Crazy Cakes Thank You

My friend Tracy at school gave me this wonderful book. I LOVE books and this is the sweetest story! Every time I go to Barnes & Noble I sneak a peek at it! Now I have a copy to share with Elena! I Love You Like Crazy Cakes was written by a mother who adopted a little girl from China. I hope to start reading it to my daughter when we meet China, along with telling Elena her own personal story, the words of which I've already been working through in my mind.

This gift certainly brightened up my Monday, especially since referrals were only up to May 25th (see Rumors blog below).

Thank you so much for your thoughtfulness, Tracy!

Elena, r you?

What a HUGE country! I think my next poll will be guessing which province Ellie will be from! (Hey, a girl's gotta do something on a Friday night!) By the way, if you want the "atta boy" for guessing correctly (results announced at an unknown date!), leave your name and povince guess in the comments area. For those of you who have asked, there is no need to have a blogger account, just check "anonymous" and then be sure to type your name in the message area. =)

Rumors Abound

Rumors are killing me! Rumor has it that the singles adoption program may be closing. Rumor has it that the next referrals (due at the end Feb/beginning of March) will only include those with Log In Date's through the end of May (meaning things have REALLY slowed down). Rumor also has it that the upcoming referrals will include all of May and half and/or all of June! What do these rumors mean? I can expect to be united with Ellie anytime from October 2006 to August 2007! That narrows down things considerably, don't you think?!! And don't even get me started on the singles program closing...you know I'd better be "grandfathered" in or else Ellie's Giggy (my mom) will be kickin' some pi' gu (Chinese for booty according to Mei Mei)!! =)

Musings

My dad and brother helped me move furniture around this weekend. Moved my "office" out and started putting Elena's furniture into her bedroom. It hit me tonight that this is really going to happen. I am going to have a child. I mean, the paperchase was a constant reminder, but I've applied to so many programs/schools/grad schools etc. that I tend to love paperwork and it was kind of a game. But now my whole environment is beginning to change. First of all, I have to get rid of some of the junk I've accumulated over the past 34 years!! (How can one person's belongings fill a whole three-bedroom ranch style house with garage?!! Good grief!!)Second, I have this amazing new little bedroom now with a dresser and table topped with quite a few stuffed animals, blankets, dolls and books in it which is making me tear up every time I pass by. I'm gonna be a mommy! =)

Elena's Cousin

My adorable niece, K, who basically lives across the street. I just know K is going to love being a "big-sister" cousin to Ellie!

Congrats to Amanda & Jason!

Congratulations to my cousin Amanda and her husband Jason who are pregnant with their first child! They found out the sex of the baby on Valentine's Day. Of course, anyone who knows that branch of my extended family knows that they are a very creative (i.e. devious) bunch! After her sonogram, a Valentine's Day pink-wearing Amanda brought cupcakes to her mom at work.... Pink Valentine's Day frosted cupcakes. My aunt immediately called my mom proclaiming "It's a girl!" A few minutes after exchanging their joy and good tidings, my mom's phone rings again...the cake part of the cupcake was blue!! "It's a boy!" How Amanda kept mum until her mum bit into the cupcake is still a mystery!! One for the memory book for sure. Let's hear it for the boy!!

UPDATE 6/25/06 Meet Cyrus!

Ode to See's

I got lots of responses regarding my "chocolate of choice"...See's Famous Old Time Candies! See's is a West Coast based company that makes THE BEST chocolate ever. Move over Hershey's, Cadbury, Godiva... good ol' Mrs. See has got it down. Heck, their logo is "A Happy Habit." And we all know that habit= addiction!
Unfortunately (although thankfully for my hips!) See's is not usually available in Virginia. D (my SIL) has actually worked at See's so she can tell each chocolate by shape/swirl/bump, etc. No need to poke your finger in the middle! Pretty cool, eh?! Just another reason D is a great addition to the family! =) So, if you haven't already vowed to never eat chocolate again after yesterday's binging, go try some of the best! (PS The cocoanut, milk butter chew and butterscotch squares are my faves! Let me know yours!)

Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! Next year Elena will be sharing the box of See's chocolates with us! =)

Speech Funny

As a speech-language therapist in an elementary school, I get lots of "precious" language moments. Today I was working with a small group of students on basic antonyms, something we'd been working on over the past few sessions. I always try and use the words antonym and opposite interchangeably so they get used to both. Well, today we played ANTONYM JEOPARDY!!! Of course they had to say "I would like antonyms for #, please." What I got was "I would like m&m's for 100, please." Wouldn't we all?! Cracked me up. Thinking back over the year I can also remember hearing "maggot" for "magnet" and "Iraqian" for "Iroquoian" and "frosted flake" for "snowflake." Gotta love those moments!

February 7th!!!

I jumped up and down at the mailbox! =)

And the Good Fortune Continues!

My extended family out in Sparks, NV (North Virginia, right?!) sent me this beautiful red and gold purse/diaper bag...THANK YOU!...(check out the cute cell-phone pocket on the strap if you can get around my poor photography skills!) It was hand-made by one of their friends just for me in this fabric...can't wait to use it!

Good Fortune

I wanted to share my other beautiful birthday gift from my parents. I've been TRYING to learn Mandarin (Rosetta Stone) but I think I've hit my peak after Lesson 2!! Luckily my mom found out the meanings for all of the charms. Can you tell which one is Double Happiness? Wealth? Love? Fortune? Longevity? Isn't it a gorgeous bracelet? Thanks Mom & Dad!

The Beginnings of a Nursery

My SIL D made me a wonderul birthday surprise. She sewed these beautiful curtains and bumper pads for Ellie's bedroom! Love the bright colors! =) My mom and I picked out the fabric and D put it all together. I can't believe she even made those covered green buttons on the curtain. Too cute! So all this has gotten me thinking about Ellie's bedroom. Already there are so many decisions to make just about the nursery...what colors, which crib, chest of drawers, wall color...the only truly easy decision I've made so far was to adopt!

Is that your final answer??

One of the yahoo discussion groups has been bantering about how it *seems* lately that the CCAA matches the baby's birthmonth with that of a prospective parent. If so, that would be February...does that encourage anyone to change their poll choice?!

February DTC!!

I am with the February DTC group!! My paperwork is off to China!
In (hopefully!) less than a year I will be a mom to a beautiful little girl!