GETTING READY FOR CHRISTMAS....FINALLY!

WORDLESS....UHHHH THURSDAY

FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF CANADA - TOLD BY JAYME

Okay, so the giggle sisters put me on the longest flight ever, with all this neat stuff on board and expect me to sleep?! I had news for them. Yeah, like anyone could sleep in our row anyway, with all that snoring! Embarrassing!! Oh don't worry, I filled my diaper with some of that last minute Beijing congee and made like it was one of them. That sure got them up and at 'er. No more lying around after that episode. It was play time!

After my gruelling flight, this great country of theirs welcomes me with open arms and what else? Uh yeah, more line-ups, more paperwork. Great! Can't yah see I'm a little tired here, Jack?! Oh but we did get a prize for being new to Canada...yup, they gave my Mom a tote bag and a new shiny pen! Wow! The fun doesn't stop there...she got to pick which colour. Of course she picked the red one. I was thinking the orange was more my style. This better not be an indication of what's to come....

So they finally get the luggage thing sorted out and we head out. There's a crowd waiting...okay, not like crowds in China, but still a crowd. Yes, this is what I'm talking about...lots of people to say how cute I am. Wait a second, it's not for me? Then this big guy called Daddy spots my Mommy. Can you say crushed?! Hello here people, you're gonna squish the mongolian blue spots right offa me! He's all smiles too! He's not "the man" or "the mur-man" or "Uncle Drew" but I think he has possibilities!

We finally get out to their car. Yeah, the Daddy-guy got us lost for a bit. He puts our stuff in the back of the car and then....what the $#!%....he wanted me to sit in a bucket with straps! I say, "Listen Bub, maybe you don't know this little tidbit, but my Mom has been holding me on her lap for the past 2 weeks whenever we went somewhere. I've been able to stand on her too so I could see our friends on the bus and make faces at them....geesh". He just smiled at me.

Oh and speaking of transportation....the bus must be broken or something, because we haven't boarded one in over a week or had a decent tour since I've been to this new place.

And don't the old people care about us babies in this new country? I'm shocked! Not one Lao Lao has come over to my Mom to lift my hat, check if my hands or feet are warm and covered, hussle Mom into a store if it's too windy for me.

Not one person has said I look like a beautiful Chinese boy. What's wrong with these people?

Did I mention the fur thingies in my house? The one wants to lick my face every time it enters the room and the other one has razor blades attached to its feet. All I did was grab a fistful of hair and haul it right over on its side. Real child-friendly, people!

There's also another little person living here. Seems a little too interested in washing my fine strands of hair. Back away...let Mom do the rinsing please. One dunking is enough for me.

All in all it's not that bad of a place to live. Lots to eat and drink...and on demand. It could be a few dozen degrees warmer, but I hear that will change. Not a palm tree in sight either. And I do miss my Auntie Bev. Everyone here loves me though and that's a good thing!!

I might not have to rethink this immigration thing afterall....

FIRST PHOTOS OF JAYME

Story of Jayme to follow....after we get over the jetlag! It was a rough first meeting, but she's a happy little camper now!

LADYBUGS AND BUTTERFLIES

I have a good case of the ladybugs. Jaime gave me a wonderful pedicure this morning. It's tradition to have ladybugs on my big toes while heading to China.

But I have a bad case of the butterflies to go along with it.

ONE MORE SLEEP!!!!

I'LL BE MISSING YOU!

9 DAYS? OH OH!

Single digits sleeps...where did the time go? After 2 years of waiting, you'd think I'd be ready. Think again!! I did a suitcase and backpack dress rehearsal yesterday. With the restrictions this time around, I have to fit everything for Jayme and me into one (count 'em one) 26x18x11 bag that can't weigh more than 44 pounds. Yup, it all fit and I was within the weight restriction too - yippee!! We aren't able to leave a bag in Beijing like the last time. Oh and of course we'll be experiencing summer weather in Nanning and winter weather in Beijing...so you can see my dilemma. I opted to leave out diapers, wipes, formula and cereal this time around. I'll just pick up my supplies when we get to Nanning. There's a super walmart there. I wonder if it will look like the one in Kunming? Your typical walmart, except it was 4 floors high and they had tables of assorted (ahem) meats out in the open.

So here's what's left of my To Do List:
Upload more Jayme pictures
Put a small photo album together for Jayme's nanny
Get a nanny gift
Print off our travel itinerary for Lyle
Fax my travel insurance paper
Wash a few more Jayme clothes
Get extra photos of me and Lyle
Pick up the last of my U.S. $$$
Contact Mindy at Aeroplan
Send Lili's birthday card - sorry Kerry, it will arrive really early.
Wrap the last of my "Mommy misses Rylee" gifts
Photocopy ALL documents
Get my travel visas, passports and power of attorney sheet (Deborah is couriering them)
Pick up pink yarn (our group is tagging luggage)
Buy phone cards so Lyle can call his lovely bride (that's me) in China
Rylee needs new jeans, art paper and more scotch tape
Make sure my video camera is working...and I know HOW to work it.
Get my pedicure
Finish painting 2 more rooms...yeah, I thought it would be fun to do a renovation to 3 rooms in total in the past week!! Oh what was I thinking???

And last but not least....take the 2nd round of Dukoral vaccine. Finding a 2 hour window of time when I'm not eating is the trick to this one....LOL

Less Than 30 Days!

I'm starting to feel the pressure! I'm cranky, I'm over-eating, I'm fretting over every small detail of this adoption, and tomorrow is the travel seminar.

When we adopted Rylee, I was cool as a cucumber. I just went with the flow. I was naive! This time, I'm preparing for every possible scenario...and frankly, it's wearing me out! I envy the first-timers in our group who are experiencing sheer joy.

For the first time, I'm dreading the fact that Lyle will not be with me. I am going to miss him terribly and being away from Miss Magoo will be unbearable! I made a calendar up for her to put stickers on every day, to track when I'd be home. I also bought her a small gift to open every night with Daddy. Yup, it's going to be really hard...lots of tears!

We interrupt this sappy post for some late-breaking news! "Breaking" is the operative word here.

So I was rearranging the girls' room this afternoon, changing the summer bedspread over to the heavy duvet, moving the crib to a better position, etc. when I noticed that the crib mattress was crooked. I crawled underneath to see if the corner hooks were misaligned...and that's when I saw the real damage! Uh huh, the board that holds the mattress up, was snapped in half. I couldn't believe it! And that's when I remembered this little incident back in May...

Things I've Learned From My 4 Year Old

I may have taught her to walk, talk, sign, count and print....but Rylee has taught me the most important life lessons.

TO BE CONFIDENT:
It's okay to wear red, blue, brown and purple all at the same time.

TO BE TRUE TO YOURSELF:
It's okay to say NO when you really, really, really don't want to do something.

TO BE FREE:
It's okay to dance, really funny, even in front of strangers.

TO GO AGAINST THE GRAIN:
It's okay to sit in the baby swing at the park...afterall, it is more comfy.

TO BE CREATIVE:
It's okay to paint, draw and glue for hours until you fall asleep on your art project.

TO HAVE A GOOD BODY IMAGE:
It's okay sometimes to eat a few cookies before supper.

TO GO BIG OR GO HOME:
If you have to burp, do it with gusto!

TO FIND FUN IN EVERY SITUATION:
Like humming Twinkle Twinkle Little Star during your timeout.

TO TRY NEW THINGS:
Like attempting to eat with socks on your hands.

TO DO EVERYTHING WITH A SMILE AND A GIGGLE:
Potty time does not need to be a mundane chore.

If only we would take our cues from the most innocent. They seem to have it ALL figured out!

4 Take-offs, 4 Landings...I Can Do This!?

Well, we finally got our travel date set in stone. We will leave for Beijing on Friday November 9th and return November 24th. I am so happy that it's a direct flight, because I don't fly well. Uh, yeah that's an understatement! I HATE TO FLY!! And there are lots of pictures to prove it....thanks to my sweetie! He finds it rather amusing to see me totally silent, white as a ghost, clutching his arm, holding my breath and with eyes the size of saucers! And that's just at the ticket counter! lol The real fun is during take-off!

Oh but this time he won't be there to witness it and have his little giggle. Nope, that job now goes to my sister Bev, as she has graciously offered to travel with me to get our baby Jayme. She will be my pack mule, videographer, gopher and official hand-holder during take-offs. Some landings as well...if they start that circling business. Oh yeah and if there's any turbulence.

I feel somewhat badly for her. First, she has to fly from Alberta to Ontario on November 8th. Then we'll hop our flight for China on the 9th, and most likely have to fly again to the baby's province the day after that. Can you say jetlag? She also doesn't have kids so I'm sure midnight feedings aren't something that she'll enjoy either. Ohhh, I felt a little snicker rise up there. Maybe she should rethink this fabulous trip of a lifetime, eh? Definitely not the time for her to give up smoking! lol

Parenting position now available - Moms not need apply.

At what point in time did we as a society start sourcing out the role of Mom? We pay other people to clean our homes, mow the lawn, service our cars, pick up prepared food, walk our dogs. So I guess it seems like a natural progression for a civilized society to then pay others to care for the children. This job should be left to the professionals. No need for Moms to be involved in the day-to-day operations. Moms just aren't qualified! Or so I've been told.

So what prompted this post? Recently, I've been thrust into a world I never knew existed. One that includes Occupational Therapists, Speech/Language Therapists, ECE's, Social Workers, Psychologists and Paediatricians. All working together to better raise my child. "Just leave it to us, Mrs. Hall, we have the qualifications that you don't have. Go and get a real job or at least have a pedicure and leave this to us. Be a good girl and don't question our authority. Believe us, it is best for you and the child." And that's exactly what I did. "Sign here, sign there, Mrs. Hall." They liked me. I was so easy to get along with. Then I came to my senses. One of them being - common sense.

Now there are days when I'm observing these intruders in my family's lives, and I seriously wonder if I'm the only sane person in the room.

Here are some of the things I've learned during the Invasion:

"Believe me, you'll be so happy to see the back of her head as she goes off to school". No, I don't think so.

"She needs a good preschool program so she's prepared for real school and real life. If she needs some extra help, we'll get her a TA for some one-on-one." And she gets what ratio when I homeschool?

"We know what she should learn, how much of it and when." So learning to print her alphabet, finding countries on a globe, knowing all the Provinces, naming the planets, using 100 ASL signs, counting to 40, etc. by the time you're 4 doesn't count? Oh silly me.

"You shouldn't worry about leaving her. Remember, all teachers love what they do and they genuinely love the kids." Uh huh...and how many loving teachers did you encounter going to school?

"4 year olds need time apart from their parents to explore the world." Say what? Maybe on your planet.

"You'll need time with your second child." My Granny handled 9...count 'em 9...and I would be unable to handle 2?

"Parents need to talk to therapists instead of spouses about their feelings ." Ah yes, I can see where it could be detrimental to have a close relationship with my husband.

"I know your daughter spent the first year of her life alone, lying flat on her back in a crib, without any stimulation, never being held, never being loved, just waiting for someone to attend to her basic needs. But she has been here for 3 years so she should be over it." Well, when you do the math....

My sweet girl doesn't need someone who gives in and gives up so easily. She needs...no make that...deserves someone who will look out for her best interest. Someone who will teach her, who will gently guide her, and most importantly, love her!! No, she doesn't need a professional. She needs a Mom....her Mom!!

Climbing down off my soapbox now....class dismissed!

She's here!!!

We were given some updates this morning...

She's a whopping 5 inches shorter than Rylee was!!

So she's little by our standards.

I just keep staring at that little basket of love!!

IT'S A GIRL!!!!!!!

The call came in at 2:57 pm on Wednesday September 5 2007. Lyle took the day off and was here to witness the event. This time around, he actually got the news ahead of all the complete strangers I come across.

Deborah's first words were, " are you sitting down"? Hmmmm....is it better to sit down for bad news or good news??

So here's the good news:
Her name is Jiang Yi Sheng - 99.9% chance she will be Jayme Rayne Yisheng
She was born November 18, 2006
She is in Guangxi - yes that's in China - next Province over from Rylee's
She is living in the Guigang SWI - about 2 hours from the capital city - Nanning

Now for the bad news:
We haven't seen a picture of her and won't until our file is finished being translated on Sunday. I know, we adoptive parents have to have the patience of Job. (For all you non-bible readers that is pronounced JOBE.)

Deborah described her like this:
She doesn't have much hair and it looks to be shaved.
She has rosebud lips
She has very big eyes, looks very bright and alert
She has flawless skin
She looks beautifully healthy

Yes, it was love at first....description! lol When I was writing all the info down, for some reason I couldn't get her name right. I had to ask several times and I'm sure I sounded like a complete moron. Oh, Lyle is nodding his head from the sidelines! Yup, it's official, I sounded like a complete moron....oh well.

Stay tuned....pictures coming soon to a PC near you.

Pre-referral jitters

The title was going to read "that time of the month" but all of my non-adopting friends just wouldn't understand. Yes, it's referral time once again....and we finally made it!! The CCAA has matched files up to November 25 2005. Woohoo! I know, I know, 4 whole days isn't much to get excited about...except when they're your 4 days!

So what does one do on the eve of receiving a picture and info about the newest member of their family? Well, I've heard that some " expectant Mommies (Penny)" scrub down their homes in anticipation. Some drink to excess. While others indulge in beans...the dark rich cocoa variety. And here I am trying to set up a blog so family and friends can follow along on our journey to our second little bundle of joy. Big Daddy and Her Highness are cuddled into one big armchair, happily watching a baseball game and chomping on Freezies.

There are lots of little details left to be done before getting " the call" tomorrow. Let's see....
Roam phones charged? Check.
Paper and pens at every phone? Check.
List of questions for our agency? Check.
Champagne on ice? Check.
List of email addresses that we'll be sending baby pictures to? Check.
Remember to inform your husband prior to telling complete strangers on the street? Check. Okay, so it happened one time....in my defence, he was in Japan at the time and couldn't be reached! Geesh!

All in all, I think we're ready. Lyle will go off to work tomorrow just like any other day. Rylee and I will do a little homeschooling, walk to the post office, make some crafts, play in the sand box (or as she says " do some sanding") and have a good time! Oh yeah, and jump out of my skin every time the phone rings!!

Hopefully, I'll have some pictures of our newest Piddle Pumpkin to post tomorrow.
Stay tuned.....