About my book blog, I do hope to get that started soon. I still plan on having a "clean books" site. I think the idea now is that I will kind of loosely "rate" books according to content. How acceptable is the level of violence, sex, language, etc. I'm working on that and will let you all know when it's going, and I'll probably solicit some more opinions before I pin it down.
I also have new photos on my SmugMug website. Check them out! limfamily.smugmug.com.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Catching up
Well, here I am and it's the end of November. I am always catching up from something. I went to Utah for a wonderful long weekend 2 1/2 weeks ago and then had to catch up from that. But it was SO worth it. Had a great time being with friends and roaming my alma mater. Bought great stuff at the bookstore, got a milkshake from the creamery, went to see the Minerva Teichert exhibit at the art museum. LOVELY. Awe-inspiring.
Ate well, introduced my friend there to good media: took her to see "Stardust," the movie that is my favorite of the whole year, probably since last year's "Pride and Prejudice." (Or was it 2 years ago? Time slips away.) I've now seen it four times in the theater, which is unprecedented for me. Now it comes out on video soon. CAN'T WAIT!! It's funny, romantic as all get-out, swashbuckling, clever, just fun entertainment. Need more movies like that. Also introduced Sarah to "Pushing Daisies." I can't say enough either about this TV show. It's funny, romantic, clever, quirky, unbelievably original, and great entertainment. Unlike anything else on and SO worth watching. LOVE IT.
Ah, the joys of really good media and good food. ...
Books. Still a highlight of my life. I've read quite a bit lately. Enjoyed the gothic style of the new book "The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox," was completely drawn in to Orson Scott Card's genetic thriller "Invasive Procedures," did rather enjoy "The Last Summer of You and Me." Those were all new books I reviewed for my book page. Hm, what else? Can't think right now.
Family is good. The girls are growing and busy. Charlotte has teeth now and is eating solid food, which she is still not crazy about but is managing to get down. She is a roly-poly little bundle compared to my older girls. It's fun having a baby with rolls of fat! She is such a doll! Just dripping wet from all the drool thanks to teething.
Brianna is enjoying her private school and Cami and Marissa are doing just fine at the public elementary school. I'm still involved with the school and the system at large in trying to make things better. This year has seen a lot of good things happen, in some tiny parts thanks to my input. So I feel positive about the progress that's being made with our somewhat struggling city system. It has a bad rap, for some real reasons and for some just perceived things. But I'm trying to do my part to change that. I hate to see the inequity that it's created. The school system right now is largely composed of children from poor backgrounds who are black. So it's not diverse at all. That's not good for anybody. I love to see good diversity and equality and fairness and equal opportunity for anyone, regardless of background. The schools are really the start of that. Well, it's a complicated long story but one that I'm passionate about. I hope to be able to do some small things to be part of a larger effort for positive change.
Church is busy. Good. The usual, really. I stay busy as the 1st counselor in RS, over education now. That is a change from being over HFPE for four years, so it's fun.
Marce is thrilled that it's finally Christmas time. He is decorating the outside of the house. He's been so busy getting the painting done outside and getting storm windows taken care of and trim painted and so on, that now that he's mostly done with that, he can have fun with lights and reindeer and such. He loves Christmas and would be happy if it were all year round, I think. Me, I just kind of groan because I know what kind of work it all entails. Bah humbug me, I know.
My best Christmas present will be if our court date for finalizing the adoption actually holds for Dec. 20, and we will actually be done with it all. Then we can bless Charlotte and have her sealed to us in Birmingham. That will be wonderful after all we've been through legally and emotionally this year. It's been terribly draining, emotionally and financially. But an end is in sight.
That's the short of it. I still love my book page job. SO fun. I'm in the middle of two children's book pages; last Sunday was picture books, and this coming Sunday is chapter books. I'm really proud of my work, and I've had good involvement from local young readers this time, which is great. I love getting free books, reading them, writing about them, and just having them around. Talking about them, etc. ... I am happy to be surrounded by full bookshelves.
I think I must conclude. There is so much to say but not as much time as I would like to say it in. Here's hoping I can enjoy the holiday season and not be too much of a humbug.
Ate well, introduced my friend there to good media: took her to see "Stardust," the movie that is my favorite of the whole year, probably since last year's "Pride and Prejudice." (Or was it 2 years ago? Time slips away.) I've now seen it four times in the theater, which is unprecedented for me. Now it comes out on video soon. CAN'T WAIT!! It's funny, romantic as all get-out, swashbuckling, clever, just fun entertainment. Need more movies like that. Also introduced Sarah to "Pushing Daisies." I can't say enough either about this TV show. It's funny, romantic, clever, quirky, unbelievably original, and great entertainment. Unlike anything else on and SO worth watching. LOVE IT.
Ah, the joys of really good media and good food. ...
Books. Still a highlight of my life. I've read quite a bit lately. Enjoyed the gothic style of the new book "The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox," was completely drawn in to Orson Scott Card's genetic thriller "Invasive Procedures," did rather enjoy "The Last Summer of You and Me." Those were all new books I reviewed for my book page. Hm, what else? Can't think right now.
Family is good. The girls are growing and busy. Charlotte has teeth now and is eating solid food, which she is still not crazy about but is managing to get down. She is a roly-poly little bundle compared to my older girls. It's fun having a baby with rolls of fat! She is such a doll! Just dripping wet from all the drool thanks to teething.
Brianna is enjoying her private school and Cami and Marissa are doing just fine at the public elementary school. I'm still involved with the school and the system at large in trying to make things better. This year has seen a lot of good things happen, in some tiny parts thanks to my input. So I feel positive about the progress that's being made with our somewhat struggling city system. It has a bad rap, for some real reasons and for some just perceived things. But I'm trying to do my part to change that. I hate to see the inequity that it's created. The school system right now is largely composed of children from poor backgrounds who are black. So it's not diverse at all. That's not good for anybody. I love to see good diversity and equality and fairness and equal opportunity for anyone, regardless of background. The schools are really the start of that. Well, it's a complicated long story but one that I'm passionate about. I hope to be able to do some small things to be part of a larger effort for positive change.
Church is busy. Good. The usual, really. I stay busy as the 1st counselor in RS, over education now. That is a change from being over HFPE for four years, so it's fun.
Marce is thrilled that it's finally Christmas time. He is decorating the outside of the house. He's been so busy getting the painting done outside and getting storm windows taken care of and trim painted and so on, that now that he's mostly done with that, he can have fun with lights and reindeer and such. He loves Christmas and would be happy if it were all year round, I think. Me, I just kind of groan because I know what kind of work it all entails. Bah humbug me, I know.
My best Christmas present will be if our court date for finalizing the adoption actually holds for Dec. 20, and we will actually be done with it all. Then we can bless Charlotte and have her sealed to us in Birmingham. That will be wonderful after all we've been through legally and emotionally this year. It's been terribly draining, emotionally and financially. But an end is in sight.
That's the short of it. I still love my book page job. SO fun. I'm in the middle of two children's book pages; last Sunday was picture books, and this coming Sunday is chapter books. I'm really proud of my work, and I've had good involvement from local young readers this time, which is great. I love getting free books, reading them, writing about them, and just having them around. Talking about them, etc. ... I am happy to be surrounded by full bookshelves.
I think I must conclude. There is so much to say but not as much time as I would like to say it in. Here's hoping I can enjoy the holiday season and not be too much of a humbug.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Home again, jiggity-jig
I am home, unpacked, mostly cleaned up, catching up, and getting in touch with all now about our trip to California this past week. The schools here have fall break so we had a week to go do some visiting. We haven't taken the girls to see Marce's family in four years, and we've had our new addition since the last visit, of course, so it was high time to take everyone to northern California.
One of my sisters-in-law works for US Airways so we were able to get very cheap standby tickets at the beginning of the year. It wasn't the ideal way to fly, but it went pretty smoothly, all things considered. We flew out on a light travel day, last Tuesday, and planned to come home Sunday. The flight out was incredibly smooth and easy, except that we had to leave home before 4 a.m. to get to the airport. But Sunday wasn't as simple. Flights got full and we couldn't get on the first one we had planned, so we waited six hours to get on the next one that had space. Then we couldn't get on the last flight from Charlotte, NC (the hub), to home, so we ended up getting a hotel in Charlotte and hanging out until almost noon, when the next open flight left. We finally made it home mid-afternoon on Monday. The girls were wonderful travelers and the crew and staffers with US Airways were terrific and most helpful. We were very pleased. Now, we probably won't be doing a big trip like that again any too soon, and not on standby, but perhaps Marce and I or just me could do a standby thing again sometime in the future. But it was MOST welcome for our limited budget this year.
So that was the flight situation. In terms of the actual trip, it went well except for us all getting colds right before we left home or right after we arrived in Cali. So we were popping Zicams and hoping for the best. It was surprisingly cold last week, apparently both here and in California, so we ended up buying the girls little jackets and some long pants. Charlotte also got a tooth while we were out there! Her first one. At only 5 1/2 months old. She did pretty well. We didn't really realize she was teething; the traveling and different sleeping arrangements had us all a bit unrested anyway, so we had no idea she was at all uncomfortable thanks to teeth. But she has been chewing and chomping on our fingers or anything else she can get her gums on!
We went into San Francisco, of course, and drove the girls all around. It was a GORGEOUS day for it. We went to Macy's at Union Square and let Brianna see some REAL shopping. The 8 floors impressed and delighted her. We all made some very nice purchases and got some good deals, as it turned out.
We also went to Ghirardelli Square, so we could eat at the soda fountain. We got the "Earthquake," the 8-scoop, 8-topping sundae that we love and had four years ago. We polished it off in about 5 minutes. Not a drop left. When the server brought it out, all the tourists and fellow eaters around us turned and stared, smiled, laughed, eyes popping wide open, amazed. We had a number of people stand and take pictures of our ice cream! It was great. Also purchased a few bits of chocolate to take home, natch.
Marce and I went to the Oakland Temple while we were there, where we were married. It was a nice visit and so great to be back somewhere familiar and very special/sentimental to us. We were exhausted and barely able to stay awake because of sleep deprivation, time zone difference, colds, etc., but it was nice.
Marce's brother and family came up to see us from Visalia, where they now live. We were SO glad they were able to do that. We enjoyed visiting with them and all the girls (and boy). The kids all had a great time together, playing like crazy all day Saturday in Marce's dad's backyard. Marce's sister came to hang out with us all too, and some friends, and it was just wonderful to all be together.
We ate the foods we enjoy out there -- big, cheap, yummy burritos; Fresh Choice and Black Angus. Had a fair amount of Chinese food... :)
Marce and I were able to go to the opera on Saturday night right before we flew out (we only got three hours sleep once we got back from it and before we headed to the airport). We saw the opening night of "The Magic Flute" by Mozart put on by the San Francisco Opera at the grand War Memorial Opera House. WOW! It was stunning. The house is beautiful, stately, ornate, amazing. The opera was really fun and the performances stellar. It was really an amazing experience. Marce was just sad he wasn't all there for it -- he was still exhausted, though I had managed to adjust and feel awake to enjoy it. It was really a great experience. We had gotten to see the SF Opera before, right before we moved to Anniston 9 1/2 years ago, but the opera house was being renovated at the time so we only saw the opera in a temporary location. Madama Butterfly was still amazing and absolutely heartbreakingly beautiful, and I loved it, but being at the opera house was an experience I didn't want to miss. Wow! again.
Let's see... that pretty much wraps things up. We're all home safe and sound again and I'm just getting caught up. Enjoy the photos of the trip on my SmugMug site.
One of my sisters-in-law works for US Airways so we were able to get very cheap standby tickets at the beginning of the year. It wasn't the ideal way to fly, but it went pretty smoothly, all things considered. We flew out on a light travel day, last Tuesday, and planned to come home Sunday. The flight out was incredibly smooth and easy, except that we had to leave home before 4 a.m. to get to the airport. But Sunday wasn't as simple. Flights got full and we couldn't get on the first one we had planned, so we waited six hours to get on the next one that had space. Then we couldn't get on the last flight from Charlotte, NC (the hub), to home, so we ended up getting a hotel in Charlotte and hanging out until almost noon, when the next open flight left. We finally made it home mid-afternoon on Monday. The girls were wonderful travelers and the crew and staffers with US Airways were terrific and most helpful. We were very pleased. Now, we probably won't be doing a big trip like that again any too soon, and not on standby, but perhaps Marce and I or just me could do a standby thing again sometime in the future. But it was MOST welcome for our limited budget this year.
So that was the flight situation. In terms of the actual trip, it went well except for us all getting colds right before we left home or right after we arrived in Cali. So we were popping Zicams and hoping for the best. It was surprisingly cold last week, apparently both here and in California, so we ended up buying the girls little jackets and some long pants. Charlotte also got a tooth while we were out there! Her first one. At only 5 1/2 months old. She did pretty well. We didn't really realize she was teething; the traveling and different sleeping arrangements had us all a bit unrested anyway, so we had no idea she was at all uncomfortable thanks to teeth. But she has been chewing and chomping on our fingers or anything else she can get her gums on!
We went into San Francisco, of course, and drove the girls all around. It was a GORGEOUS day for it. We went to Macy's at Union Square and let Brianna see some REAL shopping. The 8 floors impressed and delighted her. We all made some very nice purchases and got some good deals, as it turned out.
We also went to Ghirardelli Square, so we could eat at the soda fountain. We got the "Earthquake," the 8-scoop, 8-topping sundae that we love and had four years ago. We polished it off in about 5 minutes. Not a drop left. When the server brought it out, all the tourists and fellow eaters around us turned and stared, smiled, laughed, eyes popping wide open, amazed. We had a number of people stand and take pictures of our ice cream! It was great. Also purchased a few bits of chocolate to take home, natch.
Marce and I went to the Oakland Temple while we were there, where we were married. It was a nice visit and so great to be back somewhere familiar and very special/sentimental to us. We were exhausted and barely able to stay awake because of sleep deprivation, time zone difference, colds, etc., but it was nice.
Marce's brother and family came up to see us from Visalia, where they now live. We were SO glad they were able to do that. We enjoyed visiting with them and all the girls (and boy). The kids all had a great time together, playing like crazy all day Saturday in Marce's dad's backyard. Marce's sister came to hang out with us all too, and some friends, and it was just wonderful to all be together.
We ate the foods we enjoy out there -- big, cheap, yummy burritos; Fresh Choice and Black Angus. Had a fair amount of Chinese food... :)
Marce and I were able to go to the opera on Saturday night right before we flew out (we only got three hours sleep once we got back from it and before we headed to the airport). We saw the opening night of "The Magic Flute" by Mozart put on by the San Francisco Opera at the grand War Memorial Opera House. WOW! It was stunning. The house is beautiful, stately, ornate, amazing. The opera was really fun and the performances stellar. It was really an amazing experience. Marce was just sad he wasn't all there for it -- he was still exhausted, though I had managed to adjust and feel awake to enjoy it. It was really a great experience. We had gotten to see the SF Opera before, right before we moved to Anniston 9 1/2 years ago, but the opera house was being renovated at the time so we only saw the opera in a temporary location. Madama Butterfly was still amazing and absolutely heartbreakingly beautiful, and I loved it, but being at the opera house was an experience I didn't want to miss. Wow! again.
Let's see... that pretty much wraps things up. We're all home safe and sound again and I'm just getting caught up. Enjoy the photos of the trip on my SmugMug site.
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Ohhhh, it's been an embarrassingly long time ...
Well, life has been busy. That's my answer for everything lately. But how to make it less so? That is the question for the ages. My ages, at least.
Brianna, Marissa, and Cami started school at the beginning of August. Brianna is attending a private Catholic school in the area because the city's middle school is absolutely out of the question for her to attend. It would take far too long for me to write about the whole schooling situation in this city, so suffice it to say it's a huge issue here in this area, and as much as I want to support the public schools (which I do), I simply cannot subject Brianna to the city system's middle school. Thus, the private school. In brief, though, she loves it. She feels absolutely comfortable there and is having a great time. She's just been trying to adjust to the changes that sixth grade has brought. She has a locker, switches classes, etc.
Marissa and Cami are going to the elementary school that's closest to us. It's not as nice as the school that M and B were going to the past few years but we were forced to put them over at the other school because of zoning and Cami just getting into the system. Long story, trust me. Looooonnnnggg. It gave me fits for some weeks. At any rate, they are loved by the staff and they are enjoying school, whatever the situation. But in the long run, they will end up either in the private school (ouch! $) or we will move. And Marissa's needing extra services complicates that. So it's an interesting dynamic. I have been involved in the system pretty heavily this year trying to see what I can do from the top down to make things better. One hurrah is that the school board finally fired the superintendent I was not at all pleased with and put in an interim who has been excellent. So that's a step in the right direction. And we wonder why I'm busy... I'm crusading mommy. I can't stand by and watch something happen if I can do something to help change it.
SOOOO, I had hoped things would calm down when it was just Charlotte and me at home. They did not. It's taken two months for it to slow down a bit for me to "catch up." I'm getting there.
The other big thing has been the adoption situation with Charlotte. All along, I have been dogged by huge frustrations with the system and our lawyer here, in particular. I will not recommend her to anyone else. However, she's really the only lawyer here in town who handles adoptions. I'm thinking out of town.... She has given me fits too. But just when we thought we could just sit back and wait for our court date, which had been set for Sept. 4, our 14th anniversary, the rug got pulled out. Just a few days beforehand, the lawyer emailed me and told me the judge had decided since the birth father had sent back a denial of paternity, that we should publish. Now that the birth father was legally "unknown," she wanted to publish a legal notice in the paper notifying any possible fathers about the adoption. What that means is the notice has to run for four weeks and then there must be 30 days before the adoption hearing so any father can respond. What's hilarious is since we live here in Alabama, we publish here. Charlotte's birth father is undoubtedly in North Carolina. The law. What can I say? So our hearing is now set for December 9.
That affected our trip to California. We wanted to have Charlotte sealed to us in the Oakland temple, where we were married. But we had planned our trip for this coming week, during the girls' fall break. So as it happens now, we'll just go to California, visit, introduce her to Marce's family and friends there, and have her sealed to us in Birmingham. It was disappointing, but at that point, whatever fight is in me can do nothing about it. But at the same time, a whole lot of friends from here can be with us in the temple. So that will be delightful.
Those have been the big issues in my life. At the same time, we've actually had a baby and three older daughters to raise, do our callings in church, live, breathe, eat, shop for food and clothing, pay bills, etc. No wonder I've got a few extra pounds on me. Arrrgggggh.
But good things are happening too. We do get to go to California on Tuesday, and we plan to do some fun things. Going to take the girls to Marine World, eat great food, see old friends, enjoy San Francisco, and go to the OPERA! Marce and I are going to see Mozart's The Magic Flute on opening night at the SF opera house. Can't wait! It should be an amazing experience.
I've also helped a friend edit and submit a terrific novel for publication; he just secured an agent this week who loves the book and thinks it has bestselling potential, which I've thought all along. I'm just thrilled to have been a part of this. It's very exciting. Now we'll see what kind of publishing offers he might get.
With that, I hope to start writing on my own again. I'm still busy with home life and my part-time work at the newspaper, which is terrific. I love my job! Fun at the paper and lots of great free books. Best job ever! But I do long to do some writing. I've got a number of books in me that could have potential.
That's the long and the short of it. I'm trying to keep our SmugMug photo site updated with pictures of Charlotte, who is now 5 months old and still an absolute doll and wonderful baby. She really is a delight and I love her to pieces. We all do. She's so happy and fun and easygoing. Anyway, I've got pictures of her on the site and try to put new ones on every week or every other week. The link is
http://limfamily.smugmug.com/
So, I do hope to update more often now. (sure, I SAY that now....) I've also got to get caught up in journaling. Ha! Have a wonderful week and hope to see or talk to you all or email, etc.
Brianna, Marissa, and Cami started school at the beginning of August. Brianna is attending a private Catholic school in the area because the city's middle school is absolutely out of the question for her to attend. It would take far too long for me to write about the whole schooling situation in this city, so suffice it to say it's a huge issue here in this area, and as much as I want to support the public schools (which I do), I simply cannot subject Brianna to the city system's middle school. Thus, the private school. In brief, though, she loves it. She feels absolutely comfortable there and is having a great time. She's just been trying to adjust to the changes that sixth grade has brought. She has a locker, switches classes, etc.
Marissa and Cami are going to the elementary school that's closest to us. It's not as nice as the school that M and B were going to the past few years but we were forced to put them over at the other school because of zoning and Cami just getting into the system. Long story, trust me. Looooonnnnggg. It gave me fits for some weeks. At any rate, they are loved by the staff and they are enjoying school, whatever the situation. But in the long run, they will end up either in the private school (ouch! $) or we will move. And Marissa's needing extra services complicates that. So it's an interesting dynamic. I have been involved in the system pretty heavily this year trying to see what I can do from the top down to make things better. One hurrah is that the school board finally fired the superintendent I was not at all pleased with and put in an interim who has been excellent. So that's a step in the right direction. And we wonder why I'm busy... I'm crusading mommy. I can't stand by and watch something happen if I can do something to help change it.
SOOOO, I had hoped things would calm down when it was just Charlotte and me at home. They did not. It's taken two months for it to slow down a bit for me to "catch up." I'm getting there.
The other big thing has been the adoption situation with Charlotte. All along, I have been dogged by huge frustrations with the system and our lawyer here, in particular. I will not recommend her to anyone else. However, she's really the only lawyer here in town who handles adoptions. I'm thinking out of town.... She has given me fits too. But just when we thought we could just sit back and wait for our court date, which had been set for Sept. 4, our 14th anniversary, the rug got pulled out. Just a few days beforehand, the lawyer emailed me and told me the judge had decided since the birth father had sent back a denial of paternity, that we should publish. Now that the birth father was legally "unknown," she wanted to publish a legal notice in the paper notifying any possible fathers about the adoption. What that means is the notice has to run for four weeks and then there must be 30 days before the adoption hearing so any father can respond. What's hilarious is since we live here in Alabama, we publish here. Charlotte's birth father is undoubtedly in North Carolina. The law. What can I say? So our hearing is now set for December 9.
That affected our trip to California. We wanted to have Charlotte sealed to us in the Oakland temple, where we were married. But we had planned our trip for this coming week, during the girls' fall break. So as it happens now, we'll just go to California, visit, introduce her to Marce's family and friends there, and have her sealed to us in Birmingham. It was disappointing, but at that point, whatever fight is in me can do nothing about it. But at the same time, a whole lot of friends from here can be with us in the temple. So that will be delightful.
Those have been the big issues in my life. At the same time, we've actually had a baby and three older daughters to raise, do our callings in church, live, breathe, eat, shop for food and clothing, pay bills, etc. No wonder I've got a few extra pounds on me. Arrrgggggh.
But good things are happening too. We do get to go to California on Tuesday, and we plan to do some fun things. Going to take the girls to Marine World, eat great food, see old friends, enjoy San Francisco, and go to the OPERA! Marce and I are going to see Mozart's The Magic Flute on opening night at the SF opera house. Can't wait! It should be an amazing experience.
I've also helped a friend edit and submit a terrific novel for publication; he just secured an agent this week who loves the book and thinks it has bestselling potential, which I've thought all along. I'm just thrilled to have been a part of this. It's very exciting. Now we'll see what kind of publishing offers he might get.
With that, I hope to start writing on my own again. I'm still busy with home life and my part-time work at the newspaper, which is terrific. I love my job! Fun at the paper and lots of great free books. Best job ever! But I do long to do some writing. I've got a number of books in me that could have potential.
That's the long and the short of it. I'm trying to keep our SmugMug photo site updated with pictures of Charlotte, who is now 5 months old and still an absolute doll and wonderful baby. She really is a delight and I love her to pieces. We all do. She's so happy and fun and easygoing. Anyway, I've got pictures of her on the site and try to put new ones on every week or every other week. The link is
http://limfamily.smugmug.com/
So, I do hope to update more often now. (sure, I SAY that now....) I've also got to get caught up in journaling. Ha! Have a wonderful week and hope to see or talk to you all or email, etc.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Trips and such
Just returned from a 1600-plus-mile trip to see family and friends. I must be a glutton for punishment. All those miles in a van with 4 kids for 8 days. The last day was brutal -- 11 hours of driving. But it was nice to see everyone, and I survived. That's kind of the basic word here. Summer equals survival for me. I've survived with most of my sanity intact, so I'm a winner! The girls start school in 8 days. I haven't been counting down until now, whereas Brianna has been so eager to get back to school (a new one) that she's been counting down for at least 37 days (that's the first I was aware of the countdown she has posted on her chalkboard). She's going to a private school this year so I got to pay tuition and fees and buy uniforms. Eeek. With that and the new baby and adoption costs and then just buying the house exactly a year ago today and spending all kinds of money on it to fix it up in the past 12 months, it has been the most expensive year of my life, by far. I'm hoping for a nice, quiet, cheap year to come, perhaps? Shop Salvation Army, live off food storage? Ha. Well, it's worth a think at least.
In all seriousness, we are doing very well. Charlotte just turned 3 months on Monday and has been absolutely a delight. I had to get up with her every night while we were traveling in less-than-ideal circumstances, since the trip was made without Marce (who did a lot of work on the house while we were gone), but she is still just such a wonderful baby that it's not too bad. She is so happy and cheerful and great to have around. In one month, she will be officially, completely, legally ours, and then she will be blessed in church and sealed to us in the temple, in California. We are so looking forward to that.
The summer has been fairly good, despite the stresses, and we've all survived it. We've been so blessed to have this new baby and to have things eventually work out well. There have definitely been some giant hiccups, but it has worked out in the near-end here. I am incredibly grateful for that.
I don't have a lot more words in me right now but will try to write sooner rather than later again.
In all seriousness, we are doing very well. Charlotte just turned 3 months on Monday and has been absolutely a delight. I had to get up with her every night while we were traveling in less-than-ideal circumstances, since the trip was made without Marce (who did a lot of work on the house while we were gone), but she is still just such a wonderful baby that it's not too bad. She is so happy and cheerful and great to have around. In one month, she will be officially, completely, legally ours, and then she will be blessed in church and sealed to us in the temple, in California. We are so looking forward to that.
The summer has been fairly good, despite the stresses, and we've all survived it. We've been so blessed to have this new baby and to have things eventually work out well. There have definitely been some giant hiccups, but it has worked out in the near-end here. I am incredibly grateful for that.
I don't have a lot more words in me right now but will try to write sooner rather than later again.
Friday, July 6, 2007
Book blog -- need help with a title!
OK, I'm sharing this with you all in hopes you can help me. I'm going to put together a book blog to review and recommend new books that are good reading and -- even better -- fairly clean. No vulgarity, not much bad language, etc. There are lots of websites with info about good books that are clean, but not ones that have just been published. So since I'm in a position to know about these things, I figure I'll put a website together to fill this niche. My only problem is trying to come up with a name. I'm only going to focus on fairly newly-published books, and I'm not going to review Christian/faith books. Other people are doing that. And I don't want to focus exclusively on an LDS or even a larger Christian/faith community, though they will obviously be among those who would want to read my site. I could use a title like "clean books review," but I'd really rather not use "clean" in the title. Subtitle, probably, but I don't want it to sound all "squeaky-clean." I'm just aiming to write about books that are for a fairly general audience -- kind of like "PG-rated" books. Since there's no rating system for books, I'll kind of focus on books I consider to fit that kind of a "rating." Make sense? But I can't use PG because it's copyrighted.
Here are some of my ideas:
Tasteful tomes: Recent books that check out clean
open book
page preview: reviews and ratings
Above reproach reading
Higher standard books
Checked out
of good report books
nontoxic tomes
safe for your shelf
reliable reads
respectable reads
tasteful tomes
Most of them I don't really like. And I've found that tomes isn't a word a lot of people know or use. So that's kind of out. I could just call it "Lit lady" or "Lim Lit" or "Cathy's book something-or-other." I usually am pretty good about coming up with names but this is really eluding me. I've been brooding over it for almost two weeks.
So, if you have bright ideas, let me know. I'd SOOO appreciate it. Then I'll have the page up and running, and you can all see what I've got for recommendations. Then you can pass along the link to interested parties and so on. I think it could be a lot of fun.
Thanks!!
Here are some of my ideas:
Tasteful tomes: Recent books that check out clean
open book
page preview: reviews and ratings
Above reproach reading
Higher standard books
Checked out
of good report books
nontoxic tomes
safe for your shelf
reliable reads
respectable reads
tasteful tomes
Most of them I don't really like. And I've found that tomes isn't a word a lot of people know or use. So that's kind of out. I could just call it "Lit lady" or "Lim Lit" or "Cathy's book something-or-other." I usually am pretty good about coming up with names but this is really eluding me. I've been brooding over it for almost two weeks.
So, if you have bright ideas, let me know. I'd SOOO appreciate it. Then I'll have the page up and running, and you can all see what I've got for recommendations. Then you can pass along the link to interested parties and so on. I think it could be a lot of fun.
Thanks!!
Summer's half over
For those of you who live where school ends in June and starts in September, you'll be surprised to hear me say that summer is "half over." But it's true. The girls start back to school in a little over a month. They've been out of school for a month and a couple of weeks. So I'm pretty much on the home stretch! I have to admit that it's not been too bad and I've kind of enjoyed the summer in some ways, but I'm still not the one who's all eager to get out and do all kinds of fun things with the kids. It's probably their ages and the fact that I have a baby around who is making me tired, thus sapping me of much energy or enthusiasm that would be required for those fun outings. The girls have been good in many ways but they have still definitely had their share of fighting and fussing and screaming and squealing. I am looking forward to some regular peace and quiet once school is in and it's just Charlotte and I during the day. REALLY. I'd sometimes just like to throw them all in a room and lock the door from the outside and go downstairs and put in earplugs.
But I have to say that I really, really appreciate Brianna's age and size. She has been extremely helpful with Charlotte. It's made having a baby around much easier. Still tired, but I can sometimes get naps more readily with Brianna's help. So here's a shout-out to my eldest, who 11 years ago made me wonder how I would ever make it through her infancy. She is now a great boon.
But I have to say that I really, really appreciate Brianna's age and size. She has been extremely helpful with Charlotte. It's made having a baby around much easier. Still tired, but I can sometimes get naps more readily with Brianna's help. So here's a shout-out to my eldest, who 11 years ago made me wonder how I would ever make it through her infancy. She is now a great boon.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
The girls of summer
It's now a few weeks into summer break, and we're into a routine of sorts. Marissa gets to go to camp or school of some type for most of the summer. The very last couple of weeks she doesn't, and we'll all go on a road trip. (And you KNOW that will be plenty of fodder for my blog.) Cami has preschool "camp" on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and on Thursdays they have water day. Brianna has nothing going on this summer. She's old enough to help out with the baby and to talk on the phone with friends and email and listen to her MP3 player. And occasionally say that she's bored. I think she's smart enough not to say that very much. She'd like to take pottery lessons, which they do at a ceramics store here, but a) that costs money, a pretty good little chunk per lesson, and b) I haven't gotten around to even thinking about really doing it, money notwithstanding. She's mainly eager for school to start. She gets to go to a Catholic private school this year and is very excited. She's already compiled the supply list and has gathered up what she has already and talked to me several times about what she yet needs. And it's only mid-June. Needless to say, I have told her that as much as I appreciate her eagerness, it doesn't rank quite as high on my list of priorities as it does hers. Which means we'll worry about supplies in about 6 weeks. In the meantime, I've got smaller fishies to fry all over the place. Fishies that cry and whine and want stuff all the time.
I have gotten into somewhat of a routine for going to the YMCA and doing my cardio and yoga and getting my book page done at the newspaper once a week, but yesterday I threw a wrench into that by jamming my big toe quite hard. It zings with pain if I brush it against anything, even the sheet on the bed. Even if it's broken, there's nothing to do but wait. And "rest." Ha ha ha ha ha. I can feel the fat creeping onto my hips as I sit, when I DO sit, and I am hoping it heals speedy-quick, as Junie B. would say. (If you haven't read Junie B., you really must. It's hilarious.)
I am hoping/waiting for something profound or profoundly witty to spring forth from my inner muses, but nothing so far. So enjoy the post and know that Charlotte is 7 weeks old now (as of yesterday) and who knows how heavy. She was 9 pounds 10 ounces 2 weeks ago. Her brand-new, tiny infancy is becoming only a memory that makes me nostalgic even now.
I have gotten into somewhat of a routine for going to the YMCA and doing my cardio and yoga and getting my book page done at the newspaper once a week, but yesterday I threw a wrench into that by jamming my big toe quite hard. It zings with pain if I brush it against anything, even the sheet on the bed. Even if it's broken, there's nothing to do but wait. And "rest." Ha ha ha ha ha. I can feel the fat creeping onto my hips as I sit, when I DO sit, and I am hoping it heals speedy-quick, as Junie B. would say. (If you haven't read Junie B., you really must. It's hilarious.)
I am hoping/waiting for something profound or profoundly witty to spring forth from my inner muses, but nothing so far. So enjoy the post and know that Charlotte is 7 weeks old now (as of yesterday) and who knows how heavy. She was 9 pounds 10 ounces 2 weeks ago. Her brand-new, tiny infancy is becoming only a memory that makes me nostalgic even now.
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Relative merits
I've found myself fascinated by how easy it seems now to take care of a newborn. I can say this even in spite of the occasional desperation I feel at midnight when every ounce of me (not counting how many) is crying out for sleep and the baby is not. I remember the feeling of desperation from each previous baby, especially the first. But even noting this, I am astonished at how much easier it is now.
I haven't read my book lately. Perhaps right now is a good time to get it out. (Let me also note that I -- like many authors, I have found out -- hate to read my own stuff. It becomes disgusting to me after writing it and editing it so many times. I hate it, think it's dreck, etc. I have heard this even from J.K. Rowling and many others, so at least I'm not alone. However, I feel I am absolutely correct in thinking it's dreck, and what was I thinking putting it in print for THE WHOLE WORLD TO READ AND KNOW THAT I AM A TERRIBLE WRITER!!?)
Anyway. Revulsion aside at my writing, it might be instructive, useful, humorous. Or embarrassing. That's what I'm thinking. I remember experiencing it and I remember writing about it. And I'm a bit embarrassed on one hand to think that I had such a rough time adjusting to tiny little person put into my care. It's not so bad now. But it sure as heck was then. I was such an amateur! But the nice thing is I have grown. Look at me! no hands! I'm a decent mother now. Who woulda thunk?
It's easier for several very good reasons. I'm sure there are others, but here are ones that spring immediately to mind: 1) I've done this three times before. I recognize what cries mean or I can guess pretty easily what baby needs. The choices are pretty limited. It's simple elimination. 2) I am not breast-feeding. This is a biggie, I think. I can hand baby over to someone else (see reason 3) and take off and live a fairly normal life without being tethered so completely. 3) I have four helpers. Two very useful ones. The other two not so incredibly useful but at least they're something. Marce is completely useful. Brianna is pretty much so. She can do things on her own but still is a bit baffled by how to calm fussy baby, which I seem to have down pat. (see number 1.)
I am really thinking in light of number 3 that I should have had this many useful helpers around when I had baby number 1. This is great stuff. But then reasons 1 and 2 play a significant role as well, so 3 isn't a stand-alone.
In the same vein, I also have been thinking about the relative merits of having one, two, three and four children. One is very hard because it's the first and you're completely without experience. But there's only one. But ... without the experience, it might as well be five. Having two is pretty hard because usually the first is only a couple of years old and is still pretty demanding and you have two little ones demanding all that one would demand. Twice as hard. Three isn't too bad. The first two keep each other busy, both are usually at least old enough to kind of take care of themselves, or the first can help out the second. You can go back to focusing on the one while the other two are somewhat under control (this is relative, mind you). Four is pretty nice because it's not much different than three; the same arguments apply, and by this time, time-wise, the oldest may actually be of some real value to you as "mommy's little helper," rather than the jokey way older ladies ask you when you have your second child, "Is (number one offspring) being Mommy's Little Helper?" (ha! Are you kidding? See argument for having two children ...) And of course, enough time has passed that they're all older and autonomous. 11-year-old, in my case, is helpful. 8-year-old takes care of herself just fine. 5-year-old is old enough to listen and understand and sometimes obey when told to leave Mommy alone because she desperately needs to nap because while everyone else was asleep last night, she was awake with baby Charlotte. So 5-year-old is old enough to understand and sometimes leave Mommy alone. In the case of today, she understands but doesn't obey. Arrgh. But try getting a 2-year-old to do that. That's definitely not possible. At least it is in the realm of possibility of a 5-year-old. If you see what I'm saying.
Lastly, I'm mostly astonished at how quickly time goes now. With Brianna, my first, who is now a beautiful and mostly helpful young lady, I thought time had slowed down to a crawl. I thought she would never get big or old enough to stop crying all the time and stop wanting me to hold her all the time, never give me time to myself, never ... all kinds of things. Now I'm absolutely amazed that she ever was that small. I can barely remember that. She's so grown up. Where did the time go? And watching Charlotte grow so quickly (she's up to 9 pounds 10 ounces as of yesterday), I am already, at 5 weeks, wishing she would slow down. I didn't get to appreciate her enough when she was only a few days old. Or a week old. Or two weeks. She's filled out so much. She's no longer that tiny, scrawny newborn that's all cheeks. Where did the time go? It's all going too fast. Sure, I'll be happy when she sleeps through the night, but at this stage of life, I'm not in any rush to make that time come too soon. Because that will mean I will be pining for her to be this size again, when she was only a month old and just beginning to smile fully and coo and talk to us. I am wise enough and experienced enough -- after all, those two qualities go hand in hand -- to know that time is going way too fast as it is. I don't want to speed it up anymore. I want it to slow down long enough for me to savor it, to get a good stop-motion picture that I can treasure forever.
And now I head off to bed, where I will hopefully rest peacefully while Marce takes care of our little sweetheart during the night.
I haven't read my book lately. Perhaps right now is a good time to get it out. (Let me also note that I -- like many authors, I have found out -- hate to read my own stuff. It becomes disgusting to me after writing it and editing it so many times. I hate it, think it's dreck, etc. I have heard this even from J.K. Rowling and many others, so at least I'm not alone. However, I feel I am absolutely correct in thinking it's dreck, and what was I thinking putting it in print for THE WHOLE WORLD TO READ AND KNOW THAT I AM A TERRIBLE WRITER!!?)
Anyway. Revulsion aside at my writing, it might be instructive, useful, humorous. Or embarrassing. That's what I'm thinking. I remember experiencing it and I remember writing about it. And I'm a bit embarrassed on one hand to think that I had such a rough time adjusting to tiny little person put into my care. It's not so bad now. But it sure as heck was then. I was such an amateur! But the nice thing is I have grown. Look at me! no hands! I'm a decent mother now. Who woulda thunk?
It's easier for several very good reasons. I'm sure there are others, but here are ones that spring immediately to mind: 1) I've done this three times before. I recognize what cries mean or I can guess pretty easily what baby needs. The choices are pretty limited. It's simple elimination. 2) I am not breast-feeding. This is a biggie, I think. I can hand baby over to someone else (see reason 3) and take off and live a fairly normal life without being tethered so completely. 3) I have four helpers. Two very useful ones. The other two not so incredibly useful but at least they're something. Marce is completely useful. Brianna is pretty much so. She can do things on her own but still is a bit baffled by how to calm fussy baby, which I seem to have down pat. (see number 1.)
I am really thinking in light of number 3 that I should have had this many useful helpers around when I had baby number 1. This is great stuff. But then reasons 1 and 2 play a significant role as well, so 3 isn't a stand-alone.
In the same vein, I also have been thinking about the relative merits of having one, two, three and four children. One is very hard because it's the first and you're completely without experience. But there's only one. But ... without the experience, it might as well be five. Having two is pretty hard because usually the first is only a couple of years old and is still pretty demanding and you have two little ones demanding all that one would demand. Twice as hard. Three isn't too bad. The first two keep each other busy, both are usually at least old enough to kind of take care of themselves, or the first can help out the second. You can go back to focusing on the one while the other two are somewhat under control (this is relative, mind you). Four is pretty nice because it's not much different than three; the same arguments apply, and by this time, time-wise, the oldest may actually be of some real value to you as "mommy's little helper," rather than the jokey way older ladies ask you when you have your second child, "Is (number one offspring) being Mommy's Little Helper?" (ha! Are you kidding? See argument for having two children ...) And of course, enough time has passed that they're all older and autonomous. 11-year-old, in my case, is helpful. 8-year-old takes care of herself just fine. 5-year-old is old enough to listen and understand and sometimes obey when told to leave Mommy alone because she desperately needs to nap because while everyone else was asleep last night, she was awake with baby Charlotte. So 5-year-old is old enough to understand and sometimes leave Mommy alone. In the case of today, she understands but doesn't obey. Arrgh. But try getting a 2-year-old to do that. That's definitely not possible. At least it is in the realm of possibility of a 5-year-old. If you see what I'm saying.
Lastly, I'm mostly astonished at how quickly time goes now. With Brianna, my first, who is now a beautiful and mostly helpful young lady, I thought time had slowed down to a crawl. I thought she would never get big or old enough to stop crying all the time and stop wanting me to hold her all the time, never give me time to myself, never ... all kinds of things. Now I'm absolutely amazed that she ever was that small. I can barely remember that. She's so grown up. Where did the time go? And watching Charlotte grow so quickly (she's up to 9 pounds 10 ounces as of yesterday), I am already, at 5 weeks, wishing she would slow down. I didn't get to appreciate her enough when she was only a few days old. Or a week old. Or two weeks. She's filled out so much. She's no longer that tiny, scrawny newborn that's all cheeks. Where did the time go? It's all going too fast. Sure, I'll be happy when she sleeps through the night, but at this stage of life, I'm not in any rush to make that time come too soon. Because that will mean I will be pining for her to be this size again, when she was only a month old and just beginning to smile fully and coo and talk to us. I am wise enough and experienced enough -- after all, those two qualities go hand in hand -- to know that time is going way too fast as it is. I don't want to speed it up anymore. I want it to slow down long enough for me to savor it, to get a good stop-motion picture that I can treasure forever.
And now I head off to bed, where I will hopefully rest peacefully while Marce takes care of our little sweetheart during the night.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
More new photos!
Check the photosite again. I uploaded a few really cute ones. Well, I think they're very cute. Not biased or anything.
Tired AGAIN!
OK, so the little stinker kept me up again until 1:45 a.m. She slept a good portion of the day and would not stay awake for long periods of time in the evening. So I was up with her for a good long while in the quiet, wee hours. For a while, I read some emails and so on, and then I did some research online about my attorney here who's NOT RETURNING MY CALLS. Arrgh. I wrote an email with a link to the Alabama Bar Association's ethics page that talks about communication with clients. Not sure if she'll even read it. That was around 11:45 p.m. Then she had a pacifier and fell asleep. Put her down, lay down myself, then heard stirring. I lay there quietly, hoping for blessed sleep. But no, then it was crying. Got up, checked diaper. Tried pacifier again. Kept in bed. Walked around. Fed another bottle. Checked diaper. Tried pacifier. Went into bathroom to just hang out with her. At 1:30 a.m. we were talking. She was talking up a storm to me, alert as ever. I spoke back to her. Then at 1:45 tried the pacifier again and -- voila! -- success! I got to sleep until 7:30 a.m. with a couple of times waking up with stirring but no feeding or changing.
Today is Cami's 5th birthday. I am making her a cake in the shape of a castle -- she loves anything princess-y so this really made her happy. So I hope it turns out pretty. Marce's 40th birthday cake was ugly, ugly, ugly. But tasty!
We're having a baby shower over at church this evening. Should be fun -- we girls are going to have a good ol' time. And now... it's off to bed for a little spot of a nap.
Today is Cami's 5th birthday. I am making her a cake in the shape of a castle -- she loves anything princess-y so this really made her happy. So I hope it turns out pretty. Marce's 40th birthday cake was ugly, ugly, ugly. But tasty!
We're having a baby shower over at church this evening. Should be fun -- we girls are going to have a good ol' time. And now... it's off to bed for a little spot of a nap.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Photos, get your photos here!
If you'd like to see a whole bunch of pictures, just go on over to Photosite. That way I won't put them all in two places. The link is http://CLim101.photosite.com.
Weary, Weary, Eyes So Bleary
Everyone has been asking for the past few weeks, "How is Charlotte doing?" "How is she sleeping?" Natural questions, I suppose, but a bit hard to answer completely honestly. I generally respond, "Well, for a newborn." She wakes up at night to eat (her pediatrician observed that she probably "never refuses a meal") once or twice, depending on when you start the time period of "night." She doesn't often stay awake long after eating, allowing us to get to sleep again soon. That's typically how it goes. I've stayed up a couple of times for an hour or more with her but it's not been bad. Marce was up with her a few nights ago and then couldn't get back to sleep for three hours, while Charlotte slept just fine. She's pretty easygoing if she has a bottle and someone to hold her!
With my mom here this week, it has been somewhat useful having another set of arms and a couple of extra ideas. Mom thought a pacifier might be helpful because Charlotte just seemed to want to suck. My other girls nursed, and they all found a finger or thumb. Well, Marissa didn't stick with it as surely as Brianna or Cami. But they never took pacifiers. So I hadn't seriously considered one for Charlotte -- or at least, not seriously enough to put it on my shopping list. Last night, it went on the list, and I was tempted to just run out and get it at 9 p.m. Mom said, "Oh, no, it's not THAT urgent." Why did I listen to her? Why why why? I should have run out.
Today I went to the store and bought two pacifiers. That was after a long night of a little restless baby keeping me up until 1 a.m. She just would not stay asleep. This afternoon, after lunch and a little diaper change and some hanging out, she was ready for the test. Hey, she likes it! She likes it! Nap achieved, Mommy relieved.
I haven't had a night like that yet, so I suppose it's only fair it happen once, at least. Marce and I trade off nights, since neither of us is breast feeding! I like that part of it. I'm not always on call for milk. But there's a certain desperation that sets in in the dark of the night when the house is all quiet and asleep and a little, tiny, restless being that can't even talk is keeping you from the sleep that your body feels it has never had. I was up and down, trying different options to see if she'd go to sleep. And finally, it happened. At that point, I lay down and was restless myself for half an hour before I finally succumbed to a light night (during which I was awakened for feeding again at 4 a.m.) of dreaming about being up late. Horrible irony.
*On another note altogether, I do realize that many of you are wondering how in the world you didn't know about this new baby any earlier. I can only say, it surprises me a bit myself. It's not in character. The only explanation I can offer is that I have been (and still am) living in a bit of fear that it would all collapse. The birth mom signed off and that's all OK. But the birth father has been another issue. As far as I can tell (not being able to talk to my attorney for the past two weeks), it sounds like it's going to be OK, but one can never be sure. Nothing in life is sure, of course, and I know that perfectly well, but when something is so important, it is that much more scary. I was nervous for the month and a half before she was born about saying anything, really, lest I should jinx it somehow, and be emotionally a mess and financially a ruin. I then worried about being able to leave NC, then about the birth mom's time being up to change her mind (long past now). Now it's just the birth father. Not a completely done deal yet. I know about odds, and about how things "usually" go. That said, when I was pregnant with Marissa, and the AFP blood test indicated she had a 1 in 80 chance of having Down syndrome, I was assured by many people and clinicians that it was really just a small chance. I knew better, however. When the ultrasound and amniocentesis confirmed that she was the 1 in 80, I knew the odds were nothing. This may sound like pessimism, but it was simply that I KNEW. I then came to terms with it, and now it's all fine and dandy. And she is just a great gift to have in our family. No big deal, really. But then the "odds" made me kind of laugh. Anyway, you (most of you) know I'm generally optimistic and cheery and mostly faithful and hopeful. But my cautious and worried side came out in full force with this baby, and combined with it being a COMPLETELY different and new experience in our world of adding children to our family, I didn't say much. But don't expect me to stay mute for long. That's just not my style, natch! So please don't be offended that I didn't tell you. I didn't tell anyone. I hardly told myself! :) But now you will hear lots. And if something, by some wild, long shot, should go wrong at this point (very unlikely), I guess I'll have lots of support, won't I?
With my mom here this week, it has been somewhat useful having another set of arms and a couple of extra ideas. Mom thought a pacifier might be helpful because Charlotte just seemed to want to suck. My other girls nursed, and they all found a finger or thumb. Well, Marissa didn't stick with it as surely as Brianna or Cami. But they never took pacifiers. So I hadn't seriously considered one for Charlotte -- or at least, not seriously enough to put it on my shopping list. Last night, it went on the list, and I was tempted to just run out and get it at 9 p.m. Mom said, "Oh, no, it's not THAT urgent." Why did I listen to her? Why why why? I should have run out.
Today I went to the store and bought two pacifiers. That was after a long night of a little restless baby keeping me up until 1 a.m. She just would not stay asleep. This afternoon, after lunch and a little diaper change and some hanging out, she was ready for the test. Hey, she likes it! She likes it! Nap achieved, Mommy relieved.
I haven't had a night like that yet, so I suppose it's only fair it happen once, at least. Marce and I trade off nights, since neither of us is breast feeding! I like that part of it. I'm not always on call for milk. But there's a certain desperation that sets in in the dark of the night when the house is all quiet and asleep and a little, tiny, restless being that can't even talk is keeping you from the sleep that your body feels it has never had. I was up and down, trying different options to see if she'd go to sleep. And finally, it happened. At that point, I lay down and was restless myself for half an hour before I finally succumbed to a light night (during which I was awakened for feeding again at 4 a.m.) of dreaming about being up late. Horrible irony.
*On another note altogether, I do realize that many of you are wondering how in the world you didn't know about this new baby any earlier. I can only say, it surprises me a bit myself. It's not in character. The only explanation I can offer is that I have been (and still am) living in a bit of fear that it would all collapse. The birth mom signed off and that's all OK. But the birth father has been another issue. As far as I can tell (not being able to talk to my attorney for the past two weeks), it sounds like it's going to be OK, but one can never be sure. Nothing in life is sure, of course, and I know that perfectly well, but when something is so important, it is that much more scary. I was nervous for the month and a half before she was born about saying anything, really, lest I should jinx it somehow, and be emotionally a mess and financially a ruin. I then worried about being able to leave NC, then about the birth mom's time being up to change her mind (long past now). Now it's just the birth father. Not a completely done deal yet. I know about odds, and about how things "usually" go. That said, when I was pregnant with Marissa, and the AFP blood test indicated she had a 1 in 80 chance of having Down syndrome, I was assured by many people and clinicians that it was really just a small chance. I knew better, however. When the ultrasound and amniocentesis confirmed that she was the 1 in 80, I knew the odds were nothing. This may sound like pessimism, but it was simply that I KNEW. I then came to terms with it, and now it's all fine and dandy. And she is just a great gift to have in our family. No big deal, really. But then the "odds" made me kind of laugh. Anyway, you (most of you) know I'm generally optimistic and cheery and mostly faithful and hopeful. But my cautious and worried side came out in full force with this baby, and combined with it being a COMPLETELY different and new experience in our world of adding children to our family, I didn't say much. But don't expect me to stay mute for long. That's just not my style, natch! So please don't be offended that I didn't tell you. I didn't tell anyone. I hardly told myself! :) But now you will hear lots. And if something, by some wild, long shot, should go wrong at this point (very unlikely), I guess I'll have lots of support, won't I?
Monday, May 28, 2007
Inspired
I am inspired today to write in a blog that is user-friendly and on which my friends can comment. I have a website with a bit of a "blog," but which isn't postable (well, it could be, I suppose, but I haven't had time to figure THAT out, and this is easier), and I haven't done a good job keeping up with. But it's got my basic information on it. Well, now, almost.
The biggest news is we've just adopted. I'm going to publish a bunch of photos on a PhotoSite soon, but this is my first venture into blog territory for the word-y angle. I just feel like sharing tonight. Charlotte Regina Lim is the newest member of our family. She was born April 30 in Raleigh, North Carolina, to a wonderful birth mom whom I have come to respect and admire greatly. I had to stay in NC for two weeks until the two states cleared us to come home to Alabama. It was stressful not being with my family and having to constantly be in touch with lawyers about what piece of information was needed that day or hour, but it was rather relaxing to be there alone for a while. I was holed up in a hotel room and had no responsibilities other than taking care of Charlotte (and keeping in touch with lawyers...). My children were taken care of by friends and family and then by Marce (he was with me for 5 days and then came home). They missed me terribly, as I did them, but they survived just fine. I didn't have to cook or clean or do anything in particular. I slept when Charlotte slept and ate good meals and watched a few movies and meandered slowly around nice malls in Charlotte, NC. It was freeing not to have all the other responsibilities at the same time. Just me and my new baby.
Now she's not completely legally ours yet. We have to still go through the court and get the adoption finalized. But that will come. We love her and are enjoying her tremendously. The three older sisters are fabulous with her, and Brianna, who just turned 11, is a great help. She is very useful to her old mom, who's not getting any younger, by the way. I celebrated my 37th birthday in the midst of all this and it wasn't fun. Too much stress. But I don't at all mind being 37. I feel in the prime of my life, except that I'm not sleeping through the night all the time! But hey, I have plenty else to enjoy and appreciate. Sleep will come later, right?
You might be interested to hear that Charlotte is black/African-American, whichever you prefer to call her. So we are building a bit of a little U.N. I'm white, Marce is Filipino, our three older girls are mixed, and the new baby is black. I figure we need a Hispanic baby... or not. I think I've got my hands full right now. So we will probably have some interesting conversations over the years with Charlotte, and we have already had interesting conversations with perfect strangers (well, primarily me, as I wandered around in public with the baby). They have all been very supportive and positive. We are aware that there will be a few issues to address, but mostly, I don't think much about how she looks, except that she's cute as a button! She's just a doll.
She's my baby, however she came into our family, and I love her. She is such a blessing. I always said that when I had a new baby, I was meeting a perfect little stranger each time. This was the same -- I was handed a new little stranger to get to know. Just came a different way. But I didn't feel any different as I have gotten to know her. It's been really a neat experience.
OK, so that's the end of my inaugural post. There will be more to come, more often than not, I hope.
The biggest news is we've just adopted. I'm going to publish a bunch of photos on a PhotoSite soon, but this is my first venture into blog territory for the word-y angle. I just feel like sharing tonight. Charlotte Regina Lim is the newest member of our family. She was born April 30 in Raleigh, North Carolina, to a wonderful birth mom whom I have come to respect and admire greatly. I had to stay in NC for two weeks until the two states cleared us to come home to Alabama. It was stressful not being with my family and having to constantly be in touch with lawyers about what piece of information was needed that day or hour, but it was rather relaxing to be there alone for a while. I was holed up in a hotel room and had no responsibilities other than taking care of Charlotte (and keeping in touch with lawyers...). My children were taken care of by friends and family and then by Marce (he was with me for 5 days and then came home). They missed me terribly, as I did them, but they survived just fine. I didn't have to cook or clean or do anything in particular. I slept when Charlotte slept and ate good meals and watched a few movies and meandered slowly around nice malls in Charlotte, NC. It was freeing not to have all the other responsibilities at the same time. Just me and my new baby.
Now she's not completely legally ours yet. We have to still go through the court and get the adoption finalized. But that will come. We love her and are enjoying her tremendously. The three older sisters are fabulous with her, and Brianna, who just turned 11, is a great help. She is very useful to her old mom, who's not getting any younger, by the way. I celebrated my 37th birthday in the midst of all this and it wasn't fun. Too much stress. But I don't at all mind being 37. I feel in the prime of my life, except that I'm not sleeping through the night all the time! But hey, I have plenty else to enjoy and appreciate. Sleep will come later, right?
You might be interested to hear that Charlotte is black/African-American, whichever you prefer to call her. So we are building a bit of a little U.N. I'm white, Marce is Filipino, our three older girls are mixed, and the new baby is black. I figure we need a Hispanic baby... or not. I think I've got my hands full right now. So we will probably have some interesting conversations over the years with Charlotte, and we have already had interesting conversations with perfect strangers (well, primarily me, as I wandered around in public with the baby). They have all been very supportive and positive. We are aware that there will be a few issues to address, but mostly, I don't think much about how she looks, except that she's cute as a button! She's just a doll.
She's my baby, however she came into our family, and I love her. She is such a blessing. I always said that when I had a new baby, I was meeting a perfect little stranger each time. This was the same -- I was handed a new little stranger to get to know. Just came a different way. But I didn't feel any different as I have gotten to know her. It's been really a neat experience.
OK, so that's the end of my inaugural post. There will be more to come, more often than not, I hope.
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