Even Closer!

A few days ago I wrote about Faith's optimism in waiting and how it should teach me something. Well, our hopes have been met within the last few days as several families adopting through our agency have received referrals! We are very, very excited. They have begun matching families who sent their paperwork to Ethiopia in early April. Our dossier took the trip on April 28th, so now we really are even closer! I have tried very hard to remain even-tempered about everything and to appreciate the fact that this part of the wait will probably seem easy compared to the next part, when we already know who are son is and are just waiting to go get him, but I don't know how to keep calm, cool, and collected over this.

I've definitely got to get moving on preparing a new bedroom for Faith and a new nursery for her baby brother!

Stranger Danger

Yesterday when we were out eating lunch, Faith was playing nice with everyone within eyesight--waving and smiling at several other folks who were eating nearby. I decided that all this friendliest comes with some risks and it was time to have a discussion. I leaned in close to her and said, "Faith, what if that man over there said, 'Hey, little girl, will you please come with me and help me find my lost puppy?' What would you say?"

She frowned and said, "No?"

"That's right," I said, "Strangers are people who we don't know, and you should never go anywhere with anyone we don't know without Mama and Daddy."

"And, Mama, if that man over there said 'Little girl, will you wear my coat?' I would say 'No!' and run away."

I guess that means she understood.

Pondering the Pink Pig

When Faith and I were visiting my sister and her family during the week before Christmas, we were able to go to the Pink Pig. The Pink Pig is an Atlanta Christmas tradition. It began in 1953 as a monorail ride that circled above(!) the Rich's toy department and later it was taken outside so that kids could ride around the big Christmas tree on Rich's roof(!). After being retired for years, it was refurbished by the Junior League and became a more sedate train ride under a tent in the Macy's parking lot at Lenox Mall. The pig-like train winds around a storybook set while a pig character with a broad southern accent narrates a tale that is entirely beside the point. It is fun, fun, fun for kids of all ages. The only problem is that while the ride itself lasts about 3 minutes, the line for the ride lasts somewhere around 90 during peak travel time, which is certainly when we found ourselves there.

After waiting in line for tickets, you wait in line for the line for the ride itself. I did not mistype that. There is a big line outside the tent, and a small line inside the tent where the ride is located. Because they move only about 30 folks into the tent at once then wait until that line empties to call in the next group, the big line moves very slowly.

Faith loved every minute of it. While we were in line, she made friends and played with other kids and the toys their thoughtful parents brought for them to play with. (I had brought nothing.) It was so funny to see her join this group and then that, laughing and talking to whoever was willing. Finally we were near the front of the line. They called the last big group before us up to enter the tent, and as the attendant set the rope behind that group several people at the very front groaned in disappointment since they were going to have to wait at least twenty more minutes to get to the ride itself.

At the same time, Faith yelled out "Yaay! We're even closer!"

I'm trying to keep Faith's pink pig perspective as we enter 2009 and begin our ninth month of waiting to be matched with a son. I'm officially resolving to make the most of our time waiting and celebrate the fact that every day we are even closer!

Happy New Year

Hope everyone had as merry a Christmastime as we have had, and, in fact, are still having since we are keeping the house decorated and the carols playing until January 6. This year we decided there was just too much busy-ness in the days leading up to Christmas to stop celebrating after just one day. The twelve days of Christmas tradition is making a lot of sense to me now, so we intend to carry on with all the cheer (and, who am I kidding, all the eating) for a while longer. Our Christmas pictures will be up on dropshots as soon as I can get them there. Click here and enter the name of our little town for access.

Too Funny

Toddler triplets "sharing" a plasma car. Go here and scroll down for the video.

Thanks, Renee, for putting this link on YG.

Oh, Christmas Tree

And this is after Faith judiciously decided to move several ornaments OFF the tree because she detected a balance issue.

Beautiful Children

Several families who are adopting through our agency "passed court" this week. In an Ethiopian adoption, the adoption is finalized in court in Ethiopia before you travel there to receive your child. Here are some links to these families' blogs where you can view some absolutely beautiful pictures and videos of these kids:

The Stagers
The Burks
The Caldwells
The Slonigers
The Sparrs
The Tennants