If you haven't been on the TaJ adventure train from the early, dusty, desert days of Niger, you might have missed that our matrimonial beginnings took root in Yosemite National Park. Long before that, I grew up spending summer camping trips in Yosemite Valley. Josh and I took a month long backpacking trip that started in the Valley when we first returned from the Peace Corps. He proposed on the top of Upper Yosemite Falls. The place is just special.

We're pretty darn close to the park right now, but we're not willing to make the trip into the park and be out of cell range, in case the BND rings (see earlier post for definition). So, we were thrilled tonight when we sat down in front of the TV and turned on the local public station. They were showing a special on exploring Yosemite. They hit our highlights and I cried through most of it. Who says you don't get all the emotional hormones raging if you adopt?!

Today is Meadow's official due date. It's 8:30 pm, and we haven't heard anything yet. T let us know yesterday that she spent the day cleaning the house. That is reported to be a sign that the baby is coming when mama starts to get the "nest" in order.

Another commonly held belief is that the full moon cycle often sends women into labor. There are many references to our connection with the full moon throughout this blog. We were pretty excited when Meadow's due date got changed (even though it was two weeks later) and landed on a full moon.

My scientist mind wouldn't let me write about the pull of the moon on babies in tummies until I looked up some research, despite my heart's conviction that it means something to us. It turns out, there is little to no scientific evidence that a full moon will bring on labor. However, doctors and nurses often say that it does from experience in the hospital and Josh and I were both born within a day of the full moon. As most of you know, when you're trying to bring a baby out, you look for signs. I'm siding with the hippies and old wives on this one.

We have learned that the form that T needs to get to the birth father so he can relinquish (that's the official term for it) his rights is now in her hands. This week should bring some progress on the legal side and the delivery side. We're heading out to the hot tub to stare at the moon and think water-moving thoughts. Wish us luck for a long, sleepless night at the hospital down the street!