We recently got an email from the Match Specialist at the Cradle, requesting a meeting. I am excited about it because it feels like we're actually doing something, not just waiting! I'll update y'all after we meet with her on 11/5.

I came across this article (thanks to my dear online friend, Michelle!) and really enjoyed it, so thought I would pass it along: http://parenting.ivillage.com/baby/badoption/0,,9c6w,00.html. Check it out and tell me what you think!

Jeremy and I got our shelves up in the basement, and they look great! I am going to be transferring some books this weekend, and I will post a picture when I'm done.

Other than that, no news is no news...I'll keep you all posted!!

Seems like when Jeremy goes out of town, we get a call from our counselor...although it's not a tested theory, more like a coincidence at this point. Jeremy was in Europe for his annual conference from the sixth through the thirteenth, and on the tenth I got the call. A baby girl this time, already born to a couple who had two children already and didn't feel financially able to parent a third. I called Jeremy in France, gave him all of the information I had and we decided to put our profile in for the decision. Once again, they were looking for a religious family, so I didn't have high hopes, but we figured we may as well throw our hat in the ring. Our counselor called on the eighteenth to let us know that the birthparents had decided on another couple, which seemed like the right choice to me.

I think I knew in my gut from the start that this wouldn't be our child, but it is really exciting that we are getting closer and closer to finding him/her. We've only been on "the list" for a little over a month, and have already gotten two calls, which seems like good odds to me! On an adoption message board I frequent, there are new families being born every day...yesterday in fact, one of the girls got a call, was chosen and went to pick her new son up all in the same day! How exciting is that?!? I hold in my heart the thought that our child is out there waiting for Jeremy and me...and that no matter how many times we are shown, we will only be chosen for our child.

In other news, we're discussing a vacation...we're not sure where or when, although Germany and Prague have been tossed around (mostly Germany with a side trip to Prague), and the early spring has been mentioned. There is also a possibility of Italy in the late fall/early winter...perhaps with both of us out of the country, our child will make their presence known!

We're also putting up shelves in the basement, Lord knows, we need room for some books! I think I have about 20 books on or around my nightstand, and the shelves upstairs have books on top of books...it's a little ridiculous. So many times, I have heard that I should go to my local library, and while I realize that it's a great idea for a lot of people, I have to confess my terrible track record with returning books. I still have a Bartlett's Familiar Quotations from my high school library which I lost and paid for, and then found. Perhaps that was subconscious because it is one of my favorite books, but I am going to say probably not. For people who are more with it, the library is the place to go. I also re-read and collect authors, so I have that going on too. Jeremy is only marginally better at owning a fair amount of books...although his are either about poker, math, religion, engineering or they're science fiction novels. How did we ever fall in love?

Hope you are all well and happy! I hope to bring good news to this blog soon, thank you for coming along on this bumpy little ride!!

We got the nursery set up; the crib, bassinet and changing table/dresser are assembled, and the bookshelf is painted and in the room. We're still waiting on the rocking chair to be reupholstered - the upholsterer is picking it up Monday evening and hopefully it is short work after that. We found the perfect rug for the room on Friday, and it looks amazing. It has other colors besides blue, so we can bring some cool accents into the room! The hand me down baby clothes and blankets are washed and put away and the stroller, car seat and swing are ready to ride. So we're trying to wait patiently...

I bought a trial package of cloth diapers; the company I bought them from assembled 6 of their most popular brands and styles for new parents to try out. My favorite so far is the all in one. Of course, my opinion may change when there is an actual baby inside the diaper, but we'll see. Here is the link to the website, check it out!
http://www.softclothbunz.com/

Here are some pictures of the nursery...now with furniture! It's the best room in the house :)



This is the fabric sample for the rocker

She said that she was in a meeting when she got the news and that she wanted to call before she left for the weekend...she said the b-mom chose one of the other families. Surprisingly, neither of us are upset or emotional about it, mostly because we firmly believe if he was our son, we would have been chosen. I did think I'd cry, but I'm totally fine!

The b-mom did give us some feedback which was helpful, and she said that it was a really hard choice. This has been an incredible learning experience, I know it was nothing we did or could have done differently, so I feel good about it. It was a great experience and it taught me a lot...and I'm relieved to know one way or another!! I'm so glad that we got everything we needed, and that we are a lot more prepared for when our baby comes!! Maybe we're having a girl?

Well. We were officially on "The List" as of Monday the 10th. Wednesday the 12th, I got a phone call from our counselor with a situation. A baby boy, born on August 5th was in the Cradle nursery and his mother was looking for a couple to place him with. He was born premature, but was checked by the Cradle's Dr., who said he was in excellent condition. Jeremy was out of town, so I called him as soon as I could, and discussed the situation with him. We decided, after thinking about it all day Wednesday, to allow our profile to be shown.

I couldn't fall asleep Wednesday night. I was tossing and turning, my mind was racing, I was making lists of what we would need...thinking, what will the baby sleep in, what will he wear, what will he eat, poop in, ride in, stroll in?!? I finally got to sleep at about 2:30 am. I woke up early to take the trash out to the curb, and thought that I would just drop back in bed and sleep for a while longer...not happening. So I looked online at bassinets, car seats, cloth diapers, bottles, cribs, changing tables, wipe warmers, bottle warmers...who knew there were so many products out there for consumption?!? I waited till a decent hour (7:30 am) to call our counselor to let her know our decision, and she wasn't in the office yet...but she called me back when she got there to let me know that our profile was on its way to the birthmom...along with 3-7 other profiles. But we're in the running!

Then she and I talked about the baby, the birthmom (high school graduate who wants to go to college) and the birthdad (not involved), her family (very supportive of the decision) and boyfriend (not the birthdad) and why they were choosing not to parent. We talked about the timeline we could expect (about 2 weeks to hear yes or no) and what would happen if we were chosen to parent this baby. We discussed the incredible timing...I think this has to be a record if we are actually chosen!! We talked about how excited Jeremy and I are to even be in this situation so soon, and how even if we're not chosen, how exciting it is to have a trial run! She let me know that all we needed to pick him up if we are chosen is a change of clothes and a car seat.

Later that day, I called Jeremy's sister Heather, and went to pick up the baby stuff she has lovingly saved over the years. Pack N' Play, Diaper Genie, clothes, BOOKS! and so much more...I was so excited to get home and do some precious, sweet, teensy little laundry!

I was always pretty set against having the nursery set up with the crib, changing table, etc. before the baby actually arrived, but after this situation I have changed my mind completely. I was completely stressed because our baby wouldn't have the things he or she needed to be comfy in our house. So Saturday (after much internet research), Jeremy and I went shopping. We bought some Dreft to wash the precious, sweet, teensy little laundry. Then we went home and ordered the bassinet, car seat, stroller and swing. Sunday, we bought the crib, mattress and changing table/dresser that we wanted. This week, we are finishing all of the little things that still need to be done in the nursery, we'll put the crib and changing table together, and we brought the bookshelf down to the garage to be painted.

So we wait. And while we wait, we wonder; is this little boy our son? It would be so nice to say yes, but there are 3-7 other couples who would love to say the same thing. I am sending my most loving thoughts to this girl and her boyfriend and her parents, that she and they are able to make the best choice for this little one. Whether the choice is us or not.