eleanor grace

Goodbye Review Room and Hello Match Room!

2007-07-12T15:34:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it. We are through the review room. Our dossier arrived in China May of last year. It took fourteen months but we are now in the matching room. This is a major step in the process. Basically, we have been given the a-okay from China. Now we wait for our referral which should come in the next year to year and a half, hopefully sooner.

The Pickle Sisters

2007-05-12T20:19:00.000-07:00

A house without a dog is pretty empty. So, we got two! We were going to wait until Eegee was with us but couldn't imagine being without puppies for so long.

We wanted to pick a breed of dog that would be kid-friendly. I can't think of a more kid-friendly dog than a golden retriever. We adopted Ginger and Hanna from Retrievers and friends, a rescue in Temecula. They are six year old sisters. Hanna is the blond one, Ginger the red.

I don't know how I came up with the pickle sisters but the name has stuck. Hanna could sit in the yard all day and watch squirrels while Ginger is happy to sleep on the bed. These girls are so full of love. We feel very lucky to have found them.

Adoption Ticker

2007-04-12T16:24:00.000-07:00

Paper Pregnancy

2007-03-12T15:46:00.000-07:00

When we tell people that we are adopting from China, it is difficult
for some not to think of it as second-best to having a biological
child. But, we couldn't be happier. It may be a different process
that involves paperwork and international travel versus swollen ankles
and morning sickness, but it is still just as exciting
and emotional. Tony and I wouldn't do it any other way.

A lot of people post this image on their adoption blog.
I thought I would include it too!

In Memory Of Truman

2007-02-08T21:57:00.000-08:00

This is a very sad month. We had to let go of our sweet Truman. He was diagnosed with cancer in the fall and due to his age and the progression of the disease, we decided not to seek treatment and keep him as comfortable as possible. He was very happy and active up until the end.

We adopted Truman from Beagles and Buddies in El Monte, California in September of 2004. We walked through rows and rows of barking dogs and there was Truman standing at the door of his kennel wagging his tail and quiet as a mouse. When they let him out to meet us, he came right over to me and stood on my lap. When we got him home, he ran into our bedroom, peed on the floor, climbed into our bed and went to sleep. He slept there every night.

He was a true companion in every sense of the word. My favorite thing to do in the world was to read on the bed with Truman's head on my stomach.

We will miss him every day.

One More New Year Pic

2007-01-22T10:30:00.000-08:00

Tony, Mary, and Master Will, who looks quite suspicious of the whole thing....

Happy New Year

2007-01-01T14:41:00.000-08:00

This is the fourth year that we have celebrated New Year at the Rose Parade. We are fortunate enough to live a few blocks away from the staging area. Tony and I wake up early to walk up to watch the start of the parade, the preparation of the horses, and the warming up of the marching bands.

This year's parade was especially fun because George Lucas(my old boss) was the grand marshal. He was accompanied by two Star Wars floats, the Grambling State Marching Band, and two hundred storm troopers. It was a pretty awesome sight.

New Year's Eve

2006-12-31T20:53:00.000-08:00

We ushered in the New year with the Jones and Gutsman Families. Tony made the most delicious mini-hamburgers. They were a big hit.

While the boys munched on chips and dip in the dining room, Hank enjoyed a glass of wine in the kitchen. Hank is in the running to be Eegee's godfather. I don't know about you but I think he should do a little less drinking and little more dazzling if he wants to remain a front-runner.

Merry Christmas

2006-12-26T21:08:00.000-08:00

We enjoyed a very non-christmas christmas. We didn't have a single decoration, fruitcake, gift..... We decided not to exchange gifts but to donate to our favorite charities. For dinner, we had Chinese food with two of our favorite couples: Cindy and Jeremy and Phil and Laurie. After dinner we ate wonderful homemade desserts, exchanged silly gifts, and watched Talladega Nights.

What does ANOTHER picture of Truman have to do with any of this. Well, I forgot to take pictures. Since I don't like to post without pictures, I just HAD to use one of Truman. I had no choice. I really didn't. Difficult position. I don't want to talk about it. Too painful. :)

Tiger Run 2006

2006-12-02T21:47:00.000-08:00

Tony and I participated in the South Pasadena Tiger Run this morning. It is one of my favorite races. The race benefits South Pasadena High School Athletics. There is such a tremendous sense of support and community. Tony ran the 5k with his godson, Sam and Sam's friend Jack. It was the first road race for both boys. I ran the 10k and came in second for my age group. Our friend Michele, who is featured in my mud run June post, also placed second in her age group.

As a native Northern Californian, I never thought that I would love to live in Southern California as much as I do. I adore our neighborhood, our house, the weather, and the wonderful community. We have so many good friends who are eagerly awaiting Eegee's arrival.

Please Make Me Stop Eating

2006-11-26T15:38:00.000-08:00

I can honestly say that this past Thanksgiving was one of the best. Tony went all out cooking two turkeys, one on the smoker. We were fortunate to share it with good friends who were kind enough to contribute to the feast including the best cloverleaf rolls that I ever tasted. Thanks Marcie! What a talented cook. What is it you are good at again, Bob?

Pardon me? What were you going to say about my pie crust. Mmmmm, that is what I thought. Now, move along. You can't expect someone to be good at EVERYTHING.

Happy Halloween

2006-10-31T21:50:00.000-08:00

The wait seems to be getting longer and longer. While I am happy that group 113 received their first call, I can't help but think that it will be almost two years before group 122 gets called. In the meantime, Tony and I talk a lot about how we are going to celebrate holidays as Eegee grows up. Why wait? We really got into the spirit of Halloween this year. As did many of my co-workers!

And they told us that a girl in a poodle skirt and a lobster would never make it.
True love is blind!

Cousin Lauren's attempt at a Halloween costume. Oh well, at least she has a nice smile.

Would you believe that the fella on the left isn't in costume.

Nike Run Hit Remix 2006

2006-09-24T10:29:00.000-07:00

Every year we run in a handful of races, Nike Run Hit Remix being one of them.

This year, we ran through downtown Los Angeles including Fraternity row at USC and at every mile a different act performed. The musicals acts included Coolio, Deborah Gibson, Digital Underground, Young MC, and Vanilla Ice.

At the last mile, as an homage to Digital Underground, they handed out plastic noses. I was able to slip mine on for the race picture.

Nautica Malibu Triathlon

2006-09-17T17:12:00.000-07:00

For the second year in a row, Tony competed in the Nautica Malibu Triathlon representing Dreamworks in the entertainment challenge. He could replace his training with competitive hotdog eating and still race like a professional.

This was our friend Cindy's first foray into triathlons. Even though she was the swimmer for a relay team, she decided to run as well. Hopefully we can convince her to race all three legs next year. Race legs that is. Not her legs. Well, her two legs would compete in the three legs.....oh, you know what I mean.

Okay, Not My Dogs

2006-08-15T21:55:00.000-07:00

I am torn. I don't have any cute baby pictures to post because I am still waiting for cute baby. I can't post any more pictures of my dog or his ego will get even bigger and he will be impossible to live with. Everyone knows what Tony and I look like already. Yet, I want to consistently post to this blog. I want to create a digital diary of our journey to Eegee. In my opinion though, a blog post without pictures is like buying a great pair of shoes but not the matching handbag even though the handbag is pretty inexpensive and is a timeless piece, really, very versatile. More of an investment than a purchase....And if Tony hadn't looked in my closet in the first place, we wouldn't be having this discussion.

So, I am posting pictures of my friend's dogs: Harley and Boolie. Does one ever get tired of looking at dog pictures? Well, whoever that person is, I certainly wouldn't want to meet him or her in a dark alley.

Self-Control

2006-07-01T15:58:00.000-07:00

The fact that I have been able to restrain myself from plastering this website with pictures of Truman is a testament to my self-control. I couldn't resist this picture though. Tony took it while we were in the car.

Camp Pendelton Mud Run

2006-06-20T11:16:00.000-07:00

A week after Patrick's graduation, we ran the Camp Pendelton Mud run on the United States Marine Corps obstacle course in Oceanside. It is a weekend of food, fun, and well, mud. Last year, the tradition was started that each person wear a funny t-shirt(the more humiliating the better) provided by another runner. Tony and I were in charge of the t-shirts and really nailed them.

This is the third year that we have run it and will continue to for as long as our legs hold up!

Graduation Day

2006-06-17T21:17:00.000-07:00

Even though Eegee will be our first child, we have had the pleasure (and to be completely honest a bit of the pain) of parenting my brother Patrick. He came to us two years ago from a very difficult situation to say the least. After much hard work on all of our parts, we are happy to report that Patrick will be attending Saint Mary's College, my alma mater, in the fall. Not only is Patrick college bound, he earned academic honors including Bank of America's Achievement Award in English and the Presidential Silver Seal for his grade point average. He also earned a varisty letter in baseball and was the recipent of the coaches' award. But first he will be spending his summer in Spain studying Spanish at the University of Barcelona. We are so proud of him!

Our Wait Begins!

2006-05-16T10:26:00.000-07:00

Our wait for Eleanor Grace, lovingly known as Eegee, has begun!

DTC: May 8, 2006
Grp #: 122

We don't know how we are going to endure such a long wait.

In the meantime, here is a photo of our first and furriest baby, Truman.