Sorry all...but to add you, I need your email address

I think this is an oversight on the part of blogger.com. If I change this blog to be readable by only people I choose, it asks me to invite those people through my gmail address book. The problem there is that I might not have the email address of everyone who is following me, even publicly. That doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

So, can you email me your email address if we haven't emailed via gmail before? (Coworker friends, that's mostly you guys...)  aschulte78@gmail.com

Thanks,
Amy

Love at first sight

I'm a little too tired to describe how wonderful today's meeting really was. This was probably the most nervous I've ever been meeting someone, and it took a toll on my sleep, my ability to concentrate, and even my ability to relax.  Now that the meeting is over, and I am pretty much in love with this little girl, I feel a huge weight off my shoulders.

Of course, there will be hard times, and of course I will be challenged in everything, but the gut reaction I got today made me feel 100% certain in our decision even though the road ahead is filled with uncertainty.

So here are some pics. I'm shutting off the computer and zoning out.

Rosie took this one, or I'd have left it out...you can see how much Mike loves photos.

Once real Rosie stories begin..

Once I begin having pictures and stories of Rosie to share, I'll be moving this blog to a private setting--where only those who request access will be able to view it. If you're one of those, let me know--shoot me an email or something, and I'll get you access. If you're already following me publicly, you'll automatically have access--regardless of whether or not you want it.

That is my most capable-looking outift!

Warning--this is a little more girly a post. So what does someone wear to meet their child? At work I usually try to dress to match the groups I'm meeting with. Some days that's a suit. Most days, it's a little less formal.

What I wear definitely conveys a message about me, so what do I want to convey as mom? I'm thinking nice dark jeans and a sweater. (Not these jeans...but I sadly remember my mom wearing them.) That way I seem grown up and capable but accessible. It's what I would wear on most weekends, too. Consistency is good.

On the long car ride home from work today I decided I would wear make-up but not lipstick or nail polish. I only wear lipstick on special occasions. It makes me self conscious because I worry about it getting on my teeth or wearing off, and I never want to lose concentration in a meeting at work over something that stupid. Plus, it usually dries my lips out. No thanks, just give me some tinted lip gloss, and I'm a happy camper. I just lack lipstick finesse. Rosie will need to learn that elsewhere.

On second thought, I might wear nail polish. She's a girly girl, supposedly so maybe seeing me a little more dolled up might be good? Like a little bit of a glossy good faith offering? If I can manicure myself, perhaps it would convey that I would help her?

On top of thinking through my attire, I also thought through what I will be carrying. I baked her some chocolate chip, M&M cookies, tonight because I learned she loves anything chocolate ('atta girl!). Plus, nothing like some freshly baked, buttery cookies as a little bribe...

We will also bring her the quilt and pillow case my aunt made for her so she has something she can bring from the foster home here on the next couple of weekends and when she moves in. Again, consistency is good.

Right now, I'm just anxiously waiting for the social worker to email and say how tonight went. Right now, Rosie should have our book and know we're coming tomorrow. I hope the social worker emails soon because the longer it takes her the more I start to imagine the worse.

No detail too small

Everything is starting to fall into place:

• Rosie's room is cleaned and completely ready for her to see and help us decorate.
• Any movies that seem inappropriate for a 10-year-old have been moved upstairs. That way she can freely choose a movie from the case to watch.
• The Christmas decorations are all put away, and the rest of the house feels more roomy and ready for a kid.
• We have started a list of rules, as suggested by a therapist--what a trip--the only rules in my house were do what mom tells you and don't do something that will make mom mad. Rosie won't have those assumptions or expectations built-in, so we need to set them.
• We have started schedules for her for weekdays, Saturday and Sunday. All we need to do know is write them out on some laminated poster board--like a white board.
• We have figured out how our reward system will generally work but will need to buy some beads and stickers.
• Tomorrow Rosie finds out about us.
• Tuesday we'll drive up there to meet her.

It's really all happening.