Just thought I'd pop in ...

Just thought I'd pop in and say Hi and Thank all those who have left messages these past few days. I've been hard to catch.

Well the packing continues... so far so good.

300 lollipops later (yes I'm really taking 300 lollipops), a suit case's worth of gifts and toys.

We still have 3 suit cases to go.

Not as bad as it sounds. Everything we're packing is laid out or hanging on a rack.

But the carry on's are ready...lol

OK... I'd better go... getting a look from Tamara's Mama here..lol

Yup still excited... not freaking out yet.

I'm mentally treating it like one of our big parties so I stay focused on what needs to be done.

I'll sleep on the plane... maybe?

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What we can expect...

What we can expect...

I recieved an email tonight from our agency... last minute couching you might say.

I'm going to post parts of the email as I think it's important for family and friends to understand what this is really like. It is also important for them to understand that we ARE going to be following the agencies advice.

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY!!!!

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have you> bought some pull-ups for the trip home? Have them> explain to her that it's special travel underwear> because sometimes it's hard to find a bathroom. Newly> adopted toddlers tend to become more babyish when they> first get home, it's part of bonding with the new> family. Emotionally you want her to go back to infancy> and redevelop as your daughter, bonded with you. Part> of this backsliding might be wetting at night so some> pull-ups around isn't a bad thing.

*

Tamara is very shy and not really used to getting her> needs met ever, more less immediately. The foster> mother does really well but she has special needs kids> to care for who require more care than Tamara. She may> not know how to react to being the center of attention> at first. While you're bonding with her everything> should come from the parents, even if it's a gift from> someone else it should be handed to her by you. The> other person can be there, of course, but it should> come from you. Food should come from you, feed her> from your plate with a fork if possible. Cuddle her> while she drinks out of a sippy cup and don't be> surprised if she starts wanting a bottle. Get her one> and let her drink out of it (with you holding her) at> home. A friend of mine adopted her kids at 8 and 5 and> used these techniques (plus others) and they really> worked. My kids were surprised when we went up to> visit and our gift was presented by the mother but I'd> told them ahead of time and they were fine with it.

*

Just remember that she's going to be very nervous and> scared, you'll just need to be patient until she> settles down. She doesn't have normal life coping> skills as she hasn't had a normal life, everything is> a change for her and change isn't always a good thing.> She isn't going to have as many points of reference as> a home-grown child her age would but that means you> get to be there for so many first and to experience so> many of them with her. Often people who adopt toddlers> feel they're about a year behind developmentally and> that's probably about right for her too.

*

You must be crawling out of your skin by now, I know> the feeling.

*

Thanks Kathy

I've had many adoptive parents and adoption child development experts tell me many of the same things. But you said it so clearly that I had to pass it along.

I hope you don't mind... I really thought it was important and I know that I will not have the time, patience nor energy to debate the bonding process later. As you know it can be exhausting.

*

I promised to educate on this blog not just entertain.

I also know there are adoptive parents and there are future adoptive parents who are following along. This part of the process will be of great interest to those who are about to adopt.

Bonding with your child comes 2nd only to their health.

*

It's very important that family and friends understand that it isn't personal but our child's bonding process comes before anything or anyone else. I am very serious about this.

I expect everyone to comply with our wishes.

Thank You!

~~~

OK.. enough serious stuff.

We're still packing and cleaning and trying to get ready.

Today I took a few hours to try and make myself look presentable for our daughter.

You know.. once you hit 29 ;o) it becomes a maintenance challenge leaving the country for more then a few weeks.

Hair

Facial

Wax On... Wax Off

Ouch... that hurt!

Tomorrow AM .. manicure /pedicure

Then it's back to packing and packing and weighing the suitcases

Trying to keep them all under 50 lbs. each.

My plan is to be finished by Sunday Eve? Yeah we'll see. lol.

In the meantime I also need to tidy up around here.

So things are tidy when we get home.

~~~

We also had a nice visit with our neighbors tonight. It's really nice to see how genuinely happy and excited they are for us.

Thanks for the earrings guys and yes ASH we'll try and bring you some Vodka .

Although??? I think they're more into wine in Georgia?

Good Night!

~~~

Love American Style

Love American Style...

Today's project was zooming off a letter to our agency for translation for the judge and putting the finishing touches on the photo album for the judge.

The letter is our opportunity to express ourselves. Explain ourselves. Yes I know what you're thinking there is no explanation for us ;o) lol

4 type written pages later we got a thumbs up from our agency.

The album is to show that we are a normal happily married couple and fit to adopt Tamara.

Not too much of a stretch ... right? lol

Anyway.. while digging through my computer photo files I found our wedding photos.

And so I thought I'd share a few.

Enjoy!

We haven't changed too much have we?

Our bridal party at Cave Pt. Door County WI.

A Beautiful Day and a party that went on for 3 days.

Almost 14 years ago.. Wow time sure does fly when you're having fun.

And this was Cave Point last year on our Anniversary.

Where we're standing was all under water 14 years ago.

Global warming perhaps?

Pretty No? For those who have never been. This is Lake Michigan on the Wisconsin side.

OK... better get back to it. Clock is ticking away.

~~~

Decorating Finished?

The last few days I've had several requests to see Tamara's new room.

As you know from previous posts we bought her a Young America Isabella set.

I still liked the Waverly Sweet Violets better then anything I could find out there for her.

Unless you go with "character" spreads, curtains and linens your choices are very limited these days. And since Tamara doesn't know who Tinkerbell, Barbie or Dora are yet I thought having a pillow size Tinkerbell face staring at her might be too traumatic.

So we decided to stay with flowers.

I certainly hope she likes violet?

~~~

This first picture is my inspiration picture.

Next we have our transition picture before the new furniture.

This one has the furniture with white tab curtains as I then realized Waverly Sweet Violets was discontinued. So finding enough in time was a challenge.. but you know me I love a challenge.

Her new bedroom
The bed is toddler height for now.. using the bed rails. As she grows the bed will be lifted. Eventually bed rails removed. And the trundle will be added for sleep overs.

The Waverly curtains for bed and windows as well as a new twin size comforter just arrived this week. In my search for Waverly I found a woman that makes custom teddy bears so I had her make Tamara a matching violets Teddy. He's seated at the foot of her bed on the toy chest.

FYI.. if you ever get this type of bed you need a full size bed skirt when you do a toddler height.

I thinned out the dolls. Packed away all the porcelains as well as all the dolls that are not age appropriate yet.

Found this wonderful porcelain frame for her room.

We've scattered photos of her all around the house so she feels at home. After our trip I will also frame photos of us 3 and her friends in Georgia so she makes the connection. Should also help her with home sickness.

So glad she likes dolls. The doll below (blue dress) is a reborn Lissi doll. No not the religious reborn. A reborn doll is when a an artist takes a vinyl doll and hand paints details to make them life like. The effect is pretty amazing. This little darling is actually Tamara's size.. although about 10 inches shorter. Since she has the same body measurements as Tamara we were able to use her to test out safety equipment. Try our safety harnesses and such. It was very helpful to have Lissi around. ;o) especially when doing baby gates.

When I saw this mint condition vintage pram on eBay I had to get it for Tamara. It reminded me of the one I had when I was little.

Lily what are you doing here?

Lily found My Twinn Cuddly Madeline's bed. For about a week I've been wondering why Madeline kept falling out of bed? Mystery solved. Like I said before... Lily will most likely be Tamara's cat. Always ready to play

What do you think?

Are we finished decorating? Please say yes.. I'm out of time.

~~~

I'm Leaving on a JET Plane...

We're leaving on a jet plane... don't know when we'll be back again.

Yup... we're leaving

and it's been so hard keeping my mouth shut for the past few days while we make our final arrangements.

On my Birthday I received an email from our agency. It started out this way...

"Happy Birthday! We have a present for you ... A court date on May 22nd. "

Absolutely made my day!!!

they then went on to say...

"Tamara is doing well - still shy and all that. She is a nice girl and a girly girl, into babies and household stuff."

Woo Hoo I got my "Girly Girl" lol

Can you tell we're excited?

Aren't you excited too?

~~~

OK our flights are booked and our apartment is reserved.

We'll be staying in the heart of the city. In their super duper luxury apartment.

Yes we will have Internet access in our apartment so we should be able to stay in touch and update our blog accordingly. But remember they do have power grid issues so let's not freak if we miss a day or two. OK?

~~~

Today we finalized our flying and living accommodations and purchased medical / air evacuation coverage... just in case. This is the insurance plan that will basically send a floating ICU unit to come and pick us up in case something horrific should happen.

Just like ALL insurance policies you hope you never have to cash in on it but we'll sleep better knowing it's in place.

~~~

Time to put the finishing touches on packing, check our lists and check them twice.

OK now for the freaky part...lol...

it's a mental list..lol...

even freakier... my brain. ;o)

OK..ok.. stop laughing... I can do this... honestly I don't do lists on paper.. never have.

So if I forget something I'll have no one to blame but myself... so of course we're taking "everything" So glad the apartment comes with a kitchen sink.

That was a packing issue for me. lol ;o)

~~~

OK.. better get back to it ... more later!

So excited!

I'm gonna be a Mommy.... I'm gonna be a Mommy

OH.. No I just remembered Bruce is the Mommy :o(

I'm going to be a Dada... I'm gonna be a Dada

You gotta admit the language Mama / Dada thing is funny.

No no ...I don't hear you.

We just told the girls Mommy & Daddy are going away for a while

to pick up their new human sister. And we told them who their babysitters were.

Thought I'd share their reaction.

No..no.. I don't hear you.

I'd say things are going fairly well on the home front... wouldn't you?

~~~

I'm still here...

I'm still here but not for long. ;o)

Major update coming your way shortly.

Stay tuned as we finalize a few major details.

~~~