Killer Plastics?

Thanks to a diligent coworker, I've been hip to the potential dangers of plastics for a while now, but I still learned a lot from reading this story in the Washington Post today. I realize it's super hard to avoid plastics today, but I'm trying to make small changes, such as BPA-free baby food storage containers and this awesome water bottle (which was also recommended by my coworker) that will hopefully improve my life and get our future babe off to a good start. — Sarah

UPDATED I've heard about the aluminum/Alzheimer's debate. I chose Sigg because it has a leach-free liner and it's made in Switzerland... never heard of anything being recalled from there. But, Anneli's right: You just never know. These days it's impossible to avoid all toxins. Our choices are simply a series of trade offs. How's that for an uplifting Earth Day???

A New Baby

Congrats to our friends John and Nikole who welcomed a beautiful baby girl into this world yesterday.

A Proud Sis

My brother, who returned to Hawaii after three weeks state-side visiting with his friends and family, was promoted to 1st Lt. this week! I'm so proud of this kid I can hardly stand it! — Sarah

13 Months Down

We've officially been waiting 13 months now.

I went to my adoption support group last week. We had some good news to celebrate: one of the people was quickly matched domestically (five days!!!) and is home with her baby boy!!!

Unfortunately, I'm too drained at the moment to talk adoption, mainly because there's nothing new to say. We've got at least four more months to go before we're matched. On April 26 we're attending a class on transracial and transcultural adoption.

In the meantime, I'm getting excited about my trip to Los Angeles next month to see a friend who used to work at the magazine with me. I've not seen her in at least two years and I've never met her 8-month-old baby. Plus, I've never been to California and I LOVE to fly! (Can we say Best Vacation EVER!?!?!) Tim will be attending a conference in New Mexico, so it kind of stinks that we won't be together, but when I get back we're having the nursery painted finally!!! — Sarah

Fingerprints

We went down to Norfolk today to get our fingerprints redone since they expire after a year. It was super fast this time, too. And, the woman who did our fingerprints last time did mine again today... she even recognized me, which was kind of a big deal considering no one EVER seems to recognize/remember me - not a good thing when you're a journalist, right?! So now we just keep on waiting until June, when we have to update another form that's about to expire. Good times! - Sarah

Some Movement on the List

Each week our agency sends out an e-mail update with important info - the date of the next call-in session, important program updates and a sort of status of applications. They tell us what's the next application date for families waiting for a male infant, female infant, toddler, sibling group, etc. Well, for what seems like forever, the next application date (when the application is officially accepted into the program and the family has passed Homeland Security clearances) for a boy who's 0-18 months was 10/19/06. Week after week we'd check that date and there was no movement. Until this week.... the next application date is 3/2/07 - ours is 3/14/07!!!!!!

Now, there's no way to know how many families have application dates between 3/2/07 and ours. Nor is there any way to know how long it'll take before the 3/2/07 family gets a referral and subsequently us. But, it was very welcome news. This past week or so has been really rough on me, so seeing that date change was so uplifting.

Also uplifting was the return home of our blog pals the Gurskes, who recently returned home with their beautiful toddler Leul. He is so precious. We've really enjoyed following Bethany and Jeff's journey. Please keep Habesha Child in your thoughts. She's in Ethiopia with her gorgeous daughter, but the embassy doesn't have her paperwork so her court date has been pushed back. We wish them a speedy return. - Sarah

Brothers, Typhoid, Yuppies, Sad Anniversaries and Fingerprints

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