Two Weeks to Go!

Two more weeks until our court date! I have been busy Christmas shopping because I know IF we pass court on November 30, that my mind will become consumed with planning and packing for Ethiopia. I am proud to report that as of today my Christmas shopping is done! I have to start mailing packages out next week to our family in Europe. I just have to wait on the arrival of our Christmas cards which I ordered last week. I am so excited to know that this is out of the way and I can concentrate on preparing for our trip to Ethiopia.

Lately, I have been going over and researching formula, baby food, baby items we still need and even diapers. Its been 4 years since we have had an infant and when Chloe came home at 11 months we had in our minds that 11 months was pretty old and we didn't buy "baby" items. Hindsight is 20/20 and I realize now that Chloe was very much a baby. One example is we bought the Bri*tax Marath*on car seat. Eventhough we faced it rear seating, the thing swallowed her. She looked so tiny in it. In fact, 4 years later, she is still in this seat (front facing now, of course). We had thought to use the same convertible car seat for Oliver but a friend with three daughters has since brought to my attention that I should probably check into getting an infant car seat. Her oldest is in many of the same activities as Chloe and she told me her infant car seat has been great since she spends most of her day going back and forth to elementary school, pre-school and after-school activities. Her 9-month old stays snug and fastened in and if she is napping, she doesn't have to wake her up. We never considered the infant car seat for Chloe because we had in our minds that she would be too big and too old. I am rethinking it for Oliver. I am back and forth all day carting Chloe to kindergarten enrichment, to school, dance, Chinese school, etc. I'm beginning to think this will be a buy on the baby items list.

The other thing I am debating about is diapers. I am starting to feel that I should consider a greener option for diapering Oliver. I've researched these diapers and don't know if I should take the plunge and give them a go. I'm seriously afraid of mid-day blowouts. Maybe I am more reluctant because I've already gone through the diaper-testing with Chloe, I know which brand of disposable diapers I like and they worked for us really well. Maybe if I had used cloth with Chloe I wouldn't be afraid. But, I didn't and this is new territory. Still considering this one.

I haven't begun to research formulas. I know what we used with Chloe, she's healthy and happy, so I will probably reach for it when it comes time to choose. That is unless our pediatrician recommends something else. As for baby food (oh, yea, I researched that too) I have made a decision to feed Oliver organic baby food. I just believe in organic foods, especially for my child---let me just jump on my soapbox and clarify that I believe in REAL organic food, not the organic food owned by the giant conglomeration that opens a window in a over-crowded holding pen and declares their cows are organic. I'm talking real organic, like most people imagine it to be, not loophole organic products. Ideally, I would like to take my organic produce that I get delivered and make baby food, but with an older child, I know this probably isn't going to happen as much as I would like so going for this brand of baby food will ease my conscience a bit. They also give back to the community, and that's a good thing.

So, as we approach our court date, I seem to have all of this figured out, somewhat. Guess I should finally start on the biggest task, getting Oliver's room ready!