Okay so I seriously had no idea that I would struggle so much to keep this blog updated. A second child really does just make things that much more challenging in the time category. However I have figured out, just figured out actually, that the real issue is that it's not easy. And by not easy I mean right now I only have an iPad at home. While I love my iPad it is not friendly with respect to writing anything. Further, you can't upload pictures from iPad onto the blog so to get pictures uploaded they have to be placed onto our ancient computer that lives in our bedroom on the 3rd floor. Basically I want a MacBook. We can't afford one right now but it's on our "list" of wanted items. I think that if I had a MacBook I would be updating all the time. When you have 2 kids and a fuller than full time job, it's all about convenience!
Anyway, on to the update. Gerad has been with us for almost a year! Hard to believe. It will be a year this month. Of course I can't remember life before him. I think it may have been more peaceful?? Haha. He is almost 2 1/2. His language is still quite delayed but he's getting there. His tantrum phase has eased and he's generally an extremely happy and gregarious little guy. People LOVE him. He always has a smile, wave and hello for everybody. He's doing great in the small home daycare where we moved him. He's toilet training right now and is doing surprisingly well. We may be on the cusp of being able to get rid of our cloth diapers once and for all. Yippee!! I am just so happy he is with us. Our family is complete with him and I just can't imagine life without him.
Van started junior kindergarten in September. He's doing extremely well. They are very good with him. They have been been able to get funding for a TA due to his diagnosis. Speaking of which, everybody that has worked with him feel pretty sure that he is not on the spectrum which is fantastic news. The feeling is that it may be ADHD with some other possible yet managable diagnosis. We are going to have him reassessed in the new year. Hopefully we'll get a better idea of what's going on with him and figure out how we can best help him. I'd do anything for him. I love him so very much. Even though he drives me bananas sometimes!! Lol. Patience is the ultimate prize with parenting. Sometimes you have a ton of it at your fingers and other times it seems just out of reach.
The boys together are better than I could have imagined. Quite simply: they. adore. each. other! They have their little spats of course but man are they insepperable. They are always playing together,cuddling, or chatting with each other. They are tight! Adopting 2 children was the best decision we have ever made.
That's my update for now. I will post pics in the next day or so!
Saturday, October 5, 2013
Sunday, July 28, 2013
An update in pictures
It seems clear my updates will be sporadic at best. I hope some people are still tuning in. We are having a great but busy summer. I thought I'd update this time with pictures.
Gerad's 2nd birthday party:
The boys:
Gerad in Cape Breton meeting his grandmother, uncles, aunts and cousins (plus another birthday cake!):
Van's 3rd Gotcha Day!:
At the playground:
The annual Vietnamese adoption community pool party:
Can you believe how big our kids are getting!!:
Van's 4th birthday:
A hug for Ba:
Canada Day:
The kids are doing great. I will update again soon....I promise!
Gerad's 2nd birthday party:
The boys:
Gerad in Cape Breton meeting his grandmother, uncles, aunts and cousins (plus another birthday cake!):
Van's 3rd Gotcha Day!:
At the playground:
The annual Vietnamese adoption community pool party:
Can you believe how big our kids are getting!!:
Van's 4th birthday:
A hug for Ba:
Canada Day:
The kids are doing great. I will update again soon....I promise!
Saturday, May 25, 2013
2 kids = little time for blogging
Hi all! Not sure if anybody is still checking in. I am so sorry for the lack of blogging. Having 2 kids under the age of 4 plus a full time job means little time left for blogging. A big part of the problem is the pictures. Our home computer had pretty much died and we can't upload pictures onto blogger from the iPad. This means that pictures have to be uploaded onto a memory stick and then I have to bring them to work, save them on the work computer and upload them from there. It always seems like such an undertaking and I just never get around to it. So on Thursday morning I broke my toe and am now pretty much house bound. Plenty of time to at the very least update the blog, albeit without pictures for now.
Pat is currently in Nova Scotia with Gerad so that his family can all meet him. We just couldn't afford the extra tickets for Van and I. So it was extra crappy when I broke my toe because I am alone with Van and can't really walk or drive. Thankfully people have come forward to help which has been great.
Okay so let's get to some updates:
Gerad: What can I say? Our house has been taken over by a whirling dervish lol. He's a big personality and wears his emotions on his sleeve. When he's happy he's really happy and when he's not....man you know it. As mentioned before he has a set of lungs on him. He's doing quite well with his language. Still delayed (which is to be expected) but coming along well. We brought him to an early words assessment just to be safe and they said that they have no long term concerns which is great. He has adjusted very well to all the changes. He has been with us for almost 7 months now! Crazy! He is very attached to Pat and Van. It is still a work in progress with me. That sucks sometimes but I have to be patient. I have also read old blog posts from the early months with Van. They remind me that early struggles do not necessarily reflect on future attachment as Van and I are as close as can be. I certainly have missed him a lot these past few days so that's a good sign lol. Sometimes separation makes you realize how much you care about someone. He's doing very well at daycare and they love him there. Unfortunately we are not in love with the daycare. We have decided to move him to Van's old home daycare provider. Whereas Van needed to move to a preschool setting and that was the best fit for him, we think Gerad will be better off in a small home daycare setting. We loved Van's old provider and she'll be perfect for Gerad. I was over the moon to discover she had an opening for August 1st so we'll move him then. He struggles with change so the move will likely be hard at first but ultimately we think he'll thrive there. He and Van really have fun together (when they are not fighting over toys! Gerad's latest word "mine" has caused a bit of tension lol). When they are enjoying each other's company the joy in the house is palpable. They shriek and laugh with delight and chase each other around. I can see they will have lots of fun with each other in the future. He turned 2 on May 7 and we had a little party for him. He was pretty excited when the cake came out. He really is a funny and happy little guy most of the time and we feel pretty damn lucky!
Van: He'll be 4 in July and is looking forward to his birthday! He's currently very into superheroes and on any given day he's either Batman or Superman. He will tell you as well. If you call him Batman when he's Superman he'll be sure to correct you immediately..."No mama! I'm Superman!". He has a developing sense of humour which includes lots of references to poop, farts and smelliness in general. Funny how this type of humour develops in our young lol. To him there is nothing funnier than adding "smelly poopy bum" to any sentence. For example, the other day in the truck we were reciting "Brown bear brown bear what do you see?". I would say that line with the various animals and he would answer with the new animal but with his funny words added. "I see a blue horse poopy smelly bum looking at me".this was followed by much giggling and laughing. In fact the giggling would begin as he was trying get the humorous words out. Oh my little comedian. On Thursday we took a tour of the school he will be starting in September. As a child with diagnosed special needs they decided they wanted to meet him first to get a sense of his personality. They are considered an alternative school which I believe means they don't mind deviating from the normal school routine if deviation is in the best interests of the individual child. So far they have been wonderful and are keen to know Van as much as possible before he starts. He is definitely not just a number.
Anyway that's all for now. When Pat gets back from Nova Scotia I promise to add a bunch of pictures!
Pat is currently in Nova Scotia with Gerad so that his family can all meet him. We just couldn't afford the extra tickets for Van and I. So it was extra crappy when I broke my toe because I am alone with Van and can't really walk or drive. Thankfully people have come forward to help which has been great.
Okay so let's get to some updates:
Gerad: What can I say? Our house has been taken over by a whirling dervish lol. He's a big personality and wears his emotions on his sleeve. When he's happy he's really happy and when he's not....man you know it. As mentioned before he has a set of lungs on him. He's doing quite well with his language. Still delayed (which is to be expected) but coming along well. We brought him to an early words assessment just to be safe and they said that they have no long term concerns which is great. He has adjusted very well to all the changes. He has been with us for almost 7 months now! Crazy! He is very attached to Pat and Van. It is still a work in progress with me. That sucks sometimes but I have to be patient. I have also read old blog posts from the early months with Van. They remind me that early struggles do not necessarily reflect on future attachment as Van and I are as close as can be. I certainly have missed him a lot these past few days so that's a good sign lol. Sometimes separation makes you realize how much you care about someone. He's doing very well at daycare and they love him there. Unfortunately we are not in love with the daycare. We have decided to move him to Van's old home daycare provider. Whereas Van needed to move to a preschool setting and that was the best fit for him, we think Gerad will be better off in a small home daycare setting. We loved Van's old provider and she'll be perfect for Gerad. I was over the moon to discover she had an opening for August 1st so we'll move him then. He struggles with change so the move will likely be hard at first but ultimately we think he'll thrive there. He and Van really have fun together (when they are not fighting over toys! Gerad's latest word "mine" has caused a bit of tension lol). When they are enjoying each other's company the joy in the house is palpable. They shriek and laugh with delight and chase each other around. I can see they will have lots of fun with each other in the future. He turned 2 on May 7 and we had a little party for him. He was pretty excited when the cake came out. He really is a funny and happy little guy most of the time and we feel pretty damn lucky!
Van: He'll be 4 in July and is looking forward to his birthday! He's currently very into superheroes and on any given day he's either Batman or Superman. He will tell you as well. If you call him Batman when he's Superman he'll be sure to correct you immediately..."No mama! I'm Superman!". He has a developing sense of humour which includes lots of references to poop, farts and smelliness in general. Funny how this type of humour develops in our young lol. To him there is nothing funnier than adding "smelly poopy bum" to any sentence. For example, the other day in the truck we were reciting "Brown bear brown bear what do you see?". I would say that line with the various animals and he would answer with the new animal but with his funny words added. "I see a blue horse poopy smelly bum looking at me".this was followed by much giggling and laughing. In fact the giggling would begin as he was trying get the humorous words out. Oh my little comedian. On Thursday we took a tour of the school he will be starting in September. As a child with diagnosed special needs they decided they wanted to meet him first to get a sense of his personality. They are considered an alternative school which I believe means they don't mind deviating from the normal school routine if deviation is in the best interests of the individual child. So far they have been wonderful and are keen to know Van as much as possible before he starts. He is definitely not just a number.
Anyway that's all for now. When Pat gets back from Nova Scotia I promise to add a bunch of pictures!
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Gerad's adoption video
We did one for Van and Pat has finally completed Gerad's. Without further ado (I hope it works!):
Gerad's adoption video
Gerad's adoption video
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Update in pictures
Hello faithful readers. I am so sorry for the length between posts. It goes without saying that 2 kids and a full time job cause challenges for time management. The other issue is that our home internet is slow and it takes forever to load pictures It's just easier for me to do the updates at work. Of course then the time management issues come into play again. I will keep this post brief so I can focus on pics.
I must apologize to my blogging friend Elizabeth as I had ever intention of completing the Liebster award obligations but I do not "follow" that many small blogs. I did ask a couple of people but they didn't want to participate. I am more of a blog troller to be honest. I am sorry Elizabeth!
The pics are from Tet and winter in general. We attempted to go to a Korean New Year celebration but when we arrived we quickly realized is was more of an adult event. If we did not have two young kids we would have loved it I'm sure but a few hundred well dressed adults, a formal banquet and two kids under the age of four do not mix! We high tailed it out of there. The kids got to dress up though lol. For Tet (Vietnamese New Year) we met a bunch of adoptive family friends at one of Ottawa's many Vietnamese restaurants for dinner. Then Sam, Woody, Max and Vanh held a year of the snake party replete with large snake cake. We also checked out Winterlude this year as the theme was Korea! There was a big display brought over from Korea, including beautiful lanterns.
Things are generally going well at home although we are beginning to see more and more of Gerad's...ahem...toddler personality. He is a stubborn and strong willed little guy that's for sure! When he decides he doesn't like something he lets you know. His tantrums are a spectacle to behold! It's hard to believe that so much anger can exist in such a tiny frame! There are days that we feel a little shell shocked I'm not going to lie. There have been tough moments. But he is generally a happy go lucky little guy and we know that once he fully adjusts we will be able to more successfully parent his challenging behaviour. Right now he just doesn't really want to listen to us lol. His struggles with language are I'm sure adding to his frustration levels. While his understanding is quite good now he is still really struggling with verbalizing English. However it has only been four months. He'll get there and when he does I expect much of his frustration will die down.
Anyway, here are some pics:
d
I must apologize to my blogging friend Elizabeth as I had ever intention of completing the Liebster award obligations but I do not "follow" that many small blogs. I did ask a couple of people but they didn't want to participate. I am more of a blog troller to be honest. I am sorry Elizabeth!
The pics are from Tet and winter in general. We attempted to go to a Korean New Year celebration but when we arrived we quickly realized is was more of an adult event. If we did not have two young kids we would have loved it I'm sure but a few hundred well dressed adults, a formal banquet and two kids under the age of four do not mix! We high tailed it out of there. The kids got to dress up though lol. For Tet (Vietnamese New Year) we met a bunch of adoptive family friends at one of Ottawa's many Vietnamese restaurants for dinner. Then Sam, Woody, Max and Vanh held a year of the snake party replete with large snake cake. We also checked out Winterlude this year as the theme was Korea! There was a big display brought over from Korea, including beautiful lanterns.
Things are generally going well at home although we are beginning to see more and more of Gerad's...ahem...toddler personality. He is a stubborn and strong willed little guy that's for sure! When he decides he doesn't like something he lets you know. His tantrums are a spectacle to behold! It's hard to believe that so much anger can exist in such a tiny frame! There are days that we feel a little shell shocked I'm not going to lie. There have been tough moments. But he is generally a happy go lucky little guy and we know that once he fully adjusts we will be able to more successfully parent his challenging behaviour. Right now he just doesn't really want to listen to us lol. His struggles with language are I'm sure adding to his frustration levels. While his understanding is quite good now he is still really struggling with verbalizing English. However it has only been four months. He'll get there and when he does I expect much of his frustration will die down.
Anyway, here are some pics:
d
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Liebster award
One of my blogging friend Elizabeth at http://www.myadoptionjourney2011.blogspot.ca/ has nominated me for a Liebster award. I am going to copy and paste her description of this award. It was so nice of her to think of me and our little blog. I also follow her blog and fully recommend checking her out. A very strong and introspective woman. I hope she is united with a child very soon as that little one will have a wonderful mother indeed!
The Liebster Award
This award is given to new or up and coming bloggers who have less than 200 followers. The award is then passed along to other bloggers in the same category to help spread the word and support one another. If you receive the award, there are a few rules to follow.
Each blogger nominated must post 11 things about themselves.
Then you have to answer the 11 questions the tagger has asked.
The blogger must then create 11 questions of their own to ask the bloggers they decide to nominate.
They must choose 11 ( or less if you can't do 11) bloggers with less than 200 followers to nominate and link them on their blog post.
Bloggers must be notified of their award.
No tag backs!
11 things about me:
1. I was born in London, UK and moved to Canada when I was 5.
2. My mom is London Irish and my grandparents were from Dublin. My dad is half Scottish and half Canadian (Newfoundland). I spent a good chunk of my childhood summers in Ireland and Scotland visiting family.
3. I am a lawyer and practice mostly family law (although my first love is immigration/refugee).
4. I lived for 2 years in London in my early 20's and Japan for 2 years right after law school.
5. I have done a lot of traveling and it is a passion. I've been through much of Europe, a chunk of Asia and Kenya (will go back to Africa one day to see more).
6. Plan on taking a year off of work when the kids are older so that we can live in Korea and Vietnam then travel a bit.
7. I am a voracious reader and also enjoy writing fiction (I have been writing since I was a child) and non-fiction (articles).
8. My favourite TV show is Sherlock. I am also an avid watcher of CBC and love our Canadian programming.
9. I LOVE hockey. Love love love. I watch as much as I can and I am a die hard Leafs fan. I also play and I am a goalie.
10. I love horses and have worked with horses at various points in my life. I have taught lessons in the past and have ridden on and off for years. I got my love from my Irish grandmother.
11. I am a left winger and am proud of it (politically and sometimes hockey lol). I wish Jack Layton was still with us.
That's a bit about me. Here are the answers to Elizabeth's questions:
1) What is your favourite book/author?
Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami
2) Do you have any pets? If yes, info (type and name) and pictures if you are willing. If no, would you like one and what kind.
Two cats and a dog. Huxley cat is a 16 year old ginger male, Pepper cat is a 7 year old black and white short hair and Chibi is 7.5 year old Boston Terrier.
3) Name one place you would like to visit.
India, hands down!
4) Do you have a favourite app (phone, ipad, or if you don't have anything "i", an edible appitizer)?
Facebook, Twitter, CBC, Hockey Night in Canada.
5) Tell about a surprise in your life.
Our 2 referrals.
6) What was your favourite childhood activity?
Reading.
7) Tell about something you have learned, anything from anytime.
People are pretty much the same everywhere in the world. Culture shock is a state of mind.
8) What stresses you out?
My kids lol. Seriously, practically the only thing.
9) What are three words would your family and friend use to describe you?
Passionate (maybe too much lol), intelligent (these are from Pat), worldly.
10) White wine or red wine?
Red. Not a white drinker at all.
11) A wish you have
I want my boys to grow up happy, healthy and well adjusted (a wish most parents have I suspect)
Thanks Elizabeth! I promise to pay this forward as soon as I get a chance!
The Liebster Award
This award is given to new or up and coming bloggers who have less than 200 followers. The award is then passed along to other bloggers in the same category to help spread the word and support one another. If you receive the award, there are a few rules to follow.
Each blogger nominated must post 11 things about themselves.
Then you have to answer the 11 questions the tagger has asked.
The blogger must then create 11 questions of their own to ask the bloggers they decide to nominate.
They must choose 11 ( or less if you can't do 11) bloggers with less than 200 followers to nominate and link them on their blog post.
Bloggers must be notified of their award.
No tag backs!
11 things about me:
1. I was born in London, UK and moved to Canada when I was 5.
2. My mom is London Irish and my grandparents were from Dublin. My dad is half Scottish and half Canadian (Newfoundland). I spent a good chunk of my childhood summers in Ireland and Scotland visiting family.
3. I am a lawyer and practice mostly family law (although my first love is immigration/refugee).
4. I lived for 2 years in London in my early 20's and Japan for 2 years right after law school.
5. I have done a lot of traveling and it is a passion. I've been through much of Europe, a chunk of Asia and Kenya (will go back to Africa one day to see more).
6. Plan on taking a year off of work when the kids are older so that we can live in Korea and Vietnam then travel a bit.
7. I am a voracious reader and also enjoy writing fiction (I have been writing since I was a child) and non-fiction (articles).
8. My favourite TV show is Sherlock. I am also an avid watcher of CBC and love our Canadian programming.
9. I LOVE hockey. Love love love. I watch as much as I can and I am a die hard Leafs fan. I also play and I am a goalie.
10. I love horses and have worked with horses at various points in my life. I have taught lessons in the past and have ridden on and off for years. I got my love from my Irish grandmother.
11. I am a left winger and am proud of it (politically and sometimes hockey lol). I wish Jack Layton was still with us.
That's a bit about me. Here are the answers to Elizabeth's questions:
1) What is your favourite book/author?
Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami
2) Do you have any pets? If yes, info (type and name) and pictures if you are willing. If no, would you like one and what kind.
Two cats and a dog. Huxley cat is a 16 year old ginger male, Pepper cat is a 7 year old black and white short hair and Chibi is 7.5 year old Boston Terrier.
3) Name one place you would like to visit.
India, hands down!
4) Do you have a favourite app (phone, ipad, or if you don't have anything "i", an edible appitizer)?
Facebook, Twitter, CBC, Hockey Night in Canada.
5) Tell about a surprise in your life.
Our 2 referrals.
6) What was your favourite childhood activity?
Reading.
7) Tell about something you have learned, anything from anytime.
People are pretty much the same everywhere in the world. Culture shock is a state of mind.
8) What stresses you out?
My kids lol. Seriously, practically the only thing.
9) What are three words would your family and friend use to describe you?
Passionate (maybe too much lol), intelligent (these are from Pat), worldly.
10) White wine or red wine?
Red. Not a white drinker at all.
11) A wish you have
I want my boys to grow up happy, healthy and well adjusted (a wish most parents have I suspect)
Thanks Elizabeth! I promise to pay this forward as soon as I get a chance!
Friday, January 11, 2013
The holidays
Well again I have let too much time pass in between posts. Having two children definitely makes a difference with regards to keeping up with the blog. It is just really hard to get the pictures sorted out lol.
Our holidays were good. Van is finally at an age where he can appreciate the whole Santa thing. Gerad had no idea what was going on but he has certainly enjoyed his presents (and Van's too lol). All in all it was a success.
Gerad is doing better and better and I feel like he is beginning to fully attach to us. He no longer cries when he's put to bed and he is able to accept behavioural correction without having a full tantrum (which we believe was related to his insecurity. Now he's realizing that just because we say no it does not mean we don't love him or will be leaving him). I think being able to understand our langauge now has also made a huge difference. I think he is basically fluent in his understanding and can follow directions. It's incredible how quickly he has adjusted. He and Van are getting along as brothers should. Hugs, fights, etc.
Here are some pictures from the past month:
Santa's cookies and milk:
Xmas day:
Visiting day:
First haricut in Canada:
Enjoying the snow:
Experimental farm:
Gerad's room finally fully decorated:
Our holidays were good. Van is finally at an age where he can appreciate the whole Santa thing. Gerad had no idea what was going on but he has certainly enjoyed his presents (and Van's too lol). All in all it was a success.
Gerad is doing better and better and I feel like he is beginning to fully attach to us. He no longer cries when he's put to bed and he is able to accept behavioural correction without having a full tantrum (which we believe was related to his insecurity. Now he's realizing that just because we say no it does not mean we don't love him or will be leaving him). I think being able to understand our langauge now has also made a huge difference. I think he is basically fluent in his understanding and can follow directions. It's incredible how quickly he has adjusted. He and Van are getting along as brothers should. Hugs, fights, etc.
Here are some pictures from the past month:
Santa's cookies and milk:
Xmas day:
Visiting day:
First haricut in Canada:
Enjoying the snow:
Experimental farm:
Gerad's room finally fully decorated:
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