Chúc mừng năm mới

Today we began celebrating for Tet and were invited to Vietnam house by the Vietnamese Embassy. This was an event for families with children adopted from Vietnam and it was not a huge event.  Many of the families that did attend, had recently travelled and returned with children adopted through the special needs stream.  The two twin girls that I have mentioned and whose blog I posted, came with their family of 11, and another family who also adopted from vung tau was there too....anyhow a few surprises which started with Matteo's very first Ao Dai....another pair of twins adopted returned from Vietnam a few days ago and their parents brought this for Matteo....we drove out to get it this morning and were not able to visit as the family is still dealing with  getting settled, but we look forward to some play dates...they are cutie pies too!

Matteo looked so cute and it brought a tear to my eye!! He loves getting dressed up in princess dresses at daycare and I think he has been longing to wear an Ao Dai as when we put it on him, boy did he like it!!....so on some intuitive level he is somehow suited to wear his traditional outfit.

Anyhow the Tet event was simple and Matteo, and all children, received a gift bag...we had a nice time, though we were both so tired when we got home...here are a few photos to remember the day....

Citizenship Part 1 Received for Adoption #2....

....and did it take long...I believe I mailed it on May 30, 2012, along with Matteo's name change request on his citizenship certificate.  Today I received the Part 1 approval, dated January 2, 2013, almost 7 months to the day!!  I believe they told me if was a 6 month processing time and wow were they right. The first time around the citizenship part 1 was processed much quicker.  I may have forgotten to put Adoption on the package or because it included the name change request, I may have left it off...just can't remember.  So if I remember correctly I will need to send a copy of the Part 1 to the agency which I will do in the next couple of days.....so a bit more paperwork done on Adoption #2......

.....beginnings.....

It has been a bittersweet day today!....Have been trying to put my finger on what and why I've got so many mixed emotions and realize that while we always hope a new year begins well, this new year has begun with life pushing itself forward, life happening all around me.  One of the additional benefits of adoption is that you become part of an extended family of other families who also have adopted. This can be both wonderful and difficult. Sometimes knowing more people means you know more about more lives, and again that can be great, but it can also be challenging. In the past few days, both in my immediate family and my adoption family there have been great announcements like pregnancies, and new adoptions, but also bad news like deaths, illness and problems.

While I did go back to work on Wednesday, I am teaching another course this term so it feels like the holiday is really coming to an end today, so that might be why there are so many sad emotions.  While I would like to say I feel refreshed, with being sick, that didn't happen, though the antibiotics sure did help.  Matteo is wonderful, growing and so full of humour and life. It is hard to be down when I'm around him...but new years always bring much reflection. This is the year we are hoping to grow our family and are looking forward to seeing if life's mysteries will bring that our way.  I continue to be prepared (I think) for either direction (for many reasons beyond my control).  So I know that has been on my mind and in my heart, even if I haven't talked about it much.

I think; however, what is getting me down the most is really D's news yesterday.  No matter what, I just can't get my head around getting bad news on a holiday.  With the heightened emotions, it makes it so so difficult.  D for us is family member.  She brought Matteo and me together and for that there will never be enough thanks.  She has been pivotal in helping many children find families and helping many individuals create families.  I know it is because of her contacts and her relationship with Vietnam that it has been possible for her to do this important work. She is an extraordinary woman to persevere through all the issues and difficulties of International Adoption and try to help individuals who might not always appreciate the challenges of her work...I include myself here.   So for now there are so many praying for her and sending all the positive energy we can muster as she deals with this health issue.

When I got and read her message, it took my breath away, like someone just punched me in the stomach.  While I am worried for her, I too am worried for all the children that are waiting for her help in finding them families. She is such an important part of this work, that I know things will have to be set aside while she uses all of her energy for her health. None of us would want it any other way. But again, life sure has a way of moving forward and moving in unexpected directions.

Dear D. Matteo and I are sending you all of our love and any strength we can to help you deal with this next challenge sent your way. Like your perseverance and strength used in your adoption work, we pray you will use those strengths to take care of yourself. I know you are surrounded by a loving family and an extended loving family in the adoption community!

Happy New Year!

Matteo's resolution for 2013 is to eat more ice cream!!

Going with the flow.....

Well Christmas came and went this year and we managed to celebrate as much as we could though it did not go as planned....I am still sick...a very bad cough, that is better but is still lingering.... Lots of snow that has interfered with some plans even as it makes things festive.  Matteo's gifts were low key though one is still to be delivered...thematically this was an arts Christmas....a painting easel which never got put together when I got sick the week before Christmas.....it is up in my studio so hopefully at some point Matteo and I will be upstairs doing some artwork together...which was the plan but so little energy these days.....

...Anyhow we never managed to make it to our Church to take a look at the Nativity...which I really wanted to do....I'll have to see if I have energy to get there on the weekend....trying to keep the focus on the spiritual for our sakes.  As for Santa, Matteo kept insisting that that little purple bear was from Santa so he didn't seem too impressed with any other deliveries.  So in some ways it was a very low key Christmas at our home anyhow.  Matteo had a great time at my sister's on Christmas day and was thrilled when he got some a Thomas bathtub train and boat, and some talking Thomas, Percy and Victor trains....  Of course the pyjamas and clothes etc.... mommy appreciated.

What I wil remember most are the walks in the snow that I took with Matteo.  On Christmas eve we walked around the neighbourhood enjoying the Christmas lights...Matteo loves Christmas lights....then on Christmas morning we went for another walk and it was wonderfully quiet and we wished any neighbour we saw, a Merry Christmas.  Today after our mini blizzard, we took a walk, mostly to un - snow the car and get it off the street, and then we went for a long walk at Matteo's insistence...he did not want to go home...kept saying "no home"...so he enjoyed walking and playing with snow....and wanted to stay out longer. Well, I thoroughly enjoyed those walks!  Hope for a few more before the holidays are finished.

The other thing I loved was Matteo trying to sing a couple of Christmas carols....Frosty and Jingle Bells were favourites....if I'm able to, here are a couple of videos I managed to get.

Frosty the snow man.....

Jingle Bells....

Santa 2012....

Well we tried to go back to the Santa we visited last year and again Matteo was fascinated by the train and little village set up they had.  He was warming up to Santa and went from saying he wanted to visit him and no, he didn't.  Sadly even though there was lots of space and we weren't interfering with anyone else getting through, one of the women, sort of us asked to move away!  Not impressed esp. as I was considering buying the fruit cake they had on display...but nope, if she couldn't have a little more patient with a little one, then we would reconsider where we'll go to see Santa next year.  Santa on the other hand, came up to Matteo and gave him a candy cane and the package of stickers and small gifts that he gives to all children who see him....so that was nice.

Santa 2012 will have to be the Santa Matteo reluctantly sat with at our annual Calabrian Christmas party.  As you will see below, not the eager visit but he loved /loves the little purple bear (have I mentioned how much Matteo is into his stuffed toys...a number of them sleep with him, including this new bear)....so for Matteo Santa gave him the bear and he holds him dear.

Croup at Christmastime....(again).....

....What a week....Matteo and I have both been sick...started with croup which was a deja vu to last year's croup and a high fever, and a very different weekend than we planned. Then just as Matteo was about to head back to daycare, mommy got sick, and was it ugly...still is, but much better.....  Needless to say, all those plans to get things done the week before Christmas were put on hold and /or cancelled...Matteo still has a cough and I'm able to manage things much better but feeling very low of energy and enthusiasm...even the snow wasn't helping until I got to Matteo's daycare and saw this wonderful snowman....and when I went inside Matteo started to sing a bit of Frosty to me.  So that helped to lift my spirits....so for now all I'm hoping for is a healthy Christmas!!