been there done that

what a difference 2 months makes!

(photo on left taken 1/30/08, photo on right taken 3/29/08)

It's really starting to feel like spring here and oh I just couldn't be happier. This little tree in our backyard is blooming finally. It started to show signs of life back in January with just a fuzzy little bud. These trees are all over London. I don't know what they are called, so I have named them the "tulip trees" because (I think) the blooms resemble tulips. Here is one that I saw in Notting Hill on Sunday. Beautiful!

Well, this morning we had our medical appointments and all checked out fine ... £350 later. Oy! Our doctor was quite perplexed as to why we were in his office doing the same paperwork we did last spring. It all felt a bit déjà vu-ish and I didn't quite have the energy or patience to explain why we were there.

Weekend Update

We spent Sat at the Natural History Museum. All the excitement wiped Kaneu out and he took a 2 hr stroller nap(!) during which we ducked out of the rain and into Harvey Nichols' cafe for some much needed tea and snacks. Their foodhall is divine - a real food lover's paradise!

I finally got a chance to catch up on some sewing over the weekend. The quilting project that I thought would be done by now has really turned into a thorn in my side. I know I'll love it when it's complete but I can honestly say I'm bored to tears with this project. I just want it to be over so that I can begin working on some (smaller) baby projects. Sigh. I need instant gratification and this isn't working for me!

I'm sure you have all read about this family in Iowa. I am stunned and saddened to read about this. My heart aches.

yesterday...

was a beautiful day and we took full advantage by spending most of it outside. We spent the morning at the Borough Market where I had the most delicious flat white. I first had a flat white 4 years ago when we were in New Zealand .... ahhh, my most favorite place. After meeting Elaine for lunch we walked along the Southbank. It was seriously sunny out and was magnificent. We were planning on going into the Tate but we didn't want to miss any of the sun, so we hung out along the river instead. Of course, today I woke up to rain. Oh but yesterday was so lovely. Kaneu is really having fun experimenting with the camera. He took the photos of Elaine and me. He insisted we make funny faces. I may need to pull out one of my old digitals for him.

Good news - turns out our fingerprints did not expire. Phew! They were taken in March 2007 but not processed until June 2007 and do not expire until Oct 2008.

Now, if only the notary stuff wasn't so darned complicated. The Embassy has denied my request for an emergency appt. They were helpful to suggest that I go about having the document notarized through the British system. This is a 2-part process where I would find (and pay) an attorney to provide the notarization. The second step is to have the notarization authenticated by the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office. This process involves mailing the document along with a £27 fee. I think I'm going to wait for the appt on April 9, though I'm not happy about it. This place is such a clusterfuck sometimes I could scream!

Ok, back to sunny happy thoughts of yesterday ...

adoption updates and frustrations

So, we have some adoption-related news to update. This is very exciting because it seems like it's been ages since we've had anything new to say about our adoption journeys.

First - we are officially waiting a referral for a baby girl from Korea! This has been in the works for quite some time and it's very complicated because we are living outside of the US, blah blah blah. I won't go into all of the details because it seriously makes my brain hurt. But, the bottom line is our paperwork has gone and we are officially waiting!! We are expected towait about 7 months for a referral, and then travel a few months after that.

Second - we have been instructed by our agency to begin putting together our dossier. Since we did this last year I'm thinking this is going to be a piece o' cake. For those who don't remember - we had finished it and were a day away from taking it to the VN Embassy for certification only to be told that the IAD was changing the way it was receiving dossiers and that we would need to submit it as we were closer to receiving a referral. I was quickly reminded of the pains that we went through last year to get this paperwork together. Already I'm cursing. See, our police/criminal history report requires the application to be notorized. The US Embassy is the only place to get something notorized and this requires an appointment, and the first available appt is April 8. Grrr..... I have sent an "emergency appt needed" request to the Embassy and so we'll see if they will take pity on us and let us have an earlier appt.

Third - I just realized our finger prints expired on March 16! UghOh. I have no idea what to do about this. Help!

Easter Weekend Away

Here are some pictures of our very fun weekend at The Grove. This place was absolutely incredible - a beautiful old property with the BEST service I have ever experienced. The staff were so friendly and made us feel very at home. There was tons to do around the resort and in the evenings we opted to watch movies and eat room service. It was the perfect "get away" only 35 minutes from London.

Photos from the Spring Fete - which was supposed to be outside, but the snow, rain and hail brought the celebration indoors. We didn't let the weather stop us though. We took our face-painted selves out into the elements for the few minutes of sunshine inbetween hail storms. Gotta love London weather!

Easter morning we woke up to snow!

We didn't make it to the Easter egg hunt (I was in the spa getting a facial and Brian and Kaneu were outside eating snow). I had these BIG Easter ideas for our weekend away and none of the ideas came to fruition. I am still having a hard time getting my energy back and unfortunately my grand Easter plan didn't really play out. Kaneu still got to eat plenty of chocolate and had fun, and we had a great weekend together with lots of family time - so, it was all good.

I just completed my antibiotics and am feeling 100% better - no more pain in my chest or throat. BUT, like I said above I have zero energy. I am taking loooong naps in the afternoon and sleeping until 9 and 10 in the morning. Thankfully this was a 4-day weekend and Brian was home. He goes back to work tomorrow and I am hoping I have the energy to keep up with our little man. The good news about being sick?? Well, I bought these new jeans when I was in the US and they are fitting perfectly right now. I love them and have worn them everyday since Friday. I'm always looking for that silver lining!

Hope your Easter was eggcelent!

happy easter!

Hope you are having a wonderful day!

feeling human again ... sorta

me: "How was school?"
kaneu: "Good. I ate chips"
me: "Oh, cool. What else did they give you to eat?"
kaneu: "Sausages"
me: "Oh, did you eat sausages?"
kaneu: "No, I a vegetablarian"
me: one proud mama!!

Sunday evening I was hit with a big ol' sick bug. It started off with a fever and then by Monday morning it had crept on down into my throat, and took up residence in my larynx, windpipe and chest. I can honestly say it was unlike anything I've ever experienced. Have you ever swallowed burning-hot razorblades? That is the only thing I can aliken this to. I have had laryngitis before but NEVER like this. I am on the mend though - I was able to get in to see the Dr yesterday and am now on antibiotics. Antibiotics are SUCH a beautiful thing!! Yesterday was the first time I have been out of the house since flying in on Sunday! Can you say cabin fever?! I am really, really hoping that I am 100% better tomorrow because we are heading out of the city for the Easter weekend and I've really been looking forward to this little get away. I think I'm hoping for a miracle really, but one can hope!

Wishing you a happy Easter!

home.again.

We are home! I have been a busy bee this morning unpacking and uploading the very few pictures I took. I started the book Traveling Mercies by Anne Lamott and am really loving it. Have you read it? It is excellent! It feels like I was gone for way longer than 10 days - that's what a nice relaxing trip where you aren't running in 20 directions will do to you. It was a great visit and I am happy to report my mom is doing really well. She has a clean bill of health, which is such a relief. I was seriously worried. Kaneu was excellent on the flight over - so great that I was able to watch movies! He took 2 naps and was just a dream to be with. I feel like he grew so much on this trip - physically, developmentally, and emotionally. He's 3 going on 10. We didn't do a whole lot during the visit - a little shopping, some yoga, lots of eating, reading, etc. During our visit we got to see my grandfather and I also got to hangout with some dear old friends who I hadn't seen in a very long time. I am so glad I made the trip back to the US, but I am really happy to be back in London. It's raining and gray outside but it feels good to be "home" again.

Leaving on a jetplane

We are getting ready to leave for the U.S. tomorrow and I have been singing this song all day. Before we jet out of here I wanted to post a link to the information on the Blankets for Babies - an emergency relief fundraising effort for the orphanages in northern Vietnam. Bottom line is that there are babies extremely sick and dying because of the cold weather. Hurry though - they only have 3 days to raise funds.

happy day

I am getting so spoiled this week - and I have to admit that I am really loving it. On Thursday Brian treated me to a pint of Ben & Jerry's Chocolate Brownie Yogurt and People magazine. I LOVE People magazine and it is really hard to find over here. I sat on the couch and read it cover to cover while watching American Idol. It was a great night!! (P.S. I love David Archuleta!! He is so cute and his voice is just amazingly incredible for such a young guy - he's only 17!!)

We spent a beautiful afternoon in Notting Hill on Saturday. Melt is a chocolate boutique and evidently while Brian and Kaneu were in the store Kaneu's hood from his coat accidentally caused 2 chocolate deer to fall and break. £12 ($24!) later they were on their way - oops. I must say that my chocolates are divine.

Check out my Mothers Day treats. Kaneu made the flower picture at school. The boys made me a card with the London skyline from our favorite park -Primrose Hill. Kaneu picked out my gifts all by himself - a very cool lucite bracelet and an adorable little mouse. He has such great taste and is so sweet. I love my guys!! Today was absolutely stunning. We took a nice long walk through Hampstead Heath. I have to say this was a perfect Mothers Day!! Brian is making lasagna for dinner and we are gearing up for the results to American Idol. Hope you're having a great weekend :)

Do you want the good news?

This is what our landlord said to me on Friday when I inquired about the boiler. It seems that the boiler is fixed but -and here's the bad news -there is a gas leak which means we still have no heat until that "minor" issue is fixed. I asked him if I should be concerned for our health and safety and he assured me it's a very small leak and that it's all turned off so we should be okay. I'm now so used to not having heat that I've resigned myself to wearing lots of layers. As I sit writing this I am under a blanket with my fleece jacket on. Last night I kinda froze though. We're having crazy winds here and our bed is underneath a very large window. I took down the curtains in our bedroom because they were so hideous, but now I realize this was a mistake. As ugly as they were they really kept the draft out. I actually had some new ones made but damned if I can figure out how to put them up. That was in October. I am the queen of procrastination.

Ok, onto the really good news. We went to see Alicia Keys last night!! The show was unbelievable. Oh my gosh, the girl has got some pipes and the best part was that we had incredible seats - 11th row from the stage and directly in the middle. At times I felt as though she was singing to me! Soul II Soul opened - do you remember them? They were really big in the 90s. They had some big hits, which they performed, such "Keep on Moving" and "Back to Life". It totally took me back to summer of 1990! Oh, but Alicia - wow!! The show was a fun mix of her dancing with her backup singers - who were straight out of of a scene from Dreamgirls - and her banging the keys while belting it out at the piano. She even did a duet with her male backup singer "Tender Love" by Force M.D.'s. What a very fun night! I'll post my videos tomorrow.

Hope you're having a great weekend!