It's Halloween time!

As we are setting up the house for the upcoming night of goblins and ghouls we can imagine ourselves with our little one. Our poor dogs are getting the short straw and have to put up with us dressing them up and laughing at them. Although I am sure we will still manage to do this with children, I know right now our dogs are filling this void. We are not taking them out trick or treating or anything, well wait a second, no no we won't but we do have some nice costumes. Stella is so excited to be a mermaid and Adicus is going to have fun being a shark. It will be really funny to see a shark chase after a mermaid.

Jason and I are going to dress up as the Blues Brothers. He is over joyed that I agreed. It's simple.

Here are few fun costumes we cannot wait to make for our little one. Oh and they have to be home made! Forces everyone to be creative and use their imagination!

Adding a Burden

addingaburden.com is another Blog I follow. They are doing an international adoption. It is the exact opposite of us. We are waiting for a baby, and in international, babies are waiting for parents. There is no right answer or which way is better. In the end you wait the same amount to welcome baby home. With IA(international Adoption) You are matched and spend 18-24 months visiting and dealing with courts from other countries. While you must travel to the country to medicals and court appearances you get to visit your child. Which I feel would be extremely difficult to leave once the trip is over. It is on average you visit and leave your child 2-3 times before you actually bring your baby home. Heartbreaking.

Why did we not choose to adopt a child waiting for parents? Simple reason but a reason I hate to answer. MONEY It costs anywhere from 30,000 + to adopt a child internationally. If I could go back to when I was 20 and know what lied ahead for me I would have saved money to adopt many children. I know none of you expect a explanation on why we choose domestic but it ways on me. But it came down to simply what we could afford. Kids are expensive. But to get a kid is free to most people and think of finances later.

We have had to think of finances now just to be able to welcome a baby into our home. We are fine with this and really what is a better way to spend your money on. No trip. or bigger house will feel better then holding my baby for the first time.

addingaburden are in Russia now and just saw there little boy. It is so inspiring to see how happy they are and how much they love their child. Thank you for sharing your story.

It is official!!!

If it wasn't official when we paid a few thousand dollars once we were told we were approved we are NOW!

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYIIIIIIIIIIIIPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Other Adoption stories!

I follow a lot of blogs. I love them as I am a blogger I feel it is great to read about others doing the same life path as you. My faves are ART and ADOPTING. of course!!!

I follow this one blog, http://growingourharts.blogspot.ca/ and they have a match. The adoptive mother is in the delivery room right now. Perfect scenario, actually being able to be a part of your baby's path into the world.  I hope I am as blessed as she is. I loved watching my niece come into this world and not being able to experience the birth, I want to be on the other end. I will take what comes but if I could choose my path (we all know we can't) that is what I would choose. When I started reading it I was happy for them and knowing that this is possible, then my emotions took over, I started to cry and wonder when? Then I realised it will happen for us, just like them. They have been 'adopting' since last November, and just got a baby. So if we look at timing that is 10 months or so, also in the US. As humans we compare, pregnant Mom's compare their stories all the time. I find myself comparing my adoption journey with other adoption journeys.

I am so grateful that I have a chance to become a mother, and will be so thankFULL and honoured when a birth mom chooses me to parent their baby. One of the biggest gifts I will ever receive.

For this mother who is experiencing something we only imagine in our minds and want so badly, I feel so happy for her, and cannot wait until it is my turn. I can only dream of what she feels like, the chance to be a mom, and seeing it right in front of her, so close to her embrace. One day you are hoping and dreaming and the next day your in the delivery room. How exciting!!!

Wish you all the joy and happiness in these precious moments Hart Family!


LC

Thank FULL!

In honour of this weekend I thought this was a great time to do a post on being thankful, since I/We have so much to be thankful for.

I am thankful for: (in no particular order)

- family, the strength and love we have for each other

- Jason, the love of my life and every moment he is with me

- opportunities to do my art and that people want to put it in their homes

- tomorrow, I get a chance to live this life for one more day

-my health, and finally no pain after 18 yrs

- but most of all I am grateful for in a year full of sadness and heartache, that there is a glimmer of hope that one day our family will come together.

LC

Being on the list!!!!!

Being on the list inspires me to create a world for our child that I have always imagined. A happy home, inspired parents, a healthy life, lots of love and laughter. I am progressing on all of them.

 My cross fit class is my new love. I never imagined that I would actually love to workout but I do. I am still motivated after a month to keep going. Maybe it timing, maybe its my trainer, maybe its this year that has changed me, or maybe it is me saying enough or maybe its all that I have learned about me and food and life that I am now putting it into good use.

I am inspired to create some new art. Spent a good chunk of change today on supplies for my sale coming up in November. The art only sits in my mind right now but will soon, you will see some very inspired art.

Jason and I are working on creating a home for our baby to learn to grow to be who they feel they are. The room is changing as time goes on. Sometimes I feel we are just filling time until baby comes but that is ok. We have put the good vibes out there and we are just waiting for the call.

I love Jason's post on family game night. Cannot wait!!!

LC

Family Game Nights

Lauren and I love playing Scrabble, and so does Stella!  (she helps me get the big 7 letter words)  Board games are a great family pass-time, and something that we both want to play as a family tradition with our child.  Board games are fun, interactive, and most importantly stimulate your brain, intellect, and creativity!  I still remember a lot of the board games that I played as a kid, and makes me nostalgic so I thought I would post a lot of them: