My Bow Is...

First Oatmeal Cereal

Baby C had her first taste of oatmeal cereal this past Monday, 11.22.10. She loves it! We are now feeding her rice in the mornings and oatmeal in the evenings.

These are a few of the pictures from her first oatmeal feeding. I promise, she loves oatmeal now!

Baby C's Outfit From Her BM

On 10.27.10, we found out that Baby C's BM bought her an outfit. Our SW brought it to us on 11.4.10 (our fifth post-placement visit). If we had known it was a Halloween theme, we would have gone and picked it up. But, it was way too cute to not wear it...

We Got News

Last Monday, our SW called my cell phone on our way home from my DH's dentist appointment. She wanted to know when we wanted to meet up with Baby C's BM again. We had talked at our prior home visit about this and decided upon early December. She was just wanting to make sure that it was still a go. A little while later, she called again. I missed the call, but quickly called her back. She went on to tell us that Baby C's BM had picked December 1st. We know that she is anxious. She told us the time and then I went on to ask if the BF was going to be there or not. Our BM had told her that the BF didn't want to come. He just couldn't handle it. He would break down. That's not what we wanted on to hear. We'll keep working on that.

If that wasn't enough for one phone call, there was more news. Our BM had to tell her mother. Apparently, a bill from the hospital showed up at our BM's mother's home. All we know is that the converstation went well. She, Baby C's birthgrandmother, wants to meet us. The SW told our BM that this next meeting is not appropriate. And, the BM said that she told her mom that she could meet us only if we wanted this to happen. Our BM didn't tell her mother the entire truth. She told her that the BF didn't know Baby C even exsisted. I am not sure of the reasoning behind that, but I am sure it was so that her mother don't talk about Baby C with others.

Then, there was more... Baby C's BM is now working at the mall we go to regularly. She works in one our a favorite stores (The P.lace). We went to the mall this past weekend to pick up a few things and to get my wedding rings inspected, we are 99% sure that she was working that day. We didn't stop at the The P.lace. I guess I may need to mark that off of my list of places to shop on B.lack F.riday.

The plan is to meet with Baby C's BM on the 1st and to discuss us seeing other in public more. But, I am not personally ready to say just how close we live. I am also not ready to meet others from the birthfamily. Of course, we would love to Baby C's BF.

This has been a lot to digest. I am really not sure how I feeling about all of this...

Thankful - ICLW

No matter how hard things have been it the past, I am thankful for what we have today.

Baby C wore shoes and denim jeans for the first time Saturday (11.20.10). The Levi jeans were a gift from my Dad. He owns a hometown clothing store. The shirt is Gymbo., but I bought it for a couple of dollars at one of the Mother's Exchanges I have been to recently. The shoes came from one also or Once U.pon A C.hild, I can't remember, but either way they were only a couple of dollars.

First Cereal

Baby C was to have her four month check-up this past Monday. However, it was canceled and moved to Tuesday when her doctor became ill while at work. We had been waiting to start her on cereal until after that appointment, but we just couldn't wait anymore (we were anxious and more importantly we could tell that formula is just not enough anymore).

4 Months

Baby C turned 4 months on Tuesday!

She also had her four month check-up that afternoon. She now weighs 14 lbs. 4oz and is in the 65th percentile. She is 24 1/2" long and in the 40th percentile. Her head circumference was 16 1/2".

She had one oral vaccine and two shots. Thank goodness my DH was able to go to the appointment this time!

Holiday Greetings

Since we have been married, my DH and I have never sent Christmas cards. Shhhh! I am not a bah humbug, we have just never got around to it. But, I want to this year and I want it to be extra special.

This year, I am going to ordering our holiday cards from Shutterfly.

When I saw this design, I liked it right away.

Check out this design

But, I really like this design also.

Check out this design

There are so many choices; I have a tough decision to make.

Plus, I need to figure out what pictures I want to use. I better get started soon.!

Last week, I returned to work. To brighten up my room, I am thinking about buying personalized:

 

The mug would come in handy for my hot tea, the magnets could go on my whiteboard and the mouse pad would brighten up my day as I am putting in grades. Baby C would be with me all day!

P.S. - Check out this great idea... you can ordered personalized gift tags!

Are you interested in 50 free holiday cards? Check this out!

Exchange - Part 2

Catch up on my finds in THIS POST. We went to another event this past Saturday. I got up around 4:45am and my DH woke up a little after 5am. I was pretty much ready to go by time he got up so that I could get Baby C ready. She was in a great mood! After getting her ready and a bottle, we were off. We had a couple of stops to make on the way, but we arrived to the sale an hour early. There were already people in line. We were probably the tenth or so back, but the line quickly grew long. This event was held in a high school cafeteria and adjoining rooms. The line to get in was in the main hallway of the school and on either side of us the marketplace (local vendors and crafters) was set-up. The consignors who participate get to shop ahead of the public, so we started seeing them and their goodies at the checkout around 7:30am. Then, it was our turn. This sale was HUGE. There were tables upon tables of goodies. One room was dedicated solely to toys and another to baby gear (outside toys also). I love how they label the tables so things are easy to find.

Here are my finds from this sale:

I bought the counter because it has giraffes on the sides! We love giraffes! The onesies in the ziplock bag are 12m and had the orginal tags on them (C.hildren's P.lace). We got them for $2. The v.Tech toy was $3.50, has all of the parts and works.

Of course, we bought more books.

                             The spots you see on this toy all came off when wiped with a L.ysol wipe!

My DH after we got home around 2:30pm. We were able to have lunch with friends who also just became parents through the miracle of adoption! And, afterwards, we had a few errands to run.

Back to Work

Baby C is off to the babysitters and I am back to work. Keep us in your thoughts today. Will update soon...

Fifth Post-Placement Visit

Last Thursday, we had our fifth post-placement visit. When our SW arrived, Baby C was playing her new jumperoo. So, we all sat on the floor to play and talk during the first part of our visit. I am so much more relaxed during these visits now. I don't clean my house to extremes for days ahead of time. First reason, I don't have the time anymore. Secondly, they don't expect that. They just want to make sure Baby C is part of the best family possible with tons of love!

While we were sitting on the floor, our SW asked us if we had heard what happened with our agency's director. We hadn't. Our SW went on to tell us that our director was no longer our director. My heart sank. I started to cry. This is the person that changed our lives forever with THE CALL. This is the person who met us at the hospital. This is the person who was there when we signed the papers and who completed our first post-placement visit. This came as a shock to us.

The visit lasted almost an hour after some discussion about what Baby C has learned, her next appointment, our next meeting with her BM and the meeting with our lawyer. I can't believe we only have two more home visits to go!

Baby C's 1st Robe

We received this robe set as a gift at our second Welcome Home party. Baby C tried it out for the first time the other night.

Space Saver High Chair

During the T.oys R U.s trade-in event in September, my sister gave me one of her old pieces of gear. I ended up getting Baby C's high chair for cheap, cheap. Up until now, we had been storing it in our garage. The other night, my DH and I were working on our graduate work at our dining room table, so we set up the chair close by so that she could help. She loves it! It's going to come in handy next week when she gets to start eating rice cereal.

My 26th BDay - November 1st

A little late, but I have been busy. Thank you all so much for your well wishes on my birthday. It means a lot to me. My birthday was great. I woke up that morning to find a scavenger hunt that my DH had set up for me to complete. So, I got Baby C out of bed, changed her and we searched away. The first hint was left on my computer (he knows that as I feed Baby C in the mornings I check me email, blog, etc...). The rest of the hints took me to various locations around the house; all of them dealing with Baby C. It was fun for the both of us. At the end of the hunt, I found two cards. One of them was from my DH and the other from Baby C.

During the day, my DH called to wish me Happy BDay. Then, towards the end of the day he texted me to say that he had a short meeting. He ended up only getting home a few minutes later than normal. He didn't have a meeting. He showed up with these...

A dozen yellow roses.

Baby C playing with our oldest puppy, Chi (pronounced shy).

He also brought home a french silk pie with o.reo crust. It's my favorite.

My birthday was one of the best yet because I got to spend it with Baby C.