An introduction

Ever since my junior year in college, I have spent my Monday nights in Rogersville, MO, watching WWE (wrastlin') with my Gramps. It started out as a way for me to spend some time with him and get to watch WWE. Well, 14 years later I am still spending my Monday nights with Gramps. He makes me microwave popcorn and hands me a can of Diet Pepsi. Same thing for 14+ years. And, honestly, I wouldn't change a thing.

With all of our IVF and other science fiction, I never shared any of our trials and tribulations with Gramps. For goodness sakes, he's 92 years old and listens to the TV at volume level 51. It takes a lot to carry on a long conversation. This week was my first week to see Gramps since we had our referral and I had pictures to show him. I did as best as I could to try and explain everything to him, and I think he got it. He just kept saying how great it was and how excited he was for me and Abby. For once I was thinking and got out my iPhone to take a picture.

Below is Gramps getting a glimpse of his 13th (I think) great-grandchild for the first time.

Package to Ethiopia

Below is the care package Roger and I sent to Ethiopia, via the good hands of a family with our agency traveling to bring their baby boy home this week. We also sent some formula. It doesn't seem like much, but it's our first "connection" to the little guy. We have been very, very lucky and have already received four more pictures of him via other traveling families since receiving his referral. He continues to look healthy and growing -- as much as we can tell from a picture, anyway!

We conquered Quandary

We arrived in Breckenridge on Sunday around 5:00. I had altitude sickness around 4:59. We had a fun night with Watson and Chris & Fara -- then went to bed early. And it was a good thing. Yesterday Abby and I went on our first "Colorado Hike." Thanks to the Fadlers and Watson, we were able to conquer Quandary.....a 14,265 ft peak just outside of Breckenridge. I've always wanted to have one of those pictures of me overlooking a huge mountain-scape. Thanks to Watson andFadler we survived and made it to the summit. We traveled approximately 3100 ft up -- somewhere around a 3 mile hike. It took us about 3.5 hours to get to the top, we took some pictures and tried to catch our breath, then headed back down. It still took 2 hours to get to the bottom. It was truly amazing and challenging and beautiful and the reason my legs are burning today.

Abby at the top of Quandary -- sign says 14,265 ft

The photo I've always wanted

The crew at the top of the Summit

Freezing at 14,265

Referral Day Video

Finally -- I know! It took us a little while to figure out how to upload our video. Apparently high def makes it a little more complicated. Sorry! We're rookies. I have a feeling we'll be video uploader experts within the next year once we have more material to play with!

Okay, I feel the need to give a little introduction to our video. First of all, sorry for all the gum smacking on my part. I HOPE I don't normally chew gum like this. I'm blaming it on the nerves.

Second of all, our first reaction at seeing our baby's picture was shock at how big and healthy he looks! We had mentally prepared ourselves to see a tiny, little malnourished baby since that is oftentimes the case of young infant referrals. That was not the case at all and while we are so, so thankful for that, it took us a little by surprise!

And the second round of excitement towards the end of the video is us discovering (after we scrolled further down in the email) that we had not one referral picture, but two! Another wonderful surprise! And he had a completely different expression on his face in the second photo -- hence our confusion. It was an amazing, surreal, crazy moment. As you will see, even as we were gazing at his pictures, we still couldn't really believe it was happening.

Baby Love

I just had to post a few photos of some gifts Baby Wasson has already received. Our baby is so blessed (and spoiled!) already by our wonderful friends. We do appreciate and understand your excitement, though. The last picture is an example of what eight months of retail therapy looks like. As you might guess, we are thankful it's a boy!!!

160 diapers -- that should get us through 'til potty training; right?
We can't wait to see some cute little baby feet in these!

Thanks, Matt & Meredith, for helping to keep our little man stylin'!

Yeah, I had a few rough days. Nothing a little shopping couldn't make better.

IT'S A BOY!!!!

Yes, that's right.....we have a referral for a baby boy! Roger and I got the call yesterday, August 20th, at 5:08 p.m. We were not expecting it, to say the least, even though we were right at 8 months of waiting and we were told to expect 6 to 9 months. But isn't that the way it always goes? Just when you least expect it. Although I did have a dream last Thursday night that our caseworker called my cell phone and said, "Hi, Abby, this is Crystal. I'm just calling to let you know that I'm going to have some good news for you very soon, so be sure to answer your phone." Amazing. Needless to say, we are over the moon, beyond excited, and still processing our new reality. Thank you to all of our wonderful friends and family who have prayed for us, cried with us, shook their fists in the air with us, kept the faith for us, reassured us, and encouraged us. Roger and I have had so much fun sharing this amazing news with everyone over the past 24 hours. Your reactions and excitement is absolutely priceless. Last night was pure shock and now today I think it's starting to finally sink in. I know this because the minute I have time alone to really think about this sweet baby and what this all means, I cry just at the thought of him. This is just such an awesome place to be. Please continue to keep our sweet little boy in your thoughts and prayers, that he will stay healthy and happy and thriving and that we will hopefully pass court on the first try so we can bring him home ASAP!

A little info on our little man:

• He is approximately 2 months old -- date of birth listed on his paperwork says 7-9-09
• He looks amazingly healthy! He weighed approximately 9 pounds on 7-24-09 -- chubby for an Ethiopian baby!
• He has an Ethiopian name that we will use as his middle name and a first name Roger and I have picked out for him that we will share with everyone after we pass court (Sorry, Grandmas!)
• He has big, sweet cheeks and gorgeous brown eyes
• We are falling madly in love with him.

We would love nothing more than to share his beautiful face with everyone, but that will have to wait until we pass court. As for how things will progress from here on out, there is still a process. We are now waiting to learn of our court date. Ethiopian courts will be closing within the next week or so and will reopen the beginning of October. We will probably not learn when our court date is until AT LEAST October. Hopefully we will GET a court date before the end of the year and hopefully we will travel to bring him home in January or February. These are all estimates and that's all the information we have. We, of course, will post any new updates as we get them.

In case you were wondering who won the "guess our referral date" game, it was my mom who got it right on the nose -- August 20th!

I believe Roger will be posting our video of us seeing our baby's picture for the first time in the next day or so, so check back soon!

Daycation

Today Abby and I are taking a "much needed" daycation to the beautiful city of Tulsa, OK. I'm not really sure this classifies as "much needed" but it sure feels like we could use 24-hours away. So we figured we would pack up and head to Tulsa. Why? Great question. Turns out Paul McCartney is doing a concert there tonight and we just happen to have tickets.

Friday Gathering

Basically all you really want to see on a blog is a bunch of cute photos. Here are a few from the past Springfield Ethiopian Gathering in downtown Springfield.

Zoe in her pink sunglasses. She always has these on. And keeps them on.

Cruz and Caden modeling the "7990" shirts.

Cruz offering to share his pizza.

Cruz in Roger's hat

*Editor's note. There were many more kids at the gathering, but they were mostly playing in the fountains. And each time I went to take a picture Mr. Cruz wanted to see what was going on.