A good day, and more to come

So, as I posted earlier today, we got L's Guatemalan passport today!

We were supposed to be picked up at 8:30 or so. But it wasn't until about 10 a.m. that "Gina's" brother arrived. "Gina" wasn't with him! He said she would meet us at the passport office.

Well, when we got to the passport office she wasn't there. There was some man we sat next to that "Gina's" brother was talking to. Could this be our lawyer? Well, in fact it was! When "Gina" finally showed up she introduced us...oh, OK.

With him present we could get the passport in the morning (not just in the afternoon -- as another mother, who did this process herself, told me). So he and I went in with L. She was SO good. The process only took like an hour or so. It was really efficient.

The best part was when L sat for her picture. She took out all her farm animal puzzle pieces, and set them out on her chair. The woman taking her photo commented on how she came prepared. And then the photo was taken. We waited about 10 minutes or so, and voila, we had her passport!

I, the lawyer, and "Gina" all double checked the spelling of her name, her birthdate, etc. I held it in my hands! But "Gina" needed to keep it for making copies for the U.S. Embassy.

Why we couldn't just make copies at the hotel and then let me keep the passport, I don't know. But it's fine. Tomorrow we will go to the Embassy. And Thursday we will go to get the DNA. I heard "Gina" make the DNA appointment for Thursday a.m. at 8:30.

She also knows I am going out of town this weekend when my cousin Megan comes to visit. We are going to Antigua Guatemala. So "Gina" knows I will need the passport before then.

Anyways, "Gina" and her brother dropped us back at the hotel. We ate lunch and then a try at naptime. But nap was about 15 minutes. So we video Skyped Glenn -- he could see her and hear her say "Daddy". What fun!

We then headed out to hang out at the Dante park. But of course as soon as I sat down, L said "pi pi"! So off to the nearby Oakland Mall (yet again!). There was a story time planned for 4 p.m.

Not that we made it that late. About an hour-and-a-half of the mall was just enough! She did some running around at the mall and playing at a nice toy store, "Teach." So at least it wasn't just window shopping.

After that, we picked up some tamales at the Super Verdura for dinner. Then the usual bath and bed. But L was not going to sleep! Finally I turned off the lights, and told her it was bedtime. In 15 minutes she was asleep.

So, a good day all in all. "Gina" is supposed to pick me up at 1:30 tomorrow to go to go the US Embassy (does that mean 2:30?) I will post as soon as possible after we go there.

Thanks to all for your kind words, your thoughts, your prayers. We are truly in the home stretch now!