Where it all goes down...

I love when people give us a peek into their houses. So I thought I'd give you all a peek into mine. This is the living room, where we spend pretty much all of our time. Think we like movies? Yup those are all DVDs. The picture is a little wonky, but you get the point.

The white on the left side of the tv stand is a big piece of foam core shoved in there to keep curious little hands away from pushing buttons. I keep meaning to draw something on it, but haven't managed to commit to anything yet.

This was my birthday present from Husband last year. It was one of the Gulf Restoration pieces from Etsy. I love love love it.

This piece was done by an amazing artist quite close to my heart. My mama. :D She painted this when she was about 10. Amazing right? It was the view out of her bedroom window.

This sweet one is from Stubborn Dog. There are about a dozen more things I want from her shop. Pretty much any of the benny and peeps stuff, and I love this one too.

Middle Sister made me this gorgeous clock for me a couple of years ago. I love the colors and the bright pop it adds to my picture shelf. Plus it was made just for me, so that always makes things better!

And of course Pie. Nothing in this house is complete without her.

And here's my Cape Angel. A friend gave me this for Christmas. I grew up going to Cape Cod on vacation so this is an awesome reminder of that.

These little guys are from our wedding. The blue one was sewn into the trim of my dress and was my something blue. The pink one was in Husband's suit pocket. I love having them around as a reminder of that awesome day.

This amazing drawing was done by Big Sister. It's Big Sister, Middle Sister and I. There is nothing better than having handmade stuff. And handmade stuff that's specifically for you...I love filling my house with that kind of thing.

And this is Pie's stuff. I keep trying to rotate stuff and only keep a little out at a time. Yeah...that hasn't been going so well, clearly. But at least it's all contained. Sort of. Heh.

And that's it. Well the highlights at least. Hope you liked getting a little peek at my view when I'm writing these posts!

For Sale. Seriously.

The Assignment:
We want you to imagine you've just had a fight with a friend, a co-worker, husband, significant other, child - you get the picture. You're mad. It's time for revenge.

What would you sell?

Write a humorous listing for eBay or Craig's List. Talk about the history of the items, why they must go.

The Result:
For Sale: One 26.5 year old umbilical cord.
Free Gift with Purchase: the asshole and his mother currently connected by it.

I'm offering this item for the low, low price of $1.00. Or best offer. After 3 years of dealing with it, I am no longer interested in lugging this cord, or the unbelievable baggage that comes with it, around any longer.

I should warn you, the asshole is really quite charming. He'll open doors and make sure he tells you how nice your new hair cut looks. He also actually enjoys holding hands and snuggling, but don't be fooled. He comes as a package deal with that damn cord.

And the cord you ask? Well one end is attached to the asshole and the other to an elegant woman in her 50s who absolutely refuses to cut it. I can understand why she is hesitant to make that snip, because the cord is magical. Yup, it's magical. It has the ability to erase one's memory. It can also predict the future.

For instance, the fact that she referred to me as the slut her son was shacking up with to all of her friends, frequently in front of me, was cord-erased the moment her son was within hearing distance. That wily cord was also able to erase my name from her memory almost completely despite having heard it over and over during the last several years. And she was able to determine from very early on in the relationship that it would never last (and never hesitated to share that prediction with me).

Boy was she right. After 3 years of listening to her crap and watching the asshole jump at every tug of the cord, I have had enough. So offer away. If you love a bargain this one is for you, two for the price of one.

Serious offers only. The cord doesn't tolerate foolishness.

*******

Quick disclaimer: This story is total fiction. Husband was feeling a little bad about you guys thinking he was corded up. Heh. I've been happily with him, cord free, for nearly 14 years. Love you Pants!

What the french, toast?

I've been scratching my head and I'm hoping you guys can help me with something. Since I launched HMH not quite a month ago over 1,600 people have looked at the site. That is fantastic. I am beyond thrilled that the site is getting that much traffic. But...there's always a but...we've only had one order. One. Uno. Un. (love ya Em!)

So what is it? Are the prices too high? Is there not enough inventory? Is there not enough variety? Is there nothing unusual or unique enough to intice people to actually buy? Is there something missing from the site itself? Do we need better pictures or descriptions?

Is it Husband's scary beard and mean face?
Because I promise he's a sweetheart.

So if you have a second, I'd really appreciate if you took a look (Home Made Happy) and gave me any suggestions you have. And be brutally honest. Really. And then we'll be best friends, even if you say stuff that might hurt my feelings. xoxox

Wordless Wednesday {Hooray Outside}

Box of goodies

So I got home yesterday and this enormous package was waiting for me and Pie. Emily and Icie from Wife, Check. Mom, Check. Now What? did a closet clean out and we were the lucky recipients. I cannot believe all the amazing stuff or that Emily managed to get it all in this box! Seriously, how did she manage?

I mean what little girl wouldn't want this skirt?
Pie helped me look through it all and thought this shirt was particularly tasty.

She thought the note from Emily and Icie was pretty tasty too.

Thanks girls!! I can't wait to get Pie all dressed up! There will be pictures, I promise!

It makes me wish...

So I'm a part of a community of open adoption bloggers that the amazing Heather of Production, Not Reproduction has created. She even interviewed me in January and it was a huge honor. Her latest interview is with the author of Adoption in the City. The author, Racilous, is a birthmother.

After reading Racilous' interview, I clicked over to her site, and...well I can't stop reading. It makes me wish so many things. It makes me wish I were a better adoption blogger, a better adoptive mother, and a better participant in the adoption triad. Her words make me long for something different.

I occasionally blog about adoption and I am proud to be an adoptive mother, but I don't think I use my voice like I could. I like to think, correctly or not, that I have the ability to share information in a way that may help. That I have knowledge and experience to share, and I don't. I talk about myself, Husband, Pie, I share my writing, but I don't talk all that much about our fight with infertility or our incredibly long and difficult journey through adoption. I tend to hold those things close to the vest and I'm not sure I should.

We are transparent about the adoption. What I mean by that is that we already talk to Pie about it, we talk to her about her bios, we embrace all of her ethnicities and are happy to tell anyone the story. But is it enough? Should I be doing more? Should I be striving to share this journey with others? Racilous is using her experience to start a support group for birthmothers through the placement agency. It humbles me. I have only reveled in my own good fortune. I have done nothing to help others. But what would that even be?

With each word that Racilous writes a small hole opens in my heart. I have been devouring her posts. I feel like stumbling across her blog has given me access to the other side. Access I shouldn't have. It seems like I now have a secret look at what Pie's bios are going through. I keep reading and re-reading her posts and each time I'm left longing. Longing that I was different. Longing that Pie's bios were different. I truly think that the way things are right now are the best they can be right now. But again, is it enough? Could I be doing something better that would make things easier? Can I let go of my fears and acknowledge that this situation will always be more difficult for the bios. It will always be more awkward, more sad, more grief-filled for them.

While I do believe that the bios are absolutely sure that not parenting was the right choice for them, I also believe that it breaks their hearts. But what do I do about that? I don't think they are in a place where things can be different right now, but how will I know when it can be? What would that look like? What am I really, honestly willing for that to be?

I'm not sure what it is, but there's something about Racilous' writing that resonates so deeply with me. I am pouring over her words and feeling the confusion and uncertainty of open adoption wash over me. I am soaking in the 'what ifs' until my fingers are water-logged and wrinkled. I don't know what, if anything, will come of this wondering, this longing, but something...maybe...

TRDC - Lost and Found

The assignment:
Write a piece - 600 word limit - about finding a forgotten item of clothing in the back of a drawer or closet. Let us know how the item was found, what it is, and why it's so meaningful to you or your character.

The result:
Lanie had been putting off the Great Closet Cleanout for as long as she possibly could. It was the only thing on her to-to list for the entire weekend. Somehow she had managed instead to do some laundry, tidy the master bathroom, paint her toenails, do some dishes, update her budget, sort through the mail, and vacuum the whole house. She knew it was time, but she needed to do one last thing before she could begin. She went to the kitchen, found the biggest glass she owned and filled it to the brim with a cold, white wine. Now it was really time.

The door creaked as Lanie pulled it open. It was an ominous, foreboding creak, a creak borne of too much use and it made her flinch. Maybe she should just take a minute to organize the pantry first. No. Focus. She took a big gulp of her wine and stepped into the closet. The smell hit her first. It was a mix of soap, laundry detergent, perfume, and dry cleaning bags. And then the mess in front of her began to register. There were stacks of shoe boxes, piles of sweaters, mountains of jeans, and an absolute avalanche of tees.

Several refills of wine later Lanie had made her way to the back of the closet. It was there that she discovered a crumpled, tattered box. As soon as she saw the box she was overwhelmed by memories. She pushed the lid off, and it landed on the carpet with a barely audible thump. And there nestled in a bed of wrinkled, pink, tissue paper was her past. The paper was so worn that Lanie was afraid if she breathed too deeply it would disintegrate.

She painstakingly pulled the paper back, and unearthed the item shrouded there. As she pulled it from the box a business card fluttered into her lap. She set the item down for a moment and studied the card. It was shiny black, printed on heavy stock with gold lettering. Very classy. It said:

Coco Von Bustyton
Upscale Gentleman's Entertainment
By Appointment Only

The beat of the music, the feel of the lights on her skin, the adoration in her gentleman's eyes, it all washed over her. She was transported completely to another life. A life of power, of art and poetry of motion. Lanie had been art and the artist. She had been desired and in demand. A voice snapped her out of her revelry. She took a long look at the break-away, leopard print, crystal encrusted bra and sighed.

As Lanie packed Coco's world back into the box she realized something. She may wear a broken-down, stained red from the laundry, macaroni encrusted bra now, but she was still in demand. As she emerged from the closet, and the past, the little face waiting for her on the other side of the door only reinforced that.

"Mama, can I have coco puffs for dinner?"

"You know," Lanie said taking her daughter's hand, "I love anything coco."

And Now for Something Completely Different

I was staring at the screen wondering what I would post about today and then Husband got this email. Some of it really cracked me up, so I thought I'd share...

Lies, lies...I can't believe a word you say!

A gazillion cool points for anyone who is now humming that song from the movie Satisfaction. Hell, a gazillion cool points for anyone who KNOWS the movie Satisfaction!

Any80sreference...yesterday I posted 5 things about myself and only 1 was actually true. It has been cracking me up to see what you guys guessed! I sort-of want to let you keep guessing, but I won't, so here you go...the truth...

1. If I get any more points, I'll lose my license. Little bit of a lead foot.
Not true. Despite what Jenny thinks :)

2. I couldn't spell my own middle name until I was about 10.
This one is true. My middle name is Maureen. I always thought it was Morean. That just
made more sense to me...that whole au part confused me. Heh.

3. I know Andre 3000 from Outkast.
Well if you count Outkast being on my iPod, then I know him. He is from Atlanta so it
could happen someday.

4. In college I made extra money by writing people's term papers.
Sadly, I didn't think of this one until I was writing the list. Damn. Anyone need a term
paper written :D

5. I use Husband's last name, but never legally changed it.
Also not true. I legally changed my name the week we got the marriage license. In
fact, I got stuck talking to all kinds of telemarketers because they would ask if I was
Mrs. Husband and I was so happy about it, I would say yes.

*******

Also in exciting free stuff news, there are a couple of place where you can win Home Made Happy stuff. Check it out!

Maxwell's Mommy is involved in a Blogorama Bonanza and HMH goodies are up for grabs.

and

Staphanie at A Grande Life is having a Virtual Baby Shower to celebrate the impending arrival of lovie number 2 at their house. You can win HMH stuff there as well.

Make sure to go enter!

I'm lying...or am I?

The lovely and crazy creative Cris at Jus Keep Smiling tagged me to do a post where I tell you 5 things about myself. 4 of them are completely and utterly false, only one is the truth. Which one is it?


1. If I get any more points, I'll lose my license. Little bit of a lead foot.
2. I couldn't spell my own middle name until I was about 10.
3. I know Andre 3000 from Outkast.
4. In college I made extra money by writing people's term papers.
5. I use Husband's last name, but never legally changed it.


I'm passing the tag along to:
Beth at Stape's House
Emily at Wife, Check. Mom, Check. Now What?
Jackie at The Math3y Family


I wonder how many of you will guess correctly....

Happy Hearts

Pie decided that she wanted to make (and lick a little) tissue paper flowers and stick them poorly and in a haphazard manner to a cardstock hat as a way to wish you all a Happy Valentine's Day.

Squishing the "flowers" to the hat.

What's that? I look lovely?

Why thank you. I do feel pretty good in this hat.
Make sure you're getting my good side though.

Yeah, yeah...I know there's a sign too. I'll show it to them alright...after I step on it a little.

Hope you guys all have a sweet day with lots of hugs and kisses!! xoxox

I could never have imagined...

The assignment:
This week's prompt is to write a piece that begins with the line, "I could never have imagined" and ends with the line, "Then the whole world shifted." We're going to stick with the 600-word limit this week.

*******

I know a lot of you already know Pie's adoption story. I've written about it before. But how could I not choose that subject given the prompt?!

The result:
I could never have imagined that 7 weeks would change my life completely.

On November 24, 2009 my husband went to Chipotle to get a burrito and came out with a baby. Well, not exactly, but he did run into an acquaintance who mentioned his girlfriend was pregnant and asked if we wanted the baby. It was a sarcastic question, driven by the stress of the situation, but when my husband said yes things changed. Startled, the acquaintance asked if he was serious. At that point we had been in the adoption process for about 3 years, so my husband was dead serious. They parted ways with the acquaintance saying he would talk to the girlfriend.

We both sort of laughed it off and thought we'd never hear from them again. We were wrong. Just after midnight we got a text saying that the couple wanted to come talk to us about the baby and possible adoption. We set up a time for the following Sunday, November 29th. And then we had to live through Thanksgiving. We decided not to mention anything to our families for several reasons. The first was that we had no idea how the situation would play out. The second was that my older sister was having a c-section to deliver her first child on November 28th. So we kept this looming, consuming, overwhelming secret quiet.

Sunday arrived, and the couple came over to chat. We spent about 4 hours asking each other questions and discussing the situation. By the end of the visit the couple had decided to place the baby with us and asked that we go ahead and contact a lawyer. We did and the following week we met with her. Papers were drawn up and things were starting to get very real.

We spent the next few weeks telling our families and jumping at every single phone call. The baby had decided she was comfortable and was nearly two weeks past due. On January 12, 2010 we got the call. It was 7 weeks to the day that my husband went for that fateful burrito. We packed and raced out of the house so quickly that there were probably smoke outlines of where we had been standing. We got to the hospital at about 10:30 am and waited. And waited some more. Then there was some waiting.

At about 9:30 pm things were finally far enough along to start pushing. Up until that moment the birthmom hadn't decided what she wanted to do about people in the delivery room. Things were moving very quickly and she decided that I could stay. My husband and her boyfriend went out into the waiting room. 3 sets of 4 pushes and 16 minutes later at 9:46 pm my daughter was born. I have never seen anything so amazing. Letting me be present at the birth was an unbelievable gift.

There were a few tense moments immediately after the birth. My daughter was born in respiratory distress so a specialist had to be brought to the delivery room. After they got her sorted out and breathing again, they wrapped her up and brought her to where I was standing next to the bed. Her birthmom held her first and then when she was ready, she passed the baby to me. I can still feel the weight and warmth of my daughter, my daughter, in that moment. I realized I was now someones mom. Then the whole world shifted.