AMEYA IS HOME

This last week we got an awesome surprise - Ameya was returning to our home. I received the call from our caseworker as I was checking into my flight at the airport Wednesday night. I was so excited and called Scott immediately with the great news.

Ameya arrived Thursday mid-morning and settled right in. I recieved a call and heard this cute, sweet and excited voice say, "Hello Mom, why aren't you home" How fun is that! Life has already settled into a wonderful routine with our hope and desire that this will continue.

On Monday I was on a conference call with all the "interested" parties and thought that a long battle was going to start for Ameya's return. Court was scheduled for Tuesday and once it was over, our case worker was coming over to visit and give us the "plan" from court.

I was attending a local business conference on Monday and Tuesday morning and upon my return on Tuesday, Scott met me at the door. He had his phone in hand and told me I needed to listen to some messages.

The message was from Linda, Ameya's grandmother and guardian. This is whom Ameya was removed from and yes, it was the second time. She was crying on the phone but told us that she was going to request that her name be removed from Ameya's case and request that Scott and I adopt Ameya. She left a second message, which informed us of what she read in court and that the the court had granted her wishes.

We are on the road to adopting Ameya!

The next court hearing is November 14th, where all rights for Ameya will be terminated. We will then be on a holding pattern for 6 months at which time, we'll officially adopt Ameya. WOW!

A friend from Aunt Jen

Ava's fun package from Aunt Jen had cute pink outfits in it plus this adoreable and soft bear. I'm always amazed how soft some baby items are. In this picture, Ava is sitting in her mini swing on my office desk. I had her bear at first sitting closer to her feet but then started moving him up. She was having so much fun watching and smiling at the bear but the best part was when she touched him. She got the biggest smile of joy on her face. It was so great to see and made my whole day! Thank you Jen!

After that, I moved Bear up by her head but once I started taking pictures, she just watched me and held her little hands. She is very into her hands and holding them together. Aren't the baby stages so fun to watch! I sure love my little Ava!

Baby Faces and Rabbit Ears

We were going out for a walk and Ava was making the funniest faces. She was trying to stay awake but quickly going to sleep. Her eye lids kept coming down and Scott and I were cracking up. I had to grap the camera and take a picture. Of course, the flash woke her right up - at least for the next 10 minutes.

Ava loves the vibration of moment. She quickly falls asleep in the car, stroller, swing or sling as long as they are moving. My friend Diane gave us this pink bunny hat and I think the ears are so cute.

Excitement at the Corner - Again

Well the city of Fountain has a new fire truck - and not just any fire truck but one finally with a extended highrise ladder and water cannon. Oh the excitement in our neighborhood - All the Fountain Firemen where there taking their turn at training with all the new gadgets and sending lots of water all over the place.

It was a beautiful fall day so Scott, Ava and I ran down to the corner and got pictures.

A Flower from Aunt Carly

The fun never stops over here. It feels like Christmas as every couple of days the UPS guys is here delivering a fun new package for Ava. The latest items have come from Aunt Jen in Salt Lake, Aunt Carla in Rancho Santa Margarita and Aunt Carly and Uncle Craig in Newport.

I'm continually overwhelmed and so grateful for all the wonderful e-mails and comments we have received from our family, friends and our friend's family and friends. Thank you, Thank you for all the Prayers, Love, Support and Joy you are all sharing with us!

Of course, as soon as the cute new brown headband arrived, I had to try it out on Ava. Again she wasn't so sure and kind of looks like a smurf or elf here to me but she quickly adjusted.

Thank you Craig and Carly! I love the cute outfits you sent for Ava and can't wait for church this Sunday to put her in the corduroy brown tiered skirt with her new headband. Brown is the new Black, you know.

So Cute - I just love little girls with big flowers and bows on their head.

Finally the Update

Life is good! We are so blessed and grateful for all the love and support we continually receive from all our family and friends! Ava is doing well and we hope on her way to joining our home permanently. We've had one scare that we are still waiting to hear the outcome of but according to the DA's office, seems to be a weak lead. We hope so as we can't image life without our little girl.

We just continue each day as if she is here to stay and that is what is being presented to the courts at this time as well. The next court date is October 31st. We'll be half-way on November 4th as she does need to be in our home for 6 months before we can do an official adoption, sealing and baby blessing.

We are spending most of our time just trying to get through each fun and wonderful day. Scott is working in the afternoons and usually leaves about 2:00PM so he takes care of Ava while I work and then we have the shift change. I take over from there and hope that Ava has a nice afternoon nap while I finish my work day. If not, you've seen how she spends time with me in the sling or I'll have her in a swing by my office desk. The evening time is spent with me trying to get some order back to the house, making calls or visits as the RS President but mainly sitting in our big chair in the living room and bonding with Ava. This is my favorite time of the day but sleeping is coming in a very close second.

As you can image, Scott and I are not getting a lot of sleep with Scott taking the brunt of it. Scott get's home from work around 11:15PM and we visit usually until midnight and then off to bed for me. Depending on Ava's schedule, Scott will stay up and wait for her next feeding request. If all goes well, I get up for the early morning feeding and then get ready for work and another day begins.

We are still putting together Ava's room but this is the color scheme we are using. I found a cute light green and cream pillow and quilt from Pottery Barn Kids and that set my colors going towards the green. After that, I just started adding items as I found them. The drawer and mirror set I picked up at a garage sale for $20.00. It was originally a light blue color but was quickly changed to brown and green. The "Bless this Baby" plaque I found at a store and that's what prompted the cream polka-dots on the dresser and mirror set.

And Yes that is an "Ede Original" on the mirror from her new fun animal collection.

Gifts from my Aunt Shelly

This box arrived from Dimples & Dandelions - one of my favorite websites for Ava items right now - and out came this adorable black and white zebra hat with matching shoes. Of course, I love the big pink flower on it.

Ava wasn't so sure about it at first but as you can see from the top picture, she got use to it quickly. Thank you, Shelly! What a fun surprise!

Tummy Time

Ava just received this from one of my friends at church. I really love the bright colors and I think Ava likes the change. She is becoming so alert and spending a lot of time looking around at her surroundings.

Hmmmm - Maybe Jack

You never know to whom Ava might be related

My Two Blue-eyed Cuties!

Ava's hair is always sticking straight up in the back. I was trying to catch some fun pictures of that and instead got these adoreable pictures.

My Crazy Parents

My dad wraps me like a mummy and though I look content I'm really not....because my mom comes in every 20 minutes to either check and see if I'm still breathing or to take a picture with that scary flash

And can someone please tell my mom that babies don't need big flowers on their head to be considered cute

Where does all the time go?

Our sweet little Ava. She is now 9 weeks old and will be going to the Doctor for her 2 months shots later this week. I hate that part but am excited to learn how much she has grown. I'm still fascinated by her small body and love comparing her hands and feet to ours.