Joy!

We got to spend some time with Hannah and Cindy yesterday. They just got back from Vietnam Wednesday evening. I was sooooooooo excited when Cindy called to say they were ready for our visit. I thought I was going to burst. Little Hannah fell asleep in her Mommy's arms moments after we arrived. I was not disappointed at all. It was so sweet just to watch her nestle up so close to Cindy and fall asleep on her shoulder with such peace. Aimée, seized the opportunity to explore all of Hannah's new toys. Everyone was very happy.


Other good news... Aimée is officially done with her helmet. Hurray!!! Bring out the barrettes, cutesy hats and colourful ribbons! The helmet was a huge success. The final measurements indicated that more progress was made than they had ever expected. I am so glad to be done with it. It seems to have annoyed me more than it ever annoyed Aimée. It is now something to be added to her keepsake box.




Purely for your enjoyment.... I have added the link to Aimée's favourite Sesame clip (and secretly mine too). This is what "JOY" is all about, baby!! It has gotta make you smile.
Do DE Rubber Duck!

For the record....

Over the last 71/2 months, I have received tons of positive and supportive feedback from family, friends and strangers regarding Aimée’s adoption. People are clearly happy for the both of us and want to share in our joy. Strangers sometimes come up to us and want to know about Aimée. I am happy to share our story with them. Aimée, after all, is my favourite topic of conversation. There is one type of response, however, (although well meaning) that really gets to me. It is when some people hear that she was from an orphanage. Sometimes they cringe, sometimes they say things like “poor babe” or simply “Oh no…”. Some people think she is Chinese and make comments on how terrible it is that girls are not valued. Yesterday, a woman said to me “It is so sad the way these babies are unloved and just discarded”.
Oufff! I can’t even put in words what that does to my heart.
For the record…. Aimée was not discarded.; nor was she ever, not even for a moment, unloved. This is not a naïve wishful statement… it is my experience. Whenever I think of the adoption process, I am truly amazed at how many people had Aimée’s best interest at heart. There was a team of people working hard, every single step of the process, to ensure Aimée would be loved and well cared for (her birthmother and birth family, the orphanage director, the agency, both governments, the nannies, the in-country facilitator, the social worker, and me of course). How many of us can say that we had as many people concerned with our care as children?
The orphanage was not a cold, dreary, evil place I imagined orphanages to be as a child (no thanks to movies such as “Annie” and “Oliver Twist“). I can’t speak for all orphanages, but I can speak for Aimée’s orphanage. It was relatively poor (by western standards) and simple, but DEFINITELY loving. It breaks my heart when I hear people say negative things about the orphanage, because I have seen how much the nannies and director care for these babies and go out of their way for them. I was there one afternoon when the older children came home from school. It was a very familiar scene, they came in giggling and chatting about their day, said hello to the babies and nannies and off they went to play. I remember feeling a bit surprised at just how normal it seemed. They were not unhappy children. Even the staff from housekeeping adore the babies. When Aimée was leaving the orphanage a lady kept coming around us and watching us. I was told she cleaned the nurseries and had become very attached to Aimée. I was so touched by how she held Aimée and said her goodbyes. The nannies wanted us to know exactly how the babies liked to be held, how they liked their bottles, how they ate, how to comfort them…. It was very obvious that these babies were loved tremendously and cared for as if they were their own children.
When I was in Vietnam, many people would tell me that Aimée was a lucky baby. I believe it to be completely true. Not because I am the one to adopt her. She is lucky to have so many people deeply love her and care for her. It is only fitting, that a girl with so much love in her life, be named Aimée (loved). Wouldn't you agree???

Aimée with lady from housekeeping

Aimée with some of her nannies

More pictures from Florida!

We have been hanging out at my parents senior RV Park. It has been very entertaining........

Old men in tight Speedos, strollers for dogs, AMATEUR (did you get the amateur)jamboree/variety shows and aqua fitness in the pool with noodles to stay afloat. As my niece Ceinwen put it: "More polka music than a girl can handle!!!"

The girls and Kael

Ceinwen and Aimee

Aimee makes a mean drunk.
Picnic in the Disney parking lot!!!! Thank heavens we brought food. Over half of the restaurants were closed because of low numbers. We could only choose from hot dogs, corn dog nuggets or chili in the park.

Dad and moi
Happy Kael and David
Denise, David, Ceinwen and Kael

We didn't manage to get any pictures with the Disney princesses. They were hard to reach. Snow White kept waving and running away. B*tch! It is all good though... why take your picture with a princess, when you can get a queen.

Aimee and the Queen of the Castle!

Hello from Tampa Florida!

Cheers my friends!!!

Well, we have already been here one full week. We have been having a brilliant time. Our plane ride was good and Aimee was not the same little possessed baby she was when we came home from Vietnam. She only got a little fussy in the last few hours of the trip; but, nothing too difficult at all. PHEWEY!!!

Here is the Little Miss watching her Sesame Street on the portable DVD while we waited in line at customs. God bless whoever invented the portable DVD!

It was awesome spending this last week with my parents, as well as my sister and her family. Aimee is so animated and excited when she is with her cousins Ceinwen and Kael. I love seeing her play with them. I also love seeing her with her Uncle David. She becomes mesmerized by his gentle voice and is often gazing into his eyes while they play the Hat Game.

Aimee and Uncle David

(More pictures to come of Aimee, Ceinwen and Kael, and the rest of us when Auntie Den sends us all the amazing pictures she took during the week.)

Now that Aimee is older, she has discovered how much fun it is to collect leaves and sand. She spends much of her time here playing with the different sized leaves.

We don't have any beach pictures yet (sorry Shauna). It has been too cold. Apparently, last week has been one of the coolest weeks ever here in Tampa. Now, dearest K, do not think I am complaining. I am extremely grateful to be here in Florida rather than at home in the freezing temperatures. Having said that, I was a little disappointed with our Disney day. It was the coldest day of the week.

This is us pulling into the Disney parking lot. As you can see, it was next to empty at 8:30am. That is because it was zero degrees (no exaggeration). That is really cold when you did not pack winter clothing. Brrr!

If you look closely at this next picture you will see frost on the garbage can. We had to scrape our car before we left. Thank goodness Mom and Dad still had their scraper, otherwise David and Den were going to have to use their credit card.

Aimee and Memere on the Safari.

Aimee loves her new Minnie Mouse balloon and plush.

Can you see the sheer delight in her face?

I was so surprised to see how much Aimee enjoyed the Lion King Show.

She watched with such intensity and sang along (quite loudly) with the music.

Carousel with Maman

Little nap!

The parade with lights was amazing. We did not stay for the fireworks because by then we were all frozen. We look forward to watching them next time!

Aimee, as well as a few others who shall remain nameless, went to

bed without changing into their jammies.On that note, I shall wish you good night and catch up with you later.

Dear Mémère and Pépère,

Thank you for your pictures from the sunny south. Really, there is nothing better than seeing you soaking in the sun when I am freezing my flipping Huggies off.

Have you forgotten how #$%& cold it is here in Canada! I don't even have the luxury of crying about it because my tears will freeze to my face. Ugh.... and don't even get me started on the whole nose dripping thing..... Thank heavens we are joining you in two more dodos!!!

Love, your adorable, sweet, frozen grand-baby,

Aimée

Cabin Fever!!!

Going out these cold days is not easy. Aimée does not enjoy being in her snowsuit. She grunts and squirms. By the time she is all bundled up I am exhausted. Before I can remember why exactly we are going out, she has wiggled out of her boots and pulled off her hat and mitts. Ugh!!!

"Can you find the baby?"

These days, we are just staying inside where it is warm. Aimée is finding all kinds of things to get into at home. She has definitely moved from baby stage to toddler stage. She enjoys playing in her kitchen and scattering the dishes all over the place. She loves playing with her Roll-Around balls and tossing them all over the place. She adores playing with her farm house and whipping the animals all over the place. Are you getting a clear visual of the state of my home? It is a landmine of toys and I have waved the white flag and surrendered.

Every girl needs to learn how to fix her own car by starting with the basic etiquette of mechanics: Every tool has its own place. Here is Aimée whipping her tools around moments after I picked them up. Is it just me, or do you see a slight naughty twinkle in her eyes too? (Check out the hair sprouting from her helmet. Very nice look!)

Basement has been taken over!

The other day, I did not close the door to the powder room properly. Would Aimée be a baby if she passed up on that glorious opportunity? Thank heavens I caught her before she began unrolling the second and third roll.

Well, I have found a solution to all this antsiness and it goes something like this:

"Come along and sing a song

And join the jamboree!

M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E"

Hot Dog! Hot Dog! Hot Diggity Dog! We are going to Florida next Saturday for two weeks! We will be joining my parents who are already there (snow birds). My sister, Denise, will be meeting us there along with her family too. I can hardly wait. Tinker Bell, get your fairy dust ready! Cinder, Belle, make room for a few more princesses... 'cause we are coming with bells on!!!!

Oh Happy Day!!!!

Hannah is truly and finally coming home!!!!!

My good friend (and colleague) Cindy, who has been waiting over 12 grueling months for a travel date, learnt this week that the problems that were holding up Hannah's adoption have now been resolved. She will be leaving early next week for Vietnam. I am so excited and happy for both of them.

Hannah is from the same orphanage as Aimée. Here is a picture of the two girls together in Vietnam. (Hannah 6 months and Aimée 7 months).

It has been 7 1/2 months since they have last seen each other. They are due for a good sorority reunion wouldn't you say? Aimée and I can barely wait to see her in her mommy's arms!!!