Settling In...

Well our darling continues to do really well, she isn't sleeping through the night but hey what child is!!! She only wakes up once though for a couple of hours of cuddles and then back to sleep for two more then up for the morning. Today was her doctor's appointment, the doctor says she is healthy and except for her being underweight (she's in the 10th percentile) she is doing great but that will work itself out now that she's home. She went to John's work today while we were out and everyone there fell in love with her, we were going to visit my work too but it was all a bit overwhelming for her so another day we'll go. It was a hectic yet happy day, not used to the whole getting us both ready and out the door and from one place to the next so I am completely exhausted today. I can't even imagine what I'd do if Mom wasn't here, I'd be a mess!!! We'll try not to book so much in one day until I get a little more used to this and am better rested! It is such a joy to have her here, I can't even remember life before her, it's like she's always been here..my girl.

More Pictures

Here just some various pictures. Some are with her favorite care giver at the orphanage and the man is the director of her orphange. They were incredible people, very loving and kind. The picture of John and I with Aislin all bundled up is at the Great Wall of China, that was an incredible thing to see. It's 4000 kms and would take two years to walk it all. It was very cold there because it was in the mountains.

We're Home!

What a wonderful trip, what a wonderful girl! It's about 8:30 on Sunday morning Nova Scotia time, and so it's 8:30pm China time, I've been awake for almost 48 hours...so has Aislin. She slept a bit on the plane but right now she is upstairs in her crib playing, I am hoping she'll go to sleep at some point. She is still smiling!! It was an enormously long trip home. We left at 2am Saturday morning NS time, and got to NS at 1:30 am Sunday! Other than a meltdown on the flight from Toronto to Moncton, Aislin did really well! We couldn't have asked for more. John is fast asleep and so are the newest Grandparents...we'll let them sleep for a bit longer and then it's my turn! I'll post some pictures so you can all see her now, she is doing so well. She stands so much better, we even got her to eat some applesauce. She had her doctors appointment at the Canadian Embassy and other than some malnourishment causing her to be underweight and have less strength than normal in her legs she is perfectly healthy. We get her checked out on Wednesday from our family doctor. I am hoping to post some other pictures of our trip so you can see some of the amazing places we went to..
It is so nice to be home. My Mom and Dad are so excited about her, once Dad held her he didn't want to give her back...she took to them right away! It is so wonderful that they are here with us, it means the world to me and I know it does to John and Aislin too!! We had lots of messages from Angie and Kyle who are waiting to talk to their little sister, and Sean who is dying to hear his niece's voice!!! Tara, Mike, Ethan and Emma painted a banner welcoming Aislin home, they did a beautiful job!!
And they made us supper (lasagna!!!) so we don't have to cook our first night home. There it was in the fridge, with all the fixings...caeser salad and garlic bread! Wow we really appreciated that! We can't wait to get home to Cape Breton too...there are alot of really special people that we want Aislin to meet. I am particularly looking forward to seeing Jenny, we've been best friends since we were six years old and have shared all the big moments in each others lives...I can't wait for Aislin to meet her Auntie Jen!!!
Here are some pictures from our first moments together, when she was first placed in our arms and then us having a nap!

Last Day in Guangzhou

What an amazing experience this has been. Yesterday we went to Aislin's orphanage and to where she was found, it was an emotional day to say the least. The orphanage conditions were good, there were about 35 babies there, and boy oh boy it was hard to leave them. Aislin is doing more every day, she is very clingy right now and a little afraid to be left alone. We are very obliging!!! She still doesn't like solid food so we've been slipping stuff in her formula and she doesn't seem to mind that. We've done so much while we've been here, it's hard to believe it's only been a week. We are anxious in a way though to get back home to see everyone! The food in China is absolutely amazing. We've been doing our best to soak up as much culture as we can. What a place! I could almost live here.
Well we are off to Beijing again tonight until Saturday when we fly back to Canada...so I'll try to update if the internet is working in Beijing!

I have internet for a few minutes

Our darling daughter is beautiful...she is beyond what we could have imagined. She didn't cry a bit when she was placed in our arms, instead she was laughing up a storm. She slept pretty much through the night last night, we are having some issues with eating but we're working them out. Oh she's soooo tiny, so we are trying to get vitamins into her to make sure she stays healthy. She is a bit delayed in that she can't stand on her own yet but she crawls, sits up, stands up holding on to something. She doesn't like to be alone. But when she laughs it's like nothing you've ever heard....
Our adoption was official today as well. We had alot of meetings and were asked if we are happy with her and if we will ever abandon her....not in a million years...of course I cried the whole time.
anyway, i will try again to update you all as internet access is available. it's slow at best and the business centres computers don't always work...it sure is beautiful here...I wish I could put some pictures on but you'll have to wait until we come home....
Thank you to my Mom for posting for us last night, we called home so she could hear her Granddaughter's voice. Can't wait for you all to meet this little angel!
Love and Hugs from Guangzhou..

Hello from tropical Guangzhou [via Cape Breton}, it'a like Hawaii here, and winter in Beijing. We have our baby!!!!! Aislin is beautiful, petite {12 months is too big} and has 6 teeth and a dimple on each cheek. She has never had solid food or anything cold. She smiles and laughs alot and doesn't like to be left alone.
Because of the earthquake in China, email is very slow {19 min} and very expensive. Tara will update this blog herself when she can.

Zai jian, Bye, Ciao....

This is it, my last post before we leave. Mike is picking us up at 4am to take us to the airport and we are ready as can be! Bags are packed, all the necessary sitters are in place (house, dogs, cat) now all we have to do is get on the plane and away we go!
Keep watching, we'll share the journey along with you as we go!!!!!!!!
Hang on Aislin, we're almost there!

China Eve Eve

Well remember way back when...the night before we got Aislin's picture and I couldn't sleep! Well here I am again. Actually I haven't slept in three nights at least not very well. So many details are running around in my head, so many lists that I thought I covered and then I remember one more thing I forgot to do, and then another and then it hits me....it doesn't matter if it doesn't get packed or done or ready or whatever...I am going to see and hold my daughter in just a few days. So then that sends me off in a whirlwind of butterflies and this new nervous giggle I didn't know I had...go figure. It is almost beyond my comprehension that this is it, it's finally here.
At times I feel very overwhelmed by this little girl whose life is about to change so drastically. Am I going to know what to do when she cries, how will I know what each cry means, what if she is so heartbroken and misses her care givers that I can't console her. But we'll figure it out and we'll go through it together...a family.
We have been warned by our social worker to expect that she isn't going to be as happy about us as we are about her. That she'll probably cry when she is placed in our arms...that she may take a while to trust us and love us back. But we have time and we have love and that'll carry us through until she's ready. I'm ready.

details of trip

Thought we'd fill you in on what our trip to China is going to be like somewhat. We fly to Beijing and spend 1 1/2 days there and then fly on to Guangzhou where Aislin will be waiting for us. It's a 2 hour flight from Beijing to Guangzhou, so while we are flying there, Aislin will probably be on a bus from the Orphanage (2.5 hrs) to the Civil Affairs office where we will meet her for the first time. The moment we've been waiting for!!! We spend a few days in Guangzhou, getting the paperwork in order, filing for her passport and visa and we are fortunate enough that we've been given permission to visit her orphanage. We won't be allowed in the "baby room" but we will be allowed in the building and on the grounds. We also will be permitted to ask a few questions specific to Aislin such as her likes, dislikes, routines etc.
After a few days in Guangzhou we head back to Beijing, where the Canadian Embassy is for more paperwork, medical appointments etc...We will also be going to the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, and many other amazing sights. We spend about another week in Beijing and then we get to come home where my Mom and Dad and one of my closest friends Tara will be waiting for us at the airport. It will definately be a wonderful experience, one that we will attempt to capture while we are away and share with you on this site or if that's not possible we will fill you all in when we get back. Some other families who use this site provider have experienced trouble accessing it from China...we'll try though!

Last Meeting!

Today we travel to Halifax for our last meeting before we go to China next week! It's next week, we can hardly believe it! We'll find out all the details of our trip and get our plane tickets today and any last minute questions we might have. It'll be so nice to see the other families who are travelling with us again. We haven't seen them in almost a year! We've started packing things just to get an idea of the weight...we are only allowed two suitcases and they must not weigh more than 44lbs. The restrictions are for the flights within China so we even though we are allowed more with Air Canada, we have to pack as though we are only flying within China. On the way back we'll have an extra bag and luckily we can buy alot of things there, like diapers and formula and that stuff so we don't have to pack two weeks worth!
So one whole suitcase is Aislin's stuff which as of right now weighs 37lbs, and we still have our things to pack! And remember it's two different seasons we have to pack for, Beijing is cold like Nova Scotia and Guangzhou is about 15-20 degrees. But this part has been so much fun, getting everything together.
Anyway, off we go...I'll update this post later if anything comes up at the meeting!

Update: We found out that when Aislin's most recent picture was taken she had just had a bath and was getting ready for her nap....

Last Day of Work

Today was my last day at work while I take parental leave to spend some time getting to know Aislin, it was such a great day. I really enjoy working at the court house and though I am really excited about this next step I sure will miss seeing everyone everyday. Aislin and I will stop in for visits though! Marney my supervisor has an incredible memory, I once told her that one of the things I am looking forward to the most was giving Aislin a bath and when she gets out of the tub smelling all clean and good, putting her in her pj's and hearing her little feet pitter patter down the hallway as we get ready to read her a bedtime story...so Marney got everything we needed to do just that...from the baby wash, to the rubber ducky to the pj's and a bedtime book, a blanket, a stuffed toy, a night light and so so much more! The people I work with have been so kind to me since I began working there, they've gone through this patiently listening to me describing every detail, they've been a big part of the excitement and not to mention the many tears I've cried (at an Advent calendar no less!!!)and they still put up with me!!! Bonnie, another friend at work picked my name for secret Santa and she got me two big fluffy towels with Aislin's name and birthdate embroidered on them, they are absolutely beautiful and I will add the pictures soon. Judy another one of my favorite people bought Aislin a litte jean dress set with shoes to match, it is Aislin's first pair of shoes....and John also from work and his wife gave us a blanket and hat and mittens, made by his wife.
So this is a big shout out to my work family, thank you, it wouldn't have been the same going through this without you!

Kyle and Rhonda

More good news...our family will have another new addition! Kyle proposed to Rhonda over Christmas and she accepted!! We are just thrilled. We think the world of Rhonda and couldn't be happier for both of them!