And the Award goes to....

Hola friends, family and peeps.

Since we are sitting firmly in the middle of week 37 of waiting (aka: month 9.75 depending on how you count) I wanted to take a moment to thank everyone for their well wishes.

Seriously, the good will and happy thoughts and cheerful armchair participation by all of you has been overwhelming. Experiencing all this love is a veryclose 2nd to Airport Welcome Wagon as our favorite part of this whole adoption process so far. (not sure what I mean by Airport Welcome Wagon? ...well then, go here and here) We always thought having you as friends and family just made us cool...now we know it makes us extremely blessed too.

If I had to give out an award for Biggest Cheerleader...and while I do love award shows I am hesitant to do this because it is SUCH a tight competition...but if I have to...well, the award has to go to... drum roll please....

The Esquire's sister, brother-in-law and our two nephews!

They have been excited for us about this adoption since we first said "we're thinking of adop..." couldn't even get the whole word out before they were cheering us on. And even though they live half-way around the world in Muscat, Oman, they have been with us on this journey every step of the way.

There are SO many reasons why The Omani Contingent should win Best Cheerleaders but I think it can be summed up in two words: ear infection.

A few weeks ago I asked everyone to join us in an anthem of "startin' something." This is the email I got from my sister-in-law in response:

The other day I pulled out all the Ethiopian crosses from Mom's jewelry (The Esquire's parents lived in Addis for 5-6 years where his mom collected all sorts of Ethiopian jewelry and art--both the tacky and the lovely) and we're all wearing the lucky crosses each day (despite the infections the darn earrings cause...well, honestly, maybe I'll stick to the necklace after the last two days of lobe pain). The boys have put ropes on their crosses and they're suited up.

I know you have all been there for us during this process but have you taken that extra step and worn crappy metal in your ears for us? I thought not. Therefore... The Omani Contingent wins. Their prize...years and years of babysitting. :-)

Here is my sister-in-law and nephews in their Coptic Wear while out camping in the Omani mountains

This is a picture of my brother-in-law chasing wild goats from their campsite. No, he's not wearing any Coptic jewelry while he hurls camping chairs, I just think it's a funny photo.

xoxo,
Kat