Obama

Thursday night was the first time I’ve sobbed during a political speech. The tears started during the DNC video about Obama’s life and pretty much continued on and off until Nancy P. closed the thing down. I’m not a big political junkie like Jose or a hard core activist, but this election has fired me up. I am drawn to Obama’s vision for our country and really want to believe change is possible.

This election has taken on a new dimension for me as the future mother of an Ethiopian-American. As I watched the pictures of Obama with his mother, I felt a connection to her (and then I cried some more). I too will be the White mother of a Black child. I wonder what that was like for them. How did she approach issues of race with her son? How did she teach him to be confident in a racist world? How did he feel growing up in a family that didn’t look like him? I guess I need to read his book again. But it provides a measure of reassurance that interracial families do figure it out.

I also am excited by the idea that our child will grow up in a United States in which an African American man and a woman were the top contenders for the highest position in our country. Hopefully, this election is an indication that the barriers often faced by women and people of color will continue to fall. Perhaps this election signals that Baby Barto will live in a country where racism and sexism are more often than not trumped by equality and fairness.

Barak Obama has given me hope that our country can make some serious change. He has given me hope that our nation can strive to do the right thing. I want to raise our child in the country that Obama believes we can become.

Starting School

I go back to school on Monday to 120 7th graders. Fun stuff. I think school will help the wait. There is always so much to do at the start of the year to keep a gal distracted. Mom and Aunt Cathy, I included these photos of my room because all the cute stuff is from you two.

Entering month #2

We have just finished our first month on the waitlist. During this first month of waiting, we have had some big discussions about the selfishness/selflessness of being parents and about the endless unknowns that come with parenthood. Sometimes I wish Google could answer these big questions for us.

This month I also have scheduled a babycare/CPR class for us and started meeting with pediatricians. The Ethiopian adoption book club I joined is currently reading Notes from the Hyena's Belly. And I've been knitting.

Tiny Tope

Jose and I went to New Mexico this weekend and had a blast. Friday night we saw the Albuquerque Isotopes, a minor league baseball team, and bought Baby Barto this cute onesie.

Uncle Nick

This weekend I spent visiting my family in Colorado. We drove up in the mountains to see my brother Nick in Steamboat Springs. It was great to see where he has spent the past year. He is such the Colorado poster resident. He hikes, camps, snowboards, climbs and just really enjoys the mountains. I decided that Jose and I can stay in the condo drinking hot chocolate while Uncle Nick teaches Baby Barto how to ski. Nick bought matching mom and baby Steamboat sweatshirts for me for my birthday. Isn't he sweet?

Here and there

Our dossier has arrived in Ethiopia. Now I feel like a little bit of us is in the same place as Baby Barto. Our agency will have it translated into Amarhic and then their in-country staff holds on to it until we get our referral.

Yesterday, I received letters from my cousin Suzie and one of my best friends, Janis. It wasn't my birthday and I hadn't sent any gifts (the two mailers are very good about thank-you notes), so I was puzzled as to their contents. When I opened up the envelopes, I found that Suzie had sent me an article about adoption she had read in her parent magazine and Janis sent me coupons to Babies-R-Us. I felt so special that these two had seen these items and not only thought of me, but then took the time to find stamps, envelopes and my address. I feel so fortunate to have so many amazingly supportive people in my life.

Right: With Janis and her girls

Left: Suzie with the Michigan football player Mr. Potato Head she bought for us this summer.

This is actually happening

This is for real. No longer are we on the edges of the adoption journey, we are in the thick of it. In as little as 3 months, we could get a phone call that will change everything. Before Thanksgiving, we might see the picture of a child to whom we will be forever linked. During the spring of next year, we may be making a journey filled with joy, sorrow and love. By next summer, we may be Mom and Dad.