I am going to sign off on this blog, print it for Trinh, and maybe start a new family one when things are less hectic in the new year. But before I do that I want to add a final post...
Trinh has now been with us longer than she wasn't. Some celebrate a 'greater than' day, but we just knew in the weeks before her birthday we were passing the milestone. Since I travelled alone it was hard to decide whether to count when I received her, or when she met her whole family.
Trinh is a remarkable baby. She is such a joy and pleasure. So 'easy', right from the get-go. We could not be happier or feel more lucky. Everyone in our family adores her.
It has been an interesting year for us, to say the least. You may remember my husband changed jobs just before I travelled to Vietnam. He is now working mostly from home, so sees the kids much more than before and dedicates a lot of free time to his hockey passion. Mid-August I returned to work 1 day a week, then 4 days a week starting in September. I am working 2pm to 10pm, so I see Trinh and Nathaniel every morning and am able to take Nathaniel to afternoon kindergarten before I go to work. We found a great nanny who is very flexible with her hours who cares for the kids. Arn is usually in the house as well. I would not have been able to leave Trinh otherwise. I will be done in December and working 4.5 months this fall and again next fall allows me to stay home again until Trinh is in kindergarten. So, as unbelievable and ridiculous as it may seem to go back to work after being home for only 4 months, there it is.
I find it a real struggle to balance my gratefulness for having received Trinh with my sincere and devasating understanding of how close we came to not receiving her and how many of my adoption-friends have been stuck in limbo while things in Vietnam adapt to the new laws. In a way, I think that may be why I have not been blogging so much. It is hard to not feel like I am being mean, or bragging, or something. Like I said...it's been a struggle. I am so exceedingly sad for the babies that are aging over there as families wait here. I can and can't imagine how terrible those waiting feel.
And so, dear blog friends, thank you for following us on our journey! I wish you all, and your families, every happiness. May your dreams come true! I hope to be following your travel blogs...
p.s.
I am posting some 1st birthday photos so check the earlier post
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
more birthday photos
What is better, the bow, the box, or the toy?
The boys decorated while I was at work. Nice job!
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Trinh turns 1!
We have an outrageous collection of 'Little People' which the boys brought out and set up for Trinh to see for the first time on her birthday. They all ended up having a lot of fun!
The following weekend we had an exciting time combining the family celebration of Trinh's first birthday with her baptism.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
random photos
Since it seems like it may be a while before Trinh has a 'real' baby album, I thought I'd include a few random photos for her here.
Mom and Dad dressed up for a wedding
Friday, September 23, 2011
First Progress Report
We agree to send updates every 6 months following our adoption for 3 years. Here are the photos from Trinh's first report.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
stairs and more
Yesterday Trinh managed to get up a few stairs on her own...in an attempt to reach some sunscreen. We were right there, so no calamity...just a reminder how much more relaxed we are with this, our third, child. Time to pull out those gates! Funny coincidence is F posting at the same time about M's adventures and stairs. Consider myself warned.
Trinh also managed to pull a sharp knife out of the diswasher this week. She has been standing at the open door for a while now...and I have been putting the sharp stuff at the back of the rack. So no more of that!
The boys are in swimming lessons this week at an awesome new outdoor pool. They have also both started skateboarding lessons. Isaac wanted to do this and received a skateboard last year so it was time for some proper safety instruction. Since Nathaniel was old enough to also participate it seemed more fair than making him just watch. So, although I can not say I would have imagined it...both boys are boarding! The first lesson Nathaniel pretty much just skidded down all the ramps on his knees with his arms out, learning how to fall. Again...I have photos, just no time to sort through them (copious).
In other news I have been looking for a nanny for my contract (now confirmed) for this fall. What an exercise! I figure I should write a piece on this experience. If I find the time. Long and short I have someone in the final selection stage (need to check references, see her criminal record check, get her SIN etc). She has her ECE, ran a home daycare for years, drives her own car, doesn't smoke, has no kids (but is married), her husband works nights (good since we need someone to 11pm), speaks English as her first language, loves lego, laughs a lot, seems cooperative, flexible and fun, and lives within a few km of us, plus, is only slightly more costly then the (easily available) 'cash only' nannies in our area. I know...seems too good to be true...so trying not to expect something will come up or it will fall through.
Off of Saturday for a week vacation with Arn and kids. Headed north to Manitoulin island for some fishing, then Sudbury for Science North etc, back through Parry Sound where Arn's family has some property and home for the following week.
Already August barking at the door! It seems like it has been a long and short summer all at the same time. Since I have been in nice weather since April I feel like I have had a really nice break!
Trinh also managed to pull a sharp knife out of the diswasher this week. She has been standing at the open door for a while now...and I have been putting the sharp stuff at the back of the rack. So no more of that!
The boys are in swimming lessons this week at an awesome new outdoor pool. They have also both started skateboarding lessons. Isaac wanted to do this and received a skateboard last year so it was time for some proper safety instruction. Since Nathaniel was old enough to also participate it seemed more fair than making him just watch. So, although I can not say I would have imagined it...both boys are boarding! The first lesson Nathaniel pretty much just skidded down all the ramps on his knees with his arms out, learning how to fall. Again...I have photos, just no time to sort through them (copious).
In other news I have been looking for a nanny for my contract (now confirmed) for this fall. What an exercise! I figure I should write a piece on this experience. If I find the time. Long and short I have someone in the final selection stage (need to check references, see her criminal record check, get her SIN etc). She has her ECE, ran a home daycare for years, drives her own car, doesn't smoke, has no kids (but is married), her husband works nights (good since we need someone to 11pm), speaks English as her first language, loves lego, laughs a lot, seems cooperative, flexible and fun, and lives within a few km of us, plus, is only slightly more costly then the (easily available) 'cash only' nannies in our area. I know...seems too good to be true...so trying not to expect something will come up or it will fall through.
Off of Saturday for a week vacation with Arn and kids. Headed north to Manitoulin island for some fishing, then Sudbury for Science North etc, back through Parry Sound where Arn's family has some property and home for the following week.
Already August barking at the door! It seems like it has been a long and short summer all at the same time. Since I have been in nice weather since April I feel like I have had a really nice break!
Thursday, July 21, 2011
well...I guess I have moved the bar from weekly posts to monthly posts...ah well
will post for now, maybe add photos later
Trinh is now 9 months old! She can:
sit and crawl easily (has been doing this for a long time really)
pull up (including in her crib)
shuffle along sideways holding on
reach and move from object to object (ie coffee table to couch)
get small things into her mouth (cereal puffs, small pieces of lego etc.)
laugh, laugh, laugh!
and she enjoys baby TV when we put it on every so often
loves crawling around after her brothers
What she doesn't like is the exersaucer. It is only good as a place to hold onto. No good as a place to be in, except possibly for a bit of TV. Both my boys LOVED the exersaucer.
She had her eye appointment and all is well. Because she has a broad nose her eyes can appear crossed if she focuses on something close. Normal.
All the blood and other test that were run on a precautionary basis came back just fine.
Three kids, summer vacation, newsletter and potential return to work/nanny hunting have had me hopping. I ordered about half of the photos for Trinh's baby album and want to find time to scrap my trip to Vietnam. But not willing to sacrifice time with the kids...
Made a conscious decisionto stay home for the next week and try to get my head screwed back on before Arn's week of vacation beginning of August. Means turning down Ottawa gathering of families with children from Vietnam...but we are not ready for another road trip after the cry-fest that was our return from the cottage on Tuesday night.
will post for now, maybe add photos later
Trinh is now 9 months old! She can:
sit and crawl easily (has been doing this for a long time really)
pull up (including in her crib)
shuffle along sideways holding on
reach and move from object to object (ie coffee table to couch)
get small things into her mouth (cereal puffs, small pieces of lego etc.)
laugh, laugh, laugh!
and she enjoys baby TV when we put it on every so often
loves crawling around after her brothers
What she doesn't like is the exersaucer. It is only good as a place to hold onto. No good as a place to be in, except possibly for a bit of TV. Both my boys LOVED the exersaucer.
She had her eye appointment and all is well. Because she has a broad nose her eyes can appear crossed if she focuses on something close. Normal.
All the blood and other test that were run on a precautionary basis came back just fine.
Three kids, summer vacation, newsletter and potential return to work/nanny hunting have had me hopping. I ordered about half of the photos for Trinh's baby album and want to find time to scrap my trip to Vietnam. But not willing to sacrifice time with the kids...
Made a conscious decision
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