Before and After

If you've been following our blog for a little while then you know how much we love our cat, Iris. A good friend of ours is a volunteer foster mom with a local Siamese Rescue group. Somehow she knew that placing Iris with us was a match made in heaven. She couldn't have been more right. Here is her "referral" picture (left). Woe-be-gones.





Here is Iris now (right). Happy, sweet, very talkative. She pretty much owns the place.

We often wonder how Iris will do when baby-girl comes along. Will she be jealous? Will she want to mother the baby a bit? Will she try to sleep with the baby in the crib? Will baby-girl be scared of Iris?

Hopefully those folks working in the CCAA matching room will channel some of that magic that brought Iris into our home when they make their referral decision.

Hopefully they won't use those hideous passport photos that make us look like criminals to do it.

Potty Talk

We were at a picnic last weekend & one of these was passed around.

In case you are as clueless as we were (until Saturday, that is) this lovely contraption is a toilet lid lock. Very interesting, hmm? We sure thought so.

Jzboy took a long, hard look at it. His eyes seemed to measure the quality and usefulness of the product.

His assessment? Without even the slightest bit of sarcasm he said,
"This would be awfully difficult to maneuver if you had arthritis."

I guess he's preparing himself for a much longer wait than I am. I sure hope that we don't become senior citizens before our baby girl starts potty training.

You Make Me Feel Like Dancin'

Keeping with the nostalgia theme of late, may I remind you of this lovely little tune by Leo Sayer?

Well I heard it yesterday & it put such a lift in my step. Friday was a real low point for me what with the short list of referrals this month and the subsequent pity party. I am learning quickly that this process is full of highs and lows.

Back on a bit of a high now, so that's good. This weekend I got to spend some real quality time with some other adoptive parents and a few that are waiting just like us. Having others validate and normalize your feelings can do wonders. And, looking into a happy baby girls face while hearing stories of her adoption day from Mom and Dad has amazing medicinal effects for the soul.

This doesn't hurt either...it is Mary Mia and Rod's Referral Day and they just got "THE CALL". Those guys are generously sharing their special experience with scads of people in Blog-land.

Thanks you two - your amazing story and happy ending gives us all hope.

Now, let's git up & dance.

Townhouse Dreams

Ok, WHY did I get all weepy when I saw this? I'm feeling so darn emotional right now. These rumors stink. The timelines just bite. I am so ready to be a Mom. Like, so SEVEN years ago.

I'm not sure if my inspiration to look for this pic & then finding it got me emotional b/c of the nostalgia. Or if it is the feeling that I'm losing time.

Either way, it honestly was fun to see my former Barbie Town House today...even if it did trigger a bit of this and that. It was like seeing an old friend. I loved that thing. A lot. I have such vivid memories of playing with my Barbies for hours upon hours way back in the day.



Yeah, I had the Saturday Night Fever ALBUM. Vinyl, baby.















And, I choreographed thousands of Barbie-Disco-Dance numbers with that as my soundtrack. Well, that and my extensive 45 collection. A few examples from my catalogue include: "Don't Go Breakin' My Heart" - by Elton John & Kiki Dee, "Play that Funky Music" - Wild Cherry, "Fly Like an Eagle" - Steve Miller Band and "Blinded by the Light" - Manfred Mann's Earth Band.

As you can imagine, Barbie was quite ecletic in her tastes. Ken, too. My DJ tendencies began so many, many years ago.

God. I am so nostalgic right now. And, misty-eyed.

So, did you have a Barbie Townhouse? And, what music did you make her dance to??

Ok, I need something to smile about.....

So, I'm going to post something cute. Sorry, but I like cute & I hate gloomy rumors.....




Sea Otters Rock! Mmm-kay? My cat, Sam, used to lie on his back and impersonate an otter all the time. He was Siamese, so he had the coloring for it. He was known in our house as otter cat. When I was in Alaska, I got to see some actual sea otters - a huge school of them. Made me so happy.





















You can imagine how happy I was when I found this little guy:
















He was hiding amongst a group of Paris-Hilton-style-doggies-in-a-purse toys. I rescued him. Of course I realize that baby-gurl will not be able to play with her wee otter for quite some time.

I guess that I'll just have to keep this little guy company until she can.

Me & My Peeps

It is an absolutely incredible feeling when you shout for a bit of support & your peeps come out in full force to cheer you on. Actually, it probably doesn't hurt when you feed said folks Yummy Indian Food (when it comes from our fave place, that is what we call it), chocolate cake and icy cold beer. Who wouldn't want a piece of that?

HoLLaH.

This weekend was our "It's About Time" party. We felt that it was about time to celebrate some of the positive things going on in our lives recently. Biggest of them being, of course, our adoption plans. Some people that came actually knew the meaning of the letters LID as well as our plans to go to China, a couple were our home study references and a few special folk are pictured with us on the pages of our dossier. (The Very-Important-Dossier that sits over there in China right now waiting...Impatiently). There were a few invitees, however, that weren't clued in until they got the invitation to the event. Pretty cool surprise, IMO. All things considered, it ended up being a killer coming-out party in an International Adoption sort of way.

So. This was the first party we've had in a long, long time. Like, a really long time. And, during that time, pretty much most of our friends had kids - some even went and had three kids! So, you add that reality into the fact that I am not only a frustrated artist, but a social worker that does art therapy - and you get - The Party Art Project. Hence the photos.

The project encouraged participants to "Make a Baby"..."Something for BabyZ". All that I did was put out some puppet materials like doll hair, googly eyes, "people" forms, glitter glue and pipe cleaners...and ask really, really nicely. Look at what they came up with:


My mother's creation ~





















Carrie's rendition of "Lil' Kim" ~






















My father's creation~






















And, a couple other very special works...



















I am so proud of my friends/family for letting down their guard & exposing their creative sides. Doing so manifested an amazing gift for us and for our baby-to-be.

Killer friends, killer party, killer art. Very special day.

Ultimate gratitude.

Rob a Convent...Go to Hell!

That's the message we left for the robbers (taped to the backdoor) that broke into the convent & tried to steal our boombox. The boombox was too big to fit through the window, so they left it. This was before cd's, so you can imagine the heft.

I posted a bit ago that I'd once lived in a convent in Kansas City. A couple people said "what"? So, here is the story...

Way back in the land time forgot - before email, mortgages, eyebrow waxing and way before Starbucks. Around the time that Molly Ringwald was on the A-List, Morrissey went solo, Tom Cruise was still married to Mimi and hair was as big as ever. Pretty much right after college graduation, I joined the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. We frequently referred to it as a sortof domestic Peace Corps - with a Catholic edge. It was an organization that peace and justice type kids joined in order to change the world - and to get "ruined for life".

I was placed with five other women and one guy in, yes, a convent in Kansas City. The Holy Trinity Convent to be specific. It was perfect because not only were there 7 tiny bedrooms upstairs, there was a very cozy chapel downstairs. Complete with altar and relics. It would have been perfect had it not been crawling distance from two local bars as well as the Shady Lady Lounge. Let's just say, the cops were around a lot.

The Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC) places kids in inner city communities to work as volunteers. Each one of us had a full time job at either a women's shelter, homeless outreach center or one of several community organizing groups. It was expected that we uphold the primary tenets of the JVC while living in the convent: Simplicity, Social Justice, Community and Spirituality. What that meant for us was that we lived semi-communally, engaged in minor acts of civil disobediance, lived off of $75/month and went on a lot of retreats. Despite the challenging work, not to mention all the protesting, we sure had a whole LOT of fun!


One of our mottos was "Just because you live in a convent, doesn't mean you have to act like a nun". This picture is of the seven of us on Halloween. I know that the pic is reeeally fuzzy - but, hey, this was before digital cameras.


Anyway, we are (from left): Sister Golden Hair, Flying Nun, Tranny Nun, Sister Rhythm and Blues, Sister Skeletor, Materialistic Nun & Mother Teresa.

Wanna guess which one is me?

3 Months Down...? To Go

Yup - We've been logged in with the CCAA for Three Months now! Wow, where did the summer go? It is amazing, cool and shocking all at once. Don't get me wrong, this wait for referral is crappy - but we've got 3 months under our belts & that is something to celebrate!

So, for fun & to commemorate the anniversary, I thought that listing some famous "threes" was appropriate for the occasion. Let me know if you have any to add....

Manny, Moe & Jack
Red, White & Blue
The Trinity
Star Wars Trilogy
Three's Company
Charlies Angels
The Bee Gee's

First Flower

My buddy Millicent wrote recently about a very special purchase she made for the daughter she's waiting to adopt from China. She called it "First Tartan". Another friend of mine, Laura, wrote today about how exciting it is to have girly clothing waiting for the daughter she will be adopting from Russia. Millicent would refer to this as "First Pink" - the novelty of acquiring pretty, pink stuff for daughters-to-be after parenting a boy.

No matter what you call it, these firsts are so symbolic and poignant for us waiting parents. We thought that it would be fun to share them as a group. Please check here if you'd like to join in the fun....


For me, it is "First Flower". I bought and planted this Flowering Quince on Mother's Day right under buttercup's bedroom window. Pretty cool when we found out later that Mother's Day was our LID! I wanted to plant something beautiful for our daughter, something that we would take care of & watch grow during our wait. The Flowering Quince is one of the first to bloom in the Spring - so, here in the Bay Area, that means Chinese New Year!


I am sad to report that this is how it currently looks:

I think that the heat wave we had really did a number on the poor thing. I am very optimistic, though. I know that it is alive. This wee bush has bloomed TWICE since May! Even though today she looks like a bunch of twigs - I am sure that this is one trooper of a plant & that she will look amazing next Spring.



Finally...here is a pic of my first clothing purchase. I bought it right after our agency accepted us & we began our paperchase. Isn't it a perfect match with the Quince?

Someday I'll snap a pic of little b-cup wearing this dress in front of the blooming bush.


Sooner than later, I hope.

This bear is coming along......

Check out his legs! This project is going a bit slower than I thought, but only because he is a big bear. After his legs were finished & I propped the wee guy up, my husband said "Well, that's going to be a real Teddy Bear". He is bigger than I thought - but I still think he'll be cute. And, he's definitely soft.



This is the view from behind. So floppy and fun.

Just wait until he gets all fluffed out & accessorized.

Thanks for sharing the fun with me.

Tagged again?

This is so funny, but I got tagged again (by Mariah). I'm starting to wonder if there's something going on here in Blog-land with all of this tagging & such? Anyway, it is slow here at the office & these are usually kinda fun so here goes:

4 jobs I have had in my life...
1. Sales/Cashier @ Miller's Outpost
2. Kelly Girl Temp Worker
3. Movie Theatre Popcorn Maker
4. Social Worker


4 movies I would watch over and over...
1. Clerks (just about anything Kevin Smith)
2. Harry Met Sally (just about anything Meg Ryan)
3. Do the Right Thing (just about anything Spike Lee)
4. Say Anything (just about anything John Cusack)

4 places I have lived...
1. With my parents in Pennsylvania
2. In a dorm room in Los Angeles
3. In a convent in Kansas City
4. As a homeowner in Northern CA

4 TV shows I love to watch....
1. Project Runway
2. Amazing Race (auditioned with my husband a few years back)
3. Oprah
4. Martha

4 places I have been on vacation...
1. Paris, France
2. New York, NY
3. Anchorage (& the Inner Passage), AK
4. Austin, TX

4 websites I visit daily..
1. www.blogger.com
2. www.google.com
3. www.chinaadopttalk.com
4. www.wunderground.com

4 of my favorite foods...
1. broccoli
2. sushi
3. salmon
4. tofu

4 places I would like to be right now...
1. the movies w/ a big thing a popcorn.
2. in my car driving home.
3. Mendocino, CA with my husband.
4. in my garden.

OK, now for some new victims...I mean volunteers for the "taggage". Who wants to play? How about: Connie? ~ AND ~ Stacy?

PS - Bear update pics tonight! I finished the legs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OMGosh!

As flattered as I am by the posts (& emails) about selling my "wares" let me just tell you....

This is why I just can't bring myself to do it...


It can get a bit difficult at times. And, you know, there begins the emotional connection. KWIM? This is why I only keep or give away my creations ~ as gifts to special people. Because there is just a bit too much invested. Besides - there are many imperfections........

Does that make sense?

This ONE wee bear leg took quite a bit longer than I thought. And, well, who knows when I'll want to do that again? I guess, for leg #2, but after that? Wellllllll, maybe I'll be onto the next thing. I bore easily. I don't think that I've got the sales-thing in me as far as the creative pursuits are concerned, KWIM?

Sorry to disappoint.

But, hey, maybe you'll invite me to a baby shower someday & be very surprised........

xo

Lookie!!

Check out what my Stupendous Secret Pal sent me!!



It is a super soft, ultra thirsty hooded towel for Baby! It is soooo cute & practical. If you look close, you can see the most adorable & happy lavendar-polka-dotted whale on the hood!!


Here is a better pic of the whale - on a matching(!!) washcloth. OMGosh!

I can just imagine scooping up a wiggly, wet little buttercup right into this snuggly, schmooey robe!

Thank you soooo darn much, Secret Pal! You spoil me......I mean, us! XOXOXOXO

ps ~ i meant to give a shout to the designer of these cute bath items. they are clearly handmade & came from modesto, ca. check out the www.littledrools.com site ~ very cute stuff. HHmmmm...maybe my Secret Pal is from CA??

Bear Butt

Can you see the little cheeks??
(They're at the top, bear is upside down)

An emergency trip to Michaels for stitch holders yesterday halted the project. Legs are next!

Snuggly Bear Being Born

I thought that it would be fun to post the process of a bear coming to life. I started this little guy this morning & he's looking pretty cute. I love the chocolatey brown color. And the yarn is verrrrrry soft alpaca. This might go quick b/c the pattern is easy and I wanna snuggle him.

We! Had! So! Much! Fun!!!

When was the last time you got to make a brand new friend? Isn't it a happy feeling when you do? I think that I need to figure out how to do so more often....

Today I got to hang out with fellow CCAI--April/May LID--Local Bay Arean Jen!!! We sure had a great time. And, I think that if we didn't have other things to get back home to do (& Bay Area traffic to avoid) we'd still be gabbing. Big time. It would probably be time for wine tasting and dinner & we'd still be talking.

Thanks, Jen, for such a great time & for helping me start my weekend off with a bang!

tagged x a friend

Gosh! I was tagged by Mariah at Seeking Sloan when I least expected it. I love a good tag - so here goes:

I am....kickin' it with a nice glass of white wine.
I want....a long vacation from work.
I wish....for referrals from China to pick up. I wish on every star, ladybug, birthday candle, lucky penny and sneeze.
I hate....rude &/or mean behavior.
I miss.....the carefree days of college.
I hear.....my husband washing the dishes. Yes!!
I wonder....why things happen the way they do.
I regret.....not traveling to Europe & studying abroad when I was in college. My only regret.
I am not.....comfortable in crowds. I don't like strangers touching me. (How is that going to be in China?)
I dance....when I'm happy. And, when I hear great music.
I sing....(and think I'm great)...when Alanis Morissette is tuned up loud in my car. Or Sinead, Missy Elliot, Aretha...
I cry.....when I feel misunderstood. And, when I want desparately to be understood.
I am not always.....patient.
I make.....special gifts for special people.
I write.....on my blog. And, all the time at work.
I confuse.....indifference for dislike or rejection.
I need.....love & acceptance.
I should......let things go more easily.
I start.......many creative projects.
I finish.....the pretty ones.

OK, so now it is time for me to "tap" another one of my blogger buddies for this tag. How about....Millicent?

Baby Brain???

The other day my friend accused me of having "baby brain". I forgot something silly, was surprised by my forgetfulness, explained that I've been a bit out of my body lately with a lot on my mind - and she said "You've got BABY BRAIN". It took a good minute to absorb her observation. Once I did, I quickly decided that I was happy to hear it. Proud, even.

All of these years I have seen friends & family members go through all the phases of pregnancy and watched them slide into motherhood - the conventional way. I paid attention, I listened to every word, I soaked it all up. I even got to watch life begin twice. Live!!

As one of those "planner types" I was doing all of this active observing with the expectation that one day I would put my experience and knowledge to good use. I would be ready for anything, I thought. But, "anything" didn't quite happen for me. Never had morning sickness, the metallic taste in your mouth, a need for prenatal vitamins, the swollen ankles/feet/breasts/hands, weird new allergies. Never had to worry about sneaking around at a party not drinking wine, no avoidance of hot tubs necessary or blue cheese or sushi. Never had to worry about genetic testing, proper nutrition, stretch marks, episiotomies or choosing a doula. Nope, never even had one of those sticks turn pink for me. Or was it blue?

But, hey, I've got baby brain. Yes, I have BABY brain. And although the rest of the picture looks a lot different than I'd imagined - it is a sure sign that I'm gonna be a mother soon.