In adoption news, I must have forgotten to mention that our meeting with the Match Specialist was postponed due to some matching on her part and maybe something on our parts, but I can't remember what. So we actually met with her on Wednesday the 14th instead of the Fifth. It was a great meeting! I wasn't really sure what her role in the adoption would be, and neither of us was really sure why we were meeting with her at all, but she answered those questions and more during the meeting.

Apparently, the counselors used to do the match meetings as well as all of the counselor duties, which caused them to have to cancel a LOT of home visits and meetings because match meetings happen when they happen and babies come when they want to and there isn't a whole lot you can do about it. So the agency decided to create a new position and hire someone who would only handle the match meetings, advocating for the adoptive parents. The birthparent counselors stay the same throughout the process, because it is very important for the birthparents to have continuity. We also found out about how the match meetings go, and how many there are usually, and what we should bring, who could potentially be there, etc. It was very informative! We've decided to put our profile online, which sometimes generates interest on its own.

Saturday was Jeremy's birthday (Happy birthday honey!) and it was also National Adoption Awareness Day (if you remember from last year, November is also Adoption Awareness Month), so it was a great day all around :)

We woke up early with presents, and then we went to Einstein Bagels so Jeremy could have his lox and bagel. Then he got to clean up the leaves in the yard! What a birthday treat that was. The real treat was going to Domo 77 for dinner. We both got filet mignon, I got scallops and Jeremy got shrimp. We had California rolls and Miso soup, and had a blast with the hibachi chef. It was really fun! The chef didn't flip anything into our mouths, which I was glad of...knowing my luck, it would have whipped me in the face and burned my eyebrow or something. I do NOT need burned up eyebrows at this stage in the game.

Sunday, I was able to meet a friend from an adoption forum I visit regularly online (Hi AT-ers!!)...we sat in Ruby Tuesday for four hours talking. The poor waiter was really good about letting us sit in peace, even after the check was paid and we were completely finished with lunch. I had SUCH a great time, I can't wait to hang out with her again!! What a cool experience! It is so wonderful to have support from family and friends, but sometimes it is really nice to talk with someone who knows just what you are going through.

Thanksgiving is coming up soon...start thinking about what you're thankful for!! I'm thankful for my wonderful husband who makes me laugh every day, my loving little dog who loves us both with every fiber of her little being, our families who fit together so well, and our friends - old and new who make our lives so much fun!

My friend, Angie tagged my blog...which meant that I had to go to her blog to see what that meant. I am so technically savvy y'all! Here's the dope:

Rules: Once tagged, you must link to the person who tagged you. Then post the rules before your list, and list 8 random things about yourself. At the end of the post, you must tag and link to 8 other people, visit their sites, and leave a comment letting them know they’ve been tagged.

1. I've worked for a temp agency for almost two years and it is one of the best jobs I have ever had. I highly recommend it!

2. I've had my nose pierced three times...the first one I did myself in the bathroom and it got infected. So my mom made me take it out with the promise that she would take me to get it done professionally. They did it too close to the front of my nose and it looked like a hood ornament...so they re-did it for free. I've had my nose pierced since I was 16, and I doubt I will ever take it out.

3. I really enjoy crafty stuff, and I always have. I taught myself to cross stitch when I was 7.

4. I plan to donate my body to science. The thought of being buried grosses me out.

5. I am an MTV reality show addict. Apparently, I am 15 inside.

6. I like to cook and bake. When I cook, I rarely follow a recipe...when I bake, I follow it religiously!

7. I waitressed at a country bar when I was 21...I loved it. I think everyone should work retail and wait tables at least once in their lives...it certainly makes you respect the service industry.

8. Although I am really girly, you couldn't tell by the way I dress. I am most comfy in jeans and a t-shirt or sweatshirt and sneakers or flipflops. I have great fashion sense for other people though!

I tag: Julie, LL, Li-Li...and all the rest of my blogging girls have already been tagged, so I can't do 8 like I'm supposed to!

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