Leave It To The Pros

My snapshots are entertaining, but sometimes you've got to leave it to the pros. Here are a few shots from Avena's 1-year-old photo session. The pictures were taken at the rose garden in Oakland, which was short a rose or two by the time we were done! Anna Myers, who is based in Alameda, really captured the range of Avena's personality (I love the serious shots), and the lighting is great. We're off to Pennsylvania tomorrow morning. We're so excited that Avena will get to spend some time with Ben's Grandma Doris. I'm trying not to think of the six hours on the plane each way (sorry if any of you are stuck on the plane with us!). As most of you know, Ben and I don't eat meat, with the exception of extended trips to Africa and our annual trip to Pennsylvania, when we have a Tavern Steak sandwich at a bar in the town of Trappe (conveniently named the Trappe Tavern). So, next week we'll cozy up to a Tavern Steak, which we always wash down with a bourbon.

There is a light at the end of the adoption tunnel! We have our court date for our California readoption on December 11. Yahoo. Just imagine, no more paperwork, not to mention being issued a certified California birth certificate in Avena's new name, with our names on it as well. Too bad, I was really looking forward to trying to conduct official business with a handwritten Ghanaian birth certificate! Aside from all that, things are quiet and good. Avena has taken to announcing that she's "all done" with things. She prefers to tell you by repeating it loudly 10 to 15 times, just to make sure you get the point. Things she is currently "all done" with include: baths, wearing bibs, and wearing anything in her hair (yes, it's looking wild right now). Things that she officially approves of include: wearing my sunglasses on her head (hilarious), wearing her hot pink crocs with her pajamas (she insists on this lately), and showing her belly to everyone.