Tissue, please.

I just had a really good cry over all of my frustrations with the lack of referrals and communication from my agency. Wow, I needed that. I haven't cried like that in such a long time. I had a meeting earlier this week with all of the librarians in my school district. We meet once a month and questions about whether or not I've heard any good news about the adoption are inevitable. Due to my lack of being able to share any good news, I have come to dread these monthly meetings. Here's how this meeting began...

them "So, Amanda, any good news?!"
me "Um, no." (try to force a smile)
them "Oh, that's ok, it'll happen soon enough."
them "So how many numbers have you moved up on the waiting list now?"
me "Um, none. "
them "What do you mean - none? How long has it been since you've moved up the list?"
me "Never. We've never moved up the list. We're still the same number we've always been. "
them "What?! Why haven't you moved up the list?"
me "I don't know."
them "Where are all the babies?"
me "I don't know."
them "But didn't you think you would be close to completing the adoption this Spring?"
me "Yep, we sure did."
them "You don't mind that we ask you about this, do you?"
me "No, not at all." (I love starting my day like this.)
silence
them "Ok, let's get this meeting started."
me (to myself) Look down at my lap, bite my lip, bite my lip. Don't cry. Don't cry Amanda!!!!

And this is why it is a good thing to have a good cry in the privacy of my own home, without my co-workers staring at me. Now don't get me wrong, I don't blame them for asking me about the adoption. I would do the same thing! But this is why, if I don't start to see some movement on the list and start hearing some really good news soon, I am going to lose it. I'm warning you people, this blog could start getting ugly.

Tissue, please.

I just had a really good cry over all of my frustrations with the lack of referrals and communication from my agency. Wow, I needed that. I haven't cried like that in such a long time. I had a meeting earlier this week with all of the librarians in my school district. We meet once a month and questions about whether or not I've heard any good news about the adoption are inevitable. Due to my lack of being able to share any good news, I have come to dread these monthly meetings. Here's how this meeting began...

them "So, Amanda, any good news?!"
me "Um, no." (try to force a smile)
them "Oh, that's ok, it'll happen soon enough."
them "So how many numbers have you moved up on the waiting list now?"
me "Um, none. "
them "What do you mean - none? How long has it been since you've moved up the list?"
me "Never. We've never moved up the list. We're still the same number we've always been. "
them "What?! Why haven't you moved up the list?"
me "I don't know."
them "Where are all the babies?"
me "I don't know."
them "But didn't you think you would be close to completing the adoption this Spring?"
me "Yep, we sure did."
them "You don't mind that we ask you about this, do you?"
me "No, not at all." (I love starting my day like this.)
silence
them "Ok, let's get this meeting started."
me (to myself) Look down at my lap, bite my lip, bite my lip. Don't cry. Don't cry Amanda!!!!

And this is why it is a good thing to have a good cry in the privacy of my own home, without my co-workers staring at me. Now don't get me wrong, I don't blame them for asking me about the adoption. I would do the same thing! But this is why, if I don't start to see some movement on the list and start hearing some really good news soon, I am going to lose it. I'm warning you people, this blog could start getting ugly.

Week in review

Here is what I did a whole lot of while on break this week-

Reading...

Cooking...

Time with family...

Organizing...

And of course, painting.

And as if that wasn't enough fun for one week, I also managed to scour every room of our house, had a few nights out with friends and caught a couple of good movies. Marc was in awe at my productivity this week. Perhaps it's the beginning stages of nesting? I want to have every room of our house organized before we go to VN. Speaking of VN- nope, nothing new to report. Please keep your fingers crossed that we hear of referrals from our agency this week. I know these referrals won't be ours, but I just really need to see some movement on this waiting list soon, or I am going to lose it. Seriously lose it.

Week in review

Here is what I did a whole lot of while on break this week-

Reading...

Cooking...

Time with family...

Organizing...

And of course, painting.

And as if that wasn't enough fun for one week, I also managed to scour every room of our house, had a few nights out with friends and caught a couple of good movies. Marc was in awe at my productivity this week. Perhaps it's the beginning stages of nesting? I want to have every room of our house organized before we go to VN. Speaking of VN- nope, nothing new to report. Please keep your fingers crossed that we hear of referrals from our agency this week. I know these referrals won't be ours, but I just really need to see some movement on this waiting list soon, or I am going to lose it. Seriously lose it.

Lola's debut

Lola has been taking agility classes weekly for the past couple of years.  Here's a clip I took of her and Marc at last week's class.  You can tell how much she really loves it!

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books

Lola's debut

Lola has been taking agility classes weekly for the past couple of years.  Here's a clip I took of her and Marc at last week's class.  You can tell how much she really loves it!

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books

Welcome Baby Morris!

Carter Byrant Morris was finally born this afternoon! Everyone is healthy and happy and Carter is absolutely adorable! I can't wait to see what Tucker thinks of his brand new little bro!



And we even had time to still go on our little day trip to Toronto yesterday...

We had a great time shopping, even though is was C-O-L-D outside, and then we found the BEST sushi restaurant in the world. I'm already anxious to go back for more!


And I've been tagged by Leslie at Arms Wide Open, so you get to learn some fun and exciting things about me!

Here are the details:
List 7 random things that people may not know about you. The rules are to link the person who sent this to you and leave a comment on their blog so their readers can visit yours. Post the rules on your blog. Share 7 facts about yourself. Tag 7 random people at the end of your post, linking their blog. Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Hmmm, 7 things people may not know about me? Let's see...

1. I will never get sick of watching re-runs of "Mad About You". I've probably seen every episode at least 10 times - I just can't get enough!

2. I've known that I wanted to be a librarian ever since I was 5 years old.

3. One of my biggest fears is hitting an animal with my car, especially a deer.

4. I live in the house of my dreams. It's old and quirky and we will be making repairs to it until at least forever, but I love it! It was the first house we bought and I always say it will be the last - I don't ever plan on moving.

5. Whenever I'm feeling stressed out, I start baking. Cakes, cookies, muffins - you name it.

6. When I was in high school, I had a part-time job as a photographer at a JCPenney portrait studio. I was so traumatized by the screaming children and impatient parents that I swore for years that I won't ever want to have children. Oh, the irony that only 10 years later, my life would be consumed with trying to have one of those screaming children of my own!

7. When I'm sick or even just having a really bad day, I always watch "You've Got Mail" and by the end of they movie, I always feel a little bit better.

And if you haven't been tagged yet, then consider yourself tagged!

Welcome Baby Morris!

Carter Byrant Morris was finally born this afternoon! Everyone is healthy and happy and Carter is absolutely adorable! I can't wait to see what Tucker thinks of his brand new little bro!



And we even had time to still go on our little day trip to Toronto yesterday...

We had a great time shopping, even though is was C-O-L-D outside, and then we found the BEST sushi restaurant in the world. I'm already anxious to go back for more!


And I've been tagged by Leslie at Arms Wide Open, so you get to learn some fun and exciting things about me!

Here are the details:
List 7 random things that people may not know about you. The rules are to link the person who sent this to you and leave a comment on their blog so their readers can visit yours. Post the rules on your blog. Share 7 facts about yourself. Tag 7 random people at the end of your post, linking their blog. Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Hmmm, 7 things people may not know about me? Let's see...

1. I will never get sick of watching re-runs of "Mad About You". I've probably seen every episode at least 10 times - I just can't get enough!

2. I've known that I wanted to be a librarian ever since I was 5 years old.

3. One of my biggest fears is hitting an animal with my car, especially a deer.

4. I live in the house of my dreams. It's old and quirky and we will be making repairs to it until at least forever, but I love it! It was the first house we bought and I always say it will be the last - I don't ever plan on moving.

5. Whenever I'm feeling stressed out, I start baking. Cakes, cookies, muffins - you name it.

6. When I was in high school, I had a part-time job as a photographer at a JCPenney portrait studio. I was so traumatized by the screaming children and impatient parents that I swore for years that I won't ever want to have children. Oh, the irony that only 10 years later, my life would be consumed with trying to have one of those screaming children of my own!

7. When I'm sick or even just having a really bad day, I always watch "You've Got Mail" and by the end of they movie, I always feel a little bit better.

And if you haven't been tagged yet, then consider yourself tagged!

New camera, new pics!

Another crazy week is over and I am officially on February break. A week off to read and relax and catch up on stuff around the house. Ahhhh. I had a fantastic Valentine's day and I hope you did too. When I came downstairs to get my coffee, a breakfast of heart-shaped pancakes was waiting for me...


And earlier this week I gathered all of the fabric for the quilt and cut everything to get it ready for my aunt to start putting together. Lola was quite the helper-

We were planning on going up to Toronto tomorrow to do a little shopping, but I just got a call from my brother... they think Courtney is really going to have the baby tonight. So we might need to post-pone our plans. Stay tuned!

New camera, new pics!

Another crazy week is over and I am officially on February break. A week off to read and relax and catch up on stuff around the house. Ahhhh. I had a fantastic Valentine's day and I hope you did too. When I came downstairs to get my coffee, a breakfast of heart-shaped pancakes was waiting for me...


And earlier this week I gathered all of the fabric for the quilt and cut everything to get it ready for my aunt to start putting together. Lola was quite the helper-

We were planning on going up to Toronto tomorrow to do a little shopping, but I just got a call from my brother... they think Courtney is really going to have the baby tonight. So we might need to post-pone our plans. Stay tuned!

Happy New Year!

This week was the beginning of the Vietnamese New Year, also known as Tet. Last night we went out to our local Vietnamese restaurant to celebrate with friends of ours. Unfortunately, we're still without a camera, so no pics.

As of this week, we have officially been in the adoption process for 9 months. 9 long months with no baby in sight. And who knows how many more months to go. This milestone definitely stings a little for me. When we signed on with our original agency, the timeframe we were given for completing our adoption was 9 months, just like being pregnant, I thought. Little did I know that in the next 9 months, we would end up switching agencies, have our paperwork held hostage while us.cis went on summer vacation, and then sign on with an agency that has no babies!!! Luckily, I've also had an amazing husband to dry my tears, a beautiful baby shower given by my family, all of the amazing quilt squares and wishes, and the fun of working on the nursery, all of which remind me that I will have a baby, someday.

On a more positive note, the Vietnamese New Year is also about new beginnings, new hopes, and the feeling of renewal. So today I am going to change my attitude into one of renewed hope. Our adoption will happen this year.

Happy New Year!

This week was the beginning of the Vietnamese New Year, also known as Tet. Last night we went out to our local Vietnamese restaurant to celebrate with friends of ours. Unfortunately, we're still without a camera, so no pics.

As of this week, we have officially been in the adoption process for 9 months. 9 long months with no baby in sight. And who knows how many more months to go. This milestone definitely stings a little for me. When we signed on with our original agency, the timeframe we were given for completing our adoption was 9 months, just like being pregnant, I thought. Little did I know that in the next 9 months, we would end up switching agencies, have our paperwork held hostage while us.cis went on summer vacation, and then sign on with an agency that has no babies!!! Luckily, I've also had an amazing husband to dry my tears, a beautiful baby shower given by my family, all of the amazing quilt squares and wishes, and the fun of working on the nursery, all of which remind me that I will have a baby, someday.

On a more positive note, the Vietnamese New Year is also about new beginnings, new hopes, and the feeling of renewal. So today I am going to change my attitude into one of renewed hope. Our adoption will happen this year.

More nursery updates

I have to tell you that when I was trying to plan out the nursery, I was a little nervous about how it would turn out. But each day we work on it I get more and more excited. Here's my new favorite thing- the armoire. I love the way all of her blankets and sheets look all folded up and there's a bar to hang her dresses on!

And Lola loves the new carpet as much as we do. Here she is hanging out in the nursery, waiting for news about her sister...

I took these pictures on Saturday morning and when Marc went to use our camera on Saturday night, the screen was broken! You can't see anything! We've had our digital camera for almost 5 years and are very sad to part with it. This week will be spent researching what to get as a replacement.

This quilt square is from a retired teacher that I worked with during my first year at my current job. Fortunately, I'm able to stay in touch with Kathy through book club, as she has become a very special friend. The material she used for her quilt square is the same material she used over 30 years ago to make a pillow for her parents.

And this next quilt square is from another friend I work with, Hillary. The poppy picture is the from the front of a card that is made by a local artisan. Hillary has given me this card before and I am planning on having it framed and putting it in the nursery.

More nursery updates

I have to tell you that when I was trying to plan out the nursery, I was a little nervous about how it would turn out. But each day we work on it I get more and more excited. Here's my new favorite thing- the armoire. I love the way all of her blankets and sheets look all folded up and there's a bar to hang her dresses on!

And Lola loves the new carpet as much as we do. Here she is hanging out in the nursery, waiting for news about her sister...

I took these pictures on Saturday morning and when Marc went to use our camera on Saturday night, the screen was broken! You can't see anything! We've had our digital camera for almost 5 years and are very sad to part with it. This week will be spent researching what to get as a replacement.

This quilt square is from a retired teacher that I worked with during my first year at my current job. Fortunately, I'm able to stay in touch with Kathy through book club, as she has become a very special friend. The material she used for her quilt square is the same material she used over 30 years ago to make a pillow for her parents.

And this next quilt square is from another friend I work with, Hillary. The poppy picture is the from the front of a card that is made by a local artisan. Hillary has given me this card before and I am planning on having it framed and putting it in the nursery.