Long weekend fun...Part 1

I cannot even begin to tell you about how much I was looking forward to a long weekend with Paul and Maelyn. This working-full-time-mother-never-enough-time-for-anything gig is exhausting. I was really looking forward to spending some quality time together.

Saturday afternoon we headed over to Mike and Nicole's for neighbour dinner -- looooong overdue and we were so happy to be able to spend time together.

The best part is that now that the girls are getting older, they get along very well and even entertain each other, leaving more time for us adults to catch up.

LOVE the ipad -- thinking about getting one for our trip to China...

Playing 'ring around the rosie'



I told Maelyn that it was time for dinner -- and this ist he face I got! :)

After dinner, Nicole brought out the hose and the girls had some naked water time -- but I thought I would save those pictures for their weddings! :)

I miss the long weekend already....but I am counting down the days 'till school is out and summer break begins!

Our new nephew and cousin...

On May 15th my sister and brother-in-law delivered their handsome little man into the world and we welcomed a new member into our family.

Maelyn couldn't wait to get to the hospital to see 'her baby.' But -- once we got there, she was quiet and seemed to be confused by what was going on. I think she was even a little concerned to see her Auntie Kara in a hospital bed.

She interacted with Ian a little, eventually giving him a kiss. Maelyn was, however, protective of her cousin right from the beginning -- telling Grandma not to talk to loudly because it would hurt Ian's ears.

My Dad arrived at the hospital to visit and shortly thereafter we decided to head home. Maelyn was concerned about the fact that her 'Papaq' wasn't coming home with us. I believe a little jealously at the attention Ian was receiving began to set in.

As we were leaving, she wouldn't hug or kiss anyone, waving them off and saying, "I no like dat Ian guy."

We can't wait to visit with Ian again and see how he has grown over the past week and shower him with cuddles and kisses. It is a fantastic feeling to be an Auntie!!

Mother's Day Weekend

It was a fantastic weekend all around -- wonderful weather and loved being able to spend time together.

We spent part of the weekend planning our newest project around the house -- a backyard deck. Notice the deck in the background? We are planning something similar for our deck.

Not my favourite pic of myself -- but love that she willingly posed for a picture...she is so cute!

We worked up an appetite after our deck planning, so we headed to M & M's for a fundraising barbeque. Every year they fund raise for the Crohn's and Colitis foundation and as a Crohn's patient myself, we do what we can to support their efforts. Also, the barbeque is a lot of fun!

Maelyn really wanted a balloon doggy...



Happy girl!



I love this pic of my two loves!



A little unsure about the firetruck...

On Mother's Day, I woke up to flowers, treats, cards, and a yummy breakfast!

Mother's Day gift she made at her daycare -- love it!

Gourmet French toast -- my favourite!

Maelyn insisted that I take a picture of her breakfast, too....





I certainly felt loved and appreciated this weekend and was grateful to be celebrating Mother's Day with our little miss. My thoughts were also with Maelyn's first mom and I quietly thanked her for the most wonderful gift of all -- Maelyn.

July Referral?

I have been hesitant in writing about our adoption journey to our little monkey. Our adoption program hit a wall of uncertainty this past November and the timeline for our adoption increased exponentially. We were honestly blindsided by the news that the program had slowed down -- and so suddenly. We believed that we would be home with our newest addition by March 2012 -- now we are into May and have yet to receive our referral.

It has been hard to be openly excited and enthusiastic about our journey because of the uncertainty we have experienced over the past six months. Although many others have experienced similar (or worse) slowdowns in their adoption journeys, we have no prior experience with slowdowns or changes to our program. Maelyn's adoption journey followed the timeline that we expected and although the wait was excruciatingly long, we knew what to expect at each turn.

I have found our second adoption journey to be quite different from our first. This time we have Maelyn to distract us while we wait -- making it a much easier wait. On the other hand, I now know what it is like to love a little one as only a mother can and I feel more of a loss with this next child than I did the first time around -- now that I know.

I know how long two years truly is for a little one -- the growing and learning that takes place daily -- and I mourn the time we have already lost with our little monkey. Most likely, our little monkey is between 18 months and 2 years old right now. He or she has been a part of the world since Maelyn came into our lives. The entire time we have spent with her, her brother or sister has been growing up in China. My heart hurts for the time that we have already spent apart.

We received a call from our agency this week and they left us a message saying that they feel with certainty that we should be receiving our referral for our little monkey within the next 8 weeks. Wow! It is possible that 8 weeks from now we will finally know if we have a son or daughter -- a brother or sister for Maelyn. It is finally starting to feel real!

I cannot wait to hear the words, the words that first bring a child into an adoptive parents heart and soul. With Maelyn it was, "Congratulations, you have a daughter." A daughter. Be still my heart -- I am a Mom!

I have a deeper understanding of what referral day really means. It is the day you first know who will become a member of your family -- the day your family and your heart expands. It is a day that can only be matched by the day he or she will be placed in my arms.

I cannot wait for the day that we can hug our little monkey. When his or her giggles makes us smile. When we can kiss away the tears. When Maelyn becomes a big sister. When we are officially a family of four.

For now we wait.

Maelyn's Baby

My sister's little one is expected any day now and the excitement around here has been building. Maelyn talks about 'her Ian' every day. Every. Single. Day. Even her daycare is now asking daily if Ian is here yet -- Maelyn updates them every morning.

Maelyn is convinced that Ian is truly her baby and she cannot wait until he comes out of Auntie Kara's tummy. Although, she has loved the pregnancy experience -- telling everyone she meets that she has her own baby in her tummy. Maelyn will tell them, "Here the baby head, here the arms,...oh! He kick me!"

Auntie Kara's pregnancy has even helped us out at dinner time. If Maelyn is eating, we will ask her if her baby is hungry -- and most of the time, the baby wants to eat! Hehe! Maelyn will tell us that the baby better eat so that it can grow.

I think that Maelyn will be sorely disappointed when she realizes that baby Ian isn't coming home with her -- and even more disappointed when she realizes that the crib in the other bedroom is for a new sibling that is already walking and able to touch all of her toys. :S

This past month, Maelyn and I attended a shower for Auntie Kara...

Later in the month, friends and family celebrated at a tea house....

Now, we just need baby Ian! Paul and I cannot wait to be an Auntie and Uncle. We will be thinking of Kara and Cam as they enter into the world of parenthood in the next few days and sending our love their way.