One year ago today...

One year ago today we left the house and headed for the airport.

One year ago today we endured a thirteen hour flight, knowing it would bring us closer to our little girl.

One year ago today we started one of the most amazing journey's of our lives.

Today found myself in disbelief that a year has already gone by since we started our China journey. How could a year go by so quickly?! I spent the day thinking about what we did and what we were feeling a year ago as we began the trip of a lifetime. I thought a lot about our travel group and how much I miss them -- especially those that live outside of Ontario.

Mostly, I thought about how enriched our lives have been since Maelyn has joined our family. One year -- the best year of our lives...

Adoption Update

Paul and I have been working hard on getting our paperwork together for our next adoption adventure. When we originally planned out the timing for getting started again, it seemed like it was far away. Now that we are in the thick of it, I cannot believe that it is already here! We are very excited about the prospect of having another little monkey in our family!

Paul and I have kidded with one another that we equate the pain of the paperwork that inherently comes with the adoption process, to the pain of labour -- something you magically forget once your little one is placed in your arms (or so I have been told!). Well -- we are now vividly remembering that pain. I had forgotten about the unbelievable amount of paperwork, checks, meetings and divulging of personal information that goes along with the beginning stages of the adoption process. I think that the pain of the paperwork in compounded by the fact that we are still completing post placement reports and citizenship paperwork for Maelyn -- we are a little paperwork inundated. My return to work right around the time we started tackling this again also made it feel a little overwhelming. Well worth it, though! :)

We are just about done the Canadian portion of our paperwork. We have met three times with our social worker to update our homestudy and along with many discussions about topics such as our marriage and parenting, we have completed the following documents and checks:

• police checks
• fingerprint checks
• medicals
• financial statements
• reference checks
• guardianship statement
• home safety check
• fire safety plan
• child welfare checks
• etc.

Our social worker is now writing our homestudy reapplication. The draft will be sent to us shortly for revision and then the completed document will be sent to the Ontario Ministry for approval. This should take about two months (fingers crossed).

While our homestudy is at the Ministry, Paul and I will get together our paperwork for China. Then, our entire dossier should be sent to China by September (again, fingers crossed). We hope to have a referral by December or January. Then, the fun begins!

May Pics - Part 2

Visiting Jennie -- we had gone almost two whole months without seeing them!

The girls had a blast together!

Are these two just sooooo cute?!

Maelyn looooved the horse -- it was hard to pull her away!

Visiting with Julia (Ju-wa as she is now called)

God-sisters -- love them both so much!

With chalk on their noses...

People always say that a box is the best toy there is.... :)

Cuddle time with Daddy...

Playing doctor with Rocky

Pretending to be a baby...

May Pics - Part 1

In trying to catch up on blog posts, I have complied activities and pics from May into the next two posts...

Celebrating Mother's Day with Gamma, Pops, Auntie Kara and Uncle Cam...

Enjoying the beautiful weather with Auntie Kara -- and Maelyn got her nails painted!

Showing her nails off to Daddy...

We spent the entire day outside -- a perfect day!

Maelyn & Daddy learning how to play hopscotch...

Going for a bike ride...

Settling down after a busy day...

Can you tell that she dressed herself this day? :)

She loves to jump!

We welcomed home Madisyn -- what an amazing experience to be at the airport as she first arrived on Canadian soil....

Madisyn and her Mommy

Maelyn loved seeing Emily again and loved getting to spend some time with Madiysn

April Pics

Here are a few pics from April that never made it into a post -- but were cute enough that I had to share! :)

Maelyn and Bennett

Wearing Daddy's shoes...

Watching t.v. with Rocky...

Enjoying a yummy treat...

Baking with Daddy...

Yummy!

Video --finally!

Wow! I have finally found a program that allows me to upload video to the blog -- woohoo! Here is a video my sister took -- I am experimenting, hoping to add video to future posts...

A Fabulous Long Weekend - Friday

Friday was the start of a much-anticipated, much-needed long weekend. The warm weather and the company of good friends made for the perfect start to the weekend.

A few years ago my friend Ashleigh and I got in contact after not having seen each other since high school. We have run into each other a few times while shopping, but we really wanted to get our families together. Ashleigh's husband, Chris, also went to high school with us -- and they have been together ever since! I was excited about being able to meet their little girl, Addyson.

Right from the start, Maelyn loved following Addyson around and copied everything she did. The girls are one year apart, but they got along so well!

Playing in the backyard before dinner...

It was wonderful to catch up with Ashleigh and Chris -- I feel like I have reconnected with a dear friend. I love, love, love that we live in the same neighbourhood -- I see playdates and park visits in our future! :)

After dinner, Maelyn decided to give me a massage (picked up from a visit with Brya, I believe) and Addy had to get in on the action!

After dinner the girls got a second burst of energy and were chasing each other all over the house. It was wonderful listening to their giggles and the fun they were having. 

The girls decided to make us another 'dinner' and set the table for their feast...

A hug for a new friend at the end of a wonderful visit...

I am looking forward to spending more time together -- friends are such a blessing.