I'm golden...

30 on the 30th! Off to play with my new present...

Birth family update

Many people have asked how the birth family is doing and I am happy to report they are very well! We speak to Tasha regularly and she feels at peace with her decision to place Nori with us and is recovering from her surgery. We have a very open relationship so she has shared with me that some people (uncles, distant friends) have told her to take the baby back or that she is making a mistake. Yes, that is hard to hear but Tasha is so reassuring that Jake & I are Norelle's parents and she wants her to be raised by us.

Tasha has a 2.5-year-old, Alice, who keeps her more than busy. They are both going to come to Norell'e baptism so it will be wonderful for them to see how she has grown. Nori will call Alice her sister and Tasha her birthmom or just plain Tasha. Her birthdad Paul may be having a bit harder of a time because he had not prepared for any grief but he is committed to this choice and looks forward to the photos we email him. It's a unique yet really special family that our baby has and we hope that everyone will come to understand that it's just more people to love our little girl!

On February 8th, the legal risk period (window of time the birth parents have to revoke their consent) will be over and we can proceed with the adoption details...

Jake's girls

Daddy

In other news, Jake had to go back to work yesterday as it is his busiest month of the year due to companies and stocks and Dow Jones thingies. He stayed up lat last night working to get reports done when he would much rather would have been hanging with his eater and his eater's feeder. He can not wait until next weekend he says. He has already read Norelle two books and luckily they were not about predatory lending or solar energy.

Nori Kobayashi

I am raising a future speed eater who will hopefully make use of her skills to win Nathan's Hotdog Eating Contest one day. My child was up every 2-2.5 hours last night to gulp 3 oz of formula. This is a record, even for her. She should be on solid foods by Valentines Day at this rate. Her tiny 7lbs body is very deceiving. Blessedly Gramsie Holly is still here so at 7:00 a.m. I brought baby down and put her into Hol's care so I could go get a few hours of sleep sandwiched between by two dogs, Doro & Harley (who are NOT allowed on my bed but they sensed I was too tired to scold them and jumped right up to comfort me).

(Jeff's) Grown-up Mac and Cheese

Grown-Up Mac and Cheese

8 oz (2 1/2 cups) uncooked mostaccioli
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon white pepper
dash nutmeg
1 1/4 cups fat-free half-and-half
1/2 cup shredded fontina cheese
1/2 cup shredded swiss cheese
1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons dry white wine
2 Italian plum tomatoes, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon olive oil
2 tablespoons green onions

1. Heat oven to 350.  Cook mostaccioli per package
directions.  Drain.
2. Melt butter in large saucepan over medium heat.
Stir in flour, salt, pepper, and nutmeg; cook and stir
until bubbly. Gradually add half-and-half, stirring
constantly.  Cook until boils and thickens, stirring
frequently.  Remove from heat and stir in cheeses
until melted.  Stir in wine.
3.  Add cooked pasta to cheese sauce; stir gently to
coat.  Pour into sprayed 1 1/2 quart casserole.
Arrange sliced tomatoes around outside edge of dish.
Brush tomatoes with oil; sprinkle with green onioons.
4.  Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes (until edges are-Up
bubbly and thoroughly heated).

Yummers.

Big thanks to Pat & Ang for the delicious homeade BBQ chicken pizza & salad on Friday night and to Katie & Jeff for the awesome adult mac & cheese tonight! I need that recipe! We also enjoyed Jake's Fatherhood Party with Luther friends last night at Boca Chica! The eating spree continues as my mom, henceforth known as Gramsie Holly, just rolled in with fixing for a turkey dinner. I need to adopt more kids, this rocks.



Also, Happy 47th Birthday Aunt Wendy!