Mommies invited

So to start off ... I am Margaret, from BC Canada. I have two sons by adoption - one almost 5, the other 4.5. Both from different tummy mummies. One is an open adoption, the other semi open in that I exchange letters and photos twice a year, but with no informatin that would lead anyone to where we are or who we are. I am celebrating 25 years of marriage to Big Daddy next month. Yay us. The transition of my children was very different with each and we are all finally very attached and in love. Now I am waiting for my 3rd match - we have no preference for a boy or girl, but the child must be younger than our boys and aboriginal (as we all are). What I find the most frustrating as a woman today.... I can`t get my housework to stay done! Everyone wants a piece of me and no one wants to float. I love Clorox Bleach wipes... my kids have started peeing in the garden to scare away moles. My husband things that grabbing my tushy while I`m at the kitchen sink elbow deep in dishes should be considered foreplay. I`ve started colouring my own hair to save money and my youngest told me he doesn`t like orange hair (my hair is orange :hissy: ) I would love to drink, but as I said, trying to save money so I can stay home longer - wine costs too much - I`d make my on wine, but then that would take away from my precious cleaning time and again - no one wants to float. What else ..... Oh, I love the Real Housewives of anywhere... it`s my escape. Have a super day. :bullwhip:

Hi Margaret! I'm Laurie, and I'm from Georgia. I have one son by adoption, who is 4 1/2 months old! We have an open adoption, but since we've yet to visit his first mom, it feels more like semi-open so far. . .we send letters/pics monthly right now and have email contact about every week so far. My husband and I just celebrated our 2nd anniversary (we started later than most) and our Peanut is amazing! I had no idea I could fall in love with someone so quickly (from a mobile pic sent to me just after he was born.) I LOVE a clean house, and I HATE to clean. . .I've yet to find a resolution for that issue. My favorite products are freezer bags-specifically the ziplock kind. . .I have a million uses for them. And as someone who, as a kid, would rather be on the school supplies/organizational items aisles instead of the toy aisles, I find freezer bags support my need to organize. I love photography, and I suspect my son doesn't REALLY know what I look like yet as he's mostly seen my camera lens. We love to travel, and I can't wait for Peanut to be old enough to enjoy it with us. i still go to get my hair colored (it's cheaper than therapy) but if my son continues to go through formula at the rate he is currently, I may have to get your tips for orange hair! And I limit my Real Housewives to NY and NJ. Thanks for starting this thread!

Thanks, Miss Margaret! I get a bit frustrated sometimes with the bashing and easy offense as well; sometimes it seems as if people get online and forget basic social skills. I like the idea of a "positive" thread! I am a single mom by adoption to a precious 8-week-old little man. I'm also "mom" to a 14-year-old dog who appears to be as in love with little guy as I am. I actually felt a little extraneous last night when they were both in bed with me, dog was staring intently at baby, and baby was babbling animatedly at dog. Not sure either of them noticed I existed; tonight I need to remember to take the camera to bed so I can record it if it happens again. I'm still on maternity leave, and have found out that I am losing my job to budget cuts, so I'm now looking. I'm with LB - I'd love a clean house, but cleaning just sucks! I love gardening, though. I had planned to expand my garden this summer, but it's not happening now. Maybe next year. I also love to cook. If only there were someone else to clean up the kitchen afterward! I am currently also in love with my new dishwasher and waiting to be in love with my new (backordered) washing machine. Both of the old ones died Memorial weekend, less than a week after ICPC cleared and I brought him home. I called his godmother crying because I was exhausted, most of my dishes were dirty in the dishwasher, and half the diapers were in a washing machine that filled with water and then stopped. SO lucky to have good support. Last weekend I had 4 friends + kids visiting. They kindly cleaned before they left, but also reorganized, so now I can't find anything. My home may appear disorganized, but I do know where things are. I had to buy new toothpaste because they put it somewhere... Oh, and TPR was yesterday!

OK, I know I set the tone (forgive me it was late for me and I was just in need - I am not afraid to ask for what I want in life - I would not have my children if I was). But ladies, you out did yourselves. I am grinning ear to ear and have little tears in my eyes. Beautiful, funny, caring.... And insightful! This is what motherhood is. It's not taking life to the extreme, it's having to sit back and laugh - or give up a little. I've spent my moments crying, but I've had more laughs than tears. I've spent my time frustrated, but I've had more joy than tantrums. So welcome Ruth and Laurie, I am so looking forward to sharing with you both. Laurie, you needed that little laundry emoticon ( :laundry: ) Ruth, your orange hair will come; but maybe it will be purple. You both have newborns. How truly wonderful. I am not sure who my next child will be - I some days don't even know if one more is necessary. I love my guys so much. Oh on the photography, I'm with you there, but one tip - print and get them put somewhere starting early. I'm only on 2009 so far... I did not follow this advice (great now another thing to add to my budget and time constraints... I need an assistant.) Thank you ladies - truly a great way to start my day.

I want in on the positivity too! Need a break from some of those negative nellies out there! Hubby and I have been together since I was a junior in high school (cue the ohhs and ahhs) and it is now 11 years later. Last June we brought home a sibling group of two boys. We finalized their adoption this May. I am currently trying to find a way to avoid work and be home more...looking for a job that pays more, requires less work, and is fun...good luck to me :) I like a clean house but, like some of you, don't really like to do the whole cleaning thing. I love those rare times when I nap and hubby cleans! Okay...I think that happened once but it was AWESOME! Having two young boys gives me a great excuse to buy toys and candy. The cashier doesn't have to know they're for me sometimes!

That made me laugh out loud, DH wanted to know what was so funny and I to close the window quickly so he would not see what I was laughing at.

So I am a wife, mom, teacher and graduate student. Thank God I graduate in just a few weeks so I can get back to my life of being a wife, mom and teacher. I have 2 kids-- DS is 15 and the product of many fertility treatments. DD is 3 and adopted. Our adoption is on again off again OA, semi, and closed depending on the mood of everyone involved. Right now we are in a semi-open state with letters and pictures.

Hi JP and csutliff! Great to meet you both. Yes, my husband is a real charmer. I told him about my post and he said to me "hey, those are some of my best moves!" I love him so much. There's not another person I could imagine living this life with.. .but really, get some better game buddy. Rob and I have been together since I was 17 and he was 22. We are 45 and 50 now. that's a whole lot of foreplay. Well we just had a very interesting meeting today with our new ASW. Seems we are moving along at a nice pace in our quest for kid 3 - but after this mornings energy busting house prep (because of course the beds have to not just be made for her to view the house, but the sheets also have to be clean - I am a freak - I admit it) I am too pooped to think of one more kid. Maybe a nap instead. Its Canada day tomorrow - so I have to get outfits ready for the parade, make cupcakes and then get a nice dinner ready for my company that are arriving at 3-ish for the weekend. I think I need an assistant... I'm not kidding. I'll give up protein for an assistant. I'll sell a kidney. Too bad they don't pay for blood up here. Oooh, I wonder if an opare would like to come and stay for the summer! Great idea? Probably not.. to much competition for tushy grabbing. That's MY territory. more later. Next!

DH and I have been married for 20 years, and I can't imagine life without him. I got married young at the age of 18 and everyone said it would not last... I tell people we stay married just spite those who said we would fail lol.

LOL- I'm a freak too.... I clean the house before the house keeper comes. DH is always saying why do we pay her when its already clean. I just make it look clean, she actually does all the hard work. I will miss her when she is gone. We hired her 4 years ago when I started grad school I graduate in two weeks and will have time to more than "surface" clean so we will have to cut that out of the budget and put the money toward college funds for the kids.