Life As We Know It

So, the last time I wrote, I told you if things were quiet around here, it probably meant there was exciting news coming soon. Well, in case you haven't noticed...it's been quiet. But alas, dear reader(s), it's not because I'm keeping good news to myself. It's because there's no news to report.

We've entered a bit of a lull in our adoption journey. No calls, no emails, nothing much in the way of website traffic. The average wait time from "going live" to adopting is about 12 months with our agency. We've been waiting for only about five months so far. We got off to a whirlwind of a start, and got more than we bargained for, really. So, actually, a little bit of time to catch our breath may be a good thing. Waiting can be hard, and wondering can be scary, but we're making the best of it.

The truth is, Amber and I love the life we've made together. We can't wait to bring a child into our family, to share the love, warmth and fun that make our lives so full. We can't wait to be parents together, to watch with wonder as our child grows into the person he or she is meant to be, and to guide him or her along on that journey. We're looking forward to sweet baby snuggles, loud toddler giggles, and walking our proud kindergartener to the first day of school.

But, we aren't desperate or unhappy with the life we have now.

One day, an expectant mom making an adoption plan will find us, and know we are the right family for her child. It may be sooner, or it may be later, but we know without a doubt it will happen someday. And until that day comes, we're just going to try to keep living our lives to the fullest.

So, in honor of living life while waiting, here's a little update on the non-adoption things Amber and I have been up to while we've been waiting...


In July...we officially went "on the books".  To celebrate, we spent the weekend in the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains.  We got a cute little cabin, loaded up the dogs, and headed out for a relaxing weekend.  We went canoeing, hiked, shopped around the quaint little town stores, had a nice candlelit dinner, and made s'mores on the cabin porch.  It was a wonderful way to start "the wait"

Exploring the woods around our cabin.

Phil and Amber relaxing on the cabin porch.

Me and the canoe.

Ready for dinner at the cabin.

In August...we took our first road trip to visit my parents in their new house in southern Ohio. The occasion was my mom's 6oth birthday, but we were also celebrating my dad's new job as dean of the regional campuses for Miami University, and my parents' return to their hometown, Middletown, OH. We had a nice, relaxing weekend and got to spend time with my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins who all live in the same town.  We had a wonderful family brunch together while Amber and my cousin's daughter explored the house, basement, and yard during a very involved imaginary game of "Captain Adventure".  All I know is there were invisible alligators, a plastic mini-parachute man, and clapping could make people disappear.  Don't ask.

On the road for 8 hrs and still smiling!

My mom and uncle play with their new ipads before brunch.

Dad is on clean up duty!

In September...We had old friends come visit, and we enjoyed spending the weekend showing them the town. It's always fun to see Atlanta again through a visitor's eyes.  We are lucky to live in such a fun and busy city, and (most of the time) the weather can't be beat!

Just like old times...

Amber also went whitewater rafting with the "Touch the Earth" program at GSU.  She is more adventurous than I am, and is always up for a water-fueled adrenaline rush.  She had a great time on the river with her co-workers and even made some new friends.  They stopped for a nice picnic lunch on the river bank, and everyone (except my warm-blooded Florida girl) took a dip in the icy stream to cool off.

One of those people is Amber.  I swear.

The next weekend, Amber and I enjoyed a short hike with the dogs at Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve, in nearby Decatur.  One of our favorite ways to spend a fall afternoon is exploring local parks, nature preserves, and short hiking trails.  We aren't hard-core backpackers or anything, but we like to get outside, breathe some fresh air, and enjoy the beauty of nature.  Phil and Byrdie love it too.

Amber and Byrdie check out the bird watching blind

I don't know why there was a lifeguard chair in the woods. But I climbed up and sat in it anyways.

In October...we went to Atlanta Pride and had a wonderful time.  We watched the parade, ate some greasy festival food, and walked around, looking at all the booths.  We capped the evening off watching Antigone Rising, a band we have liked since we first saw them play at a lesbian dive bar in Long Island during grad school.

The best part of all, though, was the people watching.  I don't know if it's the residual anthropology left in our blood, or our penchant for reality tv, but Amber and I love to people watch.  And nowhere is the people watching better than at Pride.

This year, the thing that struck me the most was the families.  There were families everywhere.  Moms with their babies, toddlers, and kids. Dads with their babies, toddlers, and kids.  Groups of families enjoying the beautiful weather together, spread out on picnic blankets, with three and four strollers lining the perimeter.  Gay teenagers with their middle-aged, straight parents, walking hand in hand as they looked at the PFLAG, HRC, and GLSEN booths.  There were even families where the children had one mom and one dad, and no discernible connection to the gay community.  That's one of the best things about the Atlanta community...gay people are just a part of the fabric of life here.

Waiting for the parade to start.

Hanging out with our little friend A. at her first Pride Festival.

In November...we celebrated Thanksgiving in Orlando with Amber's family.  We had a tasty traditional Thanksgiving dinner with enough turkey, ham, dressing, corn casserole, mac-n-cheese, green beans, and cranberry sauce to last for days.  There were too many desserts to count. Enough to feed a small Eastern European country, I'm pretty sure.

The next day, we all visited Animal Kingdom together for the first time. It was amazing.  I volunteered at the Toledo Zoo, working with monkeys and apes, when I was in college, and spent one summer working in the petting zoo there.  A day trip to a great zoo is still one of my favorite weekend activities.  But, Animal Kingdom is a zoo like only Disney can do it.  In addition to a great African safari with real animals, there were roller coasters, 4-D movies, and plenty of overpriced food and souvenirs, too!  We couldn't have packed more fun into a single day.

In front of the "Tree of Life" at Animal Kingdom

The whole family on the Dinosaur ride.

A close-up so you can see what a chicken I am.  Amber will be our child's "roller coaster buddy", because even the kids' rides scare me!

Petting a goat in the Animal Kingdom petting zoo.  More my speed.

In December...we celebrated our good friend's birthday at one of our favorite restaurants, the Melting Pot. Hot bubbling pots of cheese and chocolate, steak, shrimp, and a bottle of wine?  It doesn't get better than that!  I wish birthdays came everyday!

Post-Fondue Bliss.

We also made a trip to Stone Mountain Park, and walked the five mile trail around the mountain.  Stone Mountain has always been one of our favorite places to visit, and its only 10 miles from the house.  We like to take the dogs swimming in the lake there during the summer, and we enjoy the Songbird Habitat and Garden Trails during the spring.  This was our first hike around the full loop trail, and despite the cold weather, we had a great time!

Taking a hike break.  Byrdie needs no break.

Right before we saw the sign that said "Don't Climb on the Train"

The actual mountain of stone.

They're busily setting up the tubing slope, complete with man-made snow.
Can't wait to come back in January for tubing with friends!

Coming Up Next...the holidays!  It's a busy season, with travels to Florida and Ohio, holiday parties around Atlanta, celebrations at work and with friends.  We're looking forward to every last minute of it!  And, after the holidays, comes Amber's birthday in January and our 13th anniversary in February.  We have so much to look forward to right now.

And of course, more than anything, we're looking forward to the day we'll become parents.  But, until that day comes, we'll keep looking forward to all the moments in between.

x's&o's,

Michelle