Thinking

Recently Courtney from AddingAstons wrote on her blog about how many times a day she thinks about the child she will adopt.  Innumerable. 

Her post made me stop and reflect on how many times a day I think about the child that will someday be mine.  Innumerable. 

This is what I think about:

I think whether we will adopt a boy or girl.

I think about names.

I think about how old he or she will be when we receive our referral.

Is he or she even born yet?

I think about our referral call - when will it come? How will I react?

I think about our child's story.

I think about seeing that first photo - soft skin and curly dark hair.

I think about traveling to Ethiopia.  When will we go? How long will I take off from work?

I think about Hannah's Hope. 

I think about walking through those gates.

I think of how I will feel the first time I see my child in person.

I think about our child sleeping, smiling and laughing.

I think about how wonderful a father my husband will be.

I think about how he will look with our child in his arms.

I think about how much our lives will change once our child is home.

I think about how those things that seemed so important - dining out, movies, lavish vacations - won't seem so important anymore.

I think about toys.

I think about baby clothes.

I think about children's books and reading to our child.

I think about crib bedding - giraffes, puppies or geometric prints?

I think about where our child will sleep.

I think about what color to paint the baby's room.

I think about my mom meeting our child.

I think about my nieces babysitting their cousin.

I think about how much time we will take off from work to cocoon with our baby.

I think about which one of us will become the stay at home parent.

I think about pediatricians.

I think about bottles and diapers.

I think about how many times I am going to have to call my sisters and friends and ask "what do I do?"

I think about zoos, pumpkin patches and visits to Santa.

I think about a woman on the other side of the world who will give life to my child.

I think about meeting her.

I think about what I will say to her.  Will I ever be able to convey my gratitude?

I think about whether I will be a good mother.

Every day - in some manner - I have these thoughts. 

I am so looking forward to the day we have our child in our arms -  When we become a family.