Preparing Our Hearts and Home

Over the past two weeks some of my emotions have surprised me. I started last Monday by recovering from G's birthday party and ended it at a doctor's check-up for myself. While I was there, I decided to get the first of many immunizations I will need to travel to Africa. I am opting to get one every 3-4 weeks since I am so sensitive to toxins, live virus', etc. Monday I got the lovely Tetanus booster in my right arm. Since I pass out at most blood draws, I had warned the nurse that I would be looking the other direction and that she needed to make conversation with me to keep me distracted. Well, the nurse did not talk to me so I proceeded to talking to myself in my mind. I kept thinking, "This pain is for my little girl. This is for my little girl. I can do this so I can travel to meet and bring home my little girl." Apparently at some point I began talking OUT LOUD and only realized it when the nurse asked me who I was talking to - how embarrassing!! The nurse had no idea how a shot pertained to a little girl. I felt quite silly! (And yes, I realize. I AM a big wimp. God knew that I would never survive through child birth.)

A few days later Garrett and I were shopping at Gymboree, and as we were checking out I happened to notice the girly side of the store. I have refrained from clothes shopping or even browsing for our Baby E since I won't know her size for a while. So, I was shocked when my eyes welled up with tears as I was handing over my debit card. It hit me...I will soon be able to buy clothes for not just any little girl....OUR little girl.

My dreams of growing our family are becoming a reality. I spoke with our social worker about two weeks ago and she said she would be calling us "in a few weeks" to hopefully set up a match meeting. AHHH!!

And hence, this weekend we got the ball really rolling in Baby E's nursery.....her room is now painted, curtains hung, twin bed repainted and repaired (it's a cute old spindle bed handed down by my step mom and refurbished by my mom and step dad - thanks guys!), all crib and twin bedding sewn and on (thanks again to my talented mom), chandelier installed - and ooo, it's so pretty - and tonight I picked up the upholstery fabric for her rocker/ottoman and plan to drop it off to be upholstered tomorrow! We have a few little accessories up on the walls but my goal over the next 7 days is to purchase everything else and get this sweet girl's room fully decorated so that after her referral comes, I can begin tackling the other umpteen to-do lists in her honor!

I just can't believe it. Things are happening. Our baby girl is alive and on African soil. She is being loved on by women I've never met. She is about 8 hours ahead of us. I am now, without putting forth effort, remembering her as we progress through our day. As I go to bed, I wonder if she is waking up for a night feeding and if the woman caring for her is groggy and grumpy or is joyfully soothing her? As I wake up, I wonder what the afternoon is holding for her....is she playing in a crib with some of the toys we sent back in April (not just for her, but all the babies) or is she getting her daily check up with the nurse? Is she crawling because she's a bit older or laying down and cooing?

Garrett even chimes in with, "I wonder what Baby E is doing now?".....we are all beginning to fall in love with a little perfect person we've never even seen or even heard about. God is connecting us to her story already. I am beyond fascinated to see how it all unfolds. Until then, we'll continue to prepare mentally and physically and cover our sweet girl in prayer...

Mission: Celebrate Birthday #4

Since March Garrett has insisted that we have a "puppy dog" themed party for his birthday this year. I racked my brain for months trying to think of an appropriate, fun and cute idea. None came to mind. Garrett suggested all his friends bring their dogs to our house. Nope. Not gonna happen. Then Garrett suggested we all meet at a park with our dogs. Except that his birthday is in the scorching month of August and we'd all sweat to pieces. Finally, we agreed on going to Build-a-Bear where each child could "build" their very own puppy dog to take home.

First, all of the guests met in the food court area for specially requested "puppy dog cupcakes" (because the birthday boy would only have cupcakes) and ice cream followed by gifts. Oh, and Ms. Neighbor was so kind that she painted the kiddos faces like puppies (if they wanted - Garrett did not want it although he had originally liked the idea).

Then, once the eating and opening and painting was complete, we all walked down to Build-a-Bear.....

It was such a fun day and we knew it was a hit with Garrett when on the way back to the car he looked up at me and said, "Oh, Mommy. I had so much fun IN my party!" And that was the goal - mission "Celebrate Birthday #4" accomplished!

Happy Fourth Birthday, Garrett!

Today the Little Man is officially FOUR years old! Four! Yesterday we celebrated by having his party (which I'll post later) with family and friends, and today we are enjoying a nice quiet day at home. We had candles with breakfast which is always a hit with Garrett, opened gifts from Mommy and Daddy, made our traditional hand prints in this book and we'll later enjoy another cake and special meal together. Oh, and I'll hole myself up in a room during nap time to write my personal thoughts to one of the greatest loves of my life, Garrett, in this book.

Garrett, we love you so very much and look forward to living life with you as a four year old!


PS: People, Garrett gets the blog. He checks it each day with me. He even knows how to check for "comments". So, if ever there is a time, please leave the G-man a comment today wishing him the big 4!

Tee-Tee (yes, I just labeled my post "tee-tee")

This afternoon Garrett was happily playing with his Diego "rescue center" and animals when he began telling me that some of the animals were "tee-teeing" all over the floor (our little doggy had an accident yesterday, hence, the basis for the pretend tee-tee play). I kinda ignored this talk and chalked it up to boys being this way. When he continued to say it over and over again, this is how the conversation went:

M: Buddy, let's not talk about tee-teeing unless you are in the bathroom or there is a problem with your tee-tee.

G: Why?

M: Well, because it's kinda yucky. Disgusting. And private.

G: Why?

M: Because, buddy, we don't talk about our tee-tee. It's not good manners.

G: Oh, does it say that?

M: Who? Where?

G: In the Bible, does it say that in the rules of the Bible? No talkin' about tee-tee?

SO FUNNY, that little mister!! We have been having lots of conversations in our home lately about good, kind and polite choices...and not just the "we don't do it" but now explaining the why. Obviously, for some of our explanations, we trace the logistics back to the Bible. Just not everything....I don't really recall tee-tee etiquette being anywhere in the Bible....but maybe I'm wrong!

And the pirates say....

"Arrrrgh"

Attitudes

Afternoons around our home have suddenly changed. The little mister has boldly declared in his oh-so-I'm-almost-four voice that napping is just not for him. So, our deal is that each day we snuggle up in his bed at 1 pm to read 20-30 minutes, then he is to lay down and rest/look at books/listen to music until 2 pm at which time he can get up and have "quiet play time" until 3 pm in his room. The deal also denotes that the only reason the little dude shall come out of his room is to potty.

Well, the past few weeks have been a 50/50 shot as to whether or not he'll fall asleep. The past 5 or so days have not ended in sleep. Which, is okay. Because the little mister then actually falls asleep quickly at bed time and sleeps a full twelve hours.

I digress from the original plan in writing this post....

Today's afternoon of rest has not ended in slumber. It has resulted in the hysterical laughing by this said Momma because after much back and forth reasoning and choice giving between the little dude and said self, I was delivered this statement:

"MOMMY!! You need to get a NEW attitude!!"

Say, what??? I was not upset or yelling or anything. I merely was giving out choices and instead of telling me that I needed to give NEW or DIFFERENT options instead of quiet play time, I was told to change the 'tude. Guess someone has been hearing a lot of that verbage lately.

Adoption (or lack thereof) Update

Garrett has been VERY interested in involving his pretend Baby E in our everyday tasks. He is always the one to bring her out and tell us what she needs or what she is doing. Yesterday I was getting out Garrett's baby bedding to sell (gotta make room, people!) and he set the bumper up into his own play area. Of course, he said that Baby E needed to be in, too. In the above picture he was getting her all dressed and telling her just what he was doing...."snap, snap go your clothes, E....don't worry E, I will get you dressed".... so cute!

No update on the adoption front .... our case worker is currently IN Africa, IN the orphanage and IN the midst of all of the precious little ones. I cannot even begin to wrap my mind around what she is seeing and doing right this minute. Blows my mind. Lucky lady!


Back to our update...back in early June our case worker told us to expect a referral sometime "in the next three months" which would put us in mid-September. Strange thing is, as much as I am ready to be a momma to another little one, I am TOTALLY enjoying this time of preparing for her. While I would of course be giddy for a match with a child, I honestly don't want it too soon because courts don't re-open in Africa until October which would mean we probably wouldn't get a court date until November-ish putting travel December-ish (all estimates, will probably be longer??). All that to say, I am guarding my heart as I don't want to sit and look at a picture of our child and not be able to bring her home for a really long time. Make sense? Clear as mud?

So, we are waiting....and happily, I might add!