Six months ago tomorrow, in a court house in cold and snowy Uralsk, Kazakhstan, a very stern and serious judge proclaimed that Abigail Emma Green was officially my daughter.  It was the single greatest moment of my life up to that point.  I remember not even realizing what the judge had said until Assia and then Olga each gave me a big congratulatory hug.  It is so hard for me to believe it has been 6 months.  The time has truly flown by.  When I look back at pictures from our time in Kazakhstan, I scarcely recognize my now happy, sweet, giggly, music loving girl.  And as for me?  Well, I now have trouble remembering my life before Abby.
 
I realize I may sound like the incredibly proud mommy that I am, but this kid is just so amazing.  She is funny and sweet and so laid back.  I mean she pretty much just rolls with any situation.  And yet, she also has quite the stubborn streak.  Not a day goes by that she doesn't do something new.  Her latest conquests include:  "reading" to mommy, climbing, lifting her shirt to show off her tummy (she also likes to lift my shirt to show my tummy, but that is a whole different story!), pointing out where her (or anyone else's) nose, eyes, ears, and mouth are located, repeating just about any word, and playing "catch" with a ball.  I love watching her figure out how she is going to do something.  You can pretty much see the wheels turning just before she kicks into action.  And talk about a memory?  If she sees something you can better believe she will remember and likely try it again later. 
  
So, what have we been up to lately?  We continue to have a very busy and fun summer.  We go swimming, go for walks, visit friends, do lots of reading, and we dance lots to music.  Since I last wrote, Abby and I made a trip to Macon, Georgia with my mom to let my aunt, cousin, and cousin's baby meet Abby.  Abby had fun meeting her relatives.  She is a wonderful little traveler.  She will either sleep or entertain herself in the back seat.  As long as there is music playing Abby is happy. 
 
Well that weekend turned out to be the weekend of Abby's first (since we have been home) fever.  At one point it hit 103.8.  Talk about one worried mommy!  After a trip to the doctor on Monday, it turned out she had a sore throat.  No antibiotics were needed - just had to let this one run its course.  Fortunately she was back to her usual happy self by Wednesday.  To add insult to injury though, Abby also wound up sharing her bedroom with a hungry mosquito.  Poor kid woke up with huge welts all over her.  She is a little trooper though and no silly bites would keep her down.
 
Last weekend we also went to Stone Mountain with Dawn and her son Alec (who was in the same baby house in Uralsk as Abby!) and Gerri and her daughter Corre (also born in Kazakhstan).  Aside from Abby's fever spiking while we were there, we had a wonderful time.  Abby loves being around other kids and Alec especially has become her buddy.  When they arrived at our house that day, Abby's face absolutely lit up when she saw him.  They are so cute together. 
 
This past weekend we went to our friend Avery's first birthday party.  Avery was also born in Kazakhstan.  She is 4 months younger than Abby and was such an adorable birthday girl.  Abby had the best time at the party.  It was a princess party and Abby got her own princess hat to wear.  She even kept it on her head long enough for me to take a picture.  Abby is fascinated by hats.  She is fascinated by how fast she can take them off her head.
 
I finally took Abby to get her picture made.  My mom has been gently reminding me each week that I needed to do this soon, but this was our first photo session since we have been home.  Well, I should say first professional photo session.  Abby has been photographed more than most movie stars in the time we have been home.  If I put the pictures in a stack and flip them, I'm pretty sure I can make a silent movie of the last 6 months.  Anyway, I was incredibly proud of my little girl and the pictures turned out great.  I have posted some of the proofs on my yahoo site:
 
http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/gayla059/my_photos
 
The new ones are under a folder called July 2004 Continued.
 
Pretty much every night that it is not raining or that we don't have plans, we wind up going to my next door neighbor Pete's house.  It usually turns out to be a gathering of neighbors including Lourdes and her 21 month old son Francesco (who Abby seems to call CoCo), Pete (who is like a surrogate grandpa to her), Pete's ex-wife Sandy, and Miss Bert (Pete's elderly, precious tenant).  It is a lovely gathering of generations and the kids have the best time in Pete's yard.  We all sit out there and talk and watch the kids play.  It will be sad when the weather gets too cold for us to be out there.  It is probably the closest thing to having a front stoop that we can have in this kind of neighborhood.
 
And so, here we are.  Six months later.  I am the mother of the sweetest and most beautiful little girl in the world.  And loving every second of it.  
 
Take care and good night from Georgia!