Wednesday, October 31, 2007

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

Saturday, October 13, 2007

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...


Wednesday, October 10, 2007

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!