Park City, Utah

This is not at all baby related:) Nothing is new on that front, except that our social worker told us that A was very comfortable with us after dinner. She also said that she's never once wavered in this process. I know the worst part for her is yet to come, but that is encouraging for us.

I have got to rave about this beautiful area of the country. Yesterday, we drove through the mountains and up to Park City where the winter Olympics were held. The bobsled track and the unreal ski jumps are still set up. The Olympic village where all the athletes stayed is still there, and it's amazing. The little village is something straight out of Europe. I really feel like I'm in a different country.

Here are a few pics from our trip so far:

Dinner

It was amazing. I'm exhausted, so this will be short. I am so thankful I got to spend time with A, her boyfriend, and her two little ones. They are so precious, and I feel like it will be the most amazing gift to be able to share with this baby girl if she ends up with us. A seems so completely sure of her decision to place, but I know the hardest part is yet to come. But, she wants to hang out again tomorrow, and I'm so thrilled! We're all going to the park:)

I need some help from those of you who have given birth or who know lots about it. On Mon, she was already 4 cm and on Tues. she lost her mucus plug....doesn't that mean her labor should start any time?

I'll keep you posted!! I'm going to take some pictures of these beautiful mountains tomorrow. Just wait until you see them! :)

Greetings from Utah

Hi guys! :) We are here, and I just had to check in. My husband is ironing our clothes for tonight...most of them don't even need ironing, but it's crazy the pressure we feel to present ourselves well. She already likes us from our profile and our conversations, but I'm oh so afraid anyway.
Can I just say that Utah is absolutely stunning? We're in Salt Lake City and there are mountains everywhere you look. It's beautiful. Our social worker met us at the airport, and she was wonderful. We had a little talk about A and her situation. She's never once faltered at all about adoption. And our social worker said that she is out today buying a new outfit because she's so nervous to meet us and wants to look "cute." Isn't that precious?! It makes me feel strangely better that she wants to be with us and get to know us. It seems less likely to disrupt if she's comfortable with us and if she's really involved in the process, you know?
I'll be sure to let you all know how dinner goes. I can't thank you enough for the emails and comments of support. I get all teary eyed every time I read them. I love this community and I am so grateful to have all of you in my corner!

Waking up a 4 am

This won't be a poignant post. I'm so tired and so jittery that I hardly can make sense of my thoughts. I woke up at 4 am with the realization that our previous agency has not sent any of our paperwork (fingerprints, sealed birth certificates) to the new agency. They have a copy of our homestudy, but the fingerprints are what I'm most worried about. That could prevent the adoption, couldn't it? I got up at 4 and emailed everyone I ever talked to at the old agency. They told us previously that they'd send whatever we need wherever we needed it, so I'm taking some comfort in that, but I really need people to be open and awake and ready for business whenever I need them :) They'll overnight all that stuff to the new agency, won't they? Please say yes! :)

I had a not so minor melt down last night. I had everything packed beautifully. The baby's suitcase was really packed tight so that the gifts for A and her boys won't get smashed. My husband wisely asked if we need to even pack diapers and formula because it'd be easier to not carry them with us and just buy them there. And it would leave room to pack the camera in the suitcase. You would've thought he asked me to walk to Salt Lake City; I just lost it! Looking back, obviously it's because of all the changes that took place yesterday and continue to take place today. I'm thrilled to be able to stay home with our kids. It's going to be a definite lifestyle adjustment for us, but it's important to me, so it's worth it. But, though I've struggled with the administration at work, I adore my kids and I adore what I do. I've done it since I came out of college, and I'm not sure yet who I am without those girls. I know, though, that once I hold my own girl, I'll know I made the right decision, but it's a tougher transition than I imagined. And we're on the cusp of possibly the biggest event in our lives. In 24 hours, we'll be on a plane to meet the woman who may give us the baby who is already being a stinker and trying to come out too early:) I didn't really care about the stupid suitcase, but it triggered a melt down that was a few days in the making....plus, it really was packed nicely. :)

Today I'm cleaning the house and doing a tiny bit of laundry. I'm going to finish packing (AGAIN!....grrr...maybe it was about the suitcase! :) ) and I have to go to the bank to get the money figured out. And that's it. I'm ready to go. How scary!!!!

4 cm! **With an update for Jess** :)

Things are moving so quickly! The doctor said A is nearly 4 cm already, but she's not effaced, so he didn't admit her. She asked us if we could come out earlier. She really wants to meet and spend time with us, which I love. She is getting really emotional, and she said she wants to know we're there to parent the baby whenever she gets here. I had no idea this would be this heart-wrenching. It's horribly sad. A is a great girl. She's smart and funny and warm. She's been through hell, and I won't go into that on here, but she doesn't want to parent this baby because of it. She's not a terrible mom. She's not a drug addict. She isn't homeless or without family. I kind of want to adopt her, too.

So, now we're flying out early Thurs. morning. I'm so overwhelmed you guys. I'm rushing around trying to get packed, folding little tiny clothes while trying not to get any emotional attachment to them (ha...as if that is possible). We finally got in touch with a lawyer to set up finalization because our agency needs his name. We bought plane tickets, reserved a hotel, booked a rental car...we're good to go. Today is my last day of work. It's so odd. I didn't think I'd be as sad as I am. I'm pretty much an emotional disaster right now. I'll post more later:)

**Update: Oh, silly Jess, of course I am taking my computer. How would I function without being able to blog? :) My husband may leave me when I pull out the laptop at the hospital, though. :)***

Frilly Outfit

Babies R Us is from the devil; I've decided. They make you feel like you need everything in that store to be a good parent! Rant over.

Here are pictures of the little outfit we bought (I love the little hat and cardigan! The pictures don't show how TINY they are). We only bought one. Mel gave me good advice (thanks!). She said that one outfit won't put me over the edge if this doesn't happen, but if it does, it will be something I always remember. I'm with her! Isn't it so beautiful? Little girl clothes are fun! :)

We're supposed to get a phone call from the agency tonight because A had a dr.'s appt. today. At her last one, she was already 2cm, so I'm excited to hear a report. It makes me happy that she wants to call and share things like that with me. I'm getting nervous (shocking, I know), though, because the agency still hasn't gotten us the paperwork to sign. I know it happened over the weekend, but it's Mon. now! Don't they realize I'm sitting here waiting? :)

I'm still not sleeping...at ALL! I just can't. I'm exhausted, but I lay down and I just can't relax. I talked to work today, though!! I told them Wed. is my last day AND I told them that I'm pretty sure I'll be a stay at home mom after the baby comes. I'm going to teach a class or two at a local university and make more than what I make teaching high school full time right now. I'll miss my kids, though! But, I have no doubt that being home with my little one will be well worth it. Now, let's just get her here!

I'll post later tonight if there's news from the dr! :)

I should be sleeping!

About a million people have said to me, "You'd better get your sleep now before the baby comes." :) It's like telling a little one to sleep on Christmas Eve. I just can't do it!

You should see the little outfit I got yesterday! It's so beautiful! Our digital camera broke yesterday (can you believe it?? I have to get another one - this is like the picture summit of life!), but I'll post a pic of the outfit as soon as I can.

I'm so thankful for this opportunity, and I'm trusting that it will happen (how can it not when Mel had two 2 year olds praying for it? What's closer to God than that? :), but I'm a bit nervous. Much less so than last time. And I also have to admit that I feel a sense of sadness for A. She is very secure in her decision, but I know she's going to hurt so much after this. You can't be human and not feel deep sadness at a mother leaving the hospital without the baby she just delivered. It hurts me so much. I'm really battling with being over the moon excited, feeling nervous and hesitant, and feeling guilty that I will be granted a family at another's expense...and now I feel guilty for posting anything that's not just full of elation. I am SOOOO excited:)

I'll say it again, you guys are the greatest. I've saved and printed out every single email and comment to put in the baby's book. I want her to see how much she is wanted and how supportive this community is. She will be able to read all the warmth, support, and love from this community of women, and I think that is so important. Happy Sunday! :)

a little girl...

This has been the craziest night of my life. You all are just amazing. I truly sat here reading all the messages with tears rolling down my face. Just six months ago, I felt so alone and so unsure of where to turn. Not that all is figured out, but I never feel alone anymore. You have no idea how it feels to know that at one certain second of the day, there are women all over the country thinking of and praying for you. I got messages from so many of you right near 6 just lending support. You guys have no idea how much that has meant to me.

Our talk with A was unreal. I am so glad we did it. She is warm and funny. I won't go too much into her background, but I will say that she seems very sure that this is right for her. She has an excellent support system. She wants to meet us, so I think we're going to be flying out either Fri. or Sat. to have dinner with her before the baby is born. She was so complimentary. She said when she saw our profile, she felt like she could see who were are by looking into our eyes. So many people told me that you'll have no idea why a mom may choose you, and it's true. She said what first drew her to us was that my husband plays guitar and that she felt like she knew us when she saw us.

She's in Utah, which is about 22 hours in a car from here, so I guess we'll be flying. Any tips on finding good fares this late? It's funny that after spending 20k on an adoption, we're kicking and screaming over plane fares:) We have to stay in Utah for up to 2 weeks for ICPC to go through, and that worries me financially, too, but for now, I'm just going to be excited. I don't want to count chickens or anything, but for my own mental health, I need to spend at least one day feeling like I may have a baby on the way. I know that may be unpopular in certain adoption circles, and I am well aware that this baby isn't mind until A signs the papers. But, the hope and possibility makes me so happy. Knowing that odds are I'll be a mommy a week from Tues. makes me nuts with joy. For tonight, I'm putting away the worry and the "what ifs" and I'm being excited...and tomorrow, I'm buying a tiny, frilly, pink outfit. If it doesn't work out, a pink outfit won't be what sends me over the edge:)

I know there must be more, but I'm sleepy. Thank you all for being my blog pals:) We'll chat tomorrow...Sleep well!

Oh my...

it's a match!!! :) I'm going to post more later tonight, but for now I need to figure out how the heck I'm going to get across the country in a week. :) Thank you for the support, and please say a special prayer for our expectant mom. She is as sweet as can be. More soon.

2 more minutes until 6

I'm on Eastern time:) I've had some inquiries:) I'm so freakin nervous, you guys!