Pondering

No news. The way it looks right now, I don't think we will hear anything about being chosen to adopt in 2007. I'm learning how to be fine with that.

Anybody watch the movie Bella? It's a great glimpse into adoption.

Do You Kizoodle?

I am hooked! There is a place called Kizoodle where I go to "swap" items with other people. It is fantastic!! I have gotten shirts for Factor and sheets for Pi's cradle. How does it work? Well, you pay for everything in credits. No money is exchanged. You pay for the shipping costs of anything you are shipping out, otherwise it is all done in credits. When you register, you automatically receive 5 credits. If you use a referral code, you get an extra 2 credits. So, you start out with 7 credits and earn more when people "buy" the items you list. Didn't sell something at a garage sale? Try listing it on Kizoodle. Thinking about taking some stuff to the second hand store? Try listing it on Kizoodle. I am so excited about it because there are so many things out there that we may need once Pi comes along (of course we'd have to know a gender for some items). Want to know more? Go to http://www.kizoodle.com and enter WCHM7G as your referral code when you register!

Start "Kizoodling" today!

Okay, this stroller is all that!

I have been keeping an eye out for double strollers, knowing we will need one when Pi comes along. I keep looking at craigslist to see what used strollers are out there, and how much they are selling for, etc. Well, I think I have found one that tops them all! Let me explain.

First, I would like a tandem stroller because it is easier to get into doorways and aisles in the grocery store. The downfall of them (even the one I have posted about before) is that they are so heavy to push! Not empty, but once you put two in there, it is like pushing a shovel down a snowfilled driveway, only it doesn't cease until you have taken the children out. So, I started to consider a jogging stroller.

Jogging strollers are easier to push. It would be great for walking through the mall (for exercise, not leisure), going to the zoo, walking the neighborhood, etc. The main problem is that jogging strollers are side by side. This is okay, but not if you wanted to walk anywhere where there was a normal sized doorway, or grocery or store aisle. They are just too wide!

What is one to do? I have found a wonderful solution! It would only require a small fortune, but otherwise, it is a perfect solution :-) Isn't it beautiful? A tandem jogger! It is the Jane Powertwin. It is sold at limited stores in the USA (conveniently enough, one is just a couple miles from here).

What's the damage? Are you ready? $550!!!!

What Do You Say?

I can't believe I haven't written anything since August! Well, I hope all of you avid readers out there know that the long time between posts just means nothing is really going on here. We have heard of a couple of expectant mothers who may be viewing our profile this week. I don't even know if that should be an exciting thing to know anymore. I'll tell you what would be exciting...being chosen by one of those expectant mothers! It's kind of hard to say that, though, knowing that by being chosen, an expectant mother is choosing not to raise her biological child. Where is the joy in that? Yet, once circumstances are uncovered and the expectant mother is met, and things are explained, and a relationship builds, the joy of having a new member of the family starts to feel more comfortable. The prospect of having that expectant mother in our lives for many years to come also helps to bring joy to my heart.

So, we continue to hope and pray for a new addition (and yes, I know there are a great number of people out there praying specifically for a little girl). I will keep you posted. Please keep us in your prayers.

Yeah...you know

We have received recent word that there is no new activity at the adoption agency, so we continue our wait with prayer. Factors has started asking to pray for a new baby brother or baby sister. We hope to introduce him to many situations where he has to share his toys and my attention in order to prepare him (however slight). While spending time with some neighbors who have a newborn, he flat out ignored me when I was holding the baby. Uh oh. I hope that is not what he does when Pi comes along! We'll keep you posted on our adventures as we continue this wait :-)

Not much new around here

Our cw starts his vacation tomorrow, so I am sure we won't hear anything for a while. As of right now, we have been viewed by three expectant mothers, but have not been chosen by any of them. I think the wait might be a little harder this time because I do not have a job outside of our home. When we were waiting for Factors, I would have times of being anxious, but when I finally got a job (at a hospital, as a nursing technician), I think weeks went by without me thinking about it. Now, I spend days looking around and planning where everything will go to make room for another baby. In fact, I think to myself, "that area there will have to be cleaned and those items removed..." as if I will actually have time once we are chosen?! Maybe I ought to 'work' on getting all of that stuff done ;-)

Side note--the other day I was talking to cw on the phone. Factors, being the very vocal 2 year old that he is, kept asking to say "hi". Finally, I handed him the phone and mentioned baby brother and baby sister to him. Promptly he asks cw, "Can I have a baby brother or baby sister, please?" Awww! Who could say "no" to that?

Decision on Stroller

I think I have decided on the stroller I would prefer for Factor and Pi (when Pi comes along). I think I would prefer the Graco Quattro Duo. In case anyone was wondering...there it is. I'm attaching a picture, as well.

They come in different colors, but I don't guess I'm all that picky. I like the color of the one in the link, but the picture one is kind of cute, too (from amazon.com).

I wanted to add that I think this would work best for our needs (which do not currently include running or hiking). It is definitely more reasonable price wise than many other strollers out there, and does handle rather well. Yes, it is kind of heavy, but can be folded with one hand. I think it would work our well for a day at the zoo, a state fair, a nice walk through the neighborhood, even a long mall excersion. There are a couple others that I like, but the price and the mediocre reviews lead me back to this one. Unless anyone else has an opinion...