I need a job!!!

Well just when I thought things couldn't get much worse...they did! I am officially out of a job and am kind of FREAKING OUT!!! I have bills to pay and China to save for etc... I hate complaining because really my life is pretty good but I can't go without a job so I need to get something. I am going to take this opportunity to try and find a good stable job before the baby comes! If anyone has any great job openings please let me know!

Road Trip...Ottawa here we come!

Well I have one day of work left and then I am on holidays unitl the 3rd YIPEE!!!! We aren't going on a big trip this year but we are going to take some small trips. This week we are going to Ottawa for a couple of days with my parents. We have been talking about going for a couple of years now so we are finally going! I haven't been since grade 7 and my parents have never been so we should have a good time. We are going to the Museum of Civilization where they have a "Treasures of China" exhibit there all summer - apparently these "treasures" have never been out of China so that will be exciting to see. We are also going to the War Museum and the Parliment Buildings etc.. I think the thing I am most excited about is eating a Beaver Tail!! I have been dieting for a week or so know so I am in need of some sugar!

I am so looking forward to being off and catching up on things around the house, we will probably also do some day trips to Niagara-on-the-Lake and maybe Toronto. Well I am off to start packing!

I think I am going to need professional help!!

First of all let me start of by saying CONGRATULATIONS to everyone receiving their long awaited referrals this month! By the sound of the rumours it looks like the CCAA has matched up to and including the 7th of November 2005 - again only 6 days worth. I seriously think by the time our wait is over I could be living in a looney bin! Six days is better than 2 but come on this is getting ridiculous. If the 6 days continued we would be waiting 49 more months on top of the 9 we have already waited. I calculated that from now to our referral there would need to be an 11 day average each month for us to get our referral in the estimated 3 years. I had heard rumours before that Nov & Dec 2005 were heavy LID months so I am praying this is true and once the CCAA gets through them things can pick up a little. What are other people thinking or hearing in terms of the wait?? - some people have told me that their agencies have told them 2 years to referral but how can this be?? My agency has told us that they expect us to wait up to 3 years from LID which is crazy but if you go by the last couple of months referrals we could be waiting longer?? I have no idea what to think anymore - I am seriously going NUTS!!!

9 month anniversary!!

Well today marks our 9 month LID anniversary. In one way it seems to have gone by fast but in another way it seems like it has been FOREVER!! When we decided to adopt way back in Dec 2005, I was soooo excited. I couldn't believe that after so many years of wanting a child we were finally going to get our wish. I really felt for the first time that I was actually going to be a mom. I would pick up things when I was shopping and I thought about how I was going to decorate the nursery etc... I would even pick up the odd outfit when I saw something on clearance or something that I just had to have. Well 17 months since we began this whole process and I feel further away from our wish for a daughter than ever. I think because the timelines have gotten so long that it makes it hard to stay excited, don't get me wrong I am still extremley excited it just seems more like a dream than a reality. The one thing that would always boost my spirits was to pick up things as I was shopping but even that doesn't seem so exciting, if anything it makes me depressed that I have no idea when she will be here, I have no idea what size clothes to buy, I have no idea what season we will get her etc etc.... I feel like I have to wait at least another year before I can buy things like a stroller, a carseat, a crib etc... without feeling strange or guilty for purchasing it.
I think I need to start interacting with more people going through the process, I think that will help me to not feel so alone. I see these groups that have LID's months after ours even and the travel groups get together etc... I haven't heard from anyone in our group (with the exception of one) in 9 months. Anyways I think I have bummed myself out enough for today. Does anyone else feel like this?? How do you snap out of it?? What's everyones take on purchasing things??

My Brother's Wedding!!

Well the wedding is over! My brother got married last weekend and it was perfect! The wedding was perfect and the weather was absolutley amazing the whole weekend. I can't believe that my little brother is actually married and I have a new sister!!! Congratulations Rob and Tiff - the wedding was great, everything turned out perfect and I wish you both a lifetime of happiness!!



It has been crazy for me since last August and mostly wedding related - I must admit I feel like I should be organizing or planning something - I think I am going through withdrawl! I can now start working on my huge list of things to get done around the house before we bring Mhyia home - unfortunatly time seems to be one thing we have lots of thanks to the constant slow downs from the CCAA. Oh well I have decided there is no use in being miserable about it, we are going to use our time to accomplish some things around the house - we have a new house but it is still amazing how many things need to be done. I think I have a five page list of things. I started today by repainting the kitchen and all the trim, we are also putting up crown moulding and we should be getting our new pantry sometime this week (we ordered it 16 weeks ago)!!



Here are some pictures from the big day - unfortunately I don't have any pictures of Mike and I together, he was busy taking pictures and I was busy with the wedding party photos - I will have to get one from someone else and post it later!! (for those of you who aren't sure I am the bridesmaid with my hair down!!)

Happy 10th Birthday Shayla

I just wanted to wish our niece Shayla a very very Happy 10th Birthday. I can't believe that she is 10 years old - I swear it feels like she was just born - just goes to show how time flies. These are some pictures from her birthday party we went to on the weekend - oh ya "I made the cake" I think it turned out pretty funky if I do say so myself!! Shayla was our very first niece and is so special to me, I just know she is going to be such a great big cousin for Mhyia!! Happy Birthday Shayla - we love you lots!!! xoxoxo

Here's a shocker.....more depressing news!

Okay I had read about this on someones blog on Good Friday but I guess I was so upset about it that I was trying to deny that it could actually be true! The CCAA only matched two days worth of LID's this month. Is this crazy or what - at that rate we would be waiting 12 years. Like I said I think I am actually still in denial about it but I was looking back at last year and around this time was the least amount of days matched too (5 days). I heard a rumour that Oct/Nov tend to be heavier matching months?? I have no idea if this is true but I will go with it for now! What does everyone else think?? I just don't understand how 7 months ago we were told we would wait 9-12 months (we thought we would bank on 18 and that way we wouldn't/couldn't be dissappointed) and now they are telling people 18-24 months but if you do the math it is more like up to 27 more months on top of the 7 we have already waited?? I understand that there are not unlimited babies but this screams more political than anything to me? I read an interesting article in the New York Times a while ago about this exact topic and it was saying that the number of babies adopted into the USA last year, although still high was actually lower than the year previous and that they too felt it could be more for political reasons. With the upcoming Olympics in August 2008 the world's eyes are on China more than ever and I personally think this has a lot more to do with it than will ever be admitted?? I just can't understand how it goes from 30-35 days worth/month (a year ago) to 2 days/month - it just seems impossible?? If anyone has any better insight or other thoughts please feel free to share!! It isn't going to change what happens I just like to feel I have a better grasp of what is going on!

A gift from Grandma!!

Last week I went shopping with my mom and she bought us/Mhyia a couple of things!! She bought us this little ladybug magnet for the fridge and she also bought this ladybug sleeper and matching diaper shirt - they are sooo cute I love them!!! I am hoping the extra ladybugs around the house will help to bring us goodluck in our adoption process!! I just wanted to say thank you mom for these - I know it is so far away and it is hard to let yourself get too excited (I feel the same way most days) but it is nice once in a while to get new things to help make it seem more real and less like something we just dream about! I really appreciate them and all of your constant love and support - hopefully Mhyia will be running around the house in these quicker than we think!

Thank You

I have been meaning to post a big Thank you to Auntie Anna for yet another beautiful gift. She bought Mhyia this discovery sound cube toy and she gave me a beautiful card with a gift certificate to Chapters. I have been working on her daughters scrapbook for her and she said it was her way of saying Thank you. I absolutley love it and it is so exciting to recieve things along this ever increasing LONG journey to Mhyia. Anna - thank you for being such an amazing friend and always being so thoughtful and considerate of my overly emotional state during this long adoption process!

7 month Anniversary!!

Well today marks our 7 month anniversary since our LID!! I had a reminder come up on my computer today saying "only 11 months left" well that is from the beginning when we thought we would be waiting up to 18 months, it has now been 7 months and we might have another 18 months to wait?? I will keep hoping and praying that somehow it isn't quite this long! As you can see from my lack of posts nothing to exciting has happened with Mike or I in the past month. We have been crazy busy doing things for my brothers upcoming wedding, we had a shower/stagette party, a family shower and last weekend the stag and doe, so needless to say this month has flown by! As for adoption news - the CCAA only matched 11 days worth of LID's this month but I am hoping that it had something to do with the Chinese New Year last month and the fact that they didn't work a whole month?? I am hoping for a higher number at the beginning of April (fingers crossed). I have had some new people post to my blog and I LOVE IT!! I am new to the blogging world but I love when I see that people have taken the time to post a comment - I promise when my life slows down in the next month or so I will be more diligent about replying! Talk to everyone soon!!!

6 Month Anniversary!

Well it is our 6 month anniversary since our China LID (log in date), YEAH! It means nothing really other than it's something that makes us feel like we have conquered another hurtle!! Six months ago we thought that thinking we had 18 months ahead of us was a totally safe bet, in fact we were over the predictions at that time by at least 4 months. How quickly things change! It has now been 6 months and we are know being told that we still have 18 months ahead of us. Unfortunately there is nothing we can do but wait and thankfully the first 6 months have actually gone by really fast! As we have seen things can change in a moments notice so you never know - all we can do is hope for the best and hope that it is sooner than later!! Thanks so much to everyone who posts comments - we love reading them and it is nice to see that people are following along with us in this long wait!

Happy Chinese New Year!!!

We just wanted to wish all of our family and friends a very Happy Chinese New Year, February 18th officially marks the "year of the pig". Mike and I attended the Children's Bridge New Years Celebration in Markham this Year along with my sister-in-law, her husband and our two nieces! We had a lot of fun, the girls got to make a lot of crafts (so did Mike!), we ate some traditional food and then watched some cultural performances and of course the Lion Dance - which was great! It was really nice to see everyone with their children - especially all of the new babies!! - it makes it seem more real and it does wonders for boosting our spirits, especially considering the long wait still ahead. I have posted some pictures form the CB New Year celebration and then of course what would a Chinese celebration be without a trip to the Mandarin for the dumpling festival!!!

A few things for Mhyia ....so far!

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I have bought a few things so far...I can't help myself! It is the only thing that keeps me going, although I try to only buy things if they are on sale or if they are so cute I have to have it...but then they are usually on sale which is another reason why I have to have it!! We have got a couple of things from friends and family - Thank you, we love them! It is hard to know what size etc... so I try to stick more to things like sleepers etc.. because you always need sleepers! Anyways above are some of the things we have so far...as you will notice I have branched out and bought some things that are NOT pink....with my luck she will probably grow up to hate pink!

Happy New Year!!

Happy New year!!

Mike and I want to wish all of our family and friends a very Happy New Year and a very healthy and successful 2007!

We are very excited that we will now be able to say "next year" (fingers crossed) when people ask when we will be receiving Mhyia, we will no longer have people looking at us like we are speaking a different language when we say 2008. We of course are wishing this year away but are very excited about getting things ready, making some exciting purchases and if things continue to progress the way we have been told - the birth of our daughter sometime this year - summer I think!

We got mail!

We received our Immigration package today. Yet more paperwork to fill out, I have a feeling it is only just the beginning! We have to complete the sponsorship process to allow our daughter to enter Canada as a landed immigrant. It seems so early but I am very confident that they know what they are doing. It was kind of exciting because it makes it feel like one step closer to China..and our daughter!! With our package we also rec'd a full copy of our China dossier and notary pages including stamps from External Affairs and the Chinese Embassy - everything is written in Chinese..very cool!

Her name is official!

Mike and I were at Chapters tonight and I came across a magazine of baby names - of course I looked up Mhyia (we will never find this spelling in a book) and these are the meanings that were listed for her name;

Israeli: "gift from God", variant of Michael

Italian: "mine"

Latin: "wished for child"

After we read that we new it was meant to be, it is officially the name we are going with!!!! - all of those meanings couldn't be more true!! When we got home I went on the web and found the chinese character spelling for the name Mya (once again not quite spelt our way) so I thought I would post it!

Our First Ultrasound picture!

I thought I would show everyone our daughters first ultrasound picture, it was done almost 4 months ago on August 29th - our official log-in-date with the China Centre of Adption Affairs (CCAA). Unfortunatly for us it looks like we are going to have a gestation period more like an elephant than a human - up to 18 months (hopefully not longer)!

We have a blog!!!

I can't believe I actually figured out how to create a blog site but I did and here it is. It is a work in progress especially considering I can't even decide on a colour scheme. This will be a great way for us to keep all of our family and friends up to date with anything and everything going on in our lives especially in regards to our little one in China!