The Mamahood

That's SO Wrong

Okay, I'm big into spas and happy to experiment with some pretty out-there treatments, but these really, really creep me out. Would you dare to try any of them?

Sorry for the sparseness of the posts...

But it's been a little busy here in the Mamahood lately. Lots of packing and prepping going on around here for the little one's imminent arrival. So far, big sis is still very high on the idea of bringing home her mei-mei (little sister in Chinese). Lots of talk about offering her snacks, changing her diapers, and carrying her around. We get the feeling that our eldest is thinking her little sister is a nearly newborn, based on her current cooing around infants...even though we've been pointing out toddlers near Mei-Mei's age. She is going to be in for a big surprise, I think.

Maybe I Shouldn't Organize...

You'd be amazed at the kinds of things we need to pull together to get this whole China expedition off the ground. For instance, in an effort to control the types of people who enter the country leading up to the Olympics, China had us clear some new hurdles that weren't there a few years ago.

For instance, we needed to provide a copy of a bank statement and letters from our employers indicating our salary and saying that they know we're traveling to China on certain dates. Since I'm self-employed, that presented a bit of a challenge (though thankfully, one of my clients was happy to do the deed for me). And since we're traveling with a former Chinese citizen, we needed to provide her old Chinese passport as well.

Which leads to the subject of this post. Imagine what might happen if you discover, at 11:30 p.m. the night before the information is due, that the old Chinese passport isn't in the safe, as you expected. Imagine the level of stress when after two hours of combing through files and large piles and baskets of papers you still fail to track down that little red booklet. And imagine climbing into bed at 3:30 after hunting under couch cushions, through boxes of photos, and checking that safe for the 10th time hoping you missed it the first 9 times—wondering how you're going to break the news to your daughter that no, she's not going with you to China to get her mei-mei.

Then imagine how many times you wanted to kick yourself when you woke up the next morning at 6:30, dragged yourself into your home office and decided to thumb through a little file box you'd bought but thought you hadn't used—and discovered that the passport has been sitting in an appropriately named "Important Papers" folder all this time.

That would be me this morning.

travel approval!!!

We got it! Travel dates to come!

Today's Mood: Blacker and Blacker

So, still no word from our agency. And the strange thing...people who got their letters of approval 10 days after we did got their travel approvals today, while the 5/29ers all seem to be still waiting. Maybe there was a snafu at the CCAA? I'm happy for the 6/9 people, but I don't understand how they got theirs first.  I just want to meet our daughter.

Today's Mood: Mega-Cranky

No news = some very unhappy campers around our house. Including our little camper, who this morning threw a fit about attending her summer camp. (It can't be all that bad, since it includes two swim sessions, ice cream and brownies, and her best bud.)

My husband and I have been oh-so-cranky, sniping at each other about the smallest things. (Fortunately, we both know that this is all about the lack of TA, so we've been cutting each other a little slack when the snottiness starts.)

It's looking pretty unlikely that we're getting TA news today, since all reports have TAs possibly in the air en route, but none received. Word to the wise: If it's at all possible, best to steer clear of our family, until further notice.

Hot Spot

Last weekend we celebrated our older daughter's 4th birthday two weeks early, in anticipation of possibly quick travel to adopt our younger daughter (HA!). It was our first foray into the whole "book a place, have a party" realm, and let's just say, I'm now a believer.

We hosted our party in StudioKids Art, a cute little studio behind one of the grand old homes in neighboring Glen Ridge...it still felt homey and cozy, but without it being my home that needs to be cozy. The owner, Suzanne, did a great job engaging the kids in a few cool, frog-related crafts. (I heart my daughter for choosing cool, non-commerical themes like frogs and cats for her parties, instead of Diego and Disney Princess.) The kids put on an art show, and everyone applauded as they showed off their collages and clay frogs.

Then we chowed down on pizza, did an ice cream cake, and everyone headed off into the sunset (okay, the midday sun) with their creations, some lollipops and balloons. Including us...no cleanup required.

You best believe we'll be booking another birthday party there sometime in the future (perhaps for younger daughter, once she's old enough to wield a glue stick).

Stress Stinks

There's still no travel approval (which means no travel dates yet) in our house. And since patience isn't one of my strong suits, no travel approval = oodles and oodles of stress. And my body reacts to stress by tensing all the muscles in my back until it's totally thrown out and I'm dragging around the house hunched over like an old lady. Which is exactly what I don't need right now, with so much left to do before the little one comes home.

Nursery Eye Candy

Here's a long promised image of our soon-to-be daughter's nursery...we still need curtains, but we're pretty excited about how it turned out. It was a family affair...my dad painted the blue, my daughter and I teamed up on the clouds. The tree, as mentioned before, is actually a collection of stickers from Land of Nod. My mom painted the beautiful birdhouses on the wall, and made the baby blanket hanging on the crib. The desk is an antique that we had custom finished for us, the crib a lovely loaner from a friend (our original crib bit the dust).

The green rug here is a Target special (which one of our cats thought was so grasslike it was like peeing outside...YIKES). And the bookshelf is a nice, solid piece from Land of Nod.

I really love our other daughter's nursery/room, but I think we outdid ourselves on this one.

Frustration

We're still waiting for our travel approval. Which could have come today...but hasn't. And at this point, likely won't. We're partially packed, and we have long-standing plans with my family that may change when we get our TA...so we're all in limbo right now.

I just want to hit the road and meet my baby.