First Delivery and a Surprise

We got an update on Abenezer yesterday. It seems the boy is gaining a pound every two weeks. And we were told that he has a smile that "curls up slowly as he recognizes you and stays on his face until you leave." Sigh.

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When I complained to my mom a few weeks after we got this blog up about how she hardly ever leaves comments, she explained something about how it feels weird for her to leave a message to her daughter in a public place like this. I reverted back to being an eye-rolling teenager and said something to her about "getting with the times" or something dumb like that, but I'm starting to see that there are others who feel the same way about leaving comments.

I know this because several people, some of whom I hadn't met yet, wrote me emails after I put our new email address up on the sidebar. Some people are just more of the private sort, and I respect that. I'm just always happy to hear from people, especially people who've been "lurking" (though I've never liked this term--leaving comments is an option, not a requirement when reading someone's blog, though I certainly enjoy and deeply appreciate getting them).

Several of these emails have included offers to mail me gifts for the Gladney home caregivers, and today, I received our first package! That was exciting. A college-friend of Ted's who is also an adoptive parent dropped off on our front porch this morning a huge bag off goodies. As promised, here's a photo of what she brought by, including the samples from Nordstroms and our cat Bang Bang who has to check it all out: Isn't all that stuff great? It's so wonderful to get this off to such a good start, and I look forward to being able to deliver these gifts to those beautiful women who give their love to those children. I want them to know that these gifts are from this adoption community, not from us, that they way give of themselves to the children in their care is appreciated not just by Gladney parents but from all our friends and families as well.

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As I mentioned before, one of my favorite things is getting an unexpected package in the mail. It happened again today. I'm a lucky girl. One of my favorite blogging friends, Jana, sent me this print called "Woman Waiting," which I'd been eye-balling for months now. She herself is the artist. I'll keep it in the plastic envelope it's in until I can get it framed. For obvious reasons, it means a lot to me right now. I love it, Jana. Thank you.

Another high-point of today was getting to have lunch with of one my favorite Portlanders Jill, and today we were accompanied by her younger daughter Peyton. Despite my claim of being really good at tic-tac-toe, Pey made sure to keep me in my place by pointing out that I can't be all that good if we just keep blocking each other where neither of us wins. True dat, girl. (and I just realized looking at their blog archives that their blog is hosting most likely the ugliest photograph ever taken of me and Ted...if you find it, don't show your children--it will give them nightmares).

Now, everyone: go get thee Lost.