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`