You may not hear from me for awhile...

So, I leave tomorrow for NM to wait for the baby to be born! Diego will drive straight from Mesa to Albuquerque as soon as he hears birthmom is in labor. In the meantime I'll be kickin' it with my mom in good old Los Alamos.

We had a false alarm on Wednesday! My cell started ringing as I was training my replacement at work. I looked at the screen and saw birthmom's name on it, so naturally I flipped out! She was on her way to the hospital. So I called my husband and we raced home to start packing. She told me she would call us when she knew for sure. About and hour and a half later she called to let us know she was being sent home. Ah man! So, we have been ready for another call any minute these past couple days. Very, very anxious. I feel like I have been waiting for so long, and this moment is actually about to arrive! A year ago today I was recovering from surgery for endometriosis, and was about to endure months and months of horrible fertility tests, treatments, and procedures with no hope in sight of starting a family.

One more word to the birthmother. I love you so much! I know you look at this blog sometimes. What can I say? You mean the world to me. Our friendship has grown so much over these past 6 months. I know so many adoptive couples that would be jealous of the friendship we have. I'm so glad you're a part of our life. You are the strongest person I know. I look at you and I know you will be okay. I just know it. I feel so fortunate. My life has truly been blessed by you.

Still getting ready for baby...

So, the baby will be due any day now. We're still plugging away, getting ready for his arrival. It seems like every time we think we have everything, we think of something else we need to get. Here's our checklist:

- Crib/Sheets? Check.
- Glider? Check.
- Endless amount of clothes? Check.
- Ten million blankets? Check.
- Itty bitty shoes? Check.
- Bath supplies? Check.
- Baby's bags packed and ready to go at a moment's notice? Check.
- Constant butterflies in my stomach? Check.
- Sleeping with the phone on the night-stand? Check.
- Carrying the phone in my hand at all times? Check.
- Training my replacement at work? Check.

What else can there be? I am so ready for this! Yet... I'm so not ready.

He is Mine by Valerie Kay Gwin

I came across this poem a few months ago on a friend's blog and I truly love it. Maybe it's because I'm having a boy, or maybe because I'm adopting. It's probably a mixture of both. I can't for the life of me read through it without crying. Basically, reading this poem and not crying isn't an option.

I tiptoed into your room one night.
I watched you sleeping there.
Your tiny body looked so snug
Wrapped in peaceful slumber's care.

I thought of how you came to be
The child we'd longed to know.
I wondered at the sight of you:
"How could she let you go?"

Tears streamed down my cheeks as I
Felt the pain she must have known.
For I will have to let you go
Some day when you are grown.

A mother I might never meet
Had given me her son.
Yet, surely as you've filled my heart,
A piece of hers you'd won.

"How could she let you go?"
The question kept returning.
And in the depths of my own heart.
A question kept on burning.

"How can I ever let you go
When years have come and gone?"
I stood there by your crib until
The nighttime turned to dawn.

And as the sun peeked through the shades,
The voice of God broke through.
"I trusted her to give him life
And now I'm trusting him to you.

"To show him what is right and wrong,
to love him and to be
The one who teaches him the way
To come back home to me.

"He wasn't hers to give, you know.
And he's not yours to own.
I've placed him in your life to love
But he is mine … on loan."

Millions of Baby Shower Photos...

Here's some pictures of my baby shower last week. I had a really nice time. Heather and Cindy (the same lovely ladies that made the invitations) used ocean blue, lime green, and orange colors to decorate for the jungle/safari themed party. Everything matched, even down to the little fruit and yogurt cups. If I had half the talent that they do I would be happy. They even made bath salts as party favors! All the pictures of me are a little weird, but whatever... I was opening gifts and playing games so my head is turned down in all of them. I just had to choose the best of the worst, ya' know? After the shower, my sisters Marianne and Crystal, and my wonderful friend Chelsea came over to help me unload everything. As you can see, we're starting to work up a little collection for the little man. That's not all from the shower but a lot of it is. Time to hand out thank you cards because seriously, I am so thankful.