Various

Baby gnosh….

I actually bought baby food yesterday. How trippy. I bought organic baby food (I wonder how organic it really is, but they got me with the labeling. I admit it), stage one to take with us to China. I bought just a few kinds. Since we don’t know if she’s eating solid food yet and, if so, we don’t know what kinds of solid food, I’m playing it safe and starting her out with stage one.

Babies need to build muscles to chew and swallow without choking and I know the nipples in the SWIs are cut with very big holes. The formula just slides down their throats without them having to work for it very hard. Since I don’t know how much sucking she’s done, and therefore building the muscles in her mouth and throat. I figure, better to go slow. Out of everything baby at this point, it’s the introduction of solid food that freaks me out the most.

Once she’s home I’m hoping to be super mom and buy organic foods and make our own baby food. We’ll see how long that resolution lasts once we’re back.

Travel…. 

There are things happening in my family right now that are…well, not good. I feel horrible to be leaving for China while this is going on. Isn’t it strange how sometimes there are periods of time when everything monumental happens all at once? Like little portals of change tucked into our lives. Sometimes the change is happy, sometimes sad. Right now it’s a mixture of the two for me. I’m hopeful and worried on two different fronts right now.

I’ve been researching airline tickets to China. It’s a little early because we don’t have travel dates yet, but I want to be ready to play Beat The Travel Agent when the time comes. There is a travel agent who will quote us a price, but I’m confident I can beat it. As it stands right now (definitely subject to change) our best bet is to fly to Seattle and take Eva Airways to Hong Kong. In this scenario we would come to Seattle a day ahead and fly premium economy to Hong Kong (that’s something between economy and business class). Would be cool since I have friends in Seattle.

But all this is just for info. We have to wait for the travel dates. I just want to be as well informed about our options as possible when the times comes to book.

Shopping Illness…

Yesterday I bought a bear that makes womb sounds for Sophie Fu Duo’s  crib (yes, go ahead and make fun of me. James did. *g*) I also bought an air purifier for her room. I figure that she won’t be able to sleep in the quiet, quiet, quiet. Not after being used to the SWI. And we live in the country so this is a quiet like you’re never heard before. So I’m trying to find things to mask sounds in the house while also creating a soothing auditory environment. James and I both have trouble sleeping without an air purifier on.

We’re going to try to move her straight to her crib when we get home. Wish us luck.

Now, work. I have so much work to do before we leave! I have a big long list.

 

Care Package, Chinese New Year & Clothes Shopping

Chinese New Year is on February 18. The year of 2007 is a “Red Fire Pig Year”, however this year’s female pig is in the water group. (I’m, er, still trying to figure that one out). I have also read that 2007 is supposed to be the year of the golden pig. I’m still trying to figure that out too. The year 2007 is supposed to be an extra fortuitous pig year because it is a red pig, which comes only once every 60 years.

Sophie was born in the Year of the Dog. She is, specifically…

THE FIRE DOG 1946 AND 2006

Fire Dogs are natural leaders. Fire Dogs are popular, charismatic people, always surrounded by a group of admirers because of their vibrant personalities. These people are adventurous and vivacious, yet, honest and openhearted. However, because they are so active, they are generally not the settle down type.

I am…

THE WATER OX 1913 AND 1973

The Water element gives the Ox a flexibility and liberty. Water Oxen are as hard-working as anyone, and particularly systematic, and are probably the quickest-thinking of the other elemental Oxen. They are much more prepared than the other Oxen to recognize the points of view of others and to think about their ideas and suggestions, making them easy to work with in a business environment. They generally consider the feelings of others which makes them good roommates or partners. In addition, their sincerity and patience ensures their popularity with friends, peers and family.

James is…

THE FIRE SHEEP 1907 AND 1967

Fire Sheep are not as likely to get their feelings hurt nor are they as likely to desire the approval of others as typical Sheep are. They are capable of taking care of themselves, standing up for themselves and putting themselves first. They are vivacious and charismatic, preferring theater to any of the other arts. Fire Sheep generally enjoy a tight circle of friends and family and enjoy the social limelight.

Those are pretty accurate for me and James.

~*~

I sent the care package this morning. We were delayed for various reasons. Because we were out of town and because we realized at the last minute that Sophie had a crib mate who needed gifts too. But it went this morning and should be there between 4 and 10 days. I’m pulling for 4.

~*~

I went clothes shopping with my ever-so-excited mother this afternoon. We shopped specifically for travel to China and got a mix of 9 month/12 month sizes. We also got some cool weather outfits and some warmer weather clothes. Oh, and a cute spring jacket! I suspect it will be cool in Chongqing and warm in Gaunzhou (I know I just misspelled that). A friend sent me a BIG box of hand-me-down clothes too and I’m definitely taking some of them.

We should have some updated measurements for Sophie in about 3 weeks. I’m keeping the receipts in case I screwed up on sizes. And…you know how I said Sophie was a little shortie-pie? I have revised that opinion. In fact, she’s not short at all.

Sophie Fu Duo’s armoire after my mom and I hit the stores. Babies R Us is evul! Eeeevul, I say! (Not as evul as Hanna Anderssen, though). We bought a lot of practical clothes — lots of sleepers and onesies with pants I can roll up, ect.

Dress for the Red Couch photo. It comes with a little sweater too.

One of my favorite outfits from today. Those were the only shoes and socks I bought. I couldn’t resist them. Yes, yes, I know. These clothes will be stained toute de suite. At least I can enjoy them for a millisecond. (Okay, I now realize the cute little shoes were cut off in this photo. Whoops! They’re triple cute, I swear.)

I also bought….

The Rainforest Jumper! It bounces, it allows the baby to turn around, it makes really annoying music, and it has a ****load of toys on it.

I just couldn’t see me carting Sophie to Babies R Us and putting her in one to try. I’m just going to hope like hell she likes it.

 

The Good, the Bad and the Cute

The good news…

The glow-in-the-dark stars came! I was going to paint them on, but I have zero artistic ability so I opted for the sticky kind instead. Here is part of the ceiling with both the sticky-on-the-ceiling stars and a few hanging ones. I have circled a few of the hard to see sticky-on-the-ceiling ones for your edification (because I’m sure this is a life-altering event for you).

Don’t mind the bare light bulb, J needs to hang the ceiling fan.

Think we’ll create an irrational fear of clouds and stars in her?

Also in the realm of good news…

The Hannah Andersen order came. Here is one of the outfits I bought. Yay! Pink sheep! Every little girl needs a onesie with a pink sheep on it!

In the realm of bad news….

It appears that the referrals did not ship from China on Friday. Apparently they are working over the weekend (which is pretty damn nice of them), but are taking the first part of next week off. The bottom line is, who knows when we’ll know about the next batch? We are rapidly approaching a new record for number of days between batches. Whoo! (That was sarcasm)

My expectations at this point are pretty low and I think I need to keep them there. I think it will be a small batch that we had to wait extra long to receive. That’s my prediction. I know I’m a pessimist and that’s supposed to be all bad and I’m supposed to put on my positive happy face, but that’s not what I’m feeling. I have yet to be happily surprised by a batch in the last 15 months.

When I’m happy — When I’m sad — Use the corresponding face for the corresponding emotions.

Anyone who can name that movie quote gets a virtual cookie.

Today is our 15th month anniversary of being LID, btw. We are also close to breaking a record because my agency said the longest anyone has ever waited for a referral was 16 months. (during SARs). Of course, I shouldn’t whine because (unhappily) those who are LID after us will wait much, much longer than 16 months.

Also in the realm of bad news. Damn it! We’re out of red wine.

Now the cute…

He just climbed up on the ladder in the nursery and knocked down a star. But can I be mad at him? You tell me.

 

Uhm…

Uhm….Hannah Anderson is having a 60% off sale. I may have slipped in my vow not to buy clothes until the referral. Ooops. But I got stuff that will work for spring and bought large enough that she’ll have a while to wear them.

I hope FD doesn’t turn out to be FS, ‘cuz he’ll be wearing a lot of pink if that happens.

 

Well…

…It looks as if this batch will not arrive before Christmas. This does not surprise me. My agency thinks end of December/early January and I tend to agree. Personally, I think they’ll come next week, before Jan, just because it seems they like to have a batch arrive once a month officially.

I still can’t shake the feeling — against all rationality and objectivity — that we have been matched. I wish I could shake it because it would make for less of a let down if we’re not in this batch. My intuition says we have, but I’m just not trusting my intuition at this point. I’m way too close to this issue to trust it.

So, in anticipation of us not being in this batch, here are some things I will do in the next month while we wait (some more):

1. Finish getting FD’s room decorated.
2. Save more money. We’re still a bit short for this last part of the adoption and we would prefer not to go into debt for it.
3. Work like a fiend in anticipation of not being able to work for several months after FD is home.
4. Lose some of the weight I have put on from nervous/emotional eating. I think I’ve gained about 5 pounds, but I don’t want to get on the scale to find out.
5. As a salve for my bummed-outness, I will create another blog and hire someone to do graphics for it to make it all purty. I will keep this LJ as well.

CCAA has implemented (will implement) many new rules for adoptive parents — new requirements on weight, health and financial situation. It’s in an effort to pare down the amount of families who wish to adopt from China.

This has been in the news, so you may have seen it. I’ve known about it for a while. I think James and I would be okay under the new regulations. The unknown variable is my asthma. So, I think we could adopt again, if we chose. (We’re just trying to get through this one, so not really thinking about that now.)

The big question currently is whether or not the CCAA will immediately begin rejecting logged in dossiers under these new regs, or if they will apply them to all new adopting families. Most assume the latter. I really, really hope so. I can’t imagine waiting for as long as we have, having gone through all that we have…only to be rejected a month away from referral. My god. I can’t even begin to imagine that.

Okay…now fun stuff. Dude, I need some fun stuff:

I am going to buy this today….

Ergo baby carrier. I’ve been considering a few different ones, but I think this one will be the most comfortable and easy to use. You can use it with older kids, too…which is a good thing.

I am also buying this….

Diaper bag!