About Ella     (Scroll down for NEW - 2/29/08 - updated photos of Ella!)

When our first referral fell through, our agency was so supportive and encouraging. This was the first time a referral had been lost in nearly four years, so they were just as upset as we were and helped us remain hopeful that our little girl was still somewhere out there. On November 28th Kelly emailed me saying that another precious baby girl was available and wanted to know if we would be interested in her medical and photos. Initially we weren’t sure...but after about a half hour, I emailed back wanting all the info she had ! The baby’s name is (ironically) ‘Samantha Rachel’. We’ve decided to re-name her once the adoption is final to Ella Rose ! Miss Ella was born at 3:00 pm on the 18th of November. She weighed 6 lbs. 0.5 ounces. She’s perfectly healthy and is the 4th child born to her birth mother. We’ve decided to accept Miss ‘Samantha Rachel’ and remain optimistic that this adoption process will proceed without a hitch and look forward to meeting Ella this Spring ! We’re in hopes that pending changes with Guatemalan adoptions will not lengthen the wait time to bring Ella home, and are planning on a mid to late summer Forever Family Day ! Stay tuned to updates over the coming months of Miss Ella..... OUR TIMELINE January 2007 Discuss International Adoption ! February-May Research International adoption, countries, agencies via the internet. May 31st First meeting with Mary Beth at C.C.C. in Norton, Virginia June 21st Mailed Criminal background checks July 30th Carter, Cole, and Rachel have physicals August 1st Wendel’s physical August 9th Applied for passports August 20th Mailed I-600A August 30th Receive passports September 2nd Happy Birthday Sam!! September 10th Apply to Adopt-A-Miracle in Lakewood, Colorado October 2nd Accept referral of Samantha Sofia!! October 3rd - October 18th Spend every waking hour compiling a dossier! October 18th Receive Completed Homestudy October 19th Dossier to Richmond for authentications October 24th Fingerprints in Charleston, Wva. October 26th POA in GUATEMALA!! October 27th Dossier to Guatemalan Embassy for authentications November 5th Dossier to Guatemala! November 17th Happy Birthday Ella! November 27th Lose referral of Samantha December 6th Accept referral of Ella Rose! The Completed Dossier!

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UPDATED PHOTOS!

Ella at four weeks old

Sweet baby Ella!

Merry Christmas Ella Rose!

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NEW UPDATED PHOTOS!

“Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul.” ~Emily Dickenson

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