This might seem strange, but somehow it feels so right. Each Christmas since being LID Santa has been buying a significant Christmas gift for my gal. Santa needs to buy this. It makes Tate seem real. Two years ago Santa bought Tate An American Girl doll Bitty Baby... the one with fair skin, black hair and almond shaped eyes including the starter kit. Last year Tate was given a whole slew of Fisher Price Little People stuff.... The Farm and Sweet Sounds House. This year?? I am not so sure. Calling Santa's name is the Pottery Barn Kids play kitchen in pink. But really, should Santa be spending about $500 on this??? A wise friend advised me that when Tate will be old enough for this kitchen, some little gal will have outgrown her need for the kitchen... thus a Craig's list find. Maybe another year Santa will give that to my sweet gal, Tate.
Now for those who are thinking that Tate will be bombarded with toys, let me tell you she will receive such items at occasions which would be appropriate. Really what people should be worried about is the kissing and snuggling and carrying and adoration she will be bombarded with from her waiting momma, grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, and her personal snuggle puppy. It has been a long wait not only for me but for all the family and friends.
The other day my brother looked at me and said point blank...."when are we going to China to get that baby???" Really, when???
This brings me to something that I am so mad at my self for doing..... Freaking out when I had the dossier all ready to go December 1 2005.... it was like a panic thing. I knew that once the papers left my hands there was no turning back. IF I would have thrown all caution to the wind back then, I would have been LID mid Dec 2005.... Those Dec 2005 LIDers have been home for over a year with their gals..... I would be walking the walk and not talking the talk. I am so ready to start experiencing my life as I have always dreamed..... As a mother.
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26 comments:
I feel ya. No looking back now but I have thought the same thing. Remember when being LID one month later simply meant a referral one month later?
Oh, the days of yore. But, we are both almost there all the same.
Costco had a great pink kitchen set on the comparative cheap too.
I think it is only right that Santa bring a Christmas present every year - right, and important to both Tate and her Mama.
I have this feeling that you are going to be traveling the last week of January when we are scheduled to be in your city.
I think we will always be just missing each other in this life!
Don't beat yourself up about missing being DTC in December - you'll know as soon as you see Tate that you were waiting just for her!
I honestly cannot imagine what your wait has been like. It'll be over soon, though, and you'll have your little Tate in your arms.
I think Santa is a very wise man to bring Tate somthing each year. The PB kitchen is great, but if your heart isn't set on it, perhaps you would consider the step2 Lifestyle Dream kitchen. I bought it for my daughter and she plays with it daily. It has a light over the sink and some cool noises (although they're not loud enough to be annoying). It was also super easy to assemble. You can see photos of my daughter playing with it here... http://fromgodsarms.blogspot.com/2008/06/wild-child-in-kitchen.html. The cost is only about $160.
I'm not assciated with step2 or anything, I'm just a mom who couldn't decide what kitchen to buy and finally bought this one. I couldn't be happier with it, and my daughter loves it. Regardless of everything else, best wishes on getting your referral soon!
Lisa ~ Hang in there! And - as to the kitchen - here is one Santa brought for the Tongginator when she was nearly two. It is truly THE perfect size for a toddler. The plastic ones tend to be really big and bulky, but a short little one can use this quite well. I promise.
(Cut-and-paste)
http://www.magiccabin.co/magiccabin
/product.do?section_id=0&bc=1004&
pgc=890cmvalue=MCD|0|Normal
%20Search%20Result|P3
Target also sells a cute kitchen that is kinda like the PBKids one at less than half the price...but I know the cute pink wooden one is tempting. Especially with all the cute cooking accessories (also avalialbe at Target- IKEA, too has cute pans).
Our longest wait was with our August 2005 LID. And we ended up adopting Pearl just before referrals came anyway. Even with our 'short' wait for Kai-it was hard.
So you are my hero in dealing with the wait. I love that you share so much on your blog. I hope that it is a support to you to have all of us reading, waiting, wishing, hoping along with you.
Elder Uchtdorf spoke of hope in GC and used this quote:
"in the depth of winter, we find within us an invincible summer"
This winter is IT for you! I have enjoyed reading how you have found summer in this waiting time.
Now, I can't wait to follow the next season of your life :)
Kim
I so love that PB kitchen and have been eyeing it up for Sarah's 2nd bday, but cannot bring myself to drop that kind of money on a play kitchen...I have found a couple other versions that are very similar but less expensive!!
As for your dossier, try not to beat yourself up....hindsight is always 20/20. Hang in there....she will be here soon:)
Lisa
On Halloween my niece said, "Don't you think we've waited long enough for the baby to come from China." All I could do was hug her.
Santa hasn't been to our house yet, but I think this year he will visit. It's time to send him a letter and tell him I'm ready. ;o)
I love the idea of the kitchen set from Craig's List. I would have never thought of that.
Santa has visited our house for Ava since Christmas, 2005. I also need to purchase another "Waiting for Ava 2008" ornament for the tree. Alight, now I'm depressed....
I know what you mean about the what if's....IF I would have started two weeks earlier with the adoption I would of had a December LID. It's all because they changed USCIS locations and processing times took from a couple weeks to 90 days.
How many kids are you planning on having? How many years will they be little enough for a pink kitchen? I promise, you will be depressed if you buy Tate a used kitchen. Santa needs to bring her a shiny new pink kitchen with a big bow on it. She's had enough used stuff to last the rest of her life.
Don't beat yourself up...your Tate wasn't in the December batch. That being said- there are a lot of times where I wish I could have done things differently. We can only know good things will be coming your way.
What a great post - Chritmas is special and I'm sure she deserves it.
Santa can't seem to forget Maya also, I just wonder if she will ever get to see the fun things he brings. Lucky you, you are almost at the end of this journey and I can't wait to see that referral picture!
Parenthood IS a giant step. And when faced with jumping into it for the first time, it's only natural to "freak out" a bit. The people to worry about are those who take it so nonchalantly.
You're already an awesome Mom because YOU took the responsibility that comes with parenting seriously, and pursued it for all the right reasons. And, more importantly, you have stayed the course you set for connecting with your daughter ...no matter how tough things have gotten.
There's no way you could you have known back then just how screwed up this process would get. The circumstances that you ended up facing are beyond your control.
So don't be too hard on yourself. You should be proud that you've made it this far, and with such a good attitude.
Your time is right around the corner, my friend. Look forward. Tate is ever so close.
Hey, the important thing is, you're close now. And I know that when you see Tate's face for the first time, you will be so happy you weren't LID in a earlier month!
We have the LifeStyle™ Custom Kitchen for Popstar. She got it from Santa last year. It has stood up perfectly to near daily play by two 3 yr olds and a couple of tweens. It fits almost anywhere was simple to assemble and came with awesome accessories. It makes a few noises but not loud ones. Anyway I love Step 2 products all the way. You can check the rest of them out here:
http://www.step2.com/kitchens/
My only real complaint is that we have more space now and there are a couple of larger units I would love to have. But this one is in too good condition. Dang it.
I can't wait for lil Miss Tate to be photoed here playing with santa's toys! Yea the pink kitchen is pretty cute, I've been eying that one for a while now.
Oh, I totally understand. the Govt screwed up our first I171H and that set us back 4 weeks.....which was another 9-12 mos of waiting.
We will be in your cold, snowy city on the 25th of January through the 1st of Feb.
Although, I must be honest, it is cold and wet here today and I am wondering how I agreed to go somewhere colder and wetter instead of going warmer and sunnier?
How?
Would love for you to be traveling then. Well, would love to have you traveling now actually.
But, if not we'll brave the cold for a chance to meet new and old friends like yourself!
We're staying in Park City at my brothers condo and if he bails on us again - we might be staying with you because we're coming this time for real.
I agree...she needs gifts!! Keep buying.
If not a kitchen perhaps a dollhouse? There is nothing like a beautiful wooden dollhouse for a little girl. Selecta, Plan Toys, Melissa and Doug and Hearthsong all make great ones.
Tate needs gifts! Somewhere, some place she is waiting for you! I think she will love the kitchen. Have you looked on Ebay? My cousin bought a brand new one there recently for almost half the price.
BTW, I need an update on my precious Mesa!
Yep! Can totally relate with thoughts! Thankfully they go away :)
Happy 32! Hurry up CCAA, Tate is waiting :)
Honey, all I can say is how does one keep going, knowing??? But you do and man I think you're tough. And those ladybugs I saw??? All for you and Tate, I reckon.
She knows. If she had a 'puter she'd be bloggin' the months til Mama comes xx (Thankfully a pink kitchen will suffice for a while yet, the pink laptop will come later!!)
Who could know that even a week would make a difference, sometimes of several months. You are almost there after a LONG wait. Hang in there!
Bite the bullet and buy the kitchen. I can't imagine there are all that many being sold second hand as every mom I know that has bought one will be keeping it as an heirloom to hand down to grandchildren. Also, if they are to be found second hand I am sure they go for close to retail as they are exceedingly popular. Check the knockoffs, check the pottery barn outlets if you have any nearby (outletbound.com) and check ebay but if you want it for her buy it for her. Your first and perhaps only baby girl deserves to be spoiled if you can afford it (and the kitchen is super fun to play with which matters since you will spend lots of time playing with it too).
can u leave ur phone number to me???
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