My Angel Elaina

PUMPKIN TIME!!!

2009-10-24T20:34:00.001-07:00

PUMPKIN PATCH FUN

Elaina and I went to Schaake's Pumpkin Patch today in Lawrence!! The weather was beautiful and we had a GREAT time!!!

I can't believe that my little pumpkin is 3 1/2 feet tall!!!

Here she is with her GREEN pumpkin that she picked out and she said it was just her size!!!

Elaina and Mommy

Say PUMPKIN!!!

Elaina had so much fun on the slides!!!

FIRST DAY OF PRESCHOOL

2009-09-04T20:13:00.000-07:00

Elaina was so excited for her first day of Pre-School.

PRESCHOOL BREAKFAST

She is always asking for both bacon and sausage and she can only have one or the other so today I let her have one bacon and one sausage along with her eggs and grapes. She ate ALL of it.

Elaina LOVES blue and I found this adorable plaid jumper that has blue flowers on it. Everyone thinks it is her school uniform. It sure does look like what Mommy had to wear going to Catolic School.
Showing off her pre-school bag that she helped me decorate with Ariel and hearts.

Elaina got to be the first SPECIAL HELPER and bring snack. Here she is standing by her classroom door holding her sncak of cinnamon bread and drinkable yogurt.

Elaina hugs her Teacher Ms. Mary!!

MOGUATE at TAN-TAR-A

2009-09-04T19:48:00.001-07:00

MOGUATE 2009

We had a wonderful weekend at Tan-Tar-A with 43 families who have all adopted from Guatemala.

The major highlight from our weekend besides seeing old friends and making new friends was that Elaina and I got to meet the family that had the same Foster Mother as us and we got to visit via webcam with Alyeda our Foster Mother in Guatemala. She cried tears of joy when she saw her Princessita and the Dunbars children. We got to see her whole family and we visited for a long time. We can't THANK Susan enough for translating for us and setting it all up. We plan to do it more often to stay in touch.

Elaina and Mommy pose by the bear in the restaurant in our MOGUATE shirts that Mommy designed.

Oops-forgot to flip pic.
PIZZA FACE!!!
Susan and I took the girls bowling for the first time. Elaina makes the cutest scorekeeper. Group shot of most of our Guatemalan Blessings!!!

Elaina steps up to the line!!!

Mommy and Elaina by the waterfall!!

I am holding Elaina-she did not go down the slide by herself-you just can't see me.

Playing with Evy and new friend A!!!

Can't wait for next year!!!!

SUMMER BIKE RIDE

2009-07-17T16:38:00.000-07:00

What a beautiful summer evening for a bike ride. Elaina went for a ride on her new (used) bike before dinner and then I gave her a choice to play after dinner or go for another bike ride and she she choose the bike ride!!! Good Choice Elaina!!!!

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!!

2009-07-04T08:32:00.000-07:00

Peek-A-Boo!!!

Here is my little firecracker wearing her Grandpa's hat!!

Elaina and Mommy at our Parade at school!!

Being Silly!!

Friends Photo Shoot

2009-05-24T22:32:00.001-07:00

We had so much fun going to get our pictures taken with our Best Friends!!!

I don't have a scanner so I took pictures of our pictures. Gotta do what works!!

I LVOE this pic of me and Elaina!!

The poem says:

She may outgrow her Mother's arms

But she will never outgrow her Mother's heart!!

LIVE LAUGH LOVE

Framed group wall picture

Christopher, Elaina and Andrew

Elaina is 3!!!!

Best Friends!!!

Mommy's 40th Birthday!!!

2009-05-17T06:49:00.000-07:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOMMY!!!!

May 6- Mommy and Aunt Jean turned the BIG 40 and Aunt Joanie turned 37!!!

Gammie took us all out to lunch at the Mongolian BBQ!!! It was so yummy.

Elaina wrote her E in my card!!!

"LOOK MOM-I am using my chopsticks!!!"

Gammie asked me what I wanted to get Mommy for her birthday and I said: Paper, Pencils, Crayons and scissors so Mommy can cut out her pictures. SO, that is what I got her!!!

Thanks Elaina-Mommy loves her presents!!

Family Picutre

Gammie, Elaina, Mommy, Aunt Jean (Mommy's twin sister) and Aunt Joanie (Mommy's younger sister)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUNT JEAN AND AUNT JOANIE!!!!

I LOVE YOU!!!!!!

Hugs and Kisses, Elaina

My Little Gardner

2009-05-03T20:17:00.001-07:00

After a busy morning of going to my cousin Laura's confirmation and luncheon we went home and I planted flowers with my Gammie.

I picked out this pink flower all by myself!!

My Mommy says I look like Yoko One when I go outside and my glasses get dark!!
Who's Yoko Ono???

My Gammie bought me my very own yellow pepper plant. I LOVE PEPPEERS!!! Come on little guy GROW!!!!

Having fun playing in the dirt. I had dirt in my hair, all over my face and under my pretty pink fingenails but Mommy helped me clean my fingernails before dinner!! Thanks Mommy!!!

I DID IT!! I planted my pretty pink flower!!!

Elaina's Easter Pics

2009-04-13T11:49:00.001-07:00

Elaina got puzzles from the Easter Bunny!!!

Elaina is all smiles in her Easter Dress. Even though it was cold she did not want to wear her sweater.

Coloring eggs with Gammie

Yummy Chocolate!!!

My cute little Bunny!!!

Elaina's New Glasses

2009-04-10T15:15:00.001-07:00

NEW GLASSES

Elaina got her new glasses today. She was so excited to get them. Her Mommy, Gamma, Aunt Jean, Aunt Joanie, Aunt Ali, Uncle Richard and a couple of friends at school all have glasses too.

We went to the eye doctor on Monday and I had forgotten that she would eventually need glasses due to the Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) she had when she was born. Elaina had surgery when she was 3 months old in Guatemala. Elaina was a preemie and only weighed @ 2-2 1/2 pounds at birth and she had stage 3 out of 5 stages of the ROP. So glasses were inevitable. I had to laugh at my eye doctor (who I LOVE) she said:"Yep, she is YOUR daughter because we have the same stigmatism in our left eyes. (I also had eye surgery when I was a baby).

These are transition lenses (didn't know that before I got them today)but when she goes outside and the lenses darken she looks like John Lennon. Too cute!!

Easter Bunny

2009-04-04T18:15:00.001-07:00

EASTER BUNNY

We had a very busy day today. We started our day with going to a WW meeting with Mommy, then we went to swim lessons and had to leave early so we wouldn't be late for the egg hunt. We go to the egg hunt just as they started and Elaina had fun gathering her eggs. (Sorry no pics-Mommy's camera card was full. Had to delete some pics,but luckily Aunt ALi saved the day and she took egg hunt pics for us.) Elaina actually sat on the Easter Bumy's lap this year. She gave him a high five but we just couldn't quite get the smile out of her. Of course once she was down off his lap she was all smiles. We had lunch and then ran some errands and then went to go watch ALi's boys play soccer. They did great!! We had a really good say!!!

Elaina and the Easter Bunny
Playing on the swings

Easter Bunny pics with our buddies Christopher and Andrew!!

MARDI GRAS PARADE

2009-02-24T11:58:00.000-08:00

Mardi Gras Parde at school today. All the kids made some kind of masks or hats and marched around the gym. Here are a couple of pice of me and Elaina in our Mardi Gras hats.

AWESOME HAIRBOW HOLDER

2009-02-10T11:23:00.000-08:00

Isn't this AWESOME!!! My good friend Pat made this from a picture that I sent her that I got from another adoptive Mommy. It looks so good hanging in Eaina's room. She is going to make these and sell them at the craft shows she goes to. Let me know if you would like to order one. Send me an e-mail at:

www.judihammes@yahoo.com

SWIM,SMILES & SWINGS

2009-02-10T11:15:00.000-08:00

SWIM

Elaina had her first swim lesson on Saturday. My little mermaid wouldn't get in the pool. I couldn't believe it!!! Once I did get her in the water then I couldn't get her out. The other parents were telling me what a little fish I have.

Here she is with one of her teachers Ms. Sarah

SMILES

Cute but onery!!!

What a smile!!!

SWINGS

After her nap we went to the park and she had a great time on the swings!!

My Happy Little Angel!!

Birthday Party Time

2009-01-11T19:30:00.000-08:00

We celebrated Elaina's Birthday this weekend. Her Birthday is December 28th but it is nice to have a couple of weeks in between Christmas and her Birthday. I had a Fit-Tastics Party for her. My friend Stephanie does Fit-Tastics at Pre-schools, Parents as Teachers events and Birthday Parties. It is a combination of music, movement, tumbling and dance. She brought ALL of her equipment and the kiddos really had a wonderful time.

Here is Elaina walking across the balance beam with cousin Kierstin looking on!!

Action shot of her blowing out her candles!!! (great picture Aunt Ali!!)

Check out those smiles!!! Cousins Elaina and Laura give each other a BIG HUG!!

Elaina doing a flipover the bridge-Evvy says I'm next!!

Elaina poses with all of her wonderful gifts. Thank you to everyone who came and helped celebrate Elaina's 3rd Birthday!!!!

I am SPECIAL!!!

2009-01-02T11:36:00.000-08:00

Here is a cute video of Elaina singing "I am Special"-it is her own version-I have never heard her sing it quite like this before. My sweet angel just amazes me sometimes!!!

Elaina's Grandpa passed away long before she was born but she knows who he is and loves him very much. We have his picture on an angel ornament on out tree and usually when I ask her where he is she says: My Grandpa is in heaven or lately she has ben saying that he is in our hearts. It is so precious!!!

Sorry it is sideways-note to self do not turn the camera to videotape:)!!!

HAPPY 3RD BIRTHDAY ELAINA!!!!!

2008-12-28T20:04:00.000-08:00

I can't believe that Elaina is 3 years old!!! These past two years have been so amazing being a Mommy to the most beautiful little angel in the world!! (Ok-I am a little biased)

Elaina spent the night are her Aunt Jean's house and Mommy picked her up bright asnd early. Uncle John has a tradition with his girls that on their Birthday he makes pancakes in the shape of the number that they turned. So today Uncle John made Elaina a pancake that looked like a 3 or if you turned it around the Letter E!!! Thank you Uncle John-hopefully they took a picture of it and will send it to me. (Hint hint) We then went to Church and went to visit Gamma at Costco and then we went swimming and then slept for two hours. Whew- what a day.

Here are some pics (oops -out of order don't know how to fix that) from referral to now!! Enjoy!!

This is one of my favorite pics I have taken of Elaina. She is only 14 months old in this picture but she looks sooo big!!! This picture was selected to be in our agency calendar last year.
This is the FIRST picture I ever saw of my sweet angel. She is 5 months old and only weighs 10 pounds. It looks like she is saying: "Come get me Mama" or she is giving the "PEACE" sign.
I carried this picture and ALL of her update pictures with me wherever I went and showed them to everyone.

Christmas Eve 2008

The Birthday girl!!! We lit the candles and sang Happy Birthday!

I'm 3!!!!!!

and loving my cupcake!!

OUR FAMILY DAY!!!!!

2008-12-21T19:13:00.000-08:00

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 17TH...

Was our FAMILY DAY!! This is the day that 2 years ago Elaina was placed in my arms for the first time. What a magical day it was. My Mom and I were waiting in the lobby of the Radisson Hotel in Guatemala City with our eyes glued to the front door. I was talking to another couple who was with their baby and we didn't know that there was a set of elevators in the back of the lobby. It was then that my Mom said the words I will never forget:

"Judi, your daughter is here!!!"

I spun around and even thought there were about 6 people with her I only saw Elaina. Renee, the foster daughter was holding her and she brought her over to me and I took Elaina in my arms and she put her forehead to mine and we looked into each others eyes and our lives together began. It was amazing!! I can still recall every moment of our pick-up trip. Just minutes before she arrived some people were singing "I Can Only Imagine" what a beautiful song to hear just minutes before I was to meet my daughter for the first time.

So I took a couple of days off work and we were supposed to go out of town but the weather was too cold so instead we went down to the Country Club Plaza and got a hotel room and drove around to see the lights and we took The lighted Cinderella Coach for a ride around the plaza. What a wonderful ending to our very special day.

Here Elaina is looking out the window at the lights!!
La Princessita in her carriage!!!

Gamma, Elaina and Mommy all bundled up as we ride around the plaza.

B-r-r it was cold but it was worth it.

This is our horse "Blue" who gave us a great ride. We told the driver what we were celebrating and he was very excited for us and gave us a little longer ride.

It was 2 years ago today that we were greeted by family and friends at the airport. Thanks to everyone who was their to share in Elaina's Welcome Home!!! WE LOVE YOU!!!

SANTA PICTURES!!!

2008-12-09T20:51:00.000-08:00

What a difference a year makes!!

Elaina was so excited to see Santa and yelled his name and waved Hi to him from across the room.

Here is last years picture with Santa. What you don't see Santa?? Look closely and you can see his hand and his knee on the left side of the picture while Elaina crawls up Mommy.

From a distance she LOVED Santa-not so sure up close.

Santa 2007

Santa 2008

Quite a difference. I think if the child in front of us hadn't been upset Elaina might have done a little better. Who knows-she got a lot closer this year even though we didn't get any smiles. This was at our agency party and Santa and Mrs. Claus were fantastic!!! It didn't matter how upset the child was they managed to calm them down.

Here she is even hugging Santa but still has a death grip on Mommy's arm.

Here are her smiles!! The minute she got down she waved bye to Santa and said:
"Santa's my best friend!!!"
When she would see another child get upset she would say: "It's ok-Santa is our friend. I tried to get her to go back up one more time but she was all done and ready go. Maybe next year.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Holiday Cutenesss!!!!!

2008-12-09T20:34:00.000-08:00

Here are just some random pics of Elaina being cute!!!

Decorating the Christmas Tree!!!

Being silly with her Santa hat!!

She asked to wear the Santa hat at breakfast!!

HO! HO! HO!

Am I cute or what???

Elaina has PIGGY-TAILS!!!

2008-11-12T11:27:00.000-08:00

I think I am going to let Elaina's hair grow longer instead of cutting it. I put her hair up in pig tails this morning and she looks so cute.

Here she is giving Leroy a hug before leaving for school.
Cute piggie tails!!!

Wrinke nose!!!

CHRISTMAS COOKIE SLEEPOVER

2008-11-10T19:37:00.001-08:00

Last Friday Elaina's cousins Kierstin, Laura and Cassidy all came over to make Christmas cookies with Gamma. Due to everyone's crazy schedules it was the only time all the girls could get together.

Elaina learned very quickly how things work when baking with Gamma. After Gamma poured the chocolate chips into the meausuring cup Gamma told Elaina she could try a couple of chocolate chips. She really liked that. Well we were making our Monster cookies and M & M's were next and they are Elaina's favorites. I wish I had a video camera to record what happened next. With the measuring cup in her right hand filled with M & M's she started to pour the M & M's into the bowl and her left hand appears and she swipes a handful of M & M's before she dumps the rest in the bowl. It was priceless. We were all laughing so hard.
YUMMY CHOCOLATE!!!!

Cousins Kierstin, Elaina and Cassidy snap a close up!!

After Elaina went to bed on a sugar high the big girls got to make Gingerbread Houses.

Sisters Kierstin and Laura smile as they make their gingerbread houses. These are the 7th, 8th and 9th gingerbread houses that Gamma has bought over the last three years and are the FIRST ones to be made. The previous 6 all got thrown away and were never made. They had a blast decorating them.

Here Laura poses with her gingerbread house. Great Job Girls!!!

After cleaning up the kitchen the big girls went downstairs to play scattergories with Aunt Judi. Everyone had a great time. Aunt Judi and Kierstin went to bed around 11:00 and Cassidy and Laura stayed up much later. When I came downstairs the next morning to wake the girls-they had to leave by 9:00 am-there were several more games that had been played: Mad Gab, Pictionary and Uno Attack.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN FROM ELAINA

2008-11-01T15:27:00.000-07:00

Here are Elaina's school friends-they had a parade around the playground and I was trying to hide so she wouldn't see me. but the second she saw me she started crying and ran over to me so I had to walk her around for the parade.

Enjoying the treats Mommy made for her party. I dipped pretzels into white chocolate that I colored orange and added a green gumdrop for the stem and put them on a graham cracker.

My little Chicken

Trunk or Treat with our best friends Andrew and Christopher

Carving her pumpkin!!!

A REAL Pumpkin Patch

2008-10-30T12:40:00.000-07:00

This past weekend my neice Kierstin and I took Elaina to a REAL pumpkin patch. She had so much fun running around touching all the pumpkins.

Kierstin and ElainaElaina puts a pumpkin on Mommy's head!

MY PUMPKIN!!!!!

Mom-the sun is in my eyes!!!

We had a great time!!

FALL FUN AT THE PUMPKIN PATCH

2008-10-20T11:33:00.001-07:00

The Corn Maze
Peek-a-boo
SMILE!!
My pumpkin and my M & M's!!!
The 3 E's

Erica, Elaina and Evvy

We went to Faulkners Pumpkin Patch on Sunday with our GAP-KC group. There was so many activities for the girls to do: moon walks, slides, train rides, swings, scarecrow obstacle course, hay rides plus lots more. everyone had a good time. Although there really wasn't a pumpkin patch to walk through-just pupmkins to pick from in the gift shop. Will try to hit a pumpkin patch next weekend.

CHEESY SMILES!!!!

2008-10-20T11:27:00.000-07:00

Cheesy smile while playing with playdough!!
Wicked smile as Elaina cuts her playdough
More cheesy smiles
Elaina loves her Leroy Brown

Guatemalan Independence Day Celebration

2008-09-29T11:45:00.000-07:00

Elaina and I belong to a group called GAP-KC and Sunday we met at Antioch Park for our Guatemalan Independence Day Celebration.

The Flag of Guatemala
Elaina became attached to a soccer ball and here she is sitting on it and being silly. We had to put the ball under our table while we ate. Mind you the ball doesn't even belong to us.
Sweet Smile!!
Pinata Time!!!
CANDY!!!!!

In case anyone noticed we did have an outfit change due to an accident when going potty. The T-shirt she is wearing was sent home with her from the Foster Mother and it says:

"Hecho en Guatemala"

"Made in Guatemala"

It is too cute and she won't be able to wear it much longer. My baby girl is growing up too fast.

Elaina's Tube Came out...

2008-09-18T07:36:00.001-07:00

Elaina had tubes put in her ears 6 months ago and we went in for our check-up today and one of the tubes was just sitting in her ear canal so the Doctor went in to get it and then brought it to me on a paper clip to keep. I had no idea that it was soooooo small. Amazing how this little piece of plastic has kept Elaina so healthy the past 6 months. Let's keep our fingers crossed that she doesn not have any ear infections and we will not have to re-insert a new tube.

Lenexa Spinach Festival

2008-09-08T10:15:00.000-07:00

Now don't say: Oh gross. The Lenexa Spinach festival is a lot of fun. There is a lot of yummy food other than spinach, lots of craft vendors and a huge children's section. The wait last year for the pony rides was forever and Miss. E was too fussy. This year, due to the crummy rainy weather there was no wait at all. Here are pics and two small videos of Elaina riding the pony named Peanut. She really had a great time although Mommy can never catch her smiling on camera. We then went to the Wonderscope tent where Elaina painted a picture, decorated a pair of paper sunglasses, made a bracelet with beads and had fun spraying a plastic window with water and using a squeegee to wipe it clean.

Lights, Camera, Action!!!

2008-09-06T18:19:00.000-07:00

Here is Miss Elaina taking the stage at Aunt Ali's house:

Take it away Elaina!!!!

Another swim video!!!

2008-09-02T12:47:00.000-07:00

This is a better video of her swimming!! What a BIG GIRL!!!

A future Olympian perhaps!!!

2008-09-02T12:21:00.000-07:00

Here she is again!! My little fishy!! It is amazing how fast she has learned to swim this summer. Granted we swim everyday and I think that has helped tremendously. I have to find some more swim lessons to help her keep all that she has learned. She is not wearing any lifejackets or water wings. Here is a video and some pics of a future olympian perhaps!!! I am so proud of her!!!

Here are a couple more swim pics:

Mo-Guate at Tan-Tar-A

2008-08-27T10:35:00.000-07:00

Elaina and Evvy eating lunch
Mommy and Elaina on the Ozark Princess
Rock hunter
What a cutie!!!

6 Beautiful Guate-TotsA couple of weeks ago Elaina and I joined 26 other families with beautiful children all adopted from Guatemala. We had a fun and relaxing weekend. I didn't take enough pics but a lot of other people did. You can go to: http://MOGUATE.blogspot.com

to view our group photo and other videos. It was so fun to finally meet these familie who we have known through the adoption boards.

WOW!! Long time no blog!!!

2008-08-27T10:17:00.000-07:00

Hi -I have not been the best a updating this blog. Elaina has really taken off on her swimming and I really need to get her back into swim lessons. She is swimming by herself. It is absolutely amazing. I will try to post a video of her from earlier this summer-she is wearing her suit with the built-in life vest in the video. We are beyond that now but here goes.

SHOPPING WITH MAMA!!!

Elaina loves to go to Hy-Vee to shope because they have the really small grocery carts, a horse to ride on (its free!! Yeah!!) and a playhose.

So shopping pic is above-I need major blog help!!LOL!!!!

My Little Fishy

2008-06-19T17:26:00.000-07:00

Everynight after we get home from school Elaina and I love to go swimming. She doesn't mind if the water is cold or not. And after all the rain we have had lately the pool has been quite cold.

Here she is in her life jacket from Aunt Ali:

The next pics are of my little fishy swimming and floating and blowing bubbles:

Busy weekend

2008-06-16T10:09:00.000-07:00

June 16, 2008

Hello and welcome to our blog!!

I have started this blog about my beautiful daughter Elaina who I adopted from Guatemala. Elaina is 2 1/2 years old and has been home with me since December 21, 2006. She is the absolute joy of my life. I cannot imagine my lofe without her. I never knew a love like this existed until the minute I held my daughter for the first time. Priceless!!

This past weekend Elaina, me and her Gamma went to Elaina's first Kansas City Wizards soccer game. Ms. Elaina did very well. However, she didn't like the mascot at first but then warmed up and gave Dynamo the Dragon a high five. That's my girl!!

Then on Sunday Elaina and Mommy's friends, Susan and Evvy came over to swim and play. We all had a great time.