Happy Canada Day

This was such a special Canada Day, to have our newest family member celebrating her first one.  I bought her tutu last year and couldn`t to wear it on her. 

The beginning of the day was raining so we stayed home but after Jaida`s nap the sky cleared and we went downtown.  Which was a good thing because little Jaida was way overdressed just to be at home all day. 

Our family of six most of the time is still a family of five since Quintin is working lots and sometimes just chooses to relax at home instead of being seen with his fun parents. 

Although, I miss not having him with us all the time, that is the benefit of having four children...there will always be at least one that wants to celebrate with us.

Five months since Forever Family Day

I can`t believe it has been 5 months since I officially became Jaida`s Mom and got to hold my little girl.  She is such a blessing and there isn`t a day that doesn`t go by that I don`t look at her in disbelief that she is ours.  The wait was very hard but everything happens for a reason and when I hold my beautiful daughter I know the reason.  She was the one I was waiting for.

Jaida loving her bottle (or bottles I guess)

Jaida has grown in so many ways the past five months.  I have had my moments of concern and have not shared them as I wanted this blog to be positive and certainly did not want it to come across as complaining or unhappy.  I touch on it a bit on my last entry and since then we have had the best week with her.  Maybe you just have to say things outloud for them to improve/change.  I am not sure what the change was (maybe she finally doesn`t have a cold or teething is hurting less or she finally feels safe and no longer scared) but it has been so much fun to have her happy and laughing all the time.  She has made a lot less of the fussy noises and has communicated in different ways.  She has laughed lots and it took a lot less effort than before.  Jaida is now getting up around 6am which is a little early but has slept through most nights (so I will happily take early mornings).  We had a few outing including aquafit, zoo and shopping and she did really well.  Jaida has also discovered the love of chocolate and Easter treats.  She is able to take the wrapper off the eggs and eat the chocolate egg before being noticed.  Tonight she got off the couch and was quietly playing beside it-what I thought was playing, she found and was eating one of Hayden`s marshmallow Peeps.  The saying is definitely true with Jaida that if she is quiet I better go look for her because she is up to trouble.

Jaida licking cool whip off the spoon. 

Happy Easter

We had a wonderful Easter together.  Last year Jason was away for work and we didn`t have Jaida yet so it is so nice to have the whole family together.  Tristan and Hayden had a great time looking for eggs and Jaida got into them when they weren`t looking.  I also get into them when they aren`t looking so the poor boys don`t have as many as this morning.  Quintin has learnt since Christmas when I ate his whole cartoon of whoppers, he now brings it straight to his room.

I can`t believe March has come and gone.  The month was pretty uneventful, we didn`t do too much.  We all had our turn with the flu once or twice and hopefully we are all better for good now.  Tristan had the most fun for the month as he went on a school trip to Boston.  It was very quiet in the house without him and we all missed him.  Since we didn`t do anything for March Break I spent time planning trips in the future: the end of Apr we are going to Banff, Jul we will take another roadtrip to Seattle, and I am planning on two trips for just me and Jaida - London/Kingston in Jun and Halifax/PEI in Sep.  Hopefully Jaida will be up for all the travel I have planned for us.

This month Jaida doesn`t seem to be getting any more adjusted living with us.  We are so happy to have her in our family but the poor girl doesn`t seem as happy.  She is still up through the night, fusses quite often and doesn`t smile or laugh very often.  I do worry because my time at home is going so fast and I know Aug will be here before I know it.  I read books before getting her and tried to follow all the suggestions but sometimes think I am going to have to find time to read more to figure out how to have her feel more settled with us.  Today she was great most of the day but that is because I didn`t have to do anything but play with her and carry her lots.  Everyday I start the day thinking I will give her 100% attention she needs but I always have to do other things that make it impossible.  Jaida still isn`t saying very many words (tickle, woof woof, peek, and hi) so she tends to make that fussing noise and I have to guess what it is she wants (like if she is overtired she gets so mad when I try and rock her in a chair, I have now figured out she wants me to stand to rock her :)  One big thing to balance is to figure out which things are international adoption related and which is just a tired 16 month year old related.  With my boys, I never had that concern and went with my instinct which seemed to work.  With all the books I read, I know there are issues I need to work on, attachment I need to focus and carry her as much as possible but sometimes when she is crying when I am carrying her and then put her down and she lays on the floor crying more-could it be just because she is tired :)

Jaida loves sitting in the dogs bed but they tend not to stay in it too long with her there

I am happy April is here and think it will be a good month. With the warmer weather Jaida and I can start going for more walks. I also have us registered for some activities including aquafit and trips to the zoo.  And watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse , my favourite kid show and trying to make it her`s

Jaida`s newest thing is hiding when we ask `Where Jaida is?` and sometimes saying `Peek`

My Baby Girl is 16 Months Today

This month we celebrated my birthday.  At my old age of 41, I think I am done having babies.  Funny thing is I thought I was done at 30, too.  Children keep you young and active so I am looking forward to having my children around well after I retire and will probably have grandchildren before our youngest leaves home.  For some that would be a depressing thought but for me it makes me happy to know the joy of young ones will be with me for a very long time.

My sister came up from PEI to help celebrate my birthday.  It was so nice to spend time with her.  We also celebrated Jaida`s baptism while she was her.

Jaida is my little princess so I thought she was worthy of three fairygodmothers :) Jeannine is one of Jaida`s godmothers.  I would have loved to have all three godmothers (as well as more family) there for her special day but knew it would too hard.  We had a very special day with our family and friends (and a very eventful baptism ceremony)

Jaida`s baptism - my beautiful family, my very close friend (that I have known since college) and family and a wonderful family we met in China when bringing our daughter home

While my sister was down, we went for a fun road trip to Banff for a night.  I left Jaida home with Jason and enjoyed quality time with my sister.  At first I was thinking we should all go to Banff because I didn`t know if it was too soon to leave Jaida.  With the boys having school, extra expense, finding someone to care for the dogs, and all piling in the car (which Jaida still doesn`t like so much); I opted to take a chance and go for it.

Hot Springs in Banff - forgot my bathing suit and had so many laughs wearing vintage

Jaida did fine when I was away but do wonder if it made her regress a little.  She like me sitting on the floor with her all the time and our first trip to the library on my return she went and hugged two moms.  I felt so bad, since I am trying to follow all the bonding rules (better hit the books again) and it seemed a little awkward with the other moms- they didn`t really know what to do (I must have had a horrified look on my face haha).

Jaida`s sleep is still inconsistent but I am sleeping in my bed every night and most of the time get to sleep throughout the night, although there are still nights that I can be up for two hours.  Nap time also varies, sometimes she falls asleep when giving her a bottle and other days I lie in her room for 45 min until she falls asleep.  With my boys I would let them cry to sleep when necessary.  I like my sleep so the sooner I can have a full night`s sleep the happier Mommy is.  With Jaida, I read the books how important it is not to let them cry and so I followed that (don`t want to make this transition any harder on the little girl than I have to).  So first cry I was in there.  I have realized that most of the time she is not awake but crying in her sleep.  I was actually waking her up, running in and comforting her.  The last few weeks I let her cry for a couple minutes and she most often stops.  I do check on her and if she is sitting up I comfort her.  I know some will not agree with this but we are both sleeping more (so for me it works).  I was reading someones comments on reading all the books but then you have to use instinct and what works for the family.  I have been so concerned how parenting an IA child is so much different, it can be stressful that now I am mostly just loving and parenting her the way that comes natural.

We are all loving Baby Einstein.  It is amazing how it is the one show babies love.  It is 20 minutes a day I can try and complete something.

Jaida mesmerized watching Baby Einstein

Slips off the chair but still watching it

Jaida`s cute things she does this month is if you ask her what a dog says she says woof woof.  But really nothing comes out, she puffs out her cheeks and blows-way too cute
Her first words are `tickle tickle`and then she tickles her tummy.  Isn`t that amazing that is her first word, who else has that as there first word(s)

Firsts.......

I can`t believe the first month of 2012 is over already.  This month had lots of firsts for Jaida.....



First Steps




First Family Birthday Celebration




First Chinese New Year With Us





First Time Swimming



First Kiss




First Playdate



 Jaida took her first step on New Year`s Eve so it was a great way to bring in the New Year.  She slowly started to improve with three steps and would clap for herself feeling so proud.  The last two days she has been walking more so it won`t be long before she doesn`t want to crawl at all.

On Jan 16 my oldest child turned 16 and I can`t believe it.  I can`t believe I am old enough to have a 16 year old but also can`t believe my children range in age from 16 to 1 year old :)  This is his special year and he has been looking forward to it for quite awhile-since we were at a hotel when he was little and he couldn`t go in the hot tub because you had to be 16.  He is now happy to be 16 because we will allow him to watch 18A movies and he can get his license.  Life isn`t quite as innocent but still good.  The time has gone by so fast and I can`t believe in a couple more years he will be gone to university.  The plus of have large age gaps with our children is I will still have company at home and be able to keep myself busy.  I am so proud of the wonderful young man he has become and all his great qualities.

This is our first year of celebrating Chinese New Year.  It was so much fun and I am so thankful to have our daughter with us and to bring this new tradition into our lives.  I was honoured to be invited to Hayden`s class to help with their celebrations.  I dressed Jaida up and Hayden and all his friends were so excited to see her.  One of his friend`s Dad came and spoke to the class about Chinese New Year and they did crafts, tried eating rice with chopsticks and had lots of special things to take home.  I think it is great this holiday is celebrated in the schools and hope whatever school Jaida goes to, she will also have the celebrations.  We decorated our house, all wore red, gave them red envelopes and ate chinese food (still miss the food in China).  Jason thought one tradition we should have is everyone has to use chopsticks for the entire meal.  He was the first one to break the traditon-as soon as he tried to eat rice.  It was one of my favourite nights and everyone was so happy to celebrate it.  There are a few traditions we didn`t get to do this year (getting haircuts and cleaning the house).  I don`t think the boys will be as excited about the cleaning tradition but will be convenient to throw that one in and actually have my house clean.

We tried to keep Jaida`s world as small as possible to slowly get her use to everything, so I didn`t join her in anything and stayed mostly in the house.  I am starting to go out more and she is doing quite well.  I still try not to go out two days in a row and if I am out with her for too long she lets me know.  I joined her in swimming (which is suggested to help with bonding) and library.  I want her to be around some children her own age as right now she is use to being with her older brothers (and loving it of course).  We have taking her swimming three times this month and she seems to like it.  At first, she has that unsure/not so impressed look that we have seen a lot but after awhile she is smiling and splashing lots.

What brought tears to my eyes this month is Jaida now gives me kisses.  She really did not like them but that did not slow down kissing her constantly in China and since we have been home.  She probably wasn`t kissed in the orphanage so she had no idea what I was doing.  So I asked her for a kiss a couple of weeks ago and she turned her head and gave me one on the lips.  It was the wettest, most beautiful kiss I have ever had.  So now we are always asking for them and I am sure she is sorry she started-haha  Trying to get a picture of the special moment is challenging because as soon as she sees the camera she wants it (made the mistake the other day of letting her play with my camera) and pays no attention to me.  Another reason why I am so excited she gave me kisses is because it shows she understands what we are saying.  She isn`t saying any words so it is hard to know what she understands.

Jaida`s first playdate was with her friend, Jill.  We first met on Forever Family Day in Nanchang (with the same agency) and spent 10 days together.  I was so happy Brian and Kerri invited me to their home for coffee and have the girls play together.  I think it is really special for them to have this early friendship and lucky we live close enough to get together.  Their birthdays are only a day a part and we both had waited a long time for our beautiful girls.

Kerri and me with our beautiful girls

Wish Quilt for Jaida

I decided to make Jaida a Wish Quilt last year.  It is a Chinese tradition of getting 100 pieces of material from friends and family (with a wish to go with each one) to make a quilt for the new child in the family.  I didn't reach the 100 but I don't think the exact number matters as much as the love and meaning.  I had no idea how to make a quilt so luckily my Mom came to visit me in Feb and saved me and the quilt.  We worked together trying to decide how to design the quilt and she took it back to NS to work on it.  She worked hard and had it finished before we even saw a picture of Jaida.  I saw it when she came to visit me for Christmas and I can't believe how beautiful it is.  My Mom did an amazing job and I am so lucky she offered to make it for me and Jaida.

I had a special gift from Uncle Bob when my parents came; he made me a beautiful wooden shelf to hold the quilt.  He is my Godfather and has always been so good to me.  Jason hung it up and it completes Jaida's room.  I am glad she has something so special and hopefully she will cherish it as much as I do.  Now I have to complete my part of the project-the wish book.  I have done very little scrapbooking but have bought lots of stuff over the years in hopes that someday I would scrapbook.  This was a great opportunity to use the stuff and prove to Jason I did not waste all that money.  I have finished 25 wishes so I just have 63 more wishes to go.  My New Year's resolution is to finish the Wish Book.

Thank you to all of you who contributed to this quilt.  This quilt wouldn't have been possible without all of your meaningful pieces of fabric and thoughtful and kind wishes.  This quilt is a piece of all of us and that is what makes it so special

A Merry Christmas It Was

What an amazing Christmas it was to be with my family and finally have my daughter home with us.  Last Christmas at church (as I saw cute little girls in beautiful dresses) I thought of Christmas 2011 and how I would have Jaida.  Some times thoughout the year I began to have doubts so it bought tears to my eyes on Christmas Eve holding my beautul daughter during mass.

Jason surprised me with the most beautiful and perfect gift - white gold necklace with a pendant with our childrens birthstones as well as mine.  I have always wanted one but never felt my family was complete so never asked for one.  I now know my family is complete (which is a great feeling) but wasn`t expecting one so soon.  Usually I have to give lots of hints before I can expect it, and leave out flyers and sometimes buy things myself and give to him to wrap.  My husband is so amazing, I really should tell him more often.  He doesn`t even read my blog so he still won`t know I am saying nice things about him-haha

It was nice to have my parents visit us for the special holiday.  This is the first Christmas we spent completely together.  They have visited us before but didn`t stay at our place so it was nice to have them here Christmas morning and have the fun of Santa coming and filling all of our stockings.  The boys had a great Christmas and got everything they wanted.  Hayden is already thinking of what he wants for next Christmas so I will have to work on him and remind him of the importance of Christmas a little better.  Jaida had fun but didn`t keep up with the boys for unwrapping presents, she was still unwrapping on Boxing Day.  Tristan thought this was a good idea and has plans to keep some of his presents for Boxing Day next year.  If he does I am sure he will keep all the soft ones (clothes) for that day.



I took Jaida to the dr and occupational therapist.  Some of the things she was checking for Jaida wasn`t able to do so I can`t believe what a difference two weeks can make: she is going up the stairs as fast as I can and deciding if she wants to go back down, she is standing all the time and claps (with one hand in a fist) as she is so proud of herself, crawling everywhere, reaching, kneeling, wants me to walk with her, loves her rocking horse and goes so fast it is scary, offering me food all the time, and bothering the dogs lots (poor dogs).

Jaida`s sleeping through the night has gotten much better(I bought her the Fisher Price aquarium and that seems to really soothe and/or mesmerize her, it eats the batteries but extra sleep is priceless so we just keep buying batteries).  I still sleep in her room but on the few occasions I had to sleep in my bed to get up with an alarm she did pretty well,  I just had to go in and turn the aquarium on a few times.  Jaida has very little naps-basically falls asleep in my arms exhausted and sleeps about 20 minutes in her crib ( I think when she wakes up and sees I am not there gets scared, cries) and then she is awake for the rest of the day.  She sometimes goes to bed around 10pm but has gone to bed as early as 8pm and some nights is up until 11pm.  I keep wanting to put her to bed earlier but she is at her best in the evening and I just want to enjoy it and lose track of time.  I was reading an article the other day http://www.adoptmed.org/topics/sleep-and-adoption.html and it discussed adopted children and sleep issues, I knew some of it but I found it interesting how it touched on overstimulated children and how they can have the Disneyland syndrome.  I think this explains Jaida because she is so tired around 6pm and I think there is no way she will make it to 8 or 9pm, then she gets a second or third wind and is happy and still awake at 11pm.  It isn`t really a bad thing since she is happy but I will have to work to keep her life more routine and calm later in the evening.  She does seem to be doing better, yesterday she actually had a 2hr nap and the last two nights she has gone to bed and I can hear her wake up but she doesn`t cry and soothes herself back to sleep.  Tonight was the cutest-I rocked her and put her to bed awake (she gets restless in my arms sometimes and won`t stay still).  She was moving around, couldn`t settle; so I layed in the bed and put my hand in the crib and called her to come up to it-she then crawled to my hand, layed her head on my hand and held it with both hands, then fell asleep.  So wish I could have picture to capture the moment.

As wonderful as my Christmas was it was also filled with sadness.  Somebody I love very much is going through personal heartache.  My heart breaks for her and hopes she never doubts what an amazing person she is (and I would be so lucky to have even some of her great qualities) It just doesn`t seem fair, I can be so happy and have everything and those I love around me don`t have the same.  It also makes me weary for the future-a lot of times I think of how happy I am and that my life can`t be this perfect forever so I do kind of wait for the bad but embrace the happiness while I have it.

The other saddness of this Christmas is my grandmother passed away 23 December.  She was 95 years old and I have been amazed for years how active she was (bowled when she was 90 yrs old, went to church everyday, volunteered, and went out every night to play cards) She was an amazing women who will be missed but I really think her funeral should be a celebration of life if ever there was one.  She lived an amazing life, she was so healthy and on the day she died she had her hair done, walked to the ambulance telling the man walking her down the stairs she wasn`t feeling too bad, and then passed away in the ambulance.  She lived alone in her home but two of her daughters were visiting her at the time.  My Grandmother celebrated Christmas with her family early since everyone was traveling to visit other family so even though it is hard to lose someone special during the holidays she already had her special Christmas. This year Alyson (my cousin) come up with a great idea for all the grandchildren to give a gift together to donate books and music to a school to honour her legacy of a great teacher and a great grandmother.  Wendy (another cousin) presented it to her and videotaped it for us that live far away to enjoy.  Again amazed how things happen for a reason and so thankful to Alyson and Wendy for what they did to give us a wonderful lasting memory and a special moment for Grammy.

Merry Christmas Grammy Bailey

I wish Jaida could have met her great-grandmother like her brothers did and my grandmother could have met her.  My Grammy did see pictures of her, read my blog, sent a wish for her quilt and send a special porcelain doll (which I will keep up high so the doll isn't bald in 2 weeks) for her at Christmas so even though they did not meet they will have a connection.  My Grandmother had 12 great-grandsons until this year she became a great-grammy to two beautiful girls.