While yesterday marked the one-year of our adoption application officially being accepted by our agency, it also was the day my brother came home from Hawaii after serving in Iraq! I was so happy to see him, but even more so, I was relieved to see he's retained his sense of humor. Last night, he, my mom, my oldest brother and Tim had dinner and laughed a lot. It was what we all needed, I think.
And speaking of the adoption application, I've had a few e-mails and comments about why is it taking so long - is it our agency's fault since they've seen other agencies advertise much shorter wait times. I would like to think not. Our agency was one of the first allowed into Ethiopia, so I think they know what they're doing. My fear is that other agencies are offering projected wait times from when the program started, which were obviously much shorter. But now that more people are interested in Ethiopia and more agencies are authorized, things have slowed. But who knows. And if all of this means that fewer infants are being placed for adoption, that's a wonderful thing!
Yesterday I also had a very yuppie moment (not sure what you call the yuppies of my generation, so I think we all still use that term). I went to Starbucks in the fashionable Fan to get an iced coffee for me and latte for my mom. When I came out, my hipster Jetta was parked side-by-side to no less than four other Jettas! Then,I went to the local Mac store to upgrade the operating system on my Mac laptop, after which, Tim and I went to Sam's Club so he could get his own iPod. It was kind of surreal.
Typhoid. No, I don't have it, and I'm actually quite surprised! I finally took my oral typhoid vaccine this week, four pills taken every other day (I opted for the pill because it's effective longer than the shot). It's a live vaccine, so I believe there's a risk of getting the disease from the vaccine... could be wrong about that, though. But, I know many people have side effects. But I didn't! My stomach was a little upset yesterday but that's it. Maybe I'm getting less wimpy after all.
Lastly, I sent off our form to be refingerprinted by Homeland Security late last week and we got our letter yesterday. So fast! We're going the end of this month.
Ok, seriously, this is really it: When you leave our blog, please visit the Gurskes and Habesha Child, two bloggers we love who are in Ethiopia now and will soon return with their beautiful children. We wish them safe travels - Sarah
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Mingling With Brits Without Taking Flight
A few weekends ago, Tim and I drove down to N.C. to visit with our pals from England, the Faulkners. They were playing golf and soaking up the sun in Florida and then came up the coast to stay in their fellow travel companions' condo on a golf course in Aberdeen, N.C.
How do two crazy people from Virginia know such cool peeps overseas? I first met the Faulkners nearly 14 years ago when I participated in an exchange program the summer before I entered high school. They were so wonderful. From the moment we met they treated me like family. The summer before my senior year I met up with them again, this time in London while my French class was making a pit stop before Paris. Fast forward to 2004, and the Faulkners came to our wedding. Jane even spoke, reciting a Buddhist saying that was so lovely. So, when you add in their trip to N.C., we're even... two trips for me, two for them, and it's our turn to visit next. Hopefully it'll be sooner than later.
I have some adoption thoughts (only thoughts, no news people), but I'm starving, so I'll just leave you with some pictures from our trip!
Me and Jane
Tim and Rob
Charlie. Charlie and her hubby, Erwin, own the condo in N.C. Unfortunately I didn't get a shot of him, but he was quite enjoyable, and I hope we can keep in touch with them both as well.
How do two crazy people from Virginia know such cool peeps overseas? I first met the Faulkners nearly 14 years ago when I participated in an exchange program the summer before I entered high school. They were so wonderful. From the moment we met they treated me like family. The summer before my senior year I met up with them again, this time in London while my French class was making a pit stop before Paris. Fast forward to 2004, and the Faulkners came to our wedding. Jane even spoke, reciting a Buddhist saying that was so lovely. So, when you add in their trip to N.C., we're even... two trips for me, two for them, and it's our turn to visit next. Hopefully it'll be sooner than later.
I have some adoption thoughts (only thoughts, no news people), but I'm starving, so I'll just leave you with some pictures from our trip!
Me and Jane
Tim and Rob
Charlie. Charlie and her hubby, Erwin, own the condo in N.C. Unfortunately I didn't get a shot of him, but he was quite enjoyable, and I hope we can keep in touch with them both as well.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Mixed eMotions about March
What March Brings Us....
My brother is back safe in Hawaii and will soon be joining us here in VA for a month-long visit. I can't even begin to explain how excited I am. I have missed him so much.
This month we also welcome our friends from England for a day or so. We haven't seen them since our wedding and we're really looking forward to spending more time together.
I'm pretty sure Tim's spring break from school is in March, too, which is always good since most of the time I feel like we just kind of pass each other in the night.
What March Doesn't Bring Us....
A baby, or even a referral. On March 14 we'll hit the one-year mark, one year of our application being officially accepted (of course, we started the process about five months prior to that). What was once projected as an 8-10 month wait from that acceptance has now turned into 16 months. So, hopefully we'll be matched with a child by June.
In the meantime,we're just enjoying our time together and continuing to purchase something each week. Last week I won a twice-used baby jogger on eBay! SCORE!!!! - Sarah
My brother is back safe in Hawaii and will soon be joining us here in VA for a month-long visit. I can't even begin to explain how excited I am. I have missed him so much.
This month we also welcome our friends from England for a day or so. We haven't seen them since our wedding and we're really looking forward to spending more time together.
I'm pretty sure Tim's spring break from school is in March, too, which is always good since most of the time I feel like we just kind of pass each other in the night.
What March Doesn't Bring Us....
A baby, or even a referral. On March 14 we'll hit the one-year mark, one year of our application being officially accepted (of course, we started the process about five months prior to that). What was once projected as an 8-10 month wait from that acceptance has now turned into 16 months. So, hopefully we'll be matched with a child by June.
In the meantime,we're just enjoying our time together and continuing to purchase something each week. Last week I won a twice-used baby jogger on eBay! SCORE!!!! - Sarah
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Support This
No adoption news to report, but my mom reminded me today that I was going to send in a letter of support to the Patrick Henry School Initiative. (My mom, who's a teacher, sent one along, too.) This is a lovely homegrown effort to give the kids of Richmond a great education. I know that when the time comes for Baby M to attend school we'll either have to move or pay for private school if this doesn't come to fruition. It's so important to me that our son attend a culturally diverse school, but not at the sake of his education. The charter application is still being reviewed so it's not too late to send in a letter of support if you're local - do it for Baby M!!!! - Sarah
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
A New Dating World
I found this article today on Babble.com and thought it was really funny. I often wonder about the new people that Tim, I and Baby M will meet. Hopefully we'll find our perfect match, too.
On another note, our blog pals the Gurskes will be thinking about playdates pretty soon because they are officially mom and dad now, traveling to Ethiopia early next month. We're super happy for them and their son is SO adorable. - Sarah
On another note, our blog pals the Gurskes will be thinking about playdates pretty soon because they are officially mom and dad now, traveling to Ethiopia early next month. We're super happy for them and their son is SO adorable. - Sarah
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Homestudy Update
So as you know by now we're updating our homestudy since it's only good for a year. We've done our fingerprints at the local police station, sent off background check forms and handed over our latest financial statements. We both still have to get new physicals. And on Wednesday we completed the last component to the homestudy update: another in-home visit.
I didn't really expect it to be in-home, but whatever. Our social worker just chatted with us and toured the house again. I was MUCH more relaxed this time around, however, there were some embarrassing points. First, she was supposed to come at 5:15. At 5:05 I pulled up next to the house and she pulled in right behind me. Thankfully she motioned for me to go inside so I could brush my teeth and try not to look like a crazed person. Then, when she was touring the house and walked toward Tim's office, which is where the cat box is now, I could tell Milton had just left a present. ARGH! How mortifying!!!!
Our social worker is super cool, so no worries, but still. - Sarah
I didn't really expect it to be in-home, but whatever. Our social worker just chatted with us and toured the house again. I was MUCH more relaxed this time around, however, there were some embarrassing points. First, she was supposed to come at 5:15. At 5:05 I pulled up next to the house and she pulled in right behind me. Thankfully she motioned for me to go inside so I could brush my teeth and try not to look like a crazed person. Then, when she was touring the house and walked toward Tim's office, which is where the cat box is now, I could tell Milton had just left a present. ARGH! How mortifying!!!!
Our social worker is super cool, so no worries, but still. - Sarah
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Ouch, I Was Tagged!
Our blog pal Bethany tagged me the other day, so here goes....
8 Things I'm Passionate About
1. My Family - my mom and brothers have always been SO supportive of me
2. My husband - Tim and I aren't perfect but he's an amazing person whom I love deeply.
3. Our pets (two dogs, Wrangler and Hazel, and cat Milton)
4. My career, even though I'm not always in love with it
5. Talking up adoption
6. Food - I love to eat and cook like there's no tomorrow
7. Gardening. There's not much green in our yard at the moment, but that doesn't mean I don't enjoy gardening.
8. All things Ethiopian - the food, the music, the people, the culture... I love it all.
8 Things I Want to Do Before I Die
1. Travel the world. I've been to the UK and France, most of the East Coast of the U.S. and some of the middle, but there's so much left in the world that I haven't seen.
2. Be published in a national magazine or newspaper.
3. Be the best mom and wife I can be.
4. Take my mom to Italy because she's always wanted to go.
5. Learn to cook Ethiopian food
6. Complete a Century. Tim and I rode 40 miles last May but I wanna do 100!
7. Complete more than 1 adoption
8. See my oldest brother become a millonaire and my youngest brother finish law school.
8 Things I Often Say
1. Milton (the cat), don't you dare knock over that picture frame/lamp/statue.
2. Damn it, Milton, why did knock that over? It wasn't bothering you at all!
3. Seriously (Bethany and I have that in common)My youngest brother, John, started it.
4. No, nothing new on the adoption front, but thanks for asking.
5. Grande skim latte, please.
6. People make me naseuous (a dear pal, Emili, who used to work at the magazine with me, said this and it's so true when you come across the kind of people I do on a regular basis)
7. I can't wait until my brother comes home from Iraq
8. Tim, I think the litter box needs to be changed (Tim reminded me that the last time I took out the litter box was when we were still trying to get pregnant and I convinced him that cat poo is bad for folks who are preggers. Yikes, that was nearly two years ago. Sorry, hun)
8 TV Shows I Recently Watched
1. Lost - What, you're not a fan? Well, put 'em in your Netflix rotation because you don't know what you're missing
2. MadTV - I pretty much watch an episode every Sunday morning. I used to be a huge SNL fan, but this show is actually much funnier.
3. Everyday Italian
4. Barefoot Contessa (I told you I love cooking at the Food Network)
5. American Idol
6. Best Week Ever (I love pretty much any show on VH1)
7. Intervention on A&E
8. the local news
8 Songs I Never Tire of Listening To
1. Rehab by Amy Winehouse
2. Fit But You Know It by The Streets
3. Anything by the Killers, Morrissey, the Beastie Boys, Michael Jackson or The Police
4. Ain't No Other Man by Christina Aguilera
5. It Ends Tonight by the All-American Rejects
6. Love Like Winter by AFI
7. Jenny Don't Be Hasty by Paolo Nutini
8. White Flag by Dido
8 Things That Attract Me To My Friends Hmm... don't have 8 since everyone has their own unique things to bring to the table.
1. Loyalty
2. Down-to-earth personality
3. Sense of humor
4. Intelligence and drive
8 Things I Learned in 2007
1. An adoption will take longer than you expect
2. I'm stronger than I ever imagined!
3. My husband can accomplish anything.
4. Through the death of her father and brother and the deployment of her son, my mom remains the strongest person I know!
5. Friendships perservere despite miles of seperation!
6. Family is more important than any job
7. I dislike planning events
8. Lost is the best TV show ever!!!
I tag Tim, who I'm sure won't get to this until tomorrow because he's wathing the Superbowl. - Sarah
8 Things I'm Passionate About
1. My Family - my mom and brothers have always been SO supportive of me
2. My husband - Tim and I aren't perfect but he's an amazing person whom I love deeply.
3. Our pets (two dogs, Wrangler and Hazel, and cat Milton)
4. My career, even though I'm not always in love with it
5. Talking up adoption
6. Food - I love to eat and cook like there's no tomorrow
7. Gardening. There's not much green in our yard at the moment, but that doesn't mean I don't enjoy gardening.
8. All things Ethiopian - the food, the music, the people, the culture... I love it all.
8 Things I Want to Do Before I Die
1. Travel the world. I've been to the UK and France, most of the East Coast of the U.S. and some of the middle, but there's so much left in the world that I haven't seen.
2. Be published in a national magazine or newspaper.
3. Be the best mom and wife I can be.
4. Take my mom to Italy because she's always wanted to go.
5. Learn to cook Ethiopian food
6. Complete a Century. Tim and I rode 40 miles last May but I wanna do 100!
7. Complete more than 1 adoption
8. See my oldest brother become a millonaire and my youngest brother finish law school.
8 Things I Often Say
1. Milton (the cat), don't you dare knock over that picture frame/lamp/statue.
2. Damn it, Milton, why did knock that over? It wasn't bothering you at all!
3. Seriously (Bethany and I have that in common)My youngest brother, John, started it.
4. No, nothing new on the adoption front, but thanks for asking.
5. Grande skim latte, please.
6. People make me naseuous (a dear pal, Emili, who used to work at the magazine with me, said this and it's so true when you come across the kind of people I do on a regular basis)
7. I can't wait until my brother comes home from Iraq
8. Tim, I think the litter box needs to be changed (Tim reminded me that the last time I took out the litter box was when we were still trying to get pregnant and I convinced him that cat poo is bad for folks who are preggers. Yikes, that was nearly two years ago. Sorry, hun)
8 TV Shows I Recently Watched
1. Lost - What, you're not a fan? Well, put 'em in your Netflix rotation because you don't know what you're missing
2. MadTV - I pretty much watch an episode every Sunday morning. I used to be a huge SNL fan, but this show is actually much funnier.
3. Everyday Italian
4. Barefoot Contessa (I told you I love cooking at the Food Network)
5. American Idol
6. Best Week Ever (I love pretty much any show on VH1)
7. Intervention on A&E
8. the local news
8 Songs I Never Tire of Listening To
1. Rehab by Amy Winehouse
2. Fit But You Know It by The Streets
3. Anything by the Killers, Morrissey, the Beastie Boys, Michael Jackson or The Police
4. Ain't No Other Man by Christina Aguilera
5. It Ends Tonight by the All-American Rejects
6. Love Like Winter by AFI
7. Jenny Don't Be Hasty by Paolo Nutini
8. White Flag by Dido
8 Things That Attract Me To My Friends Hmm... don't have 8 since everyone has their own unique things to bring to the table.
1. Loyalty
2. Down-to-earth personality
3. Sense of humor
4. Intelligence and drive
8 Things I Learned in 2007
1. An adoption will take longer than you expect
2. I'm stronger than I ever imagined!
3. My husband can accomplish anything.
4. Through the death of her father and brother and the deployment of her son, my mom remains the strongest person I know!
5. Friendships perservere despite miles of seperation!
6. Family is more important than any job
7. I dislike planning events
8. Lost is the best TV show ever!!!
I tag Tim, who I'm sure won't get to this until tomorrow because he's wathing the Superbowl. - Sarah
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