I couldn't get that one line of the song out of my head and I just had to share. You're welcome.
Current wait times to referral are around 11-12 months from LID. 6 weeks down, only 46 more to go! Woo.
Actually, I have really mixed emotions about this wait time. Don't get me wrong, I want my baby and I want her now! We would jump on a plane tomorrow with nothing but our passports and a smile (hey, it would make those security pat-downs at the airports SO much fun!) if we could. But alas, the powers that be have other plans. And frankly, so do I. I have so many things to do in the next year to prepare for this baby that I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed. Also, work is threatening to actually make me do...work! this summer in preparation for a mid-December, month-long, out of town trial. So my time will shortly be even more limited in the baby prep arena.
At last check we (I) still needed to do the following:
1) pick a name. I doubt our daughter will appreciate having to fill out official forms as "her" or "she" even if we use her Chinese name as a middle name.
2) refinish 3 wood floors (we've never done this before), rip up old disgusting carpet and install new in one room, rip up disgusting old carpet and install Pergo in dining room (we've never done this before, either), install ceramic tile in no less than 3 rooms (take a guess at our tile laying experience, I dare ya!) All in the interest of never having to vaccum again (that, and keeping this kid from having hair balls.)
3) paint and furnish nursery. This will probably involve the refinishing of several pieces of furniture because holy shit! nursery furniture is expensive. But I've got a great crib picked out...either this one or this one. Let me know what you think.
4) collect and send fabric squares for a 100 good wishes quilt. Have you heard about this? In northern China, there is a tradition to make a "100 good wishes quilt" or Bai Jia Bei, to welcome a new baby. Family and friends are invited to donate a square of cloth which are then sewn together into a quilt which then contains all of the luck, energy and good wishes of those who contributed. It's a really lovely idea and though it promises to be a real pain in the ass, I'm game. I love the idea of my daughter having something soft and fluffy that is physical, tangible evidence of how much everyone here wanted her with us. If you are interested in swapping squares, let me know.
5) learn more Mandarin. G. and I took a very basic class this past fall, which hopefully will keep us from being completely rude travellers. I really want to know a little more before we go.
6) start a baby carrier business. My sister and I are trying to launch a custom, hand-sewn baby carrier business. I would love for this to take off enough to allow me to stay home with "her" or at least let me cut down to part time. We've sold one so far!(to a wonderful and patient family whose also adopting from China through The Agency) Anybody good at graphic design? Anybody know how to design a website? Anybody want a baby carrier?
7) buy baby stuff. I've got the clothing part down, I think. But the rest? Really, no clue. Diapers, bulb syringes (yuck!), car seats, Oh MY! What are your favorite, can't live without them products? What were the biggest wastes of time and money? Please be specific and remember, "she" will not be a newborn.
7) learn how to take care of a baby. I never babysat a lot, and it's been many, many years since I was around little ones very often. Feeding, changing, sleeping, etc...it can't be THAT hard can it???? Please tell me we will figure this out and not scar "her" for life.
Anybody know how to add about 8 more hours to the day???
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5 comments:
Wow, that's quite a list, Dee! With a list like that, your wait is gonna evaporate before your very eyes! Looking forward to following your progress...
Tile is GREAT to live on and I couldn't recommend it more highly. But it SUCKS to install. I'd rather stick needles in my eyes than have to lay tile again. Prepping the floors was actually one of the worst parts...
Take advantage of the wait and start nesting!!!!!
I've enjoyed your blog emmensely and congratulate you with the ambitious list of intentions to deal with during the wait. Our wait turned out to be a little over nine months and I am thankful for it. We had alot of changes to make over that period of time and now that our trip is looming (we leave next Wed.) I still feel like I didn't have enough time. Oh well.
The home improvement projects sound daunting but if you take one step at a time, I'm sure it will be great! If it was impossible everyone would still have dirt floors, right?
Good luck in your new business! I do alot of small business design work on the side and I'd love to help you if you need it. I'd be happy to send you some examples if you'd like (since you don't know me from adam). Although I won't be back into the swings of things until early June - let's hope. Just let me know.
A list to keep you busy is the best thing you can do. Here's to a quick wait.
Can't say which crib I like better but I will say we ordered our dd's crib through the same Damart2000 website and got a great deal and they shipped it to us. It was great.
As far as essentials I'll just say when you do travel to China some of my must haves were those Bibsters disposable bibs, J&J disposable wash cloths (we could wash her head to toe with one of them and no messy bottles leaking into zip loc bags!)-Huggies makes those pre-soaped wash cloths now too. I also used the Avent disposable bottles and liners and I could premeasure formula and roll down the bags and tape them and have them with me on sightseeing tours along with my handy dandy thermos (yes-I am in the pro-thermos camp!) and I never had to worry about her formula going bad.
Our dd was 12.5 months the day we met her. She was already walking. When we got home we had to rush out and buy a couple more baby gates.
Best wishes with your wait and all the home projects. My best advice is try to get those projects done BEFORE you travel. It's been 3 years and I am still trying to get out living room and dining room painted (we moved into our house shortly before we traveled).
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