Update

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A year ago

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Christmas Cuteness

My boy in his new Pittsburg Penguin jersey....

























My sweet girl almost fully recovered from an amoxicillin rash (it was really bad Christmas day but almost fully gone a day later)... in her Christmas 'church' dress that never made it to the Church service...

























My blessings....

...nothing new in adoption land. I keep trying to will the phone to ring but it won't. This is a slow but sure way to insanity. Must focus on my many blessings!!!

Christmas 2008

Well, it's come and gone. That was fast!
I posted a Christmas summary and some photos over at our family blog, for anyone that missed it and is interested.

http://leslielightfoot.typepad.com/

Christmas Sillyness from the Lightfoots

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

We wish you a Merry Christmas

Hope everyone - near or far - has a wonderful and festive holiday season.

Merry Christmas from Shaune, Leslie, Keaton and Chloe...




ps: I designed the card using Better Homes and Gardens Quick Card Collages and some digital kits from my favourite scrapbooking on-line store: Two Peas In A Bucket.


....here is last year's card - shocking how quickly my kiddies are growing up. I don't like it much, no I don't!!!

Dreams

Do you think dreams mean anything? I dream a lot ... Shaune says if he does dream, he doesn't remember anything when he wakes up.

Last night I had very vivid dreams of being in Vietnam and meeting our daughter for the first time. Our family was there with us (I wish!) and the orphanage was very loud and chaotic. There were tons of people in front of us and a woman was pointing to a little girl and saying "she is right there" and it didn't matter which way I darted, I could not see her. Then there she was and she was beautiful. She was about 1 1/2 yrs old and she smiled and then held on tight to her Nanny.

That was it... I woke up to my son yelling "MOM, Wake up and get us ready for school!" - I tried to drown him out and fall back into my dream to see what happened next... but he persisted - I got up and still, he managed to miss his bus! :)

Just something I wanted to document - just in case dreams do mean something :)

Oh, and yesterday brought us to 17 months DTV (Dossier to Vietnam). Not that I'm really counting anymore.

Christmas is coming...

...and it is coming fast. I have been sick with what i'm guessing is strep throat for the past 2 days. I will go to the doctor tomorrow to see and get on some antibiotics if that is the case. God I hate being sick. Bleck. It isn't exactly easy to get sick with 2 children to care for at home. Today ended up being a snow day and the buses were cancelled (AGAIN) meaning both kiddies were home with me. My mother (God bless her) came to my rescue and whisked them away for the day so I could lie in bed and moan in agony.

This past weekend we celebrated a lot of things including a ballet recital for Chloe, a hockey tournament for Keaton, Keaton's 8th birthday and a family Christmas party. I posted photos and a better description of all the fun on our family blog.


Nothing new in adoption land. I am glad Christmas is upon us and keeping us busy or I would surely go insane. With all the Christmas events happening we are getting a lot of this question over and over: "So, is the adoption thing ever going to happen?" I can't really blame the questions - it has seemed to stretch over a 2 year period of a lot of talking about it and not a lot happening with it. I never dreamt last year (I think we were #12) that we would go another whole year and still not be together with our child. I really hope by mid Spring we can be home from Vietnam and start enjoying our family of 5. Hope, Hope, Hope!

Moved

...slightly. Click here.

The wait continues

Update here.

Some insight

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Lucky

These kids of mine are fabulous. They geniunely cannot wait for their sister to join our family. Every birthday wish for the past 1 1/2 yrs - they've wished for her, we've wished for her. Every wish chip and every 'first star of the night' wish has been for her. Many good night talks as I tuck them into bed have been about 'sister'.

They will be amazing big bro and big sis. They remain hopeful when I start to lose my hope. I can't wait until we know about her and I can tell them that their wish has finally come true.


Keaton:

















Chloe:























...My wonderful children!

DTV 16 months

Yes, another month has come and gone. Our dossier has been in Vietnam now for 16 months. Wow. Not sure what else to say.

I continue to hope we hear soon. I have good days and I admit I have some not so great days too. The never ending wait is hard but it has not affected my desire and my clarity. I have discovered over the course of these many months that adoption is truly not for the faint of heart - it is a leap of faith and a course of love that leads us to add to our family through adoption. I don't second guess our decision one moment. I rarely have such clarity and peace in the decisions we make as a family - but I do know without a shadow of a doubt that adoption and this child that for now lives in my hopes, was put in our hearts for a reason
...and I will endure however long this takes, because I know it is the right thing for our family. We all are so ready to love this child. All these months have lead us to such love and anticipation. I won't say I've enjoyed this wait and all it's ups and downs but I will say if this road leads to her - it was a road very worth taking.

So, we are celebrating 16 months closer to her. We are close I hope. Please cross your fingers that everything will fall into place soon.

What's happening

Life is flying by and moving at a snails pace at the same time... you can guess what part feels like it is going by slowly - everything adoption related.

But, life in general is moving too fast. The kids are half way through school and it is crazy how time is flying. Shaune took the week off of work. This was because he has saved up so much of his holidays in hopes he'd need 3 wks worth for our time in Vietnam this year. Clearly that isn't happening before 2009 arrives. So he took a week to get some stuff done around the house and will take a bit more at Christmas time to spend with me and the kids.... love that.

We are busy with hockey for Keaton. Running the roads to out of town games or to one practice or another. Chloe grudgingly follows along even though she declares that she "hates hockey"! Tonight I had my brother down for supper and we gave Keaton an early birthday gift... the game "Perfection" where you have to put the shapes into the holes before the base pops up. Keaton is obsessed and has been trying to beat his times over and over again for the past hour. My brother and I used to have this game 'back in the day' and so we both had fun polishing up our skills also.

I heard from a woman in our agency today and she recieved her referral for beautiful baby boy twins. They are adorable and I took it as a hopeful sign for us. Congrats to you, if you are reading :) I hope you can get those baby boys home before Christmas and if not... very shortly after.

So... that is what's happening around here.

Update for those interested

Click here.

Happy Halloween!

What a busy few days it has been. Chloe and Keaton both had Halloween parties at school and I got ambitious and baked for both events. Then, tonight we had a blast trick or treatin' with friends. I managed a few shots of these little goblins before we headed out for the night.

Keaton and Chloe - Halloween Night 08.

More photos on our family blog.

Sweden to close program

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Rambling

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You'll need my password to read.

Another name

We added another 'possible name' to the list, Shaune and I are both really fond of the name Charlotte. It isn't a front runner but we like it and are thinking it (along with the other names) over. Once we have her photo we'd like to name her right away. I find it hard just calling her 'baby girl'.

So, her name is likely going to be:
-Meg
or
-Charlotte
or
-Isabel

It will depend on her cute little face and what name suits her best. Her Vietnamese name will be a part of her full name, perhaps her middle name I think.

Just mulling things over in my head tonight... thinking about her and hoping I'm not mulling these thing over in my head for another many months. I'm ready to be her momma.

Fun photos

Yesterday was our annual halloween party ...the kids had a blast. I didn't get around to counting but I think there was about 25 parents there and probably 60 kids. I snapped these photos of our kiddies before we headed to the hall. Chloe is a spider charmer complete with cobweb pig tails and Keaton was a Clone trooper (his obsession with Star Wars continues).

15 months DTV

...another month closer. As far as I know we are still #3.
It will happen... hopefully soon.

What I'm thankful for...

This weekend was our Thanksgiving... 3 turkey dinners later and I think I might start to gobble. We spent the weekend surrounded by all our amazing family. Saturday was our annual Whyte family haywagon ride (2 haywagons... around 50 people total) around Fraser Lake. The scenery was beautiful and the weather (all weekend) was amazing.
Sunday we spent lunch with the Emerson side of the family - it was great seeing Gram and all the family. From there we went to Shaune's mom and dads for another amazing turkey supper. Wow, I could barely stay awake from all the feasting we did. Lynn made her amazing chocolate pecan pie and it was a quiet evening with just my in-laws and great Nanna K.

Anyhow... it was a wonderful family weekend. The thing I am most thankful for is FAMILY. I have been blessed, truly!

Today we took the kids for a hike right in our back yard. We spent about 2 hours hiking in the woods and they even stopped to have a cold skinny dip in the stream! It was a perfect day. I'm so thankful to have my children - it certainly helps us to have them to focus on and love as we wait on child #3. We are still anxious for our news to come but weekends like this remind us of just how lucky we are.

Photo of Chloe and Keaton during our hike through the woods:

18 months ago today...

Yes, a year and a half ago today we took the giant leap into the world of adoption. The path that will lead us to our 3rd child. It is something we had thought of for years and it was a decision we came to with excitement and enthusiasm in our hearts. We mailed our application into our agency and have not looked back... we just keep moving forward even when it feels like it is at a snails pace.

We are keeping very busy with ballet for Chloe and hockey for Keaton and work for daddy and work for me too. I'm taking on all I can juggle right now to get me through this wait. The busier we keep ourselves the more we focus on the now... the wonderful beautiful NOW.

...18 months and we are still very happy and excited that we chose this path for our family. It isn't always easy but what things worthwhile in life really are?

In other news, I can't believe how cold it is getting here already. The days are beautiful and sunny but the night time is COLD. We will see frost soon for sure. I love the Autumn - it is my most favourite time of year. The gorgeous trees and the 'sweater weather'... the apple orchards and pumpkin patches... it is all good!

Next weekend is Thanksgiving here (incase my US friends forgot, Canadians get to pig out on turkey first ;) - I cannot wait. We celebrate t'giving in a big way with all our family. We will be attending 3 t'giving feasts in less than 24 hrs. CRAZY... but mmm mmm good.

Numbers

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The thing about hope...

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Hope

Be sure to turn off or pause music on right hand sidebar before playing video.



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What to say, What to say?

Ya, I have nothing to say. Sorry, nothing to report.

I have been a bit MIA from this blog lately because I have nothing positive or good to say. I don't want to be a Debbie Downer and that is where I am in my head at times right now. We've heard nothing and as far as I know we are still sitting at #3 or #4 on the list. My emails are going unanswered (probably b/c there is nothing good to report) so I am just going to have to sit this out and continue to be patient and hopeful. I keep telling myself "It has to happen sooner or later"... we are most definetly into the 'later' part of the equation so we sit tight and know that this wait of all waits has to come to good things soon.

And... if one more telemarketer calls my home I am going to lose it on them. The phone rings, the glimmer of hope that it is 'the call' sets in... I rush to the phone and then it is a telemarketer telling me I've won a trip to Bahamas (ya right!) or wanting to save me $ on my credit card interest - and inside I rage silently at them. One of these days - pop... I'm gonna blow. I loath telemarketing!

All things baby have been set aside for months now. I can't bear looking at baby clothes (i've quit buying a baby outfit each month that our dtv anniversary goes past) or baby stuff... I guess when we finally do get 'the call'... we will have to hussle to be ready for her. I think that will be a good thing though to keep us busy while we wait for travel. So, life continues on and is wonderful at home. We silently wish for our family of five, but are very happy and thankful now for our family of four. It will happen and I've just got to leave it at that. If I think about it too much I start to obsess. Obsessive mommy = super freak. So I'm trying not to go there anymore :)

Laurie's doing a giveaway

Laurie is doing another great give away. Check it out here and leave a message on her blog for your chance to win.

14 months!

Today is the 17th of September and it marks the 14th month our dossier has been in Vietnam. Let's hope it is the last! :)

Click here for more info.

Photo of the Week

From our day trip today to the Apple Orchard. More photos here.

She is such a doll!

Things just got busier

Keaton (after much hard work during try-outs the past 2 wks) found out today that he made the Novice Rep Team. We are really proud of him and how hard he tries when he is out on the ice. He is becoming quite the little hockey player! He was happy to make the Rep team although I'm not sure he 100% understands what that means. Mostly he just wanted to be sure he was on his friend Cameron's team, and that he'd get to play hockey lots.

Looks like if I wanted something more to keep me even busier and to keep my mind off the wait... I just got it. Congrats Keaton - you rock!

10 years

10 wonderful years. I hit the jackpot and I know it. Happy Anniversary Shaune. 10 years married and 15 years since I first met you and fell head over heels!

Struggling this week

I'm not sure why but this week has been hard. I think it is because the kids are back to school (not complaining, honest!) and I have more time to *think* and *worry* and *dwell* and *think some more*. Will this happen? I don't know how to explain how I've been feeling lately - panic and doubt is wreaking havoc on my mind. Maybe because the end of this part of our wait (for referral) is finally just around the corner yet not clearly in sight yet. I have said over and over again, it isn't the wait itself that makes this so hard to endure (month after month after month)... it is the not knowing. Not knowing if the phone ringing might be the news we are waiting on, not knowing if it will come tomorrow or in 2 wks or in 2 months or WHEN? I'm just rambling and typing here, endless thinking and mulling everything over in my head has caused extreme insomnia in me lately. Shaune lays beside me, peacefully sleeping and content to wait and trust that things will work out. I wish I had his personality and confidence... I'd be sleeping better at night just like he is.

The kids ask me daily now about the baby. I think they are starting to think maybe this is something we just talk about - I think they are starting to think this is not something that is REALLY going to ever happen. We have been preparing our hearts and our home for a baby to join us... for over 17 months now. I wish we hadn't had to tell them our plans so soon but because of our homestudy - they have known from the very beginning. They have been more patient than I have been but I know that they would love to have their sister join our family and put all this talk about 'someday' in the past.

Chloe is starting to share alot of anxiety and concern about us going to Vietnam when the time comes. It breaks my heart because I know financially we can not afford to take her and her brother and my mother. It is just so much more - and besides, the kids have school...etc.

I guess I just have a ton on my mind at times. Writing them down, believe it or not HELPS. I know how lucky I am. I tuck 2 beautiful children into bed at night and share a life with my family that is truly blessed. I am a mom and wife and I love the life I have. But... I would love our 3rd child home. I'd love to complete our family and keep living this wonderful life with her a part of it. That is all :)

Random mumbling at 1116pm

Here (you'll need my password)

Photo of the Week

We had a great time this past weekend, we are already planning next years!

Still nothing new on the adoption front. I should be used to this by now but I haven't slept in days. If you've contacted me for the password to my private posts but haven't heard back from me, it is likely b/c you didn't post your email. Try again :)

A great little distraction

After a 7 year hiatus, me and my girls are going on a weekend getaway. I cannot wait and it couldn't come at a better time. The wait continues to drag on and consume me.
We are heading to a resort in Keene, Ontario and have rented a cottage on the water within the resort complex. We plan on just hanging out mostly, watching some movies, good eats and great drinks, and we may fit in a wine tasting afternoon and spa treatments too - we are playing it by ear. There will be me, Lori (my cousin - known my whole life), Ang (known since Grade 9), Kerri (known all my life), Pam (known since Grade 9), Gwen (known since Grade 9), Melissa (known my whole life), Rhonda (known since Grade 10) and Nicole (my cousin - known my whole life).

I know I'm lucky to still be able call this group of girls my bestest friends. We have 18 kids between the bunch of us - so yes... we all need and deserve a girls getaway with no kids and no responsibilities for 3 days straight! I am so excited... must go pack now!

Thanks Shaune for holding down the fort at home. We make a great team and I really appreciate you so much for all you do for me and with the kids.

We heard back from our agency…

And it wasn't good news. Apparently we are still #3 or #4. I'm going to think positively and think we are #3.
...not what I wanted to hear, but it is what it is.

The wait...

Well, it feels sort of exciting to finally be at a place where MAYBE we may see a referral soon! I don’t want to jinx things and I’m preparing myself to wait and wait and wait some more. We are (i think) #1 or #2 on the list. I have emailed the director of our agency 2x now to get a confirmation on this and she has not returned my emails. I guess if I haven’t heard a number from her by Monday maybe I’ll call her. The whole process is sort of intimidating and I often feel like I’m bugging when I email them with questions. They are just very busy and I’m one of many that probably email them for news often.

I will admit, when the phone rings… and I mean each and every time it rings since we figured out we were near the beginning of the list, the thought that maybe it is Dorinda (our agency director who makes ‘the calls’) crosses my mind. This is the first I’ve felt this way in the long 17 months we’ve been in this process. It is a nice feeling to feel hopeful finally and expectant of something good coming our way – but it is a scary thing too. I don’t like getting my hopes up – I’m the pessimist in the family. 

Shaune has always said since Day 1 that he felt our referral would come in the Fall of 2008, September to be exact. Well, it is September and we are ready! Any time would be wonderful.

Not #1 or #2

Pooh!
I was sure with my stellar (not!) math skills I'd figured out we were #1 or #2 on the wait list. Apparently not. I heard from our agency and we are still #3 or #4. Not much movement lately unfortunately. I'm going to stuff some B&J's peanut butter chocolate ice cream in my mouth. All this waiting is getting to my waist line.

Testing out password protected posts

For anyone that I've provided with our password, you can test it out at the following link. Let me know if you have any problems getting it to work.

Going semi-private

I'm not going totally private with my blog but... as we are now approaching the time when we will finally see our daughters face someday soon (I hope) I will be posting these things (her photos and her story) on a private blog. If you would like the password please leave me a comment below with your:
1) name & where you live
2) your blog link if you have one
3) how you know me (through adopting from VN, friend, etc.)
4) i need your email so i can email you the password.

The point of going private with some post will just be to protect the little girls identity until she is officially our daughter and to be able to post more intimate thoughts along the way, if and when I feel like it.

I will email you the password once I have something exciting to write about... which could be tomorrow or could be 4 months from now. I pray that it is soon!

Thanks.
Leslie

Exciting day

1) the kids are back in school!!!!

























You can see more back-to-school photos of the kiddies on our family blog. It is linked at the top on the side bar.

2) a friend here in Ontario is recieving her official referral today! She has waited over 2 yrs for this and I am very excited for her. Another friend shared exciting news of her own (you know who you are)... I am thrilled for you too!

Photo(s) of the Week

Yesterday we visited a friends vacation trailer so the kids could enjoy one last summer dip in the cold outdoor waters (Lake Ontario). We originally had thought we might tent overnight but then decided to just make a day of it since it was only a short drive from home. The kids had a blast. They had 'Halloween' in the summer at the park and the kids all wore some dress up clothes. They had a full day of swimming, playing at the park, trick or treating and ended the night with a "Halloween Dance" in the main rec hall. It was a fun but exhausting day and we made it home at around 11pm.

Here are a few photos from the day of fun!

Safe and happy travels Leah!

I have made a great friend since starting our adoption last year. Leah and I met on facebook of all places and she lives a couple hours away - in Toronto. She has been a great support to me and someone to lend an ear whenever the process of waiting and waiting becomes almost impossible to bear.

Tomorrow I am glad to say she is leaving on a jet plane to bring home her beautiful SON. I couldn't be more happy for her and excited to get to hear all about Vietnam and her time there, once she is home and settled. I wish you all the best, Leah during your time in your son's birth country. May you drink in the culture and memorize all the special details of his life there. I will be here at home thinking of you and smiling.

Wishing you safe travels and all the happiness your family deserves! Bon Voyage. Love on all the babies in the orphanage for me. Who knows, one of them may be our daughter :)

Where we are in the wait

Well, our agency director came home from Vietnam a few weeks ago and word is out that referrals are beginning today. As far as I know we are #3 or #4...and I think there are a couple girl referrals coming - so perhaps we will move into the #1 spot in our wait. I can't imagine being so close suddenly. What a good feeling that would be. I'm not sure when I'll get confirmation on where we are for SURE on the list but now I know we are very close and I hope by late September that we are through with this part of our wait and on to the wait to travel part! Thing are starting to feel exciting around here!

This past week I cleaned out Chloe's closet (the girls will be sharing a room until we put on an addition to our home in a few years) because it is CRAMMED full of clothing. I bought a closet organizer and it made such a huge difference in her room for $60! I still am not sure how on earth we will fit 2 pampered princess's clothes in there but at least everything is organized there. I'm afraid we are going to have to get rid of Chloe's pretty vanity desk for now (it is an antique and so pretty) to make room for a dresser to hold more little girl clothes - I'll be on the look out for a nice big dresser to accomodate 2 little girls.

Please send positive thoughts our way... that our turn may come soon and that we will be able to start loving the child that has been meant to be in our family. Once we finally do recieve our child proposal/referral I will have a lot of frantic shopping to do. We have put off buying anything baby related other than some pretty dresses, etc. I gave away EVERYTHING after Chloe was a toddler and so we will be learning all about all the new gadgets on the market. It is crazy how things have changed so much since K & C were babies in 2001 and 2003. It should be interesting... and a lot of fun!

Brought me to tears

...watch it.

This is a video of the day a family met their new child in Ethiopia. Amazing photos that capture an amazing day. Different country but an experience I am ready for... yearning for - the day we meet our daughter and a sister for Keaton and Chloe.

Photo of the Week

Photo taken last weekend up at the Fabri's in Waterloo. Keaton got ahold of these Pirates of the Caribbean guns and didn't want to put them down!

#13

Yesterday we reached 13 months DTV.... and the beat goes on. Not sure when our turn will arrive - it has to be soon?! Stay tuned and hopefully one day I'll have some wonderful news to share. Please send all your positive vibes our way ;)

This weekend we got away again and spent the weekend with some great friends we met on our disney cruise last November. They have children around the same age as Keaton and Chloe so we clicked instantly on the cruise. Luckily they lived about 3 hrs from us, up in Kitchener/Waterloo area. They invited us up to spend the weekend with them and we had a blast. It was a nice distraction from all this WAITING. We finished the weekend off with a day at a waterpark near their home and it was so fun.

I cuddled a baby today

... and I loved it.

Sarah and Aaron came for supper tonight and I got a chance to photograph my little nephew. He is 2 months old and DARLING. I posted more photos on our family website for anyone interested.

Photo of the Week

I stumbled on to this photo I took of myself after returning from the hair stylist months and months agao... it reminded me that I need to get my hair cut and colour'd again. It has been a long time since this photo, and this hair took place.

I put off the color (yes, i know this is kinda bright in the photo but I'd just come from the hair dresser and red on my always starts out a little 'strong' b/c it fades so fast) because we spend so much time in the pool in the summer.

I put off the hair cut because I thought I'd try growing my hair long enough to put in a pony tail once I'm a new momma again. Also the thought of being able to pull my hair off my neck in the heat of Vietnam came to mind.

But I give up. I want fresh fun hair again so I'm going in for a dye job and snip! Wish me luck.

Nothing new to report

I had really hoped that when I returned from our back north getaway I would have heard something new regarding the status of upcoming referrals for our agency. The agency director is in VN and she was expected back a few days ago but is now there for another week due to the typhoon. Check out this news story for more information.

Can I admit that I feel like the adoption we were (and are) so excited about over a year ago is slowly draining me, it is so emotional and crazy at times... wondering what could and may happen next. I don't like feeling like this may not happen. Is it an irrational thought? Hopefully, considering Canada has not announced any intentions of pulling out of the VN program. But recently I have been thinking of all those in the US that had a dream of adoption from Vietnam and now are without that opportunity. The door for them is closing and I have to be honest with myself and understand that there is at least a small chance the same thing could happen for Canadians. I have been sitting in the low numbers of the wait list now for over half a year. I've gotten to the point where I wonder sometimes if this is really going to happen. I will be totally shocked if and when that phone rings with the news we've been thinking of for 1 1/2 yrs now. I'm ready for a SHOCK.

I secretly hope our agency director will return from Vietnam with wonderful news for many families (ours included God willing). I hope she comes home and knocks all our socks off with amazing news. I'm sending all positive thoughts her way and hoping for the very best for all of us waiting!

Lots of questions on how the adoption is going came up during our family reunion. Last year at the reunion I was sharing our expectations that we may be in Vietnam in August this year. Obviously that didn't turn out to be the case. Things change and I am certainly learning to roll with it. Now I hope for us to be home from Vietnam for Christmas. I dont' know if this is a realistic hope but I'm going to hope it none the less.

Surely the phone will ring one of these days?

Home sweet home...

Photo 1 - My Keaton and his cousin Joel.

Photo 2 - Shaune and many of my cousins playing Bocce Ball.

Photo 3 - My cousin Mike and his son Max.

Photo 4 - My cousin (from British Columbia, home to visit) Luke proposed to his girlfriend Kara - she said YES.

Photo 5 & 6 - My girl :)

After 4 nights sleeping in a tent I can honestly say There is no place like home. We went back to my family reunion. It was a 5 day event and we had a blast. I am glad to be home though and am looking forward to a solid sleep in my own bed... and indoor plumbing 10 steps from my bed ;)

I took a bazillion photos again. I edited a slew of them tonight and will probably put them on my family blog tomorrow (link is in my side bar). Here are a few - it rained everyday but we had bits of sunshine and a lot of happiness all weekend.

I've been tagged

Heather over at "Everything Olivia" tagged me. Basically I need to list 6 words that describe me.
For some reason I'm drawing a blank. That can't be a good sign :)

Ok. Here are 6 for me and how I feel/am today:

1. Hopeful
2. Busy
3. Happy
4. Mult-tasking
5. Appreciative
6. Unsure

Hmm, who to tag:
Bev, Kelly, Julie, Tara, Kerri, Amanda

Photo of the Week

I am loving my clematis!

This is the first year for it and it is climbing nicely on our pool fencing. I plan on planting a few more next spring. They are such pretty vines!

My strategy

My strategy during this never-ending wait is to keep busy. The more time I have on my hands, the more I think and obsess and worry and wonder. The less time I have on my hands - THE BETTER.

The kids being home for the summer has kept me hopping. I've also taken on more work and am learning how to juggle it all. I think I need to hire a sitter for a couple days a week.

Shaune has decided to quit saving all his holiday time (in the event we go to Vietnam) and has decided to take another week off sometime in August for some family vacation time. That will still leave him 4 wks and the farther we get into the summer, the less it looks like we will travel in 2008 anyhow (Gosh I hate to think it will be 2009 before we are home with baby girl).

We are thinking about camping (in tents - ack!) in one of the many provincial parks we have in Ontario. The kids would love it and other than the sleeping part, I think it would be fun. If there is anyone with suggestions on nice parks and campgrounds to visit in Ontario (Canada) let me know. Right now all I'm coming up with is Bonecho, Sandbanks or Algonquin Park.

Yesterday was a productive day around our house. We finally did a bunch of landscaping (moving soil and seeding for grass) and Shaune and his friends put together a new storage shed for the backyard... maybe I'll be able to park my truck in the garage sometime soon. The shed will hold our lawnmowers, snowblowers, kid 4 wheeler & jeep, etc. It will be nice to be able to reclaim our garage.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend. Chloe is sick with some kind of stomach bug - poor kid. She rarely ever feels sick so she slept all day today. We are having movie night tonight and just hanging out. I love it!

Interesting Video

For anyone interested, check out this video which discusses Intercountry adoption, including Vietnam.

Ontario Cottage rental recommends

Okay here is a post for any readers I have that live or have visited Ontario Canada. I am looking for a cottage to rent that holds up to 8 adults... we are planning a girlfriend get-away and want something peaceful, on the water and with enough room for 7-8 women. We want to keep it to within a 1-2 hr drive from home so as far as Kingston/Gananoque to the east or Toronto area to the west. I also thought Peterborough or Prince Edward Country would be nice. This will be for a weekend early September - just a place to go hang out, cook great food and watch girly movies.

I would love any recommends you may have.
I'm really excited that we are FINALLY having another girl's getaway weekend ... the last time was when Keaton was a baby if that tell's you anything!

You can post here or email me at llightfoot at xplornet dot com

Photo of the Week

... a little bit late but here it is.

My boy tonight by the pool. I love the green tree's behind him. I love photos of my kids looking off at something that has caught their eye.

He is beyond cute, pool hair and all :)

YES!

I woke up to good news that a family ahead of us on the wait list just got their referral - so we have finally (after 4.5 months of no movement) moved to #5 on the wait list. Still a long way to go but this is happy news so I had to share.

12 month ... 1 year ... 365 days

Wow. We've gotten to that point in the wait where we are a full year with our dossier (paperwork) over in Vietnam. I didn't think we'd get here without at least the referral... a photo and a little child to love and dream of meeting soon.

I know our time is coming. I feel it. I was busy the past week traveling for the trade show but I thought of our adoption often and the waiting. I'm not saying it isn't hard but I feel like everything in life, it will happen when it should. I also feel like at times I have spent a lot of (probably too much) time wanting to speed time along to the day when we are a family of 5. I have tried to enjoy every moment of life but when you are desperately waiting on that next amazing and wonderful thing - it is easy to miss what is happening in the here and now. I know I have from time to time done just that. Being away in Chicago and thinking and missing all my blessings waiting for me at home is just another reminder of all that is good in our family NOW. I am going to concentrate, during the remainder of our wait for little baby Lightfoot, on relishing the time that is now and not wishing that time would go by faster until we are not waiting any longer.

Since we have started this journey, I have learned so much. I have had friends bring their beautiful children home, I have learned so many things that I know will help me be a better mom to all my children, I believe that the wait has helped prepare our family in so many ways to be ready when we are blessed with another child. We are ready now though :) Anytime now would be GREAT ;)

So... Cheers to a year of emotions and learning and wishing and ups and downs. Here is to a year closer to our 3rd child who is already loved so much.

Home from Chicago

I got home late last night from working the CHA (Craft and Hobby Association) trade show for Creativity. 5 days is a long time for me to be away from my babies (yes, they are still my babies at ages 7 and 5)... I am not sure how I will do 3 wks in Vietnam without them. I try not to think about it but little trips like this remind me of just how difficult it will be - for me, for Shaune and for Keaton and Chloe also. When I got home Chloe kept hugging me and saying she missed me so much and then she would say "I'm going to miss you so much when you go to Vietnam".

Shaune and the kids were waiting outside the shuttle bus terminal when I got back home from the airport... what a welcome home I got. I am the luckiest woman alive. Today we are just hanging out and cuddling a lot.

The show was fun. I got to spend time with good friends that I only see when I travel for work and that is always the highlight of the event for me. Many good meals, tasty drinks and big laughs were had!

It was a great distraction from this thing called "waiting".

Dinner out

I drove up to Toronto on Friday night for our bi-monthly dinner out for adopting mom's in the area. It was a smaller group this time with 7 mom's adopting from Vietnam and 2 adopting from China. Summer time is busy so I guess a lot of the others couldn't make it this time.

It is a long drive but always well worth it to spend time learning more about the program, talking to those who understand how hard the wait can be and share good news such as photos of my one friends sweet baby boy referred a couple months ago.

I'm guessing at the next dinner (in September) there will be at least 2 more mommies with their baby referrals and then hopefully a few more the dinner after that (me included please, please, please).

I had the best pasta, some sort of angel hair pasta with jumbo shrimp and mass amounts of lobster - HEAVEN! We did a little bit of shopping beforehand but I was very good and only bought C a pair of pj's that were on sale at the Disney Store.

Yesterday my friend Melissa had a pool party at her place to celebrate Murray (her husband) and Savannah's (her daughter) birthday. It was a hot muggy day and the kids had a ball in the pool with all their friends.

Today it is looking dreary. I guess it is a clean the house and do laundry type day. Bleck.

Photo of the Week

My sweet boy, April 2005... so young here!

Sharing a video

(PAUSE MUSIC on right hand side bar before watching video)

I watched this video on another mom's blog and it left me wondering what my family can do to act on the need of others around the world. How do you help other's in need? Does anyone reading have a special way that they help those less fortunate - something simple and doable for people like me that want to make a difference and teach my children to love and help thy neighbour... whether they be in the same city as me or half way across the world.

I'd love suggestions. Video's like this leave me sorta speechless and sickened. We are so fortunate. We are not wealthy but look at the life we live in comparison to so many others. We have food, water, clothing, shelter and so much more. We are so blessed. I want to do more.

Photo of the Week

I guess I missed POTW while away on vacation... so here it is a little bit late.

Chloe yesterday - enjoying a float in the pool.

You know, why does every pool noodle we have have big bite marks out of it? I swear, I do feed my kids!

Muskoka Holiday

Well, I ended up loading a lot of my photos on our family blog. Here is a couple, if you want to see the rest they are at: http://www.leslielightfoot.typepad.com/
Cheers!

We had an amazing time

...in the Muskoka's. We got away for a little summer vacation to celebrate the end of school for the kids and the beginning of summer for all of us! We spent our time with good friends and it was so fun and laid back. We are all exhausted from the long drive (it is a 5 hr drive) but maybe I'll muster up some energy and post some photos today or tomorrow.

Photo of the Week

My silly boy at Oak Lake 2 years ago.

This is him doing muscle poses with his water wings - big goof ball :)

Summer - August 2006

My 200th post

...and nothing adoption related to report :(

We did finally pick a vehicle. Thanks to everyone who emailed or posted advice. We went with the Honda Pilot. I'm excited to get out of my mini-van (I owned it for 7 years) and I'm scared to have less 'space'. The kids are excited to have a DVD in the vehicle... they could care less about anything else. We ordered it today and hopefully can pick it up on Monday. We are heading to Georgian Bay for a mini-vacation next week and it will be a good 'test' since i'm sure it will be packed to the gills with camping stuff, bicycles (eek?!), etc. I think we will need to get a little more efficient on how we pack.

The kids finished school today. It will be nice to sleep in in the mornings - I have kiddies that tend to like to sleep til 830-9am... Keaton would be happy sleeping til 10am some mornings... suits me just fine. I plan on a fun summer just lazing around the pool. Hopefully we will plan some mini trips each month of the summer... the kids would like to get up to Canada's Wonderland again, as well as our usual trip to the Toronto Zoo, etc.

DTV 11 months

Whew, another month ... gone.

Another month closer and hopefully soon I won't have to count up months but instead will be counting down months til our child is in our arms.

I don't know when the call will come. Like I tell everyone who asks... it could be tomorrow or it could be many, many more months.

I got this sweet little dress at Target on a recent drive to the US (Watertown, NY is about a 2.25 hr drive for me)... they have the sweetest clothes at such great prices!

Cheers to another month out of the way. Please phone ... ring - SOON!

Photo of the Week

Chloe with her very first bouquet of roses. Here she is posing with her red roses from her Daddy... on her 5th birthday.

Story behind the roses: Shaune lost his keys. He couldn't find them anywhere. We had searched EVERYWHERE. It was going to cost him a pretty penny to replace all the keys (including his car keys at $90 a key).

Chloe found the keys! ... and on her birthday. She was rewarded with this special thank you and 'love you' from her Daddy.

ps: the cheerleading dress-up costume is her attire of choice lately. Go Chloe Go!

A funny one... MY TOOTH IS OVER THERE

Had to share this photo of Keaton from a couple weeks ago when he lost his first tooth.
He was really worried that the tooth fairy would not know where his tooth was waiting for her, so he made sure it was spelled out clearly for her with his homemade signage:



Chuckle!

Photo taken sometime around midnight... him peacefully dreaming of hard cold cash in the morning. I guess there is still a part of him that believes in fairies... he does, he does.

Photo of the Week

This is an oldie. Chloe always had to have hair in her hands when she sucked her thumb. If it wasn't hers, she would reach out and twirl someone elses.
Keaton got very used to this. He would sit and watch a cartoon or play a video game and she would stand or sit beside him and peacefully run his hair through his fingers.

A few times I even caught her trying to play with strangers hair while waiting at the Wal-mart check out, etc. :)

Memories!

Quiet

I've been quiet lately. I honestly don't have much to say. We continue to wait and there has been quite a slow down with referrals with our agency. I think it is a first for them and some of it is believed to perhaps be due the upcoming shut down of the US program with Vietnam. Right on the heels of the US/VN announcement to discontinue adoptions as of Sept 1/08, our Canadian agency began to get fewer referrals. Perhaps it is due to the orphanages wanting to push through as many US families as they can before the doors shut. I can understand that and truly wish only the best for all, but it is a bit disheartening. There has been 1 girl referral and a few boy referrals in over three months. That is very rare for our agency. I was pretty certain at one point that there was no way we would get past May 2008 without our referral. Then I set my hopes on July 2008. After an email sent out today from the agency director, I think we could have a much longer wait still. On Tuesday we will be 11 months DTV. We obviously are in this for the long haul and understand that it WILL happen in time... it just feels today like each time we get our hopes set on a certain time frame, something happens and we extend it further. I do not hold much hope of having our child home from Vietnam before 2008 is over. Will it be Spring 2009? The not knowing seems to be the thing I struggle with the most. This too shall pass... just having one of those days.

Sorry for the downer post.

Chloe's birthday party was yesterday. Thank goodness the sun was out (it was supposed to Thunderstorm) and the pool party was a big success for Chloe and 9 friends from school. I got to know some of the mom's and we just hung out by the pool mostly... the kids just wanted to swim, swim, swim. I can't believe my BABY is turning 5 years old tomorrow. Wah! All she really wants for her birthday is a sister to love, but for now she settled for a new doll and a Generations white equestrian horse that stands 2 ft tall. :)

Re: Father's Day today!Shaune is spending the morning and some of the afternoon golfing with all his cousins and some of his uncles... a guy day. We are going to a family BBQ this evening for Shaune's cousin and her new husband that are visiting from Australia. The kids made Shaune really cute crafts at school and the sun is shining. It is going to be a great Father's Day :)

5 years of Chloe... set to music

Note: be sure to pause music on right side bar before watching youtube video...

Chloe's 5th birthday is this week... hard to believe - seems like just yesterday she was a little babe in my arms. Anyhow, I compiled some photos of her over the years and set them to music = as part of her birthday gift. She is thrilled with the video. I burnt some copies to dvd and she watches it over and over. She happily sits down and watches it with anyone willing to sit for 7 minutes to see it.

I loaded it on to youtube. The photo quality sucks on youtube but oh well, you get the idea... not everyone can come sit on our couch with Chloe and watch the high res photo DVD :)

This weekend...

Well, for starters our basement got 'very wet' a few nights ago and we are dealing with throwing out pretty much everything that got soaked. There was a huge thunderstorm and we didn't know that our sump pump had quit working. So... the next morning when Keaton went down to the basement he called up to me "Umm, Mom - the basement is looking kinda wet". Understatement.

The temps are high and it is going to be one hot weekend. We are enjoying the pool and are headed to a friends tonight for supper. Looking forward to that.

Between floating in the pool, gardening and cleaning up this mess of a wet basement - we should have a busy weekend :) Some fun, some not.

I looked at the ticker at the top of our blog and see we are now at 14 months since we signed on to adopt from Vietnam. Crazy how time marches on. In some ways it doesn't feel that long ago but in other ways it really feels like it has been forever. I know for the kids it feels like it is not going to happen... or that it is something we talk about but that doesn't seem like it will happen. It is teaching us all about patience.

Photo of the Week

Chloe in all her pinkness. Her favourite color. Her vitamins have to be pink, her clothes are almost always pink, her crayon is usually pink, etc etc.

The girl loves pink :)

Photo from January, 2005.

Still at #6

Well, we have not made much progress the past few months. There has been a slow down it seems with referrals coming in and we have sat at #6 for a while now. I have hope that we won't be sitting at #6 much longer. I think our call is coming this summer, I'm just not sure when. I'm going to keep positive. :)
We have been busy with soccer and ball hockey for Keaton. Chloe is still happy to tag a long and do her own thing - she isn't into team sports. She wants to do horse camp this summer - I think I will sign her up - she never asks to do stuff so she deserves it.
Today the sun is shining and it is beautiful out. It is supposed to get very humid and hot this weekend, the weather network said it will feel like 35. Eek. I will be floating in the pool with a drink in hand... all weekend if that is the case. I think I'll plan a pool party :)
I'm heading out for a lunch 'date' with Shaune... to my favourite sushi restaurant. Yum.

Big boy!

Keaton, at age 7.5 finally lost his first tooth this morning. He is sooooo happy - he said "June is looking great so far". He couldn't wait to get to school and show his friends his gap in his mouth.

Car Advice please!

I have had the same mini van for 7 years now. It has been a wonderful vehicle but we are thinking it is finally time to get something new before our new addition joins the family.

So... the hunt is on for something that has 3 rows of seating, is safe (as possible) in the 3rd row (major concern of mine for rear end collisions) and if possible is NOT a mini van. I have nothing against mini vans but I want something new and different. But... it has to fit a family of 5 (all in infant or booster seats for many years to come - in Ontario Canada our children are basically in boosters until they are 80lbs or 8yrs old... my kids have a long way to go before they will be 80lbs) comfortably plus a baby stoller and other things that inevitably end up in the back of a vehicle.

So, I think I've narrowed it down to these 3...

1) Saturn Outlook AWD

2) Honda Pilot AWD

3) Jeep Commander AWD (which i love best but it is the WORST by far in gas mileage)

Anyone that reads my blog that has one of these vehicles or has an opinion... I'd love to hear from you. Advice appreciated, you can leave it here or email me llightfoot@frontierwireless.ca

THANKS :)

Photo of the Week

My girl, looking oh so pretty.
This photo is from a while ago - April 2007 to be exact.

She'd taken the scissors to her bangs - as you can see here. This was the first of 2 haircuts by Chloe so far. I *think* she has decided recently to leave the cutting to her hairdresser :)
I do love my spunky girl.

Shoppping with Sadie

Yesterday was fun. I got to see Sadie again, as well as her mommy. They met me in Belleville and we went to East Side Mario's for lunch and then did some shopping. Her friend and fellow adoptive mommy joined us and we had a great time. They all came back to our house afterwards and had a visit. Keaton and Chloe finally got to meet Sadie and they fell in love. They are still talking about her today and want her to come for another visit. She is such a good baby :) They are very anxious for a little girl to join our family soon... hopefully it will happen this year.

On another note, happy birthday wishes to a very special gal: Catherine. Hope you have a wonderful day :)

Uniting

2 families in 2 different countries... both traveling for one reason - to bring their children home.

Michelle is with the same agency as we are. I have an email friendship with her and got to meet her in person a few wks ago when I went to Jacqueline's in Kingston to meet her daughter. Michelle has had her referral since around Christmas time and yesterday... finally - she became Aimee's mom. Her daughter is so cute and is almost 7 months old. I am following her story closely in case we end up traveling to the same orphanage as she :)

A fellow blogger Angel, who I admire so much is in China right now and has been united with her sweet girl Kaiya. Kaiya is almost 2 yrs old I think. Angel has the cutest video's of Kaiya toddling around the hotel, etc... so adorable!

2 families made possible through faith, hope, love and adoption. I think it is a beautiful thing.

Photo of the Week

Keaton
Originally uploaded by leslie lightfoot

...I'm a little late with photo of the week... my wireless has been on and off for a week now. GRR... the joys of living in the country.

Keaton... headed off to school one morning last week.
Hair still wet from his shower.
Age 7 1/2

DTV 10 months

dtv10
Originally uploaded by leslie lightfoot

Another month has gone by. To celebrate 10 months closer to baby girl Lightfoot I bought this sweet little romper at Children's Place . I couldn't resist the pink and yellow together. Chloe helped me pick this one out.

10 months... and how many more? I'm not sure. I'm not feeling real confident that it will be any time soon. It would nice though to get a surprise. I love surprises. Bring on the surprises!

Steven Curtis Chapman

I didn't know of his music until we started on this adoption journey. I fell in love with his song "When love takes you in" and discovered many more of his Christian songs that I loved (Cinderella, With Hope, Remembering You, etc).
I was so saddened to hear of their family tragedy this past week. He has a beautiful family with both bio children and 3 beautiful girls adopted from China. He is a great supporter of International Adoption and has a foundation "The Shaohannah’s Hope" to help families with the cost of adoption. I am sure they need and appreciate everyone's special prayers for Maria and their family. I cannot stop thinking of them... of this precious little girl and how quickly life can change - in a blink of the eye.
I saw this video to his song "Cinderella" on another friends blog and couldn't help but reflect on how this song now holds a different meaning to his fans... he wrote it last year about his daughters. Heartbreaking. Cherish every moment.

Yard Work

...It is something I'm not fond of doing, but when you live on an acre + of property, there always seems to be something needing to be done. The list is ENDLESS it seems and the pool area is my number one objective this Spring... I must get all the wood decking painted/stained and I have 4 out of 5 big flower beds still to tackle within the pool fenced area, amongst other things.

Today I planted some Wave Petunia planters and a Clematis flowering vine to climb up some of the fencing. If it takes well, I plan on buying several. We had Clematis at our first home (climbing up the verandah columns) and it was so pretty in magenta's and purples. Anyhow, ...so much more to do. I'm going to try and buy up a bunch of plants and maybe a Weeping Pussy Willow tree this weekend. I wish plants and perennials weren't all so much money (when you need 5 flower beds worth)!! I'm hoping my brother will come with me and keep me from making any wrong purchases. The pool area is full sun most of the day and I am used to flower gardens that are almost full shade all day (the front of our house) - I am going to need his help.

Another thing I "FINALLY" got around to doing... I finished colour staining our pool shed, the door was the last thing to be finished. I have Gerbera daisy planters in the window boxes and I am crossing my fingers that they live. They look so cute!

Still to do (before pool party season?)...
*finish staining wood privacy fence
*stain decking
*4 flower gardens including large/tall shrubs to 'hide' the propane heating tank
*sew (or buy) simple curtains for the pool shed
*large planters of flowers x 2
*remove river rock from one flower garden and decide if we are sodding it for a play area or firepit spot.
*stone walkway leading from pool area to backyard (I think we will have to pay someone to do this, we just don't have the skills!)

Needless to say, we have lots to keep us busy this summer while we wait on 'the phone call' from our agency. That isn't to say I wouldn't rather hear from them now... but until then - I will keep working at my pool to-do list and hope I develop the green thumb my brother seems to have been born with.