Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Monday, September 29, 2008

Totally random post thoughts





Not surprisingly, we had a very nice weekend. Minute Man wasn't feeling all that well (he is cutting 4 teeth and now appears to have fall allergies - just like his Mama!), but he was of course, wonderful. We had a very nice visit, and took M and his Grand P's to the farmer's market, out to see MY golf course, and on a nice long walk around the neighborhood. Everyone was great company (except possibly me), and in fact, the visit and my weekend, was too short.

On a personal note, I'm BURIED under work these days and had to take a few hours this weekend to go to the office. BUT, I've been working more "normal" hours and this seems to work better for everyone involved (except me. and people who want MORE work FROM me). I'm getting better at just "hanging out" with the Minute. He's really a lot of fun, and now that the weather has changed to a reasonable 70-something most days, we spend more time outside with my chickens, playing with the dogs, or just playing in the grass. (Yes, he FINALLY has come to accept grass!!). We are getting better at having a schedule (something that is hard for me, as I hate schedules), and I find that M is really settling in well. He REALLY loves the pets. The dogs are not his favorite, which I thought they would be. It turns out he's a cat person! Although, the cats don't necessarily love him! His favorite thing is to "pet" them with the TV remote. heh.

Anyway, I'm still getting a feel for "motherhood", and as I have told my therapist over and over, I still don't FEEL like a Mom (whatever THAT means), but I do feel like I'm getting the hang of balancing my life better, and even managed to see a girlfriend this weekend for a few hours! I hope to slowly integrate more "social-life" into my life as I begin to feel more and more like a person again. As some of you may know, I'm still dealing with something I "picked up" in Vietnam, and have been sick for the last few months (LONG story, but basically, one thing kind of lead to another, then that cleared up, but that led to something else...and so-on and so-forth...). This week I think I am FINALLY beating EVERYTHING and am BEGINNING to feel like myself again. This can only be a HUGE step in the right direction for me physically and emotionally as well.

Lastly, Minh had his second pediatrician appointment two weeks ago. We were surprised to find this kid who eats like a horse, hasn't gained any weight yet. But, he has been growing taller. He's FINALLY out of the 3-6 month clothes and into his 9 mo. clothes!! Although the 9 mo. pants are still too big 'cause M has NO BUTT to hold the pants up!! But, if I fold them over, then at least he doesn't trip on them!!

Ok, this post is everywhere, but I finally found a little time to write, so this is what you get. I hope I haven't lost EVERYONE out there yet. At least I have tons of adorable pictures of the Minute Man to keep you interested, right??!! ;->

Friday, September 26, 2008

Company this weekend


We have the G-P's coming this weekend. Pappa John, and Gramma Bug. My folks have met the Minute once immediately after we came home, and then, we spent a week with them at the beach this month. This will be the first time T's folks will get to meet the Minute. They will have a uniquely different experience than did my folks for a number of reasons. The biggie is my man Minh WALKS now. Last week he started, and this week it is all about the walking (see the picture!!). So, that's definitely different. Also, he's cutting 3 or 4 teeth (poor little fellow), and is crabby as hell much of the time (although he woke up happy today, TG!). And finally, when we were at the beach, Little Dude talked non-stop. Now, he talks less these days; mainly I think, b/c he's focused on walking. But he LOVES LOVES LOVES music, and that hasn't changed, so everyone will have gotten to enjoy seeing him buggie-oogie to music. YAY!

Well, back to work, but will let y'all know how it goes! happy Friday!

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Monday, September 22, 2008

Oh, and BTW - China, remember THAT adoption?

Just something for those of you out there involved in the China-adoption world: I have lost count of how many months we are past our LID - we are let's see....past 2 years, and some months. If our wait time were a child, we'd call them 2 years and 3 months, NOT talk of it in months anymore. Anyway, we had hoped that we'd be going to China next year to pick up Baby Magic. But oh, no. We'll be lucky to get Baby M before Minute goes to High School at this rate. Here's the most recent projection (from China Adoption Forecast)

Our prediction for LID 2006-06-15

China has 126 days of dossiers to be processed before they get to your dossier. China currently processes about 6 days of dossiers each month.

Our best guess: 2010-06-26

Since China generally sends out referrals in a batch about once per month, your referral date could easily vary +/- one month depending on whether you just get included or just get missed in a particular batch.

Kiddo update


My kid walks. He just stood up one day and walked across the bedroom. That was 2 days ago, and now he walks all over the place. So he gets into 4 times as much trouble. He is also cutting 3 new teeth. Most of the time he's wonderful, but then he switches over to the Tazminhian devil in a second... then back to Mr. Wonderful. He's an incredible hand-full, and while he hasn't gained any weight since we came home (!!!) he eats CONSTANTLY. He still eats almost everything, but has very slowly begun to get pickier. UNLESS I'm eating it, and then he will eat it - or BEG for it. Like my coffee. Every time I try to drink a cup of coffee, little man wants it. In fact, the other day I was trying to have a nice conversation over coffee with a friend, and Minh wanted my coffee SO BAD he started to pitch a fit when I wouldn't't give it to him. He just sat back an waited until I set my cup down, and he grabbed it spilling it EVERY WHERE. If he couldn't have it, then apperantly no one can!

I'm still exhaused. I've been doing better, but yesterday and today have kicked my ass. I have SO MUCH WORK to do, and I have been having a hard time chooseing between sleep and work these days. So, about every other night I work, and the other nights I sleep. Sadly, I am still behind in work, and sleep... Oh, well, I'll stop. This was a Minute Man update, not a tired-Mom update. (Have I mentioned how damn tired I am??!!).

Friday, September 19, 2008

More pix



Too busy to blog. Too busy to think. Too busy to pee. Note to self: make time to pee......And get more coffee....

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

To tired to even BLOG???

Folks, don't give up on me. I'm tired, behind on life, and still working through some "stuff". I owe EVERYONE in my life a phone call, an email, and probably a thank you card... and I have been too busy and tired to even blog. In the last 2 days, I haven't been at my desk for more than 5 minutes at a time, and the rest of my week is shaping up to be very much like that. Why is that important you might ask?? I have no time to catch up on WORK, much less correspondence/email/blogging... As a quick update, life's mostly good. Work is great fun, but keeping me very busy, and the Minute Man is WONDERFUL (always!!), and cute cute cute!!! I'll get back to the blog soon. Have no fear!

Saturday, September 13, 2008

Some random cuteness







Here are a few quick pix for those of you dying for some new pictures... are you tired of them yet??

We just got home from a week at the Outer Banks. We had fun; mainly Minh had a BLAST. He had 6-8 adoring adult fans the ENTIRE TIME...needless to say, he loved it. What he didn't love, however, was the car ride. He was ok on the way out (he slept MOST of the time), but the way home was awful. He only slept about 1/4 of the trip, and then screamed for about the last 1/2 of the trip. I thought he would sleep the whole way, since we left in the late afternoon, and he had only had a short nap earlier in the day. But no. He wanted no part of sleeping, even after it got dark. Basically we fed him to keep him quiet. When whatever it was was no longer in his mouth, he'd scream. I ran out of finger foods for him (snacks like cheerios, Goldfish, etc.), and moved on to banana (which I try NOT to feed him in the car since he maks a big mess with it!). Eventually he got bored with eating too... anyway, the trip itself was good - and I'll post some beach pix as soon as I get them uploaded. Until then, you are stuck with these - taken in the beach house (the two w/ other people are my brothers).

How did he like the beach, you might ask? Well, the first time he hated the water, the sand, and basically everything about the beach. Eventually he got to enjoy the Sound, and by the last day, I think he had come to an understanding with the sand on the beach. I'd guess next year will be more fun for him ON the beach. This time, he defintly prefered being in the house with his adoring fans. Oh, and playing with his bucket and shovel IN the house!!

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

At the Beach with the Fam

No beach pictures yet. Today it's pissin' down the rain, so more indoor pictures, but hey, he's cute no matter where he is!!

(and there any pictures here, although he's had no fewer than 29,805 pictures taken of him, b/c I am on my phone connection, so the connection is slow. More when we get home).

Sunday, September 07, 2008

On vacation. More another day.

Friday, September 05, 2008

Minh Pix to feed the need* updated




We had our Follow-up visit with our social worker Wednesday. I had an experience that I will relate now, but warning, this might get graphic.

So, anyone who has kids will appreciate this story: The social worker comes up to my door the other night...Minh is all dressed up for the visit, you know, in NICE clothes. The house is in order, the dogs are being well behaved... She walks IN THE DOOR, and I say to her "hello! Meet our son." She looks at him, and says hello, and in that very instance, Mr. M. makes the BIGGEST mess (in his diaper, on himself, on his clothes, on his Mom...) we have ever had... I had to excuse myself on the spot and change him, and myself. I was mortified, but the social worker took it all in stride. My son has impeccable timing!

Wednesday, September 03, 2008

The cuteness continues





Swamped at work. On the golf course* ALL day today and tomorrow. Was in the field all day yesterday. Tired, but things are good.

We have our follow-up visit today with our social worker. I'll let you know how that goes sometime later this week. SOOO not concerned!! The house looks good, the kid is GREAT, and I'll kick the puppies outside for a bit. Cookies couldn't hurt, though, right? LOL

*that's WORKING on the golf course, not PLAYING on the golf course. Honestly!!! See, it still needs work:

Tuesday, September 02, 2008

The better place to eat




We finally got brave and started using our uber cool booster seat. Minh HATED it right away, but we just kept trying a few times, and then one day - it stuck! Now we spend more time actually EATING, and less time chasing the baby around!

Monday, September 01, 2008

Who needs child-proofing?

Minh shows his new parents where they went wrong in child-proofing the kitchen....Also known as: Minh has learned where the snacks live...