3 Bears are better then 1

I ordered these cute TY Pluffies for Abby. Little Ruby Cate has shown me and all her other dedicated followers out there in Blogland what a great first friend Bear can be. Thanks Amy for posting the link to where Bear's siblings can be found for adoption. I ordered 3. I plan to send one to Abby in her care package after I receive her referral, Bring one with me to China and Keep one at home as a spare. The way I see it a girl can never have too many bears!

Logged in 3 months today

3 months closer to Abby day!!!

100 Good Wishes Quilt

UPDATE

My Niece ERIN came over today for some one-on-one Aunt Jenny time. We were going through All the wishes for Abby's quilt and decided to spread the quilt squares all out and see how many we had received so far. We counted 75. So if you haven't yet sent me your wish and square bring it on cause were all most done!

Sissy is very Artistic! She loves to make things for Abby and I'm sure would so her quilt if she was able!

I'M TRYING......

FYI Cute Bibs at Kmart

Is She?

I won this doll on Ebay. I was looking for Asian dolls and she was listed as "Asian Jenny" I felt I was destined to have her because she was Asian like Abby and she was named Jenny like me. As the auction continued it became evident that someone else also really wanted her. The bidding reached $86.00 and then I started to second guess my self. I felt uncomfortable paying so much for a doll when I really needed to be saving money. She really did not look Asian plus the bidding jumped very quickly and I wondered if it was actually the seller out bidding me so that I would pay more. (I know that is not allowed but you never know...) There were still 2 more days left until the Auction ended so I figured I would sit tight and If I was out bid again then so be it. Well there were no more bids for her and I won her. She is a 1974 Fisher Price Lapsitter Doll named Jenny. I googled her and did not see any other references listed that indicated she was Asian. I received her this past Monday. She is in great shape. Her eyes are somewhat almond shaped but I don't necessarily think that makes her Asian. She also has freckles? So the verdict is still out. Anyway she is Abby's now and has a interesting story to go along with her.

I think Quackers likes her also. While I was Taking pictures of her she decided to jump in.

Feeling Down

I was feeling sorry for myself today per yesterdays post. After work I decided a little retail therapy was in order. Look what I found in the Pretend section at Target! I have been looking for this Asian family since reading about them on one of my yahoo boards. Someone must have known I needed a pick me up because low and behold there they were waiting for me. The only ones left just for me! Only $19.99. A complete family including Grandparents. I will be saving them for Abby to play with once she is older.


And THANK YOU Aunt Laurie for the adorable additions to Abby's wardrobe! I can't wait to see them on her. They will go great with the pink ugg boots that you gave her. Love Ya!!

Waiting Update

The wait for a referral from China appears to be lengthening. I received an update from my agency yesterday. Presently referrals are being issued in increments of 2 or 3 weeks worth of Log In Dates. They implied that one possible reason for the slowdown may be that there are currently more waiting adopters than available children for adoption. Historically the waiting times for referrals has varied from 6 months up to 18 months. I have no idea how long my wait will be but I know there are presently people who had a Log In date last May and have been told not to expect a referral this month. (They have already been waiting 10 months!) I really feel for them (and all of us!) it really stinks to be that close and yet so far away. I will continue to hang in there though and try to remember that Good Things Come To Those Who Wait.....

Me in my MEI TAI

This is me with my mom at about 14 or 15 months. Mom actually made this Mei Tai and liked using it. She still has the pattern somewhere and hopefully will make one for Abby and I.

Thank You Meema

Back in December I posted a picture of a doll that my Mom had given me . She found the doll on ebay and said it was the same type of doll that I had as a child. Turns out that wasn't the doll although they were from the same doll family. The doll pictured above is (my MOM really thinks so) the same type of doll. She is a Madame Alexander doll named Puddin. Below I have a close up of her facial features. Aren't they sweet?

And below is a picture of me and Puddin. I had received her this day for my 3rd birthday.

I have also posted some pictures of some pretty outfits given to Abby by Meema!

Thank you Meema, Love You and I know Abby will too!!!

I LOVE TARGET

Are these not the cutest things? 5 Bucks at Target! I hope they fit her. They look bigger then they actually are. (size 18 - 24 months) I like them because they have a velcro opening on the inside side making them easier to put on. And ....... below a cute swimmie! (also 5 Bucks)

JUST BECAUSE........

2 MONTHS TODAY!!

Today marks month 2 that I have been logged in. The way things look right now I am thinking that I may get Abby's referral sometime in August then travel for her in October or November. Thats just a possibility though because nobody really knows the exact timeframe. Seems like it is constantly changing........

100 Good Wishes Quilt

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To welcome and celebrate a new life, there is a tradition in the northern part of China to make a Bai Jia Bei, or 100 Good Wishes Quilt. It is a custom to invite 100 people to contribute a single square patch of cloth. The 100 patches are sewn together into a quilt that contains the luck, energy, and good wishes from all the families and friends who contributed a piece of fabric. The quilt is then passed down from generation to generation.



These are my quilt squares and wishes that I sent for my November DTC 100 Good Wishes fabric swap. ( My group decided to send 2 fabric squares along with our wishes ). If anyone would like to send me a wish and fabric square for Abby's quilt please e-mail me for the details!

Still growing

I haven't checked on Tai Shan in a while. He has really grown. He is around 6 months of age and weighs around 25 pounds. The website says he is now comfortable enough to go off exploring on his own and has also climbed his first tree! These pictures were taken in December and were the most recent that I was able to find.

Thank You Secret Pal!

I had this nice surprise waiting for me on my doorstep this morning. My November DTC group (A yahoo group that I belong to along with a lot of other waiting parents who were also DTC in November) is having a monthly secret pal gift swap amd the theme this month is blankets. I love mine and the matching bibs. This is going to be a lot of fun and a fun way to help pass the waiting period.


Even better was the card my secret pal had enclosed along with my gift. It really helps put the wait into perspective. If your reading this THANK YOU secret pal not only for the gifts but also for the encouraging words. I will repeat them often as I wait.

I love this!!

My latest purchase for Abby's room. Isn't it beautiful? A Asian little girl on top of The Great Wall holding on to a long red thread.........

Happy New Year!

Today marks the start of the new Chinese Lunar Year. Year of the dog and possibly the year of Abby's birth? Click on the title of todays entry for a special message.

Diapers

I bought a pack of diapers tonight for Abby. The FIRST ones that I have ever purchased for her. By reading other families blogs I noted that size 2 or 3 seems to be the average size the babies are wearing at the time of adoption. I wanted to see how small the diaper actually is. My message boards are full of people talking about how they are buying their diapers now while they wait for their babies referrals. I'm not sure what I am going to do. It does sound like a good idea to stock up now but on the otherhand What if I am referred a older baby and the diapers that I had prepurchased don't fit her. I don't think I would be able to exchange them. Maybe I will just start up a diaper piggybank now instead ........

My weekend project

I made these for Abby's room this past weekend. Maybe if I keep making her things that will satisfy my urge to get something new for her and curb my spending......

Meg Ryan Adopting A Baby From China?

Saw this on my MSN Adopt message board. I think it's neat! Click on the title above if you want to read the article.

Abby's new baby

I had a doll like this when I was little. I believe I had received her for my birthday. Anyway my mom saved her and recently she sent her away to a doll hospital for a makeover. Then they lost her. Long story short, Mom found her exact twin on Ebay and surprised me with her over the holidays. She says, "waaaa"when you flip her over just like the older dolls did. I thought maybe her previous owner had given her a haircut but mom swears this was how she looked then. Looks like it was mullet season when she was made. We are looking for a picture of me with her. When I find it I will post it. She is wearing a 3 to 6 month outfit so If I want I can even model some of Abby's outfits on her. THANKS MOM!!LOVE YA ;D

I have been tagged.

I was tagged several days ago but this is the first chance I have had to answer. It has made the rounds so I don't think there is anyone else left to tag.

What were you doing ten years ago?
Ten years ago, I had recently graduated nursing school was working nights in the ICU and spending way to much money with my new post graduation credit cards.

What were you doing 1 year ago?
One year ago, I was actively researching the international adoption process and looking for agencies that would place me on their waiting list. Also still working in the ICU but on Day shift (Thank God!).

Five snacks I enjoy: Popcorn, Chocolate, sunflower seeds, Chips and did I say chocolate?

Five songs to which I know all the lyrics: Piano man, Swept Away, Over The Rainbow, Star Spangled Banner and I Will Survive.

Five things I would do if I was a millionaire: Pay off all my debts, Help my family, Buy a new home, buy a new car and swich to laborpool status at work.

Five bad habits: Staying up to late reading my blogs and message boards when I have to work the next day, Holding in my feelings, I can't say No to sweets, I worry too much and waste too much money on magazines each week.

Five things I Like Doing: Reading blogs, Reading, Hanging out with my nieces and nephews, Doing crafts and watching Lost.

Five Things I would never wear, buy, or get new again:
1) Blue nail polish
2) Plaid skirts

3) Stiletto heels

4) Scrunchies
5) Candies

Five Favorite toys:
1) Laptop
2) Camera & docking station
3) Cell phone
4) Ebay
5) Furreal Panda Bear that I just bought Abby

CRAZY WEATHER

I have been wondering where winter has been. We have had a fairly mild one thus far. Yesterday it was 65 and my windows were open with the heat off. Fast foreword one day after a night of wicked thunderstorms.... Its 34, blowing like crazy and snowing! Okay they are just flurries and you have to look real close at my picture to see the snowflakes but still. Winter is really my favorite time of year and I am always up for a good snowstorm. Don't think I will be getting that tonight but I am still hoping for at least one good one before winters end.

NURSERY

Today I started to work in Abby's nursery. I took apart the bed and packed up all the stuff that was in there that needs to go. Below is what I will call my before
photo. As you can see I have a lot of work to do.

I also organized Abby's closet. It really looks a lot better. I don't have a dresser yet so there is still a lot to be put away. For now it's all crammed in her closet (and mine).

Thanks!

Thanks for everyone's suggestions on how to make my blog look better. I am going to be messing around with it , my links, past posts, smilies ect to see if I can get my blog to line up properly. Basically I am apologizing now for anything that may be missing or look funny after my attempts. Any other suggestions are still welcome. I still don't understand why my blog has continues to line up appropriately on my computer all along but not on other computers??? This blogging process is still a mystery to me and my blog continues to be a work in progress. Wish me luck!

BLOGGER QUESTION ????

Hello, A quick question for all of you experienced bloggers out there. Today I noticed that when I look at my blog at work my links, archives, favorite blogs ect... are not showing up on the right up top. I have to scroll down to the end before I find them down on the bottom at the right. Now when I look at my blog at home they are right up top on the right where they should be. My question is this. Where are they showing up for you when you read my blog? Please leave a comment to let me know where you are seeing them and if they are not showing up top for you why are they only showing up top for me on my home computer? Anyone know? Finally anyone know how to fix this problem? Any help would be much appreciated!!!

Why a mother needs eyes in the back of her head !

Something to think about :'D

1 MONTH !!

I have been logged in 1 month today! Only 7, 8 or 9 ? More months to go. It's 1:05 AM and as usual I am wide awake. (and worked 12 hrs today I might add.) As soon as I get home I get on the computer and check all my blogs, message boards ect... Then I continue my endless search for anything adoption related that I have not read yet. As a last result I then cyber windowshop for items that I think she needs. Course then I am hyped up and can't sleep! Tonight I am really craving (for lack of a better word) Abby. I miss her and want her home! It's going to be a long wait until the fall.

Bargin Of the Day

Only $8.88 ! Target you gotta love em!!

LID

Okay today my agency informed me that my official Log In Date was December 7, 2005. They also said to expect a 8 to 10 month wait period for my referral and then expect to travel 3 to 8 weeks after that........

Update

Quick update. Still no log in date but I know I am not alone. In reading my message boards I have found that many others that are DTC also do not konw their log in dates either. I have also learned that there are some that do know. The genral concensus for those who were DTC on November 8th, 2005 (just like me) and do knw their log in dates is December 5th, 2oo5. This means the earliest that I may finally get my referral for Abby is sometime in August. That would be 8 months. It may be longer as the current projections for the wait period is around 8 to 10 months. I am still hoping that things will speed up. If they don't then I may not actually get Abby until December. As soon as I know anything more concrete I will let you know......

Year of the dog

Happy New Year!!!!!! In China 2006 is considered the year of the dog. The actual start of the Chinese New Year occurs on January 29th. This should be a fantastic year that I hope ends with Abby as a part of my family. I have a lot to do between now and then so things will be just right for her arrival. Hopefully these activities will make my waiting time pass quickly! Check out my time ticker above. It has already been a month and a half since I have been DTC. Now only 7 or 8 more months (if the current time line continues-but I am hoping it will speed up! :D) to go until I get to see her picture. God Bless! And have a safe and healthy New Year!