Checking In

Well, I am feeling much better from the stomach bug...and joined a gym to keep going on the getting healthy and weight loss start to the year! I only did a 3 month membership...because hopefully at the end of that, I will have a baby, and be on Family Medical Leave from work, and the last thing I will be thinking about is going to the gym. BUT...I figured I also only have about 3 months left in my life for it to still be all about me...so if I don't get in shape and lose this last 12 or so pounds NOW...I will never do it!

I guess however, that since my immune system was down from that stomach bug, I now have a minor cold. Nothing major except the skin under my nose is so sensitive that if I blow my nose more than like 3 times a day...it gets all red and sore and needs first aid cream on it all the time. YUCK!!! So although I don't feel that bad, I look rather sick and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer like. Oh well!

This weekend was productive and fun.
Friday night we just had a nice quiet night of going to the gym, getting Sushi dinner (like every Friday night) and going to bed by 10pm (man we are old).

Saturday morning, I had my first appointment with the trainer at my gym. They take all your measurements so you can track them month to month to see your progress. Then he showed me a really easy weight lifting program. My arms were exhausted afterwards...but I am hoping that these workouts will help make carrying an 8 month old a little less painful :-)

We then ran some errands which included the fabric store. I am making a small throw sized quilt for Olivia's Taiwan Mother as well as her Foster Mother. For both of them I felt like I wanted to do something just a little special that was hand made by me. Olivia's Taiwan Mother's quilt has one fabric with leaves (including birch leaves), another simple vine pattern and the backing is a beautiful Asian silk fabric. It is all moss like greens. Her Foster Mother's quilt is all really beautiful white, light blue and dark blue patterns. Pauly actually picked those out. Now all I need is the time to make them!

I also think we may have at least narrowed down the piece of jewelry we will buy as a gift to Olivia's Taiwan Mother. I need a few more days to think about it, but at least we are close. It is so hard to try to come up with a one time gift that sums up all the love and gratitude you have for a person you may never meet...and to whom you can't express in words how much they mean to you. So a piece of jewelry, and a handmade quilt will have to do.

Saturday night we met for dinner with Tina, Bobby and Ashley. I packed my camera in the morning to bring with us...and then left it in the car and never used it :-( We caught up on the last few months, and exchanged Christmas gifts. I was so thrilled that Ashley loved all her craft projects and clothing we got her. We LOVED the Cabbage Patch baby doll, ladybug piggy bank, and stroller toy they gave us for Olivia. I already put the ladybug bank on Olivia's bookshelf, and the baby doll is in her closet ready to be played with.

Sunday after Church, we said a quick hello to the Connolly's and McGuckin's, went grocery shopping, made beef mushroom soup, got some laundry done and headed over to Hannah's first birthday party. Again, I forgot to bring the camera with me, so I have no documentation of the adorable child's birthday, but it was a fun time. Happy Birthday Hannah!!!

We wrapped up the night with me finishing a few more pages in the quilt book!!! Almost done! I have about 10 more people to document and the book will be done. If all goes as planned, my Dad should be meeting the quilter this week to pick up the finished quilts for Olivia Hsin Hua!! Yipee!!!

I can't believe it has been 2 years since we first sent out our request for squares!!! Holy Cow!
Everyone was right that once you see your baby's face, the wait seems to melt away. It has been two and a half years since we started the process to adopt, and during that wait there were days when it felt like it had been 10 years. There were days that it felt like the wait would never end. I remember days that I felt completely hopeless that we would ever be matched with a baby. But now that I have 9 little pictures of a beautiful baby girl, I can hardly remember how awful the wait was. All I feel now is the excitement and anticipation of finally meeting her!!!

Anyway...that is the weekend update...over and out!