Red Thread

I did this cross stitch before our paperwork went to China. This Chinese proverb is one that prospective adoptive parents hold on to during this long wait to be matched with their babies. Kinda neat, huh?

Ode to Jason (my brother that ROCKS)

My brother, he took a hard class
He wondered, "This class shall I pass?"
He showed up each day
No more did he play
And he ended up kicking it's...butt.

T minus 11 days until...VACATION!

Today is a code red stress day so I am focusing on having just 11 days until we leave for London! I absolutely can't wait to be on that airplane watching movies, eating icky plane food and turning off my cell phone. If I go even further we have just 18 days until we step on the cruise ship in Barcelona to take our once in a lifetime cruise around France and Italy. We are soo soo lucky to be able to have this adventure...and better yet to share it with my parents.

We're back!

What a nice trip! We were so grateful to be able to spend some time with our loved ones! Here is what we did:
Friday - Brandee, Elmo and I drove all the way to Orlando (It took us 10 hours this time!). We visited with Grandma and Grandpa. Then we went back to the Holiday Inn - who would've thought that the hotel would have a club in it. We spent a few hours trying to sleep with the bass booming hip-hoppers down the hall.
Saturday - We woke up and had doughnuts with Aunt Susie, Grandma and Grandpa - yum yum. I went to the airport to pick up Jeff while Susie, Brandee and Grandma went to Wally World to buy toys for the baby of the family, Elmo. After Jeff joined the crew, we went to see Susie's new house which really looked very nice - so cozy and tons of friendly neighbors. Afterwards, we met Aunt Diana, Uncle Bruce, Cousin Dave, his friend Lathan, Grandma, Grandpa and Aunt Susie for dinner - we had a great time and were so grateful to be able to see so many family members! It was so nice!! Finally we visited more with Grandma, Grandpa and Susie before re-joining the party at the Holiday Inn.
Sunday - We had breakfast with Grandma, Grandpa and Aunt Susie before starting the journey back to Alabama. Jeff drove back so it only took us about 8 1/2 hours (do I really drive that slow?).

Florida or Bust!

In the wee early hours of tomorrow morning, Brandee, Schmelmo (my nephew dog formerly known as Elmo) and I will be on a road trip! We are going to visit our grandparents, Aunt Susie and maybe even more family in Orlando, FL. I am really looking forward to seeing everyone - it has been more than a year since we visited last. I hate to be away from Jeff for any time at all so he will be flying down on Saturday to visit and drive back with us on Sunday. It will be a quick but very nice trip I'm sure. Let's just hope Brandee and Schmelmo are on their best behavior (Hi Bran!).

Our first ultrasound

I have seen this on tons of China adoption websites and blogs and just HAD to do it. We made the decision to adopt from China 10 months and 10 days ago and we have now had our dossier logged in to the CCAA (Chinese government agency that will match us with our baby) for 2 months, 1 week and 1 day. The wait right now is estimated to be 12-18 months from log in so we still have a while to wait. This ultrasound will be as close to we get to seeing our baby girl until the CCAA sends us our referral. I absolutely can't wait for that day!!

Hootie hoo hoo

My sister, Brandee, and I went to see Better Than Ezra and Hootie and the Blowfish in concert on Saturday night. It was a pretty good concert. For the past couple of weeks I have been trying to tell Brandee about the song "Good" that Better Than Ezra sings and all I really have been able to do is sing the "uh - ha it was good li-iving with you, uh-ha" and she has had no clue what song I was singing. It was funny at the concert when they started singing the song and she looked at me with the realization that she actually did know the song. I guess my singing is no good. Anyway - I enjoyed this concert (even though Hootie and the Blowfish sang mostly new songs that we had never heard before) and look forward to seeing Counting Crows and the Goo Goo Dolls in a couple of weeks.

I have a blog!

I am joining the ranks of the masses that now have blogs to talk about whatever comes to mind. My mind is filled with thoughts of China adoption right now since my husband and I are right now waiting to be matched with a baby girl from China. I am sure I will talk quite a bit about that process as it unfolds over the next year or two.

Anyway - I am excited to discover the art of blogging!