Delicious Food for a Special Shower

My cousin R, and her daughter J did all the food preparation for the baby shower. It looked and tasted so amazing! From the invitation to the very last moment, the day was so very special to me. I do feel as though I have such a strong and loving community to bring Lily into.

I always like to start with dessert first.

...and then the healthy stuff

Party sandwiches are my favorite.

I was very busy opening gifts so I did miss out on some of these gourmet selections.

Homemade pizza right from "Mamma R's" kitchen

Lots of Proseco flowing for the afternoon with a splash of Cassis.

Food ....how I love food! As the guests searched for "their" black coat upon departure I couldn't help think how fast the afternoon went and how I wanted to stretch it out even longer. I loved seeing all my friends gather together in conversation, laughs and big smiles.

Left with just few family members we decided that hunger was creeping up so we stayed just a bit longer to have R's amazing garlic, cheddar mashed potatoes with ham and salad...and yes I had just one more glass of Proseco and did a silent cheer in hopes that my travel date will come soon.

An Afternoon Shower

I had such a beautiful afternoon with lots of close friends and family to celebrate Lily's anticipated arrival. An afternoon shower hosted by my cousin R and my two friends G & A.

The food was just amazing. The menu consisted of pizza bites, sausage rolls (the best I have ever had), mini quiche, party sandwiches, mini scones with cream and jam, veggies and cupcakes for dessert. Lots of Proseco & Cassis !!

I was truly overwhelmed with all the beautiful gifts I opened for Miss Lily. Photos will follow tomorrow after I have had a good night sleep but I received some wonderful story books, sweet outfits, stuffed animals that were as soft and lambs wool, diaper bag and backpack, toys and mobiles, and a themed gift of all our seasons for Lily (which was very clever) i.e. coats for winter, outfit for the fall, bathing suit for summer....you get the idea. A Bunnykins bank which is a tradition of my dear friend B ....she has given one to all our circle of girlfriends who have had a baby. There was more, such as a hand knitted baby blanket from a grandmothers pattern, another homemade fleece blanket that was big enough to wrap myself up with and then all the other wonderful gifts that Lily will use either now or as she grows. I even received a wipes warmer for Lily but I am certain I will personally use from time to time. Nothing is better than a warm wipes!

I am slowly falling a sleep after a day that would resemble Christmas morning. I am still in the clouds as today has just made the wait a little bit more tolerable and I know that very soon I will round the corner and will step onto the plane for Vietnam.

February Blues

Yup that about sums it up.

I have been feeling very overwhelmed lately and I think that the waiting is really starting to get to me. I come across like all is "OK" or "I anticipated the wait" or "all good things come to those who wait"...but really, it is killing me, at least these past few days. I just feel really sad that I cannot be there with her.

I did have a busy weekend and finally got the stairs carpeted and they look amazing. The cool thing is that they do not creak when climbing up or down. So the only other big job is to re-surface the kitchen floor. How I would love that job to be done when I am away, but I am such a good demolition girl that my skills are much needed for this job.

There is a (non) surprise shower for me this coming weekend. It will be great to have friends around and I think it will also get me pumped up and give me a second wind to keep going. And who doesn't like opening presents, drinking champagne and eating cake (I am only assuming there is cake). How great is it that for my baby shower I can consume lots of champagne.

Cheers Everyone!

February Finally

Yeah! I am so excited to be in the month of Feb. This is the month where things are going to start to happen. I just sit here, type and wish. Wish big that I will get the call mid month and that it is true, I am going to be a mamma and I have been invited to finally ....come and bring Lily home.

I can't even anticipate how that will feel but I long for it to be now, or tomorrow at the least. I have been so patient with my wait and I can say that I am really ready to travel to Vietnam.

So watch this spot. I am hoping for many updates and then the big news of a date to travel.

Hang in there.....you are not alone.

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.

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.