Thank you MP–All his pants will be too big. Everything will be too big–that’s okay. He’ll grow.

And last, but not least – Dawn, after 3 attempts, I finally caught Noah
awake yesterday. Sadly, I didn’t have my camera with as we had just been at the
embassy and they don’t allow them. But it was so funny. He was totally dressed
in drag. A denim jumper dress with red and white checkered fringe. But he still
looked very manly (-: Don’t worry – they handed Teeny to us in a pink sleeper
and blanket on Day 1! Noah is small like Teeny. I think a newborn or size 1
diaper at the very most. I was there when they changed him, and his little
tushie is narrow. I think he’ll be fine in 0-3 month clothes, but maybe bring
some small 3-6 just in case. He is very strong and alert…and get this, he has
not one, but TWO huge dimples! He is gorgeous. He also has a caregiver who is
very attached to him and calls him “her” baby. Oh yah – very long feet on that
guy, too.

I am sure that you are all aware of this new plot unfolding involving flights from the UK to the US. I am sorry, but his is all because I packed yesterday, I am sure. I’m now worried, not really about flying, but about the news that Heathrow is not allowing any hand baggage to be carried on. This is worrisome, because as we are adopting a baby I have packed 3 days worth of clothes and supplies for the baby–diapers, bottles, wipes, etc. Now I am worried that I won’t be able to carry that on. If our luggage doesn’t get lost then there are no problems, but if our luggage is lost or delayed because of missing a connection, etc then we would be screwed. And then what about on the flight home? I would need to carry on atleast enough diapers for our 20 hours of travel, etc. I know that over the next week things will change. I am certainly glad that we are not leaving this weekend.

Well, I am glad that the plot has been foiled, how tragic it would be if they would have been able to carry this out. I will try not to think about it, as if I do, it would terrify me beyond belief. I feel for those adopting parents/families who are traveling this weekend to Ethiopia or home from Ethiopia. I hope that you get home safely and quickly.

I have finished packing for the little guy. We are leaving in 10 days and I am victorious. I am impressed that I was able to fit 3 days worth of stuff into his diaper bag/backpack. I was worried about that–gotta love space bags. I made a list, and checked it twice and it is all packed. I am of course no where near being ready with our stuff, but that will come a little later. I am still trying to decide how much acutal luggage to take. I’m not sure how much stuff we will acquire and bring back with us. I guess as time gets closer I will figure it out. I don’t really want to travel with that much luggage as on the way back, even though we will check everything except for the diaper bag and small shoulder bag. It is just so hard to figure out. I guess I will have to see how much room I have left after I pack for hubby and myself. I am really trying not to worry and stress about everything but it is so hard.

Well, at least I know the little one will have everything that he needs–his parents. And we will have everything we need–our son.

Hard to believe that I am already at 100 posts. Wow. When I started this blog I was worried that I wouldn’t have anything really to say and certainly didn’t think anyone would really read it. Well here I am and there you are. I don’t know if there are 100 things about me, but lets try.

1. I will be 35 in 23 days.
2. I have PCOS
3. I was fat–not just heavy but fat
4. I have lost just over 50 lbs
5. I still need to lose 50-65 more lbs to be where I want to be
6. I want my boobs to be smaller
7. I miss riding my bike
8. I rode my first century on Sept 19th 2004
9. I didn’t ride my bike for 6 months after that
10. I can be really bitchy
11. I have never ever tried an illegal substance-ever.
12. I harbor bad feeling against my teenage students who get pregnant while I cannot.
13. I lost faith in the educational system in terms of the underprivledged this past year
14. I love to read
15. I use to read only romance novels–by the time I graduated high school I had read every book Danielle Steele had written.
16. I haven’t read a Danielle Steele book since.
17. I love mysteries.
18. I have a BA in English from the University of California–Santa Barbara
19. I am working on my MA in Englisht at the University of Missouri-St. Louis
20. I don’t work as hard in school as I should as I am fine with a B
21. We have 2 fish tanks
22. I don’t like fish tanks
23. We have 2 dogs that we found abandonded on a golf course
24. We have 3 cats
25. We are leaving in less than 2 weeks to pick up our first son from Ethiopia
26. We have a 52 inch wide screen TV
27. I love TV
28. I have been ignoring my Tivo
29. I love reality TV–I watch Big Brother
30. I enjoy learning new things
31. I did not know that the Nile flowed South to North
32. I never really thought about it
33. I didn’t pay that much attention in school
34. I still have all the notes my friends ever wrote me in high school
35. They make for really funny reading
36. I have been friends with my oldest friend since 1st grade–29 years of friendship wow
37. My husband is my best friend
38. I never wanted to get married
39. I never wanted to have kids
40. I met my husband and everything changed
41. I gained nearly 80lbs in the years after I met my husband
42. We got engaged on Feb 13th
43. It was completely “unromantic” but absolutely perfect
44. I knew he bought the ring
45. I’m a snooper
46. I am a bit if a flake
47. I have 2 brothers
48. I am the oldest
49. My brothers are two of my best friends
50. We are a close family
51. My parents divorced after 30 years of marriage
52. My mom was only 17 when she had me
53. I was at my parents wedding–I was still a fetus
54. I am a wine snob
55. I have experienced alcohol poisoning
56. I have a huge crush on Johnny Depp and have since 21 Jump Street
57. I have met the Dahli Lama
58. I was a waitress for 7 years
59. I can carry 14 salad plates at one time and not drop them
60. I can remember a drink order for a table of 12 and not write it down
61. I can remember a dinner order for a table of 6-8 depending.
62. I hate people who want special orders at restaurants
63. I firmly believe if you want or need something cooked a certain way you should stay home
64. I don’t drink White Zinfandel
65. I enjoy roller coasters
66. I hate house work
67. I am currently reading 3 books
68. I can’t remember the last book I finished–I just finished it less than 2 weeks ago
69. I have read well over 4000 books
70. I love books
71. I want to own a small bookstore/cafe in a small tourist town
72. I yawn when I am nervous
73. I like having a clean house
74. I have been to Europe twice
75. I have never been to Canada
76. I am bad at making decisions
77. I work out nearly everyday
78. I enjoy going to the gym
79. I use to play golf
80. I stopped playing because I suck at it.
81. I want to collect art
82. I don’t have enough money to collect art
83. I don’t go to weddings if I don’t think it will last
84. I have been right a number of times
85. I am not as confident as I pretend to be
86. I am an excellent cook
87. I drink more coffee than I should
88. I am not a good liar
89. I listen to country music
90. I lived in Southern California for 9 years and couldn’t wait to move back to the midwest.
91. I torn my ACL playing soccer under the influence and played 3 more games after I tore it
92. The surgery lasted nearly 12 hours when it should have only take 4-6
93. I had extensive cartilidge damage
94. I have not cartilidge left in that knee
95. I have a hole in the middle of that kneecap
96. I have arthritis in that knee
97. I have 2 tattoos
98. I like working on my house
99. I like writing
100. I want to be a novelist.

Okay, that wasn’t so painful. I don’t know if these 100 things are really worthy of being 100 things, but there you have it. There is a lot more I could have written, but somethings are better kept private. This is something that I have learned over the years. I use to tell everything. I’m learning.

For our impeding departure are in full swing. I did some shopping yesterday and got some essentials–a big suitcase. We are carry-on only travelers usually. I was hoping to be able to do that for this trip–but with all the supplies that we ned for the little one that is just impossible, so I had to buy a big suitcase. Kohl’s was having a great sale so I got a $339 suitcase for $99–totally sweet deal. I also picked up the required video camera–we don’t have one and I’m glad as I really like the new technology and we would eventually have to upgrade to what we have now anyway. I love the camera and it was a pretty good deal–as I didn’t have to pay sales tax on it. This weekend was our tax-free shopping holiday for back to school–awesome again. I also bought a 1 gig compact flash card for my digital camera. I wanted a new digital camera but that will have to wait–I thought a video camera was more important as I really am jealous of those who have home movies of when they were kids. That and I look forward to making movies and mailing them to so much of our family that lives out of town–this way we can share the baby’s growth and moments with his grandparents and uncle’s that live out of town.

I am going to start my packing list in earnest today. I have to figure out what is going in carryon luggage and what is going in checked luggage and how I will manage everything, etc. It is stressful but very exciting. It will all be fine I am sure…Okay I want to be sure, but I can’t be yet. Once we are safely off the plane in Addis and at our hotel, I might then think that everything is fine.

One a different note, it seems that I have landed myself a job as a blogger. I will be blogging about fertility issues. This is something important to me because it is something that hubby and I have struggled with ad nauseum. I am happy to have a job–making a little “pocket money” do people say that any more? Pocket money. That seems a little old fashioned. It is great. I can make a little money and work form home and add to my resume as a professional paid to writer–writer. That is what is exciting for me. Once my new blog is up and running I will post here and let you all know–just incase you are curious.

Well, I have to walk the dogs and make packing lists and clean the bedroom. Fun isn’t it and glamorous this life of a stay at home mom.

I am hoping that MP over at Thebusforus has made it to Addis okay with her husband and that there little wee one is happily in their arms forever. It is joyous when families are united and I am still amazed that it is possible to create families. The miracle of life and adoption.