Adoption Why's

Last weekend Tavo and I decided to go to our favorite book store, Chapters, in search of a book Journal.  Of course, we found the Journal in about 10 minutes,  then browsed together the - cute baby stuff - section and then, like it usually happens,  divided our family into two teams in order to conquer the rest of the store.  My dear husband, not a very avid reader, immediately went to the section of photography books and what I call "weird themes" (don't ask... they're just weird). I, on the other hand, go to fiction and after a good 30 minutes search,  end up in the children section.  Total, we were there for 2.5 hours and finished with more than a book journal in our shopping bag.   

You might wonder... why would you need a book journal?.. or  for that matter,  you might wonder what exactly is a book journal?  Well, I will explain.  Starting this year, I am part of a Book Club.  It's called Bibliotherapy.  My new book club it's basically a really cool group of women who share the love of reading. I will of course dedicate a full posting to the Book Club later on,  but for now let's go back to the Journal.   One of the ladies in my club had this journal last time we met, and I just thought it was the coolest idea ever.  Seriously! How many times have I forgotten the author of a book I really liked, or the title, or the main character? Not any more!  I decided I wanted one.  Therefore the visit to Chapters and the hole in my wallet.  : )

But getting back to the children section, I must say;  my visit was quite disappointing.  I was looking for nice story books that would help us explain to our future baby his or her adoption story (besides my not very pretty scrapbook... ). Anyway...  I couldn't find much.  There was only a red book (sorry, forgot the title, forgot the author... obviously need the journal uh?).  This book went along this lines: 

- Why did you come to our house?  Because... so and so and so...
- Why did you needed parents? Because... so and so and so...
- Why, why, why?
- So, so, and more so...


Really?  It definitely didn't sound very happy or positive.  But whatever... of course,   I didn't buy it...

But the book did make me think about all the people that have asked me - Why are you adopting?
And before I go on: 

********* Disclaimer ***************

I do think people are fundamentally good, and if you are one of those people who have asked (me or anybody else who's adopting),  this is only  intended to raise your awareness about some other options or alternatives to the question above. : )

*********************************** (there... uff!)

Ok. Moving on.  Every time I get the question,  I try to understand the person's underlying motive or desire to know the answer.  In other words... why do you ask? And is not that I will actually respond with that question, but it definitely goes through my head. Really, is the why that important?

So, let's imagine a scenario, where a thirty some professional couple, with good jobs and a stable marriage (yes... your typical Tavo & Luz scenario) go to a friend, coworker, or similar; and say: "we're having a baby", or "we're pregnant".  To what the friend/coworker/similar respond: "why?". 

Yup,  VERY unlikely.

The friend/coworker/similar would probably go... "CONGRATULATIONS!!!".  Right? (there you go, alternative to question above number 1.)

Or you could get creative and say: "Wow... that's some news"... and then add alternative 1.
You can also jump up on the couch - Tom Cruise style - and scream: "That's totally awesome"...  but then it can get a little creepy... so I would stick with 1 or 2.  ; ) 

So I'll share with you what really matters : 

• We decided to grow our family through adoption.  
• Whatever way this baby comes into our lives he or she will be equally loved.  Not only by us, but by grandmas and grandpa; uncles and aunts; etc etc etc.
• We will rapidly decide that this baby is the cutest, smartest baby in the whole wide world.  - yes, just like any other parent does about their own.
• As soon as the baby enters our life, sleeping in on Saturdays and Sundays it's over (or so we hear). 
• And of course,  we will probably share the viruses and other great bugs equally dispersed through daycare.  (yikes!). 

I leave you with a couple of pictures of beautiful Calgary in the fall.  I stole these pictures from a friend's facebook page.  He took them last Sunday.

Beautiful leaves... by the river. 

And that's me running... nahhh ha ha... I'm into indoor sports now... aerobics. 

And the last one. 

Just beautiful.  Calgary is really an awesome place to live.

Until next post,

LuzM.

A B-day to Celebrate (and two others to come)

Ok ok... I know I'm late in writing again.  I'm latin... lateness is in my blood... it's like this: nucleus(25%), red cells (15%), white cells (15%), late cells (10%), other stuff (10%) - there goes my high-school biology class.  My teacher would be so proud! The funny thing is, people who didn't use to read my blog, wrote me one of those nasty-mails at 9:00 am on monday morning - "so what's up with the blog?"  Yes... you know who you are... and you're late too most of the times as well! : )

But let's get into the subject matter at hand.  This past week there was an important event in the family.  My little cousin, Ana Maria, who by the way, lives here in Calgary, celebrated her 9th B-day.  Tavo, Duna and I were invited to celebrate with her.  You might wonder why Milu wasn't invited but as I shared on a previous blog, she doesn't enjoy crowds, specially "crowds" where there might be more than two kids.  Therefore,  active participation in Ana Maria's B-day celebration was out of the question.  

You see, Ana Maria has a sister and a little brother - read the "crowd" - both of which will be introduced to my loyal readers at their respective b-days, which will be happening during the upcoming months (yes, two others to come).

If you think about it, these kids will play a very important role in our future baby's life.  They are the "cousins", and anybody who grew up in Colombia knows that "the cousins" are supposed to be the first group of friends in your life.  Most of us experienced more than one or two "very intimate" gatherings on a Sunday afternoon at grandma's or at an aunt's place, in the company of about 70 of your closest family members, for which the cousins category accounted for 80% of the people involved.  Yup, many many cousins.  Besides,  you're supposed to grow up with the cousins, go party with the cousins... etc etc.  So imagine the potential!! Therefore... to put in corporate words;  we are cultivating future key relationships and doing some preliminary networking - proactively.   : )

Anyway, this is Ana Maria showing off her new hoody. 

And this is a picture of all of us right before presents were opened and cake was eaten!

And now... see the looove for the camera? Nose kiss! :)

And this is the beautiful dress Ana got from us. 

But to end on a familiar note, a list. 


5 Things Ana Maria and Me Have in Common

1. Our beautiful curly hair.  - Although I must say I have like 2.5 curls for every one she has. Consequently she doesn't get my famous "lion king" look so much as I do.  Lucky her for that!.
2. We loooove chocolate.  -  Notice the chocolate cake on the picture above? Did you think I was able to resist a piece? do you, do you?  Yeah you're right... I didn't.  No will power when it comes to chocolate.  None!!
3. We're both very smart ladies. - (And so humble!! ha ha) No but really, she's a very good student, very disciplined.
4. We're so very stylish! -  (and must I repeat,  so humble!!) I must say she's a 9 year old totally fashion sensitive. If you knew her you could easily picture her at 18 wearing the coolest skirt and latest 12 in heels available.  Oh dear... my uncle is in so much trouble!

It's all about the matching. Get it?  (even if your little brother doesn't get it... let's not let him ruin your style).

5. We love Shakira... and we do believe that hips don't lie.  : )

Until next post, 

LuzM

Baby Stuff Explotion

(Pooh and Piglet on a tree,  looking at an egg in a nest)

"What are we waiting for, Pooh?" 
"Watch, Piglet, a dream is about to come true"


The waiting is almost over. 
How lucky for your baby! 
How wonderful for you! 

(From Hallmark card - From K)

Believe it or not I had a hard time starting my blog today. So I  decided to start with the wisdom of  one of my very best friends - Winnie the Pooh (of course, who else?).  You see... I made myself the promise that I would always keep the "tone" of this blog very cheerful,  very positive and very happy.  After all, this adoption is the perfect occasion.  However, I am so, so moved by what happened today, so thankful for all my blessings, for all my friends, for my life, that I will get let myself get a bit weepy... (not so much... I promise!). Today was my very own baby shower.  


And it couldn't be more perfectly timed because last Friday September 10th, 2010 (mark the date people!)  after one year of paperwork, and some,  we were officially approved by Colombia as adoptive parents.  - The waiting is almost over... how lucky for your baby, how wonderful for you...


So all of these great ladies, made time in their busy life, to just be there... to buy cupcakes, fruits, bake breads, make chocolate strawberries and other goodies, to share and celebrate the fact that soon,  I'll get to be a mommy.   They made the time to be there.  Even when one of them had  to convince her husband to drive for almost three hours! (and bring their very crazy dogs with them - oh yeah... it is true). 

And all that I have to say is that this is just wonderful.  Wonderful because deep in my heart I thought I would never have a baby; even less a baby shower.  And I think... they think they gave me baby gifts... but what they really gave me is far more special than anything you can wrap... (there you go... the weepy part...) what they gave me is the acknowledgment of me being a future mommy.  And it doesn't matter how the mommy thing happens, what matters is that it will. No judgments, no differences. And that people is real friendship. And for that I feel so lucky they are all in my life.  So thank you.... thank you for being there and celebrating with me. I really have no words.  - And if you know me, you know that's really strange.  (sight...)  Ok... no more weeping...

So moving on to the happy part. I'll introduce you to some of my friends (note the abundance of wine):

 
And also to some of their ideas.  By  now you know I love lists. So here is today's list. 

Top 10 Reasons why is so much Fun to Not-be-Pregnant in your Baby Shower

1. Wine (Red and White) - this one was the first one everyone came up with, when first asked... what's up with women and wine?
2.  You don't have to listen to awful labour stories.
3. You can eat whatever you like!! Including Sushi (definite plus for me), soft cheeses, deli meats etc.
4. You can do your own bikini line... (also an everybody's fave)
5. You don't need to worry about stretch marks (too late for me... even with no baby - hummm Am I sharing too much?)
6. Your pants don't have elastic tops -  triple yay! - not very stylish -  BTW this one was the winner...
7. ... therefore, you can wear skinny jeans (did I mention I was wearing skinny ones? ha ha...)
8. You don't have to worry about heart burn after eating
9. You can still wear high heels (yay!)
10. You don't have to pee all the time (which I do anyway!)

11. (yes I know it's supposed to be only 10 but we got creative) - You don't have to go to the gym to work off the post baby weight.
12. You can paint your own toe nails (and actually see your feet). 
13. You actually get cute baby stuff instead of nursing pads...
14. You don't have to worry about morning sickness ... and
15. There is no tattoo distortion.. (in case you have one). 

Pretty great uh? 

And there were other super cool games.  By the way, everybody looooved the Colombian gifts my mom picked, so from all (in a Choir) "Thank you Mrs. Jaimes". And  then some other comments:  "Luz's mom rocks", and..."last time I got stationary... this is sooooo much better".  Stationary: Zero.  Colombian Jewelry: One. 

 Then,  I got to open the baby gifts!

And of course, Winnie the Pooh got center (or bottom?) stage (again) - I'm telling you people, our baby is going to think we have some kind of Pooh cult going on at our place...

  








So when I got back home, Tavo opened the trunk of our car and quietly said: "wow... baby stuff explosion!".  umhhhh ... yeah.

Other wonderful things I learned today about baby/mommy care/products: 

1. Sophie the giraffe seems to be the coolest gal in the animal kingdom cause she's loved by all her baby fans. Side note: She squeaks.  Keep away from the dog.
2. Diaper bags can actually look like the purse you carry your laptop on.
3. You can get Winnie the Pooh... almost anything.
4. There is this diaper genie thing that would save you and everybody in your household from horrible smells and (most importantly) from Duna eating your baby's poop.  I know... not a pretty picture. 
5. In the baby world,  Johnson and Johnson is totally in! 

We did have a wonderful time...

Until next post,

Luz M.

Sleeping in Seattle

Ok, ok... I know is very cliche to write Seattle and any word that even resembles the verb - to sleep - ... but Sleepless in Seattle is such a clasic!! I couldn't resist.  Besides, it did sound better than crashing in Seattle...  napping in Seattle...  dormant in Seattle... or somnolent in Seattle.  Ha ha,  : )  you get my drift!

All that to say... Tavo and I spend our labor weekend in ... yeeeesss you guessed right, Seattle!  And it was great! What a wonderful city! 

The Highlights of our trip
 
We took an early flight to Vancouver on Friday the 3rd.  The flight is awesome because you spend about one hour going over the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Beautiful,  even in the summer, the highest ones are covered with snow. (Which also kind of reminded me that summer is almost over and 5 months of winter are quickly arriving). When we got to Vancouver, we rented a car and drove to Seattle.  I was surprised it took only 2.5 hours.  The drive is also pretty great because of the scenery ... full of pine trees and lakes.  It's like driving through a post card!
And  what's even better is that with our Canadian passports we are no longer stopped in the American border under suspicion of drugs smuggling like we used to be. Oh yes... that's one of the "pleasures" of traveling with a Colombian passport... you are always guilty until proven other ways.  But no more!! We are free ! ha ha...

Anyway, we made it there and decided to go out  in a dinner cruise. I know... very romantic! Although I think we were the only couple there that wasn't either getting engaged or celebrating something. We were just there... enjoying a good meal in Seattle! 

This is me when leaving the city...

And this is us after dessert.  By the way... the meal was yummi. 

On Saturday we decided to take one of the Savour Seattle Food Tours.  Did you know this is Seattle's number one touristic attraction? They open the tour with coffee at a Starbucks located in front of Pike Market which is a farmer's market or -plaza de mercado - in Spanish.  From that point on you go through many stands in the market having a taste of every kind of food you can think of:  fresh donuts,  smoked salmon, chowder, cheese, freshly baked bread... etc etc etc.  Of course after two hours of this you are not only pretty full but amazed at the entire market experience...

This is the picture of the coolest stand... the guys that work there literally throw (or propels through the air) huge fish at each other. (please note fish in guy's hand).  Everybody else stops to see the "show".  I know it doesn't sound like much fun but the fish are HUGE,  slippery and smelly...  you can't help but wonder how they can catch them! :)  I don't think I would want to try it due to the imminent possibility of  everlasting smell in my hands but it is definitely fun to watch! 

For those of us that grew up going to farmers markets instead of supermarkets (a quick reminder for my fellow Colombian friends: plaza San Francisco en Bucara, plaza de Fontibon en Bogota etc etc) it's still a bit unbelievable that this can actually be such a big attraction. But yes... it is. 

Anyway... we not only enjoyed food at Seattle... we also went to the Seattle Center where the space needle and other nice city landmarks are. More pics:

cool artwork uh? And it goes with my shirt.

 And totally awesome us !

On our last day in Seattle, Sunday, we went to the Boeing manufacturing plant which made my husband and his child within - Tavito, the astronaut - very very VERY happy.  Unfortunately we don't have pics as they don't let you in with a camera, but I can tell you that the facilities are as big as Disneyland and that we got a close look at the new Boeing 787.  It is of course, huger than huge! And for those of you in contracting and procurement... it is conveniently sold for $300 million per unit non including engines or chairs. I know...  I did ask the same question: WHAT? Why would anyone want a plane with no engines? I wondered...   does the Boeing think that customers might get a better deal if they negotiate 2 engines by themselves? Weird.   Unfortunately, the guide wasn't able to answer my question.

After Boeing we decided to go check out some baby stores.  Did you know you need and MBA to make a decision on your baby's stroller?  You have to think about technical capabilities, life style,  purchasing price, re-selling price, total life cycle value including environmental concerns and on top of that, you might need to consider as well if your ipod can be plugged to a little speaker close to your baby's ear so you can help him/her sleep with "earthy" sounds.  Wow! What an industry! Mind blowing. Soooo many choices, sooooo many brands.... it's scary. So us, very competent parents to be decided to procrastinate on the issue and wait.  : )

We did end up with new friends after our visit to the store.  Ready? Here they are: 

And while the baby arrives... and before we have to go back to the store to decide not only on a stroller but also on a car seat (even more choices!) Tacoma, the girafe, gets to ride in the back. 

Until next post, 

Luz M. 

PS. Stay tuned for next week. My friends are throwing me a baby shower!!! imagine! How cool is that?