Photos
To make photos easier to find, a searchable database of pictures is at this address http://www.flickr.com/photos/griffinshea/.
Here's a photo journal, mostly baby news, with the most recent entries at the top.October 7
I couldn't get him to talk or roll over for the camera today, but he's all about kicking.
September 29
Alexito just loves rolling onto his belly now. Wana says he was rolling over all day, but he still can't flip back on his own. But how about that form! He's figured out where his arms go finally. He'll be mobile in no time
September 21
Mom headed home early this morning, so this is Alex's first day home along with the nanny, Wana. He doesn't look too upset.
September 14
Alex really is talking more, and I can prove it. You can see him talking here.
September 9
Alex in bed in his new nursery. The carpet isn't as pink as I remembered. More magenta really.
August 29
We only catch the edge of Hurricane Katrina.
August 28
Hurricane Katrina heads for Louisana, so after cleaning up from the party, we have to close the shutters and huddle in the house for the storm to land overnight.
August 27
Alex's baptism and welcome home party. If you have a good connection to the Internet, you can click here to see the ceremony. It's a big file, so be patient if your connection is slow.
August 25
Got him home to Louisiana!
August 24
Alex's visa comes, along with his adoption dossier that contains all the paperwork, his birth certificate, and a lot of information about his birth mother, including pictures. We took Alex around Antigua while we waited.
August 23
Ellen and I take Alex to go with Linda from CQ for his visa interview at the embassy. We have to leave at 5:30 am to get to the embassy by 7 am, then wait til after 10 for his interview. Of course, I knocked over the thermos when we got there, and spilled all the hot water for his bottles. Linda had to take a bottle to a nearby shop and get it filled with hot water for us. Poor Alex got a little grumpy waiting for breakfast, but he was fine the rest of the time. There must have been at least 20 babies waiting with us for visas, plus all the other Guatemalans waiting for regular visas. The actual interview lasts about five minutes, but we have to wait 24 hours for the visa. They don't ask much, just for my address and the date when I first saw Alex. Pretty low key.
August 22
Luisa from CQ takes Alex to the embassy doctor for his final medical exam before going for his visa interview. They leave around 3 pm and don't get back until about 8:30 pm.
August 21
The four of us get to Antigua and pick up Alex at the orphangae. It's the last time he saw the orphanage where he spent the first four months of his life. He had the funniest curl in his hair that day.
August 20
Another long flight across the Pacific. This time I'm flying through Tokyo and Portland to Houston, where I'll spend the night with Patrick and then meet up with Dad, Ellen and Rebecca the next morning to fly to Guatemala.
August 15
My new apartment isn't ready yet, but I moved in anyway. Two guys with a pickup truck hauled everything around the corner to the new place on Soi Nai Lert, only a block away, just on the other side of the British embassy. The new place has three bedrooms, three bathrooms, and an adjoining studio for the nanny. There's some unfortunate carpeting choices, but the main rooms have hardwood floors that are still being refinished. They're almost done repainting and updating the light fixtures, but I won't be able to unpack til I get home with Alex.
August 8
Arrived back in Bangkok, pretty sleepless.
August 7
Juan took me to BWI for the long flight to Bangkok, with stops in Detroit and Tokyo.
August 6
Amy and I met for brunch at Kramerbooks, where she gave me the message to call Casa Quivira. I figure they need more paperwork or something, but can't get through when I call. Then about 30 minutes later, Karen from CQ calls back with the big news!
August 5
Casa Quivira called Mom and Dad around 10:30 pm, trying to find me to say the adoption was approved, but I was already in DC and no one knew where to find me. They spent all night calling all my friends, and finally got a message to Amy in New York, who was going to meet me in Washington the next day.
August 4
I had to return Alex to the orphanage and left Guatemala for DC.
July 31
Arrived in Guatemala, met Alex for the first time.
