Let me start by saying I come from "country." Both my mom and dad grew up on farms. And while my dad has very much a white-collar job, he still lives on a farm. I spent the summers with cows, listened to country music and love all things fried. I acknowledge my roots.
But a country girl I am not.... unless there are fast cars involved. Last night Tim and I went to an Indy race. My brother, who has gotten prime seats for the past few years, was in New York for his 27th birthday so he let us have his tickets. Tim had been the year before (they saw Gene Simmons and Ashley Judd), but I had not. But if my experiences with Demolition Derby at the state fair and a trip to the drag strip were any indicator, I was going to have a blast!
I almost didn't make it to the start of the race, though. For starters, it was hotter than all get out. And then there was the less-than-savory crowd. I don't know where I got this from, but I had always thought the Indy crowd was a little more, um, sophisticated than NASCAR. But then again, maybe not. From the get-go there were drunk, stumbling men with no shirts on. But the grossest thing was the people with no shoes on! It was all a little much for me. And to top it off, the guy that we sat next to kept trying to talk to me about stupid stuff and he wouldn't move his cooler so Tim and I were crammed next to each other. (Turns out he was seat hoping so eventually the rightful ticket holders came and resolved that situation.)
But as soon as the cars started up I was hooked! Right out of the gate someone spun out. By the time we left around lap 263 (out of 300) half of the cars had wrecked and were out of commission. Those guys are super fast!
But today I'm on to more girly things. My oldest friend, who's also named Sarah, is throwing us a shower for friends and family. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone. Tomorrow we're attending the funeral of Tim's friend's father. This guy had quite an impact on Tim and his friends, and I know they'll all miss him! - Sarah
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
3 months old
Today our precious baby is 3 months old. Keep your fingers crossed that we'll be bringing him home very soon. - Sarah
Monday, June 23, 2008
Visas, Empty Crib and Some Panic for Good Measure
Our passports with our visas finally arrived Friday. I was so terrified that it had all gotten lost in a FedEx truck or something. Ok, so we're ready now. Come on, for real people.... just call us and we're there!
Steve, a fab coworker and adoptive parent to two lovely little girls, came over yesterday and helped us assemble our crib!!! He and his wife were kind enough to donate it to the McDonald cause. It was nice to have it up, but it instantly made the room look even smaller! And this morning it was kind of weird walking by the door and seeing an empty crib.
Which leads me to some panic. I've not been a good sleeper for several years now. This gives me way too much time to watch crappy late-night TV and to over-plan, over-think and over-freak-out about everything adoption-trip related. Last night I was trying to guess how many bottles of water we could cram into our suitcase along with everything else before we'd reach the weight limit. Which in turn lead me to make a mental note to buy a long casual dress for the plane (my favorite travel tip. Trust me, gals, I've been stopped way too many times by TSA because of a belt buckle). Which lead to a dream about Wal-mart and shopping for some cheap, casual, don't-care-if-we-leave-'em pants for Tim and I. I need a Valium... - Sarah
Steve, a fab coworker and adoptive parent to two lovely little girls, came over yesterday and helped us assemble our crib!!! He and his wife were kind enough to donate it to the McDonald cause. It was nice to have it up, but it instantly made the room look even smaller! And this morning it was kind of weird walking by the door and seeing an empty crib.
Which leads me to some panic. I've not been a good sleeper for several years now. This gives me way too much time to watch crappy late-night TV and to over-plan, over-think and over-freak-out about everything adoption-trip related. Last night I was trying to guess how many bottles of water we could cram into our suitcase along with everything else before we'd reach the weight limit. Which in turn lead me to make a mental note to buy a long casual dress for the plane (my favorite travel tip. Trust me, gals, I've been stopped way too many times by TSA because of a belt buckle). Which lead to a dream about Wal-mart and shopping for some cheap, casual, don't-care-if-we-leave-'em pants for Tim and I. I need a Valium... - Sarah
Sunday, June 22, 2008
The Picture Says It All
Excuse the crassness, but I LOVE Top Chef. But I LOVE Food Network even more, mainly because it's on 24-7. For my birthday, my awesome husband got tickets for my mom and I to go to The Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show in November. And guess who we've got tickets to see? Giada De Laurentiis. - Sarah
Friday, June 20, 2008
potty training our son
I came across this story on bayesianheresy blog. the story is truly useful for potty training our son in the future.
As all women who have ever shared a toilet with a man can attest, men can be especially spacey when it comes to their, er, aim. In the privacy of a home, that may be a mere annoyance. But, in a busy airport restroom used by throngs of travelers each day, the unpleasant effects of bad aim can add up rather quickly. Enter an ingenious economist who worked for Schiphol International Airport in Amsterdam. His idea was to etch an image of a black house fly onto the bowls of the airport’s urinals, just to the left of the drain. The result: Spillage declined 80 percent. It turns out that, if you give men a target, they can’t help but aim at it.
its all about providing correct incentives
As all women who have ever shared a toilet with a man can attest, men can be especially spacey when it comes to their, er, aim. In the privacy of a home, that may be a mere annoyance. But, in a busy airport restroom used by throngs of travelers each day, the unpleasant effects of bad aim can add up rather quickly. Enter an ingenious economist who worked for Schiphol International Airport in Amsterdam. His idea was to etch an image of a black house fly onto the bowls of the airport’s urinals, just to the left of the drain. The result: Spillage declined 80 percent. It turns out that, if you give men a target, they can’t help but aim at it.
its all about providing correct incentives
my wifes 29 favorite things
really my wifes hearing is more whale like since they can communicate across vast distances.I think she can hear a squirrel sneeze from inside the house. the most come words i speak are "what was what I didn't hear a thing." Maybe wolf like is appropo since i will have to go investigate stuff she has heard that the dogs do not react to. She doesn't buy into my theory in that if the dogs are not barking then it is not a concern.
I disagree with her memory comment because that is really unknowable since she really memorizes nothing since she is so anal that she writes everything down in a calender as is stressed when she doesn't have her handy calender.I am convinced that she has a secret journal somewhere of everything she has done and she secretly refers to this when talking about past events.
This is another reason the wait for travel is so difficult for her in that you can't plan anything and we are completely at the mercy of others for something we want very badly. I am sure that somewhere she has secretly lined up play dates for our new son for the next three years and is just not telling me.
But it is her birthday and we celebrate all things about her. She really is the greatest and I love her dearly. Next year is the fun birthday though.
I disagree with her memory comment because that is really unknowable since she really memorizes nothing since she is so anal that she writes everything down in a calender as is stressed when she doesn't have her handy calender.I am convinced that she has a secret journal somewhere of everything she has done and she secretly refers to this when talking about past events.
This is another reason the wait for travel is so difficult for her in that you can't plan anything and we are completely at the mercy of others for something we want very badly. I am sure that somewhere she has secretly lined up play dates for our new son for the next three years and is just not telling me.
But it is her birthday and we celebrate all things about her. She really is the greatest and I love her dearly. Next year is the fun birthday though.
Birthday Girl
Today I turned 29. Seriously, 29. As in next year I'll be 30! Not a biggie, or so I say now... we'll see.
The celebrations began last night when my MIL and I had dinner and good conversation at Karsen's in Carytown. Tonight we're having dinner at my mom's and tomorrow after we help Tim's grandmother move we're doing something, too!
In honor of my special day, here are 29 things you may or may not know about me:
1: I LOVE Michael Jackson. Watch out if he's on the radio while you're in the car with me.
2: As evidenced by No. 1, I love all things 1980s. I really wish my hair was long enough to rock a side pony tail like this gal.
3: I could eat nachos, Ethiopian food or sushi everyday and not get sick of them.
4: I was less than a month away from going away to college to be an environmental scientist when I remembered I suck at math!
5: Gin and tonics are my favorite cocktail.
6: I have serious dad issues. Well, HAD. But I still wish he was at least half the person I think he should be so I could have him in my life.
7: I've interviewed Wanda Sykes and Mo Rocca.
8: During my first assignment ever as a health reporter I witnessed robotic heart surgery and had to be rushed out of the room because I was about to faint. I've since seen several brain and spinal surgeries.
9: I miss my grandparents like crazy.
10: My memory is off the hook! I can remember the littlest things from my childhood.
11: I snagged my husband by using a cheeseball pick-up line at the gym.
12: I'm scared to death of being a stay-at-home-mom.
13: I've taken a cooking class with Food Network's Dave Lieberman.
14: Cold Stone Creamery's cheesecake ice cream is da bomb!
15: I'm super proud of my little brothers and all they have accomplished, but I will always think of them as 6 years old, swinging on the swing set with me and making up silly songs.
16: I first learned how to drive on an old pick up truck in a cow field.
17: I hate spider crickets.
18: Roasted Brussels sprouts and beets are my favorite veggies.
19: I exercise in my dreams every night.
20: My culinary goals include mastering my nana's potatoes http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifand onions, learning to cook at least one Ethiopian dish and making my mom's chicken chow mein on my own.
21: I have wolf-like hearing and get really stressed when I hear loud noises or am in crowds.
22: I want to meet Anthony Bourdain and Jim Breuer.
23: I'm not thrilled with my first name. I used to tell people that my real first name was Elizabeth (my maiden middle name). I thought that was exotic because it has a 'Z' in it.
24: I'm like 1/16 American Indian.
25: I hate chain restaurants, but I crave PF Chang's spicy chicken.
26: I can make sushi rolls.
27: We bought our first house, where we live now, from my former youth group adviser and his wife.
28: Soccer is my favorite sport and I wish I watched it more.
29: Sundays are my lazy days. I catch reruns of Best Week Ever and The Soup and watch the occasional Lifetime movie, no matter how corny.
The celebrations began last night when my MIL and I had dinner and good conversation at Karsen's in Carytown. Tonight we're having dinner at my mom's and tomorrow after we help Tim's grandmother move we're doing something, too!
In honor of my special day, here are 29 things you may or may not know about me:
1: I LOVE Michael Jackson. Watch out if he's on the radio while you're in the car with me.
2: As evidenced by No. 1, I love all things 1980s. I really wish my hair was long enough to rock a side pony tail like this gal.
3: I could eat nachos, Ethiopian food or sushi everyday and not get sick of them.
4: I was less than a month away from going away to college to be an environmental scientist when I remembered I suck at math!
5: Gin and tonics are my favorite cocktail.
6: I have serious dad issues. Well, HAD. But I still wish he was at least half the person I think he should be so I could have him in my life.
7: I've interviewed Wanda Sykes and Mo Rocca.
8: During my first assignment ever as a health reporter I witnessed robotic heart surgery and had to be rushed out of the room because I was about to faint. I've since seen several brain and spinal surgeries.
9: I miss my grandparents like crazy.
10: My memory is off the hook! I can remember the littlest things from my childhood.
11: I snagged my husband by using a cheeseball pick-up line at the gym.
12: I'm scared to death of being a stay-at-home-mom.
13: I've taken a cooking class with Food Network's Dave Lieberman.
14: Cold Stone Creamery's cheesecake ice cream is da bomb!
15: I'm super proud of my little brothers and all they have accomplished, but I will always think of them as 6 years old, swinging on the swing set with me and making up silly songs.
16: I first learned how to drive on an old pick up truck in a cow field.
17: I hate spider crickets.
18: Roasted Brussels sprouts and beets are my favorite veggies.
19: I exercise in my dreams every night.
20: My culinary goals include mastering my nana's potatoes http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifand onions, learning to cook at least one Ethiopian dish and making my mom's chicken chow mein on my own.
21: I have wolf-like hearing and get really stressed when I hear loud noises or am in crowds.
22: I want to meet Anthony Bourdain and Jim Breuer.
23: I'm not thrilled with my first name. I used to tell people that my real first name was Elizabeth (my maiden middle name). I thought that was exotic because it has a 'Z' in it.
24: I'm like 1/16 American Indian.
25: I hate chain restaurants, but I crave PF Chang's spicy chicken.
26: I can make sushi rolls.
27: We bought our first house, where we live now, from my former youth group adviser and his wife.
28: Soccer is my favorite sport and I wish I watched it more.
29: Sundays are my lazy days. I catch reruns of Best Week Ever and The Soup and watch the occasional Lifetime movie, no matter how corny.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Rude People
People say dumb things and they ask even dumber things. I know they usually don't mean any harm, but come on folks, let's edit ourselves a bit. Here's a few of the things that preggers peeps hear... adoptive 'rents have a whole 'nother set of whoppers. My own personal favorite comes from a couple I recently met. They have two adopted children — one white, one black — who are VERY close in age. They ALWAYS get asked if they're twins! I think the dad gets a kick out of telling people yes and then seeing them work through it in their head - Sarah
Helping Africa
this is Nigeria's finance minister. She has a Ph.d from M.I.T.
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/152
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/152
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Good News for 9 More Families
Turns out there WAS a travel group announced from my agency on Friday. 9 families will be leaving for Ethio on July 4! So exciting for them.... many congrats and safe travels. - Sarah
Saturday, June 14, 2008
One Month Since Referral
One month ago today, at almost this time, I got the call at work about BabyM. I think we've been super patient peeps throughout all of this, but not so much anymore. Yesterday I started singing a stupid "I want my baby home, baby home, baby home" song to the tune of Chilli's baby back ribs song from their commercial. I'm going delirious here, folks.
Please keep your fingers crossed that we'll be able to travel before the courts close. No travel groups were announced from our agency this week, so that's kind of a bummer. There's a group there now, so our thoughts are with them and their children as they meet for the very first time and then return home to start their lives together.
But since it's all out of our hands at this moment and we know that BabyM is being taken care of by such loving people, we're taking advantage of "us" time by going to see The Happening this afternoon. Good times!
And to all of you dads and dads-to-be out there, happy Fathers' Day tomorrow! - Sarah
Please keep your fingers crossed that we'll be able to travel before the courts close. No travel groups were announced from our agency this week, so that's kind of a bummer. There's a group there now, so our thoughts are with them and their children as they meet for the very first time and then return home to start their lives together.
But since it's all out of our hands at this moment and we know that BabyM is being taken care of by such loving people, we're taking advantage of "us" time by going to see The Happening this afternoon. Good times!
And to all of you dads and dads-to-be out there, happy Fathers' Day tomorrow! - Sarah
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Something Special
I came across this Web Site today while lurking this Web site. I'm particularly found of the Family Tree and My Heart necklaces (hint, hint, Tim.... my birthday's coming up, ya know!). - Sarah
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Our Growing Boy
We got updated measurements for BabyM today. If our conversions into inches and pounds are correct, he's gained nearly 3 pounds since the beginning of May, tipping the scales at 14.3 lbs today and measuring 24.4 inches long.
We're so thrilled he's doing so well! Everyone says he's pretty big for going on 3 months of age.... thoughts? - Sarah
We're so thrilled he's doing so well! Everyone says he's pretty big for going on 3 months of age.... thoughts? - Sarah
Monday, June 9, 2008
Baby Shower #1
Yesterday my fabulous coworkers hosted a baby shower for me. I had such a good time and was thrilled that some former coworkers that I keep in touch with as well as some other friends were able to be there. This babe is surrounded by so much love already. And to keep the good vibes going, a parent who traveled to Ethiopia in late May to bring her two daughters home sent us some shots of Baby M. I'm telling you, he's SO cute!!!!! Here are some photos from the shower.....
Mollee, who's on the art staff at the magazine, created this diaper cake/tower from items given by folks at the office. It was so pretty I didn't want to take it apart. Some folks also gave us donations to take to HH!
This is a shot of me and my pal Megan, who used to work at the magazine. She's been a great friend over the years, truly amazing! The day before the shower I was telling Tim that pregnant moms get to treat themselves to massages, but I really couldn't justify that. But I can now, thanks to Megan, who gave us a spa certificate!!!! Thanks M!
If you don't know this by now, I'm OBSESSED with elephants. My wonderful mom gave us this elephant wicker hamper.
Here's Megan, me and my pal Beverly (far right). She's one of the nicest, most supportive people I know. I'm so lucky to have her and so many other friends in my life!
Mollee, who's on the art staff at the magazine, created this diaper cake/tower from items given by folks at the office. It was so pretty I didn't want to take it apart. Some folks also gave us donations to take to HH!
This is a shot of me and my pal Megan, who used to work at the magazine. She's been a great friend over the years, truly amazing! The day before the shower I was telling Tim that pregnant moms get to treat themselves to massages, but I really couldn't justify that. But I can now, thanks to Megan, who gave us a spa certificate!!!! Thanks M!
If you don't know this by now, I'm OBSESSED with elephants. My wonderful mom gave us this elephant wicker hamper.
Here's Megan, me and my pal Beverly (far right). She's one of the nicest, most supportive people I know. I'm so lucky to have her and so many other friends in my life!
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Super Cool Adoption Shirts
Another adoptive-parent-to-be who's using the same agency as us has crafted some awesome shirts that you should check out here! - Sarah
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
My culinary enemy
On Mother's Day I cooked a frittata for the first time. It turned out perfect except for the fact that I grabbed the skillet's metal handle and burned the heck out of my fingers.
Tonight, the frittata and I met again. This time, I dumped the runny egg mixture right into my stove. The pan was just too heavy. Thankfully (?) it was roaring hot from the carrots I'd just roasted so most of the egg has cooked and can be scraped off once things cool done.... except for the goo that dripped down onto the floor and into the warming drawer. Guess what I'll be doing later tonight..... - Sarah
Tonight, the frittata and I met again. This time, I dumped the runny egg mixture right into my stove. The pan was just too heavy. Thankfully (?) it was roaring hot from the carrots I'd just roasted so most of the egg has cooked and can be scraped off once things cool done.... except for the goo that dripped down onto the floor and into the warming drawer. Guess what I'll be doing later tonight..... - Sarah
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