Still here

We found out it took Alabama only 24 hours (starting Thursday) to receive our papers, complete our approval, and get it in the mail to Florida. FL got it today (Monday), hopefully to finish it Tuesday or Wednesday, so we might drive back to Florida Tuesday or Wednesday.

We were planning on Dave flying back on Saturday, so he could back to the Elder's Quorum after a month's absence, and work after a 2 week absence. But I was pouting at the idea of spending my birthday on Sunday alone and driving back without him. Dave placated me to give the ICPC process a few more days. Friday we bummed around the mall, bought some shoes and dessert, called our moms, and watched a comedy (Complete Shakespeare Abridged).

Now it's Monday, and there was no word, and it's Dave's turn to go bonkers. He can swing 2 weeks of vacation if his family's around, but going to the store and on a walk is not enough to block out how unproductive he feels. And worse, we are both powerless to do anything. I can take disappointment if there's an explanation, an action, or a time limit.

So we may drive down Alabama to Dothan or Mobile and stay a little closer to the "border". Dave's parents are driving over from Houston for a quick hello to their newest grandbaby. Dave has to get back to work on Thursday.

This morning we met most of the birth family at Waffle House for a goodbye breakfast. Funny story: Dave choose the onsie that said "Daddy Loves Me", and about 4 hours later, she had her first blowout on herself, the couch and "daddy". He just held her by her armpits and looked disgusted and confused about which mess to start with. I thought it was pretty funny! That's how babies initiate dads, I guess. Now every time we saw that phrase today, I laughed and Dave was like "Oo, look out."
Our rubber-necked contortionist in her yellow Sunday attire, faithfully slept through the whole high counselor's talk.

Sunday we went to a small branch in Birmingham. And Jessica lasted the whole time. We're thinking (if baby gets her interstate immigration status approved in time.) we'll bring her to church on Sunday. And to my piano recital Friday night. If, if, if.

Dave spots a cocoa pod inside the tropical plants greenhouse, (which was less interesting to us than the Japanese, cactus, and outdoor gardens, since we see those plants everyday in Florida.)

To celebrate my 32nd birthday, we walked through the other half of the Birmingham botanical gardens; ate Cheetos, strawberries, egg rolls, and fudge poptarts; and I watched all 4 hours of Gone with the Wind, (love it!)
(I thought I kept seeing rose bushes around the city, and thought "That's odd, roses bloom mid-summer." But the botanical gardens are full of camellias, Alabama state flower, which look like old-fashioned roses.)

Saturday we visited the famous World's Fair colossal ode to Birmingham's steel heritage: Vulcan. (He's holding a spear point, and only the front half is covered by a blacksmith's apron, so there are a lot of jokes about south Birmingham being mooned.)

We learned the city sits on top of all 3 ingredients for steel: iron ore, limestone, and coal, but nowadays its a hospital city. It was cold and a little scary on the observation deck (why do they make the floor see through?), but it had a really high tech visitor's center.

Big feet, small feet.

Our birthmom came with us, and I found out why my daughter's long fingers all bend backwards. Birthmom was using a computer touchscreen and I smiled. (I mean, look at her long graceful hands in the pic below; she could TOTALLY be a hand model. ;] ) It's been wonderful to have an open adoption and learn about Jessica's family. It sneaks Dave and I a look into her future, which we're thinking will be very good. : )