Goodbye Review Room and Hello Match Room!

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

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

Paper Pregnancy

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

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

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

Happy New Year

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.