Last Christmas celebration without Baby Kaz

Merry Merry everyone and a happiest of New Years! Isn't it crazy to think, that for most of us "bloggers" and "blog stalkers", if you don't already have your Kaz babies, that this year was the last Christmas we'll be spending without our Kazakh additions to the family? That just blows me away!! We had a wonderful holiday in Dallas, Texas, with my family, 3 sisters, 1 brother, 1 sister in law and husband, and 7 cousins, oh, and 7 dogs too. It was COLD in Dallas, too, so that made for some SWEET running weather, but gave my hubby a raging cold and Sean a bad cough, but only because Sean refuses to wear a coat. I think Joe's cold is because of a couple night with my Dad, Mom, and the brothers in law and Yagermeister shots! Since I am "adopting", I was in charge of the kiddo's so I went to bed with them! And, humm, I am the only one NOT SICK in my family. Good thing, cuz Mom's can be sick, can we!!!

The picture above is a new baby I just met, my "grandfather's" (not technically my grandfather, but my stepmom's great uncle, and he has been like a grandfather to me) new wife's daughters child, named Francis, is just 3 months old. I was a big ole certified " baby hog". She was an angel baby, hardly ever cried and she's just gorgeous.
My 2 nieces, aged 9 and 7, spent the night at my parents every night, and my mom put me in charge of getting the kids in bed because "I am adopting a girl". It was hilarious. Of course, I gladly put my nieces to bed with Sean, made sure their jammies were on, teeth brushed, and then we'd read Christmas stories. It was really fun. Giulia told me they've been saving all their clothes (and they dress super precious) For my baby. She is so excited about this baby. Of course, like many of you have stated in your blogs, everyone needs to know...when are you going? when do you get the baby? Can you come to dallas for easter? When I say, hopefully Febuary, then they're like, ok, so for sure Feb? NO, NOT FOR SURE! I DON'T KNOW!!! I guess they did not get the memo that "One more be patient and flexible in international adoption".

My mom got me 3 GORGEOUS cashmere sweaters from Neiman's for Kaz. She said, I know you won't wear them in Florida, but you NEED warm clothes for Kaz. I didn't tell her I had bought $5 sweaters at OLd Navy outlet store because I will be getting spit up on and layering like crazy. However, I will be able to fit in with all those hottie fashionable Kaz women with my fancy sweaters. One is brown with fur on the sleeves and fur around the hood. I am hip, like my son, I Have a "hoodie". But, i have BONUS Fur and cashmere. :)

Being the coolest "Aunt Susan" that I am, I got all the kids matching jammies. I dragged my sweet hubby to the mall 3 days before Christmas. It took 45 minutes to find a parking spot. I love Dallas malls at Christmas! But, they all look so darn cute in their matching jammies, don't they? It was NOT easy finding 7 kids matching jammies either with their various ages and stages. They were awfully darn cute!





Here is a picture of me and my "baby" for this Christmas. I can't believe he's so big. Fortunately, he will still hug and kiss on his mom, when he's not busy rolling his eyes at me and thinking I'm not as cool as him.


I guess this is the last year of Serra, party of 3, when we go out to dinner too. We are really a party of 5, but Joey and Jillian are on their own and don't live with us anymore. It is so exciting, strange, and wonderful to think that in a few months, we'll have a new Serra in our midst!