UGH. PACKING.

I have a dining room table full of items for Charlie that need to be packed, and a houseful of guests arriving for lunch tomorrow.

Which means I have to get this stuff packed and off the table.

The problem is, I might receive certain items for my shower on Sunday. Items I’ve already bought in order to be “ready’ to travel 2 days after my shower. In my wisdom, I decided that it would be better to have too much “stuff” than not enough “stuff” and have to go shopping the day after my shower. Some people might have asked: “Why not wait until after the shower and only buy what you still needed?” Well… I was working on the premise that I wouldn’t get the “useful” items off my registry, because they aren’t that fun to buy. Like a nipple brush. Or disposable diaper bags.

The 2 days after the shower, I actually have to go to work full time, immunize the dogs after hours, pack, go to the bank and get $2000.00 in new (post 2004) bills, drop off the dogs at the kennel, do about 20 other things on my to do list and LEAVE.

So I thought it would be smart to buy everything on the list, and return things that I received as gifts later. So I bought all 200 items, and put them all on the dining room table. What better place to keep stuff organized? Besides, half of it’s from one store and half from another, so they must stay in their bags so I can tell where to return it to.

Problem is, where to put all that stuff while guests are expecting to eat off a table? And are sleeping on beds? And your house should look the best it ever has because family who haven’t been here in years are coming to visit? I feel like weeding the entire backyard, but have simply run out of time.

Also, I just bought a crap load of food at Sam’s in order to feed the troops, and we’re leaving 2 days later. Unfortunately, much will go to waste I fear, as it’s not really freezable. Perhaps I will give it away.

Which is one more thing on the to-do list.

Why does it always seem like when it rains it pours? And everything exciting in life happens the day before the other most exciting thing in life? I have spent MONTHS sitting around waiting. And now, all of a sudden, it went from 0 to 60 in a day. Wooo-hoo! Hang on, it’s a rollercoaster!

(Actually in my defense, I have been preparing, such as making jam from garden strawberries for guests, and shopping for Charlie, and preparing the nursery… it just feels like I’ve been sitting around waiting for awhile….)

Test

This was an email test, but appears to have messed up the font in the rest of the blog... so I'm retyping to see if that makes any difference. Sigh. Technology.

Promises, promises....

Dear Charlie,

As I pack and get ready to bring you home, I've been thinking about all the fun things we are going to do together, but also about all things I need to do for you. I'm imagining what type of mother I will be, and how I will accomplish the goals I have set for myself. I don't have it figured out yet, and I may never figure it out. So far, this is what I've got: I promise to give you all the "regular things" parents give their kids such as food, medicine, hygiene, protection, school, encouragement, comfort, cuddling, playtime, and a reliable schedule.

I also promise some unique things, just between you and me, our little twosome:

You will get to go back to Ethiopia with me one day.

We will play and eat with other Ethiopian adoptive families as often as possible.

You will never be the only child of color in your school.

I will read you a story as part of your nightly routine.

I will offer you the freshest, non-refined foods I can find.

I hope to teach you to recognize and cope with your emotions.

I will learn to make some Ethiopian dishes for us to enjoy.

I will learn to do your hair in ways that make you feel pretty.

We will honor your birth mother on Mother’s day and many other days.

I will offer you my support in dealing with any adoption issues or grief you may experience.

I will not expect you to fulfill all the goals I haven’t gotten around to fulfilling yet.

I hope to be a feminist role model, meaning an independent woman who is able to take care of herself, have a career, and have loving relationships.

I will give you choices in daily life, and even allow you to make mistakes. If you make big ones, I will stand by you as you fix them.

I will not rush you into growing up, and not infantilize you once you do.

I will validate your feelings.

I will allow you to explore your independence (although I may be holding my breath the whole time so please be quick about it and get it over quickly!)

I promise I will not use my saliva to clean your face.(Unless it’s an emergency and no one is watching.)

I won't be perfect in any of these pledges, but I will do my best.

Love,

Your Mama

Virtual baby shower!

I wrote about BookCrossing a couple of weeks ago and I wanted to show the blogosphere how awesome this book loving community is...

A BookCrossing member organized a virtual baby shower for me, and the packages have been weighing down the postwoman lately! It started out as an effort to get Charlie some baby books (which will fit very nicely on her new book shelf!) but I can tell from some of these packages that there is more than books in them!

I'm just waiting on a date and time to open.... then I will post some pictures.

Thank you BookCrossing! You guys are awesome!

Yay!

Garden 2009

Here are some of the flowers and veggies growing chez moi this season:

Potted plants I bought, before they went in the ground. I figured I better get my gardening on before Charlie arrives, so I spent 80 bucks on plants and got good and muddy this weekend :-)

Can you tell I love the variegated leaves?

Ooh and this one has both FUZZY leaves and SPIRAL leaves, something you don't often see in nature together, so of course, I had to buy it.

Here's 2 days worth of strawberry collection from my out of control strawberry patch out back. i'll be making jam for my parents who love my jam. (One container is frozen already which is why it looks a bit whitish. No, not mold.)

This behemoth was had for a mere $16.00. What a deal! It's so huge I could barely fit it in the back of my car. It must weigh 40 pounds. Seriously. I love the two toned leaves, green and purple. Who could pass that up for $16.00? Not I.




The row out back. If you remember, I posted way back in the beginning of spring (after dumping a flat of seedlings on the deck) so I have no idea what some of these are. I do know the tomatoes, potatoes, broccoli, zucchini, squash, onions, and artichoke. There may be spinach, carrots, watermelon, and cantelope out there too. We'll just have to wait and see. I've eaten broccoli from the garden several times already this year, and it's yummy.



The flower patch by the front porch. I'm hoping these all spread out and creat a lush, colorful tableau. Ooo.. using French words! Means it's a classy and elegant garden.

I love this tall blue flower and have planted several more that have yet to open, but are budding.

Cone flowers in the sun.




How is your garden growing?