Happy Aniversary!!!!

Last year, I was down about spending it alone. Austin was in Guatemala working 31 and 14s and I was in Reno. My co-worker said that no one should spend their anniversary alone, so she took me to Mexican where we laughed, told stories, and reflected on life. She was engaged to be married to a nice guy and weddings were all the talk.
This year, Austin is in the same room, same desk, same chair, and I am here, going to Mehjjong to talk and eat. I guess, at least we are consistant.
Either way, I am amazed on how this year has been. We have moved (I always expect that) and had our first child. I can't even imagine what or who the next year will bring...or where we will be.
In all of this, everything changes. Even how much I love him. I find that I enjoy our days together and realize I would not want to embark on this journey with anyone else. This day, three years ago, I married my best friend. And I am so glad I did.
Here are some pics, you might have seen them before but I never get tired of looking at them.

Us after the wedding.

The whole party.

Our cake.

The reception


Us, weeks before, cruising Lake Tahoe.

My Sista got hitched!!!!!!!!!!!

I can not belive my sister got married!!!!! No wait, yes I can. My sister has really developed on her own and has met this wonderful guy by the name of Chris. From what I have observed and heard, he makes her laugh, treats her well, and loves her very much. In the few times I have met and seen him, it is obvious in his face and his manorisms (did I spell that right, who knows?)

I would have love to have been there but it was not in the cards. Too much for me to get there. I thought of her all day and am excited that she has started this chapter of her life.

Here are some pics I thought I would post.

Here she is trying it on....


All gussied up...man does she look good.


A nice day for a white wedding....Billy Idol anyone???


They look good, Chris looks great in his Tux.


Showing off the new couple.

Exercise by Helen

Okay, Ladies and Gents....you wanna get in shape??? Here is how..

Wait... what was that? No, you can't eat cheetos and look like me...silly.



Start by moving your arms to the right and legs to the left..twist it baby.


and a one, and a two, only five more to go....


Yeah, that is it!!! Feel the burn!!!!


Ok, cool down....let it all hand loose. And you are done!!!!


*****AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT*****

Is that a binky in your pocket???


Yeah, safe keeping, mommy looses them.

Just some More pics...

Today she smiled. She was eating and turned and looked up at me and smiled. I felt like I was on top of the world. No, I did not cry but I just held and kissed her millions of time. Come to think of it later, she was probably peeing or passing gas but I pretend that her little smile was just at me. Boy is she my PIC (Partner in Crime). Also, we made it through a full bath (not a side sink wash down hose off) without crying. I was really happy about that. So here are some more pics. Photobucket is still broken so no video.


Say aaaahhhhhhhhhhhh... look ma! no teeth!


hhhhiiiiiiiaaaa.....ya!!!


Didn't I have a talk with her about this chair...yes, I think I did...about three weeks ago


MMMMMAAAAA, I told you I didn't like it....


No comment.


There are three of you...how come there are three of you...where did you come from....


pppthththhtthtt!

Un Mes!!!!

I can not believe that she is a month. Why?? because it seemed so short of time ago I was in the hopsital dealing with nurses that did not speak english. Her health has inproved and she is showing some of that Hemphill spunk that runs deep in her veins. Even Austin says it himself, "She is a Hemphill, by god." Each Morning we wake up to the real Helen and each day seems to be easier than the last.

We took her to the Pediatra, and she has made it back to her birth weight. 7 lbs, and 6 ozs. All is healthy and we are glad for that. Here are some pics taken on the 8th of Oct.

hi.

Just chillin in bed...

Whoa

I farted...(she really did..)

Stick 'um up!!!

What's a matter con you???

You know...I am not so sure I like this chair...

Grrrrrrr.

Are you lookin at me???

oh, I guess you are...

Helen Marjorie Hemphill Hemphill

...from Guatemala, Guatemala, Guatemala.

Oh the circus we have been through...

We have to get the birth certificate of the baby. The don't hand it to you when you leave the hospital, the Dr gives you a form called the imforme (filled out at his office, usually given at your next check up). You get to take that form to the Municipalidad and pay them to regisiter your birth. (Lazy..if you ask me). So we go to the office in Zone 9 and they won't process because 1. we don't have two last names ( the name from our mother, and one from our father) and 2. we have the same last name. They kept asking us if we were hemanos (brother and sister??? What the....) So her name would be Helen Marjorie Hemphill Hemphill. So they send us to the head office in zone 1 because they don't want to touch it. We take a lawyer because we know it will be bad.

Side note: Our names would have been Austin David Hemphill F-------------- and mine would have been Julila Marie L------ S--------- De Hemphill. So the baby would have been Helen Marjorie Hemphill L------- (I took out the other names to protect the innocent). Lovely, huh????

We get there in zone 1 and the lawyer says "I see your paperwork is in perfect order. I don't see the problem." So he talks to the jefa (boss lady) and in five minutes has the green light to get the paperwork processed. So it is Hemphill Hemphill (his last name and my last name). The embassy took one hemphill off (I say they took his off and kept mine, hahahaha) and she has just one last name according to the United States. All of this because we are American and the big Adoption crisis in Guatemala.

(about the Guatemala, Guatemala, Guatemala...she was born in Guatemala City, Municipalidad of Guatemala, Department of Guatemala.) It was a joke in the car that her name is Helen Marjorie Hemphill Hemphill and born in Guatemala, Guatemala, Guatemala, people might think she has a stuttering problem. But no, that is just how it is on certificate.

The best picture in the world

When I see this picture, I think this is the best picture in the world. Austin loves to play with Helen while he is at home. (Well as much as you can play with a new born). And I really think she loves to sit with him. She really likes to be held which does not surprise me.



Here we are, trying to get passport photos. White background (thank you for a blanket laid over the car seat), two eyes open and no pacifier. Try that one for size. For a better part of 20 minutes, all we could get is one eye open and no pacifier or two eyes open with pacifier. Thank goodness the embassy took the photos because I was not going to go back a third time.

The first time we took the photo with no white background and when I called the embassy, they said bring the photo in and we will tell you if it is good enough. I was not going to get half way through the application process and stop and go get photos. We just got them done again. This poor guy.