New Pictures!

Isn't he beautiful!?!!!! We think so.

Do you think we look alike?

The first time my parents saw Jude's picture, they had the same reaction, "He looks like you did as a baby!" I thought this reaction was very funny. So, to end all doubt, my mom emailed me this picture of myself as a baby. My first reaction was that Jude is SO much cuter than I was. But, we do have a similar brow (I love his little brow. I think it's much easier for a boy to pull off the distinct brow). My mom says we have the same brow and lips. All I know is that he is meant to be in our family and I love him more than everything.

I apologize, although I'm a somewhat dedicated blogger, I am NOT a formatting specialist...yet.

Now they can tell I'm expecting!

Today I was in Babies R Us obsessing over strollers (you know, big vs. small and features vs. weight). I made a few BFFs there (at least in my mind) who were offering me advice, such as pros/cons, etc. Finally a brave woman asked, "Are you pregnant?"- so I cheerfully explained, "No, I'm adopting!" My new best friends happily cheered and I felt such a real part of the "almost mom" club. It's a really really fun supportive club. I was hooked.
I came home today to a package waiting for me. I LOVE packages (even when I know that inside is a book I ordered for myself). But, I hadn't ordered anything. Inside was this fabulous t-shirt. I am going to wear it every single day. After one little taste of the club, there is no turning back. I'm advertising.
The shirt was from one of my real BFFs, Christa...who is even way more supportive and fun than the Babies R Us crowd.
Oh, and yesterday when I was feeling impatient and anxious, I dyed my hair really dark. It was an impulse move. I forgot to ask the Babies R Us group how they felt about it. They are good with advice.

Shots, round one...check!

Last week we got our first round of shots...I feel proud and accomplished (it doesn't take much for me to get boastful and even a tad smug as the result of seemingly small tasks). We still haven't heard a new word or seen a new picture. I just feel so impatient. As of today it is four weeks since we received our referral for baby Jude...Keep your fingers crossed for a court date- or at least a new picture soon. For everyone it's different, but I think this is the toughest part of our journey to Jude yet. At least for me, I'm super anxious. Tommy is a bit more breezy than I am...My unrealistic dream to bring him home by Thanksgiving was gone a week or two ago, but I'm still holding out hope that he will be home by Christmas... I can't wait to have a court date to obsess over. Yes, I am still listening to Lori :) and that's why I'm posting. The next post will be much more exciting- because I will either have a date or new pictures...I just know it!

Happy to hear...

that Jude is in the care center. At the care center he is being cuddled up with and he may even get a little chunkiness to his thighs...Although no where near the cuddles he's in for (or the chunkiness) with us! I'm not sure how long he's been in the care center- truthfully, I was afraid to ask for fear he was still in the orphanage. So, I am just so happy to know for sure that he's being well taken care of.

Happy Birthday Jude!

Today Jude is 3 months old! We are just dying to hold him...We haven't heard any updates as far as possible court dates yet, but we will post as soon as we find out. I really hope to get more pictures of him soon! He is just growing up so fast :)

The night of our referral...

Holding my baby for the first time...So happy and so in love. But, now I'm just dying to really hold him.

Judah's name!

The night after we received our referral for Judah, I obviously couldn't sleep. Here is the result of my 2:00AM project.

Still just doing what Lori tells me...

I'm "IT"...

Job's I've had:
1. Substitute Teacher
2. Behaviorist
3. Dog Trainer
4. Server (this list really could go on forever...)

Places I've lived (some):
1. Los Angeles, CA
2. Nagano, Japan
3. Balboa Island, CA
4. Flagstaff, Arizona

Food I love (I have to list types, because the list of specific dishes would be too extensive, LOVE FOOD):
1. Mexican
2. Japanese
3. Thai
4. Italian

Places I'd rather be:
1. With Judah and Tommy in Ethiopia
2. With Judah and Tommy in Europe
3. With Judah and Tommy in Nagano
4. With Judah, Tommy and Nicole in Thailand

Movies I love (I am not critical of movies. Unless it's an epic, I usually like it):
1. Grease 2 (the standard by which all other movies should to be compared to...I want a C-O-O-L, R-I-D-E-R)
2. The Notebook
3. The Sound of Music
4. Notting Hill

T.V. show I love:
1. The Office
2. Grey's Anatomy
3. Gilmore Girls
4. Newport Harbor (I defend this choice to Tommy by saying I watch it because lots of filming was done where I used to live, on Balboa Island, and because I need to be in the know for Bunco, but Christa knows the truth)

Books I love:
1. Anything by Lonely Planet
2. Mists of Avalon
3. There Is No Me Without You
4. Memoirs of a Geisha

All the Ethiopian adoption blogs I read have already posted this list...who to tag?...who to tag? Nicole, you're it! Finally, I'm telling you what to do! Please do it so I have a momentary false sense of power. Thanks!

Hey Jude!

Why Judah?
Here's why!
It means "the praised one"
On the ancient Ethiopian flag, is the Lion of Judah...

Judah (in Hebrew: Yehuda) is the original name of the Tribe of Judah - traditionally symbolized by a lion. The Lion of Judah is important in Judaism, Christianity, and Rastafari religions.

Besides, who doesn't LOVE the song Hey Jude by the Beatles (and I LOVE the Beatles)...most of all we just like the name...it seems strong to us, and that is the one thing we know for sure- our little one is definitely a strong one!

How it happened...

I was at school with children. My cell phone was in my pocket and went off. I reached in and turned it off instantly. Less than a minute later it rang again. Convinced it was important, I looked to see it was CHI! Well, since our dossier arrived just a few hours earlier THAT SAME DAY, I was convinced she had a paperwork question. So, I quickly told someone to take the children for a moment. I answered the phone to "I have a boy for you! He is just three weeks old. And he's cute as a button." I instantly started crying, so the rest is quite blurry. I then started calling Tommy. He wasn't answering. I even texted 911 (I was desperate people)! I obviously left school instantly. I needed to see my little one immediately! On the way home I was able to get a hold of Tommy and he said he would try to get home as soon as he could, but it would probably be around 4...Well, it was only 1:30 ish. I asked him the obvious question "When did you change jobs from a graphic designer to a heart surgeon?" Unless it was life and death?
When I got home I ran upstairs, opened my email account, and stared at the new message, from our agency, titled REFERRAL. I couldn't open it up and see our baby for the first time without Tommy. I called our agency to see if she had ANY bit of additional information. She said that he was actually 10 weeks old. At this point I didn't really see a difference between 3 weeks and 10 weeks. I HAD A BABY BOY! (see how breezy I've become in Fall). So I stared for a good hour or two. When I couldn't take it anymore, I decided to pretend to do errands. Finally I went to the craft store. I made my mom meet me and bought the letters for his name, JUDAH. When Tommy and I finally met at home, we opened the pictures...Seeing my baby for the first time was the most amazing feeling of my life...such intense love instantly. During the past week I have been busy staring at him- and when I am not, I've registered, decorated the letters of his name for his room, read books on how to take care of him, and shopped for him. I am completely obsessed. Oh, and if you stare at him, he gets cuter and cuter and cuter, until you just have to take a break from all of his cuteness, because it drives you insane (this is not just my experience, but scientific data collected from Tommy, my mom, dad and me). Not an exact quote from them, but still the gist. I will post pictures of his letters (which turned out mostly ok, considering it was a 2 a.m. project after having a couple of glasses of wine), his bedding, and of us seeing our baby Jude for the first time!
By the way, this post was inspired by Lori. My sister moved to Thailand, I need someone to tell me what to do before Jude gets here and takes over...thanks! :)

Our love...

His birthday is July 21st, so he is 10 weeks and 2 days...but the pictures, we think, are of him at about 3 weeks. I can't wait to get more pics (and we will post them immediately)! I can't believe how in love we are already. He is our little precious man.
Truth be told, the picture you are looking at is altered. All of the referral pictures were of him wearing bright pink. Tommy love, is a graphic designer, and quickly changed him into a more boyish blue outfit. Although, it takes no more than a glance to see that our little man is ALL boy. We love him and think he is perfect. Share a comment about how perfect you think he is. We would like that.

Introducing Judah

WHOOOO! HOOOO!!! WHOOOO HOOOOO!!!!!

We got our referral! It's a boy!!! We are so happy! I am so teary I can't type right now. I am waiting for Tommy to get home to look at the pictures. These are the longest minutes of my life. I have never been happier. This is definitely the greatest moment of my life thus far.