Finally a permanent resident!

We are elated...feel so blessed...relieved...so many words. But Wil got his permanent resident card in the mail! After 15 long months of countless applications, fees, trips to the immigration office, phone calls of push #53 to talk to a live person and believing so many promises that the government made, he is finally free -- for 2 years. Then, we renew the whole process and start studying for that citizenship test.

As you can tell I was not a patient person during this whole process. And my hubby, the patient, laid back man that he is -- was even growing weary. It's sad that the process is so difficult and grueling for those that come to the US legally and try to do the whole paperwork process the governments' backwards way. But we are so glad we survived! Praise God!

I tried to get Wil to smile while holding his card, but he's a little camera shy. :)

More milestones

Well, our little girl has cut a tooth in the past month, starting eating solids and is now trying to crawl. When she sits on the floor playing, she will reach for a toy so far in front of her that her chin practically touches the floor. Today, she accidentally got up on all fours when doing this and was pretty shocked at her accomplishment. Or maybe more shocked when I cheered her on. She has been officially sleeping 8 hours straight for several weeks in a row. Day naps aren't going too well right now, but I can't ask for more -- a little girl that goes to sleep by herself at night...wow, that's a big change.

Congrats, Wendy!

We now have an official excuse to go back to El Salvador. Wil's sister Wendy is pregnant! We are so happy for her! She is due late summer so I can't wait to start planning!

Almost a non-alien

Great news! Wil received notification on Friday that the government has approved his permanent residency! YEAH! Thank you so much for all the prayers! We had just made an appointment with a lawyer on Thursday, so I happily am going to cancel that tomorrow! Now, we have one more short (hopefully!) process to go through and then he will be a permanent resident. Citizenship comes afterwards.... But for now, my hubby is no longer an alien!

Can I touch her hair?

The doc's first comment, wow, she has even more hair! Yes, Elisa is growing and so are her curls. They're what captures everyone's attention. Her 6-month appointment went well. She is 27 3/4 inches long (100%!) and weighs 16.12 (70-75%). She's a tall thin girl. The doc also says she is very curious and friendly. Elisa loves to touch anything. You know the paper they put on the examining table ... well our curious girl had it all torn up before we left the room...leaving her mark. :)

6 months and counting...

Elisa goes in for her 6 month check up tomorrow. She is eating solids and sits up completely on her own. She is so active. In fact, she is so squirmy in your arms, like she just wants to leap out of them, but can't yet...yet that is. I need to think about baby proofing the house.

Wil has started teaching two Spanish classes at church this week. It is really going to be hard for me to have him gone 2 nights a week. Not because of the baby at all, but just missing him so much. But he absolutely loves teaching and the money helps, so I can't complain.

Continued prayers are appreciated for his immigration status. In just a few days his work visa expires, but the government gives the visas a grace period, so we aren't worried. It would just be nice to have the updated status. As for his residency, nothing yet. We are thinking of hiring an immigration lawyer to see if that would help. We are a little leary about it, but we're leaving it in His hands.