Trip to Ontario...

Maya & I spent the first 2 weeks of July in Ontario, visiting my family.  We had a lot of fun visiting Gramma & Grampa, Aunt Sue & Uncle Brad, Cousins Megan & Grace...  It was a lot of not doing much, which was great!  We also spent a day at Storey-book Gardens with G&G and cousins putting live images & memories to all of M's nursery rhymes which I think was one of the best parts of the trip for her.

Juggling...

I've been back to work part-time for 6 weeks now and I'm finding things are slowly getting a bit easier now.  Balancing pick-up and drop-off times are challenging but we're lucky to have Maya in a full-time daycare that will look after her for as long as we need.  That's going to change in July when she starts pre-school and her days get shortened and we need to arrange 'after-school' care.  It's funny how pre-school is shorter and less convenient than day-care but costs so much more.  I guess it's like the bikini argument... the less fabric, the more it costs.

Juggling other things is getting easier too.  I have 2 week-days off each week and those 2 days are REALLY packed tight now with all of the things I used to spread over 5 days.  I'm actually busier on my days off than I am at work.  At times, I long for the days when we only had our apartment and nothing else.  No houses, no tenants, no house maintenance.  No car, no motorcycles, no maintenance on those.  No 2 businesses, few bills, no accounting.  Housekeeping was simple.  There were no gardens, hot tubs, cats, triathlons or 'things' to fill our days looking after.  We just enjoyed being together, going for walks and snuggling together at night with a movie or a book. 

On the good side, it is nice to be working again.  It gives me something to do (although not interesting), it brings in a tiny bit of money and gets my brain working again.  I would like to work part-time in my own industry but that doesn't look like its going to happen any time soon so I will continue to amuse myself in this way for a while longer...

Birthday party...

Even though her birthday was on May 19, we celebrated Maya's 3rd birthday on May 28 with the assembly of her new 'big girl' bed and with a pizza party with our friends.  M was so excited about all of it.  Especially the chocolate cake...

Abandonment & Citizenship Day...

This is a harder day for us to think about. 2 years ago + 2 days we met Maya. 2 years ago + 1 day was Maya's 1st birthday and the day we signed her adoption papers. But, 3 years ago today, she was abandoned. We don't know who left her in that doorway, or why, but they did. We will likely never know and that's hard to think about. Maya doesn't think about that now, but one day she will and we won't have answers for her. I can't even imagine the pain this day will bring her in the future...

On a more positive note, 1 year ago today, Maya became a Canadian citizen. Now, she has a family, a name, a country of her own and lots of people that love her. I hope she'll find lots of comfort in that when she looks back at this date...

Birthday Girl & Adoption Day...

Today was Maya's 3rd birthday AND the 2nd anniversary of the day we signed her adoption papers in China.  We chose to keep this day to ourselves, celebrating it quietly, as a family... the way it began. 

The day started with Maya waking up to her special basket waiting for her on the dining room table, stuffed full of toys, craft supplies and even a few snacks.  She wore her Minnie Mouse tiara from Gramma & Grampa while she carefully took each item out of the basket and asked 'What's this?!'  There were presents on the table as well but time didn't allow us to open them.  We'll be doing a little bit each day so we can stretch out the pleasure.  Pictures, height & weight, more pictures, oogling over presents and getting ready for work & daycare filled our morning. 

Daycare had a birthday party for Maya and she got to be the centre of attention (for as long as 10 3-year-olds can hold their attention).  The evening was spent playing, going out for olive & mushroom pizza (Maya's choice) and finishing it off with some Gelato (Daddy's choice).  Boy, did Maya like the Gelato!!!  Who needs cake?!

Maya's birthday celebration will be spread out over the next 2 weeks as we're taking her to Whistler this weekend, she's getting her birthday present from us next week and we're having her birthday swimming & pizza party next weekend.  Besides, it'll take her that long to eat all of her special treats...

Family Day...

2 years ago, May 18, we met little Maya and became a family.  What a terrifying time that was for all 3 of us!  She was this tiny, gangly baby in a onesy that said 'Free Cuddles with every kiss' that was in shock over the changes that had been thrust upon her, without her consent.  We were excited and terrified about what changes we were about to encounter and how we would handle them together.  The roller-coaster of emotions that we went through to get to that day were indescribable.  Since then, we've created so many memories and are now a happy, cohesive, loving family.  We fit.  We are a team.  We are happy.  And, we are three...

Like father...

like daughter?

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