To read more about Alexander's adventures in America, check out:

http://www.lifewithlittles.blogspot.com

They're coming to America!! TODAY!!!

OK so sue me for ripping off a bad Neil Diamond ballad.

(Enter there are no good Neil Diamond Ballad jokes here).

The day began with a5:30 wake up call and a quick cab ride to the Guatemala Airport. The majority of the flights leaving this morning were carrying the families with their newly adopted children. Most of these people were first time parents with no experience on packing or traveling with children. So as you can imagine Guatemalan Airport Security was a tangle of baby strollers, over stuffed diaper bags, numerous tickle me Muppets characters getting jammed in the x ray machine. Utter chaos. Fortunately, Natalie and I already earned the “screaming at your spouse in an Airport over who forgot to pack cheerios” merit badge with Charlie, so we just breezed on through.

The flight from Guatemala to Dallas was actually uneventful. Alexander was his normal relaxed self and spent most of his time just sleeping and staring out the window. After spending just a few days with Alexander, it becomes very apparent that this kid constantly has the world under his microscope. What I mean is this, he is always examining everything. Every car in the street, every person in airport, every bag on the luggage carrousel, he just constantly takes it all in. So the end result is that Mom and Dad have a very easy time on Airplanes and Airports, because there is always something or someone to look at there.

We arrived in Dallas and with a hefty stamp from the Immigration official on Alexander's passport he is now a US citizen. Upon learning this he immediately asked for a NASCAR season pass and a super sized order of french fires. No he actually was content with a bottle and some more intense people watching during our 4 hour layover in DFW. After the last encounter with that Airport, having four hours to leisurely stroll around and actually take a breath was very nice.

Upon arriving home, Alexander was warmly greeted by his big sister. Fresh from her bath, she was still sans clothes. We did explain to Alexander that in this house we usually do wear clothes. Charlie is very much embracing the role of big sister. She is checking his diaper and telling Mom and Dad when it is time to change him. She even goes and gets a clean diaper. She does hold short on actually taking the dirty diaper away -- she delegated that one to good ole Dad.

So now at the end of the big Day the family is complete. FINALLY COMPLETE. Charlie is in bed and Natalie is exhausting her selection of Spanish lullabies, so Alexander is going to be following closely behind.

We just want to thank all of you who have supported us throughout this part of our journey. We know this is just then end of the one short chapter and a beginning of a much bigger one. But we could not have made it here with out all of you. Your love and support was truly sustaining.

Thanks so much

Hello my son -- happy birthday.

Mirian, Marilena, and Carlos came over around 10:30 on Tuesday about an hour after Natalie moved into her new room. The staff was very accommodating as they cleaned the room early to make this happen. Alexander was a little nervous at first, but the toys we brought along started to earn their keep. He really enjoys his Mega blocks, his little beach ball, and his little pink goat. They all stayed most of the day and since I was still incapacitated, Mirian decided to stay the night with Natalie and Alexander. Natalie and I think this actually worked for the best because it helped Alexander (and Mirian and Natalie) be eased into the transition. Natalie did have a few hours alone with Alexander that first day and as long as she kept him distracted he seemed OK. Another activity that Alexander seems to enjoy is looking out the window at all the foot and auto traffic that goes by the hotel. He is a very curious fellow. Natalie had some success getting him to sleep in her sling but was unsuccessful in getting him to stay asleep during the transition from sling to crib. He seems to prefer to sleep on top of Natalie for now, and mom is more than willing to oblige.

On Wednesday (10/18) we celebrate Alexander´s first birthday. We also have our first embassy appointment to finalize the adoption. This will be followed by a single appointment on Thursday to get his Visa and then we are done. After all the long arduous paper trail, the actual appointment with the US embassy takes about a hour, 90% of which is us sitting in chairs waiting for our number to be called. Honestly I have waited longer to get a driver license renewed at the DMV. I make a brief reappearance for the embassy appointment but then was shooed away by Natalie and Mirian both to ensure that everyone else stays healthy. By this point I am feeling better but I stay away for another 12 hours. By then I am dying to know what is going on and completely frustrated by the Spanish translation of HBO, so I check out of the Case Grande and rejoin my family.

Our adoption attorney, Marilena, brought over a cake and had a small party for Alexander´s first birthday. Although there is still a language barrier it is very apparent to all that Alexander LIKES cake!!! Big fan of it. He was not shy about getting that cake in his mouth whether with his hands or just dropping his whole head on his plate. Already he takes after his new Daddy.

After the party breaks up, we enjoy the evening with a little rain and a little candle light. Actually the little rain has knocked out the power to the hotel, so the candle light is more for necessity than ambiance. With me back in the room Mirian decides to go home and we all agree to meet tomorrow for one last visit. Natalie, Alexander, and I all sack out around 10:00 with Alexander once again preferring Natalie to the cold crib. We are all OK with this. Happy Birthday my son.

Exciting Times

First off, let me just say that this is not Natalie. She is busy bonding with Alexander, so I have been delegated as the trips blogger. So for those of you who are used to these posts having a certain standard of insight, poeticism or just plain good spelling and grammar -- You are out of luck.

But to the details,

1 ) The plane trip. The feud between the Dallas Airport and our family continues to rage. Storms throughout Dallas delayed every flight in and out except the one from Dallas to Guatemala City. So while we were an hour late our flight out was leaving right on time (Go figure!!). So knowing that our only flight that day was leaving in 10 min, Natalie and I decided to split up. I was to run ahead with the boarding passes and hold the plane until Natalie arrived. So off I go. For those who aren’t familiar with the Dallas Airport, the international terminal is approximately 1, 256 miles from the regular terminals -- give or take a light year or two. So as I arrive, the very nice gate attendant is already making last call announcements. I hand over both of our boarding passes and say that my wife is just behind me. I even motion with my hand toward a group of approaching people, who I don’t know from Adam for emphasis. My charade (so much a better word than LIE don’t you think) works and she enters both of us onto the flight list. I immediately bolt back up the concourse to retrieve my wife. I simply ignore the now not so nice gate agents as they call out that not boarding the plane at this instance is both "highly irregular and discouraged". I find Natalie a couple of gates away looking more that a little flushed, so I drag her the last few steps pass the frosty glares of the gate agents and get on the plane. The closing plane door literally hit me on the back on the way on.

Guatemala here we come.

2) The Hotel de San Carlos. I am told that this hotel is very beautiful. It has a beautiful garden with a pool complete with waterfall. I am also told that the food is excellent and the service if very friendly. I must mention that I have no first hand experience, because by the time the plane lands and we arrive at the hotel, I am already showing the symptoms of the flu that has run through other members of our family the last few days. So with all the loving kindness of a mother bear protecting her new cub, Natalie "suggests" I move to the hotel next door so I don’t get Alexander sick as well. It is the logical and wise choice, but I resist as I don’t want to miss anything. I am convinced that my super macho immune system will kill this pesky bug by Tuesday morning.

So by Tuesday morning I am too weak to stand, but somehow I find myself dressed and walking down the street with my suitcase in hand. I can’t remember for certain but I am pretty sure Natalie safety pinned a note to my shirt telling someone to take to me to Casa Grande Hotel where a room had mysteriously been reserved for me. Natalie was meanwhile busy moving to a new room in the San Carlos that had not yet been cootiefied by her husband. I proceed to sleep for the next 30 hours so the majority of the next blog entry is taken completely from Natalie’s notes.

Trip Information

After having a stomach bug, Charlie and I have fully recovered. We are praying it passes Eddy by, but just in case we have enough pharmaceuticals to give Merck a record quarter. Nothing is as blessed as feeling good!!

Our flight information:

American Airlines
All times CST

San Antonio to Dallas
flight 1760
Departs 3:10
DFW to Guatemala
flight 2195
Departs 5:10
Arrives 7:20

Guatemala to San Antonio
Oct 20th

Flight 2196
Departs 8:45 am
Arrives DFW
We clear customs and immigration here
Flight 1126
Departs 4:55
Arrives SAT at 6:00 pm

The best way to contact us in case of an emergency is by use of my cell, which is supposed to have international service. Please do not hesitate to call in case of an emergency, 210-445-1644. Text messages are great for non-urgent communication!

Accomodations

We have reservations at the Hotel San Carlos
hsnsancarlos@hsnsancarlos.com
ph# 011-502-5-202-6327

It is not quite likely but not improbable that something could happen to our reservation, in which case we will most likely be at the Casa Grande, in Zona 10, next to the US Embassy.

Travelguard Insurance policy #2334749
1-800-826-4419, This is in case we have a medical emergency in Guatemala.

Tuesday Alexander and Miriam will come to our hotel. Our appointment at the US Embassy is Wednesday at 7:45am. On Thursday, we wait for them to issue a passport and visa.

We hope to have access to a computer and, if so, will blog while we are there. Thanks!!!!

You Say It's Your Birthday?!

Our embassy appointment is at 7:45 am on October 18th, Alexander's first birthday!!!! The American Airlines flight gets in late at night, so we will be flying in on Monday the 16th. We will arrive Monday evening. Alexander is scheduled to come to the hotel the 17th. We have our appointment the 18th, then another one on the 19th. We will be heading home on the 20th. Yippee! We are off to get ready!!!

Pink Slip Countdown '06

After my hot pursuit of our social worker, she called me. I had to start the conversation with an apology as the number of phone calls is, quite frankly, boderline stalking. I am not really kidding. I am not really rational right now and the whole business standard time frame for returning calls seems like an eternity! As I write this, our attorney's counterpart is at the Embassy trying to get our pink slip. IF he gets it today, we will be scheduled for Thursday. This means we will need to be in Guatemala by Wednesday afternoon. The Embassy people do not work on Fridays. If it does not happen today, it will not happen until next week.

The social worker and I struck a deal. She will call us, no matter what time day or night, when she finds out the exact time of our first appointment. I will send her a picture of our family once we have settled in. Sounds like a good deal to me! :)

No Breaking News Today

I am having flashbacks of high school. You know, when you are waiting for that guy you have a crush on to call you? I guess these days it would be waiting for a text or email. Waiting is the unifying theme....

I emailed our attorney and put a call in to our social worker. Late this afternoon we could have possibly received our Embassy appointment or "pink slip" for next week. No news yet! I better go check my email for the 45th time.

What did we say about plans?

Dan and Kelly found out we were planning on driving to Houston so Charlie could stay with the Wrights. Kelly called and offered to stay with Charlie while we are in Guatemala. This will enable us to avoid six hours of driving and as well as hopefully use our frequent flier miles. In short, it is a tremendous help. Christine is going to keep Charlie after school until Kelly can pick her up on her way home from work. We are so blessed to have such helpful friends. Of course, I am not calling this a "plan"! How about a possibility?

What did we say about plans?