365 days ago we were....

...packing and re-packing and packing some more. Checking our lists, wiping our tears, calming our fears and thinking we were the luckiest people in the whole free world! Little did we know that our luck was just beginning.
Yes, it's already been a year. One year since we boarded our plane to China. I can't believe. Lauryn is all tucked in, far away in dream land as Kyle and I talk about our trip to China... What a year it's been!
We love you Lauryn, it's impossible to tell you how much, simply because there isn't a word big enough, a sentiment sweet enough, or an equation long enough that would equal the love we have or the joy you have added to our lives.

seriously it's 9:00 already?

So the laundry isn't done, I didn't sweep this weekend, I didn't dust and I didn't put winter clothes away. All things that were on the LIST this weekend.
But, you know what I did do... I spent my first Mother's day weekend with a great little girl who makes me smile and laugh, gets more of my heart everyday. Who frustrates me the way that a confident, independent two year old can, and who calls me mama!
It was a great weekend. Thanks to my wonderful family. As I am sure you know by now, that my Mom and I are very close. She is my inspiration. I don't know how she continues to be super woman. My Mom has taught me how to live my life without regrets and has talked me through each regret I have ever had, and made them all lessons instead of let downs. She has loved me unconditionally and taught me not to be judgemental. She is a firm believer in that everyone has a story, and there is always a solution. Lauryn also adores her, and it's a yet another dream Lauryn has allowed us to realize! Nana is the greatest word to my Mom, and I love watching them together. She is silly, and fun, and covers Lauryn with kisses. My Mom and our relationship means everything to me. It's reached a whole new level now that we have Lauryn to watch. My Mom has guided me to this point and then let me trust my instincts. She has never said I told you so (even though I am sure she'd like too!!) This year we were able to celebrate being Mom's together. Thank you for the perfume and the beautiful card. It meant so much, and as usual was exactly what I needed!
Kyle has outdone himself! Lauryn and Kyle let me sleep in, made breakfast, had lunch ready when Lauryn and I came home from gymnastics! He then got dinner all prepared and we went for an amazing afternoon of KITE FLYING. IT was AWESOME! So awesome, that I forgot my camera...
On our way to the park, I asked Kyle to get my sunglasses out of the car, he grabbed the garage door opener too, and put everything in his pocket. Well, Lauryn didn't always hold on to the kite, so part of the afternoon was spent chasing our get away kite. Then the three of us lay in the grass with Johnson and watched the kite WAY UP HIGH! Came home, and Kyle didn't have the garage door opener. Lauryn, Johnson and I went into the house. I finished dinner and Kyle went searching... I still can't believe he found it! Then we had a great dinner and Kyle did the dishes, put Lauryn to bed and I am super relaxed and left with a basket full of dirty clothes and memories that have made this weekend worth the last 5 years of waiting for a sweet little angel face that calls me Mama!
Happy Mother's Day to all the Mom's who are waiting, for all the Mom's who can kiss their babies faces tonight, and for all the Mom's who are not with us anymore, you will always be a part of who we are.
Keep Happy
xo

And the winner is.....

...Krista!
Congratulations! Used a random number generator and you my dear have won!
Please email, or facebook me your mailing address... I will put your loot in the mail!

10,000 and counting! Blog giveaway!

Our blog has reached 10,000 views! Kinda neat! To celebrate, I would like to have a blog giveaway! 10 little trinkets! 10,000 trinkets might be a bit overwhelming! If you are interested, please leave a comment, with your email address so I can contact you! Good luck! Today is April 17... 10 days from now, (April 27th) a winner (randomly!) will be chosen!

10 things about our Lauryn (again, I could write 10,000, but that's crazy!)
1. Lauryn loves her "kitty" she sometimes ignores Kitty, and sometimes she is crazy obsessed. Adults can touch and play with kitty, other children or animals can't even look at Kitty!
2. Lauryn has started babbling none stop. A LOT of this chatter is only understood by us! However, even though she is a work in progress, she definetly has no trouble being understood!
3. Lauryn is almost potty trained... she isn't consistent, but she is somewhat reliable. Pull-ups are our life now. Diapers at nap and bedtime, and she has been known to remove her diaper before we can get to her in the morning... Wet diapers are a lot easier to deal with than the other option... yuck
4. Lauryn loves to get dressed up! She is a girly girl who will spin in a dress for hours and shoes are very important to her. If she has her mind made up that she wants to wear a certain pair of shoes, you might as well just give in!
5. Lauryn is a natural at gymnastics. From what we can tell, future olympian for sure! She has started gymnastics and adores it!
6. Handy Manny, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Special Agent Oso is her tv of choice. She watches these everyday and loves them. She tries to sing along, again in a language all her own, but she gets her point across. Not much of a movie fan yet!
7. She LOVES to talk on the phone. Lauryn even has an old cell phone of ours that she "calls" people on when she is in her car seat!
8. Lauryn has a boyfriend. His name is Bobby! Ahhh, young love!
9. Lauryn adores daycare. She loves her teacher and her classmates and pretty much rules the roost! If Lauryn doesn't feel like napping she won't... simple as that, and if Lauryn doesn't nap, according to her teachers, no one naps! Well, not that bad, but she enjoys climbing over the other kids and stealing blankets and pillows... What a girl!
10. I (although bias) have never met a little angel face that has the ability to steal more of our hearts each and everyday. Lauryn you are a crazy kid that we are so blessed to call ours. You've changed our lives. Thank you for being the most wonderful two year old ever created. We are so proud of you! So looking forward to our future.

So, there you have it! If your interested in another Life with Lauryn give away, leave a comment! Don't forget to include your email address, I will email you, to get your address to mail the lucky winner their prize! Good luck!

And I think to myself... what a wonderful WORLD!

I know, I know, I know... it's been a looooooonnnnggg time. However, there just doesn't seem to be enough hours in each day. I am back at work...ugh. I do love it, don't get me wrong. The people and the place are simply fantastic. I do miss the comforts and the friends who are the best of the best from my old place of employment, but I never EVER thought I would miss Lauryn like I do. Luckily, Kyle has entered his slow time and gets to spend 3 out of 5 days a week with Lauryn. I get home by 7, and I get the bath/bed time routine. So it is working out. Really it is... it's just I miss my girl more than words can say. I miss those sleepy afternoons, or our shopping trips and so much more. I know that she is not the only child with a working mom. I know that I am not the world's first (and won't be the last) working mom with a toddler at home. I just didn't think it would be this hard. Lauryn is changing so quickly she is loosing her toddlerness and becoming a kid... it's crazy! So, the only thing I can think to do is continue to play the lottery! Come on baby!
On a happier note... we had our 12 month post placement meeting with our social worker. Although Lauryn was ours from day one, we are done with our social worker. Bittersweet again! Sal is a wonderful, helpful, patient man. He helped us realize our dream of bringing home Lauryn. I am thrilled that the struggle to get her home is complete and it was kinda of sad to think how close we became with our social worker and to think that our time with him is done. On the other hand, we have LAURYN at her forever home FOREVER. Pretty great!
We are still the house of sick. Lauryn is thankfully feeling better. Kyle and I on the other hand have continued our "shift" work! One of us will nap, the other one will watch Lauryn! We both have no appetite, so one of us will feed Lauryn and sit with her while she eats, and the other one will fold laundry or make a bed. It's been crazy! I think we see the light at the end of the tunnel... come on sunshine! We need to open the windows and air out the winter germs of this house!
Hope everyone is well!
Keep Happy!
xo

Blog by the wayside...

It has happened again. Life with Lauryn gets busy and there is just no time to fit everything in. I am a bad blogger... But, I am back to update all that care on what's been going down.
Kyle is doing great. This is a very busy time of year for him. The busiest, and it's showing. I think I saw him a total of 8 waking hours last week. I am a total single mom this time of year. Although I hate it, I know that it's necessary. All part of the business and blah blah blah... I try my best to be supportive. Truthfully I do! However, I do find some days are much harder than others and believe you me, Kyle knows! LOL! Oh well!
Today was a great day! It was Lauryn's one year referral day. She is where she belongs. HOME. What a difference a year can make. My, how she has changed our lives. First, I can't get my head around the social commitments of a two year old. I can't imagine what it will be like when she is a teenager... goodness!
She has added so much joy to our lives it's just so hard to imagine our lives without her. It's like she has always been with us. In our hearts forever, home for just 8 short months. I really do believe in miracles and it's all her doing. Each day that smile lights my life. She is our dream come true and I am so looking forward to our new journey. She's a doll! Don't get me wrong there are days that life isn't all sunshine and lollipops. However, those days do come to an end. At the end of the day I am left with my best friend, my wonderful husband and we are holding the hands of a little girl who has our hearts. One lucky girl I am.
Me on the other hand have been looking for work. Booo... but the time has come to find something. I have a couple of very interesting leads, and look forward to what they might have to offer. Fingers crossed!
So, I am counting down the last couple of weeks of my parental leave. Kyle is counting down the days to his slow time where he will be finally able to spend most days with Lauryn. Thankfully Lauryn is signed up part time in the world's best nursery school. She loves it there and adores her teacher. She won't have to go all the way full time until September. They are very flexible with our schedule and have been a huge help. She will continue part time with some full time days. This will allow Kyle to meet his work commitments. Allowing me to concentrate on my new job where ever that may be. All the while Lauryn is blissfully unaware that anything has really changed.
Lauryn has a 6 week block of speech therapy coming up. Looking forward to that. She has made huge progress and I am sure that we will see lots more! She is one smart cookie!
We met with some of our FOI families for Chinese New Year. It was really great. 4 families and their children met at the CCC in Toronto. They had a lion dance, drummers, and dancers. They had some crafts for the kids to do. It was a really nice afternoon. After the CCC we went for a late lunch and had time to catch up and see what was going on with everyone. You don't realize what a connection you have until you see these families that you shared the most special time of your lives with. We are so lucky to have these families as part of our support. They are a true blessing. Hopefully we will get together again soon.
I think that's a wrap.
Happy one year referral day Lauryn! You are our dream come true. It just keeps getting better!
Keep Happy :)