Dad cut this out of the paper today. I send this message to my future daughter. May we be united in 2011, may you come home to our nest and our dreams come true.

Are the birds in the nest?

"Are the birds in the nest?" For as long as I can remember my Dad has used this question to determine if his girls are safe. He checks in with my sister and I regularly to make sure that we are in our "nests" wherever that might be. We might be out of the country or just down the street but Mom and Dad always need to know that we are safe and sound and this became code for our well being. I asked Dad why he calls us his birdies and he said something like this...

"Chickadee, the most important part of parenting is to make sure your chicks don't fall out of the nest.... the wee one's wander and wiggle and get precariously close to falling out. It's a parent's job to have a hand out to catch them before they fall too far, scoop you up and put you safely back in the nest"

I am one lucky chick

My favourite TV Mom is back!

Parenthood is my favourite new show, Lauren Graham, my favourite tv mom is back. She is almost the same character as Lorelei from her days on Gilmore Girls but that's just dandy with me because I have missed her. I know it's just TV but I have been raised in the Fawcett household and along with strong family values and a sense if humour, my family takes their shows to heart. I have been a loyal Gilmore Girls fan right from the start. I want to live in Stars Hollow, hang out at Luke's Diner and I consider Lorelei to be my TV BFF.
I have fond memories of MD and I spending Sunday mornings hanging out in our pj's together enjoying the witty banter of the show and eating cereal. One Christmas I even went so far as to make us matching "I speak Gilmore" t-shirt pj's. That may impress or nauseate you depending on your GG fan club status. Life has changed and along with it our quality time lounging on Sunday eating cereal together. I am fairly certain MD has outgrown those pj's but she hasn't outgrown our friendship. I am grateful that in the new episodes of our lives we still hang out together in our lounge wear talking girl talk, watching TV and I am happy as I prepare to be a mom to see my favourite tv mom is back.

Paperwork is travelling to Vologograd

Last week I received notification that my documents have been signed by the Russian Embassy in Toronto and have been send to the Ministry of Education in Vologograd, Russia. That means that for now I am done all the paperwork necessary to be matched with my chickadee. Adoption is a lot of hurry up and wait. My home study update was approved on December 23rd which was a Christmas gift from the Ministry, we had almost written it off happening so close to the holidays. That same day I FedEx'd the other documents required to go with the home study to the Embassy so that my Agency would bring them with her when she spend December 24th at the Ministry. Much scrambling, good timing and a sprinkle of Christmas magic.

Worry Less..... Feel Good Anyway

Now that my blog redesign is almost complete I have blogging on the mind. I write posts in my head as I walk to the car, drive, try to sleep and especially when I am observing the world. I start blogs, redesign them, stop posting, change their names, post random stuff with abandon. In the past I felt perfectly free to just blurt, share, rant and rave but this time it's different. This blog has such significance because this is the documentation of the most important journey of my life, it's my hearts dream, my purpose on the planet.... see where I am heading here? Can you feel the weight? I can... You better not screw this up, my inner critic is screaming. I intend to send this link to my family, my closest friends and share it with the adoption world. Whoa, my hands are freezing at the keyboard. So if I am ever to get the posts from my head and into cyberspace I need to lighten up and lose the vice grip. I need to warm up and chill out so I am starting with this lovely little quote I found last night.