How Do You Do It?

HALP!! I can't keep up with my interwebz.

Between work, my almost toddler, and trying (unsuccessfully) to get enough sleep, I can't keep up with my peeps. I am woefully behind in reading dear friends' blogs. Much less commenting. Forget about Twitter. I don't think I've read a tweet in over a month. The long Thanksgiving weekend set me back even further. We were at my mother's, where I couldn't access a neighbor's unsecured network I usually use. I could generally "see" the network, but the signal was not strong enough to connect. So I got my mother a router at Staples on Black Friday, which I tried (unsuccessfully) to configure for the rest of the weekend. After a loooooooong time on the phone with tech support, it was determined that I need an extra ethernet cable to configure the network.

Anyway, this is a rather long winded way of saying, sorry I've been MIA. I want to write a birthday post for Sunshine. I can't believe she turned one on Monday!! In the meantime, here's her first "school" picture.

Heartbreakingly Awful

Mo and Will of Life and Love in the Petri Dish are dealing with the devastating loss of pregnancy number 6. I'm heartbroken for them. Mo's D&C is scheduled for today. Go give them some love and let them know you're thinking of them.

No Nursery For Miss Sunshine

I’m a WINNER! I was thrilled to win a $45 gift card for CSN Stores from Kristin at The Dragondreamer’s Lair. If you don’t know about CSN, you should. CSN Stores has over 200 online stores where you can find everything from beautiful wallets (like the one Kristin reviewed), to modern extra tall bar stools, or great cookware! I’m planning to use it for a new toaster oven. I know, not exciting, but necessary. I’m debating between a Hamilton Beach and a Proctor-Silex. If anyone has one that they LOVE (or hate), please tell me.

When I was pregnant with Sunshine I got a lot of questions about nursery décor. Ummm, we live in a one bedroom apartment. No nursery. Happily, we will (hopefully) soon be moving into a two bedroom apartment. YAY for no more diaper changes in the living room! And I get to decorate a room for my daughter. I am hoping we will be in the new place by her first birthday, which is in a few weeks. My plan is not nursery décor, but a little girl’s room she can grow with. CSN has offered me the opportunity to review an item from their sites, which they will provide. I haven’t decided yet, but I’m leaning towards one of these.

 WallCandy Arts RoCoco Chalkboard Removable Wall Decal

JoJo Designs Bumble Bee Window Panels

Cool! Now I still need Nate!

Photo Friday: Orange

This outfit, discovered in a bag of hand me downs, was the perfect thing for Cali's Photo Friday. Can you stand the cuteness?!?! Click on over to Calliope's to see everyone else's orange pics.

 

Hat knitted by her grandmother.

She started to cruise last weekend. Hold me!

Oh, and did you see my spicy pumpkin seed recipe on Who Wants To Know?

THRILLED!

Have you read the exciting news?!?!?! Mo (Life and Love in the Petri Dish) is pregnant! It's been a long, hard road for Mo and Will. The embryos transferred tested genetically normal, which is comforting to them. And as of yesterday's second beta, the doubling time was awesome. After many failed cycles and losses, they are cautiously hopeful. So stop by and give them some love, and hold them close in your thoughts.

Rock, Rock, Rock, Rock, Rock'n'Roll Daycare!

Too cool for school? Wanted to share the cuteness.

She Said WHAT?!?!

As my readers peeps are aware, although I gestated and got sliced open to have my daughter, she is not the product of my 40 something ovaries. I have zero shame about that. In fact, I’m kind of proud of the obstacles that were overcome to bring her into the world and make me a mom. I have every intention of being open with Sunshine about her conception. Even though she’s only 10 months old (on Wednesday!), I sometimes talk to her about all the people who helped me become her mom—Aunt Kathy (our embryo donor), a whole bunch of doctors in two countries, and all her internet aunties who were so supportive during the process. But still … I am sometimes at a loss as to what to say to random people who ask where she gets her red hair. Right now it’s not that important, but as she gets older and understands more, I want to be able to respond in a way that’s both truthful, but simple and not invasive. I would welcome and greatly appreciate suggestions.

A little over a week ago I had an encounter that still has me shaking my head in disbelief. We went to synagogue for Yom Kippur services. We were hanging out in a hallway, since Sunshine was being too noisy and wouldn’t sit still. Apparently lots of people couldn’t sit still, as there was quite a bit of foot traffic. One older woman walked by a few times. She was obviously captivated by my cute, social baby, and chatted with us. Then she leaned in to Sunshine and said, “You must look like your Daddy, since you don’t look at all like your Mommy.” WTF! But I took a deep breath, and since she didn’t say it with any malice, I explained about Sunshine’s conception. Her reaction to this was fine, and she told me she knew someone whose sister was a gestational carrier for her. (Of course she didn’t use that term. We can’t expect outsiders to know all the lingo.) THEN (and here’s what I really am having trouble letting go of) she looked at Sunshine and said, “She’s got a shiksa face.” Again, none of this was said with any malice, but what in the world would make her think this was in any way appropriate?

The thought of comments like this causing Sunshine any angst in the future is awful. She is my daughter. Period. As any donor conceived child is their parents’ child. Or any child who is adopted. We know that. MOST people know that. But how do we protect our children from that minority of ignorant or thoughtless people?