[smmars]

Hola!
OK, I already did the nursery, so I am looking for things to do while we wait. (Besides taking care of my 3 and 5 year olds and homeschooling)

Here's my list:

1. Get into shape- especially my arm muscles (for carrying that sweet baby)

2. Whitening my teeth (with that 7 day kit)- seems to be working

3. Clean every nook and cranny of the house.

4. De-clutter every room and closet and drawer!

5. Spend as much time as possible with the kiddos.

6. Have some quality time with my hubby!

Any other suggestions???

Stacey

[615bride]

no suggestions because you're ahead of me but I wanted to say congrats on the second referral!

[CHARLIECAT]

Hummmmm...Here's what I do!

Working on her lifebook and DREAM
Read the forums
Read the Big List

Sit in the rocking chair in her room and DREAM
Read the forums
Read the Big List

Check Airfare Prices and DREAM
Read the forums
Read the Big List

Arrange the Kitchen to make room for her "STUFF" and DREAM
Read the forums
Read the Big List

Dream................................Kim

[wblewett]

You've got the right attitude!! Keep busy, that's my best
advice. Sounds like an excellent list, best wishes!!

[susanhuff]

I have been volunteering at our agency. Maybe I can speed up the process for the next couple.....

My mother-in-law had a good idea. Volunteering at the local hospital in the nursery. I haven't checked into it yet, but it sounds like a good adea to me.

Projects around the house. I am building a shed (with the help of my father-in-law). When that's done I'm going to clean out the garage. I also want to paint the hall.

And of-course (my personal favorite) fix up the nursery!!

Cheers,
Susan

[DianaPrince]

I've been sewing, sewing, sewing . . . my mom and I are going to do a craft show the day after Thanksgiving to try and raise some adoption fundage.

I've been trying to get in shape, too . . . lifting weights, etc.

And, finally, I'm working on a second Master's Degree for absolutely no reason other than to keep me from going insane with the wait.



Valerie

[Hannahsmommy]

I haven't crocheted since I was a child. I've completed two baby blankets and am ready to start on a third. So far, I'm only making girl color blankets and when we get our referral, I'll change to boy colors! I just can't bear to make a blanket for my own adoptive baby until I at least have a referral!

Also, I've joined JCPenney's photo club in preparation for all the portraits I'm going to have taken, picked out a "theme" for the nursery (won't decorate or room-rearrange until the baby is home, tho), and doing a lot of church activities. The day to day is busy in my home, so that is a blessing!

None of this is enough to keep your mind occupied! It always floats back to the uncertainties and worries of ICA.

Kimberly, bio to 6, waiting for baby boy referral...

[optimisticfor3]

I knitted two sweaters for my baby.
Can't wait for her to wear them!!!

Monica

[susanhuff]

Oh yeah, doing crafts is great! I crocheted lacy boarders around two baby sized pieces of flees. One I gave to my nephew (two weeks old The other one is for our baby (waiting for him

I made a macrame hanger for a spider plant for the nursery, and I am going to make the crib skirt. I had another idea for a fun thing to mark his height through the years, and a piñata in the shape of a quetzal.

I haven't done crafts in years, but it seems like a good way to keep busy in a positive fashion. And I'm taking a Spanish class at the community center.

lalala - ain't life grand?



Susan

[Devora]

Well, my #1 priority while we wait is supposed to be finishing my doctoral dissertation. Hmmm...it's 1:15pm and I'm on the forum....the dissertation is on the desk next to me...maybe I need to work on my priorities?

We're waiting on a referral so we have a long wait yet. I've been doling out the creative projects a little at a time. So far I have finished:

* a photo album with text written in Spanish that we can take when we visit to leave with the fostermom to read to our child like a storybook; it has pictures of us, house, dog, etc.

* thank-you cards for our friends and family who helped us with the homestudy & dossier paperwork.

* I've started the painting that will eventually end with the nursery, but had to first paint the ceiling in our bedroom; this weekend will paint the walls; then I can move on to what will become the nursery.

* Brushing up and expanding my Spanish is also an ongoing project -- I looked into private classes, but for now instead am reading children's books (right now am working on "Little House on the Prairie" -- it helps that everything is written in past tense).

Future projects:
* make a lifebook
* make adoption announcements
* get the nursery ready
* train our dog in preparation for bringing our child home (e.g., how to walk with a stroller, to stay off baby blankets when they're placed on the floor, to leave Cheerios alone that are put out for toddler snacks -- any dog owners who can add to the list, I would greatly appreciate any input!)

Exercise is an ongoing thing for me, but it does have a new meaning now. Too, there's all the regular life stuff!

Devora

[99hopeful81067]

Was gonna suggest LEARN SPANISH but Devora beat me to it.

I just had my first class in an introductory course. So now I can say things like "Today is Friday," and I am very proud of this. But I'm fantasizing about a specialized class where adopters can learn OUR survival phrases, like "But I DO have an appointment!" and "Sorry she spit up on this" and "I owe you WHAT?"

The photo album, set up so the foster mom can share it with the baby, is a great idea!

Devora, and others whose dogs are in for a BIG SURPRISE, I recommend a book called Your Dog And Your Baby: A Practical Guide, by Silvia Hartmann-Kent, published 1998 by Howln Moon Press [yes, that's spelled HOWLN]. Hard to find in stores but probably can still be ordered online.

You are clearly a more advanced trainer than I am. I have no hope of teaching my dogs not to eat the baby's food; I'll be happy if I can convince them not to eat her diapers.

[Annee]

Devora, we're working on getting our three dogs ready. We've got a CD of baby sounds called "Preparing Fido" from a company named Blessings Unlimited. The tracks are things like Babbling Baby, Crying Baby, Keeping you up Baby and...Screaming Baby! We started it out very low and are gradually increasing the volume. Two of our dogs were interested the first few times we played it and could care less now. Our third dog is so intrigued by it. He parks himself next to the stereo and stares at it. Who knows if it'll actually help when we bring our son home, but we figured it was worth a try.

Annee