The only problem with having a public journal is it's exactly that - public. I don't care what a stranger thinks, but sometimes I'd like to vent about people who others know - and therefore, need to play it cool. That's frustrating sometimes.

Like the persons who want to play devil's advocate and shoot down any positive remarks we make. "It's a form of buying, for lack of a better term." "Health problems." "Greasing the palms of the government." "At least from Russia, it'll look like you." "Of course you want it as young as possible." "What if it's deformed?" "Why do you hope for a boy?" "You don't know if you'll travel in the Spring. You can't depend on Russia."

We also have become more aware of parenting techniques we don't want to practice. It's amazing the amount of, in my opinion, improper parenting that occurs in the world. That's all I'll say about that. We used to joke that, "of course we know everything - because we don't have kids." We'd get comments from people saying "just wait until you have one of your own." Now, I may not have a child, but I can clearly see that how you are treating your child is, how shall I say?.... stupid.

Doug observes that it doesn't matter what a parent does or says, by the time a child is 14 it's going to be wrong anyway. :)

*big sigh* Anyway, paperwork is still rolling along. How much more can I type that? Waiting for 2 things from our social worker. Going to get our police clearance next Friday. Must get employer letter and paperwork from a CPA, and then photographs. Then we're done.

Basement-finishing project has made another Great Leap Forward, as the Chinese would say. Father-in-law coming this Friday to hook up some electrical work. I'd say about half the paneling is up. Lots of finishing stuff, but the future nursery can probably be cleared out within the next 2-3 weeks.

Bought a few books at Educators' Sale Day at Borders Bookstore the other week. Got a Traveling Russian dictionary - it's rather interesting. Has phrases and words divided by nightlife, sports, travel, medical, all kinds of stuff. Numbers, days and months, generic words. Hoping to learn a few basic for travel, plus some general words to speak interchangeably with our child. I hear my 6-month-old niece is being instructed in Spanish, which I think is pretty darn cool.

Remind me next journal to write about names we've talked about. I'm going to bed.