20 Days!! There are 20 days left until our court date!!
I have turned into that person that can only talk about 1 thing--Ella. It is sad but true, I am that girl that I used to make fun of!
Charles and I are busy getting ready for Earth Day. We have 3 events within 8 days! Tonight is an art show in St. Pete called Art Pool--featuring mid-century inspired art pieces. We are entering 3 large pieces. The second event is at Lowry Park tomorrow, 4/19. It is the annual Earth Day event. We will have a tent set up with some product and information about the shop. Lastly, is Eco-Fest which is in channelside on Saturday 4/25. We are again, setting up a tent and displaying a few items with information. A lot of work, but fun at the same time.
Everybody loves Earth Day--right??

Family

Ella's new Grandma and Aunt Michelle


Aunt Dedra, Uncle Rich, Cousin Jackson, Mom and Dad


All the Haynie Boys including Ella's Great Grandpa (Pop), Uncle Rory, Uncle Luke, Grandpa (Daddy's Dad), Uncle Rich, Both Walters, and cousins Asher, Christopher, and Bobby!



Here are more great grandparents, Grandma and Grandpa, Uncle Rich and Aunt Dedra, Jack, and Pop.

23 Days and G Diapers on the way!

I got some sound advise from Aunt Laura--exercise. She is right, the only time I feel better and can sleep is when I do something physical--yoga, run, long walk. I am going to run tonight and yoga is scheduled for Thursday. Thanks Aunt Laura for the support!

I did order some G Diapers from babies r us last night. For those of you who don't know about G diapers http://www.gdiapers.com/ please go to their site and check them out. I have not tried them yet, but have friends that love them. They are completely compostable (not in the garden compost mind you!), flushable and biodegradable. The normal diaper takes up to 500 years to break down, these babies take only 1 year! Watch the videos on their site, but beware that this might change the way you feel about the diapers you are currently using!

Let me know if you have used them or know anyone who uses them, I would love to share comments with everyone.

More Pics of Nursery for Aunt Michelle

24 days?!?!

24 days left till our court date when (keep your fingers crossed) Ella becomes ours. I feel like a kid again, when a week felt like a year! I have been reading other blogs, I think that I am looking for some sanity. I need to read about someone that isn't blissfully happy waiting for their baby. I did read a couple today that made me smile, finally some fellow nut-jobs. Others that are fed up with the waiting. I don't think that anyone who is not going through the process can really understand the emotions we are feeling. It isn't fair, we get sent these pictures of our children and we fall in love....love like a parent loves their child, then we are cut off for 4 months. I have received 2 updates and an updated picture in 11 weeks. I got the picture and I cried for half an hour because I was so happy. I just want to know that she ate today or that she smiled--a smile would make my week! I don't know if I can take it, I have been patient, paying my dues but I want more. I want to hold her and kiss her and examine every inch of her. I want to know what she smells like. I want to see hear her cry, smell her breath and see her smile. Until tomorrow.

Our Travel Arrangements

We made our flight reservations last night!!! It makes it feel real, not that the house full of baby stuff doesn't, but we are really going to get her. We will leave Tampa on Saturday 5/23/09 just before 5:00 and get into JFK at 8:10. We transfer from Delta to Emirates Airlines and leave JFK at 23:00 headed for Dubai, a 12 hr and 45 minute flight! We land in Dubai at 19:45 and will spend the night in Dubai. Monday morning we catch a flight from Dubai at 8:25 am to Addis Ababa, getting in at 11:30 am to Bole International! Whew!! Monday is the day we will meet our daughter, Ella. I can't wait!
The return flight is a little easier.
Monday 6/1/09 7:35 pm flight from Addis to Dubai getting in at 12:45 am. We leave for JFK at 2:00 am and fly for 13 hours and 45 minutes to JFK--with an infant!!! We get into JFK at 7:45 am and leave for TPA at 1:00 pm and arrive home in Tampa at 4:00 on Tuesday June 2nd!
We are still looking into Guest Houses in Ethiopia.

New Pics!!! Thanks Elise

We got new pics of Ella yesterday. I wish that I could post them, but I can't. I will in 30 days if we pass court! Keep your fingers crossed and will someone please make the time go faster!!