Welcome to Club Habibi

We are officially private now. It feels like we’ve gone underground into a shifty, members-only club where we must use a secret knock and meet in dark, hidden rooms -- whispering secrets and covertly conspiring about something scandalous.

I also feel like this post should be about something big and newsy to substantiate the need for privacy.

Sorry guys... I got nuthin’.

I was just thinking that with tomorrow being St. Patrick’s Day, I remembered that I found a 4-leaf clover last year. It was on May 6, 2007, while I was helping 2 of my nieces search for ladybugs in a big field. I glanced down casually and the 4-leaf clover was looking right up at me. I wasn’t even trying or thinking about it. It’s the only one I've ever found. I still have it -- pressed between the pages of a book (Thoreau's Walden.)

How is this relevant to our adoption? Well, I can't help but think that it would be neat if that date, May 6th, is our child's birth date. The timing could work, although that would mean our child is slightly older than we’re requesting. But you never know, and if the dates prove to be serendipitous nobody would ever believe me if I didn't put it in writing beforehand. Of course now that it is in writing, it probably won't happen. :-)

Here are a few photos from that day:

A Lucky Find

Poor Ladybug

Gabrielle

Kirsten

Gabrielle, Kirsten & About 15 Ladybugs Eating Oreo Crumbs

Now I just wouldn’t feel right posting photos of Kirsten and Gabrielle without also posting photos of the other cousins on Frank’s side of the family too!

Lauren & Allison

Lauren & Allison Coming After 'Unka Frankie'

And here are some of my favorite shots of them all together through the years:

Little Darlings

Sweets for Sweeties

Holiday Serious


Holiday Realistic


A Gaggle of Girls


Ganging Up on Oldest Cousin Andrew


Speaking of Cousin Andrew


Silly Geese

They are the neatest kids and we just love them to pieces. They are very excited about getting another cousin soon, and say they don't really care if it's a boy or a girl. They see the benefits of both!

So next time I will have to introduce you to our other 6 nieces and nephews on my side of the family, although they're all grown up now. One even has a baby of her own, which is making me feel way old. We spent a lot of time together when they were little - when I still lived in Indianapolis.

Frank and I love being an aunt and uncle. Having experienced two whole generations of it, we think we've had a pretty good training for the real thing. At least we hope so!