7 Months Old!!!!

Dearest Darling Girl,

I bet you are growing strong in the care of the nannies. We constantly are reassured by other parents that have visited your orphanage that you are well-loved and cared for. I like to be reminded of it often! I get these weekly e-mails about the milestones a baby your age may be accomplishing. I have to admit, I just delete them without reading. I just want to see for myself what you are up to. The good news is that we are leaving exactly 3 weeks from today and will get to FINALLY meet you in 27 days!!!! I'm still counting down the days. The countdown seems to be taking forever, but when I compare our "countdown pics" I am reminded that we have already come a long way since starting at 63 days. That paper chain was the best thing I have ever done for my mental health!

63 days at the start...

27 days left to go!!!! I can do this, I can do this...

Nana sent you an Easter/7 month birthday present! We ate the yummy chocolate that came in the Easter 'basket' she made for you. She has been trying very hard not to buy outfits (frankly, I'm surprised she lasted this long). The shirt is true..."Some Bunny" does love you :) Actually, lots of 'bunnies.' 

 Cheesecake was the dessert we had to celebrate your 7th month. I think I was so excited (as that is my favorite dessert...even though it wasn't the prized Stage Deli cheesecake in NYC) that I totally forgot to take a picture! *Momma fail*

Hoping that you felt our wishes and prayers for you today (and always), and that someone remembered to give you an extra squeeze on your day! We can't wait to love you up!!!!! 

xoxo

Donations--Givin' me goosebumps...

Another post about the great people I work with and call friends! I was too tired (read: lazy) to take all of the goodies out of the bags and take a cute pic, so I piled up the bags instead. We have sheets, blankets, clothes, bottles, fly paper, wipes, sippy cups, etc.! So exciting that we will be able to pass on the love. This picture doesn't even account for the money that we received to go out and buy needed things on the list! Just another example of how loved and blessed we are by the people around us. I don't know what I did to deserve these great people in my life, but I am sure glad I did it. :)

Thanks Cheryl, Megan, Ruth, April, Jill and Lori!!!!!!!!!

Doll Chair for our Daughter

I'm almost embarrassed by the outpouring of love, support, kind words and prayers that we have received since receiving the referral of our beautiful daughter. Along with that, we have received extremely thoughtful and beautiful gifts. When I get the closet of the "nursery to be" a little more cleaned up, I'm going to take a pic of all of the outfits and accessories she will be inheriting. They are aplenty and oh-so-adorable. 2 of the amazing thoughtful gifts we received have her name engraved, and we can't reveal that online, so I can't post a picture. :(

A few Mondays ago, I walked into my office at work, and I was feeling grumpy (a. it was Monday morning, b. we had lost an hour and I hadn't slept well, c. it was morning... and that isn't my primetime- ask any poor sucker that has ever had the unfortunate privilege of living with me). Well, my Monday was turned around instantly when I saw what was sitting on my desk. I don't know if I have ever mentioned how AMAZING my co-workers are, but frankly...they are the BEST. We have something called the "Booster Bucket" (actually, I think there are 2 buckets), and they just travel around the building. They get filled with treats and notes about how much we appreciate each other. What a great pick-me-up! The booster bucket was sitting on my desk, filled with chocolate, a diet coke (because it is pretty hard not to notice that is my favorite beverage). It also contained a lovely note, and the bucket was sitting on a doll chair for our daughter made by our PE teacher. Tears! How thoughtful! For those that are not fortunate enough to know our PE teacher, you are MISSING OUT. In light of recent events, I've compared him to Charlie Sheen, but in a sober way. He is always "winning," he has "one gear, GO" he probably has "tiger blood," but more than that...he has some one-liners of his own, and more than enough energy to keep up and surpass middle school students. A J.B. one-liner favorite of my own, "don't crack yer mellon," oh, oh, and "the 50 ft. rule" or "Safety First!"... Let me just say, it melted my heart to hear him say he saw the doll chair in a wood-working magazine and thought it would be perfect for me... so sweet. We are so blessed, and can't wait to share these people with our daughter! 

Winning!

We Are Getting Closer!!!!

I apologize for not posting for a while (which is weird that I would apologize, because it isn't like I'm some all powerful blogger...I'm probably talking to myself!) I digress... We have just been doing the whole work routine, etc. Guess what really good news I have?! Our countdown is getting smaller!!!!!!!!!!!! I have PROOF, to:

Where the countdown started....

Almost to the 1st loop!!!!!!! Yippee!!!

I just started collecting donations for the orphanage! Thanks for the donation, Cheryl!!!!! If you want to add to this, I posted the list of needed items below. Thank you in advance!!!!

1st donation from Cheryl :)

 

•  
• Please note that medications should not be brought to as a donation. Topical ointments are okay
• Baby Packs/Slings (for the nannies to carry the babies)
• Clothes and shoes for children aged 5-10. Please note the clothing for infants is not needed at this time.
• Sippy Cups with lids
• Bottles and nipples
• Sheets for cribs & toddler beds
• Lotion(non floral)
• Hand sanitizer
• Toys for toddlers, preschoolers
• Blocks for stacking
• Stacking cups
• Wooden Puzzles
• Baby dolls
• Activity quilts (with buttons/ zippers etc)
• Plastic Feeding Spoons for toddlers
• Fly Paper
• Baby Powder
• Cloth diapers
• Plastic pants or cloth diaper covers
• Clotrimazole ointment
• Diaper Rash Cream (over the counter)
• Disposable Masks
• Flashlights with batteries
• Baby blankets
• Bottle/Nipple brushes
• Thermometers
• Mosquito nets
• Travel Packs of baby wipes (for the nannies to take with them when they travel with the babies)
• Anti fungal creams (over the counter)
• Vitamins for infants/toddlers/older children
• Educational and Instructional Items – the staff is setting up a classroom to teach children in at each care center. Education instructional items, such as the Alphabet to hang on the walls, numbers, etc…would be greatly appreciated.