Our Precious Penelope

She's amazing!

2007-09-05T06:29:00.000-04:00

We had a great day today! We went touring in Nanchang, had an amazing lunch with the group, and then took Penelope swimming for the first time. She just loves the water. Then she took a bath and we had an amazing play session: she was giggling and engaging us...unbelievable...what a difference a few days make...she's imitating us like crazy! She's clapping, waving bye-bye, making rasberry kisses (and she loves getting them). She's such a sweet child. We're totally in love. We picked up her (first) made to order dress--see the pictures of Tiffany and her daughter in the store. Gotta go now, Penelope's getting antsy in the stroller next to me.

We have our Penelope!

2007-09-04T09:03:00.000-04:00

OK I am FINALLY blogging again...coming out of our blissful cocoon. We obviously have our Penelope...Gotcha day was Sept. 2 at 4:30 pm. She came in snoozing, she was handed to us, still snoozing, started to wake, whined a bit, and slowly opened her eyes to feel herself being cuddled in her mother's arms...she had her head on my shoulder and so the first thing she saw when she awoke in her new life was her daddy's face. She cried a little but was consolable. Back at the hotel room she was initially quite wary but tracked our every move and every sound with an intense stare. She slept alot the first day, seemed pretty limp, and sad...but boy has she changed so fast...she now extend her hands to take toys we offer (did not do that for first 24 or so hours)and well, now Tuesday evening she is reaching to explore the world around her and most importantly reaching for mama...she cries and looks for me when I'm out of sight...and it feels so good to be able to comfort her, she's a cuddly little thing, she loves to snuggle. However, Daddy has gotten quite a few smiles and chatting too! She is generally a calm and intense little girl, she is just beautiful, those eyes are so intense so it's so wonderful to see her relaxing and being playful. She's smiling at us, giggling, talking (well, babbles at us and responds with babbling) and imitating our kisses and even imitated a wave! She's a great eater, great sleeper, and so far great pooper! She loves most of the standard baby food--formula & cereal, is not too crazy about canned foods, but loves to eat our table food...she went just crazy for the pancakes at breakfast! It's amazing to watch her soak up her new world and all the action. All the babies of our group are doing well, they're great kids! Our group consists of only two couples for whom this is a first child, ourselves included. So we are in good, experienced company and there is a very wonderful and supportive group dynamic. We got a wonderful warm reception from the locals in Nanchang when Eric and I went out for our first walk alone with Penelope yesterday. People were smiling, waving, giving us the thumbs up, and we were so moved to be approached by a young woman on the street named Tiffany who tries to find the original (yes, original newsprint) finding ad for children...she came to us with a form stating how happy the Jiangxi people are about us loving and taking care of our girls...when I read that I just melted in the middle of the street...it was too much...my heart was overwhelmed...too incredible to have this connection with a people and a land so far away from my own. I have been much weepier since I got her than ever before in the process. Anyway, Tiffany also has a shop where we've ordered a handmade silk dress, hat and shoes for Penelope with the fabric containing the lotus flower that represents the province of Jiangxi. I will try to post more regularly, promise. I can't wait to see all our family and friends and for Penelope to meet everyone. It's so incredible...I could have never imagined, but she is the centre of my new universe. I'm high maintenance...and let me tell you...I am impressed with myself...my hair looks like shit in this humidity and I don't care...I'm sleeping with low AC and I don't fuss, I'm sweating like a pig and I don't even notice (well, I do, but I forget about it)...as long as she's comfortable and happy, I'm happy. There's so much to say...can't wait to tell all when we're back home... For now, we feel very blessed.

We're coming to getcha...

2007-08-29T00:43:00.000-04:00

So folks, we're all packed...bags are by the door...the feelings are beyond words...it seems we have waited forever but tonight we cannot believe the time has come. Eric & I had a moment in our back yard tonight when everything was finally packed...we lived the moment of the last night in this home that it will be just the two of us. Sixteen years, it has been just the two of us. Sixteen years. This isn't a new chapter in our lives...it's Mary & Eric: The Sequel...but unlike movies, I am confident that this sequel will match the magic of part I. Our flight is at 8 am, so we'll be up before the crack of dawn...it's past midnight here, and I just did a final OCD check on the paperwork...it's time for me to do my last dodo here...well actually, it'll be more like a nap! We're almost there baby girl...we're coming to getcha.

Quick Update

2007-08-23T12:48:00.000-04:00

Boy have I been a bad blogger! Too busy...but just in case you care...all is pretty much in motion for our trip to China...Looks like we will get the babies on Sunday, September 2...WOOHOO!!! I will post our itinerary--for a preview you can always go to Susan's blog...journeytomeimei(in links above)...she's one step ahead of me...thank goodness she's leading the way! Just 6 more dodos to go!!!

What would I do without...

2007-08-17T06:31:00.000-04:00

Our agency is holding the group "travel meeting" on Saturday morning. Can't believe we're at this stage. It's been a hectic week, the phone has been going like crazy (i've got phone burns on my ear--and I hate telephones), & I've been running around making travel arrangements, money arrangements, getting prescription meds, I even did the immigration quebec visit and still trying to clear work stuff off my plate! My brain is in the meantime on overdrive and feels like it keeps doing system checks for all lost files (i.e. my fear that I will forget something important) and all possible viruses & system glitches(i.e., anything that may go wrong--predicting problem situations and preparing solutions). Sometimes it freezes once it detects a problem. SO thank goodness for people like Susan who has BTDT, Wanda, Sylvia, Dawn, Francine, Nicki, Donna who have offered tremendous support and advice (absolutely love you all) and Karen and her yahoo list of adoptive moms who have a wealth of experience that they are always willing to share. So grateful for good friends like Barb & Jorg who have been looking out for us newbie parents and have supplied us with so much stuff (and who have promised to inspect our installation of the car seat---because the manual is just beyond me---yes they really did give me a doctorate but NOT in CAR SEATS!!!). So grateful also for our families that have been super supportive. We have been so touched by the thoughtfullness expressed in every gesture of support, in every gift, in every piece of advice. How lucky we are for this support network who is so enthusiastically rooting for us to get Penelope home. It is so moving at these times in one's life to feel so much love. Yes, indeed, I have woken up this morning very early and overflowing with gratitude and reverence for life. The miracle of life is...not conception and birth, but growth...the life instinct to get from a place of grief and pain-- to this joy...this path is the miracle of our life... two grown people who merged paths and who kept walking together over the rough & rocky patches to come to discover up ahead that a little path from far far away, of a little Yunping born just last year, flows into their own...this crossing was always there...they never knew it and may have never known it had they not kept walking...this is the miracle of life.

I'm spider(wo)man!

2007-08-15T14:40:00.001-04:00

This was a fun break from the china chaos chez moi...and actually, I am feeling a little tangled up in my own webs right now...100 things going on at once. Your results:
You are Spider-Man

Spider-Man		70%
Iron Man		70%
Hulk		65%
Green Lantern		65%
The Flash		60%
Wonder Woman		52%
Robin		50%
Superman		45%
Supergirl		37%
Batman		35%
Catwoman		35%

You are intelligent, witty,
a bit geeky and have great
power and responsibility.

Click here to take the Superhero Personality Test

Double Good News!!!

2007-08-13T19:54:00.001-04:00

Okay, here's the latest: We have two wonderfull things to look forward to. First, we're off to China! So much has gotten done today!!! We got the news about our travel approval from China last Friday night. So today we've booked our flights, gotten travel insurance, made appt with immigration office! We're leaving a couple of days before our group, on Wed. Aug. 29 at 8 am. We'll spend a couple of days in Shanghai. We hook up with the group on Saturday, Sept. 1, and head to Nanchang where we will meet our daughter. I guess the Sunday, Sept. 2 or Mon. the 3rd!!! WOW the closest we've ever been to pinpointing a "Gotcha Day". The last week we'll be in Beijing and we'll return home with baby in arms Friday, Sept. 14 9:15 pm. Unbelieveable. I booked the flights and called Eric at work and just said "You're going to CHINA--you have a flight to CHINA, you're really going to China" --like it was the first time it dawned on me. It has been a weepy day...so many emotions...the thought of touching her little hands, this little stranger that we have fallen in love with. Ok'nugh mushy stuff!!! The second piece of good news: we're going to the wedding!!! Well, I hope it's not too late to squeeze us into a table Jimmy!

Cousin Tzimi's wedding

2007-08-09T07:09:00.000-04:00

Hey Jimmy, I just wanted you to know that we haven't responded to the wedding invite because we may be in China on Aug. 25. If Travel Approvals get here from China this week or by Monday, the 13th, then our adoption agency says we'll be leaving by August 24 to get Penelope. If they get here later than that then we'll be leaving around Aug. 30th. While I can't wait to get our daughter, I can't believe I may miss your wedding! If we leave later in August, then we will be there with our greek dancing shoes on! We will let you know as soon as we know--by Monday night at the latest. Love you both, Mary & Eric

sharing from our family pages

2007-08-08T11:18:00.000-04:00

double click on poem to enlarge

Bonjour!

2007-08-02T07:24:00.000-04:00

Haven't posted in a while--sorry--Life has pretty hectic...so much to do so little time...Eric has family visiting from France too (that I've never met before) and they are just super fun people! They're off to Quebec City for a few days now. Bonjour Didier, Sylvie, Arnaud, Maxime, et Claire!!! I wish Penelope was already here, she'd love her French cousins! Oh well, we'll just HAVE to go to France soon! That's all for today folks, gotta get my derriere to work...Y'all have an EXCELLENT day!

She's 8 months old today!

2007-07-24T08:42:00.001-04:00

My precious Penelope, Mommy's put something special in the mail today. Hope you're having an excellent day!

Another July Celebration!

2007-07-22T08:31:00.000-04:00

Guess what folks? We have yet another occasion to celebrate this July. Today is our 12th wedding anniversary today (which we keep forgetting about with all the excitement about the baby). BTW, we also got our referral pictures on the 12th (between our birthdays, which are the 11th & 14th). After today, I swear I will stop partying and start packing!

Thanks for all the advice Susan & Gordie!

2007-07-20T07:16:00.000-04:00

We had a great time with Susan and Gordie! They are just fantastic. They've BTDT and are anticipating having a blast in China watching us first-timers stumble, fumble, freak & panic! In the meantime check out their new adorable Jiangxi southern belle Yun Xia (meimei in links above). Every step along this adventure, like meeting Susan and Gordie, makes it feel more "real" every day. For those who love reading, check out rubberduckies link--Chloe's mom has some recent amazing posts on fostering reading skills! Just wondering Chloe's mom are you in education?

Speedy Mama

2007-07-19T06:39:00.000-04:00

I got pulled over yesterday for speeding...going 80km in a 50 zone. In my defence he got me right as I was going down a steep hill and the car had picked up speed on its own...Really. I found my driver's license, but I couldn't find my registration...we only got the van last week, day before the referral pictures...so completely forgot to organize my car documents & put them in the glove compartment. I told the stern-looking police officer that he could verify that the car was transferred to my name last week. He went off to his car to write out my ticket. In the meantime cars sped by me at 80 to 100km/hr. He came back to me and said "OK, madame try to keep your papers together". I asked if he verified that the car was mine. He said indeed, "the transfer was done July 11". So what does this new mama say? "See, July 11, I told you it was last week, and do you know what happened on July 12? We got her!" And I pulled out Penelope's pictures and explained how we have, since July 12, been going gaga over our new baby. He cracked half a smile, and then by the third picture, he was mush. He couldn't resist her either. (I still have to pay the ticket however). I'm excited about tonight. We're meeting a couple, Susan & Gordie, with whom we'll be travelling to China to get our daughters. The girls are from the same orphanage. Super cool. Our daughter will have a little friend in town that she knew before she ever met us.

Blog Makeover

2007-07-17T09:42:00.000-04:00

I thought I'd take a few minutes to redecorate the blog. I just had to colour coordinate her blog with her photos! Not bad huh? All my previous tendencies toward gender neutral decor...OUT THE WINDOW! I'm so girly these days I'm making myself nauseous...and loving it!

Ma Poupoune

2007-07-16T22:29:00.000-04:00

We signed & gave in the official letter from the CCAA entitled letter of confirmation of acceptance aka... "we're keeping her and she's ours and we're never letting go of her--ever". It is unbelievable how this little human being has touched our lives already. The idea that I have been entrusted with her life just blows my mind. I went to pick up some enlargements of the referral pictures I had ordered and I just could not resist opening the envelope at the counter the minute it was handed to me, and I could not resist showing them to the nice looking lady, Mme Suzanne, behind the counter. And I said it. I said it. To a stranger. "This is my daughter". She looked at the picture and back at me & put two & two together, and within three seconds into our story she had tears in her eyes. I soon found myself asking if she was OK. Poor lady seemed to be taken aback by her own emotions and seemed so moved at the thought of this little girl and I soon being together. She kept repeating "c'est ta poupoune" (translation: she's your baby girl)and kept oooing & aweing at the pictures. Oui, c'est ma poupoune. The story didn't matter anymore. Ma poupoune did. Ma poupoune.

Mommy's B-Day!

2007-07-14T09:34:00.000-04:00

Eric's birthday was wednesday the 11th, mine is today, the 14th. On the 12th we laid eyes on our baby girl for the first time. She is just the best birthday present ever. No one and nothing could top this one! We are off to celebrate today! I cannot stop looking at her picture, looking into her big beautiful eyes!

Here She Is!

2007-07-12T22:13:00.000-04:00

We are in love! She's adorable! She's described as a calm and gentle child with thick black hair (who apparently has already had one bad haircut-check out pictures #2 & 3) and has a great appetite for food and music.

Day 5 & still waiting...

2007-07-11T21:06:00.000-04:00

This is torture! Please please please somebody do something...before I really start to whine!

Special Birthday Wish to the New Daddy

2007-07-11T00:30:00.000-04:00

It's Wednesday, July 11th...Eric's B-Day! Happy Birthday Honey! Don't fret too much about getting older...there's nothing more attractive than a happily married man with a baby! Love you orbitly*. *footnote to Penelope: back in the days when Daddy & I were young & madly in love we spent a lot of time on the phone. One night I was yakking away and Daddy was pretty much asleep on the other end. I finally finished my story and when saying goodnight I added "i love you horribly" (meaning too much). Daddy, almost in REM sleep at this point, tried to reciprocate word for word & responded: "me too, I love you orbitly". Mommy & Daddy have loved each other orbitly ever since (sometimes we have even wanted to send the other INTO orbit--but hey, here we are, waiting for you).

Still Waiting

2007-07-11T00:19:00.001-04:00

Good Wed. morning everybody, it's 12:12 am and I'm still up. Still no file, no pictures. Going to bed bummed...maybe tomorrow--I mean today (wed)... We got a new van today--well, technically yesterday (Tuesday). A 3 L one that's apparently good on gas as far as vans go...plenty of room for strollers, toys & other baby stuff. à demain, Mary

Many Thanks

2007-07-09T21:38:00.001-04:00

The twenty month wait is over. Finally I feel motivated to start this blog so that family and friends who have supported us during the wait can finally share our joy!!! Thank you all for your support, your interest, your anticipation of Penelope. We want to give something back to family and friends who have been so supportive and hope that you will follow our road to Penelope (love saying her name). We know you were as exasperated by the wait as we have been. I know it may have, understandably, crossed your minds that Eric & I were in some "folie à deux" and that this baby was a figment of our imagination or else that somebody lost our file and didn't tell us... Sometimes I felt like that myself...but alas, 20 months now seems like a blur...what have I been doing...waiting till the last minute to learn how to make formula! Still on cloud nine, Mary

Referral Day Recap: July 6, 2007; 3:15 pm

2007-07-09T19:41:00.001-04:00

She's real...She is Guang Yun Ping, born November 24, 2006, aged 7 months, living in Jiangxi Province of the PRC. And she's ours. I have been on cloud nine, and I don't think I will land for a while yet. Nothing happened as expected on referral day, but it was just the most perfect day. At the end of my day at work, yes, early, 3:15--it was Friday after all--a wonderful dad (thanks Mark) called me to make sure I knew the cut-off date was the 14th and that we had been matched (which I knew because I've developed a new compulsion to click on RQ & CCAA sites in that order every 5 seconds). He gave me the courage to call (or bother) our agency to find out if "the package" had arrived. I called & they said it had and to expect "the call". I freaked...I panicked...I called Wanda (thank God her #s in my cell) to give me Karen's number (which was in my agenda but I couldn't read anymore), I then called Karen to leave her a message to disregard an email message from 6 am containing my whereabouts for the day (in case she would try to reach me)--that I would be going home and waiting by the phone. BUT she answered the phone and I tried to sound normal, asked about the weather or something.... She asked what was wrong...I said nothing...she said "...nothing should be wrong...you're a mamma". Finally I blurted: "I Know!" Then I fumbled again trying to get Eric on my cell and again and again trying to figure out how to get Karen on speakerphone on my new office phone...eventually we were all onboard for the best news of our lives. As soon as Karen opened her mouth to reveal the details we lost all ability to manage paper & pen and to spell (well, Eric & I did, Karen seemed to be doing well) and to process information for about 10 minutes...Yun Ping, 7 months old, our little girl. We finally know who our Penelope Ann Yun Ping is...exactly where she is in this world, and soon we'll get to see her lovely face, ...pictures to come soon...until then I'll just keep saying her beautiful name. We love you baby girl. We just love you so much.

2007-07-06T00:40:00.001-04:00

The July babies are here! July is our month, the month we were born, the month we met, the month we got married, and now the month we get news of our precious baby girl. What a wonderful month. Can't wait to find out all about our little Penelope. Hopefully tomorrow!