Happy New Year!!

Happy Chinese New Year to everyone.
It's official, Year of the Golden Pig has been rung in, and I am really hopeful that our baby girl is going to be born sometime this year.
I am afraid to think that out loud, and jinx myself.
We went out and enjoyed some lovely warm, and sunny weather today, then we went to our favorite Chinese Restaurant for lunch, and then off to pick-up the baby doll I ordered from Learning Express. I had to laugh when they handed her to me, as she is awfully fair skinned. But the salesgirl pointed out to me that she is positively Asian, as she does have brown almond eyes, and all of the other baby dolls have big round blue eyes.
Regardless, she is very cute, and we now have her first baby doll in hand. This was her New Years gift, we considered new clothes(Chinese Tradition) but she already has so many clothes, and didn't have a baby doll yet.
So while we still have a lot to learn about Chinese New Year, I have been doing some reading, and wanted to include a little info for you in case you are not aware of the importance of this holiday.
Chinese New Year is the longest and most important celebration in the Chinese calendar. The Chinese year 4705 begins on Feb. 18, 2007.Chinese months are reckoned by the lunar calendar, with each month beginning on the darkest day. New Year festivities traditionally start on the first day of the month and continue until the fifteenth, when the moon is brightest. In China, people may take weeks of holiday from work to prepare for and celebrate the New Year.Common expressions heard at this time are: GUONIAN to have made it through the old year, and BAINIAN to congratulate the new year, or Gung Hay Fat Choy to wish a Happy New Year!
There are many celebrations during this time of the year. It last for 15 days, and there are many festivities that go on during this time. The lantern festival must really be spectacular. Lots of red and gold. Lots of fireworks and food, and the dragon dance to scare away the evil spirits.
So this will at least give you a little background info on the significance of this holiday. But there is also major significance that it is the year of the pig. The Chinese consider children born under this sign to be very lucky, and will have much help throughout their lives. So I hope the only luck we get here is the luck of her being born this year, and maybe getting to go get her next year!

On the BWM(big white machine) front, things are going quite well. I have learned a lot, I have embroidered a lot, and I have my first paying customer coming by next week to bring something for me to embroider for her(which is making me sweat, just thinking about it) I still have so much to learn, but I have made some serious progress.
It appears right now that the name of my business is going to be: The Pink Polka Dotz, I have a graphic design artist working on my logo right now, and then I will have my business cards made. I am going to have someone help me with a website soon, but don't think I will be taking orders on it for a few more months. I have ordered some things that I will have available, so I need to wait to get them in before I really start with the on-line stuff.
I will post a few of my things that I have available now, as some of you have posed some interest in buying some things from me. So as long as you can do check or pay pal, I should be able to help you out with some really cute things. The pig picture above is one of the designs I have available, so I will be doing these on some long sleeve children's t-shirts and onesies. I have the entire Chinese Zodiac, and they are all as cute as the others. So bear with me, and I will have some pictures up soon of some products. Leave me some comments on what you think of this design....I think it is too cute. I have also ordered some Chinese characters such as: truth, happiness, love, prosperity, health. So I think I will be able to incorporate these into some really cute things as well.
I really appreciate every one's support in this new business. You all were right in saying that it just takes time, and that I would learn everything I need to know. I am definitely getting there, and can't wait to show you some of the things I have made. I am really having a lot of fun with this now.
So stay tuned, and I will get some pictures up very soon. My MIL is visiting(I have the best MIL in the whole world) but she is here for another week, and then I will drive her back to Houston, and stay a few days. When I get back I will have more time on my hands to get some pictures out there.

Well, enjoy the rest of the weekend. It is a great day because while it is the start of Chinese New Year, it is also the start of The Amazing Race-All Stars tonight on CBS 7 p.m. CST.
Can't wait for it to start, it is 7:00 yet??

Peace Out!

Happy Valentines Day

Just wishing everyone a Happy Valentines Day!

I personally think this is not a very nice "made up-marketed" holiday. Why would we ever make up a holiday that leaves people feeling blue and left out? I think really only children should celebrate this pretty day of cards, candy, parties, and more candy. I think the pressure should be off adults when it comes to this day. Last night when I was at the grocery store, there were all of these men there trying to pick out flowers, candy, cards, etc. I feel as though there is this giant ball of stress to make sure you pick out the right one for your sweetheart kind of takes the "specialness" out of having this lovable day. I would rather get the special card or something sweet on just a random day of the year to let me know someone appreciates me, not on a manufactured day, when everyone feels a little forced to do so even if they don't necessarily want to.
This is the holiday that I love to make and send cards to my best girlfriends to let them know how much I care about our friendship, and appreciate all that they do for me(mostly because it is so unexpected) I also love to give valentines and sweet surprises to the all the kids in my life. Kids love valentines, and they love to feel so special when given something you have made, and put so much love into. There is no pressure for them, they just cut out a big red heart, sprinkle some glitter, write their name, and it is as though they made us a Picasso. I think we should adopt the same feelings towards our spouses, or significant others, or just our loved ones. I also think that we all have birthdays, anniversaries, and other holidays that the people in our lives can let us know that we are extra special. So I think the need or desire for a dozen of overpriced roses, the biggest box of chocolates, or worse yet, a very pretty box of bling on Valentines Day is a little passe.
So there will be no roses(or any flowers), no candy, certainly no bling. There might possibly be a card, but not much more than a BIG I LOVE YOU said, and maybe we will celebrate with a little skillet queso from Chili's while we watch American Idol tonight. But that will be about the extent of Saint Valentines Day at our house.

But if you love Valentines, and this is your special day for people to say I love you, then please know that I do. XOXO

Finally to all of those marrying in Las Vegas today....you picked a very loving day to wed, and we send you wishes for many years of happiness ahead-LOL

Wii Bum

Okay, I must start this by saying that I am not really into video games at all, not so much, no real interest, nada, zip, zero, haven't had any interest in video games evaaar(okay, I did enjoy a little pac mac in his day) Occasionally a little solitaire while I do something on the computer, but just don't get the whole video game phenomenon. Well that was until I played Wii.

We went to visit my in-laws, and my 12 year old nephew just got his Wii that he actually got for Christmas, but just received because you can't find them anywhere. I had heard this story, and of course thought it was so silly that people wait in line all night for anything, much less a video game, and certainly could not find the worth in paying an exorbitant amount of money for something you could get cheaper if you would only wait a few months when everyone lost interest.

Well do I owe an apology to all those silly people that waited in line all night long, or paid ridiculous prices to get their hands on what may be the most fun anyone can have in the comfort of their own home. No need to go join a health club.....just buy a Wii, and you will save the guilt of not ever going to the gym. This thing is incredible, and I don't say that lightly. It really is as though you are bowling, playing tennis, or even playing a little golf very badly.

It has Tennis, Boxing, Bowling, Golf and something else. Sorry I was only there for 48 hours so I didn't get a chance to play all of them, so I don't remember exactly what is on there. What I do know is that between Tennis, and Bowling, my shoulder and my bum are hurting as though I went at it with a personal trainer for a week straight. I can barely walk my bum hurts so bad, I am limping around like an 80 year old woman.

I had so much fun playing these games that I couldn't do anything else while I was there. I was so hesitant at first to play, but then they showed me how it works, and off I went to the black hole of being an "gamer" Every time I got a strike I would yell in excitement, every time I won a tennis match I was doing the dance of celebration....I was acting like a complete idiot, and I loved every minute of it. Including everyone laughing their arses off at me!!

All I can say is we came home, searched to see if any stores in our area had it in stock, and then it took about 5 minutes after coming up with nothing that we were buying our own Wii on Ebay. So I suspect in about 5-7 days our own personal health club will be arriving UPS, and I can only suggest that you seriously consider getting your own....you won't regret it, I promise. I do suggest that you get at least 2 remote controls, it will make it all the more fun.

Now I must go put some tiger balm on my Wii bum, and hope that it feels better before our system shows up next week. Then I will be very busy bowling, and developing bunns of steal!

What is your preppy name?

Your Preppy Name Is...

Marsden Holden Averell the FifthBut most people know you as Corkie

What's" Your Preppy Name?

Girls just want to have fun!!

Well I am back from the one day of training in Tampa on the BWM. While it was very helpful, I think we will go back for some more training down the road. But as for now, we are good to go, and just are waiting for a service guy to come and make some minor setting changes, and I will be off and running(okay. I will be off and practicing actually) The weather was beautiful in Tampa, such a nice change from the terrible cold weather we have been having here. So you will see we spent the day at the beach soaking up some sun and vitamin D. It was a nice break, even if it was for just one day.
Then I was off to KC to take care of my very sweet little goddaughter Katie, while her parents went to NYC. She is 3 1/2, and is just a blessing to our family. D calls her the happiest baby on earth. She was the perfect child while I was there(much to her mother's chagrin-she keeps trying to tell me that she does cry, and misbehaves- I am not going to believe it!!) she was perfect for her Aunt J. We had a great time playing with her dolls, dressing up, having tea parties, going to her ballet class, and finally making some valentine cookies(pic included) It was 5 days of perfect girl fun, and I am so lucky to have such a wonderful little girl in my life.


While I know it hasn't even been a month yet that referrals arrived, it feels like fovever and ages ago that they did. I seem to be looking forward to this batch, I guess it is because Oct is such a big month that it would seem promising if they could get through a decent amount of days. Lets just keep our fingers crossed. I do hope that once we get the wait to 18 months that we will see the wait stabilize a bit instead of each month adding another month to the wait. In the mean time, I will work on my list, read some books, decorate a nursery, work on my new business, and hope that our referral will be sooner rather than later. But for now, I fed my little girl addiction, and I should be okay for at least a little while.

Weekend Wrap Up

Well we're off tomorrow to Tampa for our training on the BWM(see below) so while I am looking forward to feeling more proficient on the machine, I am a bit worried that it is going to open up a BIG new can of worms for me. The training is just one day. We have 9 hours one on one with this trainer. So it will just give me just enough information to be dangerous. Right at this moment I know very little about the actual use of my new machine. When I read through the multiple books that came with it, it might as well be in French, as it is speaking a different language. So my list of questions is fairly short at this point. I don't know enough to even ask good questions. So this training day is just going to educate me enough to let me go home, and drive myself and D crazy!! The good news is we can go back anytime in the next year for more training, which we might have to do.

On a great note, I went to the Dallas Market yesterday. My friend who has a showroom at market reserved a badge for me, and so I walked the nine floors yesterday looking at all the treasures, and things that I can buy to monogram at wholesale prices. I found some really great things. I am telling you peoples once I have this down, you are going to want to buy some stuff!!

We are very slowly recovering from the loss of Matty. We both still have our bad days, and we both actually had a really bad Matty day this past week. But we are working through that grief. The house is just so quiet and still, and we have no real obligation to anything. I still always feel this giant rush of panic around 5:00 p.m. if I am out and about, as I feel I need to rush home to feed the dog, and let her out. It will be at least a year before we get another dog. I think we will get 2 dogs this next time. We waited to long to decide we wanted a second dog for Matty, as Matty would have never forgiven us. So I think we will get 2 in a very short period of time. We are looking at a standard schnauzer(D's pick) and I want a chocolate labradoodle. I think it is important for kids to have pets, and so we will get to the point that I think we are ready for that again. But for now we will just have to do some dog sitting for our friends.

Once I return from Tampa, I leave the following day to go to KC, to take care of my goddaughter Katie(3) while her parents take her 5 yr old brother Jack to NYC to visit his aunt. So I am really looking forward to our 4 days together for some good one on one time. Hoping it will give me enough of a little girl fix to help me out for the next month or so.

The wait for this baby is beyond words to me at this moment. There just seems to be so much uncertainity, and speculation that there are less children available, more domestic adoption taking place, this being the year of the golden pig leads people to believe that children born in this year will be highly desired and kept. Then there is the theory that little girls are becoming more of a status symbol to the wealthy in China, by showing that they are wealthy enough to keep or adopt a girl because they don't need a son to take care of them. The list goes on and on, and situation remains fluid at all times. We have moments that we wished that we had picked a different country. Someone asked recently if we were offering advice to a family looking at IA, would we recommend China. After pondering that for a day or so, I would say right now I would not pursue China, there are just too many unanswered questions, but I would watch and wait a year or so, and see where China is at that point. Then make the decision.

Oh, I forgot to mention that we have been logged in for 4 big months.

I have some movie recommendations for you:
The Good Shepard-long, very long, but very good.
Happy Feet-an absolute must see!!! Can't wait for it to be out on video
Little Miss Sunshine-we wanted to see it in the movies and didn't, Netflix delievered, and I can't wait to buy it. LOVED IT, LOVED IT, LOVED IT!!!!!

So I am out of here for a week, but will be checking in to see what everyone is up to, and if referrals have arrived.

Enjoy the weekend, and peace out!

Soup is good for the soul.

Alphabet soup...
A - Available or Taken: VERY taken, and very smitten!!
B - Best Friend: Karen, Stacy, Suz, and David
C - Cake or Pie: Moist white cake(the only reason I go to weddings or birthday party)
D - Drink of Choice: Diet Pepsi with lime, or any kind of martini
E - Essential Item You Use Everyday: toothbrush, cell phone, Clorox bleach (I love this stuff)
F - Favorite Color: Can't pick one, but I love all shades of pink, I love black, taupe, and red
G - Gummy Bears or Worms: I'll take either. I love all that is gummy. I really love Cinnamon bears, or gummy penguins(peach flavored)
H - Hometown: Columbia, MO
I - Indulgence: Linda's fudge cake at Cheesecake Factory
J - January or February: Neither, but I will take February
K - Kids and Names: Taylor(22) Connor(19) and this babe right now is Avery, but it might be Abigail, Claire, Tate, or Sophie
L - Life Incomplete Without: Hubby, kids, dog, my in-laws, girlfriends, art, and beautiful flowers.
M - Marriage Date: Oct 12, 1996
N - Number of Siblings: 1 sister, and 2 step sisters.
O - Oranges or Apples: Oranges
P - Phobias or Fears: Heights, Snakes, confrontation, being stuck at the window on a plane and needing to go to the bathroom.
Q - Favorite Quote: I have a couple:
The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong. Mahatma Gandhi
Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves. Confucius
Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm. Sir Winston Churchill
R - Reason to Smile: Woke up this morning, my husband, my godchildren, and my future daughter, my stepchildren graduating from college
S - Season: Spring or Fall
T - Tag 3 People:Anyone who read this far.
U - Unknown Fact About Me: I was the first runner up and miss congeniality in the Boone County Fair when I was in High School. I don't think my husband even knows this fact.
V - Veggie You Don't Like: Lima beans and cooked carrots
W - Worst Habit: Spending way too much time on the computer, I hate to wash my hair, because then I have to dry it, and it takes entirely too long. Being a rule follower to an extreme.
X - X-rays: I have had plenty, as well as MRI's, CAT scans, and sonograms(too many to count)
Y - Your Favourite Food: Mexican, Indian, Thai, Chinese, tofu. I know, I just said I was a rule follower, but come on, no one just has one favorite food.
Z - Zodiac: Cancer

BIG white machine

Okay, so you see that really BIG white machine sitting there all by its lonesome? Well that is officially my new profession. Yes, as of January 4th, I now run an embroidery business. You ask how do I know how to run that BIG white machine......I don't. Well I have done a few things in which you can see in the other picture. Those are actually monogrammed ponytail holders, and while I think they turned out great, there is still this question as to how am I going to learn all things embroidered, and how am I going to learn to run this BIG, white machine??????

It has been a daunting weekend full of first, curse words, anxiety, stress, giddiness, and finally just plain fear that I will fail, or worse......break the BIG white machine. The BIG white machine is a HAPPY Voyager made in Japan. It holds 12 spools of thread, it hooks to my computer for its designs, it weighs 88 lbs, and it has my little brain just a spinning.

D has been my biggest cheerleader in this process, he believes in me, he trust that I will learn to work the BIG white machine, and not break it, and he thinks without any hesitation that this is going to be a great stay at home career for me-because frankly no one loves monograms more than Moi.

I wish at this very moment that I had that same trust, and faith that I will succeed in this expensive endeavor, but right now all I feel, is fear of the BIG white machine now taking up residence in my office. I have already spent countless hours troubleshooting issues, it won't cut the thread automatically, I can't figure out how to size things to a proportion that is necessary for the project at hand, I have absolutely no idea how I am going to learn to digitize anything(embroidery lingo...really have no idea what it means) Now you ask, surely there is training involved with such a high tech BIG white machine-right? Right, but it is in Tampa, FL and we live in Dallas. It is only offered on Mondays, and we don't have a free Monday until February. They suggest you "play" with your BIG white machine for a bit before coming to training so you will have plenty of questions, you will have a feel for what you are learning, and you will have had issues come up that they will be able to advise you on. Well, they do know something....we have had plenty of issues come up in the last 4 days, and we will have plenty of questions that is for sure, but I am not convinced that we will have a "feel" for the BIG white machine for awhile.

So, if you are wanting ladybugs embroidered all over your undershorts, or an Ode to the RQ on your nightshirt.....find someone who knows how to run their BIG white machine. But if you are wanting a monogrammed ponytail holder, then I am your girl.

I ask you wish me luck in this new profession. D swears after we go to 8 hours of training I am going to feel proficient....yeah right. But any good karma you have to send would be appreciated. Well back to watching the online videos of how to run the BIG white machine. If you have a BIG white machine and have more than Karma....you have advice for me that would be appreciated too!! Maybe a glass of wine and a xanax would make me feel more proficient in the field of embroidery-just kidding it has warnings posted all over it claiming you should not operate heavy machinary under the influence of wine or anxiety.

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Nic, Happy Birthday to you. Now blow out the damn candles!

Auld Lang Syne

Should old acquaintances be forgotten,
And never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintances be forgotten,
And days of long ago !

Have you ever wondered what this means exactly?
Why would old acquaintaces be forgotten?


I am sure it is a little too early to be wishing you a Happy New Year, but I am just ready for 2006 to be done, and 2007 to just start already. Come on let's get that ball started on its way down.

D and I sat down and wrote a few of our resolutions & plans for 2007

1. Get in shape(I am sure that is on everyone's list)
2. Be very diligent and motivated with my new embroidery business(more info to follow)
3. Clean up my potty mouth(really only a problem when I am angry or frustrated)
4. Finish our family scrapbook, so I can start on lifebook for the babe.
5. Make sure we go on a really great vacation(the last one by ourselves for a long time)
6. Keep to a stricter budget
7. Stop shoppy shoppy for baby clothes, and only buy for nursery right now.
8. Get nursery painted, look for a dresser, and armoire.
9. Start mandarin lessons
10. D and I are going to take dance lessons together
11. Watch less TV!!(WOW, this one is going to be the hardest)
12. Work on a calmer energy
13. No more procrastinating....check things off the task list.
14. Be better about saying NO to things, and be better about setting my boundaries.
15. Stop the obsessing about the wait...I can't do anything about it, and obsessing is not getting me any closer to China.(easier said than done)

So that is what I have planned for 2007. Most of these are doable, needed, and the follow through on these should be relatively painless, except for.....#12, and #15, okay #11 is not going to be easy, or painless.

Let me know what your plans are for the New Year, you might have some on your list that I need to add to mine:)

Here's a cling of my champagne glass, and wishing everyone a bright and happy 2007!

************Thank you to everyone who left such sweet messages about Matty. The crying has slowed up, but I am missing her more than I could have ever imagined. For those that contacted me, thank you again, your words were so appreciated, and needed.************

In Memory

Well sorry it has been so long since I have posted. We have been going through one of the hardest things our family has gone through in a long time. It is so ironic that my last post was of our beloved dog Matty.
Last Monday I noticed that she was not getting around well, and thought her back was acting up, so as usual I started her on her meds, which usually gets her back in treat mode in a day or two. Well on Wednesday I could tell she still was not feeling that great, so I told D that I would run her to the vet on Thursday morning. When I went to pick her up to take her out to the car she literally cried out in pain...what the hell was going on is all I could think. The vet checked her over, and felt like her back was fine, but discovered that she was not putting weight on her front right paw. So they said they needed to keep her, and do some x-rays. When they called that afternoon to let me know to come get her...the vet says to me that we will have to wait until the radiologist reads the films, but that it appeared that Matty had bone cancer. Well right in the middle of the holiday shopping madness of the mall I began to silently sob. My sweet little companion was really sick.
I went to get her, and she was in bad shape. They gave us very strong oral painkillers, and sent us home telling us that we would hear about her x-rays on Mon or Tues. I had enough drugs to last the weekend they said. Well Thursday night we got not a wink of sleep, the drugs were not strong enough for her. She was in pain. So we took her back first thing on Friday, and they put her on a morph patch, and said to continue with the oral pain meds as well. But they said the patch would take 6-8 hours to really start to work.
In the mean time D was scheduled to go out of town for work on Saturday, so he called my MIL to come up from Houston to be with me and help with Matty. So she was being picked up at the airport, I had workers installing new countertops in our kitchen, and D was at the other airport picking up his bosses dog that we were scheduled to dog sit for 18 days. I was just having a meltdown.
Me and my MIL sat with Matty until about 8:00 Friday evening...she was not getting any better. The pain was really bad, and the drugs weren't working, she stopped letting me give her water from a dropper around that time. So I finally called the emergency animal hospital, talked to a very nice vet, she told us to bring her in and they would give her a morphine shot and something like valium to help her get settled, and get ahead of the pain. So that is what we did, by the time we got her back in the car to come home, she was out, but her breathing was still very labored. We got home around 12:30 a.m. we got in bed around 1:00, checked on her at 2:30, and when I awoke at 4:00 to check on her our beloved Matty had passed away. She was quietly laying on her favorite bed, in her favorite room looking just as she always looked when she slept peacefully. I just began to sob, while D just sat next to her with tears streaming down his face.
I knew that we all would be heartbroken, and very sad when this time came. But no one could have ever prepared me for the pain that my heart feels. I am not sure right now that I have ever been this sad, nor my heart literally hurt as much as it does. I was not prepared for this. To say our house will never be the same is an absolute understatement. I have never had to be in our house alone...Matty has always been here with me, she goes everywhere in the car with us, she tells me when it is 5:00 p.m. and time to start dinner for us, and for her. I will never hear her snore again, I will never hear her yodel again...and I never got it on tape. I will never get to take her on a walk again, she won't be outside chasing the squirrels while I clean the pool, she won't be there to go get the mail with me, and she will never get to meet this baby that is coming home to us. I never really got to say goodbye to her, and I feel like I failed her by not making sure that she was not in pain anymore. So right now I am really struggling with my sorrow and grief, but I am also struggling with my guilt.
I am so happy, and thankful that my MIL is here, she has been a tremendous support system, she has sat with me and cried, she has told me all of her favorite memories of Matty, and promises me that I did everything I could do-maybe not the vet, but D and I did everything we could do for her, and she knew how much we loved her. I pick up her ashes tomorrow, and so I know it is going to be a very difficult day for me. D doesn't get home until Wednesday, I look forward to him being at home and having him to work through our grief together.
We have cancelled Christmas at our house. Funny thing is I have not been much in the Christmas spirit this year, and have failed to erect any decorations. I thought it was because I was feeling a bit depressed about the wait, but I think it was because somehow I knew we weren't going to be celebrating this year.
I am not sure how long it will be before I feel like updating, or really have anything to update about. I know that I am going to try to take these last few weeks of the year to get myself mentally ready for the New Year. I wish you all a happy holiday, whatever holiday you might be celebrating. Mostly I wish you a happy, healthy and prosperous 07'

I do want to say Thank you to the friends that I have heard from these last couple of days. Your very sweet thoughts, and just your understanding of what a very sad time this is for our family is so nice. So thanks for taking the time to let me know you are thinking of us.



By the way, it is our 3-month anniversary of our LID. 3 down, 21 to go. Now that is progress.

It's a dogs life

Look it's Matty. This is our almost 12 year old cocker spaniel. She was given to me when she was just 8 weeks old. My MIL gave her to me as a gift, and it may be one of the best gifts I have ever received. She is so incredibly smart(no inbreeding here...nosirreeeee bob) She has a vocabulary of about 50 words or so, she doesn't puddle like others in her breed, and she loves kids-actually the smaller they are, the more she likes them. She will start to whimper if she sees kids in the car next to us. She is a treat "whore" she will do anything for a treat which her favorites are baby carrot's, these doggy mints I get at Wal-mart, the end of D's banana in the morning. But she is not really picky about what she might beg from you, she will eat anything except tomatoes*fyi, we don't give her people food all that often, she acts like we do, but just the carrots* She will purposely ask to go out, pretend that she went potty, and then come in and ask for a treat (so she has got us trained) She now has to sleep in our master bathroom because she snores sooooooo loud. She insist that D say hello and give her a carrot before he even looks my way when he gets home from the office. She will start yodeling if he doesn't follow the order. I will have to get that on video sometime...Absolutely hilarious.
She had back surgery for a ruptured disc last Thanksgiving (those damn squirrels taunting her and making her run and jump up and down our retaining walls) and then we proceeded with physical therapy after that. I was driving 4o miles round trip to see her everyday, and then again to take her to physical therapy(not sure who else I would do this for???) So now she can't get up on any furniture(that is why she doesn't sleep with us anymore) and we also have to carry her up and down the stairs. So now we have gates everywhere to make sure she isn't trying to do it herself anymore.
Matty has a list of nicknames: Matty P, Cocker P, Master Pony, Missy Moo, Pog(pig +dog=Pog) Fatty Matty, the list goes on, but I will spare you. She is the center of attention at our house. When the kids call home they never foget to ask about Matty. We take her with us almost everywhere we go. In the summer I still take her with me, but I have combo locks on my car, so I can leave my car running, lock her in, and still keep her cool. It does get so hot that she will finally make it clear that she has no interest in the ride.
We are so lucky to have some old neighbors that love Matty, and if we go out of town they always watch her for us. She loves going over there almost as much as they love having her. They love her so much that she has been in their Christmas card picture with their kids...so funny when I opened it up, and realized that our dog was in their picture.
She can tell time, she absolutely knows when it is 5:00 p.m. that is dinner time as far as she is concerned, and if you are not right there to do it, she will come looking for you, and then the yodeling starts and doesn't stop until you go and feed her. She doesn't like toys, she really only likes big dogs, we are lucky because she has never really torn anything up, and she most definatly acts like a cat living in a dogs body. But with all her little quirks...she is our dog, she is the best dog we have each ever had, and she is such an important member of our family.

Winter Wonderland!!

It may be referral day for everyone else, but it is a SNOW DAY for us in Texas! It doesn't happen very often, but a winter blast just arrived late last night, and even though it was 80' yesterday, it is now 28' as we speak. Now while I know you northerners are looking at this picture and laughing, I would like to remind you that we don't spend our tax dollars(thankfully) on being prepared for this kind of weather. Everything just shuts down, and everyone acts as though a blizzard just blew in. I will say our biggest problem when weather like this hits our area, it's not that little bit of snow, it is the ice that seems to come with it.
So we are shut in, and getting stuff done around the house. All will be well in our world tomorrow morning after the rush hour.
Happy Referral day to what seems a very small number of families. I suspect our referral will arrive sometime in 2014 with the current pace. grrrrrrhhhhhhhhh

2 months....Now that wasn't so bad, was it?

2 months down today!!! I hope the following months go by as quickly as these two went. It feels like a lifetime since I sent our paperwork off(in Aug) but these first 2 months of actual waiting went really quickly. So Happy Anniversary to us.

The strangest coincidence happened...I signed up for our DTC group cyber shower, no big deal. I send our gift, and I receive our gift. I then email the girl who sent ours to ask her for her live address so I can send a proper thank you note, and mention that I see that they live in Missouri, and that I am from Columbia, Missouri....Where are you from? yada, yada, yada. So she kindly responds and says that they live in Columbia!! Okay, how random is that? There are a lot of people on that board, I think they matched us up based on our LID's, but what a coincidence to be matched up with a family from my hometown. Anyway, I was amazed. Anyway, it was really fun, and I got 2 really cute books for Avery. Thanks Parnell's.

Well we are off to Houston for Turkey day. Should be fun to eat and be with family and friends. I still have a few things that have to be done before we leave, but D is out of town so I will be able to get those done, and be ready to depart on Wed.
I hope everyone has a very good turkey day, and lets hope that we see referrals in the next few days!!!

Happy Thanksgiving.

baby laughing

If this video doesn't make you belly laugh, than nothing will.

You talking to me???

1) What side of the heart do you draw first?The right
2) Can you dive without plugging your nose?Yessirree, it is hard to dive one handed.
3) What color is your razor?Silver/lime green
I don't use disposable, they rip the crap out of my legs.
4) What is your blood-type? A+
5) Who would you want to be tied to for 24 hours? My husband :)
6) What is a rumor someone has spread about you? I have no idea, I am sure there are many, and they haven't made it to me. When I first met D his officemates were always telling him that I was a "party girl" SO NOT TRUE....UNFORTUNATELY
7) How do you feel about carrots? I love me some carrots, I love them roasted with dill. But I don't love them as much as our dog. That is her treat of choice, and we go through a lot of carrots per week!!!
8) How many chairs at the dining room table? 8...I think, not at home so I will have to look.
9) Which is the best spice girl? Posh I think. I never really liked any of them.
10) Do you know what time it is? Yes, both here PST, and at home CST
11) Do you know all the words to the Fresh Prince song? Probably most of them, I did when that show was popular.
12) What would you do if you were stuck in an elevator? If I was alone? I think I would freak for a minute worrying that it was going to fall, then I would probably pick up "that phone" that I have always wondered who it calls, and see if they could help! If I were with D, I can guarantee what he would want to do......
13) What's your favorite kind of gum? I really don't chew gum(it's really unattractive if you watch ANYONE chew gum, so not ladylike) But like Heather, I only chew gum to get the flavor(Juicy fruit) until the flavor is gone, and then repeat. But that is about once a year!!
14)T or F: All's fair in love and war. False
15) Do you have a crush on anyone? Yes, my husband :) and maybe a little one on Vince Vaungh.
16) Do you know how to use some words correctly, but not know the meaning? Absolutely!
17) Do you like to sleep? I love to sleep, when it is good sleep, but hate when I dream too much, or it feels like you are not really asleep, but you really are asleep. I often worry that the sleep part of a baby is going to be my downfall in mothering. I am not nice, or capable of thinking when I haven't had about 9 good hours!! I know, I know, no comments here!! This is from the 16 years of flying and being sleep deprived all that time.
18) Do you know which US states don't use Daylight Savings? Arizona, Indiana-but I think only part of the state for some reason.
19) Do you know the song Total Eclipse of the Heart? Doesn't everyone? I thought everyone had called the radio station at least once in their life to dedicate this song to the jerk who broke their heart!! Once upon a time I was falling in love, but now I'm only falling apart... Nothing I can do - a total eclipse of the heart.
20) Do you want a bright yellow '06 mustang? Gawd NO, I wouldn't want a bright yellow anything, or any mustang. I would like a butter yellow convertible VW bug though.
21) What's something you've always wanted? A flat stomach (doesn't matter how much I weigh, even at my thinnest point I didn't have a flat stomach) to go to Bora Bora, and Postinano, Italy...I will go to both, it just hasn't happened yet!!! Maybe while we are waiting.
22) Do you have hairy legs?No, I can't stand to have hairy anything. I am not a fan of facial hair on men either!! Hair is gross...Well except on your head.
24) Would you rather swim in the ocean or a lake? Neither. I for sure would never swim in a lake. I try to make it my policy to not swim in anything that I can't see the bottom. But D and I both always tell people we are kind of beach people, as long as there is a POOL! I will swim in the Caribbean(again, sticking to my policy that I can see the bottom)
25) Do you wear a lot of black? Yes, it just goes with everything, and it doesn't matter if you spill!!
26) Describe your hair.Right now? Getting longer everyday. I am growing it out, hoping to grow it long enough to donate to locks of love. I have really thick hair that is past my shoulders at this point. It is sort of auburn with some light highlights(that I just started doing this year) I wear it in a ponytail almost everyday. Love the ponytail!!
27) Do you have Entomophobia? Yes, I have every phobia that relates to bugs, spiders, snakes, rodents!!
28) Are you an adult? Technically, based on my age. But sometimes don't feel like an adult. Hopefully the CCAA isn't reading.
29) Where is/are your best friends? Kansas, NJ, and Dallas(not in any particular order) I wish the two that are out of state lived close. I wish I could see them everyday. I talk to the one in KS everyday, even though I really hate to talk on the phone. Sometimes we talk 10 times a day, but maybe for only 20 sec at a time. Weird I know.
30) Do you have a tan? No!! I do get mystic tan in the summer...b/c tan fat is better than pastey white fat. But I am obsessed with sunscreen(Blue lizard)and I get my skin checked once a year at the derm. I have had enough moles removed, that I am not interested in getting a real tan!!
31) Are you a television addict? OMG, it would scare you how addicted to the TV I am. I would like to have Tivo on every TV in the house. I am making an effort to figure out how to kick this addiction. I am not a believer in kids watching TV(well at least very, very little) So this is where the Tivo thing is going to be the greatest invention evaaaaar!!!
32) Do you enjoy spending time with your mother? NO, nuff said!!
33) Are you a sugar freak? No, but my husband has a terrible problem with sweets. I love SALT!!!
34) Do you like orange juice? Yes, but only the pulp kind, the more pulp the better!!
35) What sign are you? Cancer
36) What color is your Cell Phone? Silver/Blue
37) Where do you wish you were right now?China, or see #21

Wow, that was long. Leave me a comment if you decide to offer up the info on yourself so I can come take a look!!

where have you been??? right here, just not blogging

Well sorry for the delay in updating. There has been a lot going on around our house that hasn't given me a moment to think of something creative, interesting, or whitty to write about(like that is something new) So I have given up, and will just give you a quick update so that you are not left in the lurch of clicking on my blog to only be irritated that I still have not posted anything.

Well so much has gone on on the world of IA in the last week or so. We were left with the impression that we had finally seen an increase in referrals(first in 9 months) but as luck would have it, it seems the increase is not exactly what we had once thought. It also seems that we have a new issue to worry about(oh goody, something else to worry myself sick about) It seems that if you are questioned at all about your dossier, you are pulled from your group and not put back once things are resolved. So when your turn finally comes, there is no guarantee that your referral in that batch. Just know you will have to restrain me if this were to happen to us.
And we picked China because it was so predictable.

I went to this big holiday bazaar. Found this great t-shirt(would show you a picture, but it keeps putting it at the top of the post, and I don't want it there. So if you can tell me how to get it in the middle of the page, I will post a picture) But it has chinese charactors on the front, and the translation on the back. I found one that says Mothers Love.
My friends were so cute when I showed them, it brought happy tears to their eyes.

Wow, I went to vote, went to bed, and woke up and everything was BLUE. Lets see what the dems have for us. I hope change is good in this case. We can really only go up from here. I do have a little song for Rummy.....hey, hey, hey GOODBYE!!! nanananana hey, hey, hey GOODBYE. I think this is a really good change.
Please lets reevaluate our position in Iraq.

Well, as I said things are little crazy around here right now. So I won't be posting often, but wanted to make sure you were aware and abreast of the situation. It is very frustrating to keep clicking on a blog only to see they are not keeping up with their obilgations. So I will update you next week when we return from Sin City(because what happens in Vegas, doesn't stay in Vegas) We live on the edge, and lead very exciting lives, so I leave you with D sentiments about our trip......baby needs a new pair of shoes. LOL

Well it's about time

Congratulations to all the families receiving their referrals today. It sounds like we should be impressed with the date, there were some big days, and it looks like they got through them. So maybe we are finally seeing a stablization of this wait. I think we will have to see a few more rounds of big numbers before that is confirmed. But that would be some good news for all of us.
So can't wait to see some pictures of the babes.
I want to send a shout out to the CCAA.......way to kick some referral butt!!

No news is good news???

Well I am back from NJ, and what fun I had. Was a little sick while I was there, so that was a drag, but overall had a great trip. Wish I could say that I had missed the computer, referrals, RQ etc... but actually really didn't think once about what was going on-MENTAL BLISS ahhhhh

I am totally amazed to come back and find that referrals are still unknown, a good reason to stay away from the daily grind of this adoption stuff. So lets hope that no news means good news. Sounds like the stork alert has been posted, so for all of the Aug 05' people I am sending you good wishes, and thoughts, and hope it is good news for all of us coming around the bend, and hope you see your babies soon.

Not much going on here, weather is fall like, we have a trip to Las Vegas coming up, Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and have a really terrible cold going on. Now if that is not news, I just don't know any then.

So Happy November 1st, and will see everyone on the other side of referrals!!

Off to the Garden State

Okay kids, I am off tomorrow to the Garden State(NJ) for some fun with an old friend. Will look forward to coming back and seeing where the dust settled around referrals. 23rd, 24th? 28th? Pick a number any number, big bucks no whammies.
All I have to say if it's the 23rd........
NO DEAL!!!

Okay, now let's just see the babies!