Favorite Digital Short FOUND

Did you know that the UK version of YouTube has videos that were pulled in the US?? Specifically, the SNL digital shorts have been, in the past, pulled off the US version of YouTube.
But today, in honor of the holiday season, I found my all-time favorite digital short "D**k in a Box" staring JT and Andy Sandberg.
(Some adult content, for mature audiences only, although the bad words are bleeped out.)

The Book & Misc

Warning: boring post to follow.
I got some great work on the book done today. I really like the way it's turning out. Desktop publishing is pretty terrific if you ask me.
Gregg and I went to the mall because he needed a couple watches repaired and wanted to go to Penneys (his favorite store) for socks. Packs of Gold Toes were buy 1 get 1 free and Gregg swears by this brand. I had been looking for some sweaters to wear to work and found some really nice ones at 40% off. Pretty nice!
We went to the jewelry store for Gregg's watches -- one was running slow and the other needed a new band. While we were there, I had my engagement and wedding rings cleaned. Both have "chips" or "diamond dust." I didn't want "flashy" rings/settings, and love the antique-y way they look.
So -- when they gave me my wedding band back, I saw 2 holes at the top. Gregg said, "are you sure? how often do you look closely at that ring?" Umm, try every single day. Like most girls, I take my rings off to put on lotion, to do makeup, and my hair. I told the guy this, and he handed it back to the jeweler, who was cleaning the ultrasound machine and noted that 2 of my "chips" were there. Oooooppps! So we left the store, got some coffee, and let them re-set my ring.
Needless to say, my prongs were a bit loose, and they re-set those two stones and everything is fine. They look better than new because they are so freakin' clean and shiny.
So that's it. I wanted to get a post in today, and I'm just a few seconds before midnight. Sorry for the really boring words.

Strangers in the night

Tonight Gregg and I have another hospital charity ball. I know, I know, it's oh so tough being a socialite in Chicago, right??! No my faithful friends, this is a client function. Since my firm is 1/2 medical malpractice litigation, 1/2 corporate law (transactional and litigation), a lot of our clients are hospitals. Attorneys on the med-mal side get invites to the hospital charity balls, and we purchase tickets for those who can/wish to attend and often for the clients (risk managers, paralegals, secretaries in the office) to support the hospital. I don't purchase the tickets, but I get a lovely night out with my husband. Yeah! Because it's always a different hospital, I get the luxury of wearing the same outfit to each one and no one is the wiser. (shhh, don't tell.)

Last week's band was wonderful and Gregg and I got a lot of dancing in -- so fun & romantic!! Gregg and I only "couples" dance and only to the "standards" ie: big band, swing, Nat "King" Cole, Frank Sinatra, Louie Prima, etc. I'm really hoping (cross my fingers) we get another good band (maybe the same??) this week. We are sitting at a table w/ my direct clients (risk manager, her paralegal, etc.) which will be great and allow for good conversation (sometimes you are at a table of strangers who just don't want to talk.) I'll bring my camera so I'll be sure to upload some pics of us tomorrow. If I'm lucky, we'll get a good one for the holiday card. yeah!

National Blog month

So I am pretty good about daily blogging, but I'm putting forth an extra effort in November because it's national blog month. There is some acronym that you use if you are doing a blog-a-day for November, but I cannot recall what it is...So I'm just calling it National Blog Month. Anyway, that should explain why you'll get, my dear gentle reader, some pretty boring fare in November. Don't blame me, blame NBM. Complaints can be filed in the "comment" box in the back of the room. Thank you.

November is also National Adoption Awareness Month. Funny, in our house every month is Adoption Awareness Month. We tell everyone about adoption and our journey to ETH. Friends and family for sure, but also co-workers, train buddies, grocery store cashiers, hairdressers, strangers on the street, pretty much anyone who will listen and not run away. Seriously! I am a walking-talking advertisement for Adoption in general and Int'l/ETH adoption in particular. but then again, I think most ETH mamas and mamas-to-be are.

Completely random: I want to be a "hot mama." Seriously. I want to be on the sidelines at a soccer game and the kids get together and say, "did you see Sam's mom, she's hot!" I know that is really petty and small of me, but I was always overweight as a kid, teen, adult and never the hot one, and I want to be the hot one now. I have another 50-60 lbs to reach my goal (which is a BMI, not a number on the scale or a dress size). Of course, my husband says I'm always hot, but I don't think he's very objective. I do care about my appearance now, but I also have changed my diet and exercise and really want to be a good example for my kids. I don't want them to have eatting issues/disorders like me and my sisters did. I want them to love fruits & veggies, and love being outdoors and playing, running, etc. I want exercise to be fun. I want them to be happy and well adjusted and love themselves (in a healthy way, not a Dorian Gray way.) Anyway, I check out these other blogs and am amazing and in awe of all of you -- with kids ranging in age from 18 to under 1, all of you are hot mamas too! I'm thrilled to learn that you can take time for yourself and it keeps you sane and makes you a better mom too. Yeah!! So maybe wanting to be a hot mama isn't so bad afterall?!

Tomorrow is our second charity ball of the season. We are at a table w/ friends and I'll bring the camera this time and get some pictures. I want to use one for our holiday card because heck, everyone looks good in formal wear, right?! I did this smokey-sexy thing w/ my eye makeup last week and I hope I can pull it off again! Otherwise, I am behind on dictation so will be doing work over the weekend. Looks like rain, so we won't be able to do any yard work anyway.

Turkey day is in what? 2-3 weeks? We'll have any evening Turkey Day meal at my m-i-l's and then a Saturday Inskeep Turkey Day. We usually have it on Friday, because of mom's work schedule, but its on Saturday this year for the same reason. We have invited my m-i-l to go with us to Indiana and I hope she says yes! That Friday is her 79th birthday. If you met Joan though, you would think she was about 65-67. She looks great and is very active and young-at-heart. I really won on that aspect of marriage because we get a long well and I really enjoy her company. (and she doesn't read the blog so don't think I'm just sucking-up here. I'm not that type of girl. Well, I am, but she doesn't read the blog so it doesn't matter.) Anyway, I think she would really get a kick out of spending some time w/ my nieces and it would be good for her to get out of the house that weekend. If you dont' go shopping, Thanksgiving weekend can get weird.

Okay -- enough for now. Back to work my friends.

Nothing TOO exciting going on here

I just got 3 new case assignments so I have absolutely no business blogging, but hey, I eat lunch at my desk everyday, so I'm going to justify this one.

Since this blog is (1) a chronicle for our child of the adoption process (2) a way to update friends/family of our adoption journey and (3) an outlet for ME, I feel I hold the privilege to post a mundane, borring blog every now and then. This is surely one of those times.

I'm very frustrated w/ my office computer. Lately it hasn't allowed me to comment on blogs while at work. It gives me error messages, and when I go home at night I usually cannot recall what clever quip I wanted to post at 9:17 am. I've been emailing the bloggers in the meantime, but alas I don't have everyones email address, because some (most) of the blogs I'm addicted to are written by people who don't know me from EVE, and since we've gone private, most cannot reciprocate and read our blog and get my email, etc. etc. agnosium. SO, I'll just be frustrated for a while.

Now, that being said, I am SUPERCALIFRAGALISTICEXPIALODOCIOUSLY excited and happy with my home WiFi. I hadn't used my Dell laptop for about 18 mos and am thrilled with its speediness. I'm thinking of working more from home because that puppy can really purr and I hope it proves helpful when Sam arrives (maybe I can broker a better deal, by working some days from home rather than having them totally off?!)

Work is BUSY. I have medical records out the wazoo that need to be summarized and 3 new cases, and some older ones that are in dire need of my attention. I whipped out a Motion to Transfer Venue pursuant to Forum Non-Conveniens yesterday that would make your head spin. Why can't plaintiff's just file their case in the correct venue? Why do they force me to BRING IT ON and file my time-tested soon-to-be-pattented motion? They know they are gonna lose! The Appelletes LOVE my forum motion, as do the Illinois Supremes (we like to think of our higher courts as MoTown groups!) For those who aren't lawyers, or those who don't practice litigation, a quick primer: Plaintiff files a suit in a county of their choosing. However, if the accident/injury did not take place in that county, then defendants can bring a motion to transfer to the venue/forum where the accident/injury took place. If you have the majority of the witnesses and defendants in that county, you have a real good chance of the motion being granted. I practice primarily in Cook County IL -- where lawsuits are often seen as lottery tickets. So Plaintiff's like to file here, and see if it sticks. For my out-of-Cook-County hospitals (mostly Kane County), I bring motions to transfer venue when at all possible. There are a lot of things I suck at, but venue motions isn't one of them. Okay, enough of that subject. This blog is supposed to be a release for me, not a work recitation.

This weekend we have another hosptial charity ball. Yeah!! We're taking our camera to make sure we get some good pictures. I want a picture from Saturday for our holiday card this year. That way, I can get it out shortly after Thanksgiving and same some anxiety closer to Christmas. Also -- who doesn't look good in formal wear?? It's really a win-win. Can you believe it? Next year's holiday card will include Sam (or Sophia, I'm not ruling out a little girl!!) I have goosebumps just thinking about it!!

We have several friends who have court dates coming up. I'm saying extra prayers that everything proceeds as planned. these babies need to come home!!!! We also know some families traveling this weekend. Extra prayers for them too!! So excited their little ones will be home before Thanksgiving!

There was a sibling referral this week -- very exciting. We need to see more though. The Adams have been waiting since March, and the Zubers have been waiting since April. Now I have a personal stake in both of these families. Stephanie Adams has become a really good friend via this wonderful cyber-medium. She is also an Inskeep girl, as am I!! I want to see some Inskeep babies come home!!!! How exciting would that be? The Adams are waiting for (Code Name) Tom & Jerry, either gender, 1 under 4 years, 1 under 18 mos. Elise Zuber has become a dear friends as well. Although she isn't an Inskeep girl, I think we can honorarily adopt this sweet & feisty mama from Michigan. The Zubers are within driving distance, which means I can love on their babies in person. Yeah!! The Zubers are awaiting 2 little girls under 5.
So bring on those sibling referrals Tsegay...we need them!!!

Thanks all for now folks. Have to get back to the daily grind for now. I promise the next posting will be more entertaining.

New Word Monday & "Its all in the Underwear"

I'm back girls.
I don't mean I'm back at the office (although I am), or I'm back to regularly blogging (although I will be good and blogg everyday this week). Nope, I mean, Meg's back. That crazy-cooky, loud, sweet, concerned, affectionate, and sometimes medicated girl we all know and love is back. I feel like me today, and I'm so very thankful for that. So on to the business at hand.

A dear friend and I (you know who you are) play a game called "New Word Monday" in which we come up with a new word, well, every Monday. I guess the name of the game is pretty self-explanatory so my definition was superfolous. Today's new word is one I want to share w/ the world, not just my dear friend. My word:

HOPTIMISTIC
Definition: to be hopefull and optimistic at the same time regarding the same subject.
Used in a sentence: I remain Hoptimistic regarding the election and trust the American citizens to vote with their heads and hearts tomorrow.
You all know my views on this election and know I'm a HUGE Obama supporter. I have been since he was in the IL senate, 12 years ago. I won't preach about who you should vote for, but will once again urge you to vote tomorrow. Go early, go late. take a book and stand in line. Take the kids with you, take the kids to a friends. Do whatever you need to, but VOTE. That being said, statistics and polls show us that new voters and early voters are by and large voting democratic...enough said.

Next subject from my intriguing title: It's all in the underwear. Now, studies show that 99.4% of my faithful readers are female. For you 0.6% male readers, please feel free to skip the rest of this posting.

Did you know that 8/10 women are wearing the wrong sized bra? That means that unless you are reading this in your pjs (and kudoos to you if you are!) you are more likely than not wearing the wrong sized bra. I found out this gem of a factoid on Saturday when I got professionally fitted for a bra. I have been wearing the same bras as I was 50 lbs ago, but on the tightest settings, and it has not been working out too well. So I finally broke down, and we were at the mall anyway, so I went to the Lingere dept at Nordstroms and asked to be fitted. A lovely, perky sales girl measured me and, low & behold, I was wearing a bra 4 inches too big in the band, and 2 cups too small. WHAT???!!! 2 cups too small?? Who knew I had porn-star boobs?? I guess the fact that the rest of me doesn't resemble a born-star threw me off. But let me tell you something, a bra that fits properly changes EVERYTHING. My clothing fits better, I have better posture, and I truly look like I lost another 10-15 lbs. FANTASTIC!! So faithful readers, go out and get professionally fitted! Most department stores' lingerie dept will do this, as well as V. Secrets and other chains. It doesn't cost anything, you don't have to feel obligated to buy their bras. But -- and here is the kicker, try on try on try on. Bras, like dresses and pants, change size slightly by maker, so a 36 B won't always fit like a 36 B. Also, I found out that not all sizes will be out of the floor, so if you find something you like, don't be afraid to ask for it in the size you wear. Chances are, they have it in the back, but didn't have the room on the racks to put it out.

So -- the moral of today's posting:

VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE, and get fitted for a proper brassier!! (not necessarily in that order.)

Generational Marriage & Misc Weekend Odds & Ends

FINALLY! This is the desk (that originally matched the dresser) that my grandfather stained/painted for my mother as a child. The dresser was various shades of greens, then blues, and the desk was brown & yellow (paint.) My mom grew up with them, and then I did (and my siblings.) I took the dresser to my 2nd college apt, and bought the desk from my mom in a garage sale after college. I re-finished the desk in 2002. Again, a lot of very brittle wood, and it's pine so very porous. Hence, the 2-toned finish.

I have been trying, since we moved into this house (3 years), to be able to display this piece. It has been in the basement, along with all of our other "life before marriage" furniture that didn't "make the cut." This week, we gave MY couch to my little sister, so the picture-window wall of the living room became bare. We ended up moving the chair & ottoman from our bedroom down for seating, and last night I moved the desk up from the basement, polished it, and made the above arrangements. (ALL by myself, thank you very much!)

I am THRILLED to have both my grandfather's old Royal (where he touch-typed out his sermons) and my laptop in the livingroom. Not only is it lovely to see the old Royal and tribute grandpa in that way, but once we get a mobile modem for my laptop, I'll be able to blog from the living room, not the basement!! Yeah!!

This weekend has been very busy -- but I've gotten a lot done, and it's only 5 on Sunday (did I say only??) No, I have not gotten the sewing machine upstairs yet -- we still need to clear off the dining room table (which in our house is not used for actually eating.) My lama (w/ 1 "l", not the animal w/ 2 "l"s) was in town this weekend for teachings on compassion and I've been at the temple everyday. I got to have a lovely 1-on-1 talk w/ her yesterday about all my frustration over DCFS and the length of time the adoption is taking. She really helped -- teaching me how to make an aspiration for my frustration and anger, and then let it go, focusing on my love and compassion for all. I'm feeling much better about everything. Aside from the spiritual teachings, it was just really great to see her again.

The rest of the "animals on parade" decals were delivered yesterday. If I'm not too tired, I want to try to get those up tonight. I REALLY want to start some sewing next weekend, so I feel I have to finish the decals first, and check that off the list. I have some in the stair hallway that I've been in the "midst of" for almost a week and despirately need to finish. (not "animals on parade" --another design.)

I feel really positive about our homestudy and getting that out to DCFS this week. I also think we are going to see more referrals this week. I'm crossing my fingers for siblings for the Adams & Zubers & everyone else requesting sibs. I think it's absolultely amazing these families have committed to not only bring a child home and love & parent -- but bring more than 1 home at once, and keep a family together. Yeah!!

I hope this week is great for all of us! Hugs to everyone for a good Monday!

1 year -- 366 days

I called Gregg just now to remind him that today is 1 year since we started our journey to Sam. 365 days. Gregg, in turn, reminded me that 2008 was a leap year, so it's technically been 366 days...and asked if that made me sadder (yes, that is a word we use in the DeZutti house. sorry to all the English majors out there.) I told him NO, that just means we are 1 day closer to having Sam in our arms.

Gregg likes to make everything an analogy to racing. (Specifically, Formula 1. If Gregg wasn't so tall and leggy, he would likely have had a professional racing career. Despite the legs, he still races his Alfa, but he just looks really silly, like he's in a clown car.) He is going up to his favorite track this weekend, Road America in Elkhart Lake WI, for the annual Alfa Romeo Owner's Club track event. So, he told me:

We are 3/4 of the way done with our race. We are about to turn the corner into the home stretch. When our dossier goes out, and we are on the wait list, that will be turning the last corner. Then we will be able to SEE the finish line. Gregg cannot wait to take his victory lap with the checkered flag, and the baby in his arms! Me too!

Good-day Sunshine!

Cue happy Beattles music!
It's sunny, and it's 60+ and it's FALL. I HEART FALL! oh, and it's Friday!!! I HEART FRIDAYS!! Fridays are causual at my firm, so I get to wear chocolate brown cordoroy jeans w/ chocolate brown boots. I am so very happy! Cordoroy makes me so very happy because it reminds me of childhood (I was a child of the 70s), and playing in piles of leaves.

After a good night sleep next to the love of my life, I realized EVERYTHING IS FINE. More than fine. Everything is as it should be. Of course it's not perfect, but no one said life was. It's not what happens in your life, its how you react to what happens in your life that makes up your story. And I am determined to have a positive story. Whether it takes another 6 mos or another year --- I AM GOING TO BE A MOM! That is all that really matters, right? (remind me of this post when I get severely frustrated and depressed in the future, okay kids?)

The Walkers have their referral -- Yeah! The Webbers will have one soon -- I'm just sure of it. In fact, I haven't checked my mail today and wouldn't be surprised if they find out today. That would sure be a Friday to remember! The Browns & Mabeys & Hoskens have their travel dates!!! Paul Brown & A&A Hoskens are going to be home for Christmas!!!!!!! (Sorry, I don't recall the Mabey's baby's name, but love the fact that Mabey Baby rhymes!) I got to talk on the phone w/ Sandi Brown yesterday which was so wonderful -- I hear her girls voices in the background and wanted to cry! Gregg & I are going to try to meet up w/ the Hoskens while they are in IN for Xmas!!! Which would mean we would be able to meet A&A!!! I can not think of a bigger blessing at Christmas time. Mamush & Ashton & Micah are growing big & strong & gorgeous! I mean seriously, really good things are happening for the ETH yahoo community. I can only be happy!

I know I sound a bit like "Sally Sunshine" but I'm just having one of those days. And here is the big kicker folks -- Gregg recently lost his job (I can say that now that we are private). It's been very stressful and Gregg's been very worried this would hurt our adoption. But I spoke at length with Amanda & Sandi & AAC Toni and now know it won't hurt us and these things do happen, because LIFE DOESN'T STOP FOR ADOPTION. (Seriously, I need to market that as a Tee shirt to finance our adoption!) Everything is going to be fine. Heck, maybe Gregg will be a stay at home dad and we'll save all that money on in-home childcare. I feel so positive about everything right now.

I have to give some credit here. whenever I'm down, this amazing community of ETH adoptive parents and parents-to-be are always there for me. you guys give me strength and inspiration and hope. I COULD NOT, repeat, COULD NOT be doing this without you. Making and having friends like this, who really understand everything we go through -- I cannot express how much that means to us.

So -- cue Beattles music again. GOOD-DAY SUNSHINE, GOOD-DAY SUNSHINE, GOOD-DAY SUNSHINE! (This of course makes me think of Elise & Duane's little Ray of Sunshine, whom I now affectionately call ROS.)

Everyone hug their spouse & kiss their kiddos & enjoy their beautiful fall weekend! I want to see lots of pumpkin patch and playing-in-the-leaves photos posted on Monday.

1 year -- looking back

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For those whom are not familiar w/ my abbreviations:
TTC = trying to conceive
CHI = Children's Hope Int'l, our adoption agency
ETH = Ethiopia (okay, you totally should have known that one!)
WSW = our wonderful social worker, Jacque @ Glenkirk Adoptions
AAC = our amazing adoption consultant, and general life counselor, Toni @ CHI
RSD = Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy. This is a chronic, often degenerative disease, of the sympathetic nervous system, which I have had since April of 2003. I currently have neuro-stimulator implants in my spinal cord to control the symptoms, but have been in remission since May of this year, and thus have turned off the implants. I am not on any drug therapy currently. Yeah!!!
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Well -- tomorrow will be October 10th. The day it all really started. Not the day we got married or the day we decided to have kids, or even the day we started TTC*. But the day we found we could not conceive and the day we decided our child is in ETH and we just have to find him/her. The day we knew CHI was going to help us find our child. The day we began our journey for Sam.

How do I feel? I'm not going to lie or even sugar-coat it. I'm frustrated and pissed off. Yesterday Gregg asked what I wanted to do for our anniversary (later this month) and I almost started to cry because we just naturally assumed we would have our baby in our arms at this point in time. I never would have dreamt that we wouldn't even have our dossier out by now.
My WSW told me yesterday "if we don't have the Foster License next week, I'll start bugging people." I wanted to scream START BUGGING PEOPLE NOW. But I respect that she has to work w/ DCFS every day, and I'm not the only mom-to-be she works with, and she cannot risk pissing off DCFS for future families. Speaking of which, my AAC scanned & sent the original letter from my specialist & WSW said that should suffice regarding my RSD.

I think Gregg is a little numb at this point. He said yesterday that he won't really let himself get excited until we are on the plane heading home, because he is afraid that, at any point in time, someone will "pull the plug" and decide we cannot have our child. I think in reality, he will let himself get excited when we get the referral. He is being a sport about shopping and setting up the nursery, and getting gender-neurtral clothing, but he isn't like me. On a scale from 1-10, Gregg is about a 4 now, and I'm definitely "one more, an 11" (all hail Spinal Tap!)

I got some super-cute tees from Tiny Rock Star & Tiny Revalutionary (thank you Stacie Dixon for posting those on your blog.) I have them in the top drawer of the finished dresser and took them out and looked at them again this morning. I so despirately want to see them on our child.

I think all my fall projects will help fill my time, but won't fill the whole that is growing in my heart. Only my child can fill that. Don't get me wrong, I have more love in my life than should be legal. I have a truly amazing husband. Seriously, I often wonder how I got so very lucky to have him in my life. He is so funny & smart & super-hot (which shouldn't matter, but is really nice "gravy") He is my rock. I love him more than words could ever adequately express. I have a fabulous family. My sisters & mom & dad support me no matter what, and are as excited as I am for our baby to come home. I have cousins & aunts & uncles loving this baby already. I'm very blessed because my family is more than family. I can honestly say I would chose them out of all the families in the world to be mine. I have some of the best friends a girl could ever wish for, both in the city, and around the country/world. I cannot complain. But I still ache for my child, and have so much room in my heart for the love you can only experience as a mommy.

So Sam, know that I love you whether you have been born yet or not. Know that I'll find you no matter how long and hard the journey is. Know that I'll come get you and bring you home as soon as possible. Know that you've been loved and longed for and dreamt of longer than any homegrown child ever could be. Know that I will not allow another year to pass without you in my arms.

The right way to start October

It has been a tough couple of weeks for the DeZuttis. Primarily because our homestudy is MIA, but of course other issues are present. We have found that life does not stop for adoption (gosh, that should be a tee-shirt.) But we are rallying together and pulling through.

Here are some great things that happened in the first 5 days of the month:

1. CHI families received 5 referrals this week. Wooo-Hoooo!

2. I finished Sam's dresser. See above photos.

3. Sam received his/her first book -- a recycled copy of "Good night moon" from our friends Kim & Francis (& new baby Maddy!) We love recycled books, clothing, furniture, you name it. Yeah environment!

4. I spent the weekend @ my sisters visiting. I had tons of quility time w/ "my girls." Manda & Bryan had the time (since I was babysitting) to drive about 45 mins out and pick up the bunk beds they had ordered several weeks back. We even had time to assemble the bunks today. See above pictures.

5. Liv was really affectionate with me. This was the 1st time for her. I think it's been a little hard with Liv, because she is SO different than Em. Em is a complete love-bug and Liv isn't. Unless your name is Mommy, and even that doesn't work all the time. Liv is a very serious child, and does not like to smile a lot for me. This weekend I felt like we had a real breakthru. She wanted ME to push her on the swing, and ME to carry her, and ME to get her dressed in the morning. She does not cuddle, but she did sit on my lap for a while -- which is huge! She even called me "An Mae-Mae" and gave me kisses when I left. My heart was singing!

6. Em decided she would be okay if "little baby" is a boy. Before she was not. We talked about the fact that Little Bear, Franklin, and Handy Manny are all boys, and she likes them, so she decided a little boy baby would be acceptable. A girl is still preferrable. About 20 times this weekend, she said "Aunt Mae, I have secret" I would come close and she would say "I love you beary, beary much!" This kid makes my heart melt!

7. When I came home tonight, my wonderful hubby and I danced in the living room in our socks, while singing our song, "Nice & Easy" (Sinatra). I love him beary, beary much! October is a pretty great month so far.

Cookie Season!

Yes folks, you guess it! It's October 1st, which is officially the opening of cookie season in our house (I don't like to bake a lot in the summer.) My friend Stephanie just posted pictures of her pumpkin chip cookies, which is my 2nd favorite. My heart belongs to molasses crinkles first and foremost! Now, molasses crinkles season opens Nov 1st, so in the meantime I can do a lot of oatmeal variations (I like craisin-white chocolate, Gregg likes date-ginger), as well as pumpkin chip cookies and pumpkin bars (more cake-like) w/ cream-cheese frosting. Of course, I'll have to give a lot of these away and/or bring to work because I don't want to put on my "winter weight" this year.
I'll post photos and recipes as the baking begins.

Jaye Visit

My BFF, Jaye, who shamelessly moved to San Francisco 10 years ago after her divorce, came for a visit this weekend!!!! She is going back to IN for a family reunion and visit w/ her mom. I hate to admit this, but we hadn't seen each other since my wedding, 2 years ago. Gregg and I had plans to go out in April of this year, but that vacation got nixed by his boss (about 1 month before the boss was nixed!) I was so thrilled she had time to stay here for 24 hours. Gregg is out of town for an auto event, so we had dinner, drank good margaritas, and talked until almost 2 am. then we go up, had breakfast at my favorite diner, went to BRU to view the crib & crib bedding, and then to several fabric stores to pick out fabrics for the curtains in the nursery. We had a wonderful day, got thoroughly caught up (some things aren't meant for email), and took a great picture of the 2 of us.
I cannot wait until the baby is here and we make our "west coast tour" to meet Aunt Jaye!!

Leaving on a jet plane

I have a business trip to California today & tomorrow. So I packed my bags and I'm ready to go, but I wish I was going to meet Sam.
My friend Kim gave birth to beautiful Madeline Claire yesterday and I thought to myself, gosh, maybe Sam's being born today too. It's hard for me to imagine him growing in someone else's belly, but I can definately see him as a baby. I dream about him often.
Now, I say "him" but we just discovered that our chances are about 50/50 for Sam being a boy or a girl. So I should say him/her. Don't know if Sam will be a code name, or if we will stick w/ Sam for a girl...doesn't really matter at this stage.
We are anxious to see the home study this week and forward it to our CHI case worker for approval before it goes to DCFS for certification. Have fingerprints (last set!!) for USCIS on Wednesday.
So I'm leaving on a jet plane, I do know when I'll be back again. But I wish I was flying east, instead of west.

Madeline Claire

Woo-Hoo!
My friend Kim just had her first baby, a little girl (under 7 lbs) whom they named Madeline Claire. It was a quick and uneventful delivery. And both look gorgeous in the shots dad has taken and posted on their blog.
I'm thrilled they are both healthy and cannot wait to introduce Sam to Mattie in the months to come. Who knows, maybe Sam was born today too.