Here Comes the Sun

Why I Missed The Missed Field Goal

2012-01-28T09:40:00.003-05:00

All that cuteness was a major distraction.

He was zonked after all of the excitement. S U P E R B O W L !

Not Quite The Reaction I Expected

2012-01-21T21:17:00.005-05:00

Last winter, Keni was not yet walking and wasn't able to frolic in the snow. This year, we haven't really had any snow and the boots I bought for him have been chillin' on our mud mat with the tags still on...until today!

It started to snow this morning and fell lightly throughout the day. We only ended up with about 2 or 3 inches. That's enough for frolicking, right?

He's such a silly and energetic little fella, I imagined that we were going to be covered in snow while running around, throwing snowballs and furiously sweeping our arms and legs back and forth making our very first mother and son snow angels.

Um....

Not so much.

He froze when I put him down on the snow. I am not sure if he was just taking it all in or if the snowsuit and boots were not feeling quite right on his body or if he was literally freezing, but he just stood there and barely moved...the entire time. He did fall over at one point and then was frozen like a statue on his butt.

The only time he seemed to express anything was when his mitten came off. I am not sure how that happened since he wasn't really moving. Oh well. We'll see how it goes next time.

P.S. Thank you, Jill, for the hand-me-down snowsuit. Even though it's pretty big on him, it's so warm and so cute!

Button Art

2012-01-16T21:25:00.003-05:00

When we moved our desk and vinyl into the front room and transformed that empty space into Keni's bedroom, we left some of the walls blank. I enjoy taking my time when it comes to putting up photos, curtains, art and things that I find visually interesting. I am an interior design stick-in-the-mud.

For a long time, I have been wanting a map of the world or a map of Africa in his room so that we can regularly discuss and honor his beautiful birthplace.

I came across a few cool pieces and ideas, but I am now leaning toward making a map of the world happen when he is a bit older and we embark on a redesign to make it more "big boy" than baby.

Feeling a bit out of the crafty loop, I decided to experiment with buttons and see if I could create a shape that could pass as the continent of Africa. Although I didn't completely nail the dimensions, I am pleased with the results. Keni LOVES my silly little creation and it only cost $14.38 to make.

I put it up in his room this evening and he keeps pointing to it, exclaiming "Akika". Success.

Buddies

2012-01-08T11:11:00.009-05:00

Recently we had the chance to spend time with friends who are currently living abroad and friends who live around the corner. Getting us all together is quite a rare event - not only is it geographically challenging, but we are all so busy with our families/jobs/commitments plus some very uncool germs were going around. Proud of ourselves for coming up with a way to make it happen, we just had to document it.

It was incredible to see Grif and Keni interact with each other. They are only one month apart and got along famously. Grif made Keni an ice cream cone (how very sweet - btw it was a toy). Keni helped Grif with taking off his socks. They pushed each other around the condo on a wagon. What an adorable duo. I can't wait to see them hang more when Grif finishes this leg of his world tour.

On the West Coast, Keni's cousins were very excited to send him a photo of a tree that they saw at a park in San Jose. They are such thoughtful little ladies. "Keni's tree!"

We miss you girls!

Clean Slate

2012-01-01T11:41:00.003-05:00

1 early dinner at Not Your Average Joe's
+ 1 gold metallic top hat
+ 1 bag of blowouts
+ 1 bottle of Luigi Borsca malbec
+ 1 Twilight Zone marathon

=1 very happy New Year's Eve celebration

While I don't have any resolutions, I do have a theme for 2012. The word is purge. Mike and I have talked about getting rid of a bunch of stuff this year. Hopefully we will really make a dent in the clutter that has accumulated. I am also going to continue to work on eliminating negative thinking and try to focus on positive things. Although Mike wants to purge cheese (how could he do such a thing to this family?), I am going to try to get him to purge cholesterol instead so that we can all enjoy healthier meals in 2012.

I wish you all the hope and optimism that comes with a new year and new possibilities. Bring it, 2012!

Beauty Out of Chaos

2011-12-26T15:34:00.006-05:00

Let's face it, there is an obvious dichotomy to the holiday season. Black Friday customers are being tasered and grandpas are being arrested for shoplifting. The consumers are irritable and the traffic is a bear. My commute for the past three weeks has been awful. I have to drive by three malls to get home.

Even though it's a joyful time and we get to celebrate with family and friends, it's also a tough time for those who have lost loved ones. The memories may be laced with humor and nostalgia, but it's still hard to have empty chairs at the dinner table.

I must accept that our holiday season has become even more hectic since the arrival of our son. Besides the obvious changes that go along with the holidays and having a child, we now have a number of significant milestones to celebrate and a few just happen to fall in November and December. I have decided that I will just have to power through these months and sleep in January.

My brother, his wife and three girls bravely took a red-eye out here to celebrate Christmas and we had the chance to meet their baby girl for the first time. In turn, they got to meet our little bubs and Zoebug for the first time. We also found a way to throw a surprise party for our mom's bday and retirement while everyone was in town.

It's been a whirlwind over the past seven weeks, but totally worth it.

Merry Christmas!

O Toddler Friendly Christmas Tree

2011-12-17T10:42:00.003-05:00

Here's to the myriad small changes that we continue to embrace as parents.

I used to think table top trees were for boutiques and nursing homes.

Loving our little fir and the fact that we are not spending every other minute redirecting behavior.

Celebration #3

2011-12-13T21:21:00.003-05:00

Mr. Nisa is getting comfortable (perhaps a bit too?) with the spotlight, opening gifts and stuffing his face with cake.

I think he's ready for Christmas. Are we?

Mr. Nisa is 2

2011-12-07T21:59:00.005-05:00

Thank you to Aunt Kelly, Uncle Mike, Tyler and Hailey for a special birthday surprise!

Celebrating at home with us and some gifts from some very thoughtful peeps:

This cool train set is not in our home, but at a great family restaurant in Cambridge called Full Moon. We will definitely retun to that spot!

This past weekend, we were up in Saratoga celebrating the holidays with Mike's family. Keni loved seeing everyone and was not at all stingy with his hugs and kisses. He enjoyed hanging with a new furry friend:

I can't believe our boy is 2! Seriously...where did 2011 go?

Sweet, Savory and Simple

2011-11-27T21:04:00.008-05:00

Those three words describe our long holiday weekend. We spent Thanksgiving with my parents and it was incredibly low-key and relaxing. The spread was delicious (Keni was a huge fan of the butternut squash and pumpkin pie) and we just hung out and played with our silly boy. We ended the evening with "The King's Speech" (really good!) and everyone was asleep by 11pm.

On Friday, we met up with Kathy, Geoff and Luke in Sturbridge (kind of the halfway point between our Turkey Day gatherings) and the weather could not have been better. Keni had the chance to meet my best friend and it was such a special visit. It was another low-key and relaxing day thanks to having children who are able to roll with it. Both Luke and Keni seemed to enjoy themselves and gave us adults the chance to catch up a bit. Car ride = nap = happy and flexible child.

On Saturday, another Cathy came over for lunch and a trip to the park. Keni was fascinated by her hair and the NBA logo on her shirt. We enjoyed some veggie tacos (I tried making them with fake meat and they were really yummy) and then kicked back at the playground while the wee one played in the sand and the leaves.

I didn't have my camera with me at all times (shocking, I know)...but here are a few shots from the holiday.

And here are a few shots from our meetup with the D family.

On a completely different note, November is Adoption Awareness Month. I feel a bit behind since it is almost the end of the month and I haven't posted anything about this! It's not that I haven't been thinking about it and reading other people's reflections throughout the month. I guess I've just been having a tough time putting my thoughts into words. Then I came across this post and realized that Alissa very eloquently summed up my thoughts. I know it's the easy way out, but she's a much better writer than me. Enjoy!

I'm In!

2011-11-20T20:18:00.004-05:00

I am officially in the sisterhood of moms whose children have thrown a colossal tantrum in public. It's not like we haven't had close calls before...I've been hazed for months. Today was initiation day and I definitely feel like I've been paddled.

It was ugly. The scene of the secret ceremony? Barnes & Noble.

On a different note, here are some photos from the tree lighting celebration yesterday at Faneuil Hall Marketplace.

Life is Goof

2011-11-14T21:08:00.004-05:00

I have a love/hate relationship with the autocorrect feature on my iPad. Sometimes, it can totally read my mind and express what I really wanted to type so that I don't look like a complete fool. Other times, it makes me look like I don't know how to construct a grammatically correct sentence. Then there are those rare occasions where it produces something unexpected, yet perfect.

Yes, HAL, life is goof.

Ahh...don't you just love the fall

and bloody marys

and mellow kidlets at brunch

and bare feet with jeans

and tummy time

and playing with a new toy

and Super Why

and running around

and sliding?

Life can be pretty goof sometimes.

Let's All Come and Play

2011-11-07T20:36:00.006-05:00

What an amazing mama - she made three different flavored cakes

The happy and best dressed birthday girl

Mutual flirting

Asking for more of the chocolate Toodee cake

We are not alone

Yo!

Happy 1st Birthday, Madeleine!!!

Bye Bye, Big Hair (for now)

2011-11-05T08:36:00.007-04:00

I love the look of Keni's hair when it's long - after his bath, the curls look like corkscrews. When he wakes up in the morning, it can be bigger than ever or totally flat on one side. It's awesome. I am more attached to his hair than my own. I freely chop my hair off all the time, but making the decision to cut his was not easy. I. Love. His. Hair.

I was reluctant, but we decided that the time had come for a little trim. We agreed to make his 'do a bit more manageable. Mike nominated me to do the deed.

There were some tears when the scissors came into contact with his locks, but not from Keni - from Mama. I can't believe how fast he is growing up. He looks like such a big boy with his new haircut!

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T21:08:00.005-04:00

Keni is too young for trick-or-treating, but old enough to stop by one house as a warm up for next year! We went over to say hi to Holli and Joe and were welcomed with Dum Dum pops, Tootsie Rolls and Post Road Pumpkin Ale. Yum! Keni tasted his very first lollipop and you should have seen the grin on his face. Considering I didn't plan very well for the holiday this year, things turned out better than I could have hoped. I look forward to many years of trick-or-treating in the neighborhood with these friends (another part of that package to which I was referring in the last post).

Hope you all had a safe and Happy Halloween!

Choices

2011-10-29T16:48:00.006-04:00

While Mike and I enjoyed a tasty dinner last night at a little bistro which seats no more than 20, we reminisced about the choices we have made which have resulted in this precise moment, today. The fact that the two of us were sitting in that bistro, enjoying a romantic evening while our beautiful son was spending time cuddling with and kissing his grandparents felt very real and very right.

For as long as I can remember, my mom has said "Bean, life is all about choices." Well, ain't that the truth! The sum of all my choices thus far has me feeling very grateful.

If I had never gone to lunch with a lady who had just moved to the Boston area with her fiance, I would not have such an amazing friend who stood beside me on my wedding day and remains one of my closest confidants.

If we didn't take the chance on buying our first home in RI, I would not have the fulfilling career that I have today. Also, we would never own this great place which allows us to live so close to family.

If I hadn't gone into that consignment boutique to inquire about a second job, I would not have met such a strong and funny woman who has been there for me during the adoption journey and more (miss our regular meals out!).

There are so many examples of the decisions that I have made which have resulted in some pretty fantastic stuff. Now I would be remiss if I was painting a picture filled with sunshine and moonbeams. Life is certainly not always easy and we all have our struggles. It's completely satisfying to see what a struggle can lead to...

Mike and I had many decisions to make when it came to growing our family. If we had chosen to do things differently, I never would have had such a meaningful visit with a new friend and her daughter at our home last weekend. I am thankful for all of the bonus items that are included in this package.

Can't Find Time to Write Anything Other Than Captions

2011-10-20T22:18:00.008-04:00

View from my room at Caesar's Palace

Enjoying time at the park with Auntie Kelly

One handsome family

Hammin' it up with his Godparents

"Nana"

Mike's funny b-day gift from Kelly
Keni points to the blond woman on the right and exclaims "Mama!"

Chelsea Earnest Memorial Playground in Provincetown, MA

I have no words

Beautiful Day

2011-10-09T22:11:00.002-04:00

Today, Keni received the Sacrament of Baptism. More photos of this special day are coming soon. I couldn't wait to share a few. I picked up this outfit while we were in Ethiopia with this important day in mind.

Memory Lane

2011-10-02T13:14:00.003-04:00

Last year, on this day, at this time, we were sitting in Dulles Airport with about six hours to kill. Mike was not pleased with my decision to book us on such an early flight to DC since our flight to Addis didn't leave until 8:30pm. I was overly paranoid about missing that ONE daily flight on Ethiopian Airlines, so I made sure that we had a nice safety net. I didn't want ANY excuses for missing the chance to get over there and meet this little comedian:

When I Grow Up, I Want To Be A ________ (fill in the blank)

2011-09-25T17:24:00.003-04:00

When I think about Keni as an independent, mature, and (fingers crossed) gainfully employed adult, I wonder what he'll be like. What will his interests be? What will he do to earn a living? What is going to motivate him to get out of bed in the morning?

When we first met him, he loved lying on his back and tinkering with things. He would frequently roll under our Ikea Poang chair and get lost in the design of the underside. We thought "he's definitely going to be a mechanic when he grows up". That was a relatively short-lived phase and he moved on to the next obsession, buttons. He is a big fan of pushing buttons on all of our electronics. Perhaps he will be an air traffic controller or a film editor.

He is awfully dramatic, though. He can turn big tears on and off at the drop of a hat. This ability may suit him well in front of the camera as opposed to behind the scenes.

Also, he loves animals. He gets really excited when we look at photos of both wild and domesticated creatures and he is not afraid to pet a dog or kitty that he just met. Future pet groomer? Zookeeper? Dog Whisperer?

The boy loves firetrucks. Actually, I should open it up to any vehicle that has a siren. Maybe he'll be a fireman, an EMT or even a cop.

Anyone have any idea what a fondness for ceiling fans might lead one to pursue?

When I was a wee one, I had dreams of being a teacher, a professional figure skater, and a veterinarian (among other occupations). Who knows what the labor market will look like when Keni is 20, 30 and 50. When I was five, we didn't have User Experience Managers or Cloud Sherpas (heck, when I was 25, we didn't either).

Maybe, he'll end up like me and never really figure out the color of his parachute.

Future locksmith?

The Man is Forty

2011-09-17T19:39:00.006-04:00

Today, Mike hit a major milestone and turned the big 4-0. I have heard that many men have a bit of a hard time with this particular birthday. So far, my man has taken it all in stride.*

As many of you already know, we have a tradition in our home where we not only celebrate a birthDAY, but we totally milk it for an entire week. We very cleverly call it "Birthday Week".

Over the past seven days, I have been surprising Mike with little gifts each evening. One day he received a copy of "The French Connection" which won the Oscar for Best Picture in 1971. I also gave him the book "The Exorcist" which was number one on the New York Times bestseller list the week he was born. Other fun activities included a Mexican dinner out, a Thai dinner in, and a Sox game (they won, woohoo!). My favorite part of Birthday Week was showing him a little video that was created by some of his closest friends and family who sent me their wishes via the world wide web. He was laughing out loud and tearing up when I played him the mishmash of love that our zany compadres submitted.

After that, we met up with some folks for a relaxing dinner and my hubby wanted to share some of this thoughts with the group. He said a lot of heartfelt and sweet things and he thanked me for pushing hard to pursue the adoption of Keni. I am so proud of the man and father that he is. He and our son have an incredibly tight and beautiful relationship. I could not have wished for that to turn out any better than it has.

Ok...getting too sappy over here....

Birthday Week would not have been complete without a trip to his favorite restaurant. Today we went to lunch at Not Your Average Joe's and he had his birthday entree (no payola here - the restaurant will give you a free meal on your bday if you sign up for their email list).

We will finish up the week tomorrow at my parents' house with another great meal and cake. Sadly, he will have to sit through not one, but TWO games on the flat screen.

Fortunately, he knows where to find a burgundy throw blanket so he can curl up and catch some zzz's while the rest of us stress over overpaid athletes.

Happy Birthday, my love!

*I think. I haven't seen any Axe body spray hidden behind the Tom's deodorant.

Little Feet

2011-09-09T18:48:00.000-04:00

Time To Play

2011-09-07T21:07:00.003-04:00

I was really proud of myself for a few days there. I thought I was finally falling into a rhythm with the bloggy blog. I'm back to being super busy and too exhausted to write. I will try to do better. In the meantime, enjoy my photo posts.

P.S. Keni started walking and I really wanted to make a big deal about it, but that kid is way too aware of the camera and I haven't been able to capture any sweet footage. I'm still working on it. Stay tuned...

Favorite Things

2011-08-26T18:50:00.032-04:00

Recently, I was clicking through various links and came upon this post. Laika's beautiful photos inspired me to document some of Keni's favorite things at 20 months. It's nice to see that my boy isn't the only one who fancies remote controls and Sleep Giraffe!

In My Life

2011-08-24T08:01:00.004-04:00

August 23, 2002

What I Learned On My Summer Vacation (Part II)

2011-08-21T16:19:00.009-04:00

We just returned from a wonderful week on the Cape with the fam. Although I definitely learned some new things on this trip (1. pack a rubber mallet in your beach bag to secure the umbrella nicely in the sand; 2. avoid route 6 east when it's parade day at Carnival in P-Town, etc.), the main lesson I took away is that the word "vacation" is really a misnomer for what we experienced over the past 7 days.

Don't get me wrong! My parents helped out tremendously (as always) and we enjoyed ourselves thoroughly. It's just that battling a toddler's tenacious will over endless inconsequential interactions is a lot of work. In my mind, a week of crappy sleep patterns, a major shift in appetite, obsession over ceiling fans, and academy award winning tantrums (complete with screaming, throwing toys and hurling one's body on the floor - trifecta!) does not equal "a period of time devoted to pleasure, rest, or relaxation".

Gone are the days of sleeping in, summer beach reading, tennis matches, spontaneous miniature golf outings, and general lounging. It's a new world order and on rainy vacation days, I will now stand in line at the Cape Cod Children's Museum mentally and physically prepared to navigate through some very rough terrain called the cycle of want and I will bring two very capable adults as back-up.

How was your summer vacation?

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

A First

2011-08-12T22:57:00.003-04:00

Here is the first piece of artwork to be sent home from daycare:

Created on 8.11.11

What I Learned on My Summer Vacation (Part I)

2011-08-09T19:38:00.011-04:00

Mike, Keni and I took a quick trip to Lancaster, PA, this past weekend. The reason for our little getaway was to reunite with Group 97, our adoption group that spent about two weeks together in Ethiopia in October and November of 2010. I had been looking forward to this trip for months. We booked our hotel back in April and my plan was to chill, swim, hug the amazing kids who have made our lives complete, and reconnect with people who hold a very special place in my heart.

As we closed in on our departure date, I started to experience intense feelings. These feelings were all too familiar and I'm pretty sure they were the same ones I encountered back in the fall when we embarked on this journey to parenthood and the Horn of Africa.

Each time I meet up with these people, I guess I'm meant to learn something because that seems to be the trend. Here's the rundown of some little things I took away from this weekend's trip:

1. Soy should be consumed in reasonable amounts.

2. The "m" on the steering wheel of a Ford Focus does not stand for "mirror". We figured this out as we desperately searched our rental for the controls to adjust the mirror settings. After a good amount of trial and error, we finally discovered, it stands for "music".

3. Amish Four Grain Pale Ale is a tasty brew!

4. Nick and Nicole have mad style. I knew all along that they were both creative and thoughtful people, but my suspicions were confirmed when I saw their amazing home. A row house built in 1913, the structure itself is oozing charm and character. Match that with their eclectic taste and amazing eye for beautiful and interesting pieces and you have a warm and inviting home that screams Nick, Nicole and Dangiso. I love how they seem to not buy anything new (maybe they do, but I didn't see too much evidence of that) and that almost everything looks antique or re-purposed. I bet if I forced Nicole to tell me about each painting or piece of furniture, there would be a story. I love when homes have that much soul.

5. Missing naps = falling apart (pretty much knew this one before the trip, but it was reinforced on Saturday as Keni proceeded to totally freak out and do his ear piercing scream while the other kids romped around and played in harmony).

6. Our GPS reminded me that it's important to "Think For Yourself" and stop relying so much on technology. Do what you want to do, and go where you're going to. Think for yourself 'cause I (GPS) won't be there with you.

7. Every time I make some type of proclamation about my child, the kid proves me a liar within 24 hours. "Keni sleeps until 7:30." The next morning, he's up at 5:30. "He loves all kinds of foods." At dinner, he's throwing everything I try to feed him on the floor. Now that I've put this statement out into the universe, he will either become completely consistent or he'll go and change the timeline on his contradictory behavior.

8. I am not alone. My insane, emotional feelings that I was trying to manage were shared. It's good to know that there are other ladies out there who are on the same roller coaster and who understand the crazy that goes hand in hand with the onset of uncorked emotion.

9. Dads need to vent, too. With all of the mommy blogging, bitching and commiserating that goes on all over the world wide web, I sometimes forget that dads need to talk to people (other than their wives), too. The guys met up for an evening of swapping stories over some cocktails and I'm so glad that they had the chance to air their opinions, challenges and successes to an empathetic audience.

10. I don't give myself enough credit. (Thank you, Kim, for the gentle reminder. xo)

Our Beautiful, Ethiopian-American Family

Until next year, my friends...

The Perfect Summer Day

2011-07-31T18:39:00.003-04:00

Keni's first official trip to the beach!

Upswingin'

2011-07-27T19:14:00.005-04:00

What's really awesome about life is its unpredictability - its twists, turns, highs and lows. What really sucks about life is its unpredictability - its twists, turns, highs and lows.

Often I find myself sharing the tough stuff on this blog because typing it out helps me to process.

However, right now I am feeling really good about many things. There is much to celebrate! People I love just experienced the joy of having their first child and, quite honestly, it could not have gone better.

Zoe Ellen Scott was born this past Sunday, July 24th at 12:33pm and was a healthy 7lbs 7.5oz at birth.

Molly and Zack are doing remarkably well. This whole parenting thing suits them both perfectly. They are naturals!

It has been very challenging to be so far away from my other nieces and nephew, so I am looking forward to being a hands-on, local aunt!

Life is good. Welcome to the family, sweet Zoebug! We love you.

Your Mama Dances and Your Daddy Rocks and Rolls

2011-07-22T20:47:00.004-04:00

Back on March 2nd when it was 40 degrees in Boston, we found this out:

MÖTLEY CRÜE TO HEADLINE SUMMER TOUR WITH SUPPORT FROM POISON AND SPECIAL GUESTS NEW YORK DOLLS

SUMMER’S BIGGEST ROCK TOUR KICKS OFF JUNE 7TH IN DALLAS; TICKETS ON SALE STARTING MARCH 11TH

The flurry of emails began and tickets were purchased. On July 19th, it was time to don our snakeskin pants, grab a bottle of Jack Daniels and hatch a plan to get backstage. "Moms Gone Wild!"

Sadly, the most metal thing I have in my possession is a spatula and my closet is way more LOFT than Hot Topic.

Regardless, we kissed our babies goodnight and piled into a white stretch limo, ready for a night of debauchery. (cue the sign of the horns and an ear-piercing high-pitched metal scream)

Within 15 minutes and before we even got to Route 93, we realized that we looked like we were on our way to Tanglewood instead of the Crue concert. The limo was filled with brie, cherries, jam, baguettes, hummus, red wine, organic popcorn, bottles of spring water and champagne. Drinking from glasses rather than each other's navels, and knowing that there wouldn't be any breast jiggling for plastic beads, it was abundantly clear that a more fitting title for the evening was really "Moms Gone Mild".

I will just leave it at that. Even though we are older, wiser and A LOT more tired, we all managed to ROCK

and

we even managed to get ourselves backstage.

Melissa - I have your "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" cassingle in case you're looking for it.

Healthy Parent, Healthy Baby

2011-07-19T10:29:00.006-04:00

These days, my conversations with Mike go a little something like this:

"How did Keni do today? What did he eat? Did you take him for a walk? How were his poops? Did he say any new words? Did he nap? For how long? Was he grumpy when he woke up? What are we doing for dinner? Do you need me to pick up any diapers/wipes/pediasure/wine?" It's not really a conversation and not quite an interrogation, but somewhere in between.

Our babe has been home now for 8 months, so we felt like it was time for a little "reconnecting" (interpret as you wish). My parents selflessly agreed to spend their weekend with Keni so that Mike and I could explore topics of conversation that have nothing to do with teething or the new teacher at daycare.

So, what did we do? We saw a movie (Midnight in Paris), had a late dinner at the Blue Room, sat on the beach, listened to our iPods, read, washed down some fried clams with some summer brews, watched a Sox game, slept until 9:30am, enjoyed Moroccan-influenced food and a belly dancer at Tangierino, drank wine on Cory and Anj's deck, slept in again, enjoyed a delicious birthday meal with the family, and went for a quiet walk in my parents' neighborhood.

It was deeeeelightful. Thank you, Mom and Dad, for giving us the chance to exhale.

Weekend In Photos (Part III)

2011-07-07T21:45:00.004-04:00

Visiting with Saratoga Springs

Weekend In Photos (Part II)

2011-07-06T20:59:00.005-04:00

Visiting with friends

(Keni was not into the group photo concept)

Weekend in Photos (Part I)

2011-07-05T21:00:00.003-04:00

Visiting with family

(My First) Wordless Wednesday

2011-06-29T20:00:00.003-04:00

Some Days Are Better Than Others

2011-06-27T21:38:00.002-04:00

There are days when we are out at a local eatery and run into a family who has adopted siblings from Ethiopia and they are out celebrating the third sibling's birthday (adopted by another family and they all hang out!). Then there is the day when Mike and Keni are strolling through the neighborhood, passing by a group of men when one loudly comments, "A white man and a black baby? That's f'ed up". (only he didn't say "f'ed"). There are days when we all get a good night's sleep and we enjoy the routine, the chores, and the unwinding when the sun goes down. Then there is the day when everyone is sleep deprived, grumpy, tired of being covered in snot, and tired of being tired. There are days that are super productive and I am able to solve a complex problem at work. Then there's the day when I practically have a panic attack at the Shaw's check-out because I can't find my car keys and I have to retrace my steps back to the florist to find my keys next to a jumbo mylar watermelon balloon. Why? Because I thought it might be fun to get my co-worker a giant watermelon balloon for her birthday. Instead I went with a huge "Happy Birthday" one (boring!) and then almost backed into someone when exiting the parking lot because it was taking up all of the shoulder and head space in the back seat of my car.

Yes, today was one of those days.

Lake Quannapowitt

2011-06-18T15:04:00.002-04:00

We used to board Grendyl at a place right near this lake. Each time I would drop her off or pick her up, I would think to myself, "Someday, I am going to take Grendyl and our baby for a walk around that lake". I know that Grendyl was with us in spirit today as we strolled alongside the lake feeling the warm sun and cool breeze on our skin.

This is a great place to take a little one for a ride. Keni had a blast. He had so much fun, he made it abundantly clear (through a short performance) that he wanted to stay and continue playing in the grass.

Thinking About the Dads

2011-06-17T20:29:00.004-04:00

Last week, I read this article and I worried.

Mike and I have our own very specific idea of the future - we dream about taking Keni back to Addis Ababa when he is older and traveling to the place where he was born. We plan to introduce him to his birth family. It's important to us that he is given the chance to learn as much as possible about his story. When I came across this article, I began to worry that things might not go according to our plan.

I think of them often - we look at pictures all the time. After seeing this article, I can't seem to get Keni's birth family off of my mind - especially his birth father. Mike and I felt this really cool connection with him, even though the only language we shared was the word "Kenenisa". I'm blown away by the fact that we are linked to these loving people in the southern region of Ethiopia and I feel powerless and scared for their well being.

On Father's Day, please do me a small favor and say a prayer, light a candle, buy a goat, or do what you do to send your good energy to Keni's Ethiopian family. Your energy and positive thoughts would be greatly appreciated. xo

Beautiful Day

2011-06-11T10:30:00.003-04:00

Last Sunday, Holli and Joe did us a huge favor by spending the day with Keni. Mike was out of town and I was co-hosting a baby shower (see below). He had an absolute blast with them and it was confirmed that they are rockstar caregivers. Here's a collage that Joe made of Keni helping them out in the yard. Love it!

Showerpalooza

2011-06-08T20:34:00.004-04:00

On Sunday, some pretty nifty ladies got together to show their love and support for Molly, Zack and their baby (who will be making her debut very soon). I can't wait to meet this little nugget and smother her with affection. The day was perfect - amazing weather, delicious food and a room full of people who want to set them up for success as a family of three.

Props to my mom for taking care of so many details to make this event not only memorable and fun, but really special.

The First Time I Saw Your Face...

2011-06-03T20:43:00.004-04:00

was a year ago today.

I am sitting here, trying to collect my thoughts and write something about that day and how things have changed and I can't seem to stop weeping. I am not sad. I am not overwhelmed. I feel calm. It's a quiet, weepy, and cathartic feeling of peace. I think I am crying because I just went through a slideshow of memories and emotions. I remember getting the call, seeing your face, learning your name and your story. I was overwhelmed by excitement and joy. My adrenaline was off the charts. Family and friends had to remind me to breathe. I remember feeling very scared, anxious and sick before traveling to meet you. I remember meeting you for the first time and then having to leave you behind. I remember the joy and laughter we shared with you and with our new friends in Addis. I remember taking that physically and mentally challenging trip to your birth village. I remember stepping off of the plane and seeing Mom, Dad, Zack and Molly. You were so tired and you just hung back your head, trying to take it all in. You were in a strange place, with strangers. I hoped that you would fall in love with us as much as we had already fallen in love with you.

I remember all of the uncertainty that permeated EVERY SINGLE STEP of our journey to become a family of three. I am crying with others who are experiencing the same uncertainty and anxiety. I can still feel it when I stop, turn off the noise and reflect. It's in my bones.

It's truly amazing how time passes and we evolve. You have grown and progressed so much in such a short amount of time. You challenge the heck out of me and make me want to be a better person. Thank you, my little scooch mcgooch. Love - Mom

Long Weekend, Short Post

2011-05-30T21:31:00.004-04:00

Good times! Stone Zoo, shopping, spring cleaning, sunshine, Bridesmaids, grilled salmon, Memorial Day parade, metal babies, Ione (!!!)

We Survived!

2011-05-22T15:41:00.002-04:00

I'm not talking about doomsday...I'm talking about the full week of cold, grey and wet weather. Hope it's sunny where you are!

What's Happenin'

2011-05-18T21:59:00.008-04:00

I apologize for the lack of posts over the past couple of weeks. It's been a busy stretch. In between parenting and working, I have been bopping around and enjoying some quality time with friends and family. Over the weekend, I had the chance to fly to MD to visit with Kathy and the boys. As always, we had an incredible time catching up over good food, coffee, wine and beer. Speaking of beer...

You MUST try one of Geoff's beers. He is the brewmaster at Evolution Craft Brewing Co. and his creations are delicious. I had the Exile ESB and the Summer Session Ale. Yum. Next time, I need to bring an empty suitcase so that I may transport a bunch of hoppy goodness to Boston and share with my local yocals.

Here we are, showing off the fact that we are dorks and bought the same shirt at the Banana outlet:

Here is Luke and his collection of sticks:

It was a great trip and it was very sad to say goodbye. Thank god I have this little sweetie in my life to lift my spirits.

Periods of Sunshine and Rain

2011-05-07T15:24:00.004-04:00

What a beautiful way to start the day!

Rain clouds rolled in and we had to take it back inside for some afternoon playtime (with an annoying stage mom behind the camera).

He Likes What He Sees

2011-05-02T20:28:00.001-04:00

Easter Feaster

2011-04-28T20:03:00.004-04:00

Sorry it has taken me so long to post. I've been busy. Really busy. Besides trying to balance work and mommyhood, we recently hosted a gathering to celebrate the holiday and to catch up with loved ones who live too far away. Sadly (or maybe lucky?) for them, Mike and I opted out of cooking (there just isn't enough time in the day anymore) and ordered off of the catering menu at Dom's. Dom's is known for their marinated steak tips. The meal was a savory success.

Hope you all had a Happy Easter and enjoyed the gorgeous weather!

Hangin'

2011-04-17T14:50:00.002-04:00

Keni is not too keen on the whole swinging thing yet. For now, he just enjoys hangin' with muhmuhmuhmuhmuh.

Acting My Age

2011-04-11T20:01:00.004-04:00

Another birthday has come and gone and I survived. I spent a LOVELY day (thank you, Mother Nature!) with family and friends and took in a ballgame at Fenway. While the game was a bit long and ended in a loss, I still enjoyed the ambiance, the weather and the company. I feel so blessed to live in this area and to have the chance to see the Sox play (thank you, broseph!).

My parents offered to take Keni for the afternoon/evening so that Mike and I could go out to dinner (at a time other than 5pm) and enjoy some adult beverages.

The day was perfect and we were asleep by 11pm (!). Who knew that I would turn into someone whose idea of a perfect weekend was measured by how many hours of sleep I was able to get? Ha! I got 9 on Friday (thanks to my hubby) and 10 on Saturday (thanks to my parents). I would call that pretty close to perfection - wouldn't you?

Here are some photos from Saturday:

Breakfast with the Fam

Breakfast of Maternal Champions

Hooking Up with Good Peeps on Yawkey Way To ~~Dri~~ Discuss the Game

Consuming a Hearty Meal with The Two Most Photogenic People I Know

Drinking Wine and Realizing That It's Almost Bedtime

I Can't Resist

2011-04-03T20:59:00.004-04:00

Warning - this video contains footage of a child basically doing a whole lot of nothing. If you're name is either "mama", "nana", or "auntie" then you will probably enjoy the next three minutes of your life.

I'm pretty kenicentric these days and everything he does amuses me.

Stand Up and Shout

2011-04-02T15:23:00.005-04:00

If you have seen "Rock Star" as many times as I have, then I apologize for putting this song in your head.

There's a whole lot of this standing up and shouting in my future. Baseball season is here and that means I will be participating in this activity next weekend at Fenway Park.

I just purchased tickets for the gals to spend an evening out in Mansfield with Mötley Crüe, Poison and the New York Dolls. Standing and shouting will be combined with hairspray and cocktails in a limousine. (C'mon, let's do it! We only get out to see the metal once every nine years!)

Plus, this week Keni started pulling himself up to the standing position! He hasn't quite figured out how to get down yet, so he basically starts yelling and crying once he has had enough. It's pretty cute (and loud).

Enjoy baseball season, everyone! Go Sox!!!

Here's a little footage of K-man enjoying this new vantage point.

Help Me Obi-Wan, You're My Only Hope

2011-03-27T21:38:00.003-04:00

For those of you who don't know, Mike and I name our cars after Star Wars characters. When we met, I drove a black Toyota Corolla named Yoda. When Mike moved to Boston, he bought his sister's old car, an '89 Honda Accord which we called R2D2. For the past 8 years or so, I've been tooling around in a silver Corolla named Obi-Wan. Mike now drives a Camry that we refer to as Chewbacca (I prefer Chewy). Why am I sharing? Because this post is about my car and my conflicted feelings about whether or not I should be looking to get a new one.

Let me first just say - I love my car. Me and Obi-Wan are like peas and carrots. My petite frame fits perfectly in that seat and I feel complete control of the road when we are together. When I drive other cars, it's all "where's the beef?" and shit.

Obi-Wan has been my rock - my fuel efficient, little buddy who gets me where I need to go and never really asks for much in return.

Recently, he has become less reliable and he has been making a mysterious noise when we are cruising anywhere between 20 and 50 mph. I have thought about calling Click and Clack, but I don't want to embarrass him by making his "issues" public.

Today, I was on my way to a very special event. My awesome friends are expecting their first child and today was their baby shower. Mike packed up the car and then got in Chewy since he had to head to CT for a show after the shower. I put Keni in the car seat, Molly slid into the passenger seat and then we headed out. About two minutes into the ride, I realized that something just wasn't right. Obi-Wan was making a horrible sound and he was shaking a bit. I was totally freaked and decided to turn around and head home.

I know it's only a tire and it could be a lot worse, but I'm starting to question whether or not I can depend on this little ride now that I have a bambino in the back.

I guess what I'm wondering is: is it time to break-up with Obi-Wan?

Debunking the Myth

2011-03-19T12:41:00.006-04:00

I have been asked more than once - "does that kid ever stop smiling?". The answer is YES. This week, we had a number of lows and our little man has been very frustrated with us. Don't know if it had anything to do with the time change or the fact that he continues to cut teeth, but what I do know is that it's been one hell of a week and we are very tired. He wants to touch everything and he wants to do it on his terms. He is also unable to express what he wants and gets really ticked when we don't know what he's trying to tell us. We have offiically entered Toddlerville and I'm not sure if I'm liking this town too much.

He is pretty cute, even when he's erasing the programs that we DVRed.

Escape to Warm Temps (Part II)

2011-03-13T10:03:00.006-04:00

The morning after my hubby and baby touched down in Boston, I took my little rental car over to Fort Lauderdale via Alligator Alley. I was meeting up with my coworkers for a 3-day conference and the valet olympics. The valet olympics? Yes, the valet olympics. I will explain...

Our company is a member of the National Valet Parking A$$ociation (dollar signs are so that people cannot find my blog when googling this group). In November of 2009, the first official valet olympics were held in Scottsdale, AZ. Our company sent a team of 4 valets from Philly and they did well, but we didn't win the title. The olympics has been great for PR and it was decided that the competition would be held every 18 months. Some of the events involved are: the key jumble, slalom, luggage load and the valet relay. This year, the event was sponsored by volk$wagen and the individual champ won a 2-year lease on a car. Not bad, huh?

Our team from Philly was there once again to represent and fell ONE SECOND shy of making the finals. Oh well. It was really fun and we had a great time networking with our vendors and checking up on our competition. Here's a clip of the valet relay, so you can get an idea of what I'm trying to describe. Let me preface it with a few points:

1. The goal of this event is to get the fastest time.
2. There are penalties for any violations (not locking the car, not putting the key on the right hook in the podium, not locking the podium, etc.)
3. Valets cannot exceed 10mph (hence the man with the radar gun)
4. Although I love my video camera, it is very sensitive to movement and I decided to keep it in one spot while our valet was around the corner, backing into the designated spot.

Why must I always comment while filming? Ugh.

Escape to Warm Temps (Part I)

2011-03-06T12:18:00.005-05:00

It's official. Keni loves the water and I love family vacations. Truth be told, I have always loved family vacations, but I never knew if I would be able to relax with a toddler in tow and a husband with a broken toe. Yes, Mike broke his toe right before we left for our long weekend getaway in Fort Myers and it definitely increased the level of travel difficulty. Fractured pinky and all, we managed the flights well and really enjoyed the trip. We flew down with Auntie Molly and met Uncle Zack and my parents at the airport. The weekend consisted of swimming, a Sox spring training game, many shared meals, an Oscar party, and a long, peaceful stroll with my little guy.

It wasn't all sunshine and moonbeams, though. On Monday, Mike, Keni and my parents flew back to Boston while I stayed behind to attend a conference in Fort Lauderdale. On the morning of their departure day, I woke up with a huge knot in my belly. I was feeling very anxious about saying goodbye. It was a tough day for me and I found myself checking the JetBlue website every 30 minutes to track their flight. According to my amazing friends, this is all apparently very "normal" and I'm not a freak for feeling this way. Well, I am a freak, but not a freak for having these types of feelings about being away from my boy. I guess I thought it would be a lot easier than that. Hopefully now that I have been through it, the next time won't be so emotional.

I am thrilled that we finally had the chance to visit Zack and see where he lives for 6 weeks out of the year. Being able to take this trip together was very special and the only thing that was missing was our family out in Sunnyvale. Next year, guys?

Celebrating from Afar

2011-02-21T19:16:00.002-05:00

Future percussionist?

Ellie - this one's for you, baby girl!

Ellie Hiwot is One!

2011-02-18T20:20:00.003-05:00

Keni's special friend is celebrating a birthday today. We have been working on a video message which I will post this weekend (it's been one of those crazy weeks and I can't believe it's already Friday).

In the meantime - happy birthday to you, sweetie! Hope you had a wonderful day!

We hope to see you sometime in the spring or summer. We miss you and your mama!

(No, I did not make this cake. I wish I had time to bake a cake these days.)

Local Nugget

2011-02-12T15:22:00.004-05:00

We are very thrilled that, in July, we will welcome another addition to our extended family. Zack and Molly are expecting a baby girl!!!

Keni is going to have a cousin living a mere 1.6 miles away. They will be 18 months apart in age. Woohoo!

Molly is feeling and looking great. We are over the moon for them!

I am busy drooling over ridiculously adorable baby girl stuff online. I can see how this might become a "problem". Flash forward 6 months and I might be asking you to borrow money due to the insurmountable debt I racked up at Baby Gap, Janie and Jack and Pink Chicken.

How cute are these clothes???

If you have any suggestions for other ways I can spend my benjamins, let me know where you like to shop for baby girl gear!

Daddies Are People, People With Children

2011-02-05T14:30:00.005-05:00

Thanks to everyone for being so darn supportive during my first week back at the factory. Your words of encouragement have really helped. Also, I want to send a shout out to Mother Nature. She totally hooked me up by dropping some icy slush on the roads and I got to work from home on Wednesday. While the rest of the country is saying what a biatch you are, I would just like to say "thank you for being you".

Someone who is not thankful for the icy slush is my husband. This post is really about how awesome he did this week and for him taking care of our business so that I could focus on someone else's.

He successfully made it through ten naps, nine meals, I can't even count how many hours of playtime, eleven poopy diapers, and the first official public meltdown. Mike had to take Keni to the doctor for a follow-up appointment and Keni totally lost it when they attempted to weigh him. As many of you already know, the kid's got some pipes and his screams are on par with the likes of Bruce Dickinson and Rob Halford. Poor Mike. Keni continued to freak out each time a nurse or doctor came near him.

Not only did he manage to get through the week without having his own meltdown, but he also took care of shoveling snow, taking out the trash (and carefully balancing it on a 5-foot mound of snow), doing a load of laundry, making two dinners, vacuuming the house, and driving our family in nasty weather to share a meal with an old friend. What a guy, huh?

The only thing that seemed to get crazier as the week progressed was Keni's hair. I don't know exactly what happened because his bath schedule did not change, but his hair just got bigger and bigger.

I guess I need to show him where I keep the Carol's Daughter hair milk.

As for Keni, he has started doing some new things this week such as getting himself into the crawling position (with fully extended arms), mimicking finger snapping, and being able to answer the question "what does the doggie say?" with a high-pitched sound that resembles "woof woof". I would like to be able to post footage of this adorable sound, but he has become competely aware of the camera and stops whatever he is doing when I point it in his direction.

Here is some footage that I did manage to get before he busted me:

Thanks for the super cute pjs, Anna! woof woof

Wicked Tired

2011-02-01T20:13:00.008-05:00

I just finished my second day back at the office. This schedule ain't no joke.

Due to my fatigue and the fact that I drove home in yet another snow storm, I can only muster enough energy to post a few boring pics.

The remaining hair:

The boy doing one of his favorite things (looking at pictures and video of himself on the computer):

Feeling Lighter

2011-01-28T12:22:00.001-05:00

Birthday Wishes

2011-01-26T20:42:00.004-05:00

Today, a very special friend of Keni's is celebrating her 1st birthday. For the occasion, we decided to make a video message for her.

Hope you enjoy it, sweetie. We love and miss you!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Whaddyathink?

2011-01-20T12:34:00.002-05:00

Do you like the new look of our blog?

I am very pleased.

If you are interested in the talent responsible for the new style, please visit Blogs for a Cause and check out the great stuff that this lady has been up to.

I Need a Makeover - STAT!

2011-01-17T12:30:00.008-05:00

The Golden Globes are over and now it's time for the media to let us know who wore what well. I tend to get caught up in things that don't really matter (who wore what at the Globes, professional sports*, why that girl on "My Strange Addiction" thinks she looks good when she goes tanning three times a day, etc.) and I think it's easy to get sucked in. I'm not going to apologize for it - I will just acknowledge it, accept it and then try to remember that these things don't really matter especially after one of my favorite teams totally chokes.

So, today, on MLK Day, I woke up trying to focus my energy on stuff that does matter and then I received this photo from a colleague at work.

Can we please dissect and discuss the abomination that I pieced together that day to create an "outfit"? I'm wearing black jeans (not black, skinny jeans, mind you), a rust-colored thermal with some hideous pattern on the front, and my Doc Martens that I bought in 1993. Oh yeah, the ponytail and glasses thing has been going on for years now. Can someone please explain why I felt the need to add earrings to the mix? Really? Was this look not complete without some silver jewelry? Ugh. Granted, we were told to dress "casually" for this volunteer event, but is this really how I present my "casual" self to the world? Yeah I know that I should be focusing on what does matter (the experience), but I can't help thinking that I could still be a do-gooder who actually looks good while doing good.

Considering I dress like this pretty much every day, I guess I thought I was stepping it up. Yikes.

These sweatpants are so dirty, I think I've been secretly hoping that they would get up and do the grocery shopping for me. Also, I actually wore fuzzy socks to a friends house last week. Yes I did!

Help!

Two weeks from today, I will return to the office. Clearly, I have a lot of work to do in the next 14 days to look more like a professional woman vs. a teenage boy whose parents make him wear his older brother's hand-me-downs from 1993.

As a list fanatic, I am already putting together what needs to happen before I attempt to re-enter the workforce. I need some smart looking duds, new glasses, a new hairdo, appropriate footwear and a coat that isn't pilled or covered in drool. Wish me luck and I'll keep you posted.

*The Red Sox truly do matter. Yes they do.

Move Over Rover

2011-01-12T12:13:00.002-05:00

and let Keni take over!

Ok, so it's a little more James Taylor than Hendrix, but a mom can dream, right?

Wish It, Want It, Do It.

2011-01-06T08:13:00.012-05:00

During the beginning of January, there is a lot of talk of resolutions, hopes, goals, and plans for the upcoming year. It's nice to take stock, reflect and then set our sights on what we hope to achieve over the next twelve months. I have put together a short list because I truly believe in the philosophy that if you want to accomplish more, you must plan to do less. Seems counterintuitive, but it has been working in my world and whatever works is good enough for me.

Some of my hopes for 2011:
1. Figure out a way to balance being a kick-ass mom while working full-time. All suggestions are welcome.
2. Get our entire family together for a quality hang.
3. Take two classes - one for professional development and one for personal interest.
4. Get back underwater and say hello to the fish.
5. Focus on my health and do all of the medical tests and screens that I avoided in 2010.

I also have many hopes for Keni and we have already started working on a number of them. In the short time that he has been home, I feel like he is changing and growing so quickly!

He is comfortable in his new exersaucer: (Thanks, Nana and Grandpa!)

He is pushing up and getting really strong on his belly:

He is balancing really well while standing with a little help from mama:

He has figured out how to scoot with his arms and legs from point A to point B:

Big Ol' Year-End Wrap Up

2010-12-31T11:53:00.034-05:00

2009 was the year of The Wait. For the entire year, we sat quietly on a list, hoping that our agency was completely pulling our chain about how long this whole wait time thingy would be. I honestly thought that we might have our referral by the end of 2009 and then travel in early 2010. Silly, silly, silly me.

Although I struggled deeply with The Wait in 2010, the year ended exactly how we had hoped and here I sit, typing this at my dining room table next to the most beautiful boy wearing a union suit with oatmeal in his hair.

I know it's cliche to do an annual retrospective, but hey, I tend to be pretty cliche. Plus, I am downright mushy about everything right now and I'm in the mood for crying all over my keyboard.

At the end of 2009, we learned that Mom's breast cancer had returned after 11 years of living cancer-free. It was extremely scary for all of us, but mostly for my mom. In January, she underwent surgery and all we could do was wait and see. It sucks to be powerless and this terrible event was a brutal reminder that many times, we have no control over things. During these times, all we can do is accept the things we cannot change and try to remain calm.

In January, Mike played at the annual Hot Stove, Cool Music benefit concert (which he has been playing for the past 9 years) and we had a chance to let loose and party with some fun people. I was especially excited to drink some beers with a ball player of which I am a huge fan. It was a fun evening and I'm hoping that the event in 2011 is as equally entertaining.

In February, Mom was back in the hospital, having surgery for a second time. This time, the results were better and now she must be vigilant about having her check-ups and screens so that she never has to go through this horrible crap again.

Also in February, we went tubing at Nashoba Valley and embraced the wintry weather.

In March, we spent time with some old friends and made some new ones. Mike's friends, Marc and Dar, came for a visit and we spent HOURS chatting and catching up. We also met Holli and Joe for the first time! Our social worker had come by for our homestudy update and said that she had recently met a couple who live around the corner from us and they are also adopting from Ethiopia. She shared our contact information and we had the chance to meet them at a local restaurant. They are amazing people and we are so fortunate to have them as friends.

In April, I turned a year older and realized that my life was quickly passing me by. Baseball season was back (woohoo!) and Mike went on tour with Graham Parker.

May brought the nice weather, visits with dear friends and a visit from an arch enemy. Anxiety crept back into my head and into my life and I would suddenly feel really awful even when I was doing things that I enjoyed. It sucked. A lot. I hadn't experienced anxiety attacks in many years and I thought that I had conquered that demon. I had to learn how to breathe again and let go of the stuff that I couldn't control. During this month, I rediscovered the Serenity Prayer and found a version on Wikipedia (yes, folks Wikipedia) that spoke to me.

God, grant us the...
Serenity to accept things we cannot change,
Courage to change the things we can, and the
Wisdom to know the difference
Patience for the things that take time
Appreciation for all that we have, and
Tolerance for those with different struggles
Freedom to live beyond the limitations of our past ways, the
Ability to feel your love for us and our love for each other and the
Strength to get up and try again even when we feel it is hopeless.

This little prayer got me through what turned into a VERY EVENTFUL remainder of the year.

In June, we got The Call that would forever change our lives. Seeing Kenenisa's face for the first time was indescribable. Finally, we were entering a new chapter and I had no idea how challenging and rewarding the next steps were going to be. Mike and I had planned a trip to St. Thomas, so we went and enjoyed our final vacation as a family of two.

During the month of July, we spent most of our time running around getting our vaccinations completed and trying to get our lives and nursery in order for the arrival of our son. The big question that was now being asked was "when will you get to bring him home?". We had no clue.

Molly convinced me to seek out acupuncture as a way to deal with my anxiety, so I finally got my act together in August and began being inserted with needles and learning about my Qi deficiencies. The courts in Ethiopia had closed for two months (another thing that I was not able to control), so the best I could do was to take care of myself and breathe.

At the end of the month, our family mourned the loss of Chris and Sandra's sweet little angel, Aiden. On that same day, we celebrated the birth of their beautiful baby girl, Maggie. Accepting our powerlessness is truly humbling.

In September, we learned that we would be meeting our boy during the first week of October. At work, I began my preparations for a future maternity leave and one of my co-workers married her best friend. We had a ball at the wedding.

In October, we finally had the chance to hold our son. I have already written about that experience here and feel like that entry captures the moment well. Saying goodbye was incredibly painful but we had to make two trips and once again we had no clue as to when the next trip would be. I was insanely busy at work, trying to get things wrapped up for my leave of absence and another co-worker married her best friend. We had a ball at that wedding, too.

In November, we experienced a crushing blow. Our beloved dog, Grendyl, had heart failure and we had to make the agonizing decision to put her down. She had not been ill, so it came as quite a shock to both of us. We had already booked our flights to return to Ethiopia on November 5th and she passed away on November 2nd. I still don't think I have had the chance to fully grieve the loss. The past couple of months have been such a whirlwind and I still can't believe that she's gone. I miss her so much. It was interesting to learn that many of our friends lost pets right before the birth of their children. It's like they know that it's their time to go. I wish that Keni could have had the chance to meet her. She was such a special dog.

In yin yang style, while we mourned the loss of one family member, we gained an incredible new one. On November 13, 2010, we brought Kenenisa to the US and our home has been filled with his little, sweet laugh, hilarious babbling and a high-pitched shriek that will make your hair stand on end.

I love him so much and I'm so grateful for everything that we learned throughout this journey. This experience has not only ended with an amazing child, but it has opened doors to new friendships, new perspectives on the human condition and an enormous appreciation for all that we have. This year made me realize that I have a lot to learn and I'm hoping that in 2011, I can continue to experience new things and grow. However it would be nice to have an uneventful and boring year, because 2010 was anything but that.

Love to you all and may 2011 bring you peace and joy.
Happy New Year!

Ho Ho Ho

2010-12-29T18:02:00.003-05:00

I haven't been feeling like writing much lately. I guess I'm saving it up for a reflective, end-of-the-year post which will be coming soon (hopefully).

Keni on Christmas morning:

Checking out some lights at a house over near Route 1:

Digesting our Christmas dinner:

Hope you had a great holiday!

Have a Holly, Jolly Week!

2010-12-18T09:56:00.001-05:00

It's Good To Be King One

2010-12-13T12:09:00.003-05:00

Home Sweet Home

2010-12-10T08:18:00.003-05:00

Our family had another very important homecoming this month. On December 4, 2010, Maggie Lin, our dear niece, left Good Samaritan Hospital for the first time since she was born on August 24th. Christmas is going to be extra special at the Scott house this year!

Welcome home, sweet Maggie!

Birthday Boy

2010-12-07T21:31:00.005-05:00

Kenenisa is 1!

Our Silly McGillicutty has been on the planet for twelve months and each day he seems to grow, change and make us laugh with new development, language and behavior. When we received our referral, he was six months old and all we wanted at that time was to be together to celebrate his first birthday as a family. Our dream came to fruition and here we are, sharing our worlds with each other.

Today, our goal was to have a low-key, mellow celebration and that is exactly what we did. We listened to some music, ate dinner and enjoyed some b-day pumpkin pie (yup, he likes that stuff).

As I mentioned earlier, he makes us chuckle on a regular basis. Today was no exception. He rolled over to a bookshelf in our living room and took a rather large book off of the bottom shelf. Obviously, he's trying to tell us something.

This seriously happened! How insane is that? Clearly he wants us to get it together and go back to basics (see photo #2 where he has actually opened the book to the chapter titled "Getting Started"). Check out his expression - he knows this will be posted on the blog and he is pleading for help. We are trying our best, little fella!

I love this boy to pieces and couldn't be happier that we are a family. Thank you, Keni, for making life so much more fun and meaningful. Happy Birthday!!!

Selam!

2010-12-02T11:41:00.003-05:00

Keni met two precious little girls yesterday. He has been missing his lady friends from the Horizon House (love to you, Meseret and Ellie Hiwot!) so we thought it would be a good time to introduce him to Madeleine and Mae. The cuteness of it all is always tough to capture in photos, but we continue to try. We went to Madeleine's house in the morning and then Mae came over for dinner in the evening.

Report Card

2010-11-30T14:39:00.012-05:00

We have been home for a little over two weeks and I thought it would be nifty to let you know how (I think) we're doing as a family of three.

EATING: B-
We've entered into the world of stage 2 sweet potato w/corn, spring veggies w/brown rice, mangos and pears and Keni seems to be enjoying the tastes and textures. Getting the food into his mouth and not all over his face, hair and clothes is something we have yet to master.

SLEEPING: A-
Booyah! Am I going to curse our family if I actually announce that he is sleeping through the night??? We have managed to get him on a pretty decent nap schedule and he's doing really well in this department. After experiencing major jet lag and a very significant time difference, this has been a HUGE victory. Hopefully, we will be able to sustain this routine.

STAYING HEALTHY: D
Our poor little guy got pretty sick within his first week home and had to take antibiotics. Although I did get pretty skilled at administering meds, I was completely overwhelmed and upset when I had to help an x-ray tech get him into a horrible plastic contraption. It was awful. Mike and I both managed to catch a head cold at the same time. We are all finally on the mend.

SOCIALIZING WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS: B+
Our first overnight at Nana and Grandpa's on Thanksgiving turned out really well and everyone got some sleep. Keni continues to embrace the new people that he meets. He's a gregarious babe and has quite the charming little smile. This past weekend, we even found a way to clean our home and host a little gathering of the girls night crew. I met these ladies in 1998 and 1999 and 12 years later, we are all married with children. It was awesome to have most of us in the same room (missed you, Kate!) for a few hours. In order to bump this grade up, I'll need to actually make food when we have company instead of running out to Bob's in Medford.

This One's for the Ladies

2010-11-24T15:37:00.004-05:00

I could not possibly have survived the emotional roller coaster that I was on over the past three months without the love and support of my mom and Molly. These amazing women were there for me when the entire thing felt too big and scary; when I thought "am I going to be able to do this?" Whatever and whenever - they did anything that I needed and then some.

Here are just a few of the ways that they rocked:

Planned and executed a spectacular shower

Provided me with ideas and tips on what to put on my registry

Took me to the actual stores to complete my registry

Drove us to and from the airport (more than once!)

Bought Keni multiple adorable outfits that would fit him right away

Lent us luggage and a dress to wear to a wedding

Listened to me freak out over and over and over

Helped me pack

Created an incredibly beautiful diaper cake

Encouraged me to try acupuncture to ease the stress (and yes, it helped!)

Assembled a complete first aid and wellness kit for baby (which we needed as soon as we got home)

Photographed huge milestones for Keni's life book

Decorated our dining room with balloons and a handmade "Welcome Home, Keni" sign created by another Ethiopian adoptee

Filled our refrigerator with home cooked meals and groceries so that we came home from both trips to a well-stocked kitchen (lasagna, steak tips, roasted potatoes, delicata squash, chicken soup, green bean almondine, salad, ranch/salsa dip, pretzel turtles and more!)

Besides all of these wonderful things you made and bought, I want to especially thank you for your friendship, selflessness and patience. Love to you both!

What Day Is It?

2010-11-19T10:18:00.007-05:00

Whew. What a week we've had so far.

Everyone is doing well despite some tricky sleep adjustments, an annoying cough, some yucky congestion and a very long appointment at the international adoption clinic.

Fortunately, we have managed to take a walk around the neighborhood, do a little shopping, and enjoy a lunch out with Nana. So far, my sentence is working out ok but

I. Am. Tired.

November 4, 2010

November 19, 2010

I can't believe it's been under a week since we crossed the finish line at Logan.

It's time for me to write a long overdue post about how awesome my mom and Molly have been leading up to the trips and continue to be. I need a little rest before doing so in order to be able to construct sentences that contain a subject AND a predicate.

In the meantime, I will leave you with some pics of the head honcho.

Discovering his shadow

Man in the mirror

Zany zoo and bumbo, too

First ride

I see you

Goodbye brother, Kenenisa. See you again!

2010-11-15T05:38:00.013-05:00

We did it.

He is home and peacefully dreaming in his crib. It's 8am and I've been up since 4. Let the sleep deprivation begin!

After our first trip, I had grand plans to document each and every moment on this blog. I am not going to set the bar so high this time considering I didn't even have a child to care for the last time around.

The trip exceeded all expectations. Even though it feels really good to be sitting in my living room with easy access to family, friends, and a wonderfully hot and high pressured shower, it still feels sad to say goodbye to Ethiopia and to all of the amazing people we met through this experience. Although we only spent about two weeks of our lives at the Horizon House, it truly began to feel like a home away from home. Someday, we hope to have the opportunity to return with Kenenisa and show him the beauty of his birth country.

We departed from Logan on Friday, November 5th at 6am and arrived in Addis on the 6th at 8:30am. Our travel group, #97, consisted of 9 families and 7 of us were on the same flight. When we arrived, we were immediately taken to the Horizon House to reunite with our children.

Here is Mike holding our uncertain Keni for the first time in 30 days.

On Sunday, we spent the entire day getting reacquainted and testing out our Ergo carrier. It was terrific to be back on the floor of the infant room, cuddling and playing with the babes. Two new infants had arrived, so we had 7 cuties to snuggle.

This is one of Keni's nannies, Mulu, who unconditionally loved our boy while we were in the US.

Monday, November 8th was Embassy Day! All of the parents and children piled into a van with little ones on our laps to head over to the US Embassy for the final step in the placement portion of the adoption process. The purpose of this interview is to determine whether or not everything is in line before issuing a visa to enter the US. Although we were not feeling nervous about this step, it's a critical one and any hiccups could have thwarted our plan to have him home on the 13th.

Fortunately, all went well and our adoption was approved. Woohoo! Here were are about two minutes before heading to the embassy.

To celebrate this momentous milestone, the entire group went out to 2000 Habesha Cultural Restaurant for dinner, drinks and entertainment. A live band played Ethiopian, Sudanese and Somali music and dancers showcased the diverse cultures of the different Ethiopian regions. The food was divine and the honey wine ("tej") gave me the courage to get up on stage with a shoulder-popping, handsome dancer. A truly festive evening!

On Tuesday, we had to wake at 5am to leave for our much anticipated birth family visit. First, we had to travel to Awassa which is about 5 hours south of Addis. We hired a driver and hit the road with three other families whose children are from the same woreda (district), Arbegona. In two Toyota Land Cruisers, we set off on a remarkable and very trying journey. We made it to Awassa by 11:30 and stopped for lunch. A translator/social worker joined us and explained that the families were waiting for us in Arbegona, so we quickly got back on the road to complete the final three hours of the drive. Although the landscape was absolutely breathtaking, the ride itself was not so peachy. This three hour jaunt was on a bumpy, rocky, mountain, dirt road and the temperature in the car was probably 80 degrees. The lush scenery provided an escape from the driving conditions. Here are just a few photos from the trip.

In summary, our birth family visit was moving, overwhelming and joyful. We now have family in the southern mountains of Ethiopia and we will send them updates and photos on a regular basis. A fellow adoptive parent said that she was told by a friend that this meeting would transform her life. Now I can see why someone would say that. Amazing.

After all four meetings were completed, we had to turn around and head back down for 3 hours to Awassa. It rained and the roads became quite muddy. Mike and I fell asleep for part of it and were awoken by the others in the car who wanted us to see a pack of hyenas. They are freaky and scary and we feared for the lives of the villagers who were walking along the dark road that night.

We stayed in Awassa and slept under a mosquito net. Totally exhausted, we had the best night of sleep and got about 9 hours of rest. On Wednesday, we returned to Addis and stopped a couple of times for some sightseeing.

On Thursday, Mulat took a group of us shopping and out for coffee at a shop called Tomoca. When we returned to the Horizon House, we went to see Keni and after his bath, we officially took him into our custody. He came to our room and napped (well, laughed and squealed for about 45 minutes before he actually slept). Our first night together was great. Mike and I barely slept, but Keni did really well. We were hopeful that the flight would be bearable if he could behave like this!

Friday was our last day in Addis. The staff at the Horizon House said their goodbyes to our kiddos with a traditional coffee ceremony. All of the adoptive parents, children, nannies and other staff members gathered in the common room of the guest house. Speeches were made, coffee beans were roasted, prayer was said, bread was cut, popcorn was passed, songs were sang and tears were shed. I have flip footage of the ceremony, but no photos. Mike played "Beautiful Boy" on an acoustic guitar that lives at the guest house.

It was a very special way to end the week and we will never forget those who are making a difference in these children's lives in Ethiopia. The older children who are waiting to be adopted sang "goodbye brother" (and sister) to each departing child and writing about it is getting me all choked up.

The coffee ceremony was finished by 5pm and then six of the nine families boarded the bus for Bole Airport.

The End of an Era

2010-11-04T14:21:00.003-04:00

Grendyl

May She Rest in Peace

June 1997 - November 2, 2010

You have been the best companion a girl could have for the past 12 years. Thank you for every kiss, every snuggle and every laugh. We love and miss you so much.

Some of My Favorite Goblins

2010-10-31T21:41:00.003-04:00

I Am Grateful

2010-10-25T21:20:00.002-04:00

I read this today online:

"Remember that hard times make good times sweeter. Also keep in mind that obstacles and challenges not only make you stronger, but they force you to explore outside of the comfortable routine that you've settled into. Without challenges, there can be no progress. Without obstacles, there can be no achievement. Be thankful for the opportunities that they provide."

It's no secret, to those of you who know me, that this final leg of our adoption journey hasn't been easy. I feel like I cruised through the first two years of this process with patience and laser sharp focus. Although, each stage has been wrapped in emotion and stress (at varying levels), I think I was pretty successful in putting the tough feelings into a box and putting the cover on nice and tightly. Over time, the box has gotten pretty full and, recently, the cover seems impossible to secure. Not only is the cover not fitting, but the box itself is starting to break down, crack and the contents are all spilling out all over the room.

Everyone has heard about it. I have been practically shouting it from the rooftops. "SOS - this part is really hard and I am struggling!!!"

In order to channel that energy into something that might actually help and will prevent my family and friends from calling the funny farm, I thought I would be thankful for the opportunities that this challenge has provided.

I am grateful for my husband who is my best friend and has been my rock during the especially difficult times.

I am grateful for my family who are loving, generous, and able to keep a sense of humor through it all.

I am grateful for the amazing friendships that have been fostered through this experience and the new friends that we haven't even met yet.

I am grateful for the people in my life who love and support the real me - the good, the bad and the Alice.

I am grateful for the fact that I have a great job and work for a fantastic person who is supportive of my personal choices.

I am grateful that I have a wonderful home, a kitchen filled with food and a warm place to rest my head each night.

I am grateful that I have the opportunity to visit new places and to be exposed to new languages, foods and traditions.

I am grateful that I have a snuggly and sweet dog who loves me unconditionally.

I am grateful that I have the opportunity to parent an incredible little boy who will continue to challenge me and provide more opportunities for growth.

Ahh..much better. Have a good night!

Arriving in Addis

2010-10-15T19:41:00.003-04:00

We landed at 7:30pm on Sunday, October 3rd at Bole International Airport. After the 15 hour flight, our mission was simple: get through immigration, collect our luggage and find the Hilton shuttle desk. We had been instructed to contact Mulat (our agency's driver*) once we arrived at the hotel to arrange a pick-up time for our visit to the Horizon House on Tuesday morning. We had flown from DC to Addis with two other families in Group 97 and we were all mentally and physically exhausted.

Once we collected our luggage, we made our way past a large group of people (close to 100), lined up just beyond the gate who were anxiously awaiting a reunion with their family members on our flight. Feeling a bit lost and out of place, we took a moment to collect our thoughts and locate the Hilton shuttle driver. We were then approached by a petite man, with a beautiful and disarming smile who was holding an orange sign that read "Wide Horizons for Children". Mulat welcomed us to Ethiopia and asked how the trip went. We were surprised to meet him in person since we had been told to call him from our hotel. Turns out, he was there to drive another couple in our group to their guest house. Not only was it a nice surprise to meet a Wide Horizons staff member upon our arrival, but he also surprised us with the news that we would be heading to the Horizon House the following morning to meet our son!

We had expected to spend our time on Monday resting, acclimating and exploring the city. This was our first curveball of the trip and we were ecstatic.

*Although Mulat's job title is technically "driver", he is so much more than that. He's a translator, coordinator, leader, good time facilitator, problem solver, and music appreciator. It also helps that he's a super down-to-earth and warm person who doesn't seem to get flustered easily even when a bunch of neurotic Americans are making his life difficult.

We Are In Love

2010-10-09T11:34:00.007-04:00

Introducing...

Kenenisa Desmond Gent

After a long and taxing journey to Addis, we were welcomed by our agency's driver, Mulat, at Bole Airport. He shared the news that we would meet our sweet boy the following morning (on Monday instead of Tuesday which was the original plan). It was such an awesome surprise. Mike had butterflies and I got goosebumps. It was surreal and I'm finding it very difficult to find the words to describe the feeling. It's possible that I'm at a loss because of the jet lag, the culture shock and the fact that I'm at home and my baby is 6800 miles away. But I digress...

The next morning, we made our way over to the Horizon House where our boy had arrived the previous day. We didn't know what to expect after the difficult trip we all had endured to get to this very spot.

He was asleep in his crib when we entered the infant room. Other families were quietly uniting while Mike and I waited for the nurse to point us in the right direction. Once they showed us where he was sleeping, we approached the crib and our eyes suddenly recognized the cutest little lips, chubby cheeks and the incredibly long eyelashes that we knew so well from staring at his photos for over four months. I hunched over the crib and gently touched his belly and his hair but didn't want to scare or wake him. I got out of his face for a second and he opened his sleepy eyes and began to rub them. It was one of the best moments I have ever experienced. Gingerly, I picked him up and held him close.

It was a big day for the Gent family.

I promise to share more details from this trip once my brain and body get more rest. But I want you to know that we passed court and he is legally our son!

Relaxation Basics

2010-09-29T22:12:00.007-04:00

Feeling unsure about the future? Anxious about what life has in store for you?

Searching the internet for dogs making friends with other mammals is not a sign of personal weakness - and there is good evidence that this activity does help.

You're welcome.

Ups and Downs and Upside Down

2010-09-25T22:18:00.003-04:00

It's been quite an emotionally draining week. When we first received the news that we had a court date confirmed, I was completely focused. I tapped into my professional persona and made stuff happen. I booked reservations, created lists and felt like I was completely in control of everything.

Somewhere between then and now, that personality faded and different ones have emerged. At one point, I was the cool, hippie chick who was completely relaxed and totally "stoked" about traveling to Africa and getting the chance to share this crazy experience with the other folks in our group. Then, I turned into the nurturing, practical mom who was nesting and enjoying every moment of figuring out what would be the absolute BEST toy to play with when we get to spend the entire day with our boy.

And then...

The scared, anxious, frightened and fearful character showed up. Oh boy.

I knew that I would be overwhelmed at some point and I have had various intense moments of stress throughout this journey. But this time, the stress has reached an all time high - a new level that hit me like a ton of bricks. The reality of everything is slightly terrifying...or maybe completely terrifying.

Fortunately, I made it through the visit from that personality. I don't watch the show United States of Tara, but I've read about it. I know that the main character suffers from dissociative identity disorder and that each of her personalities has a name. I have decided to name my freaky, anxious and cuckoo personality Alice.

I used to be a woman who jumped out of planes, dived with sharks during a feeding, left on a moment's notice to join an ice show, studied in Europe for 6 months without knowing a soul, went to college in Miami on my own, and spontaneously joined in on crazy adventures with people and went with the flow.

Things have definitely changed. I am doing my best to embrace and deal with the emotional roller coaster that will probably continue for a few months.

I'm hoping that Alice will have a big glass of wine and chill out, but we'll see.

Wish me luck!

Nantucket in September

2010-09-20T21:17:00.005-04:00

We Have a Date!

2010-09-16T20:06:00.005-04:00

Not only do we have a date with a judge at the Ethiopian Federal First Instance Court, but we also have a date to meet our son!!!

We are one of ten families in travel Group #97 and our flights and hotel have been booked. Because this is a public blog, I'm not going to post specifics regarding our trip. Feel free to email me and I'll fill you in. We are so excited that we finally have confirmation that this is moving forward!

It's so hard to be productive right now because my mind is swimming with thoughts of holding, cuddling and giggling with our 9-month-old.

There's much to do and many lists to be generated. We will be bringing some donations for the orphanage - they are currently in need of formula and diapers. If you would like to pitch in, just let me know!

Calling All Single Ladies!

2010-09-09T18:27:00.003-04:00

"I'm not a gynecologist, but I'll take a look"

Is this real or fake life?

Please accept my apology for such a terrible photo - it really is hard to shoot a moving target.

September = Get It Done

2010-09-04T11:29:00.003-04:00

Summer is like a visit from a good friend whom you don't see very often. When she arrives, you are bursting with optimism and excitement to spend quality time together. You pack in everything you can - brunch, pedicures, a trip to the beach, a movie, shopping, dinner and lots of sangria. It's a whirlwind and then suddenly her bags are packed, she's off and you're left alone cleaning up the house with sunburned knees and a hangover.

Normally, I dread the end of summer because I feel like that 9 year-old girl who equates summer with miniature golf and no homework. Not sure why I still have this perception since I work full-time year round and summer is actually just as busy as any other season. In fact this summer was especially busy at the office.

This year, the change in seasons represents something totally different. There's no easing into this one. No autumn as a bridge to the snowy winter. We're talking "Poof! You are now parents." Instant blizzard. 8-hour nights of peaceful sleep? Finis.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not whining...I'm just sayin'!

I have heard through the adoption blogosphere grapevine that the courts will reopen on September 27th.

Even though I'm psyched that this holding pattern will soon be over, I'm absolutely panicked that I have about two months to get this house and our lives ready for the long awaited arrival of our 11-12 month old baby boy. Ahhhh!

We have a lot to do. And the first step is to put my husband through the very painful process of sitting down and making a list. I'm big on lists. Ask my co-workers. If we can get most of our tasks done in September, when October hits and chaos ensues, I'm hoping that we'll be prepared. I mean so ready that I will be able to sit back with a glass of wine and calmly make a new list of what we need to pack. Not even I am naive enough to think that I would be calm and focused enough to make that list without sipping on a cabernet. I'm not THAT good.

Appreciation

2010-09-04T11:03:00.002-04:00

To everyone who emailed and commented re: my last post. Your compassion, concern and love warms my heart.

I will be sure to provide an update on Maggie Lin sometime soon. So far, she is doing well. Your prayers and good vibes are working. Thank you so much.

Remembering Aiden

2010-08-28T16:32:00.003-04:00

The name Aiden is of Gaelic origin. It means "little fire".

He was a fighter. And his flame will burn in our hearts forever.

My brother, Chris and his wife, Sandra, were expecting twins and to say that it was a trying pregnancy might be the understatement of the year. On Tuesday (at only 26 weeks), she gave birth to two babies, a boy and a girl. It was a huge surprise because all along, the docs said that they were having two girls. Aiden Gregory weighed a little over 2lbs and passed away shortly after the umbilical cord was cut. Maggie Lin weighs 2lbs and is going to be in the NICU for 12 weeks. Although we were mentally prepared for this outcome, we held out hope and knew that as long as his little heart kept beating, then we might experience a miracle.

Thanks to Aiden, we DID experience a miracle. The specialists didn't think that "Baby A" (Aiden) was going to hang on long enough for a delivery. If he passed in utero, it would have put "Baby B's" life and Sandra's life in danger. Little Aiden hung on long enough so that his sister could make it safely out of the womb and into the NICU.

Not for a minute do I think that the pain of losing a baby will disappear, but I know that amidst the sorrow and tears they will dig deep to find the strength to get them through this valley.

Aiden Gregory, this song is for you.
We love you.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Celebreight!

2010-08-22T15:21:00.008-04:00

Tomorrow marks our 8 year wedding anniversary. The traditional gift for the eighth wedding anniversary is bronze. Which gift do you think Mike will appreciate the most?

#1

#2

#3

Wonsaponatime

2010-08-18T22:19:00.006-04:00

Despite the fact that I'm feeling very sleepy right now, I am pushing myself to stay on track. Staying on track = posting at least once a week. And since I am officially spleen and kidney qi deficient, I'm going with pictures over words this time around.

I have some really awesome, thoughtful and generous people in my life. I am extremely grateful for that.

A few of these atg peeps have given us some excellent children's books with adoption themes and stories of multicultural families.

If you're looking for good books, here are some recommendations:

Goodnight stars
Goodnight air
Goodnight noises everywhere

ENFJ 4-Eva!

2010-08-12T19:22:00.011-04:00

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) assessment is a questionnaire designed to measure psychological preferences in how people perceive the world and make decisions. Mother and daughter team, Katharine Cook Briggs and Isabel Briggs Myers began creating the MBTI during World War II in an attempt to help women identify the kinds of war-time jobs in which they would be effective. The preferences were originally proposed by Carl Jung in his 1921 book Psychological Types.

Besides being a tool for personal growth, achieving balance and understanding self, it's something that we actually use in our workplace to improve our team dynamics. I subscribe to the belief that when you understand your type preferences, you can approach your own work in a manner that best suits your style, including how you manage your time, solve problems, make decisions, and deal with stress.

I've taken the assessment about 4 times. I'm always an ENFJ. But the strength of the preferences varies each time I take it. In April of 2008, my results read:

E - Very Clear
N - Moderate
F - Moderate
J - Moderate

Today they read:
E - Slight
N - Moderate
F - Very Clear
J - Moderate

Interesting, huh? Well maybe not so much to you, but this is my blog, so ha!

If you feel like taking a simplistic version of the assessment which happens to be free, then here's the link.

I hope that you find this stuff as insightful as I do. If not, you just wasted about 2 minutes of your life. Sorry about that.

If you would like to indulge me and share your results, please leave them in a comment. I really do enjoy this kind of stuff and I love to find out what other people's types are.

C'mon...do it!

Is He Itching to Bust a Move?

2010-08-07T19:16:00.006-04:00

Our little man is growing. He is 8 months old today. It's extremely difficult to be so far away from him and miss out on a number of milestones. I wonder if he's started to creep, crawl or shuffle on his butt? I hope that his teething pain is minimal. We haven't received any news, updates or photos. What has been conveyed to me is that "no news is good news". So, I guess all is good. *sigh*

The courts have officially closed and we never got word that our court date is scheduled for October. I am hopeful that we will be able to travel as soon as the courts reopen, but nothing has been confirmed as of yet.

Today I decided to buy him a gift to celebrate his 8th month. I can't wait to see him play with these wooden stacking rings!

During my little pity party today, I was cruising around my computer and came across some photos that completely cheered me up.

When we received our referral, we sent his picture to our nieces in CA. When they saw his face, they immediately fell in love and decided to make him a gift. My mom just returned from spending a month with them and she said that they talk about him often and that they are very excited to meet him. I am really looking forward to that day. They are going to be wonderful cousins!

Rylie and Sadie - thank you both for making me smile today. Love you!

Uneventful

2010-08-02T19:49:00.006-04:00

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 11th Edition (2003)
Pronunciation: \ˌən-i-ˈvent-fəl\
Function: adjective
Date: 1800
: marked by no noteworthy or untoward incidents: placid
Synonyms see MY WEEKEND; RED SOX TRADE DEADLINE

10 Things

2010-07-26T18:40:00.011-04:00

Since the last two weeks have beaten my ass to a pulp, I figured I would return to a previous theme and try to focus on 10 things that have made me smile over the past 14 days. Some yucky and unbloggable stuff is going on in my life, so this is my way of trying to trick myself into thinking postively. Denial? Perhaps. Distraction? More likely.

1. Bunny Dippin'

2. Spicy Edamame

3. Inception - After the couple left with their crying infant (!) we were able to enjoy the action-packed, thriller.

4. Squeeze & Cheap Trick at the Pavilion

"sunlight on the lino - woke me with a shake - I looked around to find her but she'd gone"

5. Escaping the Fenway heat and ducking into Eastern Standard for some a/c and a yummy b-day meal for Zack.

6. The Prenups at the Lizard
"sunlight on the lino - woke me with a shake - I looked around to find her but she'd gone"

7. An evening with Molly, red wine and Mel Gibson's rant - well, the rant didn't make us smile, but we had fun nonetheless.

8. Spending some QT with Dad

9. The return of Mad Men!

10. Watching Grendyl nap

Sometimes Seeing the Glass as Half Full is Exhausting

2010-07-16T20:21:00.007-04:00

I'm grumpy.

We were notified yesterday afternoon that we will NOT be traveling for our court date until October. Boo!

The courts will be closing on August 6th - September 30th. They will not process our case until after they reopen. Hiss!

We have not been given a definite date in October either.

So, we have about two and a half more months of not being able to experience this:

Ethiopia: The Whole Picture from Paul Hassell on Vimeo.

Perhaps next week I will be well rested and able to glean something positive out of this news.

Nursery Update

2010-07-13T20:41:00.008-04:00

Things are slowly coming together in our little room. Pictures of the entire room will be posted (promise!), but until I'm ready for that, here's a look at another project that I am very close to finishing. You have already seen the bookshelves. Here is a painting that I made which will live above those shelves.

I'm psyched to be close to completing this so that I can move on to the next task, but I will surely miss my new nickname ("Picasshole" - awww thanks, honey).

Mike has also been feeling creative lately.

On a different note, we had our annual visit with the Kelleher clan and it was laid-back and delightful. Thanks for feeding us and for showing us how to be awesome parents. Their boys are such a great hang - we owe them a wiffle ball game. Both Aoife and I tried out our self-timers on our cameras for the 1st time (I think we've had them each for at least 1-2 years). Success!

More Buffalo Chicken Dip, Please

2010-07-05T21:36:00.004-04:00

The Andersons have the 4th of July BBQ down to a science. Give people plenty of beer and snacks and one Poolmaster Aqua Rocker Fun Float and I'd say that's a pretty stellar event. But they actually take it to the next level. How? They time the second tray of buffalo chicken dip to come out of the oven just as the guests are contemplating their exit to "catch the fireworks" on top of some hill outside of the city.

Well played.