No news is good news?

We're kind of in a weird place again where there's not really much to report. Our agency has received our acceptance package and so far has no questions/concerns about our documents or immigration status. We need to get a money order for our visas (I hate money orders and certified checks after all of this.... you have to get cash in order to get the money order... why can't we just stroke a check?) and tomorrow I'm mailing off the photo album for our agency to give to BabyM. We're essentially just waiting to hear that the court date happened and that we can travel to bring our baby bear home!

I was really hoping there was going to be a lot more to do because I'm sanest when I'm busy, but not so much. Of course we could always put the nursery together, but it still seems weird to do that, like I might jinx something. However, the piles of baby stuff are starting to take over the house, so perhaps now is the time to act!

Oh, but did you read Tim's post below about being attacked by a bird? I'm seriously freaked out by birds and his story makes me cringe! - Sarah

hitchcock moment

today I decided to go outside for a little bit at lunch time. get some nice fresh? air. it was about 90 today which was much better then the 60's I encountered in Albuquerque last week. when i went outside i must have strayed to close to a birds nest because the bird attacked me. I first felt a tap on my shoulder and turned around to see a bird fluttering right behind me. then the bird flew at me so i turned around and headed indoors. she managed to peck me at few more times. I will bring my cat to work next time. then i had to stay late for a meeting. I am an early riser and why can't I have a meeting at 7 in the morning? also sarah and I went to lowes just a second ago. it is hurricane preparedness week here in virginia and certain items were tax exempt.lowes had a circular announcing "duck" tape was on sale. very funny. of course i mock lowes spelling as i post a blog where i make no effort at grammatical correctness. That will be Sarah's role with our son i will be the math parent.

One step closer

Today I hauled butt to FedEx to send off our acceptance papers for Baby M. Luckily Tim had signed those before we left for our respective trips (he's due back in town by 10:30 p.m. ish tonight). Once our agency gets the goods they estimate 8-12 weeks before we travel to bring our little babe home.

So as you know, we had a painter at the house for the last two days working in the nursery and repainting our bathroom, kitchen and bedroom. My mom used this guy twice and loved him; I did not. Tim's going to have to call him and tell him we need a redo. Some of the walls have two colors (he got the tans mixed up), he didn't prep the walls or trim (no sanding down... we have a 1940s house with stucco so they need some tlc), there's paint on my bedspread and on the floor, some of the trim wasn't painted at all..... It's a disaster. I hate that Tim has to come home to this. Yes, I was here while he was working, but I didn't think I needed to babysit him... ARGH!

Ok, back to baby talk. Tomorrow hopefully Tim and I will go register and purchase some baby things. Coincidentally, tomorrow is Baby M's 2 month birthday!!!! I wish we were there to give him a big kiss. In the meantime we're also putting together a little photo album of our family with some little notes to send to him. Yes, I know he's only a baby, but the nannies will show him the pictures and read to him, and that makes my heart melt! For those of you who have sent an album to your little one already, what did you say/include? - Sarah

Just Breathe

I got back from L.A. a little before midnight last night. My trip was a blast and I had so much fun seeing my friend and her family, especially her baby boy ([pictures to come). BUT, after nearly a week of relaxation my life feels like it's in fast-forward mode. There's so much to do before we travel to bring home our baby boy. SO much!

My mom's coming over later today to help me prioritize. Hopefully the painter, who's painting away as I type, will be done by tomorrow so when Tim returns from New Mexico on Saturday night we can kick things into high gear, baby gear that is. Thanks for all of the well-wishes. Things have happened so fast, so I apologize if any of my friends and family read about the referral here on this blog instead of hearing it straight from us. We will be in touch! - Sarah

Two celeb sightings

Today was my last full day in L.A. visiting with my friend, and L.A. did not disappoint. I saw Maria Shriver. Yesterday at the grocery store we saw Deep Roy.

I'm on my way back tomorrow morning, just in time to prepare for the painter and start setting up the nursery!!!!! For real... we're really going to be parents! - Sarah

The Call

So, Wednesday, May 14, exactly 14 months after we were officially accepted into the Ethiopia program at WHFC, our daystarted off normally. Well, sort of, considering I left my cell phone at home. Even though I knew there was a HUGE possibility that we would get a referral really soon, I was halfway to work before I realized I left it at home charging. For some reason I convinced myself that referrals only happened on Thursdays (no idea where that came from) so I didn't turn around.

Around 10ish at work I was in the kitchen with a coworker who's an adoptive parent, talking about the wait time and our publisher's wife came in and asked if there was any news. I gave my usual "nope, nothing to share," answer and moved along.

At about 11:20 I came back from the bathroom (tmi, I know) and another coworker told me there was a woman holding for me and she needed to talk to me. I was kind of annoyed because sometimes pr people with lame story ideas will pull that stunt to get in a pitch or, worse, it could be an angry reader!

BUT, it was Erica, our caseworker at WHFC and she had good news. I shut my office door and soaked it in. She told me his name and birthdate, but I was so stunned... trying to find a piece of paper to write on, which is funny b/c as a journalist I have an insane amount of paper and notepads lying around. I finally found something, got off the phone and started crying like crazed person and rocking back and forth in my chair, which I'm sure if anyone had seen me they would have been really alarmed.

After a few seconds I got semi composed and called Tim. But I was still sobbing so I don't think he heard me correctly. He wanted to wait for his boss, also an adoptive parent, to get out of a meeting so he told me it'd be an hour b/4 he could pick me up. Thankfully, it was more like 30 minutes, although it seemed like 20 years.

We raced home and by that time Erica had sent an e-mail with all of his details and 2 pictures. (In case you're unfamiliar with protocol, I'm not to show a picture or give too much detail until he's legally our son, sorry) Ironically, our computer was getting hooked up to wireless that day so everything was in shambles so we sat on the floor in the to-be nursery with my laptop and looked at the e-mail together. We didn't really say much, just tried to take it all in. I feel like I feel in love with my husband all over again when I saw him looking at Baby M's picture with such joy in his eyes.

But since we were both getting ready to travel within days we had to race to Target to get some stuff, which isn't very memorable. We did, however, print out his picture and take it along with a book about grandmas to my mom, who was super excited. Then we celebrated at the local Ethiopian restaurant.

It all really still feels like a dream. Today here in LA my friend took me to Little Ethiopia, where we had lunch. It was surreal... I feel like I've been saying surreal a lot but that's how it feels.

While I've been gone Tim chatted with the doc at the adoption clinic at the local university about Baby M. He's actually 80th percentile for weight and 60th for height.... a big guy!!!!

When I return home on Wednesday the frenzy begins, I guess. We're having the nursery and other parts of the house painted Thursday and then we need to buy buy buy!!!!! I'm so excited b/c now I know who I'm buying for!

I can't wait to see his little face in person. He has the most beautiful eyes, a lovely head of hair and the tiniest chin! He's PERFECT! - Sarah

Best Belated Mother's Day Present EVER

Yep, yesterday morning we got THE call from our agency with a referral! We're still spinning (plus preparing for our respective trips out of the state), but I'll leave you with this: He's barely two months old and is so adorable. When/if I ever come down from this roller coaster of emotions I'll fill in some details. - Sarah

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all you moms and moms-to-be out there. We just finished having a brunch for my mom and Tim's grandmother and mom. I made a frittata, and note to self... do NOT touch the handle of the pan when it comes out of the oven. Yikes, I'm sure tomorrow my fingers will be feeling just lovely!

Yesterday we made some headway on the nursery. We moved two of the bookcases out to the garage with my brother George's help. Before I leave for Los Angeles on Friday we've got to get the other stuff out or into the middle of the room so the painter can work when I get back. I'm really starting the see the space as a nursery.

So, obviously no news on a referral. I, like so many other waiting families in the Ethiopia program, am hoping that if we get a referral it's by July so we can travel before the courts in Ethiopia close down in October (they do every year). If the referrals keep coming at the current rate July's not that unrealistic.

Well, I've got to set up Tim's new iPod for him so he can take it to New Mexico next week while he's at a business conference. It's so weird that we're not going to see each other for more than a week. Even when we were dating we were never apart for more than 2 days. - Sarah

Adoption on NPR

Tim and I had breakfast out together this morning and heard this story on NPR. I'm sure Tim, being the math-minded, logically thinking one in our household, will update this post at a later time after he's analyzed the data in the study. - Sarah

For The Super Freaked Out Parent In Us All

Check out these products. I had never ever considered that kids would touch the toilet seat with their hands. - Sarah

Is He For Real?

I'm nearly 30, but I admit it... I watch The Hills nearly every week. I knew Spencer was a tool, but when I heard about this it solidified it. I mean, is he for real? It's flip, ignorant comments like this that put a negative light on adoption in Africa. If those two are allowed to have children - adopted or otherwise - then this world's going to hell in a handbasket. - Sarah