Dreaming of Asha

It has been three months since I have seen a new picture of Asha. Today I am dreaming about what she is doing, what she looks like, how she has changed. And it is bringing me such joy to know that she is in the world. My whole life I have wondered what my daughter will be like, and now I am so close to finding out.

Two weekends ago my mom visited and we did some serious nesting! There were tiny clothes to be washed, cribs to be put together, bedding to be chosen, and throughout all this, imaginings of Asha. It was wonderful to feel the support and joy of my mom as we worked in Asha's room. It touches my heart when I realize how much others in our lives love and long for Asha. She will have such an amazing community to come in to. Thank you Mom for your generosity and love! Thanks to you we now have a dresser, a crib mattress and bedding. And wouldn't you know it, the bedding has elephants on it! And they even look like Indian elephants. It was meant to be.

On Sunday my parents and Kirk and I embarked on a most important journey: picking out The Chair for Asha's room. This will be no ordinary chair. This is the reading at night chair, the rocking chair, the reclining in case one of us parents has to sleep in the room with Asha chair. A lot of thought and love went into this chair. It had to be big enough to hold a Daddy or a Grandma or Grandpa and an Asha, and comfy too. And we wanted this chair to grow with Asha, to be a part of the way she connects to us and begins to learn to read. On Sunday, we finally made our decision. The chair will be lovely! Thank you Mom and Dad!!

We are (attempting but not really actually) patiently awaiting NOC. I talked to our caseworker Tami yesterday and she said that often times, NOC is the hardest part of the post referral process. We don't get any updates during this time period. We just wait. You know, the pull your hair out, cry for no apparent reason, mindnumbing, worrying kind of waiting. I've also been told by Tami that my wide range of emotions is normal, so that's nice :) I am sad to announce that Tami will be leaving our adoption agency so as to have more time with her family. She is leaving the program in very good, capable hands, but we are sad to lose her nonetheless. Ah, transitions and change. They are impossible to escape. Please keep praying for a fast NOC for us!