Happy 2nd Birthday, Avery!

Avery turned two on September 13th and today marks the day we have officially been in IBESR for a full year. I was away in Colorado, so we weren't able to do anything special on her birthday. It seems a little confusing for my kids to celebrate their sister's birthday whom they have never met and don't know when they'll meet.

Since we are still stuck in IBESR, I have tried to block out the whole process for now and try to concentrate on our family, work and every day life. Of course, we still think about her each and everyday, but to dwell on her file, the process, etc., it has become way too exhausting and frustrating. I would have NEVER dreamed in a million years she would spend her 2nd birthday with her file still in the same spot it was when she turned one. I would have bet large amounts of money that she would be home or almost home on her 2nd bday. Boy, was I wrong. But, we are going to wait and wait for little Avery. And, at this point we are hoping she won't get here just in time for her to start college :) We haven't gotten an update photo from our orphange since April...so it's just been one frustration after another!

I spent last weekend with my best college girlfriends from Cornell (minus a couple that couldn't make it) in New Mexico and Colorado. We had a great time and we were able to fit in a bunch of stuff in 2-3 days time! We explored Durango, CO, went horseback riding for a couple hours in the mountains (I was sooooooooooooooo ready to get off my horse), and visited Mesa Verde National Park. Of course, we chose to visit the most challenging Cliff Dwelling Tour, and climbed a 32 ft ladder and sqeezed through an 18 inch wide tunnel! These girls never take the easy way out and we never sit for a second on these trips! I usually need a vacation to recuperate from these weekends! Not sure yet we we're off to next year....any recommendations? We are thinking Florida, Montana, California or Bald Head Island!