More painting...

Dan, Heather and Kathy stopped by to paint on the walls in Althea's room. The new additions look fantastic - an iris, a black eyed Susan and a group of orchids. Matt and I spent this weekend painting the floor of the room, looks great! This coming week we will be installing lights, putting together the crib and changing table as well as working on replacing the windows. It is hard to believe that four weeks from now our lives will be completely different - the time is flying by and there is still so much to do!

Those lovely Red Sox

We finally had our first game of the season last night and boy was it worth the wait. Watching 18 pitch to 18 was just fantastic and four solo shots one right after another - wow. The bleachers were definitely the place to be - great to watch the game and the fans and always nice to see Melva.

The Texas Trip

We just returned from our trip to Texas. Despite the cancelled flights, delayed flights and other airport related wranglings the trip was fantastic!

We had dinner with Althea's birthmom on Tuesday night. She is a very smart and funny woman. We talked about books, movies and school. She is currently enrolled in school and it is clear that she values education as much as we do. She has asked me (Chris) to be in the delivery room when Althea is born - I am delighted, overwhelmed, nervous, and gleeful to be able to be present at the birth of our daughter.

We also joined the Dallas Arboretum - a great place to walk with Althea while we wait for the Interstate Compact paperwork to go through. The Arboretum was teaming with school children while we were there - there had to have been close to 1,000 kids running around the place. The foxglove, snapdragons and pansies were all in bloom and I even caught a glimpse of wisteria blooming on an arbor. Even with the abundance of five year olds running about the Arboretum was a gentle and calming place - it will be perfect for getting out and about with a newborn.

Matt and Lisa paint in Althea's room

Matt and Lisa add to the already plentiful garden themed painting in Althea's room. Matt continued Joe's sweet pea stencil to create a winding backdrop for that part of the wall. Lisa painted a gorgeous weeping cherry tree just coming into blossom - it really ties that side of the wall together.

The Evolution of a baby room

First off thank you thank you thank you for all of your happy thoughts and well wishes!

On Sunday we hosted Easter brunch and invited folks to paint garden inspired items on Althea's bedroom wall. What fabulous and talented friends and family we have and what a lucky baby Miss Althea will be to be surrounded by all of you. There are worms, ladybugs, realistic flowers and swirly whirly cartoon flowers as well as butterflies and turtles - if you haven't stopped by to paint a flower consider this your invitation.

The clothing and baby gear keeps arriving on our doorstep - it is wonderful to come home from work with another package of baby stuff waiting - thank you! We are so happy that everyone has been passing along their gently used baby gear to us : )

The Waiting

We recieved the phone call that we were chosen as adoptive parents on March 9th by a wonderful birthmom in Texas. Next week we travel to Texas to meet the birthmom for the first time - at this point it has all been e-mail and photographs so having a conversation will be terrific! Our bundle of joy is due on May 30th - of course babies have their own calendars and she will arrive whenever she is ready.

We are hoping to use this blog as a place to share stories and photographs of our journey into parenthood.

Chris and Matt