Happy 23rd month birthday my sweet boy!!!

Matteo must have ESP...snow in April and Language update....

Well yes, believe it or not we woke up to snow this morning, wet, wet, wet flakes and yes some of the white stuff hung around for part of the morning.  Yesterday through the day for some reason a couple of times Matteo stood at our front window and said "gno"..which is snow in his vocabulary. I replied that we are done with the snow for this year and won't see it again for months.  Yet later, the same thing, looking outside and saying "gno".....he also refused to go out for a walk in the carriage in the afternoon because he said it was "Kou"...cold....so imagine my shock and surprise when later that evening I turned on the news to find out that indeed they were forecasting snow!!  So my little one either has a snow bone in his body where he can sense the snow, or he has ESP....

So this morning when I opened the curtain to that front window from yesterday, my little one, in his excited almost two year old voice, shouted "GNO" when he saw the big white flakes"!!  It was a bit exciting for me too this morning to head out...while it was messy, and grey and wet and Kou....we knew, or I knew it wasn't going to last so I actually tried to enjoy the prettiness of it and the amazing prescient vision of my little boy.  Matteo was very happy to head out and didn't complain once that it was kou!!

Also have been meaning to update on the blog where I spoke about the importance of the correct adoption language at Service Canada, (click here to read that blog) where I was left feeling very upset when we went to apply for Matteo's name change on his SIN card.  Can't remember if I mentioned, in that blog though I think I only mentioned that I was thinking of writing a letter of concern....Well I did and weeks afterwards I did get a call back from a person who discussed the situation with me and how they would indeed address it both with the individual I dealt with as well as with all of their service representatives.  It so happened that the person that called me, was herself adopted, so she was extremely receptive to the need for education, both in order for their representatives to know the appropriate adoption language (in both official languages) if they are unaware of the proper terms, as well as know the proper language if they are oblivious to realize how inappropriate certain terminology is.  So hopefully all of that took place and noone else will have to experience that sense of frustration and privacy being invaded feeling I left with.

    I have been meaning to update that information but it has been a busy few weeks.

Agency newsletter

Just finished reading the agency newsletter and it holds both promise and concerns for special needs adoption. You can access it at tdhontario.tdh.ca

Adoption #2 update.....

Well it has been a busy couple of weeks but most of the paperwork has been done, that is the portion I'm responsible for....May actually list all the documents here, just to see how much there is.  Am hoping that the updated homestudy can be submitted to the agency by the end of May/early June.

   Matteo is doing really well at daycare now, he is really enjoying it and the comments from his caregivers say as much. We've been having some nice days with lots of laughs, some reading, fun bath times, and a little boy who goes right to sleep.  I hope that next week I'll have a bit of time to consider any travel plans for later in the spring and summer.  Work has been busy as we've had a number of projects that have all been juggled at the same time and are now near completion. Tomorrow we're having a business breakfast meeting and then a debriefing meeting to discuss the last few weeks, and the projects, before going on to new ones.  I am really enjoying the work, though it has been challenging to juggle some deadlines with Matteo's illnesses, as well as getting all the paperwork done for the second adoption, as well as Matteo's six month report that is due soon....but it has all been working out.

  For now I am looking forward to planning a small party for Matteo's second birthday at the end of May, where we'll also celebrate his official name change!!

  Cannot imagine my life without him. Some random photos taken over the last few months....

Happy Easter, Buona Pasqua, Chúc Mừng Phục Sinh

 

Not a bunny..... but cute nonetheless.

We wish you all a blessed Easter weekend!

Life books, blog books and photos of Vietnam...

I have been thinking about creating a life book for Matteo, inspired by others who have done so ...and also plan to turn the viaggio a vietnam blog into a book, as well as getting some of the photos from Vietnam printed....after my computer crash, I'm sure I have lost some and really don't want to think about it, but thankfully the fact that many of the significant photos were uploaded to the blog and facebook, I know those photos are safe but it sure makes me nervous about the loss of those photos and though the memories will be there, certain photos inspire certain memories....so I've been thinking of where my focus could be while I wait to complete the paperwork and begin the infinite wait for a referral...for Matteo the wait during the early part wasn't hard as I was working on my phd then, but once that was done and then I was told to expect a referral, it was horrific the wait...and while I had picked up a few things to get ready for Matteo, I did not get a crib, (the big things like car seat etc )and get the room and clothes finalized until I had a referral, so getting the room ready was something I focused on but also it did not always bring relief...so the wait was terrible and as I thought a referral would come earlier, as per what they told me...you can read about that here, and other blog entries from that time....seems so far removed from where I'm at now, but that too was part of the journey....but thinking back, I feel I did not plan my time well, though my life was on hold. I am determined that I will not live like that again (if I can help it!!!!) so am planning smaller projects to keep me focused.

....so I live my life best when I have some projects to work on.  Have a few things for Matteo and me to work on , like swimming lessons, and more music, and then his life book, turning the blog into a book and then getting some photos printed....have not been able to get into my studio as often but know that the photos will be pivotal to some watercolours I want to work on...

....so, mostly thinking out loud in this blog...there's always something to do sooo....even started to think that maybe, if it all works out, we can maybe even stay in Vietnam for a few months during this next trip...that of course will depend on the special need and whether medical care will be needed sooner than later....anyhow lots of thinking as you can see....

Happy 22 months birthday Matteo...

....still can't believe that in 2 months I'll have a two year old running around!!....to celebrate tomorrow we hope to have some dairy queen ice cream after getting some passport photos taken, for him to update his passport, for me for my 2nd adoption application.  As I was saying to E and C, I'm not sure this is all going to happen, but I started this whole adoption journey with the idea of two children in mind....and while the journey to Matteo was full of its own twists and turns, I am trying to trust that this next child will come into our lives if it is meant to be.

  I remember just before I got Matteo's referral in July of 2010, I had sort of given up and felt it wasn't going to happen...a part of me had decided that if I did not get a referral through the summer and I was asked to do a homestudy update, as it was expiring at the end of September, then I was going to let go and trust that it was not meant to be. I sort of feel the same now, in the sense that when I thought of getting on this roller coaster again (I hate roller coasters..was on one only once and promptly threw up at the end of it..) anyhow back in January all I could think of was the infinite wait, life on hold, uncertainty, desperation, fear, joy, and all sorts of emotions...anyhow I'm not sure at what point but somewhere between Jan and now, I came to accept that if Matteo doesn't have a sibling we would be okay, just as I had accepted that if Matteo, or at that point, some idea of a child, would not come into my life, I would be okay.  You know sort of like when someone says you have to let go and let God work in your life....and trust that whatever happens you'll be okay.... Anyhow I sort of feel that again, and am perfectly happy and will not feel frustrated (then again I might with some things )if it doesn't work out, I feel at peace with that, but at the same time I know it is something I will always regret if I don't at least try...so I'm trying and yes going to get my barf bags ready for the roller coaster ride.

 So the reality is, things have changed slightly at the agency with how they are handling files...it turns out that I will only be put on a list once my homestudy is approved at the ministry, so that approval date is what will decide where I'm at...once that happens if I have understood correctly I will also be logged in, in Vietnam....so we are hoping that we can get the update done asap...or at least submitting by end of June early July, which I believe was the time period that my first homestudy was sent to the ministry..so I like that....and then, I, we, like many other families wait...but I am blessed to have someone to wait with now...

I have decided to go the special needs route, 0-24 months, minor correctable special need....and while it is not a hard a fast rule, the ministry would like Matteo to be at least 18 months older than his sibling....I am open to either sex, though I guess I think I am hoping for a girl, but don't think I will specify....so that's where we're at at the moment on the adoption #2 front...

As for Matteo and his new daycare, he is doing remarkably well...still transitioning but for the past couple of days he hasn't cried when I've dropped him off so that is great....he has a few caregivers, but two are the main ones in his room, and two floaters....it is a great place...hope to get some other photos but here are a few, a couple from the daycare and then one taken today, with Matteo trying to wear mommy's hat...he has such a great sense of humour, when I almost put my hat on him at the daycare, as soon as we got home he wanted to try it out and wore it around the house while he played....