Pumpkins Galore

I really love this time of year. I love the colours involved, the smells involved and anywhere else in the world I would love the temperature changes involved. We decorated our house for Halloween last weekend and as soon as Halloween is gone I will decorate for Autumn.

Today we took advantage of a sun-less day and ventured off to the pumpkin patch and met our friends Ed, Jenny and Ebby there. What a difference a year makes, this time last year Lily was calling them pumpinks but this year they are pumpkins.....it is sad I miss her Lilyisms so much. I have always said I wanted girls, no boys but let me tell you Ebby has really won me over in the boy department cos he is just so sweet natured, and caring and so funny and as smart as can be. I love this little guy to bits.

Ebby made this scarecrow in his pre school class.

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I love this photo and we didn't even ask her to pose!

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Family Phun

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I think this one is big enough. She didn't pee her pants, the pumpkin was all wet and when she picked it up it ran down her legs.

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Ebby trying so hard to escape.

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Awwww, so sweet.

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Hey, this gourd makes a great phone

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Why do kids have to have the BIGGEST ones?

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Thank you for all of your comments from the last post. Lily is one of the most popular kids in her class I think the kids that drive her batty are the ones that have not met her before. She knows how to handle herself and we have given her plenty of ammuntion to use, not nasty stuff. She knows her story and tells only who she wants to. I just know that oneday someone is going to say something a little off colour to her and that is going to break my heart into. Lily will have the answer ready and she will stand up for herself but I will need a lot of chocolate on that occasion.

It's Started

"I'm tired of all the questions". This was the statement that Lily made to me last night during dinner. Even though I had no idea what she was referring to I had a feeling that this was going to lead to something quite important so I replied by saying, "I can see where the questions could become rather tiring and annoying. Who is asking all these questions?"

"Kids," said Lily. "They always ask if I am Chinese and when I say I am they want to know how come I am here"

"What do you tell them?"

"I tell them that I was born in China and then my mum and dad came to get me and bring me home. And then they start asking me more questions so I tell them ,it is NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS. (At this point she was yelling)

I ended up telling her it was fine to say that it was none of their business but that she should try and be kind when she says it. I also suggested that she just ignore them but she told me if she does that they just keep asking.

Her final statement was this: I'm just Lily, that's all, why does it matter where I was born?

And so we are entering a new chapter, one I fear is going to cause me more pain than her. Leave my little girl alone people. She truly is just Lily and the rest of the story, well it is none of your DAMNED business. Sorry the protective Mama just came out of me.


Why Do I look Different, Mom?
By Debbie Brodie.

"Why do I look different Mom?"
Lily C**e will ask one day.
How come I don't resemble
all the kids with whom I play?

My hair is inky black and straight
My skin's a different hue
So would you tell me Mom
Why I don't look like you?

You're an Oriental flower,
I'll tell my darling girl,
Your skin and hair and eyes all come
from halfway around the world.

The sun of China warmed your skin
to that exquisite shade
Your eyes are China's beauty marks
Your hair a silk cascade
The colour of the midnight sky
Unlighted by a star.

So don't think you look different dear,
you look like who you are.

Dragon Boat Festival

Sunday was the 5th annual Dragon Boat Festival so we toddled off to Haulover Beach to participate in the festivities. It was so much bigger than the previous years and loads more fun. We were there for hours and hours cos a certain little person just didn't want to leave. It was fine with me because one of the shows of the day was Eleanor Hoh giving her Wok presentation. I have been emailing and chatting via phone with Eleanor for a few months now trying to set a date and time so that she can give a Wok demonstration to our FCC group but I had never actually met her. After the presentation we sat and talked with her and her wonderful hubby for about an hour. She is such a lovely lady and is very interested in teaching her wok methods to all and any FCC groups or China adoption groups throughout the country so if you are interested just drop her an email.

I didn't video any of the races....duh. There was so much going on and we had seats, well rocks actually, right at the finish line and Jacob was taping the boats so I just watched the races and kept and eye on Lily who was walking all over the rocks and I expected her to go splash at any second.

I think Lily's favourite act was the belly dancers, she even went up on stage with them but I held the video camera sideways for that and so it is rendered useless.

This girl could do things with her hips that I can only dream of. I am so tempted to sign up for belly dancing classes.











Renowned Wok Star, Eleanor.


Lily somehow managed to get invited up on stage to drawer the tickets out of the box for the raffle. The first prize was airline tickets to China we missed it by one digit. The guy in front of us in the line won....hmmmpf.

Cookery Tip

Today I offer you a very helpful cookery tip:

When steaming vegetables be sure to add the water to the pan before turning on the burner.

Tonight I was cooking dinner and I turned on the steamer and went back a few minutes later and lifted the lid to have a peek and nada, nothing was happening. I thought it was strange that it wasn't starting to cook but I replaced the lid and walked away. I did this again a few moments later and still nothing. You'd think I would have twigged, but no, not me. Finally as the house filled with a really acrid smoke smell I figured out that something was amiss. Lily's comment. "wow mummy, you are forgetful aren't you!"

Phun.

When you have as much fun as we have been having it must become a four letter word hence the new spelling, Phun.

I had a really lovely spa day the other day and it was all courtesy of Lily. First she gave me a massage and I have to say that the nightly massages that she gets are finally paying off because the child is good at it. After the massage she wanted to do my hair so I obliged her. Not really sure I should post the photos but I am anyway. As I have proved countless times I have no standards. She even took the photo.


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This weekend we spent with lots of her friends at the house and it was wonderful. On Saturday her friend Mia came over and Mia has just recieved her referral for her Mei Mei and Lily was so disappointed that she didn't bring her. I have told her at least a billion times that the baby is still in China but she just cannot grasp that idea.
On Sunday we had 3 other friends over for the day and it was bliss. Chaotic bliss if that makes sense. If you want to have oodles and oodles of phun, just add kids. I bought each of them, Jacob included, a can of silly string and left them to it. I think the shrieks of delight could be heard in the next state.


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Every single toy that Lily owns, and that is quite a few, was removed from it's home and scattered willy nilly throughout the house. I loved it. The 4 of them got along famously the whole time which in my eyes is miraculous.

Since we now know that the CCAA matched through the 30th of November it means there are only 63 LID's ahead of us. Doesn't sound like much but considering they have been doing 5 days worth a month it could take a long time but I am remaining optimistic that since we have finally said good riddance to the big months that we should see Chopsticks little face in approximately 7 more months. That's my story and I am sticking to it.

Undecided On A Title

I wasn't sure what to call this post. Some of the appropriate headings would include: Lost My Mind, Re-assessing, Time For A Change or Time Management. It makes no difference what I call it I am undergoing some changes in my life and they are all for the better.

I am, by nature, a very hyper person. I must have been a royal pain as a kid because I just can't sit still. If I am sitting I am fiddling with something or fidgeting around. ( I bet you're glad you wont be sitting next to me on that long flight to China. ) I used to spend all my time doing stuff never just sitting but since I started to blog I have been spending countless hours at the computer. I love the blogging, I have met so many amazing people but I have realised I am no longer as productive as I like to be so I am going to cut it back a bit. I wont post daily unless I have completed my list of self imposed chores. I will stay abreast ( I find that such a silly word) of everyone but for my own sanity I have to do some other things as well.

I used to be a workout queen, 6 and sometimes 7 days a week I would workout. I felt great, was a bit skinny but loved exercise. At some point I stopped working out. Went cold turkey and never looked back. I didn't have to exercise to be thin so I quit. I have been pondering of late starting it all over again. I don't need to lose weight but I want to be fit again. This thought has been ruminating around in my grey matter for a few months so this week I bit the bullet and started again. Ha ha ha, let me tell you that the only thing that I can do at the moment without severe pain radiating through my body is smile.

Another thing that I have accomplished with all my free time is getting the grout clean. It has been looking pretty "fuchy" of late and we keep saying we will call the chap to have it cleaned. I got tired of it yesterday and spent 6 hours on my knees, wearing some "bring sexy back" knee pads and cleaned the whole downstairs floor myself with a little help from 3 packets of Magic Eras*ers. I felt so good when I was done. I little nuts but good nonetheless. Jacob wants me to tell you that I was complaining that his knee pads were hard to wear and that is when he realised I had them on upside down. He laughed....alot.

I have a Type A personality and if I start something it has to be done to perfection. I can't quit anything and I can't leave anything undone. For all of you out there, and you know who you are, that told me that once I had Lily I would change, you may now eat your words! I am now being told that once we have 2 kiddos I will change, to that I say, Bite Me. It isn't going to happen. I have changed alot since having Lily, I know longer clean the windows daily!

I am going to be managing my time and being so much more productive. Please don't write me off cos I am still here and will still follow along but I have to have some down time, or perhaps I shall call it, up time. This isn't a break or me signing off it is just me allowing myself some breathing room. I am too addicted to all of you to not find out all the "Happily Ever Afters" and I want to share ours as well.

Have a fabby weekend. We have lots of plans and I will post them soon.
XOXOXOXOXO

Referrals.

Referrals are out for the month. I am not sure what the cut off date is yet since the CCAA is being a tad tardy with the changing of the signage. I could understand the tardiness if they were whacking out 3 weeks of referrals at a time but geesh I think we have managed a whopping 5 days again.
Even as slow they are being they still managed to match our friends with the most gorgeous little 9 month old baby girl. Congrats G she is gorgeous.
Lily was so upset that her friend got her sister and she is still waiting. That took some explaining.
Congrats to all the families who have received their referrals and as for the rest of us, well we will continue plodding along. I am getting so good at plodding now that sometimes I forget what we are plodding for. I feel like I am stuck on a hamster wheel in slow motion. No complaints, well perhaps a few, but it all seems so mundane now. I know it will happen but will it happen in this lifetime?

Middle Of The Night Conversations

We have been having a lot and I mean A LOT of thunderstorms lately. The tropical kind that rattle your windows. Many of them have occurred in the middle of the night so Lily has been coming running into our room, pillow and Bunny in hand and ready to get comfortable.

We have no problem with her sleeping in our bed. I know it isn't meant to be a good thing but honestly, we love it. She has always been good about going to bed in her bed so a few nights here and there are fun.


Last week she came sprinting in and I pulled her in and cuddled her when she decided she had to go to the bathroom first before she could go to sleep. Out of bed I crawl and off we go. No sooner were we in bed again and Jacob gets up to go to the loo and then he comes back. Now I am finally thinking, thank God, perhaps we can get back to sleep now when this oh so perky little voice pipes up, "Hey dad, you wanna go and get some middle of the night cookies?" He told her it was to close to breakfast. Now I am really wishing every one would be quiet when she says, and she was really chirpy, "OK., another time, don't tell mum OK Dad". I growled, "I heard you now go to sleep."

Last night this is what unfolded. A huge crash of thunder followed instantaneously by the pitter patter of little feet and me getting whacked in the face by a pillow as she tried to climb in. I reached over and gave her a tug and shoved her into the middle. Ahhh, all was silent when suddenly Jacob starts snoring to beat the band. I reached over Lily and was just able to reach him so I gave him a gentle whack and asked him to stop snoring. Ahhhh, silence but of course not for long. Jacob starts with his nose singing again and this time it really annoyed me so I thought since my legs are longer than my arms I would give him a gentle kick. So I reached around Lily and wham. I also asked him to stop it, in what I am sure was a kind and pleasant wifey tone. The next thing I know Schnoog says this, "Mom, stop talking, I can't sleep with YOU making all this noise!" I couldn't believe it, there she is in MY bed and she has the audacity to defend the snorer. Little girls and their daddy's........it's a beautiful thing





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Stage Fright? No Way

Yesterday was Lily's Chinese performance on stage to celebrate the Mid -Autumn Moon Festival. We thought this was just going to be a little event with a few school kids but were we ever wrong! It was quite the affair that was sponsored by the South Florida Chinese Cultural Association. It was held at a local elementary school which specialises in languages and one of which just happens to be Mandarin.

Lily's little Chinese class met in a local park for a picnic first and then we headed across the park to the auditorium at the school. Let me tell you we were shocked when we saw how many people were there and all the hullabaloo for the event. My friend Jenny is the media specialist at this school and when I told her Lily would be performing she said she wasn't going to be there but at the last minute she was yanked away from her husbands birthday party to film the event for the school. (that is what I call a dedicated employee). We were able to sit right next to her in the very front. It is so good to have connections cos the place was packed and we would have ended up at the back of the room and for those of you who have seen my photo, I am not the tallest person around.

I took Lily "backstage" with the other mums to get them ready and let them rehearse. They were all so very excited and had there little red tops on and blue jeans, their faces were painted like tigers and they had all made their own masks/headpieces. We then got ushered away so that T could have them alone for awhile. The kids were the 5th act so we waited very patiently to see our little ones traipse out on to the stage.

They were introduced and the curtain opened and these little tiny weeny kiddos appeared and every single one of them was beaming. Up to this point the audience in general was disgraceful. They talked through every performance, the kids were running amok, and some were even making and receiving cellphone conversations. I was appalled. I was also shocked that the principal of the school didn't ask every one to shut up when he introduced each group on to the stage.It saddens me to think that these people are raising children with the same lack of respect.

Once the kiddies appeared I have no idea how the crowd was behaving cos my eyes and ears were glued to the stage. They were so damned adorable I couldn't stand it. I am hoping that my dear sweet Jenny will give me a copy of the "real" DVD from the evening cos the one I did was done through glassy eyes cos I was in proud Mama mode. Jacob had the video and he did a much better job he even caught Lily as she waved and shouted, hi to us both.

In the park

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Getting Ready

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Final practice

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Ta Da

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Look at the 2 little boys....so funny.

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Once Lily was in bed last night Jacob and I were talking about just how much our lives have changed and what truly wonderful people we have come to know and love all because of Lily. I am sure all parents are great but the ones in the adoption community are totally top notch. I never allowed myself to dream that this would be my life because for so long it eluded me but it was worth every second of every hard blow and I am now living my dream.

Wow, How Did We Do All That?

At the end of the day in the eyes of a child you can see all the things that make the journey worthwhile.
A Davidson.

I love this quote and it is so very true. Today we had a lot of different things to do and places to go. All of them were great fun but it was hectic and tonight when I put my little girl in her bed and she looked at me with her very tired eyes and said, "I love you mummy and today was such great fun." All the running about is worth it when I can look at her and see how much she has enjoyed herself.
Take a look at what made her day such a delight.

Blowing Bubbles at her new friend Lia's house.
Lia is from the same orphanage as Lily and lives 5 minutes away from us. Small world.


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More Fun


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Princess Lily at the Princess party.


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Lily renamed, Princess Lipstick.


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After the party we flew home got all clean and pretty and dashed up to Pembroke Pines to have dinner with our friends. The restaurant was terrific and is the only Chinese restaurant I have ever been to that has a chlidrens menu. H, has 3 little girls all from China so dinner was a very entertaining affair and I only managed to stop once to pull out my camera as we were having such a lovely time.

Meet Lily from the Von Trapp family! please excuse tht simply lovely piece of broccoli that is in her mouth.

Off to bed for me as tomorrow is Lily Chinese performance at a local school so I want to be bright eyed and bushy tailed for it. She is going to be on stage performing and something tells me she will love it.

To Our Sweet Baby

Sweet Little Girl.

This blog was started many months ago to document our journey to you. I try to document all the big milestones that happen along the way and count the months that pass as we creep closer and closer to you.

Lily, Daddy and I have been waiting to see you face now for 19 months and 1 day. We really thought that you would have been home with us many, many months ago. The wait is so very difficult. Each and everyday we think of you and talk about you. The wait is the hardest on your big sister because she cannot fully comprehend why you are taking so long.

She wants to hold you, give you your bottle and bathe you. She isn't very keen on the idea of taking a bath with you cos she thinks you will pee in it but that is because I recently told her that she used to do that. She wants to see your little face so much so that she can choose your name. She has lots of names picked out for you and one very special one that she has put so much thought into.

Lily used to save bits of her food for you and I would have to wrap them up and put them in the freezer. There are lots of half eaten cookies just for you. She saves her favourite things and puts them in your nursery and tells me not to give them to the poor kids because they are for her Mei Mei.

We just want you home with us, where you belong. We are ready and have been for a very long time now but we will wait until forever because you are part of us and we love you so much.

And so our darling little one, if you are in an orphanage or foster home be patient and know that we love you and we will be there soon, very soon ,to bring you home with us.

In my perfect little world I think we have approximately 7 more months to go before we see your face for the first time. I just can't imagine that we can be apart for much longer.

We love you with all our hearts and then some.

Mummy, Daddy and Lily.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxox

All Sorts Of Stuff

This will be one of my, everything and anything with a little of the other thrown in for luck, posts. Where to start?

Because today is the Chinese Mid Autumn Moon Festival Lily and I went out together to celebrate. She wanted to wear one of her Chinese outfits and her silver bell bracelet. She looked so sweet.

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Not sure what provoked this face

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Little Cutie

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We read a great book tonight. It wasn't about the Moon Festival but it was a China related book. It is about shapes and thoroughly lovely. We read all about the jade rabbit on the moon too and finally before she went to be we went outside and bowed to the moon. If you are female this is part of the tradition so get up and go outside and bow to the moon. Lily loves all things about China and on Sunday evening she is getting up on stage with her Chinese class and singing some songs at a moon festival celebration. (you know there will be photos of that one)

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Next subject!
I received a package in the post, Not Lily but ME. Lily tried to claim it but I wouldn't even let her get all the words out of her mouth. I explained it was for people with boobies. She said she has boobies but I told her until they are big enough to fit in a bra my duck was off limits. She relented and stared at down at her chest rather deflated, no pun intended.

i-con, thank you so much. I love my duck and the poem that accompanied her. She represents her cause so well and the words will be heeded.

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Next!
I can't remember where I was going with this one so....

Next!
It really was a day all about me. I used to have those days all the time. Hell, life was all about me but now I am much happier with life being all about Schnoogie.
I received another gift. This one was from the fabulous, minus the gimpy finger, LayDFrog


She thinks I am worthy of the Smile Award. If it should go to anyone it really should go to Lily cos her smile is always on and it lights up a room.
Here is what the person that created this award says about it: the thing that I love most about blogging is that I learn so much about a person just by reading their blog. I have met MANY wonderful people with wonderful stories to tell,and I am grateful every day for each person that I have the pleasure of crossing paths in life with.I wanted to create something special for the top ten people who have inspired me through their blogging; the stories they tell, and the lives that they lead with grace and dignity. I visit their blogs for inspiration and encouragement.
Please grab your badge and wear it proudly, and pass it on because you inspire and encourage me, thank you.

Oish, now I am supposed to pick 10 people and forward the award. That is like only having 4 ice creams and 5 children. It is wrong, just wrong. How can I pick 10 blogs?
I am not taking the easy way out, well maybe I am but if you are reading this and you know that I follow your blog then you are obviously an inspiration to me so consider yourself a recipient of the smile award.

Next!
Only kidding there is enough in this one post to last a week or more and I am going to bed. G'night