Our Adoption Journey: I know, I know . . . Where's the update on Wendy?!

The whole gang! - Christmas 2007

Duck, NC

Wow! Am I a procrastinator or what?? . . . . Actually - it's called "trying to keep my head from spinning off my neck while raising 5 kids"! :) Our schedule is way too crazy this year! I am currently looking into (and praying about) ways to de-stress our schedule next school year!

So - for those of you that have waited patiently for an update on Wendy . . . . here it is.

She's fine.

:) hee,hee. OK -I'll give you more! :)

She has been home with us 5 months as of yesterday!! I can't believe it! She still acts as if she's been here for years! She loves to be in charge and boss her siblings around - though that gets her into trouble when she tries to tell ME what to do! :) She definitely is a West and will definitely be a leader in whatever God has for her!

2 stories that just tickle me pink whenever I think of them . . .

Because Wendy didn't come home till she was 3 1/2 years old - we missed alot of her "firsts". That makes me sad - but at the same time - I am realizing that there are so many more "firsts" that may not fall in the traditional categories. Like the first time Wendy went to Walmart with me and rode in a shopping cart! You would have thought she was on a ride at Disney World! She giggled and giggled each time we went over a bump, and it was hilarious to watch her giggling with glee as her butt was being tickled by riding over the bumpy pavement in the parking lot! :)

Not too long after Wendy arrived home, we were all sitting at the dinner table enjoying our meal. We thought that Wendy understood quite a lot of English, but we soon realized that she was really reacting to our tone of voice and non-verbal communication even more than the words. Jeremy (my husband) was in a silly mood, and in a very excited and happy voice asked our 5 kids - "Who here wants a spanking?!" :) 4 of our kids just looked incredulously at my husband for asking such a "dumb" question - but Wendy, who always wants to be the first to do ANYTHING and wants to do EVERYTHING that everyone else does - shot her hand up excitedly and shouted "YO!" :) We just laughed and laughed. (and no - we did not give her a spanking.)

She continues to amaze me with the speed at which she has picked up English! Much faster than I am picking up Spanish - that's for sure! She has been asking for 3 months now "When do I go to school?" She wants to go to "her class" each day. I think she will enjoy preschool next year! She is such a social little girl!

Halloween was fun - watching her learn all about the crazy custom of going to houses to get candy! :) After each house she kept asking me "Now? mommy?" She wanted to eat her candy so bad! After the 4th house I let her have a piece. And then, of course, she had fun digging in once we were done! The next night she wanted to do it all over again. :)

We dedicated her to God in our church on December 16th, 2007 - and she was sooo cute - going to each sibling and giving them a hug as my husband was introducing our family up on stage. :) You would have thought we had planned it.

Christmas we went to a beach house in Duck, NC and when it was time to pack for the trip, Wendy started to cry. She said she didn't want to go on a trip. I wasn't sure why she was crying, but then I asked "Do you think we are not coming back?" . . . . . The tears came heavier! "yes" she sobbed. The last trip she had taken she had left Guatemala and came here. Bless her heart! So we talked about how we would come back as this was our house where we lived, then I showed her pictures online of the house we would be "visiting", and she understood. Then she was excited to pack up! :) A few weeks later we had to go take my husband to the airport and she thought we were going to Guatemala. She said she didn't want to go back to GT unless mommy and daddy went with her. Though she has been asking lately when can she "go back to her home"? I told her that was her "old home" and this was her "new home" - and she said "No - that is my home. This is your home." That surprised me as she calls her bed "mi cama" or "MY bed" and seems to have taken ownership in living here. I think her little 3 year old brain is trying to wrap around the idea of having an "old" home and a "new" home. She really is a happy girl and LOVES living here and playing with her siblings! She is still VERY adventurous, creative, imaginative, and totally goofy! :) You should have seen her jumping into the pool at the beach house! That girl has NO FEAR! :)

I will try to post a picture slide show at some point - so if it's not there now - check back later. For now - here is our goofy wonderful girl in a few shots!

Lori :)

Our little Guatemalan Princess - Halloween 2007