But She Was Still Hungry...

Natalie was (of course) The Very Hungry Naterpillar today.



Jen's school celebrates Halloween (mine doesn't), so she dressed as a leaf, complete with mini caterpillar to keep her company until Natalie arrived.

I went as me, 'cause I'm just boring like that.

Happy Halloween!

Photo Friday

B is for...

Baby, Please Sleep

Nighttime sleep is still mostly OK, though teething and the return to work have taken their toll. Naps, however, are just not happening. Literally. Natalie is of the opinion that a 5-20 minute nap is just fine, thank you, and gets up ready to play. Unfortunately, she ends up tired and grumpy within a very short period of time. So, I stayed up way too late last night reading Elizabeth Pantley. Ironic, no? I think we'll be making some changes to both our daytime and our nighttime routines in the coming weeks. Wish us luck.

Oh, and Jen would like me to let you all know that the coke is hers, but it was only because of a very dire need and she's being really really good about staying away from it entirely, with the exception of car trips and emergency situations.

Blue

Blue is my favorite color, except when it describes my mood. It's been a pretty consistent shade for me lately (probably a robin's egg or cerulean rather than indigo), hence my lack of posting, Unlike some of my blogfriends, I tend to clam up rather than wax poetic (or beautifully, if achingly, prosaic) when depressed/anxious.

Anyway, I'm not in a terrible state but am looking at my options. Just wanted to let you all know that I do still exist (and I do read your blogs!) even if I'm not posting or commenting much.

I'm gonna hit post now before I delete this.

Because I Know You're Dying to Know...

...and we'd never keep our readers in suspense...

21 lbs. 25 inches, except that they measured her as 25.5 last time and I know she's taller now and they didn't stretch her out at all, so I'm gonna say 26 inches. So Shelli, um, you're good.

The pediatrician was annoyingly unenthusiastic, and made me feel like an obnoxiously overproud parent.
"Is she working on sitting up at all?"
"Oh, she sits on her own."
"Well, when she gets teeth-"
"She already has two."
"Well, make sure she gets enough tummy time."
"Oh yeah, she prefers to be on her tummy, and is starting to crawl."

She admonished us to get rid of the night feedings and to make sure she keeps eating "the cereals" if we're not going to feed her meat so that she gets enough iron. Whatever. I'll make more of a point of getting the other doctors when we schedule the next appointments.

The new social worker was fine. We stayed up too late last night cleaning, and she didn't even look at the house. Ugh. But she's going to have to, so we have to make sure the house is spotless for the next two visits, too. She can mostly use the information from the first home study, which is good. There are a few new clearances and forms that need to be done, but hopefully not much to be redone. We have to fill out a form about the birthmother and tell whether or not she used drugs, etc., but we don't have to fill out the part for birth father. Isn't that nice of them?

Clean, but not Legal. Yet.

Pretty much the only good thing about this social worker crapola is that MY GOD is our house clean. It's like when you have friends over and it spurs you to finally get around to cleaning, only multiplied by several degrees. And since we've had to do it twice, it's really REALLY clean this time.

And there are even roses on the table.*

*Thanks guys! :)

Six Months

Six months ago yesterday, Natalie was born. These have been the best six months of our lives. I both look forward to what the next six months will bring and am terrified that they will go by just as quickly as the first six.



Her pediatrician appointment is tomorrow, so you can start placing your height and weight bets now. After the pediatrician, we have our first meeting with the new social worker. Cross your fingers...

Fuckity-fuck-fuck.

We have to redo the homestudy. And the post placement visits. The judge won't take a homestudy from a private agency. Only the district. And this only applies in cases of second parent adoptions, mind you. Of course, the reason we'd gone with a private agency is that if you go through the District, there's no predicting who you'll get or how they'll cope with the whole lesbian thing. It's unclear as of yet how much of the paperwork, fingerprinting, background checking, and letter of recommendation getting I'll have to redo and how much can be transferred. What is clear is that a) we spent a whole lot of money that we don't have on a stupid fucking homestudy that doesn't count, b) we get to have yet another person poking around in our lives and judging my "fitness," and c) I'm so, so sick of this.

On the up side, we have an actual court date. In December. We're getting a little nervous about this judge, so think good thoughts for us, OK?

On the even upper side, every day I love this child more. I don't know how that's possible, since I loved her a pretty insane amount from the beginning. But it's true. I am so happy, and we are so lucky to have her in our lives. Whether or not we ever have the paperwork to prove it, I AM her mama. I'd just really like to have the paperwork.

Rollin' On

Several people have told us (as if we should be relieved to know this) that Natalie will lose some of her chub now that she's more mobile. To them I say (in the words of my daughter), "Pbttttttttttt!"

But, because I know that some day, far sooner than I'd like to think, I'll wake up to discover the fabulously edible, wonderfully squishy rolls replaced by a big kid body that doesn't stay still, I present to you my Tribute to the Chub:

Tiger Love

Tiger Love
Originally uploaded by jrustdc.

Go Tigers! One displaced Detroiter, one Detroit in-law, and one very adorable baby Tiger fan are pulling for you!

Defying the Laws of Physics

We didn't think it could be done. Between the girth of the tummy and the rolls on rolls on rolls of her thighs, we just didn't think it was physically possible. But, ladies and gentlemen, I am proud to announce that this morning Natalie got her toes in her mouth. Photographic evidence will follow when/if she ever does it in a slightly more clothed state.

Her scoot has gotten more coordinated and a little faster. One could even call it a millitary crawl now. Yikes.

In other news, the social worker told us last weekend that Natalie "seems to be adjusting well" to us. Phew. I was so worried about how she'd adjust to the ONLY THING SHE'S EVER KNOWN.