Fridays will soon not be the same...or will they.

With the impending arrival of a baby into the household I have moments where I utterly freak out. Not in a bad way but in a way that makes me wonder how much my life as I know it will change. But here it is Friday night and I have forced myself to stay up to 11pm but I was really ready for bed at 9:30pm. It is all quite conducive for a baby really. The joys of being a parent in the later years.

I realize I am not updating my blog as often as I had wanted but life is pretty busy these days. I have about 4-6 weeks left of work and it could not be busier. I have a few house projects left to complete, flight plans to make, dog daycare plans to make while away, getting my name on the multitude of daycares in the area, decide what to take to Vietnam for me, the baby and the orphanage, and help my friends with the wonderful fundraiser they are planning - to assist with travel costs while in Vietnam with Lily.

Wow I am tired just typing it all down. Anyway I will try to be more diligent in getting some posts up with more details.

I did just finish a whopping amount of paperwork that will make it's way to Vietnam. My sister and I sent passports in for our Visa to Vietnam and the agency will be booking flights and hotel accommodations in the next few weeks.

Still not certain when we will be leaving as the bureaucracy is making the adoption process take longer...they are just doing more dotting of the "i" and the crossing of the "t".

Lily was 7 weeks at proposal and it looks like she will be closer to 6 months by the time they place her in my arms.

Hope for Haiti

Tonight as I watched the fundraisers, Canada for Haiti and Hope for Haiti one question just kept repeating itself to me. Since the earthquake they are saying there is an additional 50,000 to the already existing 400,000 orphans. Why have governments around the world not opened doors to lessen the amount of orphans in Haiti? Why, when thousands of people across the globe are waiting years to adopt that this door has been closed to all. It is my hope that while we collectively raise awareness and money to help with provisions and to rebuild, that the children become a focus, a priority and the opportunity for a family will happen soon.

My Flower Child

I've had lots of opportunty to practice carrying babies in the past few years because all around me my friends are having babies and I am the lucky auntie who gets to hold and cuddle them. After about an hour or so I am ready to hand their baby back to them. My fear of suddenly dropping them due to my arms being fatigued has driven me to start training for the moment they put Lily into my arms.

I have to admit I have not been lifting a lot of weights lately like I used to pre-B.C. No step classes, no abs, buns and legs, forgo the men's pushups for a modified women's pushup...walking rather than running, and yoga rather than boxing. I have been very gentle on my body so it is time to step up and get in shape.

So meet my flower child....an 11.4 lb bag of all purpous flour, wrapped in a blanket and put into the bjorn sport carrier. I only take her out in the evening when it is dark and therefore people can't really tell what I am carrying.

What is funny though, when I am out walking Char with Flower in the carrier I am starting to feel what it would be like to have a family.

Bring It On!!

That's right...bring it on. I am ready for the copious amounts of paper work that needs to be done. It is always a good sign when your adoption agency bombards you with tons of paper work. It is a sign that I could take flight soon.

Yesterday in my email inbox I received enough paper work to keep me busy for a good day or two. My plan of attack is to create a project plan including each piece of paper that needs to be actioned. Due dates, when emails were sent and a big box to check off that it is COMPLETE.

So wish me luck and I will keep you posted.

Oh and on another note... this past Saturday I went to a Mommies Waiting dinner (mommies waiting to adopt and those who have adopted) at Yorkdale. I met many people I had not yet had the pleasure of meeting. For those who had adopted, I was able to meet their beautiful babies and they melted my heart. It was such a fun time and really good to catch up with those who have already travelled and to be able to gain some great travel tips from them.

Happy New Year - one step closer!

I am finally here. The new year 2010. I thought it was going to take forever to get here and I am not one to wish away a day. As a matter of fact I am usually practicing how to live in the moment which seems to make my day longer than when I don't. I am just so happy to have rounded the corner to see 2010 in front of me.

I have had the past 4 days off with most of the days taking it easy to rid myself of this cold. I had one day where I did almost nothing. I have to admit I puttered, tidied, packed up, sorted and cleaned. Then I panicked thinking that I don't have much time to get myself organized for Lily's arrival. I don't have time to do nothing. So after a good night sleep I made a list and started ticking things off.

I did finally pick out crib linen. A bunch of us went to Yorkdale (I know insane thing to do during the holidays) to see "It's Complicated" but I wanted to stop off in Pottery Barn first to see if they have any crib linen that I might be able to live with. I had just painted the room a year ago and did not want to have to re-paint. While looking at the selections a wonderful and kind woman who was about 8 months pregnant pointed me in the direction of the sales table and handed me bumper pads that were half price. OK before I go any further....I know all about the bumper pads and that many are choosing to not put them on their cribs. I am not sure if I am part of the many or not. They were perfect....exactly what I was looking for and they were half price. Shortly after our exchange she came up to me again with a baby quilt that was half price. I am thinking, "where are you finding this stuff?" Well it was obvious because she was on her second and therefore an expert in searching for top sale items for baby. I was feeling pretty good about myself. They were not too babyish, went with my paint colour and could pair anything white, pale blue, pink or green with it.

So all I had left in my hand was a crib skirt that WAS NOT on sale. Consulting with my girlfriend she advised me not to spend money on it as I will need it for food. God, is it going to be that bad while on mat leave???? Fearing the worst I put it back and thought to figure the crib skirt issue out later. As I was just about to check-out, another women came up to me and handed me something and said "well it looks like you got the last quilt so you might as well take the crib skirt that goes with it". Are you kidding me?

The stars were aligned for me in Pottery Barn Kids that afternoon but what really struck me was how kind and thoughtful these women had been to me, and it was all during the holidays at Yorkdale in a very hectic store. Motherhood....it seems like a really nice club and I am on the waiting list : )

Here is a peak of Lily's friends that are waiting for her to come home.