I Tried

I finally got the mattress lowered on Johanna's crib today. I just took her downstairs and sat her in the crib. She looked so tiny in that thing!!! She smiled and looked around. She seemed to like it. I decided I would go ahead and see if she would sleep in there. I got her blankets from my room, laid her down and covered her. Of course she cried. She always does when I put her in bed.
NOPE! I couldn't do it. The night is too long and the nursery is at the other end of the basement from my room. We'll give it a try tomorrow during naptime.
"I'm a wimp," I told Johanna as I carried her to my room.

Mission Accomplished - Finally

I finally finished the nursery. Mom and I got the border up last night. The day before we switched the light fixture in the ceiling. I still have to find some things for the two bare walls but that will have to wait until after Johanna is home.

I also got the car seat installed in my car yesterday. I am REALLY READY for my daughter to come home.

Extreme Makeover - Nursery Edition

The carpenter is finished with his part of the nursery. Mom decided we could do the mop board on our own. I was not looking forward to it until we rented the POWER SAW!!
What fun!!

How many 76 year olds do you know who can sit on the floor to work and get up again? My mom can!!!

Starting the Nursery

We have a carpenter working on the room that will be Johanna's. He worked about 3 days a couple weeks before Christmas and then quit coming. We didn't know what was going on but he still had equipment in the room. He finally called yesterday and asked if we had painted the room yet. He was waiting for us to paint and then call him to finish. Total lack of communication!!
So . . . today I had to rush out and choose border and then get paint. This afternoon the painting will begin. I hate painting!!
You will have to wait until I am finished to see pictures. I think it is going to be awesome but also a lot of work. It will however, be so worth it.

Can This Ever Be A Nursery?

Below are pictures of the room that will someday be Johanna's. Right now it is a total mess!! Two of the walls are still concrete and need drywall put up. There is no ceiling, just sheets. This room is used for some guests and for storage. The bed is covered with cake pans I still need to get listed on ebay. My niece, who stayed in this room last year while going to school, still has lots of stuff in here. Will this room ever be a nursery? I sure hope so!!

My Kazakhstan Manual - Redoing Paperwork

How could I forget??? I emailed my LMI coordinator yesterday with a question about a form and she told me to refer to my manual. Silly me!! I forgot I had that! I am now redoing some of the forms I had saved on my computer to fit the way my agency wants them. They also have several forms that I hadn't prepared and I am typing those too. How many different ways can you tell the government of Kazakhstan that you will send post placements once a year for an adopted child? I think I typed four forms just stating that fact or something similar.

I hope my personal notary can come over tomorrow afternoon and notarize all these for me. I want to get them sent off to the State Secretary for Authentication on Friday. I found out some good news from the manual. For Authentication I only have to pay once for each notary!! I should only have three notaries since I am using a daycare parent to do all of my personal forms. That will save a little money there.

I finished painting the little rocking chair for Johanna's nursery. It doesn't look great but it isn't too bad either. I will probably find a large rag-type doll or a stuffed animal to put in it. I need to re-arrange my bedroom to give Johanna her own space. Glad I have a huge room.

Paperwork! Paperwork! Paperwork!

That is the theme for the week. I am going out of town next week and want to get my dossier to the state to get appostilles before I leave so I am trying to get everything finished this week. I have to buy health and life insurance and that is no small decision to make. I work for my mother in home daycare and have to have a letter from her stating my employment. It has to be done on "company letterhead." I had to design a letterhead this morning and next I will have to type the letter for Mom to sign. I had to go to the county appraiser's office to get the specs. on our house and lot for one form. Can I take all the mileage off on my taxes?
In between this I have painted a three shelf bookshelf for Johanna's nursery and am now painting a little rocking chair. I am still looking for a good used dresser that I can paint too. Thankfully, I work in my home so I have lots of time to do all these things. Adoption is a LOT OF WORK!!!!