BND and the Wonder of the Wait
We're leaving for New York tomorrow and we're so excited to get away for a few days. We're going to see Porgy and Bess and explore that great city for the first time together for longer than just a flight layover. To avoid incessantly checking messages, we're fully equipped with a Baby Notification Device (known to the rest of you as a cell phone). Yes, we've finally done it, sort of. I'm not proud, but I am happy that the agency can get a hold of us at all times with any potential news. Before you ask, none of the rest of you get the number. It's just for them and we'll just see how long we can stick to that. As expected, I'm already tempted to become as addicted to it as the rest of you are, but I'm holding my ground. For your reading pleasure, we'll confess that we spend $10 every three months for the privilege of joining the mobile wave. Big spenders!
Back at the homestead, our nursery is coming along nicely. The tree detailing is just about done and Josh plans to start the giraffe, who will be staring down at the changing table, pretty soon. We have our recalled crib sufficiently immobilized and all clean sheets waiting to be put on the mattress. Our continually growing collection of fun stories now has a home in a new bookcase and the floor will be crawl-able with its new rug. Only thing missing is, well, you know...diapers! We're getting there, don't worry.
The wondering that happens during the wait is most interesting. It's not always as simple as you might think, for example just wondering when it will all happen. Sometimes, it's wondering how we'll hear, where we'll be when the BND rings loud and clear in its jazzy lounge tone. The wondering has now led us to scrutinize our yard for potential hazards and rethink the way we've potted some plants in the house. Can we teach them the safest way to cross the busiest streets to the best park around? I wonder if they'll come to love that they get fresh eggs every day or if they'll be scared of getting pecked by the chickens!
Wondering about who they'll be when they grow up is probably not uncommon, but I haven't heard my friends ever wonder if they will be there when their children are actually born. No one I know has spent time wondering who will be the connection that brings their children home. We wonder about their health in the womb, their face shapes, their hair color and their size when we meet him/her/them. There are a lot of things that we don't know and they surface as things that most expectant parents can take for granted. What we do know is that we hope to meet them soon and begin experiencing the wonders of parenthood.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Nesting
Ugh, it's amazing how much stuff a couple of people who don't want a lot of stuff can accumulate when preparing for the arrival of babies! Luckily, it's super fun to imagine the cutie pies using all of it, so it makes it easier to see the piles growing. It's been a week of nesting and preparing. We are so excited to have washed laundry ready for the baby, a changing table all set up and LOTS of books in a growing pile to be housed in the new bookcase. Josh has finished his part of the Banyan Family Tree and Tiffany now needs to add leaves. Our minds are already moving on to the giraffe, monkeys and other critters that will call this room home.
We've also made some progress on the name search, with a few options for each sex being vetted by how we feel when we say them. Sometimes those poor imaginary children have to clean their rooms, or sit down and eat, but sometimes they get to go outside and play! In each context that we practice saying them, the names we've come up with make us smile. We're also staying open to the middle name being provided by the birth family. Jude put it well when she said that one of the most important gifts of love to give to a child is their name. We want to make sure that our kids are surrounded by not only our love, but also that of their birth families. Plus, it takes the pressure off of us to come up with something that sounds good with both the "hippie" first names we're looking at and the uniqueness of Schnabel as a last name. We hope it will be a group effort. Stay tuned...
And, our profile is now up on the agency's website! Wooohoo! Pass it along.
Ugh, it's amazing how much stuff a couple of people who don't want a lot of stuff can accumulate when preparing for the arrival of babies! Luckily, it's super fun to imagine the cutie pies using all of it, so it makes it easier to see the piles growing. It's been a week of nesting and preparing. We are so excited to have washed laundry ready for the baby, a changing table all set up and LOTS of books in a growing pile to be housed in the new bookcase. Josh has finished his part of the Banyan Family Tree and Tiffany now needs to add leaves. Our minds are already moving on to the giraffe, monkeys and other critters that will call this room home.
We've also made some progress on the name search, with a few options for each sex being vetted by how we feel when we say them. Sometimes those poor imaginary children have to clean their rooms, or sit down and eat, but sometimes they get to go outside and play! In each context that we practice saying them, the names we've come up with make us smile. We're also staying open to the middle name being provided by the birth family. Jude put it well when she said that one of the most important gifts of love to give to a child is their name. We want to make sure that our kids are surrounded by not only our love, but also that of their birth families. Plus, it takes the pressure off of us to come up with something that sounds good with both the "hippie" first names we're looking at and the uniqueness of Schnabel as a last name. We hope it will be a group effort. Stay tuned...
And, our profile is now up on the agency's website! Wooohoo! Pass it along.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Yay, Spring!
As expected, these posts are going to take a new form as the wait begins, continues, and eventually ends! There aren't many updates on the process, since we're done with that now. Woohoo!
Last week we shared our great news of anticipating parenthood with everyone we know via email, complete with links to our profile book, our blog and our registry. The response has been overwhelming. Anyone who is hesitant to spread the word is, in my humble opinion, missing out. The more people know what you're experiencing, the more love is showered upon you. I can't believe the number of people who took the time to respond to our announcement and a few who actually sent unexpected gifts for the baby already.
It's really been refreshing to complete the process and get back to springtime life as we know it. Each weekend has been spent cleaning the winter out of my garden, welcoming new blooms (they surprise me every year!) and trying to find a way to rid our yard of squirrels...to no avail, yet.
We spend some moment of each day in the nursery either meditating on positive and welcoming thoughts, painting, writing in our baby dreams journal and just focusing on our birth parents and what they are doing at that very minute. The imagination is a funny thing. We do read aloud some of the new baby books we've received as well and our favorites are one about an Acoustic Rooster putting together a farmyard band and one that links the day our baby(ies) are born to the entire planet and all that is new and bright in the world.
Our painting is coming along nicely, or so we think. We'll post updates as progress is made. Last night the banyan family tree began to take shape...
As expected, these posts are going to take a new form as the wait begins, continues, and eventually ends! There aren't many updates on the process, since we're done with that now. Woohoo!
Last week we shared our great news of anticipating parenthood with everyone we know via email, complete with links to our profile book, our blog and our registry. The response has been overwhelming. Anyone who is hesitant to spread the word is, in my humble opinion, missing out. The more people know what you're experiencing, the more love is showered upon you. I can't believe the number of people who took the time to respond to our announcement and a few who actually sent unexpected gifts for the baby already.
It's really been refreshing to complete the process and get back to springtime life as we know it. Each weekend has been spent cleaning the winter out of my garden, welcoming new blooms (they surprise me every year!) and trying to find a way to rid our yard of squirrels...to no avail, yet.
We spend some moment of each day in the nursery either meditating on positive and welcoming thoughts, painting, writing in our baby dreams journal and just focusing on our birth parents and what they are doing at that very minute. The imagination is a funny thing. We do read aloud some of the new baby books we've received as well and our favorites are one about an Acoustic Rooster putting together a farmyard band and one that links the day our baby(ies) are born to the entire planet and all that is new and bright in the world.
Our painting is coming along nicely, or so we think. We'll post updates as progress is made. Last night the banyan family tree began to take shape...
We'll be adding the animal kingdom as time goes on, complete with a sweet Metta bird happily perched in the branches to remind us of some of our new roots.
Here's to a great week. Thanks to all of you who have shown us just the support we were dreaming of!
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
The Wait
Ahhh, spring. That time of year when the breath of life returns to everything you see around you that has been brown and dormant for so many months (California folks, just trust me on that one). This is when things feel fresh and new and hope springs eternal for another fantastic warm weather season. It's a busy time for gardeners. I get the same zoned out look in my eye when I'm in the garden in May as Josh does when he's working on a new chord transition on his guitar. The look represents the focus of a passion. It's full of hope and anticipation that what you've been focused on is actually going to work!
We've been actively pursuing our plans to adopt now for four months, and the idea of it has been simmering for more than two years. Yesterday, we completed the last required step in the process with our agency to officially be waiting for a birth mother to find us. The wait begins.
I have this feeling that we're going to look back on this moment at different times in life and remember that jumping-off-the-cliff feeling that Josh wrote about a few posts back. This feeling is so exhilarating! As days turn to months, then potentially years, I'm sure the feeling will be more like those undulating California hills I miss so much, with highs and lows and the gradual easing between one and the other. At times, maybe they'll feel more like the jagged Rocky Mountains, with extreme rises to high happiness and also sudden plummets to anxiety.
But, this is day one and we're living in this moment for now. And for now, the passionate gardener in me can't help but liken it to what I see happening outside with my coveted little seedlings. I will revel in this emotion of hope and confidence that all of our love and attention to the subject is going to produce some pretty amazing treats in time.
Grow, little seeds, grow. Find your way to our happy home.
Ahhh, spring. That time of year when the breath of life returns to everything you see around you that has been brown and dormant for so many months (California folks, just trust me on that one). This is when things feel fresh and new and hope springs eternal for another fantastic warm weather season. It's a busy time for gardeners. I get the same zoned out look in my eye when I'm in the garden in May as Josh does when he's working on a new chord transition on his guitar. The look represents the focus of a passion. It's full of hope and anticipation that what you've been focused on is actually going to work!
We've been actively pursuing our plans to adopt now for four months, and the idea of it has been simmering for more than two years. Yesterday, we completed the last required step in the process with our agency to officially be waiting for a birth mother to find us. The wait begins.
I have this feeling that we're going to look back on this moment at different times in life and remember that jumping-off-the-cliff feeling that Josh wrote about a few posts back. This feeling is so exhilarating! As days turn to months, then potentially years, I'm sure the feeling will be more like those undulating California hills I miss so much, with highs and lows and the gradual easing between one and the other. At times, maybe they'll feel more like the jagged Rocky Mountains, with extreme rises to high happiness and also sudden plummets to anxiety.
But, this is day one and we're living in this moment for now. And for now, the passionate gardener in me can't help but liken it to what I see happening outside with my coveted little seedlings. I will revel in this emotion of hope and confidence that all of our love and attention to the subject is going to produce some pretty amazing treats in time.
Grow, little seeds, grow. Find your way to our happy home.
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