Can you believe that it is almost 2008? I certainly can't. I also can't believe that I am almost 33. That really doesn't seem possible...it makes me cringe a little because I really thought I would be a grown-up by now, and I just feel like I am playing a game of house most of the time. It is really weird to think that I am a married lady, soon to be a mom, an aunt to teenagers...it just seems like someone is going to catch on sooner or later, and tell me to go back to the kids table (which is where Jeremy and I were for Christmas dinner - hee!)

My nephew, whom I adore, told me the other day that I am not old. He's 16, so 32 to him is old, but he said that *I* am not. I appreciated that immensely :) Perhaps it's because he saw me skate through their tiled kitchen in my stocking feet the other day when I was babysitting the little one? Perhaps it's because I slipped up and swore in a conversation with him? Perhaps it's because I was watching SpongeBob Squarepants with his little sister, and laughing at the right parts? Who knows...but someday, someone out there is going to revoke my "adult" card!

Christmas was a hoot like always...we have a good, loud time with Jeremy's family. There are so many of them, if you are in need of conversation you're in the right place. There are at least 20 going on at the same time, most of them are going over each other...and if you're really good (as most of them are by now) you can participate in more than one at a time. It's amazing to watch. I hope your Christmas was wonderful, and I hope you have a happy and safe new years eve/day...we'll talk resolutions later.

Just got a call from our counselor, and she told me that M has decided to parent. I am so not surprised, I kind of felt that this wasn't it and the call on Tuesday really clinched those feelings for me. I know that if I were in her place, I would have made the same decision...just the timing (Christmas), the fact that it is a boy and her other son has disabilities...I just don't see how she could place, and I am so happy that she was finally able to make a decision that was best for her.

On the plus side for us, we made it to the top two this time!!! She had made another cut that our counselor hadn't told us about! I feel so excited that we made it this far, it just seems like such a big step for us!!!

So it's been a week that the expectant mom has had all of the profiles, and being the impatient girl that I am, I called our counselor this morning to see if there was any update. She said that she hadn't heard anything, but that she would stick her feelers out and let me know if she heard anything. So I went to Rolling Meadows and had a lunch and shopping date with my mother in law, and on my way home, I got a phone call.

E told me that as far as she knew, the expectant mom was still expectant, and that she was due any day now...they still didn't know whether it was a boy or a girl. Then she told me that the e-mom had narrowed her choices down to three couples, and we were one of the three! ACK! One of the three is an interracial or black couple though, and that is her preference, so we are still keeping our feet firmly planted on the ground.

Then I got home and putzed around for a while, did some things on the computer and let the dog out. I noticed the answering machine blinking, but figured it was crap since I had heard from the person I most wanted to talk to already. Eventually, I checked it, only to find another message from E - an update to her update! Apparently, the baby was born at 2:30 this morning...and it's a BOY! He was 5 pounds and 19 inches long, and she is having a hard time thinking about adoption plans now since she has the reality of him in front of her, so she is taking her time...he should be in the nursery at the Cradle in the next couple of days while she decides whether to parent or not. I hope she is finding some peace in this decision making process, I can't imagine how she must be feeling right now.

Also, just for fun...this is Jeremy, Lucy and I as elves!
http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1157171578

We got another call! This time, the baby isn't born yet, and they don't know if it is a boy or a girl...the due date is the 14th!! The birthmom has 3 children already, and is supporting her mom and younger brother, and doesn't think she can handle parenting a fourth child. The birthfather isn't in the picture, but knows about and supports her adoption plan. The one main downside is that she prefers a black couple to parent, but there is a shortage of black couples in the adoption world, so she is being given our profile as a good match. We found out about this on Thursday, and she doesn't get any of the profiles until this coming Tuesday the 11th, so we won't know anything until about a week from then at the earliest.

In other news, I have been asked to serve on a committee that is working on changing legislation in IL regarding puppy mills and backyard breeders. It is in the beginning stages, so I don't know much more than that, but I am really excited to get started. I am very passionate about dog and cat rescue, and I hope that we can change this industry for good. On that note, PetCo has Santa pictures with your pet every Saturday from 11 - 4. The cost is $6.95, and $5.00 of that goes to animal rescue. This is Lucy's picture from yesterday:

Santa didn't seem stoned when we were there, but he sure looks like it in this picture! it took many treats before we got this pose, and we were much more interested in what she looked like than what Santa looked like.

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!