Holla to Another Homegirl

Happy birthday to the beautiful Marcie P.!! Dinner will be too much fun....love you!

Holla to My Homegirl!

My beautiful and exceptionally talented friend, Ginnie, was interviewed for this AWESOME blog called Marta Writes....I don't know her, but she is clearly an exceptionally talented girl herself! Do yourself a favor....click on my Nate and Ginnie link down below and read her hilarious musings, then follow her link to Marta's interview. It captures our Gin perfectly....you will feel like you know her if you don't already! Then poke around on the rest of Marta's blog, THEN switch over to Ginnie J's photography blog! Okay, you don't have to do it all in that over, but make sure you hit it all. Great stuff! Just make sure you have plenty of time to kill and that your husband isn't expecting dinner or conversation anytime soon....great job Ginnie! You are a great friend...and a great read!

Viva Las Vegas!

We just took a nice little shortie down to Vegas (I meant length of time, not referring to Connor or Lonny ha ha). We had the opportunity to spend a day with Lance, Lacie and Hope as they were there for a conference and some R&R! Right off the bat, we learned that little Hope is pretty much completely potty trained! Yea Hope! She was kind enough to show Connor some of the ropes....including the very important part after you flush in which you lean over and say "Bye Bye, Pee-Pee!" So Connor wanted a turn on the Dora potty seat, which resulted in a whole lot of nothing, except this last oh so necessary step. Connor though, really got into it and practically stuck his whole head in the bowl and his "farewell" to the flush had a distinct echo to it.

And it wouldn't be Vegas without a little floor show, would it? Here Hope and Connor had the opportunity to show off their moves. Doncha just love that's she's in pink and he's in blue? After working up a sweat, nothing like a little banana-y snack to share...We just love little Hope (and her parents) and that Connor and she are so close. He bragged to all his friends when he got home that he got to see Cousin Hope. In addition to the toilet festivities and the Toddler So You Think You Can Dance-Off, we enjoyed some time in the pool... and eating Dunkin' Donuts...and even made it into town! If you look close, you will see Lacie and I by the Beatles Club at the Mirage Hotel I also had an amazing opportunity to meet up with my friend Leona, who I have literally not seen since the day we graduated from high school, about two years ago (HA HA HA!). But it was just like we had seen each other yesterday (except I managed to gain a lot of weight in one day!) I am soooo glad I got to see her (except for the fact that I had "hotel hair" - you know how you just can't get your hair right when you use hotel shampoo? Why IS that?) and we are planning a reunion with some other friends in March. It was just awesome.It was just not enough time to spend. But we did have fun...after hours of listening to "Movie Car" and "Barney" (does anyone else think that Baby Bop has a smoker's voice or is it just me?), having my husband trapped in the car so he HAD to listen to me, gas station bathrooms and "road" snacks, we arrived home safe and sound. Thank you, thank you very much.

Naptime

Today, it came time for one sleepy eyed little man I know to take his nap, affectionately called his Happy Nappy....a little term we learned from one Miss Abbie Christensen, that we just love. It's funny....if someone tells me "you should go take a nap" my head's on the pillow before they finish the sentence. Ahhhh. However, for some kids, it's like you have issued a moratorium that they will never ever play again or have any fun. Mine can be like that. So he will issue a protest "No, I want to watch Dora" or "No, I want to play Legos" ...and you have to explain to him that just because he has to take a nap for an hour or two, doesn't mean he won't ever get to to those things again in his lifetime (though I certainly hope he outgrows Dora, Movie Car and Legos by oh, say 20?) . He tried a little different tactic today....

A: Okay, little man, it's time for your nap!
C: No, I want to play firetrucks
A: (thinking I am oh, so clever) Well, even little firefighters have to take their happy nappy!
C: (thinking he is even more clever and breaking into the most beautific smile you have ever seen) But Mommy, I already happy!

Can't argue with that....except maybe by calling it a "Happier Nappy" from now on!

What a Day!

Wow! No matter what your politics are, this is an incredible day for our country! I am so proud to be an American today, and every day. We are truly blessed....

Congratulations in Order

To our friends Jenica and Gregg, who just found out their baby rice krispy is...a girl!!! Due in June, this is one little girl already so anticipated and loved. Congrats to all the proud grandparents too! We are over the moon for you J.J.!

This and That

So we are rollin' rollin' rollin along with our happy new year....
Connor is working very hard to be able to participate in the couch arm rodeo - rootin' tootin' toddler division, and spends time practicing. Apparently this entails yelling Yee Haw! alot and making horse sounds. Of course, being a cow poke of the living room variety does not come without it's difficulties. Sometimes it's hard enough just to get your cowboy hat on straight! 'Specially when that bronc starts a'buckin'! I have been very busy too...nursing this Facebook addiction (is there a 12-step program for this? Seriously?) and watching Season 3 (I know, seeing that they are now in the 7th or 8th season this is pathetic) of "24" - again, hopelessly addicted and actually going to the gym (DO NOT ATTEMPT TO ADJUST YOUR COMPUTER SCREEN, AND NO YOU DON'T NEED LASIK, YOU READ IT RIGHT, FOLKS). I have been taking spin classes and yoga (no, not at the same time) and I hurt in all sorts of funny places and walk in all sorts of funny ways, but I am very happy. Exercise was one of the "list" items from my therapist, to which I would usually snort and slap my knee, but I decided to give it a try and lo and behold, it is doing wonders for me. Of course, I am not ready to shop at Skinny Clothes-R-Us, or wherever those of the skinny variety shop, but it is helping my soul. Even when I am moaning in pain. Even when my arms hurt so much, I can't brush my teeth (instead, I lay the toothbrush on the counter, put my mouth over it and move my head back and forth in swift movements). But it feels GOOD. I may even do it for another week or so....ha ha!
A couple of fun things going on...we get to see Lance, Lacie and Hope in a few weeks in Las Vegas! We are looking forward to spending time with them, and I am hoping to get together with my friend Leona, from the bad old days of La Quinta High School, who I found on, you guessed it, FACEBOOK! We also will be taking the opportunity to put our profile on another adoption website, Parent Profiles, and feel very optimistic about this. More details to come and a link as soon as we get it all together.

We decided to abort Operation Potty Train until we gather more intel (can you tell I have been watching "24"? I am going to refuse to answer anyone unless they address me as Agent Amy "Cookie" Bauer until Angela loans me season 4) And mainly because on the "big day", Connor woke up in a foul mood and refused to agree to the most simplest of requests. And yeah, I know what you are thinking and you're right. We chickened out.

Okay, you are caught up for a while. How is 2009 treating all of you? I know Jenica is biting her nails waiting to find out if Baby Rice Krispy is a boy or girl, there has been exciting exciting stuff happening with the Incredible 6 (we are so happy for you Matt and Liz), undoubtedly Ginnie will get the house Santa promised her (but you can't move away and forget the Aimstress, Missy), Lance and Lacie are loving Oklahoma, I am going to go to lunch VERY SOON with Misty and Sarah...and I know there is wonderful stuff coming everyone's way (see, therapy WORKS), including ours.

A Shout Out to FSA!

After nearly 4 years of serving as the Co-Chairs of the Legal and Legislative Committee for our FSA (Families Supporting Adoption)Chapter, we have decided to let someone else take over the reins. We will remain very much involved with this wonderful organization...we will be at the activities, I will sing whenever they ask me to (and they already have, for the February education classes) and we will not hesitate to help in any way needed, but it was time for some fresh perspective and for Lonny and I to concentrate on other ventures (namely, finding this baby that we are sure is out there looking for us). I want to give a holla though to all the wonderful friends I have met through FSA over the years...I love you girls, my sisters in this topsy turvy world of adoption, I support you, pray for you and love you - and I know you do the same for me. And now I have so many more awesome friends to add to my heart (not to mention my Facebook!) and feel so very blessed. Sigh. I will miss seeing you every month, but have every intention of staying in touch with you! Mmmmmmmmmwah!

A Little Bit of Potty Humor

Sorry, couldn't resist....

So, I am resolved to start Connor on this next chapter of his life (which certainly needs to be done BEFORE he becomes the next Bill Gates, allowing his parents to live the lifestyle they SHOULD be accustomed to - I think the world tends to frown on billionaire mogul types who pee their pants, just guessing) . Yet I am at a loss as to how to start....so I am going to ask the experts - you. I need your potty training tips....you don't have to post them if you don't want, but find another way to get them to me - I am clueless! And just for the record, I have tried the Cheerio trick and it didn't work (without a lot of detail, I will just say, he ate 'em). As always, thanks - some of my favorite moms read my blog and your help is always so appreciated! An early attempt...someday he will KILL me for this

Please Keep In Your Prayers...

A very cool couple that we know from Families Supporting Adoption, Chris and Jared, had an adoption fall through recently. Because we know how much this hurts and how difficult it is, I would ask you to keep them in your prayers. It breaks my heart all over again to hear this news....

My Face on My Space!

WOW! What a way to start the New Year....Atomic Amy and the Spent Rods have a myspace page being constructed as I write this very post! It features the songs from the demo AND some photos (although they aren't very flattering of me...but oh well!). Please go and check it out...and sign up as friends if you want! I am super excited about this!!! Go to:
http://www.myspace.com/atomicamyband