Picking up a Toddler

I have been following the blog of another family who picked up their daughter just after we picked up Eva. The girls are from the same Social Welfare Institute in Guigang. Anyway, this other family is in China right now picking up their son who is, get this, almost exactly the same age as their daughter (just like us!). While their Gottcha Moment with their first child (their daughter) was very difficult (just like ours), their Gottcha Moment with their son seems to have gone very well. He seems to have been very well prepared for what was coming.

Check out their blog: http://www.wintercasciari.com/Blog/

Here's hoping that our Gottcha with Samuel goes as well.

Daddy is away at the moment for work. He's been away for two weeks and isn't coming home until Thursday. This is the first time that he's been away from Eva for such a long time, but, as you can see, he has been encouraging her to work for his company someday. I think she would make a great military doctor - for the first five years of her career - until she gets out of the military and starts working at a hospital that is located close to where her Mama and Papa live!

Nope

The package came. Nothing for us. Enough said.

Whoops, guess I misunderstood. No actual package, just some TA's on Monday.

Tomorrow is Tuesday....

O.K. people, tomorrow is in fact Tuesday. Will there be news? I'm not waiting by the phone for it, but I sure would love to hear the letters L.O.A. directly from my sponsor's lips either tomorrow or Wednesday. Yep, I'd take Wednesday too.

To prove that I'm not just sitting around waiting (and for those of you who like to see pictures of Eva) here are some of the things we've been up to together over the past little while.

Ahh... the poor second child. He has his own blog, but his sister has taken it over. I'll have to delete parts of this post before I save everything for posterity.

Samuel's Room - The Before

As you can see, Samuel's room is not ready for him. We have a dresser. We have a chair. We have a Memory Chest. We have alot of stuff that belongs in other rooms of the house. That's it. In the background is our change table. I don't think we'll be needing that for Sam. We don't even use it for Eva anymore. Ah well, it's not like we don't have time to get this stuff done :-).


On another note, is there anyone out there in bloggy land who would be willing to translate my future posts into French? While I speak a little French, I am truly, truly lame when it comes to writing in it. My man is so busy at work right now that he just doesn't have time to do the deed, yet his side of the family is missing out on our news. Any takers (read: Janet)?

Not Today

The adoption agency received a package from China today, but there was nothing in it for us. What does that mean? Don't really know. I guess we wait another week.

Day 100 Musings

One hundred days have passed since we sent our request for Samuel to the Chinese Government. Yep, three and a half months. Now, I wouldn't dare complain about this because people in the regular adoption route are waiting over two years for a referral these days and we only submitted our paperwork five months ago. Yet.....our son turned 2 1/2 on Saturday (sigh).

Our agency has said that 100 days is their average wait time for LOA's these days, so maybe ours will come this week. If it is coming this week, I would expect to hear something either Tuesday or Wednesday. If there is no news by Thursday then another week will have gone by (little sigh). Then again, since the CCAA (the government agency responsible for adoptions) was closed for a week at the beginning of October, they have only technically been working on our file for 95 days. Maybe that means that we won't get our LOA until next Tuesday or Wednesday.

Or, maybe the CCAA doesn't like the fact that Eva and Sam are the same age and they're going to reject our request and any waiting we've done so far will have been in vain. Maybe that's why the LOA is taking so long. Maybe that's why other people we know got their LOA's but we haven't received ours.

O.K., O.K., my Musings are turning into Panickings. Breathe, breathe. I'll go eat some chocolate. I'll be fine. Once the LOA does get here, it's just more waiting for the TA anyway. There's no sense in getting worked up yet...... Right?????

But man, look at that face. How can I not get worked up?

Come on you &$%$#() LOA!!!!

Getting Ready For Samuel

Since sending our L.O.I. in April, I've been slowly getting ready for Samuel.

Here is his little wardrobe. It was such a pleasure to shop for a boy for a change. Everything was so straight forward. Pants, shirts, jacket and shoes (ohhh, I love the shoes). Colour coordinate everything and...voila, that's it, that's all.
Sizing is a little problematic at the moment since I don't really know what size he wears. Most of the clothes I bought him are size 3T, but I imagine he'll be swimming in the pants of that size. I'm throwing in a couple of size 2 pants and one or two size 2 shirts. If everything else is too big, the size twos will get us by until we can go shopping in Nanjing. I don't want to buy too much of a smaller size though because the kiddies often grow quite a bit during the first couple of months home.

While I did the bulk of the shopping, Sam's Papa chose a couple of the shirts especially for his little boy. He chose the orange one and the white one with the blue stripes.

I must say that each time I choose clothes and toys for Samuel I feel so close to him. I find myself imagining him laughing and running toward me to give me a big hug or I imagine he's swinging on a swing as I push him. He looks so cute in his little clothes and, of course, he looks so happy and content with us.
He received a gift a couple of weeks ago. It was from his Aunty Krista and his cousins Nate and Syd. It took me almost a full minute to get the significance for Samuel. The little bear in the story is named 'Sam'. It's so cute and it should fit beautifully into his little backpack.

Sibling Rivalry

Samuel will have a beautiful, loving sister, Éva. She is so excited about going to China to pick him up that she asks me each morning 'China?'. When asked what she is going to do with Samuel when she meets him she says, 'Hello, hello. Hug, hug'. 'Play' and 'Éva pleure' (Éva cry). That last statement refers to her Gottcha moment with us rather than what she expects to do when we actually get Sam (I think/hope).

While Éva did live with a sibling in her foster home, that sister was at least 6 years older than Éva-Lynn and I doubt that there was much competition for attention as far as Éva was concerned.

I already have some great advice in the comments section of the last post (thanks Bonnie) so, give us some more advice about siblings - Introducing them, helping them share, helping the first child not feel absolutely threatened by the second child, helping the second child integrate into the first child's world, etc.

I have started to try and prepare Éva little by little. Of course my efforts have been complicated by the unpredictable wait to go and get Sam, but here's what we've done so far. We put Samuel's referal pictures up on his door and explained to Éva that Samuel will sleep in that room when he comes to live with us. We also started talking about how Sam will always be around to play with, but stopped there when our LOA didn't come through recently. I plan to start that again and get deeper into it once we have our LOA. One friend suggested that I make a book depicting everyday stuff that we'll be doing with both Éva and Sam - e.g. getting ready in the morning (Mama will help Éva and then Sam or vice versa), etc. I think I'll do that once we get a firmer date.

So, have at it.......

What Do Boys Like?

O.K., I come from a family of all girls. This means that I have never lived with a little boy and so I have a limited idea of what they like to do. Of course I realize that each boy (like each girl) has their own personality and their own interests, but please help me out with some generalities.

What do boys like to do when they are between 2 & 3 years old?

What kind of toys should I have for our little man?

Here are a few of the things we have so far:

Some big Lego type blocks & a train set.

A toy cell phone.

A truck that vibrates when you pull the winch.

A kiddie sized backpack.

We also have a lot of stuffed animals and a lot of dolls. We have a kitchen center and a few electronic games (singing catepillars, etc, but I do believe those will be off limits to Samuel at the beginning as they belong to Eva-Lynn. (Which segways nicely into a topic for the next post - Sibling Rivalry).

I'll give you a few days to help me out on this one......

Family Compatibility ;-)

Samuel's birthday is April 13, 2005. That means he turned 2 years old two days before Eva did. Her birthday is April 15, 2005. Both our children were found with a piece of paper with their date of birth written on it so we know that their birthdays are not just a doctor's best guess. I wonder if there was a party for Samuel on his 2nd birthday. I wonder if he was as scared of his birthday candle(s) as Eva was. I wonder if he had a birthday candle.

As we wait for Samuel, we wonder what he will be like and whether on not he'll like us. Obviously, we know he will NOT like us at first, but like, are we going to be compatible. In our search for answers we turned to the Zodiac and made some interesting discoveries. Here's a rough breakdown in case you don't want to read all the information below:

I WIN!!

Round 1, the Chinese Zodiac. Coincidentally, Samuel, Eva and Papa are all the same sign under the Chinese Zodiac. I figured that this was bad, bad news for Mama (The Horse). I figured I would surely be left out of their little rooster click....

The ROOSTER
Meticulous, Efficient, Orderly, Conscientious, Intelligent, Honourable, Notoriously Candid.

The quick thinking, ingenious Roosters are a pragmatic lot who prefer not to take any risks. Roosters are so aware of what’s going on around them that some may believe them to be psychic. It is not easy to sneak anything by a Rooster. These beings are a frank, honest lot who do not pull any punches and admire those who are truthful with them.Roosters do not play games and are not likely to create facades to hide behind. They are honest, open and keep their word. Roosters are perfectionists and like to be in control. Their appearance is of great importance to them. Roosters do love to be noticed and love socializing with those who love them.Roosters expect and will fight for control of their surroundings and those who fall within its boundaries. They are extremely neat and expect their family members to be the same. By nature, Roosters are conservative, and loyal, trusting and supportive to those who earn it. Those close to the Rooster who do not live up to their standards will find themselves henpecked incessantly.Roosters who learn to let others be what they are will have an extremely gratifying life.

The HORSE Active, Alert, Outgoing, Adventurous, Eloquent, Free Spirited, Independent, and Quick tempered.

The free spirited Horse is the Chinese Zodiac’s wanderer. Horses need their independence and freedom. They are packed with energy and constantly moving from one activity to another. Horses are good with money and, of course, have a passion for travel. Paradoxically, Horses desire love, which can lead them to feel ensnared. The rawness of their sex appeal is like a magnet and makes it easy for Horses to find love. Horses are skilled at the art of seduction. However, their relationships are unpredictable because their behavior is so erratic and they may flee without notice. Blessed with a keen wit and powerful presence, Horses love to show off to a crowd. Despite the strength of their being, Horses feel inferior to those around them. Horses are not a patient lot. They can be quite impulsive and more than a little insensitive to the feelings of others. These self-reliant beings follow their whims through life, which explains why their paths are often littered with unfinished relationships, jobs and ventures. Conversely, Horses motivate others easily and often do reach their goals.

Compatibility of Horse and Rooster - Some communication barriers and personality clashes. Will be able to work out their differences. Cool, amicable relations.

Compatibility of Rooster and Rooster - Clashes of wills and struggle for superiority in their contact with each other. Few areas of understanding. Civil ties at best.

I WIN the first round!

Round 2 - Western Zodiac

The kiddies are both Aries, Mama's an Aquarian, Papa's a Taurus

The Aries enthusiasm and pioneering spirit will certainly be well matched by the curious and unconventional Aquarian. Both of are idealistic,brimming with new ideas they pursue together. Though Rams can get too excited at times,which needs to be watched during any debate over differences. In the end though, the Water Bearer will be patient enough to wait for the classic Ram performance to get over. There is a perfect understanding between the two. Both are also independent and active individuals who appreciate progressive, dynamic approaches to any situation or problem, and the relationship has lively, spirited quality and are also iconoclasts as well, taking pride in their individual freedom from many traditional values and beliefs. Aries is more concerned with personal creativity and, in some ways, less integrated into social groups and the community than Aquarius. All said and done this is a perfect match.

When the mighty Ram meets gentle Bull they seem to have much in common, great determination, point-blank honesty and an appetite for life. However, clear differences will soon emerge. The Ram's determination initiates and gets things done, but the Bull will take their own time to do things, stubbornly resisting any effort to push the pace. Aries periodically becomes gripped with an idea and wants to take an immediate action to act on it. Taurus prefers to fully perceive the whole idea and respond to situations with a more practical and cautious attitude. If Aries ever stumbles or fails, then Taurus will not miss an opportunity to remind them of their shortcomings. This can be infuriating to Aries and very detrimental to the relationship. Appreciation of each other's different approaches will help the relation grow harmoniously. Both should be able to adapt each other's style or habits. In the process, Taurus can help supply the reliability and consistent dedication needed to help bring Aries 's ideas and impulses to a fruitful completion. This is a tricky match that will take learning and adjustment by both. Fire and Earth is a difficult combination,which,however, might work well together with their joint determination, both being courageous and practical. But, if the mix doesn't gel, then they will walk away from each other. One should remember to put in a lot of efforts to make this relationship work. Its a difficult match.

I Also WIN Round Two!!!

By the Way

Aries - Aries Compatiblity - Ego is a dominant factor in the relationship. Both are sensitive to criticism. Almost inevitably they will compete with each other, and in small doses this can be invigorating, but it easily becomes nasty, and one of them is likely to get hurt. Time and effort is required to make this relationship work. It's not a match made in heaven.

We might have our work cut out for us......

New Blog Format

I have changed the blog format so that it is now open to anyone, even those without a Yahoo address. While I wanted to keep the blog private, I think the 'Invitation' system is too confusing and isn't so good for those of you that don't already have a Yahoo address. So, you just need to put this address into your favorites and you are good to go. Oh, wait, if you've read this message then you've already figured that out!
I only ask one thing of you. You must leave a comment on one of the entries the first time you visit the site. Deal?
Look at the bottom right hand corner of this (or any) entry. See the word 'comments' in white? Click on it. Type your comment in the big box. Make sure to type your name at the end of your message. Once you are done, click in the little circle beside the word 'Anonymous' and then click on the orange bar that says, 'Publish You Comment'. You can do it!

Things to Visit in Nanjing

Here are some of the sights we hope to catch while we are in Nanjing:

Dr Sun Yat-Sen Mausoleum
The final resting place of Dr Sun Yat-Sen, the father of modern China. The mausoleum is situated on the slope of Mount Zijin and stretches over 80,000 square metres in the shape of a bell. Every year, many people climb a seemingly endless stone stairway to visit his tomb, pay their respects, and learn how Sun lived his life. The mausoleum stretches from the gateway and the main entrance through to a tablet pavilion, memorial hall and the tomb vault, with 392 steps and 10 platforms in between. In the vault lies a reclining marble statue of Dr Sun, where he is buried 5 metres underneath.

Nanjing Confucius Temple
Built in the Song Dynasty. It is the ritual place for worshipping and offering sacrifices to Confucius. It is a major scenic spot on the Qinhuai River and an ideal place for tourists to understand traditional Chinese culture as well as to enjoy shopping. The temple is adjacent to the Palace of Learning and the Imperial Examination Yard and typifies the traditional architecture in the Ming and Qing styles.


Xiaoling Tomb of the Ming Dynasty
Named the Tomb of Filial Piety, it was built 600 years ago to house the remains of Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty. It is one of the largest ancient tombs in China and includes the Dismounting Horse Archway, Spiritual Gate, Tablet Hall, Xiaoling Hall and the Square City.


Yuejianglao
This 7-storey building, meaning Enjoying The River Tower, is the main sight-seeing spot in the Shizishan scenic area and has its origins from the Ming Dynasty. Ascending the tower, one can enjoy views of the Yangtze River extending away to its north, and the scenery of Nanjing to its south.

City Wall
This imposing city wall stands as high as a 5-storey building, and 13 of its current gates still exist from the Ming Dynasty era. Amongst these, Zhonghua (China) Gate is the largest and contains four layers, with a defence system between each layer. From an observation platform, soldiers and now visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of the city landscape.

Where is Samuel (Mingjie) Liu?

Samuel's Chinese name is Mingjie Liu. Although we think of him as Samuel, it is recommended that we call him by his current name for the first few months he is home with us and then slowly transition him over to his Canadian name. To complicate matters, we aren't sure how he is addressed by the 'Aiyee's' (nannies or, literally, 'aunties') who have been caring for him over the past year. That is one of the first questions we will ask when we meet our son for the first time.

He is currently living in the city of Danyong in Jiangsu province. When we go to get Samuel, we'll spend the first week in the capital city of Jiangsu. The capital city is Nanjing. Sam will be brought from Danyong to Nanjing (about a 2 hour drive) to meet us. All his Chinese paperwork will be done in Nanjing. The Chinese side of the adoption will be finalized and he will be issued a Chinese passport. Once that is done, we'll fly to Beijing and spend a week doing the Canadian side of his paperwork (meaning immigration paperwork). He will be a permanent resident when we land in Canada, but we will have to do more paperwork (and pay more fees) to make him a Canadian Citizen.



You may be asking yourself at this point when will we be going to get Samuel. The answer to that is, 'We don't know.' We were very hopeful that we would receive our Letter of Acceptance this past week, but nothing came for us. Since the first week of October was a national holiday in China nothing will be sent out this Friday (they usually mail paperwork to the adoption agencies on Fridays) so we won't receive anything during this upcoming week. Now we have to wait until Friday, October 12th for a possible mailing which would arrive at the agency on either the 16th or the 17th. I don't think we'll receive our LOA until October 24th though. Anyway, all that means that we likely won't travel until the beginning of December and will then arrive back home the weekend before Christmas. That is where things stand at the moment. Obviously, I'll keep you posted.

Welcome to Sam's Site

We are creating this blog for our son Samuel. The purpose of the site is to document our journey to him and to record our first month home as a family. My hope is that when Sam reads through these entries one day, he will come to understand how much we wanted the child that we thought he might be and how much we came to love the child that he is.

We are waiting for you Samuel Liu.

Love Mama & Papa