the whole time, and then our attorney will come to pick him up and take him back to his foster mother on Monday afternoon or Tuesday morning. We plan on having breakfast with Dominick's wonderful foster mother and her sister on Friday morning. I'm so excited about meeting her, I've heard such great things about her and she just loves Dominick to pieces. Hopefully the waiters at the restaurant in the hotel will help with translating our conversation. I don't know how to explain it, but I feel I have such a connection with his foster mother for loving him so deeply and being his first "mommy".
I have packed five blank 60 minute video tapes to capture all those moments I will treasure for the next weeks while I wait for him to come home. Hopefully 300 minutes of video will be enouph...but I guess I'll never really have "enouph" of him. I found a poem I'd like to share with you.

Waiting

I haven't met you yet or seen your face,

but in my heart you hold a place.

My hopes grow with each passing day,

even though you're miles away.

I know you're there waiting for me,

as I am here waiting to see,

the child God has sent from above,

to make me a mother and share all my love.

written by: Karen Cooper

Dominick's Nursery: Baby Farm Animals

Daddy was covering up those ugly green walls with pretty blue paint to look like the sky.

Aaaawwwwww, look at the pretty bedding and all the baby farm animal stickers that Pop and Hunnie (grandparents) bought for Dominick!

Yeah, more baby animals from Pop and Hunnie! And check out the dresser, bed, and bookcase that Papa and Mama bought for Dominick!

Here's the bookcase! And take a look at the crazy looking cow bank. How cool is that?

Hmmm...I wonder how long it will look this organized after Dominick comes home???

This is the 3rd set of pictures we got of Chunky Monkey. What an awesome surprise to open your email and find new pictures of your baby! He was 4 months and weighed 15.8 pounds. He just gets cuter and cuter with every new set of pictures. I can't imagine he could possibly get any cuter! Hummm, maybe I'm just a little biased.

These are the 2nd set of pictures we received of Dominick. He was 2 1/2 months old and weighed 13 1/2 pounds. The little outfit he is wearing is one my parents had bought him for Christmas and we had mailed to his foster mother. What a cutie pie!!!

Our journey began...

We began our adoption paper work in September, 2005. We finally got our referral (pictures, birth certificate, etc.) of our baby boy on February 15, 2006. Over these past 4 1/2 months since receiving our referral, we have bonded with this precious baby's pictures and completely fallen in love with him. These 2 sets of pictures are the first we received.