Top Ten Holiday Moments

Happy Holidays! What a great year it has been, so much to celebrate, so much to be thankful for, so much to share with you! Here are the top ten holiday moments for our family...hope your top ten are just as delightful!

Drum roll please...

Number 10: Christmas morning bathroom construction project...almost done. Yes, I know we started it on Labor Day, but we just can't stop the project (or should I say finish?!)

Number 9: Brandy slushes! Shelly's family tradition of brandy slushes throughout the holiday season. Yum!

Number 8: Baking cookies and delivering to our neighbors and friends!

Number 7: Our President revoked Don't Ask, Don't Tell!

Number 6: Healthy minds and bodies!

Number 5: Welcoming back the light with a lunar eclipse!

Number 4: Weekend trip to the coast and L's first trip to the aquarium!

Number 3: Delicious holiday fare made by David with love (and eaten with love from the rest of us!)

Number 2: Celebrating the holiday season with Aunt Jenn who is visiting us all the way from snowy and cold Vermont!

And the Number 1 Holiday Moment of 2010 is....

Our Adoption is finalized! Lilleth Mina Ponder is official!

We got word from our lawyer and the adoption agency that our adoption was finalized on December 7th! We received our certificate and the Judge's signature on Christmas Eve...a wonderful gift!

I hope that your holidays are filled with peace and joy!

Reflections

Well it has been quite a while since my last blog post...we have been a little bit busy! Our last 9 weeks (yes L is 9 weeks old today) have been pretty amazing. L has changed our world for the better, crazy thing is I didn't even know my world could have gotten any better before she arrived. I mean, our lives were pretty good - we had jobs we liked, a great community, really wonderful friends close by and far away, we just bought a house, and our dog is (finally) extremely sweet and adorable - but then L arrived and our lives got so much sweeter.

Each day with L has shown both challenges and pure joy...some of the hardest challenges you may wonder...well brushing my teeth and taking a shower before 6 pm...now that is a challenge with a newborn! However, my dirty teeth and greasy hair can't stop me from staring with pure uninhibited love at this bundled up being in my arms. How wonderful that she doesn't even seem phased by my stench, now that is love on her part!

October was such a beautiful month, we brought L home, we had quality time just the three of us getting to know one another, figuring out how change diapers, make bottles, dress a squirmy baby and finding time to sleep. Our first family visitors arrived and L got to hang out with Grandma and Grandpa P sleeping, sort of smiling and just feeling the love. L also participated in her first halloween dressed as a Skeleton and even trick or treated...by the way she still rocks that onesie!

November, the rain finally arrived in the great Northwest and L learned to smile (at the beginning of the month "Elvis lip sort-of I think she is smiling" smile), went to the farmers' market to ooh and ahh at all of the things you can grow in Oregon (even in October/November), enjoyed a sweet visit by Grandma C who just held her and rocked her for an entire week while mom and dad enjoyed some quality time away and even though the fog and rain pretty much obscured the view, visited the OR coast and ate (or at least watched us eat) fresh seafood! She also gave thanks at her first thanksgiving with wonderful friends around the table. She had guests (Yeah Sarah, Matt, Henry, Jack and Daisy) drive all the way from MT to see her. Last Thanksgiving (before L was even a thought in her heads) we drove to MT to see these folks and meet Henry who was then 3 months old. We all had so much to be thankful for...including an incredible dinner prepared by the guys!

Now we enter December, now halfway over. Already L has learned to roll from her tummy to her back, smile at everyone, including strangers waving and cooing at her, she is talking and learning to use her voice at every decibel possible. She loves to stand on her own two feet pushing up, almost like she is tired of laying around and already I feel like she is growing up way too fast! L had her first plane ride and did great, sleeping through all of the flights to WI. She experienced very cold temps and lots of snow, met lots of her extended family and can't wait to go back to see them again (but hopefully it will be A LOT warmer and much less snow)! And December isn't even over...

I am so thankful for this wonderful life our family has and I can't wait to see what L will learn in January!

Grandma C Comes to Town

A few weeks ago we had the honor of a visit from Grandma C! It was wonderful. Grandma C and Lilleth loved to rock together. We drove to the coast (first time for both Lilleth and Grandma C), Lilleth started cooing and smiling (a grandma favorite) and we spent quality time hanging out in our little house while the rains came down. Lilleth and I are excited to see Grandma C very soon...we are attempting our first (and solo-no David) airplane ride back to WI in just one week...wish us luck! For now, enjoy the pics of Grandma C and Lilleth enjoying their first of many visits together.

Grandma and Grandpa P

Lilleth got a chance to meet her Grandpa and Grandma P last week and what fun we had! She was spoiled with lots of love, cuddling and gifts. It was a great visit and we look forward to the next time they are in town.

Happy (belated) Halloween!

Feet

Two Weeks

Well, miss L is now two weeks old...still can't believe it. In her first two weeks on this planet she has already done a lot, here is a snippet of what Lilleth has accomplished: Went to a party, planted garlic, went on numerous walks with her dog Ursa, went to the fabric store, visited with many friends, met her new best friend over skype (Yeah Mady), slept (a little), went to the pediatrician, went to her first Birth to Three class, and so much more. We are loving new life and look forward to the many, many, many weeks with Lilleth! Here are some pictures...

One Week Old

The first week of Lilleth's life has already come and gone. We can't believe it. Already the time is flying by. This first week has been amazing, wonderful, sleepless, absolutely perfect. Here are some pictures to prove it...

Home Sweet Home

We are home! We were delighted to get the call from our social worker that we were cleared to cross state lines with our Lilleth and on the way home, we stopped at our lawyer's office and filed our petition. Home sweet home on Tuesday evening. Our days have been filled with introducing Ursa to Lilleth (who she loves to lick-the dog that is), entertaining our many guests who are so excited to meet Lilleth and enjoying every moment. Below are some pictures of our first two days home. Now off to get some sleep while Lilleth is napping...

Lilleth Mina Ponder

Welcome to the world Lilleth Mina Ponder! Born at 3:07 am on October 9, 2010. 7.5 pounds and 19.5 inches long.

The Phone Call Came...

Well, we got the call. We are headed up to Washington as you read this, or maybe already there, for the birth of our daughter. We are excited, nervous, anxious - basically every emotion you can have when you know the next few hours your life is going to change dramatically.

Not much more to say except we hope the next post will have pictures of a beautiful little baby girl for all of you to ooh and ahh over. We will keep you all updated.

An Update

Yes we are still waiting, no news on the baby girl, but some great news on some adoption assistance we applied for a few months ago. Our application to Pathways for Little Feet was approved and we were awarded a $5,000 interest free loan to help with our adoption costs. Very exciting - thank goodness for all those years of grant writing!

Check out their website and help spread the word about this great organization to potential donors and to adoptive parents.

It has been an emotional week. A close member of my family passed away unexpectedly. He was my dad's best friend, my second dad, a wonderful husband, an amazing dad and the best papa. While the anticipation of the baby's arrival is heavy on our minds, so is Chuck and his family. Because of the birth being any day now, we are unable to fly back to WI - it doesn't feel right.

Many of you who read my blog may not know Chuck and his family, but if you all could send some positive thoughts and energy to them I would be grateful. Thank you.

Latest (Completed) Projects

The "babe" will soon have clothes! Thank you Sarah C. for the adorable book, can't wait to make more!

The owl is soft and fuzzy!

A new adorable pattern for making my own little shoes!

Felted teething rings!

A striped elephant friend!

Bathroom Remodel--98% done--Plus More!!

I realized that we never posted pictures of our 98% done bathroom remodel! The only thing we have left to do is finish the baseboards...so 98% done...let's hope that last 2% will be done soon!

In addition to completing the bathroom remodel we have gotten a lot accomplished, including some fun!

We just finished the last of our paperwork for the agency...our service plan which turned out to be 14 pages long was turned in and approved the agency. I guess that means we passed the long take home test. Our service plan required us to read a bunch of books, take some classes, and talk with friends and family about our adoption.

We also have been busy preserving the harvest (and making baby food)! A few weeks ago we processed the following: 20 pounds of pears, 16 pounds of plums, 11 pounds of blueberries, 25 pounds of peaches, made 20 quarts of dilly beans and pickles and are now preparing for a last process of tomatoes (we are aiming to can around 40 quarts). I think just maybe we will have food for the winter!

My birthday weekend was a blast too! We went to the coast and spent three lovely days enjoying the sun, watching whales and having some quiet time before the little lady arrives. Here are some pics of the aquarium...




























It has been a busy last few weeks! We can't wait for the little lady to arrive...only three more weeks!! Off to our shower!

Bathroom Remodel--During, Phase 2

Here we are finally laying the tile!

The tile is down and is drying...grout and a working toilet tomorrow!

Bathroom Remodel--During, Phase 1

Ready for backer board

Cutting backer board
Backer board installed and drying...

Bathroom Remodel--Before

Nesting - Not just for hormones

There is a widely known phenomena that happens when pregnant couples (usually around 8 months) feverishly start "nesting," you know, weeding the garden bare, cleaning every nook and cranny in the house, paint rooms, yada yada yada, you get the point.

Most people attribute this "nesting" phase to hormones...well I am pleased to announce that is just hogwash. Nesting has hit our house in full force.

As I write this, David is trying to get the windows back into the back porch after resealing the glass into the frames, adding extra insulation and soon to be repainted to look all spiffy (or so we think). In addition to our "backporch rennovation" this weekend we decided to redo our bathroom and have already removed the tile and bought more materials than I can even list. This is where you insert your "what the ...."

Yes, as I said, nesting has hit our house as a strong as a gale wind.

We have had houseguests for a few weeks, which has somewhat suppressed our desires to create construction zones, but this weekend we woke up, houseguests were gone and realized that we have just 5 weeks to pull off all of our "before the baby comes" - which is a pretty long list and I am fairly positive we won't accomplish even half of the tasks.

Just 5 weeks, wow, October has really crept up on us.

I also realized that I never updated you all about our last trip to WA to see momma A. It was great. We didn't have the awkward first moments to deal with and we really got to spend some time talking, shopping, eating and seeing a movie - it was fun and relaxing. We are thrilled to have so much time to build a relationship with momma A before the baby comes, I really wouldn't want it any other way.

One of our friends here in Eugene is hoping to plan a shower for us, so stay tuned if you are in the area for your invitation.

Gotta get back to the bathroom remodel, building toys, knitting clothes, making curtains, sewing blankets, and oh yeah sleeping, working, eating....

Projects

Here are a few sneak peeks of some of my latest creations for the little one. More pics to come, almost finished with the crib bedding and a couple of new sweaters! Enjoy.

This sweater was actually for a friend's new baby, but it is so cute I had to share!

Little miss eggplant. I just finished a pumpkin hat for another friend's newborn.

My speciality - baby booties!

This sweater is by far my favorite piece...as of yet. It is 100% cotton and just so dang cute.