What I did on my summer vacation

I'm calling it a vacation even if it was really only a two-day road trip. That clarification out of the way, I will tell you what I did.

I went home. To my first home.

Previously I’d mentioned that the infants home were I was born was undergoing a re-purposing, turning it into a senior living complex. The pictures that had been available in the Internet disappeared. The more I thought about it, the more I was concerned that I wouldn't have any pictures for my lifebook; I was concerned the renovations had changed the building too drastically.

Finally, I decide to drive up there and look at the place in person. I wanted to see where I was born, baptized, and taken care of for the first few months of my life. It was a fast trip but I did see everything I wanted to, take some pictures, and got a feel for the place.

I don't say it enough, but I am so thankful of everyone in my family and of everyone who made my life possible. While in the Basilica, I lit candles in memory of my parents, my birth parents, and those people who cared for me while I was in residence.

I said a few prayers and lit a few more candles for my little Beach Baby and all of the people who will be in her life before me. I lit another for my friends who are waiting for their own children. I lit many, many candles. Oddly enough, I just realized I didn't light a candle for myself. Maybe I am hoping someone out there is lighting that candle for me.

That is what I did on my summer vacation.

m

How to embarass a puppy

Practice baby, meet practice diaper.

m

Progress Update

June, 2008 statistics:

The CCAA has reviewed all the dossiers that were submitted on or before January 31, 2007.

The CCAA has matched families and given referrals to prospective adoptive parents whose dossiers were submitted on or before January 20, 2006.


The wait is now approximately 28-29 months.


My dossier submittal date: August 10, 2006.


m

An ugly truth

Two weeks with the new puppy and I'm beginning to get a view of how I'm going to look once Beach Baby comes home.


Let me tell you, it isn't pretty.


While I never imagined I'd be some Donna Reed-esque mommy with coiffured hair vacuuming in pearls, I did think I would look, well, human.


The sad fact: I look like road kill.

Poor Beach Baby, she's going to be sooo embarrassed!

m

Practice baby

Aka, a new puppy!

This is Fergus, our new 10-week old Scottish terrier pup. One of my neighbors called him "excellent practice for a baby!"

I'm sure Beach Baby will love having a dog; the cats, not quite as happy.

m

I promised pictures

These are the cats, Thing One and Thing Two (their names have been changed to protect the innocent).

Thing One is the blue point Siamese and she's 21 years old. Really. Thing Two, the chocolate point Siamese, is 10. She's looks a bit evil here but it's because she doesn't enjoy being photographed.

Siamese cats are very vocal; Beach Baby can have lovely conversations with them. And they are very territorial. Soon "their" bedroom will be turned into a nursery. I don't think that's going to go over so well.

I expect complaints.

m

Smile, it's Mother's Day

I don't celebrate Mother's Day at the moment.

I 'm a waiting mother-to-be, without my child. I expect the same next Mother's Day.

I'm a child without a mother as well. I get little comfort spending the day the cemetery. My parents have been gone since 1999 (Dad) and 2001 (Mom) and I will admit these holidays are still tough.

So on Mother's Day and Father's Day, I try to find activities that keep me away from the whole happy, shiny, Hallmark moments. Today, I spent the afternoon cruising the antique malls. The only reminders of Mom were some of those fugly 1960s mixing bowls I remember from our old house. That made me smile.

So for those of you who do celebrate, I hope your day was joyful, and for those of you waiting to become a mom, I hope next year will see a wonderful change!

m