And we're off!

The packing was quite an ordeal. We were spread out in several rooms, in several states (NC and then MD), and over several days!



First we had to pack everything we needed for Ethiopia. Then we had to consider the week in DC once we get back stateside. Then we had to consider carry-on for adults, and carry-on for Charlie (which honestly, most of each type is Charlie's stuff... I'm bringing a pair of jeans, 4 shirts, 4 underwear, a bra and a pair of sunglasses!)


We had piles of donated stuff, piles of ET stuff, piles of stuff for the week in DC, piles for the diaper bag, piles for the suitcase we're leaving behind, donated medications, donated clothing for all ages, donated shoes by the box load.... etc, etc. People were SO generous with donations, however we did not anticipate this and were worried we wouldn't be able to take it all.


Then, once we had everything packed, we had the bright idea to check KLM's policy on extra bags, because with all the donations we had one extra bag. It's $150.00 for ONE extra bag. So re-pack we did! We managed to fit everything, after several packing attempts. I'd rather give AHOPE that $150.00 than KLM frankly.



So today we leave! Please, if you are reading this post, send off a quick prayer or thought into the universe regarding the safety of our flights! I know we are not any more special or deserving of a safe flight than the people on Air France.... I also know that I have been expecting "the other shoe to drop" any day now... because this kind of goodness, this kind of amazing gift (a human being!!! a child!!!) seems like too much for any one person to receive from the Gods... it all feels a bit like it won't come to fruition, like at the last minute something very bad will happen and I will never get to meet Charlie. Or worse, I will meet her and the plane bringing us both back will go down.

So on that bright note.... please help us out and send some positive vibes into the universe so we actually, amazingly, despite the odds, make it back home safe and sound. Any other moms feel that way, like the other shoe dropping, before bringing home a baby?

The final array:


Thank you!!!!!!!!

PS Hi Joyce!!

Shower pictures

Upon requet, here are some shower pictures.

Welcome to Sally's house! We're having a shower!

Here is the table setting. We had pastries, a french toast casserole, grass fed pork sausage, smoked salmon with cream cheese and toast triangles, roasted potatoes, asparagus and blue cheese quiche, quiche Florentine, and....

for dessert....

Sally baked a spectacular dark chocolate cake with raspberry cream layers, topped with fresh raspberries. Yum!

My dad composed a poem welcoming Charlie home. He touched on issues such as leaving behind everything she knows and learning about a whole new world, but that we are ready for her and will help her.



One of the crafty activities was to use fabric paint and paint on onesies. There were some excellent results, including "I summer in the Hamptons" and one with the Ethiopian flag (which Charlie will wear while exiting Ethiopia.)

Another fun activity was having everyone put together a scrap book page for Charlie's scrap book. My mom and Dad had diligently worked on a scrap book which included several pages of this blog (and readers comments and congrats, in particuler the day we passed court!) I have about 15 new scrap book pages, each with it's own flavor and design, thanks to my creative guests.

My cousin Kiki (mother to Matty and Ola of "Silly Saturday fame") copied the Word Art I did on a post here and had a graphic designer come up with this fabulous framed piece for the nursery! I love it! It's the perfect color, an the perfect gift.








And this wasn't part of Sally's shower, but at work I had a shower today also and this was on top of the cake. I thought it was adorable.

Thank you, it was as special as I had hoped...

Thank you for taking a day off of work.

Thank you for paying for flights here.

Thank you for participating in crafty things with full enthusiasm
(even though you may not have thought it was your cup of tea :-)
- apparently is IS your cup of tea, and that's so fun.

Thank you for helping assemble the high chair.

Thanks for the hug.

Thank you for the idea.

Thank you for organizing.

Thank you for all the weeks of work on the scrap book.

Thank you for baking a beautiful cake, scrumpcious french toast, sausages and grasshopper martinis.

Thank you for schlepping all the gifts there and back.

Thank you for the AMAZING word art framed picture, I love it so much.

Thank you for letting by gones be by gones.

Thank you for the mountain of gifts that will make Charlie's life more educational, full, safer, and my life more manageable.

You are always so generous, thank you.

Thank you for the touching poem.


None of it went unnoticed, nor unappreciated.

Thank you for welcoming Charlie home in this way.

PS Thank you cards will be on their way, but I just wanted to get this out there as soon as I could.

Silly Saturday

My niece and nephew are so smart, they figured out there was a camera on this rollercoaster ride, and figured out exactly where it was and when it was taking a picture.... and posed for it. Hilarious! Ola is making the "L" for "loser" symbol. Sheesh these kids.... precocious.

Their smarts were showing long before this picture. Here's this Saturday's installment:

Matthew 2 yrs, 2 months – Matthew & Daddy having dinner alone. Matthew having chicken and peas and Daddy quickly cooked hotdogs for himself. Matthew pointed at Daddy’s plate and said, “Hotdog!” Daddy asked, “Would you like to try a hotdog?” Matthew answered, “No, I eat food.”

Matthew 2 yrs, 4 months – Matthew was enjoying a cookie as he clomped around the house in his Dutch wooden shoes. Daddy asked, “Do you knew where people wear shoes like that, Matthew?” Matthew replied, “On their feet, Daddy.”

Virtual shower! Isn't this amazing?

(Above are gifts from the shower organizer, Gwenwifar. Thank you so much for the shower, Gwenwifar!)

As I wrote previously, my BookCrossing community organized a virtual baby shower for me and tonight a few of us met in an online chat room and I unwrapped gifts. Boy, will Charlie's bookshelf be full already I think!

Since the letters and cards will remain private, and go into Charlie's scrap book, here is the loot!
This is from Shelj7k in Ireland (my baby will be a well rounded worldly girl. There are books from Ireland, Canada, Hawaii, and all over!)

My parents arrived after I had opened the first box, and they were blown away, as was I, that these are people I have never met. Not only because of the gifts sent, but because of the letters and cards that people wrote. REAL letters. REAL cards. With hand written emotions. Awesome.

This is Opa, trying out the Elmo hand puppet before Charlie arrives, so he will be a pro once she comes.

This is a close up of the BEAUTIFUL crocheted blanket that dg7500 made.

Book and a soft photo album from Bkind2books:

And one of my favorites, Curious George, from Dove i Libri (and a nice frame) (Guess who's mug will be smiling out from that frame?)



This is a daily meditation type book with funny things that kids do. I'm going to take it to the office and check it every day for a laugh. Thanks to Chubsie Whubsie!

Some books and lots of BookCrossing labels (a very important BC'ing accessory) of all types! Thanks to Hyphen8!

Some lovely books that I think Charlie will enjoy, from Jessibud. Thank you!







And what a cute onesie! And look at the booties! And the entire Pooh Bear collection! Pooh is my absolute all time childhood favorite. I so love Pooh and Piglet, and Kanga and especially ROO. And of course Eeyore. He's great in his curmudgeon-i-ness. And TIGGER! (Tiggers are wonderful things!)
Thank you so much Dusties!







And oh how jmsmom went overboard and completely spoiled me and Charlie! Within her magic box were books, a beach towel, two stuffed animals, a fuzzy blanket, and a book on toddler health. WOW! Thank you jmsmom!

Isn't that amazing???? And there was more... more books, more cards. These are just the highlights.

My parents walked in and were flabbergasted that such people exist. As am I.

Thank you Book Crossers, for making a special time even more fun.

Ok.... time to write the thank you cards......