Cooper Allen Quarders

We had a new nephew born today to Chris and Sara Quarders. He is the spitting image of his father and we are so excited to have him finally here! Unfortunately I didn't get to go to his birth because Courtney is due this week and I don't want to be stuck in California if she goes into labor...

Halloween

I headed to San Diego for Halloween this year. It was so much fun. Chris was the Scarecrow, Sara the Tin Man (her little...well not so little...pregnant belly looked fabulous in the costume her MiL made her), and Chloe the Cowardly Lion. It was adorable. Kylie made the most darling Cinderella (I got in a little trouble with her mom for putting make-up on, but I couldn't resist!) And Jose Bo Began was Michael Jackson. The best looking MJ ever. Chloe was so darling, watching closely everything Kylie did so she could learn how to Trick or Treat...must have the candy. It was a great time having my Dad and Holly and my Mom and Bob there to enjoy the entertainment! By the way, in case you are wondering...Yes, those are orange pants my Dad is wearing.

Painting the nursery

After our meeting again with our soon-to-be (hopefully) birthmother, Courtney and getting to go to her doctors appointment we felt a little more comfortable about getting the nursery ready for our little girl due in November. Our kind friends Liisa Frei and Stuart Breinholt agreed to come over and help us get the room painted. They were amazing help! And I think the room turned out pretty cute! 3 of the 4 walls are a muted green and the fourth is dark pink (which I added glitter to), light pink, and the green in between.

This is getting a little real people!

Courtney invited us to Roosevelt to go to her doctors appointment and work out some of the details of the open adoption. Adoption is such a nerve racking process, and as adoptive parents we seem to become invisible. The birth parent is the focal point, which is fine, but the sensation of have no control is the worst (especially for me)! The appointment went well. We were all a little uncomfortable and awkward. It's a surreal situation, knowing that you are going to be raising the child in her...but Court is such an amazing, strong, intelligent, meticulous, shy girl. The doctor barely acknowledged Casey or me and that was our first clue that this is a truly small town and everyone has got Courtney's back and does not much trust outsiders. After hearing the heart beat we headed across the street and got a tour of the hospital. The charge nurse gave us a tour and reminded us not so subtly that Courtney and by extension the nursing staff was running this show. Courtney and her grandparents (who she lives with) knew EVERYONE! Both her grandparents volunteer at the hospital, so when I say everyone, I mean it. It was unreal. After that we went out to eat and settled on some of the outstanding issues. It was so nice having our two social workers there with us. They did a great job mediating it all. We agreed to one visit a year, and that we would communicate through Facebook. So we would create an account for the baby and Courtney would be her only friend. Here's to hoping it works... We also agreed that Courtney would call when she went into labor since it's such a long drive for all of us to get to Roosevelt. We talked about names. I really think she wanted to have more of a say in the name, but her Grandma seemed to reign her in, "It's their child and they can name it whatever they want, right?" We are really vacillating between three names; Courtney Lynne (Courtney we have loved forever but it might be a little weird to name her after the birthmother. Lynne is both of our sister's middle names. Although spelled Lyne and Lynn so we combined them), Jenna Rose (We just like Jenna. And Rose short for Roosevelt. We also found out it is Courtney's Grandma's middle name, so that might be nice.), and Ainsley Kate (We have loved Ainsley ever since there was a character named that on West Wing and Kate after me.) It was a good visit and this thing is starting to feel a little more real! Below is a ultrasound picture that Courtney emailed us, and a picture of the sunset on our drive home from the visit.

Ni hao...China!!!

September 18-30, 2009

Casey and I joined our dear friends Joe and Wendy Dallimore along with Wendy's mother, Kathleen, who were traveling to China to pick up the newest addition to their darling family, Phoebe Josephine Dallimore. It was a long time in coming and we couldn't have been more honored to support them in China. Casey could only join us for a couple of days, but we made the most of the time we had. We didn't get a whole lot of time in the major cities and didn't see a lot of the typical tourist stuff, but what we did see was beautiful. It is a gorgeous country with kind hearted people. We traveled to Guangzhou, Wenzhou, and Hangzhou. Phoebe is an amazing, stunning girl and we are so happy to have her join the Dallimore family!

Other than filling out paperwork at every government office in China, we mostly...shopped. Let's be honest, it's what I do best.

The pearl factory was AMAZING. Store after store of pearls, bracelets, beads, turquoise, etc.

The must have potty shot. I think I have one from 3 different continents now.

Some of my favorite things in China were the signs. i.e. Please don't bring your suitcase bombs on the subway (good to know. I was going to bring mine and then saw the sign), how many of you have seen Mexican in Chinese?, and "Unwind yourself now"...I think it got a little lost in translation.

And my personal favorite..."The child amuses the area."

I am NOT a fan of Asian cuisine...so I came prepared with a suitcase full of food.

I really did attempt to be adventurous with my food...see I tried rice and dragon fruit.

I did not however try the disgusting flavored chips, stinky-ass fish, or salted pig legs...I have to draw the line somewhere.

The jade sculptures there were unreal!

We all tried to dress in red, white and blue for the citizenship swearing in ceremony at the US Consulate in Hangzhou. Kathleen and I were roommates for the trip and had a such a great time together! She is an wonderful person and I was so glad to get to know her a little better.

On our way to Hong Kong: 9 suitcases + 1 toddler + 1 stroller and only 4 adults = stressful craziness

We didn't get much time in Hong Kong. We just needed to get over there because that is where we needed to fly out of. However, Hong Kong was the highlight of MY trip because it is where I found out that the birthmother we had been meeting with had chosen us to adopt her little girl!!! My darling husband informed me over the phone after a 20 minute conversation about flight availability with a "Oh by the way, Courtney chose us." Click! That's right...he hung up on me. After some foul language I called him back and had a cry-fest. God bless the Airport Marriott in Hong Kong, you will always hold a special place in my heart.

The best part...A new family united!

Camping at Carlsbad

This year I was lucky enough to have my niece Maile, and my cousin's daughter Brianna join me for camping at the beach. Maile and Bri joined me in St. George and then we drove to San Diego, stopping to do school shopping at all the outlet stores along the way. They got hats airbrushed with their names. My cousin Nathan and his friend Sal also came up to the beach for a couple of days...and all of a sudden I was in charge of 4 teenagers...yikes! It was a great time.