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
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Sunday, May 18, 2008
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
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
Thursday, May 15, 2008
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
Sunday, May 11, 2008
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
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
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
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
Monday, May 5, 2008
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
Sunday, May 4, 2008
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
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