A Classic good time

Tonight Eammon and I dined with 32 local people who have LIDs between April and September 2006. We all met at Classic Gourmetand dined on sushi, oysters, shrimp, crab legs, soups and desserts as well as Chinese, Korean and American foods. We all chatted about our upcoming adoptions, comparing notes and stories. Check out my blogging buddies who were also there, Bonnie, Clyde & Bubba Jr, Cindy & Jimmy and Daphne & Greg. This is the 2nd gathering of this group and we are all looking forward to our next monthly get together. Hopefully at the October get together it won't be just Bonnie & Clyde with their referral but a few other families should have their referrals too!! The evening was a lot of fun and really makes the long wait to referral much more enjoyable. Can't wait to see everyone in October!

It's just so me!

Now that the four very sweaty and slightly malodorous men have left me to my comfy cool home, I decided to venture out to the mailbox. There I found not only a few more lovely pieces of fabric and wonderful wishes, but also a prezzie for me!!! My August dtc pal sent *me* (even though it says "The Shanahan's") this absolutely precious little dish with a ladybug on it. This months theme was ladybugs...Isn't it just fab! I love items that are unique and individual. Thanks my August pal!

Out with the old...

Today I spent my day watching and listening as four strange men traipsed through my home banging, cutting and doing who knows what, as they replaced all three of our 18 yr. old a/c systems with brand spanking new ones. In addition to the new systems, they added four additional returns (hence the cutting), replaced four registers with new ones that should help improve airflow and added three fancy new electronic, programmable thermostats. During their long hours in the attic and crawl spaces, they managed to knock out our satellite but luckily for them they quickly remedied that situation. I feel sort of bad for these guys but I guess it could have been worse. It is only 85F today so not as hot as it has been, but I can only imagine how hot it was up in the attic.


I am hoping that this will be our last major expense for a very long time as this wasn't the way I had planned on spending my last few pennies (need more adorable pink baby outfits) before the arrival of Baby S. But at least she will be one cool, comfortable little baby once she's finally here.

One HOT baby!!

Back in May, I found the perfect baby food for little Funshine. Now for Rod & Mary-Mia, the salsa loving parents-to-be, I've found Funshine the perfect Halloween costume.

Sometimes I hate...

Yes, it is true...sometimes I hate the USPS. They did surprise me by being extremely efficient with all my dossier documents, they deliver to my mailbox fabric squares and wishes multiple times a week, they bring me wonderful gifts from my secret pal, and they even make sure that my bills are delivered on time. So why you may ask, do I hate them now? Well, it's when I pay extra for special services, and they just don't come through.

Here's the situation. I am somewhat compulsive about tracking packages that I mail as I want to make sure that they arrive. Well I tracked one such package, and this is what USPS.com is telling me:

DELIVERY STATUS:
Label/Receipt Number: 0303 1290 0001 3790 XXXX

Status: Notice Left
We attempted to deliver your item at 12:00 pm on September 19, 2005 in LYNN, MA 01902 and a notice was left. It can be redelivered or picked up at the Post Office. If the item is unclaimed, it will be returned to the sender. Information, if available, is updated every evening. Please check again later.

You're thinking to yourself, so Lisa what's wrong with that? Well the problem is, I know for a fact that this package was delivered and received by the recipient on Friday, September 16. Now how and why would they leave a notice three days after the package was already delivered??? Why do I pay this extra money to track packages, when the information provided to me is worthless??

Whinge, whinge, whinge...

July Dragonfly Secret Pal

In a previous post I mentioned that I had been out shopping for my secret pals, which was a lot of fun. But even more fun was today when I received a wonderful package from my July dtc group secret pal. She sent a wonderful book on parenting that I haven't read yet. As soon as I opened the package, I had to start on it and I can't wait to read more. The book is extremely interesting and if you don't have the book, I can already recommend that you add it to your reading list. She also sent a red thread bookmark with ladybugs. What a perfect gift for a reader like myself. In addition she included a gift card to The Cheesecake Factory where I can get one of my all time favorite lunches, consisting of The Incredible Grilled Eggplant Sandwich. This months theme was something for Mom, and she definitely has me figured out and is spoiling me and I love it! I hope that my secret pals enjoy their gifts as much as I love mine! Thanks my dragonfly pal!

Six years ago...

Six years ago yesterday, Hurricane Floyd threatened the eastern seaboard of the U.S. Up until that date, Floyd was one of the biggest storms ever measured. With winds over 60 miles per hour in a space 600 miles in diameter, bigger than the state of Texas. Hurricane Floyd caused Disney World in Orlando Florida to have its first unscheduled closure ever.

So where were we on that Wednesday? Well in Orlando of course, trying to get ready for our wedding the following day. Eammon's brother & SIL, Tim & Jenny had arrived from England on Tuesday and my parents arrived early Wednesday before the mandatory shut down of all businesses at noon. Eammon and I ran out to the grocery and along with thousands of other tourists and residents we stocked up on all the essentials; ice cream, chips, cookies, brownies, beer & chocolate, just in case we couldn't get out of our condo for a few days. Fortunately Eammon and I were in a lovely condo so Wednesday night while the storm knocked at our windows the six of us enjoyed a fresh cooked dinner. So there it was, the night before our wedding and my parents were meeting not only some of Eammon's family but they were meeting Eammon for the first time! It was a good night though as we celebrated my Mom's birthday with a delicious chocolate cream pie and everyone saw that Eammon and I were very much in love and a good match for one another.

The day of our wedding was glorious with bright sun and a cloud free sky. We received a phone call from England a group of Eammon's friends had planned on flying over to surprise us by showing up at the wedding. Unfortunately all flights into the Orlando area had been cancelled, so they weren't able to come. Eammon and I spent a quiet day at the pool, we met with the notary who would be marrying us and we found the lake side spot where we would hold the ceremony.

On the afternoon of Thursday, September 16, 1999, Eammon and I were married.

Because of the storm we weren't able to get a cake, so after the ceremony we all shared in the cutting of a giant decorated chocolate chip cookie. Later that evening my parents took all of us out for a great dinner.

All in all, it was a really good day. Now it's six years later and we are looking forward to not only many more years together but the arrival of our daughter... How exciting our future together will be!

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

I know that the pictures aren't great, as they are pictures of pictures, but you get the idea!)

One month down, 5 to go...hopefully

Saturday marked the one month anniversary of our dossier being logged in at CCAA. I am keeping my fingers crossed that in 5 months, we will be holding a picture of our daughter. I have been a little disheartened in reading that some people who received their referrals in the past week or two, have not been able to get consulate appointments until November. What this means is that once they receive their referral, they have to wait an additional 8 weeks or more until they can travel to their child. I hope that the U.S Consulate in Guangzhou speeds up somewhat, now that the move to their new location is complete.

So, how am I passing the time? I have been trying to keep busy, busy, busy. Thursday night I had my book club meeting where we discussed both The Color of Water and Doctors from Hell. Then I came home, and since I have been having a major bout of insomnia, I read our next book selection, The Secret Life of Bees. By the time our October meeting rolls around, I'll have forgotten what I read! Friday I attended a delightful luncheon at my friend Barb's home. It was a glorious day and we were able to lunch on the lanai, sharing stories, recipes and laughs. Friday night I went to Aspen's for dinner with the ladies group from my old neighborhood. It was good to visit with them, as now that we've moved, I see most of them very infrequently.

Saturday I met with fellow adoptive Moms, Cindy, Jill & Sonia where we lunched at The Fickle Pickle and then shopped at Little Shop of Samples where Sonia found an adorable outfit for her daughter. Saturday night, to continue with my weekend of food, my subdivision held a Mexican Fiesta night at the pool, where they brought in a frozen Margarita machine and catered food. It was fun meeting and conversating with our neighbors. Sunday we were scheduled to have a BBQ, but luckily it was cancelled and I was able to go shopping for prezzies for my secret pals. I have 2 secret pals to whom I send gifts monthly, up until about the time of our referrals. For my July DTC pal I was shopping with a "something for Mom" theme in mind and for my August DTC pal, the theme was "ladybugs". I found some wonderful items, but I can't tell you what they are, as my pals may read my blog! But, I hope that they like what I found, as I would love to have all the items that I purchased.

This week I plan to continue working on the nursery. I need to go to Home Depot to get the supplies to make a cornice board, and also pick up some curtain rods. I may even pull out the sewing machine and make the curtains. At lunch on Saturday, Sonia shared her daughter's wish book with us, it is spectacular and it has inspired me to get started on Baby S's book so I plan to work on that this week too. I also need to cut some fabric and get some wishes made for the August DTC swap, in which I am participating. I have to order The Pilots Wife for my November book club meeting, and I have already read The Kite Runner, our January book. I have 2 doctor appointments scheduled for this week, and just waiting for them, since they both tend to run extremely late, will kill 2 days. I have to do some research on air conditioner units and schedule some companies to come give us estimates, as all 3 of our compressors need to be replaced before the end of the year!! Friday is our Anniversary and we have planned a quiet weekend of together time. Maybe though, over the weekend Eammon and I will attempt to assemble the crib, then again we do have 5 months.

Working on the nursery.

Now that it is official and have our LID, my attention has turned to the all important...Decorating the nursery. In my mind the room is lovely and fun but as of yet, I have nothing set-up. The crib still waits to be assembled and the items that I do have are just placed in the room. Here are the things that I have thus far for Baby S's room.


Side table, for when I eventually get a chair in the room.


Matching book holder (see the book in there from my July DTC Secret Pal!)


Just a few, "small" stuffed animals


Table & Chairs, which will probably be used in the family room.
Giraffe shelf for the nursery.



Funky little night light lamp


Last but not least, the bedding!