Today was our first Halloween out with Maya. As she's been sick most of the week, we didn't want to take her outside so we just went to the mall for a little while around dinner time. I tried to dress up but Maya was frightened by any part of my costume so John and I just ended up wearing all black and I had my pumpkin earrings on. Maya was also frightened by the pumpkin, my gloves, her feet (more on that shortly) and many other things. It was such an unusual experience for her, and she's been sick this week, so we're not surprised that she was frightened.
This year's costume was a home-made chicken outfit. My sister made the costume years ago and both of her daughters wore it when they were the same age. Now, it was Maya's turn. The hood, the feathered-jacket and the leggings didn't bother her but the cardboard cutout feet were too much. She did, eventually, get used to them but only after a lot of distraction.
As usual, Maya got a lot of attention and the costume was a great success...
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Olympics Orientation
I went to my orientation for the Olympics opening ceremony today. All I can say is that it's going to be a lot of FUN! We're forbidden to discuss any details about it SO DON'T ASK! All I can tell you is that I'm going to be roller-blading in the opening ceremonies on February 12... You'll have to wait until then to know anything more.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Fitness World
Maya has never been left with a baby-sitter. Family have looked after her while she has been sleeping but she's never been awake and without one of us. We decided it was time to try.
Today, John & I took Maya to Fitness World. John did his workout and I sat with Maya in the childrens room. We wanted her to meet the care-takers there and get used to the room before we put her in there without us. She did SO well that she hardly even looked at me the whole 40 minutes I was in there. I even left twice to see if she'd notice (or care) and she didn't. At the end of our time, she was plenty mad (& vocal) about the fact that it was time to go... I guess it was a successful experiment and I'm now cleared to try a real gym workout again. We'll see...
Today, John & I took Maya to Fitness World. John did his workout and I sat with Maya in the childrens room. We wanted her to meet the care-takers there and get used to the room before we put her in there without us. She did SO well that she hardly even looked at me the whole 40 minutes I was in there. I even left twice to see if she'd notice (or care) and she didn't. At the end of our time, she was plenty mad (& vocal) about the fact that it was time to go... I guess it was a successful experiment and I'm now cleared to try a real gym workout again. We'll see...
Family Date #2
We had such fun with last weekends family date that we decided to try it again.
This weekend, we walked down Commercial Drive and went to the Italian restaurant 'Marcellos'. We had some nice wine and pasta for dinner. Again, Maya behaved wonderfully and really enjoyed having some of our dinners. Maya & I had Lasagna and John had a spicy tomato putanesca on linguini. After inhaling the lasagna, Maya tried John's pasta but, as it was spicy, we assumed she would spit it out. She actually liked it better than the lasagna! Earlier this week she had my (home-made) curried lentil soup and loved it. Spice is NOT something this girl is afraid of. Wow!
This weekend, we walked down Commercial Drive and went to the Italian restaurant 'Marcellos'. We had some nice wine and pasta for dinner. Again, Maya behaved wonderfully and really enjoyed having some of our dinners. Maya & I had Lasagna and John had a spicy tomato putanesca on linguini. After inhaling the lasagna, Maya tried John's pasta but, as it was spicy, we assumed she would spit it out. She actually liked it better than the lasagna! Earlier this week she had my (home-made) curried lentil soup and loved it. Spice is NOT something this girl is afraid of. Wow!
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Dim Sum Yum
The local chapter of FCCBC (Families with Children from China) had a Dim Sum lunch this past weekend. As we rarely turn down Dim Sum, we went along. As mentioned in my previous post, Maya loves restaurants and this was no exception. Her food, plus some chinese food, fed to her with chopsticks was just the ultimate...
There were 6 families there, with kids of all ages, and we had a great time. It's nice to meet new people & hear stories of their adoptions. We're going to continue to go to as many events as we can. As the parents of the youngest/newest adoptee, our picture was taken and will be put in the next newsletter.
There were 6 families there, with kids of all ages, and we had a great time. It's nice to meet new people & hear stories of their adoptions. We're going to continue to go to as many events as we can. As the parents of the youngest/newest adoptee, our picture was taken and will be put in the next newsletter.
Date Night
John & I LOVE eating out. The opportunity to sit together, face to face, in a dimly lit booth, share a nice wine and make our selection of meal from a list of decadently prepared options, and have someone else cook it, serve it & clean up is just the ultimate in luxury for us. We'd do it every day if we could...
Luckily, Maya seems to love restaurant food too. Now, we don't give her the wine or MOST of what we eat, but she seems to love the IDEA of it. We can take her normal food (what she's been refusing at home for the past several days), and serve it to her in a restaurant, on a restaurant plate, and she'll gobble it down throwing her head back and going 'mmmmmm' the whole time. It's actually quite entertaining. If we feed her with chop-sticks, all the better.
On Friday, John & I decided to have a proper, dress-up date night, with Maya, and see how it would go. Maya was changed in to a cute little dress with pig tails, pretty shoes & her pink dressy trench coat. John & I both dressed up as well and I even put on high heels (its been quite a while since I've had those on). Maya seemed to sense the 'specialness' of the night and was wonderful! She was in a good mood, behaved well, ate LOTS of food, played & coloured quietly, walked around the restaurant waving & saying hello to the other patrons and let John & I enjoy our first 'family' date night of many to come. It was a special night...
Luckily, Maya seems to love restaurant food too. Now, we don't give her the wine or MOST of what we eat, but she seems to love the IDEA of it. We can take her normal food (what she's been refusing at home for the past several days), and serve it to her in a restaurant, on a restaurant plate, and she'll gobble it down throwing her head back and going 'mmmmmm' the whole time. It's actually quite entertaining. If we feed her with chop-sticks, all the better.
On Friday, John & I decided to have a proper, dress-up date night, with Maya, and see how it would go. Maya was changed in to a cute little dress with pig tails, pretty shoes & her pink dressy trench coat. John & I both dressed up as well and I even put on high heels (its been quite a while since I've had those on). Maya seemed to sense the 'specialness' of the night and was wonderful! She was in a good mood, behaved well, ate LOTS of food, played & coloured quietly, walked around the restaurant waving & saying hello to the other patrons and let John & I enjoy our first 'family' date night of many to come. It was a special night...
Monday, October 19, 2009
Potty!!!
Yes... as with any new parent, many of our conversation topics have been reduced to what Maya is eating and how many diapers were used (and with what contents) per day. Input & Output. It's a sad reality that we all must go through...
That said, Maya used the potty today for a #1!!!!! Woo Hoo!!! As a reward, she got her first candy - one smartie! John was with her and made a really big deal about it. She was so pleased with herself. As today is her 17-month birthday, we are thrilled that she's getting the hang of this so early in the game.
We just bought several more cloth diapers, assuming that we'd be using them for many more months. I think I need to go pull-up diaper shopping now. Is there such a thing as a pull-up cotton diaper?! I guess I'll find out...
That said, Maya used the potty today for a #1!!!!! Woo Hoo!!! As a reward, she got her first candy - one smartie! John was with her and made a really big deal about it. She was so pleased with herself. As today is her 17-month birthday, we are thrilled that she's getting the hang of this so early in the game.
We just bought several more cloth diapers, assuming that we'd be using them for many more months. I think I need to go pull-up diaper shopping now. Is there such a thing as a pull-up cotton diaper?! I guess I'll find out...
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
More Photos...
I've added some more photos to the side bar for you to enjoy.
John has added more videos to You Tube as well.
John has added more videos to You Tube as well.
Ah Choo....
Well, Maya has her first cold (of many to come). She caught it last week and has not actually been too difficult to deal with but really doesn't like having her nose suctioned out (who would?!). A runny nose, a bit of fussiness, sleeping an extra 2-3 hours at night (yeah!). Not too bad...
John and I have never picked up illnesses from each other so its always worked out well that only 1 of us was sick at a time. When Maya came home, we wondered which one of us she would catch colds from & give colds to. It turns out that I'm the lucky one. John was sick a few weeks ago but Maya didn't catch it. I got sick last week & Maya caught it from me. I got better but now I've caught it back from her, twice as bad as the first time. This could go on for weeks...
Cough, Cough.
John and I have never picked up illnesses from each other so its always worked out well that only 1 of us was sick at a time. When Maya came home, we wondered which one of us she would catch colds from & give colds to. It turns out that I'm the lucky one. John was sick a few weeks ago but Maya didn't catch it. I got sick last week & Maya caught it from me. I got better but now I've caught it back from her, twice as bad as the first time. This could go on for weeks...
Cough, Cough.
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