ARGHHHHHHHH!

Since this is a Christian Blog... I won't say uncool words but WTX%$#!

I am so loosing my mind over here! Shut up Robbin!

H&M has finally realized diversity pays the rent

I'm not a big H&M shopper. The clothes are cute, but they don't last long. In my youth (yea, I said it) I would have been all over H&M like white on rice, but now I only go in occasionally. Those occasions are when I am with a younger friend who is dying to go or with one of my BFF who is a size negligible and will look good in a brown paper sack (even at age xx...older). Usually I will pick up an item or two but that's it. It's always a great idea to mix the inexpensive with my vintage, TJMaxx and couture pieces. I also hear they have a kids line so this will be awesome for Baby I...well that is until I see how they wash. I've seen a few pieces in the thrift store and they looked trashed! Maybe Not?

While I may not be a fan of shopping at H&M their holiday campaign is fabulous! Look who is represented:

Yay, beautiful Ethiopian and Somalian women - Waris Dirie and Liya Kebde - do your thing! They make me want to go buy something...what the heck, my own stimulus plan!

How Old?

Gotta get this one out there...How old do you think Baby I will be at referral?

So far I have 3 guessing games going:

• Name
• Age
• Date

Who will win? Maybe I can come up with some sort of prize but I tell you...you might not get it until next year! LOL Maybe the AW will mail it for me.

Thursday Thrift...It's a party (dress) for Baby I!

I'm at 4 1/2 months of waiting for Baby I and I'm chillin'. Not going stir crazy. Not really doing anything. Really. I've actually just started shopping again. Remember, in the beginning I was shopping like a mad woman? Yes, I had to put that on hold for the last year, but it's back ON...ok slightly. For only the good stuff because I'm really expecting some good hand-me downs...hmmm somebody??? LOL

Today, I went to the thrift store and started looking through the kids clothes. Now, when I look I'm not just looking for cute stuff I'm looking for extraordinarily cute and expensive stuff. I mean if it isn't expensive to begin with then what's the point? It helps that in my past life (when I had lots of money...before this crazy economy) I had lots of loot and I was a label whore. It also has something to do with my design background because I can pick a diamond out of a pile of horse manure (ewwww). Well, sometimes that is what it is like at a thrift store. Just keepin' it real...but when you find that DIAMOND...BAAAABBBBYYYYYY!

So, I went through a few items and went straight to this beautiful dress (really it's much cuter in person. It's silk and really cute!).

I looked at the label (Calypso) and JACKPOT! Not to mention, the dress had not even been worn. I came home and looked online for the dress (here) and it was on FINAL SALE for $75 (originally $125). SERIOUSLY?

Tami paid......

DRUMROLL PLEASEEEEE

$2.96

THAT'S RIGHT. DON'T HATE ME BECAUSE I GET FABULOUS BARGAINS AND YOU DON'T. teee heeeeee heee hee.

xoxoxoxox

Jesus Take The Wheel

I've been praying a lot lately and as my cousin said last night he believes that something great is about to happen for me (more than just Baby I although that will be AWESOME). This is not just my transition time but my time.

I took a whole lot of time (2+ years) to become "official" because I just had a lot of stuff going on in my mind and on my plate. Right now much of that "stuff" is gone, but please believe the rest of the stuff that is a major concern I'm working to eliminate...it will be out of here soon. What is the definition of insanity? Exactly! I'm no longer doing those same things over and over.

I want to have a clear head when Baby I comes home, but as my mother says there is never a perfect time. So, the one thing I have been doing all of these months is trying to get my life right with God...without Him I am nothing. I am much more peaceful, prayerful, faithful, joyful...all of those pleasant "ful" words. ;-)

Also, I forgot to share this little story that happened to me last year. I've always heard different people say how God spoke to them. I really would think yea, ok. I just didn't understand or know how that could happen until it happened to me. The week before last I went to sleep and in a dream God said to me "Tami I am your only way. Tami I am the only answer. Come to me for all of your problems. I am the only way." I woke up with a huge migraine (that's how I know when my dreams are real) and said ok, I get it...I hear you. Ever since then I've been recommitting my life. I'm so sold out on The G-O-D. I mean he is some kind of AWESOME - trust me - he has given me so much favor and carried me through so much when clearly I should have had much more than a bruised knee. How can I not love and adore him? How can I not be sold out on him?

Sorry for getting extra on you this morning but...I was just feeling it and had to tell you how Great My/Our God is and play one of my favorite songs for you.

Take it away Carrie:

Week 1 - AWL (After Waitlist)

I'm blaming the Project Baby I failure on all of you. What are you really posting daily? Really? Are you kidding? What? Seriously? Yea, OK!

I got skerd! LOL Right! I'm a punk and you knew it. Project Baby I pictures will be weekly. Who was I really fooling. Obviously not you all. tee hee. After over 2 years you know me by now. Slow. Procrastinator. AND SLOW. ;-)

I will have (maybe) the perfect picture of what my life currently looks like posted tomorrow. Too bad I don't have a fabulous camera to take pictures with. I'm saving my pennies to get one by the time I take my first trip to Ethiopia to see my little munchkin. What camera should I get Kristine, Tam, Laura, Robbin or you other fab picture takers? Please school me.

On the other update front. Remember the Italy man? Yea, me either. LOL

Am I supposed to be posting weekly pictures or something until I get a referral? I mean I'm the last of the Mohican's so I guess I can make my own game up I guess that is why I have Project Baby I. Weekly photos....I guess those photos can be of me or anything I want them to. Right? I'm sure Robbin will correct me since she is the Adoption Whisper.

2009...

SEE YA!

KICK ROCKS!

GET THE HE#$ OUTTA HERE!

HAPPY TO SEE YOU GO!

I WON'T MISS YOU!

YOU STUNK!

R.I.P.

Can you tell I'm ecstatic to see it go? YUP! The 90s were great! The 01s (I guess that is what you call it) sucked! I almost died, lost a lot of money, shut 2 businesses down, met and dated a bunch of bums, gained weight, lost teeth & bought new ones (long story), had a car totaled, lost friends & family members (both literally and figuratively), lost my faith & lost faith in myself.

I'm looking forward to the 10s (that sounds weird). I have finally found my own, my faith is the strongest ever, my baby girl is coming home, I have lots of true friends to begin anew and can't wait to see what else happens but I know it is going to be all good.

Welcome 2010! I'm very happy to have you here.

She Has The Moves

Can you move like this?



I know I can't.  This little girl could give Beyonce a run for her money.

My New Nephew

Did I tell you I have a new nephew?

He is my mother's first grandchild, but I told my brother he better have a boy as to not steal my baby girl's thunder.  He obliged.  My baby brother is so accommodating! :-) 

Behold the cuteness of Adam Wesley.

What's New?

1. Read my buddy Robbin's post and decided stream of conscious posting is a good thing. REAL.
2. Turned 40.  WHATEV'.
3. I'm obsessed with my dossier at the moment.  Almost done.  Waiting on my new passport.
4. Dating someone new.  ADORE.
5. Still buying Baby I stuff but not clothes, mostly bedroom and playroom items.  INSANE.
6. Who knew I had so many items to get rid of.  Who bought all of this crap any way? ARGH.
7. I've spent hours upon hours in my front yard working on creating a native garden. Patience is a virtue.  Patience is a virtue.  I'm going to start working on my backyard tomorrow.  Send up some prayers!  NEED.
8. Freecycle has become my bestfriend.  People want all of the stuff I don't and I usually want someone else's unwanted items which have become my treasures.  LOVE.  
9. I have new design clients. FUN.
10. I volunteer on Friday's at my church with the youth ministry. VERY FUN.
11. Excited that my countdown will finally begin to referral in a matter of weeks.  I know you never thought this day would come.  Hmmm...me either.  FINALLY!  

Have Journal, Make Plan

When I was a kid I wanted to grow up to be a doctor, nurse, model, teacher, rich, a mommy, veterinarian, designer, an architect and have lots of clothes.  My family just called me a prima donna, but alas I never quite figured out how to turn that "uniqueness" into anything tangible.

I've decided I would help Baby I out early (because clearly I'm going to be raising her and she'll be a mini me, so what does that give you?) by getting her this journal because I'm pretty sure this really should have been my plan:

Since it's too late for me becoming a princess and since I'm coming into my own now that I'm turning 40 in June (and still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up) I've decided that this is my "new" plan, so I'm going to start making plans now:

Since I have been having Baby Boy dreams, maybe I should help him with his future as well (what a good Mom I am).  You know I'm all about living your dreams.  

Ok, okay!  If all else fails Mommy will be practical:

Happy Easter

Most of the time on holidays you get grumpy posts from me but nosirrebob, not any more!  I'm finishing my dossier and this time next year if Baby I is not home at least I will have my court date and be on my way, so I'm happy and thought I would say Happy Easter!  

I know, I know this is a first!  :-)  

What You Do When You Don't Have Kids

One of my friends doesn't have any kids.  She says she may want to "have" one but she isn't married.  She just turned 43.  To satisfy her child urge she got a dog last year.  Now, I know that dogs are like kids, but her dog gets treated like Baby I will (ok, almost).  He goes to camp, the salon, has a dog walker, special meals, etc.  She was even considering having a nose surgery to open up his nasal passage some (deviated septum?).  He did have a few surgeries last year which set her back a cool $6k; he is still a baby not even 2.  Whew.

By the way, his daycamp fees are the same as what you would pay for your child to go to daycare.  Following are pictures of her dog from daycamp playing soccer, with the Easter Bunny and on an Easter egg hunt.  Hilarious!

On a side note: my mother is considering giving me her dog.  You better believe, as much as I love that dog, Mr. Pepper Fox will not participate in any daycamp unless it is in my backyard and it involves chasing a squirrel, cat or one of those big a@@ opossum.

Bored with Blog Name...again

I'm sooooooo bored with this blog name!  I created it at the beginning of the process before I really knew what a blog was and before I realized I even liked blogging.  Now, I have two blogs and even have a little online personality...therefore this blog name reallyyyy doesn't reflect what I would like it to.  Yes, Baby I is my blessing, but I have a "mo betta" blog name that I am dying to use.  What do you think?  Should I wait to re-do my blog until I finally get a referral (btw...I'm back to finishing my dossier) or should I start now?  Oh, I will have to change my address (have that) too because I want everything new.  

Hmmm, now that I've used the blog for my own therapy today, I've decided to wait because I really don't have anything new to say.  Same 'ole, same 'ole but just know as soon as I get my referral...WE'RE MOVING!   And you better come visit us at our swanky new spot!  

Say It Ain't So Lo'

'I'm really happy with Samantha... and I want to adopt a child', says Lindsay Lohan.

I guess now that she's finished with rehab and in a good relationship (don't kill the messenger...i.e. me) she's ready for a family? Oh..boy!  Do you think her dad will be visiting and/or babysitting much?  

Picture Perfect

Since I have so many blog buddies getting ready to travel to pick up their babes, I thought I would give you all a way to spend your money.  Oh, I mean provide stimulation for your baby and a way for them to see your lovely face until you have them in your arms.  Check out Manhattan Toy Whoozit Photo Album. I'll probably get one, but who am I fooling I'm months away from a referral, but NEWSFLASH: Shawn and I have committed to finishing our dossiers by Nov. 7!  Oh, Shawn, I have assigned a date to November...I just thought you should know.  LOL  

A Big Yawner!!!

Boy:  I just have to ask you one question.

Girl:  Yes.

Boy:  So, why are you adopting from Ethiopia?

Girl:  Why not?

Boy:  Oh, I guess that is a good answer.

Girl:  Thanks.  

The 70 Bus

On Thursday and Friday I had attended a conference at the DC Convention Center.  I decided not to drive since I have been paying a DC Workers salary lately with my parking tickets.  So, my choices were: train or bus.  For the train I had to walk 12 minutes (not far) to the train, take a 20 minute train ride, then walk about 5-10 more minutes to the convention center.  For the bus I had to walk around the corner (3-5 min.) then take a 20-30 minute bus ride.  Seems pretty simple, the bus right?  Buttttttt....taking the bus in DC is an adventure.  There is such a stigma attached to riding the bus in DC and most "professionals" in the city just don't do it unless it is for transfer downtown, most "professionals" prefer the train.  Truth be told, I haven't been on the bus for 10 years at least, but I decided to throw caution to the wind and take the bus.  BTW, when I told friends I was taking the bus they all said "WHY?" 

Here I was at the bus stop, with a few interesting characters, and I didn't even know how much the bus was.  I had to take out my PDA and look it up.  It was $1.35 each way...cool, I got this (so, I thought).  Once I got on the bus I thought I would read my latest book.  Not so much.   I sat in the very front (this seemed to be safest for someone who hasn't taken a bus in a decade) with a few other colorful characters.  Right next to me was a man that had alcohol for breakfast and a few seats down was a woman who forgot to take her medication for breakfast.  She commented about everyone on the bus.  As Latinos got on/off the bus she yelled "Hola" and 'Adios" (not in a friendly way).  She asked a nice young woman who appeared to be from Nigeria if she lived in a shelter (what???).  She asked an Ethiopian woman if she was from Pakistan or Ethiopia?  HUH???  I laughed out loud on this one.  She then asked if they were (Pakistan and Ethiopia) close together, the woman of course said no.  She then had a very loud and disturbing conversation with another man about something, but I can't really remember what.  Whew...that was a long 25 minutes but when it was over I felt like, I have to do this again, this was fun.  I caught the bus home and the next day, more of the same.  Although on my return trip the next day I had words with a different crazy lady.  

I was on the phone with my mother (again in the front seats) and a pregnant woman, who happened to be Ethiopian, got on the bus.  We said Selam and I proceeded to get out of my seat for her to sit down (she was pregnant for goodness sakes).  Instead of letting her sit down a woman decided she was going to jump in my seat...she knew I wasn't getting up for her.  I turned around and told her I wasn't getting up for her, I was getting up for the other woman to sit down.  She told me SO.  I said okay GET UP!  She said the seat was for elderly and priority, I told her the woman was pregnant (the woman was about 50, not old, just mean), she said SO.  I was heated.  Of course the woman looked like it's okay, it's okay.  Meanwhile my mother is on the phone saying Tami be nice, she knows I am on an "interesting" bus.  I told the woman she was just rude and inconsiderate.  She proceeded to tell me she didn't care and then started calling me fancy pants (I had on my suit and did look very nice! LOL...hater!)  Finally, a nice young lady next to the crazy lady got up for the woman to sit down.  My job was done and I moved to the back.  

I can see why people don't take the bus but it is less expensive and less walking for me depending on where I have to go.  I'm a big gurl, can handle myself and the haters but whew...that was an experience.  I hope I don't have to do that too often!  Maybe I'll walk the extra 17 minutes next time.  :-)  

Puppy Lub

This video has absolutely nothing to do with Baby I but it is the cutest thing I've seen in a minute (that doesn't have to do with children...let's be clear about that!).  It made me smile so I thought it might make you smile too.  Enjoy.

Puppy Lullaby @ Yahoo! Video

BET Still Stinks!

On Tuesday night BET premiered its first scripted TV series, "Somebodies".  It was supposed to be the first intelligent and realistic show about Black life based off of a critically acclaimed film that was shown at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival.  The film was about a group of twenty-somethings in Athens, Georgia as they come of age, focusing on the often ignored world of young Black life. The series picks up where the film left off as they enter the real world after college.  I figured maybe BET was finally getting it's act together, so let me take a look.  The series was well...IT SUCKED!  I think BET got lost in the translation.  My advice: don't waste your time.  Now, when Lincoln Heights comes back on (Sept. 16) that's quality TV, I love that show!