A Great Discovery

When we first got our referral for Yu Cai Ling (now Maeve LiLi), we were allowed to send a shoe box sized care package to China for her and her foster family. In that package we included a disposable camera along with translated instructions on how to use it. Unfortuneatly, it must have jammed and perhaps we did not translate the part about using the flash indoors. So we only got a few good pictures of her with foster family.

Recently, one of our travel group mentioned that they found another picture on their film when they took in to be processed here in Canada. So, we thought, why not give it a shot?

Are we ever glad we did! Here are a few shots of Maeve when she was with her foster family. These shots turned out well because they were taken outside. Maeve is squinting because of the sun, but I don't think she was unhappy.






Here are a few more shots that are too dark and hard to see. She is clearly very happy with them. We are so thankful that they loved and cared for our darling daughter so well.




The rest of the photos are pretty much black. We are thankful to have these.

Happy Birthday Uncle Andrew

A big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my Uncle Andrew! I love you and wish you weren't so far away. Please give a big kiss to my cousin Robyn and Aunty Evelyn for me.

Your favourite niece, Maeve

CHOO CHOO!

Maeve was home with a fever for a couple of days. She really got into her train set during that time. She definitely was not using her inside voice.

NOTL

We spent a wonderful long weekend in Niagara-on-the-Lake with Uncle Peter, Aunty Carolyn and Cousin Connor (or "Noor" as Maeve calls him).

NOTL is a lovely little town down the road from Niagara Falls. Its main draws are the Shaw Festival and many wineries. It is off season now, so things were a little less expensive than normal and many of the stores were having end of season sales--a real boon for shopaholic mama.

We rented a little place called the Casablanca Cottage and spent three days relaxing, shopping, sightseeing and enjoying each others company.

Maeve did really well being away from home. She loved the cottage and was fine sleeping in a playpen. She got some really cool ladybug rain boots and a matching raincoat for this spring. It was warm enough that she wore the rain boots around all weekend. She loved them, although they are a bit big on her so she is a bit clumsy in them still.

On Sunday, we made it down to Niagara Falls. But Maeve was pretty bagged by then and slept in the stoller the whole time we were checking out the falls.

A few shots from our weekend.

Maeve with Cousin Noor
Casablanca Cottage
Maeve in her fuzzy hat and new ladybug boots
Maeve's much taller when Uncle Peter picks her up!
Watching Baba out the window
Niagara Falls
All bundled up and sleeping
Everything is beautifully frozen including the mist on the trees.

Apology

To my darling daughter,

First let me say that I love you very much and that I always have your best interests at heart.

Second, hair grows. Yours a little slower than others... but still it grows.

That being said, I want to apologize for my ill-advised attempt at cutting your bangs. I was just trying to get the hair out of your eyes and keep from accidentally poking you in the eyes with the scissors. I suppose that’s why there are professionals out there that cut hair.

Baba thinks your haircut looks cute. And it does. But, half an inch less would have been much better. Then again, you would look cute no matter how your hair was. Suffice it to say, I am keeping my day job.

Please forgive your silly mommy for both the haircut and for putting these pictures on your blog.

All my love forever,
Mama

Happy New Year again

Just wanted to say Happy New Year again. Hope you all had a wonderful week.

If you have a 10 minutes to spare, please read Richard Bowen's account of getting desperately needed supplies to an orphanage in Chenzhou--a particularly hard hit area of the terrible weather in China. Make sure you have kleenex handy!
http://www.halfthesky.org/work/chenzhoustory1.php


Oh and here's a picture with piggies. Finally, my hair is long enough for them!

A whole year has passed!

What a difference a year makes. A year ago, our little love was whisked away from the only home she had ever known to start a new life with a couple of crazy Canadians. I can still picture her sitting in the lobby of the building with a nanny--dazed, confused, scared; her whole body hitching as she quietly sobbed. It broke my heart to see how petrified she was.

That night was challenging for all of us! Luckily, it only took her a few days to get used to us. By the 6th day, Pat was Baba and by the 7th day, I was Mama. Now I am Mama, mom, or mommy. Pat is BAAAAABAAAAA, Dad, Daddy or bobby. Pat asked her why she calls him bobby and she responded with "mommy!" as in, if Mama is mommy, then Baba must be bobby.

We want to wish all our travelmates and Maeve's Xinyu sisters a Happy Forever Family Day! We miss you all and long to see you again. Please keep in touch so that our girls can virtually grow up together.

We had a wonderful visit with Elizabeth and her family on Saturday. Elizabeth and Kate have grown so much in the past year. Maeve is certainly tiny in comparison. It was a treat to see them again (oh and Aggie and Rob too). As promised here are some pictures from our visit.

Hugs and kisses to you all!