In Guatemala with Mazzi at last...

Hi Everyone! Yes, we have safely arrived in Guatemala and Mazzi is here! I know I should have posted yesterday, but things are different with a 6 month old than a 3 month old like last visit. It's busy keeping her fed, bathed, entertained and soundly sleeping!

Day 1 as some of you may already know was ROUGH! Mazzi was woke from a nap when she arrived and was not a happy camper! The first night involved a few giggles followed by roughly 3 hours of screaming! We still aren't sure what was wrong but more than likely we just allowed her to get too tired. I think we were too ready to play and she was too ready to sleep. We were worried that she just didn't like us and that we were going to have 3 days of nonstop crying, but much to our pleasant surprise she woke up on Day 2 as the same old Mazzi I remember from the last visit. She giggles, smiles and mocks a noise her dad taught her. She is much more like a regular baby now though...she does get crabby and crying does happen occasionally. I know it's hard to believe! Really though, we have learned to get her to sleep (which is what she is doing right now) and she is a much happier little thing! Day 3 is also off to a great start...she is doing well today and having lots of fun!

Now for the good stuff- she is as cute as ever! Her dad keeps saying isn't she the cutest...she's going to be a diva, I know it! We understand the pingtails entirely now because without them her hair is SO wild!!! It's all over the place and even adult hair products won't tame it. We are trying though...lots of combing going on. She is VERY long...will not fit in the 6-9 month sleepers that we brought, too short on her. One fits so we have been rinsing it out and hanging it outside to dry. She is eating a little now, one jar of food. Of course, I unpacked the food because they said she wasn't eating and we had NO room for it and now I wish we had it. Fortunately the woman who is fostering her baby here is SO nice. Other families leave her things when they go home so she has a room FULL of food, etc. We have taken some from her and borrowed her scissors. Are you worried as to why? Yes, we are going to cut her hair. It is SO long in the back and has rats that will not come out so we are going to give her a trim. Crazy we know!

As far as the process is concerned, we know really nothing more than before. Kenneth keeps saying anyday now, but he hasn't a clue really, no one does! He did say at least she'll be home for Christmas like it was a fact so that is good. A 5 month old was here and going home today so that is both discouraging and encouraging at the same time...is that possible? Kenneth called today to check on us and when the phone rang I nearly jumped out of my skin thinking it was "the call." No such luck...he shouldn't have done that to us. We still hope today or tomorrow we'll hear something but who knows? Fortunately we are hearing it's just about 3-5 weeks until pick up after the call. We were thinking 6-8 weeks so that is better. To think we could be coming back in less than a month!!!

As far as the adoption scare, no one here is worried at all. This is just something that happens every few years to scare us Americans. Everyone seems to think all will be well, but again who knows for sure? We are much less worried and please take the stories on the news with a grain of salt. The poverty here is tremendous and the wonderful people here see adoption as a blessing and necessity for their children - not a money making scheme like they make it sound on the news. And, I especially love the way they make it sound like adoption is SO simple here. Apparently, the media is not aware of the homestudy, 3 sets of fingerprints, letters of reference, 2 DNA tests for baby, physical exams and miles of other paperwork we have endured not to mention the 6+ months of waiting! Simple...are they crazy?!?!?!? I can't believe one of them hasn't been shot by an adoptive parent who has waited more than a year as many have!

Well, I need to get back and make sure she is still asleep...this has taken forever to write as the keyboards here are different from ours and I have struggled to find the keys!!

Love you all! See you on Sunday with photos and VIDEO!!!