Happy Blogiversary

Happy Blogiversary, Journey to Motherhood! My blog is four years old today! I never could have imagined that blogging would bring me so much joy and support. I have learned so much from the blogosphere and have become friends with people I never would have otherwise. Thanks for reading along with us! L&N

Can it All be Done?

Busy, busy day planned! I have the day off to work on mid-term progress reports but I am done so I will focus on my personal to do list.

1. Laundry. DONE

2. Clean the bathroom. STARTED - WILL FINISH THIS WEEKEND

3. Return this rice to Trader Joe's and buy some groceries. DONE
4. Folding. WILL DO THIS WEEKEND

5. Buy some new shoes for my growing girl. DONE
I showed them to her tonight and she immediately wanted to try them on. When she put it on she said, "Oh, dat's better." Awwww, sweet baby! Were the old shoes squishing your feet? Momma's sowee. :(
6. Go pick up my clearance downtown (needed for readoption). DONE
7. Cook the defrosted fish. DONE

It was amazing!! I dipped it in egg and dredged it in coconut flour& spices and pan fried it in coconut oil. I served it up with some carrots and roasted brussel sprouts. She screamed and cried when I insisted that she eat her three bites of brussel sprouts before getting more fish. The rule here is three bites: one to taste, one to be sure and one to be polite to the cook. She cried and cried and then she tried it... and liked it.. and then asked for seconds!! Silly girl.
7. Go through these boxes. DONE

8. Fill out paperwork and send some emails regarding my new position. SENT ONE
9. Drop things off at the thrift store. PUT STUFF IN TRUNK
10. Pick up my check from the consignment shop. DONE
11. Order some blanched almond flour. DONE
12. Make or buy some thank you cards. THIS WEEKEND
13. Photograph my furniture. THIS WEEKEND 14. Post the furniture on Craigslist. THIS WEEKEND 15. And buy some hair accessories for her hair which isn't very long yet but is starting to come in really, really thick! DONE

I will get some at a dollar store somewhere so I can load up.

Have a productive day!

Can I just say how much easier it is to get things done without a toddler in tow? Love my girl but she makes shopping soooo much more difficult. I felt free today. It was fun! :) Here are some pics of our amazing dinner! So good!! The carrots I started in a pan with coconut oil and butter but I transferred them to the oven cause I needed the pan for the fish. The brussel sprouts I shook in a bag with olive oil, sea salt and cracked black pepper and then roasted at 400 degrees for 30-45 minutes. Delicious! Will be repeating this meal in the near future.


I put the leftovers in her lunch. She better eat it!! :-)

Now off to bed.
Good night.

Creepy Toy Alert!!

** edited with text **

Almi got this as a gift from a priest and his very devout wife, no less. It was a toy their children played with. Aw, a cute little caterpillar.

Well, this caterpillar talks. I didn't know this until I stepped on it one day.. you know, cause there was a ton of junk on the floor that I was too tired to clean up. Listen to what it says and tell me is it me or do you also find this all kinds of disturbing?!

Part 1



Part 2


** Hi! I'm Hermie, just a common caterpillar. But God's not finished with me yet. **

Part 3


** You know what I always do when things get tough? I pray. **

Part 4


** Mm-mm-mm-mm-mm! That was a nice hug. (sinister laugh) Now I'm a little embarrassed. **

Blog Makeover Anyone?

Christie over at A Bushel and a Peck does blog makeovers. Check out her blog, it's so nice! Although I plan to get the adoption process made into a book in its current format, I think a makeover is in order for the post since she's been home.

Right now she's having a contest for a free makeover. Click here to enter. Good luck!

Summer Plans 2010

There are so many things I want to do this summer! I decided to make an official list and post it in my house and check things off as they get accomplished. In the effort to not drive myself crazy or to feel like a complete failure, I am limiting myself to ten items. Yeah, ok, they're a pretty hefty ten and some are more long term, but here's what I have come up with:

1. Do creative things- write, publish, enter contests, draw, take photos, read books, backup photos, see Wicked on Broadway!!
2. Do fun & summery things - farmer's mkt., pool, park, outdoor concerts, beach, etc.
3. Clean my grill and use it!
4. Decorate Almi's nursery (before it becomes a big girl room) and my bedroom
5. Prepare for fall - daycare, meals, daily schedule, etc.
6. Renovate the basement to get it ready for renters
7. Create information book or files for Almi including info. on her citizenship, readoption paperwork, insurance, health, sleeping & eating schedule, daycare/schooling, babysitters, etc.
8. Work on Almi's babybook and Lifebook
9. Organize house - sell/donate/consign, clean, etc.
10. Get us both healthier -exercise, take vitamins, eat healthy see doctors/dentists, etc.

We're already 3 weeks into summer and I have already:

* entered a photography contest
* blogged several times
* taken her to the pool and park and dined al fresco
* gotten estimates for the basement and secured the loan
* almost got Almi's insurance snafus straightened out (um, didn't know that was an acronym!)
* consigned all her outgrown clothes

Not bad if I say so myself! For someone who is a major procrastinator, it's pretty darn impressive. All it took was the hell of the end of the school year to make me understand how critical it is to be organized by fall. She's only in daycare til the end of July so I am working feverishly to get done the things that will be next to impossible with a toddler hanging from my leg. So far, so good! Will post updates with the title SP 2010. Hope to be able to report that I have completed everything on the list because before we know it, summer will be over...!

(I know, I know. I am the Queen of lists. And the Queen of not getting items crossed off my lists. And the Queen of forgetting that fact and creating more lists. I know this. But, I never had a kid before and never understood true exhaustion, lack of time and chaos so I am sure this time will be different. Have faith!)

Ultimate Blog Party

Has anyone heard of the Ultimate Blog Party? Well I hadn't (until I read it on Christie's blog) but it sure sounds like fun! If you are visiting from UBP, welcome! If you have no idea what I am talking about, click on the link above to take you to the site of the women who started it.

Here's a little about me.

I'm a 40-something, photography-loving, nap-missing, husband-wanting, wine drinking, celebrity gossip-loving, adventure-seeking, world traveling Kindergarten teacher... and a new mom to the most adorable baby on the planet!! This is me:

It's a terrible photo!! I'm really much cuter but who has time for makeup and covering grey anymore? ;-D

But now, now this little munchkin is downright perfect! Look at her!! This is my new baby:

Aw... love her! She is a water-loving, risk-taking, kiss-giving, banana-loving honeybun. Isn't she the sweetest thing ever? I'm so lucky! She just came home from Ethiopia six weeks ago! I have never been so happy (or so tired!)

UBP has some great prizes. I would love to win US18 - Goodie Basket for Moms, US95 - $100 to spend at restaurants.com, USC13 - $100 Kay Jewelers gift certificate or US60 - copy of Life Simplified or any of the Target, Macy's or Amazon.com gift certificates. Who would like to win some free stuff? I know all OF us broke post-adoption folks WOULD!! I thought I'd take some of my (nonexistent) extra time and join the party!

If you stopped by from UBP, please leave me a comment so I can check out your blog as well! (And maybe you can also tell me how to get rid of the rectangle hanging out at the end of the post. What is it doing there?! Strange).

Join Me at Race for the Cure!

I'd love to have other APs and PAPs join me!

Click here to read more...

seriously?

I went out to dinner the other night. As I was leaving the parking garage a man pulled up beside me in a brand spanking new, sparkling white Lamborghini. It looked so out of place in that neighborhood-- I mean I used to see them all the time when I lived in LA, but that gleaming car driving out of the grimy garage caught my attention.

I looked over at the man and said something about how rare it was to see such a Lamborghini in these parts and he took that to mean I was interested and started flirting. "Hi, I'm Paul Portugal," he said.
Me (trying not to roll my eyes.. I mean seriously. Paul Portugal? Did he step out of a Harlequin romance novel?) "Oh, hi. I was just commenting on the car, that's all."
PP: "Girl, I not trying to flirt with you, I was just being friendly." (yeah, right)
Me: "OK, then. Well, good night."
PP: "Well, wait, pull over and chat with me a bit."

I was about to say good-bye and drive off but was forced to pull forward when the car behind me was unable to exit the garage.. so I pulled over.
PP got out of the car and chatted me up about all his entrepreneurial exploits (yawn).

As we were chatting a cop pulled up behind his car, ran his tags and drove off.

PP: "Man, I hate that!"
Me (completely oblivious to what had just happened): "Hate what?"
PP: "That %*!# happens to me all the time when I am in this car. It's just because I'm dressed like this, all hip and cool.
Me (wondering how we had such different opinions about a late 40-something man in a white velour track suit and diamond-encrusted medallion around his neck): "Oh, yeah, I bet that'd be annoying."
PP: "It is. But it's just this car and outfit. When I am in a suit and my black convertible Bentley with the cranberry interior, that never happens."

Yes, he said that. I am not kidding. That is a quote.

Yuck.

Is it just me or do you find ostentatious men completely unappealing?
I mean, I'm not going to insist we ride the bus instead of in a date's $100,000 car, but come on.
The good that could be done in the world with a fraction of that money!
According to this study, I am in the minority.

Busy Saturday

I decided I need help with my weight loss so I am going to join Weight Watchers (again). I know what to do to lose weight (eat fewer calories than you burn, blah, blah, blah) but I am an emotional eater and almost anything is a reason to eat. I'm bored? Eat something! I'm stressed? Eat something! I'm depressed? Eat something! I'm celebrating? Eat something! I need to stay up late to get work done? Eat something! The thing I liked about Weight Watchers was I became more aware of portions, healthy choices and the weigh-ins made me accountable. With summer coming I am bound to eat healthier and lose weight anyway, but having the weekly weigh-ins will make me stay more focused.

So yesterday I woke up early to go to a meeting and what do I see when I arrived? This sign on the door!
See, I try to do the right thing and I met with obstacles! It doesn't help that I entered a contest on Michelle's blog and won this!
OK, I know I entered the contest but did WW have to be closed the same week the coupon arrived?? It's a conspiracy, I tell ya! (Notice the cute toy on my radiator that I got for $2)

Since I couldn't go to that WW meeting I decided to drive to the place where I used to go for meetings (a bit further from my house, but I was determined) only to find out it is now a Bank of America. Bummer. I did notice that there was a farmers market going on, though, so I parked my car and walked around.
I ended up buying some lettuce and apples. How cool is it to have a live bass player at a farmers market?

I had planned to go into work today but on the way I stopped by my gym to weigh in.
No, I didn't work out (can't lose a bunch of weight before the first weigh in! Ha!) It was a good reminder of how much weight I have to lose, though. Be sure to check out the weight loss sidebar to see my progress.

Then I went into work. Look at this lovely neighborhood my school is in.
I want to move to a neighborhood like this where my kid can ride her bike and I can walk to a nice tennis court. One day.. another thing to work towards.

I got to my classroom and did some things. If only my house (life) was as neat and organized.
Originally I had planned on xeroxing my dossier today when no one would be in line for the copy machine but I didn't get it together in time. Hopefully I will be able to do that this week. I am so ready to be done with paperwork!!

I stopped at the grocery store on the way home and bought some swordfish. After a 2 hour nap (I am so unapologetically taking naps whenever I want while I still can!) I made a lovely dinner of grilled swordfish and a salad with tomatoes, red pepper, avocado and grated asiago cheese and a pear for dessert. I love summer foods!

I finished the day with an evening date. It was a good day.

Spring Break

I am on Spring Break! Yay!! This morning, the first thing on the agenda was to photograph the cherry blossoms before the rain came. I drove downtown, found a great parking space, put 4 quarters in the meter and walked about 20 steps when it started to drizzle.


So, I returned to my car to wait it out. While waiting I took these shots:


After about 15 minutes I hopped out of my car--put another 4 quarters in the meter (1 quarter only gave 7½ minutes) and snapped these right before it started pouring:


The lighting wasn't the greatest but I think I got some pretty decent shots. I really need to study my camera manual this week while I'm off. On the way home I stopped to pump gas. It was there where I spotted a penny on the ground.


Like I have done since I was was about eight years old, I recited "See a penny, pick it up? All day long you'll have good luck. See a penny, let it lie? All good luck will pass you by". As I bent down to pick it up I wondered what good luck I was going to have.

I found out 15 minutes later. When I got home I saw this parked across the street from my house.


The man, an employee of the water company, asked me how long I was going to park in front of my house because he had some work to do. Knowing I hadn't requested any work (and growing concerned as I spotted the front end of his bulldozer with remnants of broken asphalt therein) I asked him to double check the address of the assignment. He repeated my address to me and informed me that he was to begin right away but would call his supervisor to prove to me that this was where he was supposed to be. Turns out he was supposed to be digging up at my street address but in a different quadrant of town! Can you imagine what a mess that would have been if I hadn't been off this week; if I hadn't gotten home in time? Thank goodness for that lucky penny! :-)

It's Friday the 13th. I got diagnosed with strep throat AGAIN. Waaah. How on earth does a single parent get to rest with a child?!

My First Award

Yay! I got a blog award! I started blogging almost two years ago and who knew there was such a huge blogging world out there?! I had no idea. And even though it's an enormous time sucker, I love blogging and reading other people's blogs! Thanks, Tami.

In order to receive this award, I have to list five addictions:

Hmm... let's see.

1. blogging!
2. taking pictures
3. facebook
4. The Bachelor
5. sugar

Yikes! No wonder I'm fat! lol :(
(note to self: learn how to get addicted to celery and exercise!)

Directions:
You have to pass it on to 5 other fabulous bloggers in a post. You have to list 5 of your fabulous addictions in the post. You must copy and paste the rules and the instructions. On your post of receiving this award, make sure you include the person that gave you the award and link it back to them.

So now I will pass the award on to:
1. Adopting1Soon~ You post relavant topics practically every day. How is that possible?
2. Kerri ~ adorable girls and interesting posts!
3. Christie ~ thought-provoking posts and a damn cute son!

Whoa. Five? Really? There are tons of blogs I read and love but without some sort of exchange with the author, I doubt they will post the award from some wacko stalker so I'll leave it at three. :)

Photography Contest #2

I entered my second photography contest. The theme is the inauguration. I entered two photos, but one of them I can't identify the subject so it might get disqualified. The shot below is my second entry. It pales in comparison to the first but so as not to split the vote, I am asking for votes for this photo only. (I learned about splitting the vote in the 10th grade when I ran for class president. I was up against one of the girls in the "popular crowd" so my friends and I nominated another popular girl and split their vote. It worked... I won! I haven't won anything since so I am going to implement the same strategy. :) Please vote for me!



By the way, first place is $1,000 and in my mind I have already spent it so I need your vote! :-) Thanks!

click here

(If the link doesn't work, go to fotoweekdccontest.org. Click on Peoples Choice and look for it...right now it's on p.2 but if you can't find it you can look for it by my name)

Time Management

It's Saturday. I love the weekends.
No, really. I really love weekends.

I love not having to set my alarm. This morning I woke up at 7:15. Although that's not exactly sleeping in, it beats setting the alarm for 5:45 am like I did yesterday.

I love not having to get dressed if I don't want to. Here it is 2:20 and I am still in my pj's. Love that.

I like the option of making a hot breakfast. Today I made myself a cheese omelet and roasted potatoes, toast with apricot jam and hot tea. And I ate it leisurely at the kitchen counter. Relaxing!

I have my super-lengthy to do list looming of course, but on Saturdays I don't feel the pressure to tackle it or the stress of not having tackled it like I do on Sundays (and every other day that week frankly). I haven't done one thing on the list yet today but the day is young and full of possibilities and, yeah, as soon as I finish this post it's on and poppin'!

One thing I am really trying to incorporate into my life is the concept of a no-errand/no-stress weekend. A good friend of mine in LA does just that. She schedules something for every day of the week. It goes something like this:

Monday - grocery shopping and cooking for the week
Tuesday - wash hair, nails, laundry
Wednesday - errands (dry cleaning, post office, etc.)
Thursday - clean the house
Friday - car wash

And as soon as she pulls out of the car wash on Friday afternoons, her shiny red Beemer convertible is gleaming and she's ready to hit the town with nothing to think about but having fun. Her weekends are her own! I love that!

For the life of me I can't seem to figure out time management and spend every day of every week running some errand, planning what needs to be done, thinking about what I should be doing or stressing about what I am not getting done! I am so totally impressed by people who are able to have a full time job, keep their houses clean, do crafts, cook gourmet meals, read books, volunteer, exercise, raise children and look fabulous doing it! How on earth is that humanly possible?! The only thing that I think will make it possible for me is to create a schedule like my friend and stick to it. Mothers out there - especially single moms - what do you do to get things done? How do you manage your time? I need some tips!

Snow Day!

Yay! A snow day today! The best thing about being a teacher! (is that a problem?!)
Meanwhile, I have strep throat.

I called in sick Monday and Tuesday so at least I only have to use one day of leave now. I really should be saving up those days for when my little one comes home... although I'm really not sure how that works anyway. Do I get to use sick days for materinty leave? Do I even get maternity leave if I haven't worked there a year? Can I extend FMLA if I don't feel like we've bonded enough? Hmmm... things I clearly need to figure out!

Inauguration Weekend (cont.)

A few more pictures, a video, and hilarious comments from my Kindergartners...

I met Andrea at Union Station.

Brrr... Let's huddle!


Looking like a stuffed turkey in front of the Capitol Building!


Everybody was selling something!



At school on Wednesday many of the kids were excited to tell me that they had watched Obama on TV so we sat in a circle and I asked the kids to share what they did over their 4 day weekend. Here are some of the answers I got (some relevant to Obama, some just damn funny!):

Esteban: "My whole family watched Barack Obama on TV. I saw him in a limousine and I saw the secret service."

Rafael: "I went to the inauguration. I was wearing two pairs of underwear, two pairs of socks (two on each foot), and I wore two pairs of pants and two shirts. I was a mile away but I watched it on a gigantic TV screen near me called a jumbotron."

Lydia: "I played with my dog and my tooth fell out and it was bleeding. I dranked some water and I sucked the blood. Then it fell behind the toilet but I found it and put it in a special box."

Fabian: "My mom and her boyfriend painted my playroom bluish-green. He's bald. I put a futon in it and light and dark tiles and my old TV."

Yasmin: "My mom cooked pepper tacos. They have sliced peppers and melted cheese and Iranian butter and eggs."

Jazelia: "I saw Obama and the White House and I saw the swimming pool and we went swimming!"

Emily: " I looked at the TV and I loved Barack Obama cause he's the last president and he wasn't dead."


They had me cracking up! Kindergartners are hilarious!

Inauguration Weekend - Monday

What an amazing day! So much energy and enthusiasm! We braved the frigid temperatures to watch Barack Obama make history!

(my metro card)

(it was SO cold!)
(BTW ~ I was offered a ticket to the "blue section"-- right up front-- but it didn't pan out. My friend with the tickets had a good reason why she opted out of the festivities altogether but I can't say I wasn't disappointed! Andrea and I headed down there anyway and at least I can tell my grandchildren I was there!)