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The Fall Program

The days are different around here now that Shawn has gone back to work. No more tag-team parenting. I really miss his company after six months together.

Lia and I are now going to some regularly scheduled activities. On Tuesdays we go to the Plant Recreation Centre in Chinatown for swimming lessons. In the change room, we can always count on a swarm of Asian ladies coming to coo over Lia. One woman in particular has taken a shine to her, and always wants to shake Lia's hand and lets her play with her jade necklace and bracelet. They also give me advice about cutting her hair and keeping her out of the sun :-)

During lessons Lia does front and back floats and splashes around while we sing songs with the instructor. She dunks like a pro, without any tears, and she'll jump into my arms from a sitting position on the edge of the pool. Her favourite part is the slide, of course, and she doesn't quite understand why she can't slide for the whole lesson!

On our walks home I am starting to venture into the Chinese groceries and shops for food. We've tried steamed pork buns and glutinous rice and red bean paste cakes. I'd like to take some Chinese cooking lessons so I can get more comfortable with the cuisine.

Wednesdays we often go to Storytime at the library, a few blocks away. Now that Lia's walking, it's a challenge to keep her sitting down and paying attention to the finger rhymes and songs that we do—she just wants to wander around the children's section! Shawn had a much easier time when she would stay put on his lap.

Thursday mornings we go to Seedlings playgroup at the Ottawa Chinese Alliance Church. This is a wonderful program for kids 0-6 and their parents. We found out about it because our highschool friend Cynthia Yu is the director of children's ministries there! Small world.

Lia loves everything about playgroup: the little slide and the riding toys, the older kids who chase her and the little babies on their quilts, the snack and the songs ("The good morning train is coming, how are you? Choo choo!"). Jennifer, who leads the group, plans great crafts and activities for the kids, and the parents have been very welcoming to Lia and me. I'm thrilled that we've found such a great group, and that Lia has a chance to play with other Chinese kids and adults.

For all these trips abroad, Lia is still usually in a carrier or sling. She was 22 pounds at her last doctor's visit, and I think I'll be able to carry her for a while yet. She certainly loves it, and snuggles into my chest or under my arm in a very satisfying way. We also use the folding umbrella stroller for longer trips—it's a Chinese one given to us by another family that adopted.

On other days we do the grocery shopping, go to the park, take walks by the Ottawa River, and visit the library to pick up books.

Lia is still taking a morning nap. She shows no signs of giving it up, and sleeps a solid two or three hours every morning. I'm very happy to be using the time to work on the third draft of my novel. Afternoon naps are more spotty, but as long as Lia sleeps in the morning she's pretty happy. The harder days are when she's up all morning and then only sleeps an hour in the afternoons. But we count our blessings that she snoozes for a solid twelve hours overnight.

I'm enjoying my days with Lia so much. It's a real privilege to spend all this time with her. I do appreciate the break on the weekends when Shawn is around, but on the whole, we are having a blast.

P.S. We celebrated my birthday last week and my mom has written a blog post about our lovely day together.

P.P.S. My friend Susan (who made the lovely pink and green dress that Lia is wearing above) just got back from another trip to China and she posted her photos on Flickr.

Ode to a Bike Trailer

After we returned from our cottage vacation with Shawn's parents, we had a chance to buy Lia a bike helmet--I just adore the pink bunnies. Our bike trailer was a gift from our wonderful friends at Common Ground, our cohousing group.

That first week Shawn biked with Lia along the Ottawa River, and we also biked as a family to Richard and Carole's house-warming party. Lia is not so thrilled with the helmet, but is quickly lulled to sleep by the bike ride. Here she is in her trailer--we just happened to catch her blowing kisses, a favourite good-bye gesture these days.

Here's the poem that our friend Dwayne wrote to go along with the gift. It's too good not to share! (Click "More" to see the whole poem.)

An Ode for Shawn & Alison
As you prepare to bring Lia home ...

“When will we move in?” the answer was clear
To live at Co-Ground, “From today, count 2 years …”
But even as forms and foundations elude us
We’ve built a community for all that includes us.

And now as you get set to cross the Pacific
We wish you great joy, happiness beatific
How long you have waited!
The delays made you queasy!
Overseas adoption makes cohousing look easy!

From China to Ottawa (return) you’ll manoeuvre,
(Perhaps with a short stop en route in Vancouver)
The flight will be long, the service horrendous
Yet I bet you’ll care less, with Lia, all’s tremendous!

But now home in Bytowne, upon hometown ground,
You’ve forsaken The Car, how will Three get around?
The answer, my friends, lies in Four wheels, not Two
And so we Cogrounders have a wee gift for you….

A pilgrimage to MEC.CA yielded the solution
An accessory so perfect, with zero pollution
Affixed to your bike, she’ll be safe, it won’t fail her
And so we present you with this brand new …

Book by Norman Mailer!
Well … actually … it’s a bike trailer!

Alas, like cohousing, good things we await
The order from MEC.CA, for this fete, came too late
But fear not! From China to BC to here
The trailer, like Lia, will arrive soon, don’t fear!

Come Spring around town you’ll be zooming for sure
With speeds so terrific as you make your tours
Down hills you will run! The bike paths you’ll master
A ride fit for a Princess, who will call out “Go faster!”

This journey of life takes us to wondrous places
A rich tapestry of sounds, stories and faces
And now as you prepare for your new life as parents
Get used to this question:
“Mom and Dad, are we there yet?”

Love, your neighbours at Common Ground.

p.s. O dear friends, if this trailer’s trop petit
Let us know and we’ll biggie it tout suite!
For as at Tim Horton’s, it will be no real trouble
To supersize this single to a double-double!