I have added a counter and a guest map. SO show me where you are from. I would love to know where people are from that visit my blog.
In other news. We found out that in Addis Ababa...there was a conference on international adoptions. It is great that all the people involved with the process were coming together to discuss this wonderful process. They came to the same thought...they want a fair, legal and ethical process that puts the needs of the children first and foremost.
This is part of the post that our agency director posted on the Canadian International Adopt board
"There were certainly lots of topics of discussion but the main thing that continued to come out was that they want an ethical, legal process to occur. "
This is so true. I truly hope that the work these agencies are doing in Ethiopia continue for years to come. I want to adopt again and when the time comes I want to adopt again from Ethiopia. SO I am all for protecting the process in the future. And as we all know a few people can ruin it for others. SO I hope that all agencies around the world take the time to review what they are doing and make sure they are following the rules that Ethiopia has set out. As she said...We may have different ideas in North America about how we would like things to go and be processed...but it is not our place to question how things in Ethiopia go...that is their call.
Louise
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Latest Purchase
Okay so Kristen asked me yesterday what was the latest thing I bought...well I really hadn't bought much last week (since I was at work LOL). Untill today. I got the GREATEST buy yet. I paid a third of the price for this dome play center by preskool. The pic above is what I got for 19.99 (reg 59.99). That is way too good of a buy to pass up and I think it is a great toy! I haven't opened the box because I really don't have the patience to put together a kids toy today (has anyone else been frustrated by incredibly difficult ready to assemble toys??) Fisher price is the worse...but I am sure playskool is no easy task to assemble LOL LOL .
Louise
Excitment
WOW it has been one exciting week. One Maritime family got their probable travel date and another maritime family got their referral for 2 girls (wow 2 little girls. Congrats Lisa and Pierre!!!)
Its so exciting to see other families hit these momentus occasions...provincial approval, dossier to Ethiopia, referrals, court dates, medicals, and travel dates. Each one is so important and exciting in the life of an adoptive family. We don't have the opportunity to see a baby grow in our tummies, appointments with doctors, increasingly larger collections of maternity clothes....but we celebrate these moments in the same way. Each one brings us closer to that ultimate moment...that moment when we are introduced to our children.
It is the strangest feeling to know that I am close to receiving a referral. The fact that it could happen in the next month or two is unreal. Its hard to believe that I am that close. For so long it has always been oh not yet, you know not for a while yet....not till next year. Well now it is not till next month or April. Its crazy....I could see the face of my child in less than 8 weeks. Its hard to believe it will really happen. I am sure it will feel like a dream till someone pinches me. I feel like it is close and I am really feeling the "nesting" urge. I want to get things in order (ofcourse some things I can't do because I need to see if it will be a boy or a girl. But I really want to get the house in order..get things ready.
I wish I would be able to travel this summer...but realistically I know I am probably going to be travelling this fall. It would be nice to have the baby home for atleast part of the summer. It would be nice to have mine, Lisa and Pierre's and Dawn and Gerald's children home for the balloon festival this August but I know that it is probably a long shot...hey but who knows right.
The three of us have been emailing since November 2005, it seems unreal that we will all be home with our kids by the end of the year. A friendship 2 years in the making, and one that will last a lifetime. It has been such a joy to meet and gather with all the families in the Maritimes. To be able to see the kids come home, settle in and grow. I can't imagine how the littlest kids that were home last year have grown since Christmas. Kids grow to fast...that is what I have decided.
Louise
Its so exciting to see other families hit these momentus occasions...provincial approval, dossier to Ethiopia, referrals, court dates, medicals, and travel dates. Each one is so important and exciting in the life of an adoptive family. We don't have the opportunity to see a baby grow in our tummies, appointments with doctors, increasingly larger collections of maternity clothes....but we celebrate these moments in the same way. Each one brings us closer to that ultimate moment...that moment when we are introduced to our children.
It is the strangest feeling to know that I am close to receiving a referral. The fact that it could happen in the next month or two is unreal. Its hard to believe that I am that close. For so long it has always been oh not yet, you know not for a while yet....not till next year. Well now it is not till next month or April. Its crazy....I could see the face of my child in less than 8 weeks. Its hard to believe it will really happen. I am sure it will feel like a dream till someone pinches me. I feel like it is close and I am really feeling the "nesting" urge. I want to get things in order (ofcourse some things I can't do because I need to see if it will be a boy or a girl. But I really want to get the house in order..get things ready.
I wish I would be able to travel this summer...but realistically I know I am probably going to be travelling this fall. It would be nice to have the baby home for atleast part of the summer. It would be nice to have mine, Lisa and Pierre's and Dawn and Gerald's children home for the balloon festival this August but I know that it is probably a long shot...hey but who knows right.
The three of us have been emailing since November 2005, it seems unreal that we will all be home with our kids by the end of the year. A friendship 2 years in the making, and one that will last a lifetime. It has been such a joy to meet and gather with all the families in the Maritimes. To be able to see the kids come home, settle in and grow. I can't imagine how the littlest kids that were home last year have grown since Christmas. Kids grow to fast...that is what I have decided.
Louise
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Happy Valentines Day Baby
Wow its Valentine's Day again. This is the 2nd Valentine's Day that I have been in the process of this Adoption. Last year I was in the midst of my homestudy. This year I am anxiously awaiting a referral...Will it be next week, end of this month, next month or will it be another 2 months. I honestly can't imagine that it would be this month....just from updates I have received from the agency. If I get something it would truly be a huge surprise. I know that there are many others who have been waiting longer than me...those whose files arrived even 2 months before mine.
So sometimes I feel bad about complaining about my wait. Its not really the wait that I find hard...its the not knowing when something will happen. I would be fine if I knew that nothing would happen till March...or even April (ok April would be hard...but if I knew that something was coming then...I would be able to focus on that). Its that never ending wondering if I am gonna get that email or that phone call telling me I have been matched. See I could get that email tommorrow...or I could not get it till the middle of March or April. Its the unkown that is the hardest...but I guess that is part of this process.
So Happy Valentines Baby.....I know that next year we will be hanging the hearts and decorating the table together. I am sorry but you won't be getting any chocolate next year...but you will get some very cute red sleepers :). I wonder what you are doing today. Are you in this world...or are you still growing in someone's tummy. My gut tells me that you are in this world already and that you are matched to my heart already....I just don't have any news yet about you. But believe me that you are thought of often by your grandmother, your aunts and uncles, and your great Aunt's. We all can't wait to get you home and celebrate your arrival. Even though I have never seen your face or held you in my arms you are my first thought in the morning and my last thought before I close my eyes at night.
So sometimes I feel bad about complaining about my wait. Its not really the wait that I find hard...its the not knowing when something will happen. I would be fine if I knew that nothing would happen till March...or even April (ok April would be hard...but if I knew that something was coming then...I would be able to focus on that). Its that never ending wondering if I am gonna get that email or that phone call telling me I have been matched. See I could get that email tommorrow...or I could not get it till the middle of March or April. Its the unkown that is the hardest...but I guess that is part of this process.
So Happy Valentines Baby.....I know that next year we will be hanging the hearts and decorating the table together. I am sorry but you won't be getting any chocolate next year...but you will get some very cute red sleepers :). I wonder what you are doing today. Are you in this world...or are you still growing in someone's tummy. My gut tells me that you are in this world already and that you are matched to my heart already....I just don't have any news yet about you. But believe me that you are thought of often by your grandmother, your aunts and uncles, and your great Aunt's. We all can't wait to get you home and celebrate your arrival. Even though I have never seen your face or held you in my arms you are my first thought in the morning and my last thought before I close my eyes at night.
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Almost 7 months of official waiting
Well in 11 days I will be at 7 months of waiting. Now I also keep count with weeks....and if you go by the weeks of waiting I am at...30 weeks + of waiting. So if it was a pregnancy I would be rolling into the 3rd trimester. This wait feels like an elephant's gestation, what is that gestation 2 years right.
I am getting anxious to see some referrals coming for those April/May families. I wish things would just get a move on. There may have been referrals for families who don't use the boards/emails/etc...but there have been no referrals or even travel dates given in the last month. Now the agency says things are moving along fine, not to worry...but that is like telling a person who is overdue that nothing is wrong and the baby will come when it will come. Not easy to hear or accept. So I keep telling myself that things will happen when they happen and that I need to stop planning ahead. You know you all do it....if I get my referral by this point then maybe I will travel before this point. See with me I just really want to get through the court before it closes in August. So I keep telling myself if I can just get the referral by March/April then I can get the baby home before the court closes. Aggghhhhh yes I am driving myself crazy I know, I know, I know.
I spent Monday with my godchildren who are too sweet for words. My goddaughter Hannah is 1 and my godson Jacob is going to be 3. They are both growing way to fast. Jacob is getting taller by the minute and looking more and more like a preschooler rather than a toddler anymore. Hannah is starting to look more and more like a toddler...like I said growing way to fast. Hannah is just on the verge of walking...she tries so hard but its hard to balance on those little feet. And really crawling is oh soo much faster. Plus she knows Auntie will pick her up if she really fusses long enough LOL LOL LOL.
Lisa is going to Ethiopai on Friday....you can check out her blog.....http://thegoguenfamily.blogspot.com/
Its hard to believe that it is that time already because it just feels like yesterday that she told me she was going (that was in Novemeber right???) I want everyone to be thinking of Lisa while she is there, and pray for a safe and wonderful trip. I know Lisa that this will be a life changing trip for you. I can only imagine what it will be like. Bring back lots of stories, videos, pictures, etc. We will have to have a gathering just to hear about your trip. LOL
Louise
I am getting anxious to see some referrals coming for those April/May families. I wish things would just get a move on. There may have been referrals for families who don't use the boards/emails/etc...but there have been no referrals or even travel dates given in the last month. Now the agency says things are moving along fine, not to worry...but that is like telling a person who is overdue that nothing is wrong and the baby will come when it will come. Not easy to hear or accept. So I keep telling myself that things will happen when they happen and that I need to stop planning ahead. You know you all do it....if I get my referral by this point then maybe I will travel before this point. See with me I just really want to get through the court before it closes in August. So I keep telling myself if I can just get the referral by March/April then I can get the baby home before the court closes. Aggghhhhh yes I am driving myself crazy I know, I know, I know.
I spent Monday with my godchildren who are too sweet for words. My goddaughter Hannah is 1 and my godson Jacob is going to be 3. They are both growing way to fast. Jacob is getting taller by the minute and looking more and more like a preschooler rather than a toddler anymore. Hannah is starting to look more and more like a toddler...like I said growing way to fast. Hannah is just on the verge of walking...she tries so hard but its hard to balance on those little feet. And really crawling is oh soo much faster. Plus she knows Auntie will pick her up if she really fusses long enough LOL LOL LOL.
Lisa is going to Ethiopai on Friday....you can check out her blog.....http://thegoguenfamily.blogspot.com/
Its hard to believe that it is that time already because it just feels like yesterday that she told me she was going (that was in Novemeber right???) I want everyone to be thinking of Lisa while she is there, and pray for a safe and wonderful trip. I know Lisa that this will be a life changing trip for you. I can only imagine what it will be like. Bring back lots of stories, videos, pictures, etc. We will have to have a gathering just to hear about your trip. LOL
Louise
Ethiopia Reads....
Here is a post about a way that you can donate money to help provide books in Ethiopia...Follow the link..
Take One Book Literacy Campaign for Ethiopia
EthiopiaReads.org in collaboration with Zethiopia is launching a new literacy campaign to coincide with the Millennium Celebration that will take place in Ethiopia during 2007.
Ethiopia Reads, founded in 2003, has a mission to improve literacy and create a culture of reading in Ethiopia, and Ethiopia Reads does this by planting libraries and publishing books in local languages and offering continuing education programs to help educators in Ethiopia nurture a love of reading.
Since Ethiopia Reads opened Ethiopia’s first free children’s library in 2003, thousands of children have experienced the joy of reading, they logged 60,000 visits to the library in 2006. Ethiopia Reads sees first hand the difference that one library, ONE BOOK, and one story can make in the life of a child.
If you or someone you know is traveling to Ethiopia during 2007, Zethiopia and Ethiopia Reads challenge you to TAKE ONE BOOK with you, because we believe that education is hope and books can change lives.
For more information on the TAKE ONE BOOK campaign, please contact Catie Dupont at ethiopiareads@aol.com.
Books can be dropped off at Shola Children’s Library. Shola is located in Beklo-bet, behind the Dashen bank off of Debre Zeit road.
WILL YOU TAKE ONE BOOK?
Take One Book Literacy Campaign for Ethiopia
EthiopiaReads.org in collaboration with Zethiopia is launching a new literacy campaign to coincide with the Millennium Celebration that will take place in Ethiopia during 2007.
Ethiopia Reads, founded in 2003, has a mission to improve literacy and create a culture of reading in Ethiopia, and Ethiopia Reads does this by planting libraries and publishing books in local languages and offering continuing education programs to help educators in Ethiopia nurture a love of reading.
Since Ethiopia Reads opened Ethiopia’s first free children’s library in 2003, thousands of children have experienced the joy of reading, they logged 60,000 visits to the library in 2006. Ethiopia Reads sees first hand the difference that one library, ONE BOOK, and one story can make in the life of a child.
If you or someone you know is traveling to Ethiopia during 2007, Zethiopia and Ethiopia Reads challenge you to TAKE ONE BOOK with you, because we believe that education is hope and books can change lives.
For more information on the TAKE ONE BOOK campaign, please contact Catie Dupont at ethiopiareads@aol.com.
Books can be dropped off at Shola Children’s Library. Shola is located in Beklo-bet, behind the Dashen bank off of Debre Zeit road.
WILL YOU TAKE ONE BOOK?
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