Marin, your room awaits...

and so does your family. We are down to the final hours, not days, before we hop on a plane and thoroughly screw up our internal clocks. Marin's bag is packed and it seems as though we have transferred the contents of an entire medicine cabinet, dresser, and toy box into her suitcase. We are going to weigh it to see if Mom and Dad can stuff in a few more things. Marin's parents, however, are going to share a suitcase...that should be interesting. So, bags packed. Room complete. Documents copied. Shots given. Appointments scheduled. We're almost ready but I'm sure that won't prevent the last-minute scurrying around that seems inevitable.

We continue to have a bit of feeding-anxiety. Since Marin has a cleft palate, this may present a bigger challenge than we had with her big sister (who, by the way, ate anything and everything for a year). We have been encouraged by parents with this experience under their belts to be patient and not to worry too much. These babies are usually quite adaptable and have figured out their own ways of eating, so we are hopeful that Marin will give us a little tutorial on how to best feed her. We hope the Pigeon nipple is all its cracked up to be!

Most importantly, Helena will be in the best of hands and will have all of her grandparents to entertain and keep very busy. I asked her last night what she is excited about and she said "Nana and Granddad, Baby Marin, Grandma Pat and YeYe (Granddad Jim)". I asked her what she was worried about and she said, "My blankie". So, I suppose since blankie is accounted for and grandparents are scheduled, she has very little weighing on her mind, thankfully.

We are starting to sense the excitement and warm encouragement from those around us. Thanks to all for your support and kind notes. A particular heart-felt thank you to whomever delivered the generous and thoughtful gift to our doorstep two nights ago. It included a Chinese proverb: "Make happy those that are near and those that are far will come". We deeply appreciate and will use your wonderful gift with this in mind, hoping to pay it forward in some way.

ps. A special Thank You to Nana Caroll. Truly, without her, it is hard to imagine this trip being possible. From her gentle motherly advice, her hand stitching of pillows and such in Marin's room, her devotion to her granddaughter Helena, and countless other little things she does for all of us, Nana always shines. As was her mother, Irene, Nana is a giver. She graciously and tirelessly gives all she has to her family. It brings us such joy to know that very soon little Marin Irene will soon feel first-hand her grandmother's love.