Need some assistance

I really would like to find a tandem conversion for baby strollers... so that I can buy a full-fledged infant (with infant baby seat carrier) and then just clip on the tandem (for chloe to stand on) to the back. I don't want the side conversion... I want the one that you clip/add to the back of the stroller and it rolls behind it. Chloe tends to 'wander' when we shop and I like to keep her contained as much as you can a 4 yr old.
I've looked at other tandems like the Joovy Caboose and the Stand & Ride but I think it would be easier and more practical to just do a conversion if I can find one. When we were at Canada's Wonderland this year I saw a mom with one clipped to the back of her stroller and loved it. I asked her where she had gotten it and she said it was a gift and didn't know.

Anyone know where you can order these or can you point me in the right direction? Anyone have this system and like it ...or hate it?

HELP!

Photo of the Week

Boys will be boys is how the saying goes, right?

Keaton came home today from school with a shiner. It is already darkening up and is looking like it will be a beauty of a black eye by morning. He got it playing mini stick hockey at school with friends. He bonked heads with another kid... I hope that boy made out okay. He seems okay with it and even said his friends all comforted him by telling him "It makes you look even COOLER, Keaton". Ha.

Keaton thought I was pretty silly needing to document and photograph his black eye... its not like it is his first one and I'm sure it won't be his last. It's the scrapbooker in me, I need to take photos of everything ;)

6 months DTV outfit(s)

Ok. So, if you recall I decided that I'd commemorate each month of our DTV wait by buying baby Lightfoot an outfit. Well, this month is the month of Good Deals... so Baby girl got a few things off the sales racks. Here is Keaton enthusiastically displaying them all for your viewing pleasure. I mostly got comfy things like sleepers and a few sweaters. I've bought mostly all 12 mo size just in case we are referred an older baby girl :)

2008 Family Portrait

Sometime in 2008 we will become a family of 5. I hold tight to that hope and know that it might not happen as soon as what we thought it would but... it will happen and it will happen when it is meant to.

Keaton sketched this little family portrait for me. He is always drawing me pictures and this one is so special to me... he drew in baby girl. And... he is officially calling her Meg. Yes, I think the name has stuck and I'll be really surprised if we do not name her this. For a while it was Isabel, then Maya... and I love both these names - but I think Shaune and I both think that 'Meg' feels right. And Keaton and Chloe think so too. Chloe is calling her "Meggie" all the time and Keaton likes "Meg".

This photo is hung on my cork board where I work on my computer and I know someday I'll get a photo of her while sitting at my computer and I'll be able to look up at Keaton's photo and SMILE!

Adopted: The movie

I was visiting Blanket's blog and saw her mention this movie. I followed her link and found several really informative videos on transracial and transcultural adoption. Anyone adopting internationally or transracially should go and watch. Anyone who knows someone who has adopted should go watch. There are so many valid, sometimes difficult to watch but very valid points to many of these video's. The more you know, the better you can do.

http://www.adoptedthemovie.com/category/film/clips/

I'm tagged

Jennifer and April both tagged me... so here I go...

4 jobs I've had:
1. Arby's Cashier in highschool
2. Interior Designer
3. CAD Designer
4. Real Estate Office Administrato

4 movies watched over and over:
1. Titanic
2. When Harry Met Sally
3. Far & Away
4. Wedding Crashers

4 places I've lived:
1. Belleville, Ontario
2. London, Ontario
3. Oshawa, Ontario
4. Santa Monica California (only for 1 month)

4 shows I watch:
1. Without a Trace
2. CSI (Las Vegas)
3. Biggest Loser
4. Lost

4 places I've been:
1. St. Lucia (our honeymoon)
2. Quebec City, Quebec (ski trips)
3. St. Thomas (on our cruise)
4. St. George Island, Florida (family vacation 06)

4 people who e-mail me regularly:
1. Kerri
2. Jacqueline
3. Shaune
4. Renee

4 favorite things to eat:
1. Vietnamese at Saigon Restaurant! #9 (Bun Thit Nuong Cha Gio)
2. Chinese (Almond Soo Guy, Pork Fried Rice, Chicken Lo Mein)
3. Chocolate
4. Buttered Popcorn

4 places I'd rather be:
1. In Vietnam
2. Ireland and Scotland
3. St. George Island for another family vacation
4. I've always wanted to go to Hawaii

4 things I look forward to this year:
1. Meeting and loving our 3rd child
2. Decorating our house
3. My new camera in March hopefully
4. Being with my family and being happy

Ta-Da...

Ok, I did it. I stitched and sew'd my way to my first sewing project FINISHED. I really like them and can't believe I actually made them in 2 classes worth of time. I had a lot of help and encouragement from my sewing teacher, so kudo's goes out to her. I just did valances for the tops of my windows, since I'm a huge fan of letting as much light into our house as possible. These add some oomph to the kitchen without blocking all that yummy sun.

Next up is a pillowcase dress for Chloe & a vintage-style apron to hang in the kitchen. I'm going to make Chloe a little one too.

The weekend

Goodness I love the weekends. Everyone at home under one roof, so much to do or nothing to do at all... our choice. This weekend has been nice.

Last night we played Monopoly with Keaton (while Chloe did her 'own thing') - the kid loves this game... as long as he doesn't lose. Shaune seems to have a horseshoe up his butt and wins every time. I like to think it is luck and not skill - he disagrees.

When the kiddies went to bed Shaune and I finally got around to watching a movie we rented the weekend BEFORE. We laughed and laughed, we like a good silly movie. We watched heartbreak kid and enjoyed it. Our kind of humour for sure.

Today Shaune gave me the morning to sleep in. I didn't get up until almost 10am! I was restless last night and ended up taking a sleeping aid to fall asleep at around 1:30am... so I think it took til 10am to wear off. I NEVER sleep that late.

Anyhow, that was a nice treat.

Keaton had a hockey game today and that is always fun. I run into one of my best buds there every weekend (her son plays usually right after Keaton). I love watching Keaton play... he tries so hard and I'm so proud at his outlook on things. Today his team lost and the boys were all pouting and sad... Keaton took the time to compliment a few of his friends on how they played, he hates to see people sad. We really try and teach him that as long as he tries his best and has fun, winning isn't really the most important thing. I'm glad he seems to agree. He is constantly surprising me with what a great kid he is. While Keaton played, Chloe did her usual thing - the minute we find a seat out in the arena... she goes and sits as far away from me as she is allowed (where I can still see her). I have a very independent little gal. She can entertain herself like noone else and happily chatters away to herself, and sometimes makes friends with other sisters at the arena. She is not a hockey fan and I really don't think she watches even one minute of Keaton's games. LOL!

Tonight my mom & dad invited us up to their place (they live a few doors up the road) for a ham supper... delicious. After, my brother came down and played playstation with Shaune and Keaton for a few hours. Again, Chloe did her own thing... watched some tv and hung out with mommy a bit :)

Oh... I got a photo of Chloe's hair cut. I posted it on our family blog (click here) for anyone that was curious :) It turned out cute. But it aged her about 1 1/2 yrs I think. She looks so 6 now instead of 4 ;)

Photo of the Week

...Photos of the week, I should say. 2 fav photos of my happy boy during a family vacation to Florida last year. He certainly looks the 'beach boy' part here, huh.

August 2006

St George Island, FL

Baby Bedroom

I am still slowly puttering away at getting Chloe and Baby Girl's (Meg will be her name I think, but it isn't set in stone yet so I'll keep calling her Baby girl for now) bedroom finished. Today I bought a really cool curtain to go on the same rod as her blue check ones. It is orange. This room is turning out very bright and funky. I think I'm okay with that. It suits Chloe's personality (and matches her wardrobe) & I can't imagine Baby Girl won't get a kick out of her bright surroundings.

For anyone that didn't see or doesn't remember... here is the bedding:
http://www.kukunest.com/bedding.php?theme=lantern

.............................................................................................

Still to do:
1. Buy pink, red, orange & blue globe paper lanterns to hang in a cluster in corner over bunk bed. 2. Probably buy a white crib, but we are waiting on this until we get our referral since our age range is wide.
3. I want to put in new carpeting but Shaune doesn't feel the need. Hoping I can talk him into something eventually.

4. We need to do some custom closet arrangements in order to fit 2 little girls clothing into one closet. Yikes. Chloe's fills it to the brim right now, we'll need to get a lot of storage options into it.

5. I have a pink shelf I need to hang. I'm not sure why I haven't gotten around to it yet.

6. I need to make a bench cushion for the mirrored vanity in their room, now that I'm sewing I can do something in a few weeks time :)

7. We have 2 IKEA flower wall lamps that I need to hang up behind Chloe's barbie house.

Most importantly, this room will not be complete until Baby Girl is here to enjoy it with Chloe.

Unpredictable 4 yr olds!

So, I'll start by saying my Chloe is a very independent girl. I love that in a girl. She knows what she wants and she can usually figure out a way to get it.

Case in point: Today... she wanted to take her hair bun out. Mommy wasn't around. She figured out her own way of getting it out.

Details: We went into the city shopping. Chloe fell asleep on the drive home. Mommy took her into the house when we got home and put her down on the sofa to sleep. Mommy marveled in how angelic said child can look when she is asleep. Mommy marvels in how when the hair hits her auburn hair just right, it looks like spun gold or hot caramel topping - delicious. Mommy goes upstairs to check her email. Mommy comes back down 20 minutes later. It is still quiet so I assume she is still asleep. I get downstairs, but she is not on the sofa sleeping anymore. I hear her call to me from the bathroom... "Momma, I'm in here". Mommy walks into the bathroom and quickly discovers a sink full of hair and a pair of scissors in her proud daughters hands.

Yes, my 4 year old girl has cut the hair bun out of the back of her hair and also gave herself a nice trim in the bangs that we've (and by we've I guess I mean me) been growing out this year.

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. I think I did a bit of both. Then she got very upset once she realized her hair was ruined. Then I told her she would have to get it cut into a bob cut like her cousin Erin...then the smile returned.

A little later, while telling my mother what she had done, I hear her chime in: "I cut it but it still looks beautiful."

Maybe she has a career in hair styling.
This is the 2nd time she has done this. Last time she only got the bangs cut before I caught her. This time, its major. MAJOR.

I called and booked her an appointment to have her hair cut (properly) after school tomorrow. Her long hair is history. WAH.

In other news, today we celebrate 6 months Dossier to Veitnam. 6 months closer to bringing our 3rd child into our family. Then Chloe will have someone else's hair to cut too (NOT!)

GTA Waiting Mommies Night Out

Saturday was a great day. Jacqueline drove down from Kingston and then I drove into Toronto for the bi-monthly night out with the GTAWM group. (GTA stands for Greater Toronto area although the group has expanded over the year and now has members from Kingston, Belleville, Kitchener/Waterloo, Buffalo NY, etc).

It was at the Pickle Barrel at the Yorkdale Mall. I love the Yorkdale Mall and usually spend way too much there but after 1+ hr of shopping we headed to the dinner and I didn't purchase anything. I was as shocked as my husband was... nothing spoke to me and I must of been feeling a bit cheap on Saturday. RARE!

Dinner starts at 6pm and we left the dinner at 10pm (or around that time)... 4 hours of chatting and good food. The group consists of waiting mom's (and a few that are now united with their child) from China, Vietnam and Ethiopia.

I can hardly wait to do it again in March.

Thanks Jacqueline for being a great driving companion. Thanks B for so much great knowlege on the process. Jules, I am hoping you hear word VERY soon. Leslie W... it was great to meet you and I hope you can have som great news in the coming month or two also. So much to look forward to.

Ange was not able to attend this months get-together dinner... but she had a very valid excuse... she was on a plane - on her way to Vietnam to finally be united with baby Owen, whom she was referred back in August. I am so excited for her and can't wait for an update.