A BREATH OF SUNSHINE

Looks who's coming tomorrow to visit Mesa and ME!!!!!

Julie was able to score a deal on tickets and was gracious enough to think of me and my needs for some serious Tessie Time. I am so excited to get to see these two rays of sunshine.

OVER- LET'S MOVE ON.....

Is any one else happy the Olym*pics are over??? I really do love watching the Olym*pics. This time around I saw a total of 20 minutes. NO time to sit down and watch. I did taped the Opening Ceremony for later viewing pleasure WHEN I have time. The few weeks (months actually) approaching the Olym*pics, I had uneasiness about this whole thing. I worried that "something" like demonstrations of human rights issues would cause a MAJOR kink in the process of the adoption of Tate. The referral rumors of the whys, the what ifs and the what now have totally taken a toll on me and my emotions. This next two batches of referrals will hopefully give us a glimpse of what is to come. Will they speed up? Slow down? Stay the same?

LOVING ME SOME BULLETS....

• While visiting the Salsa bunch, I also got to meet some wonderful Bloggy people. I had such a great time hanging with these gals and kids at Gilroy Gardens that I totally forgot to take out my camera and snap a few pictures. I got to meet some of the first blogs I read.... Donna and Lisa. Donna went PW but has since has . Lisa was always fun to read cause she is creative crafty and cute AND is the twin of Michelle, who I met on the 2007 Disn*yland trip. OH.MY.HECK. I got to meet a fellow LIDer keep the faith Kasey. I was riding a boat ride with the twins and Mary-Mia and looked up to see the radiant smile of Kasey. I swear, but that gal looks like Muriel Hemingw*y. Oh she also looks like my cousin Susan. As I talked to her about the same "stuff" that is my life right now, I felt like I was talking to family and a long lost friend.... WHERE WAS MY CAMERA???? I cannot wait to introduce Tate to Jennifer and all the other bloggie kiddos, when we are ALL finally HOME.
  
  



• Mary-Mia's mom got me started on my first supplies for Bento fun. I did add to the stash and now in a plastic box waits molds, picks, and fun stuff to get Tate into the Bento fun.
  




• I am so lame and LATE, but I wanted to congratulate all new parents, especially Aly and Ford. What an adorable baby Lizzie is!
  
  



• I switched out Mesa's food last time I bought her dog food. I SLOWLY incorporated her new food to her old food. Throughout all of the forty lbs. of dog food Mesa had loose stools..... I started to worry that because she drinks and swims in questionable water, she just might have parasites or giardia. Since I have never established her with ONE vet, I decided to go to a new place that I would establish her at. Loved the place. One of the things I found out was that Mesa is now 98 lbs. In P*tsmart she always weighed 90-91 lbs and so I was shocked she weighed sooooo much! Needless to say, she is watching what she eats and tries to be more active. I guess the good thing is this also affects me and my amount of excersise. So glad the hot summer temperatures are cooling off making it more pleasant to go for long nice walks. She was negitive to any parasites, so I am blaming the new food for this loosage. She is now back to her old brand of food.
  




• I have made a conscious decision NOT to be freakin' out about the lack of Hague accredition for my Adoption Agency. I have so many other things to think about and stuff that I can control that I feel I will just let the dust settle and see where all this lack of accreditation puts me. This is a just the way I CHOSE to roll. I would like to thank those who have emailed me sharing that they are in the same spot with the lack of accreditation. I thank you for sharing information of what their agencies are doing to handle these things. I have said in the past about my small agency's lack of knowledge and management, I know their heart is solid on helping me get Tate in my arms. With faith I move on.
  
  



• I have been thinking how I will handle the blog when I travel to China. I really do not like navigating through the adoption sites when I follow traveling trips and really do not want to subject others to this. I have a ton of people who I would love to have follow along here locally but am not sure if I want to open myself up to my past thoughts that this blog contains. So I am thinking I will do a travel only blog and then start a new blog with the after life with Tate. I find it so hard to follow along when blogs go password, so this will not be something for me. Any thoughts of this?
  

CHINA LESSONS

Lucky me!!! I spent three fun filled days with four of China's best little girls. Besides having screamin' fun....... lessons were learned as well.

(Liza B 7, MiMi 7, Nora 7, YuYu 8)
the three on the right are siblings- their momma should be sainted

LESSONS LEARNED......

1. 
   I guess I am one naive noodle eater. I always thought Ramen noodles were the kind of noodle kids from China eat. Silly Lisa, the best (and they are delish) noodles are the ones found in the Asian grocery.
   

1. 
   
   
   
   
   
2. I have always been pretty proud that I am such a great chopstick user.. until I met YuYu and Nora. I was quick to learn that I hold my chopstick wrong..... I needed to cross the top in an "X" to wow these two chopstick experts. Both YuYu and Nora were both 4 1/2 when brought home from China. There is about 18 months difference in age between Nora and YuYu. MiMi was about 11 months. YuYu, MiMi and Nora have a 11 year old sister Elle who happened to be at G#rls Sc*ut camp..... Like I said before, their momma needs to be sainted since she is a single momma with a house full of lovin" China beauties. The beauty on the far left is Liza B.... she is best buds with MiMi and part of our Single Momma's group. (SWAC).
   

I had decided that since I was spending my three days off hangin' with the gals, I was going to enjoy it. I had no other EXPECTATIONS for the day BUT have fun... so we did lots of Summer water things. I exchanged my small SUV for the family van.... the van I loved. On the drives the four girls would sing..... Since three of the gals were in first grade together, they sang their patriotic spring program. In tears I listened to the sweet voices sing America, Yankee Doodle Dandy and others. I glance in the rear view mirror into the bright faces of the NOW Chinese-American gals.....

What heart warm lessons I have learned.

****GASP****

According to RQ, I am now on the chart.... MARCH 7 2006. I guess her guess as good as mine. It will be great when the Oly#pics are over and life for the C*AA will go back to what is their "NORMAL".

BAKIN' THE SALSA WAY...

Slacker me... busy ME! I have been working tons... I do have a few posts to catch up on AND some bullets later. I guess when it comes to me and blogging it is either feast or famine.....

Enjoy the eye catching FEAST of the antics of the Salsa Twinadores..

The ever talented Marie (L) demonstrating her two handed stirring technique while Rose (R) advises from the sideline....

Twinadore stirring....

Marie's motion defying swirling of the wooden spoon.
Mixing is tough work as evident on Rosie's face.

Give a sistah a hand would ya pleeeeze?

At last, the best part of the baking is the licking of the spoon (Rose)

LISA'S SUPER MOIST CHOCOLATE SHEET CAKE

This is not what Marie and Rose and I made but soooooo delish that I had to share. This cake is sooooo moist. It would be a great addition to your end of the Summer holiday picnic.

LISA'S SUPER MOIST CHOCOLATE SHEET CAKE

(also know as the Texas sheet cake... since I am not from Texas, liberties were taken to rename)

2 squares (1 cup) butter
2 TB cocoa
1 cup water
2 cups sugar
2 cups flour
2 eggs, well beaten
1 /2 cup buttermilk
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla
1 /4 tsp salt

In large bowl place dry ingredients. In sauce pan melt butter, cocoa, water and bring to boil. Pour over dry ingredients and beat well. Add 2 well beaten eggs and buttermilk. Beat well again. Pour into prepared 9 x 13 inch pan back at 375 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes or until center is done. While cake is baking, make frosting.

FROSTING
In pan, melt 1 square butter, 4 (+) TB cocoa, 6 TB milk and bring to boil. Pour over 1 box powdered sugar and mix well. Add 1 tsp vanilla and 1 cut chopped nuts. Beat well. Pour hot frosting over hot or warm cake. Spread very carefully. Cool before serving.

ONCE AGAIN....

I stopped posting my LIDiversary at the two year mark..... but decided why not??? So here it is the month of August's 2008 number is.....


I am not really a cat person (except for the Salsa cats Mango and Zena- who could not get enough of me) .... in fact I am ALLERGIC to cats...... funny that this was the only number 29 that spoke to me.

SADLY....(UPDATED)

NO ***HAGUE FOR ME......

I am okay with this... because it was expected- no shock. All will work out, I just need to remember the joy at the end of this long winding road.

*** Hague is the new accreditation that US Adoption agencies need to have to qualify to do China adoptions.... at least this is my understanding.

FOR WELA...

Since Salsa is on hiatus.... the poor traveling grandparents Wela and Bob Bob are reqesting some

photos....

Enjoying a little ICE on a stick

Rose (R) is actually snuggling, Marie (L) is just giggling....

good stuff!!

This picture is my favorite of me and the gals.......

THINGS I HAVE LEARNED ON THE FIRST DAY WITH THE SALSA TWINS...

I need a new camera.... one that takes fast moving targets....

The sweet little gals are really as adorable in real life as they seem on the their blog.... So are Mary-Mia and her awesome husband Rod.

GOOD PEOPLE, I tell you!!!

I'VE HAD A HUGE CRAVING LATELY

For some SALSA....

So next week, I'll be bringing a huge bag of chips!!!

Not sure if I will take time to share the chips and salsa while visiting but a few pictures when I get back, I promise.

WOMAN FOUND STUCK IN CHAIR

Why is it the grass always seems greener in someone else's yard??? For a change, the greenest grass is mine. This sweet statement just happened to come to me as I shared my day with other actual single mommas.... In theory, I consider myself to be a single momma, just with out a child.

It was my day off.... I found the need to sleep in and boy oh boy, I did. As my eyes finally focused on the alarm clock, it was 1115 a.m... Somewhere in the mix of sleep, a person can achieve too much sleep to which all sense of productivity is gone. My day was a waste... a fact that I realize as soon as I looked at my swollen puffy face and eyes. Why is it I look sooooo old when I sleep in? Pronounced wrinkles and bags? Creases from the sheet on face and arms? Feeling in need of some good old lazy pampering, I drag myself to my favorite pedicure place. What could be better than heaving oneself into a massage chair, feet in warm bubbling water while letting someone else work on what is in need of attention. One hour and a half later, it was time to leave that chair.... that chair which was moving up and down my relaxed back, that chair which was in need of more time with me. The next thing I knew, I was still sitting in that chair with my hands in bowls of sudsy water, getting a manicure. I do not get manicures..... my hands and nails are usually hammered by doing something artsy, creative, digging in dirt. So why did I agree to get a manicure? Because of that chair..... by the end of my visit, I had a pedi, mani and a brow wax. What nice ladies to recognize me in my weak state and offer all services to be done from that chair.

GOING BANANAS

I've been on a baking kick lately..... if I am invited almost ANYWHERE, I want to bring some kind of sheet cake-ish offering. With this in mind, I thought I would post a few of my latest offerings.

I don't know what I am thinking when I buy the HUGE bag of bananas from C*stco. I have been reassured that when Tate is here, I will never have over ripe left over bananas. Until that special time, here is a way to use the left over bananas I have on hand.

BANANA CAKE WITH SOUR CREAM FROSTING

1 /2 cup butter
1 1 /3 cup sugar
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 /2 tsp salt
2 beaten eggs
1 tsp vanilla
3-4 ripe mashed bananas
3 /4 cup buttermilk
1 4 cup regular milk

In large bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Add beaten eggs and vanilla. In another bowl shift dry ingredients together. Alternate adding dry and wet ingredients into butter/ sugar mixture. Beat until smooth then add bananas last. Place in a greased and floured 9 x 13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes. Cool and frost with sour cream frosting.

SOUR CREAM FROSTING
I do not have a recipe for sour cream frosting other than I take some (1 /2 square) butter and a large dollop (guessing 1 cup) sour cream. I put some powdered sugar and 1 tsp vanilla and beat adding powdered sugar until it is a good consistency. Spread on cake and refrigerate until you enjoy.

JUST NOT MY DAY....

This is the car seat that I am craving, the first Brit*x car seat that is "sooooo me"..... so off today I headed out equipped with a Bab**s R Us gift card, 15% coupon, and a coupon for $20 off. I was on a quest with this sweet dream in my mind. I guess there are other parents with this sweet dream on their minds, cause it was no where to be found in the BRU system......

The BRU staff said that this is a 2008 model and they should be getting the 2009 models soon. So bring on the 2009 models.... Tate needs a car seat!

ANOTHER LID

LID DONE.... how many more to go???

BUSTING OUT THE BULLETS...

So much has been going on.... thoughts, travel....

Hence, the bullets. (I love them... doing them and reading them)

• I decided on a whim to head to Florida for a few days... I was in need of a sun tan (bad me) and a little RR with the family. My sister lives in Tampa area. She has a nice house with pool, theatre room, and a convertible BMW. She also was not home. In her place was my dad, the pool boy, taking care of things for three weeks. My nephew is in Germany and will heading to Iran in a few weeks. Thankfully he will be in a safe place- no worries. Off I flew with my mom and Twinkle Toes in tow. We had a blast at Clearwater beach, Tampa Aquarium and Anna Maria Island. I just love Anna Maria Island for the true beachy feel it has. Although very beautiful, Clearwater was way tooooooo commercial for my taste. Our day at Anna Maria Island involved just me and Twinkle Toes. She and I are a lot a like in personality as so we had a scream together. We bobbed and played in the ocean forever. At the end of the day, while cruising in the convertible BMW, she gave me the biggest complement ever.... "My mom would never do the ocean like you did"..... Tinkle Toes mom is awesome, but getting wet and salty NON STOP is not for her. I decided to include pictures, it seems you can add pictures once bullets are done, so sorry for the randomness of the photos on this post. The picture of the dog is of my 19 year old Florida niece, Amanda, Twinkle Toes and Libby the pup. In my sister's master bath room she has had hanging for the longest time a long EMPTY picture frame.... as a thank you and a funny thing to do, Twinkle Toes and I placed funny pictures in the frame..... included was the funny face picture of the two of us.




• The trip was also a trial for my new duffel bag and back pack. After just a few seconds worth of traveling with the duffel, I could assess I LOVE IT!!! I also had a carry on back pack (not pictured). I plan of using this back pack as my carry on with lap top and a whole lot of "stuff" needed for Tate. Back pack was also a thumbs up and huge heart. As requested, I put pictures of the duffel at the end of bullets.




• This sounds like a broken record, but I have got a TON of projects in the making and ALL in various stages of completion. One of the "said projects" is my teakish umbrella patio table. This table has been open to all elements in the summer.... rain and sun. This year I vowed to get that thing sanded and re stained and this time sealed really well. So yesterday, with sweat dripping off of me, I sanded the whole blasted thing. This morning, in calm sunny weather, I stained the table. Within minutes, a blustery wind gets started and all this yellowy pollen starts blowing from the trees onto my sticky-wet stained table. Crap... in I pull the table into the sun room (also Mesa's room) and grab the staining cloth, wiping the table trying to get rid of the pollen. While wiping out fly this stain saturated rag right into Mesa's water dish. Why OH why did the rag have to land in the water dish when there is a whole other area..... these are the days I wonder if I should put projects on hold and blog.




• I still have the insomnia thing going on. I remember other bloggers have sleep issues when they start getting closer to their referrals. While in Florida, I was able to mooch 4 Ambien tablets from my brother. Slept like a rock. Not so much after getting back. I do plan on expanding my thoughts and the "whys" in another post when I can fully put my thoughts, concerns, etc out there for your input.




• I witnessed the other day a situation that made me think about stereotyping people. I was just parking at the dog park when in comes a car that was all decked out like a gang banger car.... you know the kind that could bounce at the stop light decked out with total chrome and all that glitz. Out of the drivers seat comes this guy.... stereotyping here, this guy reminded me of someone who they would be looking for featured on the evening news. My first thought was, I better get away from this park. Into the back seat he climbed and out popped a three-ish year old boy. Around to the other side this guy goes, and after a few minutes, HE IS WEARING IN A SNUGLY a baby. I was shocked! How tender this guy played "baseball" with his son, while wearing the baby. How wrong of me to stereotype this guy as someone to fear.... expecting him to behave a certain way. He was just a regular old family man, hanging with his kiddos.

Here is the duffel bag... you can buy it at C*stco for $39... I think it is at any Co*stco because we did buy two of these in Cabo Mexico, last June. The top has the zipper laundry bag which I filled with other stuff for the trip out (clean clothes) and later home with dirty clothes. The bottom has a zipper area which I put my shoes. I figured the heavier shoes would weigh the bag so it did not get top heavy. the duffel is zipped in half so you can place some stuff on top and bottom, making it easier to get to. I love the front cause it has like two zipper compartments and an elastic thing to cinch up to carry a jacket or stuffed animal/blanket (for Tate). The back has a compartment that zips out revealing straps so you can carry it on your back. Something I opted not to do.

GOT BAGGAGE?

I used to travel A LOT. As a result, I own a wide array of pieces, all ranging in various sizes. A few years ago, on a trip to Rome, I used a compartmental rolling duffel bag.... totally cheap which only lasted long enough for the Rome trip and another trip overseas. Although the bag is trashed, my love for it still lingers. Today I bought my first item purchased exclusively with the trip to China in mind..... totally scored one at C*stco!!! Rolling, bi-level, multi compartmental, including a dirty clothes compartment! And the cherry on top of all this??? This sweet piece of baggage has hidden straps for a quick switch from rolling to a backpack..... Oh, I must also mention obscenely CHEAP!!! LOVE IT!!!!

Tonight I am starting my online education classes for the Hague requirement..... I am soooooo excited to take these classes and embrace educating myself with the stuff that will help me provide a healthy loving life and future for my gal. What started as a rocky start for Tate, hopefully will turn into a secure happy life. This is my ultimate goal.....

PASS the AMBIEN PLEASE...

I have been experiencing INSOMNIA these past few weeks..... so much is on my mind.

Tonight with the rumors being true that CC** actually sent referrals out for families with LIDs through January 22, I am afraid that sleep will just not be happening around this house tonight. I cannot begin to describe the feelings I had when I hit Ford and Aly's blog and saw they have only 5 days left before they will be seeing Alyzabeth An's sweet face.... tingles from head to toe, I tell you!! Then I headed over to another blog, one that is only one day behind my LID of March 7 2006...... posted for my astonishing eyes were the actually number between the matched LIDs of January 22, 2006 and their LID of March 8, 2006. So being the math whiz (cough, cough) that I am, I deducted one from the number 45 and found the sum of 44.....

44

days until I will see Tate's breathtakingly beautiful face!!!

Always the optimist that I am, I also factored into the equation the FACT that part of that 44 days the CC** was closed for two weeks for the Chinese New Year. So taking away 14 days from the 44 days.... I have only 30 actual LID's that CC** will have to match!!!

I. AM. HYPERVENTILATING!!!!

RACK up ONE MORE

LID...

A.G.A.I.N...

Heart racing.

Tears. Laughter.

Roller coaster of emotions.

It's referral time.

Soon we will all know how much closer we are to holding our children.

OPRAH'S SUMMER PICK FOR FAVORITE TURKEY BURGER

I decided to try a little healthy grillin' this weekend so I made this for my family..... something full of fruits and veggies and low fat..... Mix reviews from the family..... Dad said in his true meat and potatoes kind of way "give it back to Oprah"... Smiley, the oh so adventuresome fifteen year old "tried it, but not too thrilled about it". Me and my mom.... LOVED IT!!! I felt totally satisfied, yet like I really ate smart. It was what guys would term "chick food".... I give a two thumbs up....

Turkey Burger
Serves 8

Oprah found a new favorite food when she tried this turkey burger at Mar-a-Lago, Donald Trump's private club in Palm Beach. "I believe [it] may be the best turkey burger in the entire world," she says. The Mar-a-Lago Turkey Burger will be permanently available at the Trump Bar and Grille in Trump Tower in New York City, open to the public for lunch and dinner. It will also be served during lunch in Chicago at Sixteen, the Trump International Hotel restaurant.

INGREDIENTS
1/4 cup scallions, thinly sliced
1/2 cup celery, finely chopped
3 Granny Smith apples, peeled and diced
1/8 cup canola oil
4 pounds ground turkey breast
2 Tbsp. salt
1 Tbsp. black pepper
2 tsp. chipotle Tabasco™
1 lemon, juice and grated zest
1/2 bunch parsley, finely chopped
1/4 cup Major Grey's Chutney, pureed

Saute the scallions, celery and apples in the canola oil until tender. Let cool. Place the ground turkey in a large mixing bowl. Add sauteed items and the remaining ingredients. Shape into eight 8-ounce burgers. Refrigerate for 2 hours. Season the turkey burgers with salt and pepper. Place on a preheated, lightly oiled grill. Grill each side for 7 minutes until meat is thoroughly cooked. Let sit for 5 minutes. Serve with a side of Mar-a-Lago Pear Chutney and your favorite toasted bread, pita or hamburger roll.

Mar-a-Lago Pear Chutney
Recipe courtesy of Jeff O'Neill
Serves 8

This pear chutney topping is the key to giving the Mar-a-Lago Turkey Burger that extra zing.

INGREDIENTS
1 Anjou pear, peeled and diced
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. sea salt
1 1/2 cups Major Grey's Chutney
1/4 cup dried currants or raisins
Preheat oven to 350°. Toss the diced pears with the cinnamon and salt. Bake on a parchment-lined cookie sheet for 10 minutes. Cool and mix with the chutney and currants or raisins.

FAMILY FACES

MEET MY FAMILY... we are sitting on my parents deck...... See those gorgeous mountains with snow tops??? Ah... this is the Rocky Mountains for ya.
Twinkle Toes enjoying her "fancy" root beer drink... a few seconds later, this whole glass of sticky root beer was spilled all over me. TT entertain us on the deck with her dancing and singing to teen pop music.

Meet my 15 year od nephew, Smiley. We made him pose all "cool" like.... he normally is flashing his million dollar smile. Always the fun guy, Smiley has scored a job this summer at a Country Club around his house.... I laugh that he calls it "a job" because the job actually is a job where pay is from tips, but offers him golfing 18 holes at least 5 days a week.


Meet my DAD... Tate's Gramps and the most anxiously awaiting member of this family for Tate. If you look closely you can see he has a blue eye and a brown eye..... He claims that while as young dating man he would ask the girls if they like brown eyed or blue eyed guys... He would then close the less desired eye becoming blue eyed or brown eyed.... He is joking of course, but was always a fun story to hear.
This is the Georgia O"Keefe like photo Twinkle Toes took..... she stated that she wanted to be like Georgia and snapped away using my point and shoot. Not bad for a 9 year old with just a point and shoot camera.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT......

"When God wants a great work done in the world or a great wrong righted, he goes about it in a very unusual way. He doesn't stir up his earthquakes or send forth his thunderbolts. Instead, he has a helpless baby born, perhaps in a simple home and of some obscure mother. And then God puts the idea into the mother's heart, and she puts it into the baby's mind. And then God waits. The greatest forces in the world are not the earthquakes and the thunderbolts. The greatest forces in the world are babies." E.T. Sullivan

MISSING INFORMATION???

I am sure most everyone out there in the IA CHINA community has seen if not read this issue of Nation*l Geogr*phic...... I personally own TWO of these. One for reading and sharing, the other to save for Tate. I think that when Tate is at that age where she wonders about her early history, it just might give her a foundation and knowledge for the whys her abandonment.

I think I have read this cover to cover. What I did not read word for word, I did skim searching for the thing about China that interests me the most. Unless I totally missed it, did anyone read anywhere in this issue about the orphanages, abandonment of their little girls and SN children, waiting families, ANYTHING that had to do with what is making my heart beat these days?

Tell me if you read about it and where it is in this issue of NG....

PAY IT FORWARD

SHE is playing, why not you? I will jump on board and here are the rules. I will send something of my choosing to you if you are one of the first three commenters on this entry. Then you also, play from your blog agreeing to send three more commenters something. Send me your e-mail address and I can e-mail for the snail mail address.

IT 'S MESA TIME

I have not talked about the 90 lbs of snuggle lovin' for sometime and did not want to forget her while documenting the wait for Tate...... She does take A LOT of my time and a huge part of my heart.......

Mesa Bullets....

• The other day, Mesa got live her fantasy. While walking, we passed the school where TONS of 9-11 year old boys were playing soccer. Mesa loves all kids but because of the after school care by a few 9-11 year old boys, she is especially drawn to them. With her obsession with BALLS and the kids, she did not know what to love the most....BALLS or THE BOYS!!!
• Mesa is quite entertaining while sleeping. When she is in her ZONE, she snores, whines, soft barks and runs. I only wish I could know what a pampered pup has to dream about that causes all this "action".
• Mesa has gotten to be quite a svelte puppy since I no longer work from home. I feed her half of her food in the AM and then again in the PM. Bad mommy forgets to put out the pm feedings IF I see she still has food in her bowl. The sharing of meals have stopped also since I no longer eat most meals around her.
• Our dog park is between three baseball fields. Mesa will enjoy minutes at a time watching the game. I know it is the balls and the kids, but I like to think she has a higher intelligence and watches knowing the game. I guess I am the dog owner who lives in delusions about her pup.
• The above baseball fields also offers a chance of Mesa scoring a softball or two. Mesa is able to find any lost balls along the fences, and will not stop whining and digging until she has the ball in her mouth.
• The cutest thing happened yesterday. I was hanging out on the lawn with my neighbor and her 7 month old daughter. Mesa was hanging too. Out of nowhere Mesa got up and went face to face with this baby. The baby put both hands out on each side of Mesa's snout. Mesa had the look of total surprise at this but with a swift one time lick kissed her face then plopped down right in front of her while putting up with some ear pulling and eye poking.



• I think Mesa is ready to be a snuggle pup to my gal.....

OH MY HECK.....

Look what I (oooops, Tate) got in the mail today!!! It is a handmade bib from Kayce!!! I am just in love with this fabric! I keep staring at it..... with this breathtaking bib was the sweetest note reminding me that soon this long torturous wait will be just a distant memory!!!! Thank you Kayce so much for making my week!!!



The other weekend, I had the pleasure of going to Eliza's first movie in a theatre. This sweet gal is so tender to all things that are loud and rough which makes it sooooo "scary" to her. The previews to other kiddo movies about did this sweet gal in..... but she toughed it through all this "scary" and was able to enjoy seeing "Porton" Hears a Who. Since this was Eliza's first movie, I had to get the largest popcorn and drink just for picture posing. Ha... the largest size was consumption too.

'Tis strawberry season around this neck of the world...... Actually I think the strawberries are imported from somewhere else, but they are on sale..... I am taking advantage of this abundance by making freezer strawberry jam. I think I will be making 3 batches of this ruby jeweled jars. The rest of the strawberry poundage will be eaten and frozen for smoothies......

HEY SINGLE MOMMAS!

I have a question for you .... those still in the wait, those recently home, those who have school age kiddos.

Do you wish for or want a second (or more) child?

On my mind lately, has been how and when I will be able to provide Tate a sister or brother. I just love having siblings, could not imagine a life without them, and want to provide the same for Tate.

So my thoughts-

POSITIVES...

• companionship. Having someone always there to play with, love or even dislike at times.



• dynamics between a single child and parent. I have heard that when it is only a mom and a child, the relationship is so different than when you place another child in the mix. When there is another child, then you are the mom and they are the kiddos.



• someone to share family memories. Since I am a card holding membership of AARP now, I worry that I will leave this earth before Tate is established in her life. I want Tate to have someone who she can "dish" about me and all the memories... fun and frustration with me as the Mama.



• someone to have family traditions. I want to have my own very specific family traditions. I will have these traditions whether it is just the two of us, or others in our family. Heck, I even have specific family traditions with the 90 lbs of snuggle pup, Mesa. I know that Tate will be welcomed with opened arms at my family and friends while they have their traditions. I also have been there at these same traditions. I love being a guest at these traditions.... but I am a GUEST in someone else's traditions. I never want Tate to feel that she does not have her own traditions she can share with a sibling.

CONCERNS...

• I know it will be a hard job to mother two as a single momma.



• I know it will be a huge expense.

Hey I can only think of two concerns why not to add one more kiddo.

Right now I have got to wait to get Tate here and then figure out the how to for another one or two....

QUESTION

If you do want more munchkins, how do you see yourself adding to your family?

****I know that this is a dilemma for married parents. Please feel free to comment on this subject also.

WHEEEEEEE

ONE MORE LID!!!