Citizenship & Baptism

We received Gabi's citizenship certificate .... we can now apply for her Social Security number and finish up our paperwork to do her re-adoption in the States. This is something new for us -- Hailee received a green card which we had to take to the Social Security office along with the "official packet" from Kazakhstan which outlined everything about her adoption. This time around it sounds like a much easier process ...... we'll see!

While in Bulgaria we learned that Gabi had never been baptized .... last weekend we arranged to have it done at our church. Ganka's (Gabriela's foster mom) son was a pastor in Bulgaria so God and the church were a large part of Gabriela's life in Bulgaria. Even though language prevented Gabi from understanding everything that Pastor Dan explained she knew it was very important. While looking at the pictures; she told me "God happy Gabi" .... yes he is!!!!

Pastor Dan and Gabi after the service .......

Our dear friends, Ken & Linda, agreed to be sponsors for Miss Gabi. She is a lucky girl ...... Jack's amazing sisters and their just as amazing husbands along with Gabi at the church.

And last but not least my beautiful sister and her family (minus 1, Samantha is in college and couldn't come).After the service we headed over to our place for dinner and visiting. A very nice evening!

Beautiful picture of Hailee and Kenda (real name Ken) -- when Hailee came home she started calling him Kenda and no matter how many times we corrected her she never called him Ken --always Kenda! Gabi now calls him Kenda too!

Cousin Garrett asked for a hug goodbye when they were leaving but Gabi wouldn't give him one. He wasn't phased one bit ..... looks like she loved it!!!

We continue to learn a lot of Gabi .... she lost a tooth (molar) one day and never said a thing. Hailee happened to notice it and asked Gabi when her tooth came out. Gabi couldn't answer so we asked where the tooth was. She got her purse and produced a kleenex with the tooth inside ... we explained that we like to know when she loses teeth ... also about the tooth fairy. She was skeptical but agreed to put the tooth under her pillow -- in the morning she was excited to put her $2 into her purse!

Two days later I arrived to pick her up from daycare and she came running up to me and proudly showed me that she had lost another tooth ..... it went right under her pillow that night for the tooth fairy!

This week Gabi has a dentist appointment -- we have a feeling that there will be a lot of dental work in Gabi's future! Both teeth that she lost had some decay on them and a lot of placque ... we don't think she's had her teeth cleaned in a long time, if ever. Hoping that she still has a lot of baby teeth left .....

And she has her new glasses, not sure if you can see them very well in this picture but she looks adorable .... she was trying on her winter coat and found this hat that Grandma Clauer made for Hailee a few years back. She has now proclaimed it hers .... she loves it!
Ending with another video -- we had just finished opening presents on my birthday when Hailee decided to give some to Codee ..... love the laughter ..........