Maya Painting

This is such a CUTE video of Maya painting on her easel for the first time. This is such a HORRIBLE shot of me in the video, but as you watch, you can see why I am included. I guess this is what Maya sees most of the time, because we stay in our PJ's for hours some days...then we get dressed...then I might do something with my hair and put on some makeup. Beware...anyone who happens to come over in the morning!

Once again, this is such a CUTE video of Maya!

Thanks to Shelby's mom for helping me learn how to post a YouTube video on my blog! It was so easy once I knew what to do!!!

Snowmobiling and Family Fun

This is a little of what Maya and I do when we are off on one of our adventures to visit family, while Les stays at home to work. We did manage a trip to the city about two weeks ago with Les, for work and will be heading back there again this next week. I am off to California with a friend for five days at the end of the month to help celebrate her dad's 70th birthday and then I'm afraid that will be it for our travels until the summer. I start back to work officially on May 3, for two months, just to break us all in slowly, teaching Grade One at a school here in town. I taught at this school several years ago and am looking forward to 'returning home'. The students have all changed of course, but many of the staff are still there. This will hopefully make the transition to work easier. As for Maya, I will have to begin taking her to the Home Daycare little by little. She's fine with me going out for awhile to my Sorority meetings and staying home with Dad and will hopefully enjoy this new change.

Snowmobiling for the First Time, with Grandpa Dave

Lunch at Uncle Todd and Aunty Susan's Cabin

Skating... Well, Taking a Break at The Park

We enjoy going for sleigh rides, which usually turn into walks, so took advantage of the beautiful day to take some photos.

Bowling with Dad, Who Comes Here Every Monday Night - So, I Get to Hear, "Bowling Alley, Bowling Alley!" At Home Every Monday Night (over and over and over again - Maya's vocabulary and language development is really expanding and progressing these days!!!)

Until next time,

Lori

One Year Referral Anniversary

Now

Referral Picture

One year ago today we were able to finally see Maya's precious little face. Oh, what a year we have had! It is so hard to believe how fast the time has gone, once we actually received Maya. We have been so busy - trying to finally do the many things that I have craved to do for so many years, with my child. We are also trying to travel as much as we can and take short trips to the city and to see family before I return to teaching on May 3 (my first official paid day back). Maya has changed so much and has come so far in such a short while. It is amazing how children grow!

Maya's 2nd Birthday! (Finally...an entry!)

Maya's Sister Jayde

Cousins Nick, Sarah and Ashtyn

Breakfast the next morning

Maya's birthday was on January 28th and we had her party on the 30th - yes, of January! (We have been quite busy lately and not home very much, and I mean, NOT AT HOME - away to the southern part of the province for the past two weeks out of four and very busy while at home.) I will start with this entry and then hopefully add more entries in over the next few days.

Maya spent her actual birthday with friends at Better Beginnings in the morning and and quiet rest of the day with Mom and Dad. The big PARTY happened two days later. I think the pictures say it all!

Lori

Happy Birthday, Maya!

Maya turns two tomorrow. Yayyyy!!! I can't believe she will be two already and yet at other times I can't believe that she is only two by the number of things that she can do and knows. I keep thinking back to nieces and nephews and to children who I used to babysit, wondering if they did these things and knew these things when they were only two years old? We were told by two different Chinese men that she will be smart because of the province that she is from in China - Jiangxi, and from what we have seen, I think they are correct. Maya watches EVERYTHING that I do and I will see her trying to imitate my actions at later times - she was even wiping the counter while we were baking and tried to sweep the crumbs into her hand with the dishcloth. Tooooo cute! We are off to Better Beginnings tomorrow at Taylor School and were busy making cupcakes today to take for snack - I'm sure there will also be a helathy snack provided by the facilitator. The big party day is on Saturday at one of our hotels - the only one with a pool and waterslide (which will hopefully be fixed by the weekend as there are three pool birthday parties the same afternoon as Maya's). We have invited family and friends for the big event. It should be tons of fun! I'll post some pictures later on after everything is over. It feels like Christmas all over again...I can't wait until morning!

Home from "Cool" Cuba

We arrived home from Cuba last Sunday morning. I say "Cool" Cuba because it was +13 degrees Celcius, misty and windy when we arrived on the Carribean Island. This lasted for three days!!! We sure were glad to have Maya's winter jacket, toque and mitts with us, (it took me a day to realize we had her jacket - she had it on when we went from the Airpark in a van to the airport. We had her in layers of as many long-sleeved shirts and lighter jackets as we could fit on her. Our resort was great - Sirenis la Salina, Varadero. It was a large resort and quite spread out, which we liked because then we were able to walk off the meals, Pina Coladas and Rum Punch (and Cerveza, of course!) Aside from the booze, having it be a large resort meant more choices for eating, snacking, swimming and just hangin' out. Our block of rooms was fairly close to the beach which was handy for the end of the week when we finally made it to the beach. Only one day was spent at the pool because the water in the ocean was warmer than that in the pool. They heated the activity pool a little, but the beautiful 'quiet pool' was unheated and FREEZING! Maya didn't mind wading in a little ways, but Les and I took turns - and took turns to get some circulation back into our legs. I'm serious! And of course, Maya came out to warm up every once in awhile, as well. Because of this, there was no one in this beautiful, gigantic pool. Usually the weather is much, much warmer in Cuba and the heat from the sun would help to warm the pool, but after several days of cool, cloudy days, that just didn't happen.

On one of the cool days at the beginning of the week Les and I took the tour to Havana, with stops along the way for Pina Coladas - which were the best! Mom and Dad kept Maya with them and had a blast back at the resort. Later in the week Les, Maya and I went on a Jeep Safari Adventure which was loads of fun! Maya, our little Chinita, was in her glory for the whole trip to Cuba. Everyone adored her and she loved it! She made friends with every other little person who we saw. She still comes out with, "Hola" every once in a while. She even got to perform with the band in the dining room one evening. By the end of the week, the weather was much, much nicer and we were glad to finally be able to relax on the beach. The beach and water were beautiful and Maya enjoyed having the waves tickle her toes, but only a little bit. She preferred playing in the sand.

We returned home to close to 0 degrees Celcius temperatures which was very odd for the middle of January. We weren't complaining as it made travelling home that much more pleasant.

In the fall we were privileged to have an article about our Journey with Maya featured in our Adoption Agency newsletter. I was just interviewed this afternoon over the phone for an article on being a Multicultural Family for a free local magazine titled "Westman Parent". Wow, what an honour! You can view earlier editions on-line at http://www.westmanparent.com/. This edition goes to print on Monday, should be out in the Westman area by mid-week and will hopefully be on-line for viewing by Friday. Thank you so much Jolene and Shawn! I cannot wait to read it!

Cheers!

Lori