Doing a rain dance for travel dates

Baby G's room is shaping up - note the purple!

Here are a few of Baby G's toys I've been playing with

The Wheel of Fortune Spins

...or no news is bad news.

a guest post from Mom.

So, we have been told by China that we won't be traveling on the 7th. Let me give a shout out to my friends at Independence Airlines (www.flyi.com) who let me cancel my tickets without penalty after hearing our story.

We still don't know when we're traveling - only that we are not going the 7th. Will it be the 15th? Will it be the 5th of October? We do not know.

Any takers? Shall we start a pool? We are sad to be missing baby Genevieve's first birthday, and can't wait to see her.

Click back next week as the drama continues to unfold!

Eating Watermelon before Hives

Yard Sales and Itches

It appears by all accounts that I am allergic to my baby sister. I started breaking out in hives about a week ago at different times - after bath, after nap, in the middle of the day, at the fair. My mom is a little freaked out, but keeps the benedryl handy.

We still don't know when we are going to China. This is driving mom and dad a little crazy. Dad has been working like a fiend to get baby Genevieve's room together and it looks great! I LOVE to play in there with all of my old baby toys. I'm getting reaquainted so I can show G. the ropes when she gets here.

Mom and Dad had a yard sale today. They consider it successful because it finally cleaned the house out, but it surely doesn't look like either of them is cut out to be the next Fred Sanford.

I wish we were counting down, but we don't even know if we are yet!

Mom is watching other babies stories on the internet. She knows she has the best story in me already, but she LOVES looking at other Chinese baby girls. Enough to make me break out in hives.

Living on the Edge - or What Level of Risk are You Willing to Take?

When I am sixteen and impulsive, someone please remind my mom and dad about the time they bought plane tickets to China before they even had their travel dates.

All in the name of leg room.

That is right, based on heresay and 50/50, Mom bought tickets through to Hong Kong for early September.

All of this risk makes me wonder where they have my college money.

We've been moving rooms around and dad has been painting. There is stuff all over the house!

We should know this week what our actual travel dates are, and whether or not Mom and Dad's gamble pays off.

We will let you know as soon as we do!

We're coming, Genevieve! Hang on!

On the Road with Barney

A Guest Post from Mom-

Admittedly, on August 4, I officially sold out. Until then, Adam Gopnick had been my parenting hero for moving to Paris rather than expose his child to the influences of the purple dinosaur who shall not be named (PDWSNBN).

For those of you who do not live in the world of PDWSNBN, he is everywhere if you are two years old, on underwear - which must be repeatedly worn day after day regardless of the availability of vastly superior dozens of princess and hello kitty underwear that line the drawer.

When I became a parent, I promised myself PDWSNBN would not become apart of my life. My child would not become a sacrifice to the ADD driven masses, she would be better, different, she would have class, style and grace. She would look blankly when people referenced Elmo, PDWSNBN, et al. She would know Jane Austen, love Mendelsson, appreciate what Jackson Pollock contributed to 20th Century art. It was all going so well until a fateful car ride, with DVDs blaring in the back seat. He appeared in an ensemble DVD, She was mesmerized. Transported to a world she didn't know existed.

"Again." Juliette said.

"Again."

This is much more serious than the underwear.

What have I done? No Paris for me, Mr. Gopnick. I am not worthy.

On to a Genevieve tie in, yes -- it is relevant.

We got our report translated, Genevieve likes commercials. Not television, but commercials. And her toy violin.

Our only hope is that PDWSNBN has yet to start advertising in China.

Sparkly Whites and Late Nights

Juliette and Mom got their teeth cleaned this morning. It was "Jules" (as she told us she would prefer to be called) first time at the dentist. She had them all eating out of her hand by the end - multiple toothbrushes, a free cleaning, etc.

For all of you PIBs who wonder what the latest trend in toothbrushes is, you are nothing if you don't have Cinderella in your palm when you grab that bristle.

On the travel front, we may leave as soon as September 8. Jennifer spends her wee hours checking out business class, economy plus and transfers through places like Taipei in the name of comfort. What is the point in flying an average of 50,000 miles per year and ending up in an United economy equivalent to a local bus in Maputo (apologies to Mozambique for using this example)?

Will the mom be able to score comfortable flights across the pacific? Should she wait until she is SURE about travel on the 8th or take the gamble? How many transfers makes business class no longer worth it? Stay tuned.

Baby Genevieve!

Juliette Driving the Train at Beacon Hill Park
Juliette in Victoria Driving the Train

Juliette w/Baby Genevieve

August 1, 2005

Adventure - Phase 1

How does Juliette feel about getting a little sister? Pretty excited most of the time, although there are moments that are less enthusiastic.

She is going with her buddy, Amelia T., to China to pick up their sisters. Getting on an airplane is pretty exciting stuff. She and her dad took four airplane rides over the past 10 days. They were the LONGEST rides of her dad's life.

Juliette found out about baby sister in Victoria Canada and we've consequently decided Baby Genevieve's middle name should be Victoria.

While we were in Canada, we visited Beacon Park, Buchart Gardens, and of course all of the lovely waterfront area.

Mom and Dad have the harsh reality of preparing a room for a little person, getting the house in shape and finishing up all of their important job related stuff prior to a leave of absence.

Pressure is on! Stay tuned!