I hadn't seen or read any headline news on adoption in years and had never even heard of the agency I am starting with (may not be the final agency - you're supposed to meet with a few), so you can imagine how surprised I was to see this story about a failed adoption (front page, no less) mere days before my meeting... with the agency mentioned in the article. Ugh. Two sisters from India, supposedly 11 and 15, turned out to be 15 and 21. Yikes. I am not interested in adopting from India or in adopting pre-teens/teenagers, but still. The timing is weird. Even though I'm positive it's not the norm, I will definitely be asking about this at some point during tomorrow's meeting.

In other, happier news, I brought a pillow sham with me to Smae and Al's on Saturday and we went to Home Depot where they helped me pick out paint and painting supplies for the "new" bedroom! The actual painting probably won't happen until after the holidays, but we're one step closer! I was so excited in Home Depot, I wanted to take a picture of the tops of the paint cans with their little blobs of pale yellow, lilac, and green, but the store was about to close and we were the very last customers in there. I'm sure there will be plenty of pictures eventually.

Also, mi niña already has a second nickname: Little Mo. Remember those five minutes a few years ago that I wanted to change my name to Mosby, my great-grandmother's maiden name? I admit now that was probably unemployed boredom setting in, but I still like that name. Since she'll be at least five years old when I bring her home, I do not plan on changing my daughter's first name, but I could totally see giving her Mosby as a middle name: Maria Mosby, Eva Mosby, Olivia Mosby, Rosalina Mosby. I think it would work with most any first name she might have. Oh, and "Little Mo" is my favorite female character on EastEnders (though hers is short for Maureen) and it just fits.

Aww... The little girls who live down the hall just knocked on my door and are handing out gingerbread cookies. I see them and their mom in the building sometimes (and Jupiter is pals with their cat Muffin who is often hanging out in the hallway) and we always say hello, but I would really like to become friends with them. (The mom and the girls.) How could I go about doing that without seeming like a freak? I mean, I imagine people with children would be somewhat apprehensive about strangers around their kids, wouldn't they? Then again, she lets them walk up and down the hall handing out cookies, so maybe she'd be cool with it. Plus, it's not like they don't know where I live. Anyway, they all seem very nice and I think it would be super cool to have mother and daughter friends down the hall.

Looking forward to my appointment tomorrow!!

My brother sent me the following picture message this morning:



They had 14 inches on the ground at 8am Eastern when this was taken (what's with people texting me early in the morning??) and they are expecting 6 inches more before all is said and done!! A White Christmas in Richmond/Ashland is VERY rare (I don't remember any White Christmases growing up), but there's no way that will all melt by next weekend! I'm so excited!

Update: Got this picture from my Dad this morning. Taken on their back porch!

I was going to keep this to myself and a couple of friends until later, but - and I thought this might happen - I am way too excited. I have an appointment with an adoption agency next week! I am planning to adopt a school-aged girl (5-6 years old) and I hope to start the (long, drawn out) process in the next month or so! Adopting an older child generally takes less time than adopting a baby, so it's possible I could actually bring her home by next Christmas! But we'll see.

Adopting a little girl has been a life goal of mine for the past 10+ years and I finally feel like I have everything in place. Smae and Al have already offered to help me paint my second bedroom (to match this adorable quilt set I already found and ordered and received!) and turn it into a little girl's room, my first big project on the condo. I can't wait!

In all the years I've considered international adoption, Russia (or thereabouts) has been at or near the top of my list, but for the past few months the image of a small Hispanic girl keeps flashing through my mind. I can't ignore that. So I'm going to focus my search on countries in Central and South America. (My somewhat sudden interest in taking Spanish again probably makes a lot more sense to you guys now, huh?)

Anyway... yeah. There it is. I am overflowing with excitement and trepidation and happiness and nervousness and outright fear, but mostly excitement and happiness. And nervousness. (Ok, and trepidation and outright fear. Ha.) I think about her all the time and wonder what she's doing and I call her mi niña (my girl) in my head. And to my mom. And now here, I guess!

Oh, and I created this icon months ago - specifically for this reason. Now it makes me smile more than ever. :-)

Nothing says Christmas like a pile of snow higher than a car.



Saw this a couple blocks from my house on my walk home from work the other day. I believe that was the evening it was 0°F with a wind chill of -8° or so. I walked as quickly as possible! Also, Richmond, VA is supposed to get several inches of snow this weekend. If it sticks around for a week I might have a White Christmas all day long instead of just in the morning when I'm waiting for the bus to the train to the airport!

Does anyone do or know someone who does simple tailoring? Like taking in slacks?