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More Shannon Pictures!!

COMING HOME WEDNESDAY DEFINITELY!!

With a BIG smile on my face I can say we are definitely coming home Wednesday afternoon. Let's just say this past week was a huge TEST in patience and NOT being an ugly American. Apparently my Centencia process has been the extreme. Most are not like this. The best luck I had all week was while out on a walk with Shannon and Nana, a bird used my head as a toilet. And yes that was the best part. How many different ways can they misspell Stegmaier or Kathleen or Shannon??? For anyone that wants the full story, ask me sometime over a tall glass of wine. But we've dropped off the Visa application, and pick it up next week (after Homeland Security checks to see that Shannon is not a threat to National Security!!). Shannon of course has made every spelling mistake, traffic jam, sorry we're closed, worth while. It will be seven weeks to the day when I arrive home and I miss home very much. Trying to upload pictures, but computer not cooperating. Will try again soon!

COMING HOME TUESDAY OR WEDNESDAY:{{{{{

As it turns out we will not be home this weekend. We will hopefully finalize EVERYTHING by Monday and home Tuesday, WEDNESDAY at the latest..I CANNOT WAIT TO COME HOME!! Luckily the sun is shining and Shannon is wonderful.. She's cut her SECOND Tooth!! Who know's she could be walking by the time we leave..I will post pictures tonight I promise. FRUSTRATED but OK, wish I did have better news but in reality what is a couple more days if I get to bring home a happy healthy beautiful baby RIGHT?????

CENTENCIA FINISHED

We were hoping to get more done today but I spent the WHOLE day completing the Centencia.. It's done thank goodness. Now we need to power through tomorrow since Wednesday is a holiday, we have to hope to get new birth certificate, passport and Embassy Doctor tomorrow so we can move on to the VISA..

Shannon hanging with the boys!!

CENTENCIA

CENTENCIA MONDAY NEED I SAY MORE???We hope to be home next weekend!!

Thanks to all for the support!! Can't wait to bring her home!

NEED SUPPORT

I am so tired of waiting for the Centencia call, another day no news, the judge has our papers sitting on his desk, just needs to sign.. DON'T know YET when I am coming home, and I need encouragement to make it through, silly quotes, comments and or ideas for staying busy in COLOMBIA.. One good news, my spanish is really improving and I am eating like a horse, along with my daughter. They may have to roll me off the plane when I FINALLY can go home. Shannon is wonderful and WORTH ALL OF THIS I KNOW!! She's finally broken a tooth and it is the most beautiful tooth I have ever seen..I will try to post a picture of it, if I can muster up the enthusiasm...

Playtime at Betty's Place

Friday

Mom and I got out for some girl time. We enjoyed the beautiful view of Bogota, above the smog, from Monserrate. We arrived home to get Shannon up from her nap..After skyping with the Stegmaiers, we headed out for a walk. To avoid getting caught in the torrential rainstorm, we ducked into a coffee shop for some Chocolate caliente..While waiting out the rain, we discovered that Shannon is about to pop her first tooth, on the bottom in the front. Guess were here at teething time. Thank goodness we came with some teething supplies. Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving,..

Thanksgiving

Good food good times!! Yeah for the PATRIOTS

11/24

Ok, as I type here I am listening to Shannon put herself to sleep. My new favorite sound..She is amazing but of course I am biased..I promise to put a picture up tomorrow of Shannon in her party dress for Thanksgiving. Sean my computer guy/photographer is gone so I have to step up. Highlights over the last few days are Shannon scooting around in a walkerd as she's finally grown enough to work her feet. She is really becoming the social butterfly these days.We're staying busy (AND OUT OF THE HOUSE) as much as we can, one with the dorm life here and two with trying not to wait by the phone for our call for Centensia. Today we found the NAVIDAD Store. Colombians truly go all out for Christmas. While waiting outside the store with Shannon, a women commented first on Shannon and then said how no one celebrates Christmas quite like Colombians and she is right. The store included a blinking lights display of the Nativity scene. The hair salon up the street has the entire building decked out in a winter wonderland theme including white sheets on the sidewalk to represent snow. Feliz Navidad!!!

Any day now we'll get the call, and hopefully be leaving within a week from then. Shannon is worth the wait. I will definately post pictures tomorrow!

First Mom and Daughter day

Shannon and I had our first Mommy/daughter today practically alone in the house. The rest of the group went off to the Botanical Gardens. Shannon and I went for a walk and played together. I loved every moment of it. We are hoping that our Centencia will come soon and we'll be home soon..Tomorrow we''re taking Shannon to church with us and watching the PATRIOTS (hopefully!)

Visit to the Old City and Gold Museum

11/18 Jorge picked us up promptly at 10 to go off on our adventure. We toured the Old City with it's cobble streets and beautifully decorated buildings. There was quite a protest happening in Old City Plaza!! We ate a wonderful traditional Colombian lunch..After lunch we headed to the Gold Museum. The gold pieces are incredibly beautiful and ornate. I almost feel inspired to get a GIANT nose ring!!! We visit the bazaar just across the from the Gold City and did some quick shopping for family and Shannon. I really had to test the limits of my Spanish in the Bazaar. I wanted to get out and go home, as I missed Shannon. She spent a quiet day at home with the baby nurse. We all swear Ms. Alicia has magic powers with the babies!!

Lunch with Mercedes @ FANA

Today 11/19 we were invited to FANA to join Mercedes (the founder of FANA) and the rest of the staff for lunch. We arrived promptly at 1230 and at 2 they served lunch. Shannon slept for the first hour and then was up charming all until she wanted food (LIKE HER MOTHER). I was hoping she'd catch another cat nap on the ride home but she spent the whole ride smiling laughing and entertaining both me and Nana. We were all worn out when we got home. As it was another off schedule day for Shannon she crashed a few minutes early tonight. I am looking forward to a quiet day with Shannon tomorrow while Nana and friends visit the Botanical Gardens. By the way thank goodness Nana brought some new outfits for Shannon. She's growing so quickly she wont fit in most of the clothes we brought her soon!!

11/16-11/17 Hanging with the girls

First great breakthrough, Shannon slept through the night 7ish to 7ish. I was glad to know that we can cut out the 11pm bottle!! The last two days have been relaxed playing with Nana and taking long walks. Shannon is really determined to sit up on her own and works really hard at it all day. She's also babbling like crazy all the time. She really seems to respond to my voice which makes me so happy, and is beginning to respond when she hears her name. I can't believe how much you can love a little person in only 3 weeks!! Another family just found out they got their final court appointment tomorrow, so hope for news for us soon!! We're having fun but we're ready to come home even if it's cold!!

First Day with NANA

Mom made it to Betty's Place about 1015 last night. It's so nice to have her hear. Shannon was a busy girl today!! We skyped with Sean this morning (We miss you daddy!), went for a walk to the park, ate slept and walked again. She's growing so fast we're going to run out of clothes for her before we leave Colombia. We're going to brave forgoing the 11pm bottle tonight and see if she sleeps through the night. Nana and Shannon had a blast playing and talking to each other. Best of all we found good wine at the local grocery store. We're just waiting for the call that we have our final court appointment. Once we have that date, we know we're leaving Bogota within a week.

Day one Solo launch

Day one as a single parent went as smoothly as could be expected. She wasn't hungry at bedtime so who knows if I will pay for it tonight. Now I just have to power through staying up to give the 11pm bottle.

11/12-11/13 Eating adventures

It's been a calm couple of days. Beautiful weather in the am. Shannon and I have gotten out for walks two days in a row. She's growing like a weed and still eating alot but not like the horse of the last few days. I guess her latest growth spurt has slowed down. We'll be ready for the next time. She's talking all the time, and working so hard to sit up on her own. I think she'll be sitting up independently by next week. It is amazing how everyday there's something new. Thursday the whole group of us from Betty's place walked over to a local hamburger place called El Corral (get it??!!) for lunch. Delicious burgers and the best chocolate malt I have had in a long time. Last night the group of us went out to dinner to a local steak restaurant. We had Sangria, steak and the best fried plantain I have had in a long time. And yes Ricardo, I finally had my first Arrepa. It was mom and dad's first night not putting Shannon to bed but we all survived. Shannon actually slept in (after her 530 talkabout) till just after 7. I was completely confused when I woke up. Sean leave tomorrow and my mom comes in Monday night. Sunday and Monday should be busy, interesting days. I am hoping she and I survived, relatively unscathed.. Probably wont have much time to blog until Grandma comes in to help out.