Scenario: Family is all gathered around watching Savanna and I open her Christmas gifts. I strain to pick up another box, and... oh no... a tiny "pooof" exits my buttocks surround. Before I can say, "excuse me",
Savanna says, "Mommy poopie?" (second later) "Mommy POOPIE!" I'm sure my next door neighbors heard her.
Does anyone know how duct tape investments are doing in the stock market?
I am going to attempt to cook a holiday meal tomorrow. It will be the first big meal since Savanna came to live with me in Feburary 2006. I am a bit nervous about how I'll get it all done with having a VERY ACTIVE toddler running around and getting into ANYTHING in arms reach.
I will post actual pictures of our "shin dig" in a couple of days.
I am also thinking about Ramona, Savanna's first mom, and her second mom, Aura, and wishing them a great Christmas and New Year's. They are never far from my thoughts. I hope God richly blesses them.
Now I will leave you with pictures of "My Little Love", my precious Savanna. 
There went the Holiday spirit. Cracks me up!
Love to all,
Betsy and "The Sassy Christmas Queen"
Sorry once again for being MIA. I've dealt with two bouts of the flu even though I got a flu shot! I'm feeling much better now. Savanna has a cold, again. She enjoys blowing her nose into kleenex which is a good thing. I swear I don't know how such a small kid could produce so much SNOT. I just wipe her nose and there's more a second later. And, if I'm not fast enough guess where her tongue goes? Great visual huh? Ah, the joys of first time parenting.... (wouldn't change it for anything!)
A few weeks ago Savanna and I drove to San Diego (a couple of hours from my home) to meet my very first blog buddy, Souad (lives in Utah but is originally from Belgium). She brought her baby girl, Anissa (sounds like, A-nee-saw), and her hub, Bob. What a great little family. Anissa is a few days older than Savanna but quite a bit smaller. She was much more social than Savanna (I have no idea why. My girl has many moods. I never know which one is going to appear). Anissa was active and trying to engage in play while Savanna sat next to me and stared and clung. It probably wasn't the best impression but she warmed up and was her hyper self when it was time to go home. I wished Souad, Bob, and little Anissa lived closer. I hope they decide to move to Southern CA (Utah is a bit boring, so I am told).
Here are a few pictures of our visit.
Cute huh? I wanted to take Savanna to the beach but she fell asleep in the car. It isn't wise to wake up a sleeping Savanna. So we'll go to the beach next Spring and Summer.
Souad and Bob told me something about the perception of Guatemalan adoptions from the point of view of some of the Guatemalan natives. This information was new to me and I must share it as one of my previous posts was quite slanted. Souad and Bob spent a lot of time with a particular taxi driver while in Guatemala. He told them that many of the Guatemalan people are against the US, or any country, adopting "their babies" because of how it is done. Apparently children have been kidnapped on the streets in Guatemala City and taken to houses where documents are forged and the children are "sold" to prospective adoptive parents. The children are also used as sex slaves. Sickening isn't it? This is corruption secondary to proverty. The Guatemalans feel this practice is commonplace but I'm not sure if that is accurate. (Aura, if you are reading this, is this your understanding too? Do you want to add anything? You can write in Spanish and I'll have it translated into English). Are you wondering if I would adopt again from Guatemala? The answer is "yes". Everyone involved in my adoption process was 100% ethical. The adoption process was totally legal on both sides. It is exceedingly important that an ethical adoption agency, facilitator, and attorney in Guatemala participate in the adoption process. There are children who will never be adopted because they were presumed to be sold by their mother or their documents were "forged". See Stacy's blog for details. It can be heart shattering when a referred child, "your child", never makes it home due to unethical/illegal activities.
On to a brighter topic... I have now met Angel (Texas), Stacy (New York), and Souad (Utah). I can't wait to meet the rest of my blog (and email buddies). You have brought such joy to my life. I feel your support and encouragement. Thank you.
I will be picking up Savanna's Christmas pictures today. You know what that means...
I'll be back in a couple of days.
Betsy
