Black-eyed Susans and Other Wild Ladies

January is a month of new beginnings. This is what I wrote on January 22:

Mother's Day is May 9th. I hope I remember to do something nice for my mother. A special person that raised 6 kids, at least two handfuls of neighbor kids and a boatload of grandchildren. Mother's Day. Maybe 2011 it will mean something completely different for me. Maybe.

On the weekend of May 9th I had a great weekend with my mom (and other moms too!). We had breakfast together and then drove to Tallahassee down 90 on a beautifully sunny spring day. The road was lined with yellow, pink and purple flowers. We listened to the radio and talked and when we arrived in Tallahassee we had a quick lunch and checked into our hotel.

I went to baby shower for some wonderful friends who I had not seen for awhile, and then had a very very nice dinner with mom. After dinner we hung out at the hotel and had a good nights sleep. The next morning I gave my mom a card that I had made for her before having breakfast and taking a long drive down the canopy roads in the country before heading back home.

It was a perfect weekend. I love my mom. She really is the best.

~mama

The Moments Missed

I know I shouldn't think about the moments missed before I've even had moments, but sometimes I am saddened that I will miss the first year or so of my child's life. I hope that's not silly. I know that the moment he/or she is in our hearts the most magic will begin.

Cute baby video below! Check it out.

~mama

A Year of Lex

8 weeks is very long

I called the FBI a few days ago begging them to pleeeeaase move my fingerprints up to the top of the pile. She said that they can't and it will be 2-3 more weeks. I have to admit that a little part of me hoped that she would hang up and feel compelled to help a poor girl out by sneaking in and moving them to the top. Not likely...but in my mind that's what should have happened.

Pssstt...shhhh, quiet- just between us

Pssssttt....hey, you....pssstt...FBI guy....listen, how about doing me a big favor and putting my fingerprints on the top of the pile? Give em' a little sneak a peek a loo and sending back in with a big ole stamp that says "mama is the best?" Can you do that for me? Thanks, you're the best. You are awesome.

mama

News of the Day

The U.S Dept of State, Office of Children’s Issues issued the following announcement today, May 13.

A U.S. interagency team held meetings to discuss an adoption agreement with their Russian counterparts on May 12. The meetings are ongoing and will continue on May 13. The initial talks were positive, productive and conducted in a spirit of cooperation. Both sides are interested in taking steps to increase the safeguards for adopted children. The discussions were technical in nature because they involve domestic laws of two countries. There is still important work to be done and this continues to be a high priority for both governments.

It is our understanding that there has been no change in the status of on-going inter-country adoptions originating from Russia. Many thousands of Russian children, who were not adopted by Russian families, have found loving, safe and permanent homes in the United States through inter-country adoption. We are pleased to be discussing with the Russian government a future approach to ensure intercountry adoptions continue.

This Just in...so far so good...

Still reading but this just popped up on the AP...

Russian official: accord reached on adoption deal

(AP) – 6 hours ago

MOSCOW — A senior Russian official says Russia and the United States have reached agreement on all key issues for a bilateral agreement on adoptions.

Children's rights ombudsman Pavel Astakhov said Wednesday that the draft agreement is expected to be approved on Friday and is likely to be signed within two months.

Russia has been urging the United States to sign an agreement on adoptions following the case of an 8-year-old Russian boy sent back to Moscow alone last month by his adoptive American mother.

Russian officials say they want more control over U.S. adoptions and the living conditions of Russian children in the United States.

Some 1,800 Russian children were adopted in the United States last year, according to the Russian Education and Science Ministry.

State Department Reviews Draft

The State Department received a draft agreement from Russia on May 1st. They are reviewing the document now in preparation for the discussion on May 12.

mama

Not Begging...but pretty darned close

I don't need much. I live pretty simply. The one thing that would make me happy...unbelievably happy (like riding my bike around the neighborhood with balloons tied to it happy) would be for my fingerprints to come back today. Please. That's all I need.