No tellin' what I'll find...

It's been 11 years and things have most definitely changed. Changed in some ways for the better...in some ways I just cannot understand. Yesterday, for the first time in 11 years...I bought a stroller. Now, I didn't want one of the "all-in-one" stroller thingys, I just needed a simple lightweight umbrella stroller. Our umbrella stroller was not going to make it on one more vacation (of course, I only paid $10.00 for it 11 years ago...what did we expect). So we began the crazy search for a reasonable umbrella stroller...

11 years ago you had one choice...basically. You didn't like it, too bad. If you were short, too bad or if you were tall, too bad. You didn't even get to choose the color. That's it.

Yesterday, I stood in front of at least 20 different kinds of umbrella strollers. I probably looked like I never got off the farm, with my eyes wide and mouth open and a dumbfounded look on my face. Each stroller offered this or that (none offered to do the laundry...or that one would have been paid for and in my trunk). And don't get me started on the amazing price differences between them. In the end, we ended up with a "middle of the road" stroller that hopefully will last another 11 years.

Please, oh please let it last...for no tellin' what I'll find in the stores then.

Any forward movement is good...

In our house all of the bedrooms are situated like this...the master is on the main level, 3 bedrooms upstairs and 1 bedroom downstairs (we have a walkout basement). We were using the downstairs bedroom as a guest bedroom, however with 3 children already in the house (and two more children hopefully coming soon), we decided that we needed to use all the space we can get.

So this weekend we moved my son downstairs to his new room. It's huge with 5 floor to ceiling windows and a large walk-in closet. He loves it. I love it, for this now leaves me with an empty room upstairs to begin decorating for the new babies. My husband likes to call this "my nesting".

I don't care what you want to call it, but with this adoption process...

any forward movement is good.

Our little soccer champ...

Yesterday was our smallest's last soccer game for the Spring season. She loved playing and especially loved that her Daddy was the coach. And to tell you the truth, my husband loved being out on the field as well. So here's to you my little one...our little soccer champ! (...hint, she has a number 6 on her jersey)

A yawn and a run...

Just recently I have switched my daily run to the mornings (instead of late evenings) and here's what I've noticed...

Alarms at 5:30 in the morning are quite irritating...no matter who's singing the tune.
My husband can just pop out of bed, while I roll and crawl my way to the bathroom.
The snooze button was a great creation.
Sprinkler systems come on whenever they want and scare the "begeebees" out of you.
Birds are out in full force (having a "bird dog" this is very much an issue for she wants to chase and point at them all instead of running with me).
There are quite a number of people going to work at that time...so...kudos to you guys.
And even if they say it's going to be 80 degrees that day...it's down-right cold in the mornings.
But to top it all off...there are the most beautiful sunrises at that time.

So for that, I'll still be out there in the mornings...with a yawn and a run.

A "swish-swish" moment...

This morning my five year old was complaining about having to use "swish-swish" (actually called a fluoride rinse) after she brushed her teeth. "But Mom...why do I have to do "swish-swish" every morning? (in a very whining voice, mind you...) "Because if you don't take care of your teeth they may fall out." I said. She paused for a moment. "But Mom...(whining again), all my teeth ARE going to fall out." O.k., she got me there.

Filler'up...

Zoom....one kid ran past. Zoom...another kid ran past. Zoom...another kid ran past...wait...she backed up and squeezed me so tight and then...she was off again. Zoom!

I like to call this the kids "filler'up". Basically, what happens is that every so often my kids have to have a hug or kiss from me or my husband. They need to feel that love. Don't get me wrong...we love, hug and kiss on them all the time, but to them it's comforting to have hug "on the fly" while they dart away to play. It's the security that's always there for them. It's their way of saying..."sure do love you".

Now, I know that this will not last forever, but for now, if I see them zoom past and then "back that bus up" I just throw my arms open wide and enjoy the moment.

A long line of "not-so-good waiters"...

O.k....so it's June now and I'm just itching to call our adoption agency. You know, just to let them hear my voice (because it's only been a month since I've reminded them the last time). I just want to help them remember that here we are...still waiting. Still waiting for a referral... Would that be wrong?

You see, I come from a long line of "not-so-good waiters". Christmas is a perfect example. Pick anyone in my family...my little brother for instance. I had mailed him his Christmas gift a little early and FedEx had barely left the building by the time he had opened the gift and was wearing it. It was a Christmas gift! My mom...when she comes to visit, she begins counting down the days months in advance. Months, I tell you. And don't even ask me how I did when I was pregnant with all three of my kids...I about went crazy (and I had the due date!) So you see..."not-so-good waiters" here. I can't help it.

So now I am stuck...stuck coming up with a good excuse, no...a reason to call for an update on our adoption. I need a good one...

Got any suggestions???