Carrie!

Carrie is here, Carrie is here. Its so great to have some adult company again. Joe and Leah agreed to watch Kariana while I went to the airport on Tuesday night to pick up Carrie. Her flight was 30 minutes delayed so the driver and I got there around 9:45 pm (she landed at 9:25). In the Bogota airport, you can’t go into the airport at all to wait for someone so all these people have to wait outside of some barriers for their friends and family to come out of the airport doors. When we got there, the barriers had people 10 deep the whole way around it. I knew this might happen so I made a big sign with Carrie’s name on it to hold over the crowd just in case. So then we waited for her to come out. And we waited. Tons of people came and went but no Carrie. The people around the barriers thinned to only 1 or 2 deep. I was really starting to get worried because not many people were coming out of the airport any more when through the windows I FINALLY saw her go through the last security check point. By then it was 10:45 so no wonder I was worried. Anyway, we finally got back to the hotel and she was looking at Kariana sleeping in her bed when she woke up so Carrie got to hold her and play with her yet that night.

Kariana is liking her aunt Carrie and always has lots of smiles for her. Except when we got her ears pierced…. Then not so many smiles…… In Colombia, it is a tradition to pierce baby girl’s ears very soon after birth but since Kariana went straight to the orphanage, it was never done. I think this is the reason that I get asked if she is a boy or girl so often. Even though I think she has a very girl face, I have gotten asked her sex probably half a dozen times. I decided to stay with tradition and get it done while we were here. I got Kerry’s permission (I think he was really glad not to be around when we did it) and found a place in the nearest mall that did it. $13 and just a few cries later, we have the most adorable little girl with brand new pink and gold earnings. She let us have a few good cries but we brought the last of her bottle with us and stuck that in right away and she was better. When the bottle was done, she kind of stuck out her big bottom lip at us for awhile but no more crying! She looks so darn cute! I bet I don’t get any more questions about a boy or a girl either.

We spent some time going through all the stuff Carrie brought with her for the orphanage. She put up a bulletin at work saying I was adopting and she was coming to visit and would bring any donated toys or clothes to the orphanage while she is here. Her response was overwhelming! She brought 2 huge suitcases that weighed 45 and 46 lbs each filled with stuff. She got all her own clothes and stuff on her carry on so everything in the suitcases is for the orphanage. We can’t wait to bring it to them. We spent some time sorting out clothing sizes and things like that. I also took her to Maku’s to scope out the souvenir and gifts for home options and went to the bank. We got Kariana’s ears pierced at the mall so she has already been around our little area quite a bit.

More later,
Cresta




Finally, I made it!! No problems with either of the flights except the 30 minute delay. Going through security and customs wasn’t really any big deal except the line went on for MILES! I had some help from “Henry” and his daughter who sat next to me on the plane. He showed me the ropes, so to speak, when we got off the plane. He was originally born in Colombia but became a US citizen many years ago, he was coming for a visit. I was very excited to see Cresta jumping up and down when I came to the exit doors at the airport!

Everyone so far has been extremely nice and very welcoming. The hotel staff are WONDERFUL. There are SO many languages being spoken all around with all the different families from different countries adopting!

Hopefully, we can find out today if WE get to present the children at the orphanage with all the donations. We both would love to see all their little faces but not sure if it will be allowed. At least I will be able to take a tour if nothing else.

We are getting ready to venture out for some shopping and sight seeing. We had planned on going to the mountains today but its pretty overcast so we’ll have to wait and see!

Carrie