Christmas, Packing, Updates and other Stuff

So this post will probably be fairly long (but I'm putting in lots of pix!). If you missed the pictures I posted right before Christmas of Mari...be sure to scroll down to that post because she is GORGEOUS!! The Fricks just got home and emailed me to say that my daughter is called the "American" baby because she is packing on the pounds. Hmmm...we will look alike in one respect anyway!

Notice the update to the blog...wanted it to be a little more girly and yellow is my favorite color.

Christmas was great this year, Mari and I got lots of wonderful presents.

This is the rocking giraffe that my brother Chad and his wife Lesa gave us. I nicknamed it "Ginger."

This outfit is from my brother Todd and his wife Diana (the bib is from Chad & Lesa - they didn't coordinate this but they go perfectly together)...I LOVE the colors in this. It is 18 months so she will probably be able to wear it shortly! Dad got me a shop vac--sorry no picture, it is still in its box...saving that until I get home. I used one a couple months ago after Todd helped me build up my attic and it was so much fun!

I got an unbelievable quilt that my Mom made. She actually made one for each of us kids that represented our childhood (the boys' weren't nearly as cool as mine!). The center square is a piece of Christmas fabric from a dress she made me when I was about 9 years old (it was a Victorian dress with puffed sleeves and big bow in the back--I still have it!), the squares around it are nurses, candy, paper dolls (I still have my collection), Barbies, Strawberry Shortcake, My Little Pony, Care Bears, and Cabbage Patch Kids interspersed with the yellow and blue gingham that I love. (Good thing that all these items have made a come-back otherwise my quilt probably wouldn't have come out so cool). The back is flannel with little piggies--yet another collection I had as a kid. What an incredible gift--thanks MOM!

Here are some pix of the family during Christmas.

Me with my niece Madi watching my dog (who Madi thought was hilarious!).

Me with the hilarious Oliver who couldn't take the lack of attention anymore. Here are my parents together.

My brothers looking a little strange - but this is how they act all the time!

My sister-in-law Diana snuggling with our niece. Ahh!

Me and my sisters-in-law Lesa and Diana playing with the CandyLand game I got for Madi (she's a little young yet).

Todd getting upset that he is losing! And he did lose!

So Christmas was wonderful. But now down to the travel prep. Just 4 more days, I've nervous but almost ready. I'm packed (yes--I'm a nerd) except for a couple little last-minute additions. I did some repacking after the Fricks got home. Everyone keeps saying how the Ethiopian bundle up the kids so much that I hadn't packed ANYthing short-sleeved for Mari but Noelle said it does get quite warm in the afternoon. So that called for a couple additions. She also expressed a desperate need for cloth diapers, rubber pants, and kids meds. So I got 3 packs of cloth diapers (no more room!) and over 50 diaper pins but rubber pants are hard to find! I found 2 packs for 12 months...will look again tomorrow. Also some tylenol and motrin. I'm am almost out of room (can fit a couple little things in nooks and crannies) but I'm well under the poundage, so I'm in good shape. I am almost finished with the photo albums I'm taking (one for the HOH and one for Mari's mom), just need to add one more picture. I also finished printing off the mountain of paperwork I need (dossier copies, tax returns, itineraries, contact numbers) all in triplicates--one for carry on, one for each me and Dad to pack. Also printed off a lot of info for Mom to hold on to, as well as care sheets for all the pets...and on and on and on. I still have one more piece of paper to notarize because there was a spelling change I need to take care of.

So all that is left for the trip is my notebook (for writing notes to send to families waiting to travel--keeping a list of who wants to know what), my camera, my wallet, last minute things like pillow and hairbrush. I have to pack the dog up (after he gets a bath). I have to clean the house and un-decorate.

Mari's room is ready...I just need to take the beach towel off her crib and "pop" open the hamper when I get home (the cats like to play in it). I have blown up her cute little inflatable tub and need to rinse it out with baby soap. And I think that is really all.

I added a little detail to the entrance to her room. Making it official, Amari is coming home!!!

Christmas is all around...

Well try #3 for court is tomorrow (today as it is already 6am in Ethiopia). Hopefully this time tomorrow you will be looking at sweet Amari's face, but I'm not holding my breath!


In the meantime, more pix.


Made cookies yesterday and Sam tried to help...need anything from this cabinet?


Making cookies is hard work, let's sleep under the tree.


I decided that I wanted to give Mari a Christmas ornament every year...I wasn't sure whether to start this year or not, since we were not going to be together. But since she is already a part of me, it doesn't matter that we are half a world away from each other. So I began my quest for the perfect ornament. I found two...thanks to Hallmark Keepsake ornaments.


The first is a little tree called "Forever Family." It says "2007 - Connected with a bond of belonging - Forever Family." How perfect!


The other is a little African girl from the Joy to the World Collection. It is so cute.



So, my Christmas shopping is done. Still have a few things coming in the mail but it is all done. Here are a couple more Amari presents from Amharic Kids. Little bean bags with the colors and numbers on them!

Last, I'll leave you with a picture of the adorable tote bag Juli (my cousin and BFF) sent me today. It is very sweet with my favorite color combo of chocolate and pink...and the embroidery is too cute!

Baby Presents and Christmas Time!

Well, I promised some happier posts and some pictures. So here are some pictures of my baby shower last weekend and some of the wonderful presents Amari received. And then there are some pictures of Christmas in the making.


This is the beautiful cake that Amy's husband, Dennis, made for my shower. It was very yummy and VERY sugary!!


Leisa's daughter Chrissy was super well-behaved at a table full of grown-up chatterboxes!!!
This cute little monkey from Becky is "Tickle Toes." It giggles hysterically when you squeeze its foot...which leads to some hysterical giggling from the peanut gallery!

A giraffe "lovey" from Pam that will probably make it into the diaper bag for Ethiopia. Sweet and small enough to travel.

Cute, cute outfit (from Tamara) that I can't wait for Amari to wear. It will probably be for next winter but it is so cute, I wish she could wear it now.

Another cute outfit (from Julie F.), my favorite chocolate color!! Amari will need to grow into this one also...it so nice having stuff for the coming growth spurts.

Alright, on to the Christmas pictures. While going through my box of decorations, I found the doggie reindeer antlers that Ollie got for Christmas last year. He was VERY tolerant of me putting them on him and taking pictures. He just sat there looking all defeated (but cute!).

A little dusting of snow that helped with the holiday spirit. Here is Ollie's perfect pawprint.

My Christmas tree...decorated only the top 2/3 of it because someone likes to eat the ornaments. I remember when I was a kid, Mom used to finish our tree with a can of aerosol snow. I had a sense of ironic deja vu last night as I sprayed the bottom of the tree with bitter apple spray to keep the animals from eating the branches!!

Mom bought me these Boyd's Carolers one year for Christmas...I collected the Boyd's Dolls and she thought these two would be a great addition to the collection. Interesting that one is a red-head and the other is black with pigtails....hmmm. A little foreshadowing maybe? Also interesting that the little black caroler is taller than the white one...I'm only 5 foot 2, I'm sure my daughter will be taller than me by the time she's in 1st grade!!

Happy holidays!! Several families traveling now and next week...so maybe more Amari updates to come. Court is on Tuesday again. I am hopeful but not getting overexcited yet...I think, now that I know Amari will not be home for Christmas, there is a little less pressure to hurry up the process. I still am in a hurry to get her home but I know she is healthy and being well-cared for, so I okay with the little extra wait (I say that now...who knows what I'll say if court falls through again--I may go certifiably bonkers!).