Thankful for nursery furniture

Considering our experience of last Thanksgiving, I can honestly say that I was not too excited about this year. Last Thanksgiving, one of our dogs passed away, less than three weeks after my mother's funeral. Still feeling like we had two less family members to be thankful for, I did not have the Thanksgiving spirit this year.

On Wednesday, we left Oklahoma and travelled down into Texas to visit with Craig's aunt and uncle (who, coincidentally, are the aunt and uncle of my friend and former roomie, Mandi, who I met about a year before Craig). We enjoyed nice dinners, long talks, relaxed days, and puppy cuddles (our two cuddly puppies and their three loving dogs). Our Thanksgiving was a joint effort (granted, I was not responsible for the centerpiece turkey or moist stuffing. I did make a mean green bean casserole and surprisingly good gravy). The whole warmth of Thanksgiving food rapidly filling my belly immediately put me in the Thanksgiving spirit.

With wanting a baby so badly, it can be easy to focus on the one thing (or person) we don't have, rather than focusing on the many things we should be thankful for. We both have good jobs and a comfortable home. Our pets are well-behaved and loving. We are closer to a baby than we were a year ago (not much closer, but closer is closer). Our family is in good health and extremely supportive and loving.

During our Thanksgiving visit, Craig's aunt and uncle gifted us with a rocker that belonged to Craig's great-grandparents (seen below in our living room because Craig finds it too comfortable to stow in the future nursery yet). We had always wanted a rocker in the nursery, so it was nice to have one with so much family history:

This rocker will join the cradle that was made by Craig's grandfather. The cradle was the same cradle that Craig used as a newborn. For the past 11 years, the cradle has housed various stuffed animals (seen below with Fred lounging in it. Notice the stuffed animals on the floor. Fred pulled those out so there was room for her in the cradle). We have been excited to put it to use and since we will actually have a newborn, it will be used.

One of the main concerns with any adoption is related to family. There is a large fear with the adoption and home study agencies that the adopted child will not be accepted by the extended family. I think this child will be a very welcome to both sides of the family and she will be comforted every night, surrounded and nurtured by furniture filled with history and family heritage. It doesn't get much more accepted than that.

There isn't much to share on the adoption front. On the 17th, we received an email from the director of our adoption agency and program. She asked if she could call on the 18th to review some information with us and added that she was "excited." We could only think of one thing that could be so exciting. We had turned in all of our paperwork, forms, and pictures. There was no other information to review. We began to consider (and wish for) the possibility that we already had a baby referral. We waited all day Friday... no phone call. I called late Friday afternoon and left a polite message. No response. We heard nothing on Saturday or Sunday and did not anticipate a phone call, since it was a weekend. Surely, we would hear something on Monday. Nope, nothing on Monday. Many have asked why I did not become livid at this point because this was clearly cruel behavior from our agency (how could they not consider what this suspense was like for us?). Well, in our agency contract is a clause. It mentions that adoption is a stressful process and if we show any signs of emotional distress at any time, we can be required to complete counseling, which would stall our adoption process. So, we must learn patience or be forced to wait, which is yet another exercise in patience. So, either way, there is a lesson in patience. We should have a doctorate in that by now.