« November 2009 | Main

One Year Later

365 days ago we met Han Kun. Sweet, affectionate, curious.

These days he is "all boy and a yard wide," as our friend Janet put it. Runs, screams, and jumps constantly. Eyes us impishly when doing something he knows he's not supposed to (climbing on the living room table, pouring the contents of his glass onto his high chair tray).

Weighs more than his sister. Tears it up at daycare. Chatters incessantly (and breaks my heart because I can't understand a lot of what he says).

Gives us the stink-eye whenever his demands are denied. Yells "Bye! Bye!" and waves enthusiastically whenever he leaves anywhere.

Putting his pyjamas on is like wrestling a pig into a wetsuit.

He jumps so much our downstairs neighbour must think we have a pile-driver in constant service.

And still, he wakes up sleepy from a nap and clings to Dad like a starfish. Puckers his mouth for kisses. Shouts "Mama! Mama!" when I come to pick the kids up from daycare.

Lordy, we love this kid.

Happy adoption day, Nico Tico.

Three Years Ago

Today is Lia's adoption day. Grandma visited and the two of them played games, made Chinese New Year wreaths and baked cookies. After dinner we watched the video from February 4, 2007, the day Na Fei met her new family. Lia loves the story of how Daddy shook the rattle in his mouth to make her laugh. She stayed in Dad's arms while we watched, and re-enacted the on-screen action with fake cries and cuddling. The most poignant moment in the video is a close-up of Shawn and baby Na Fei, her cheek resting against his chest.

"I loved you so much," Lia said.

"You felt safe in my arms," Shawn said, "even though you didn't know who I was yet."

"But I know you now," said Lia.

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Nico was supposed to have surgery today. The surgeon plans to do a lip revision and fistula repair, meaning she will improve the existing lip repair and close up his palate a little more. He also needs an ear tube re-inserted.

But the children's hospital doesn't have enough beds. They're filled with kids who have bronchialitis and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). As everyone is telling us, we probably don't want Nico there right now anyway. So his operation has been rescheduled for March 12.

It's cool. It'll happen when it happens. In the meantime we're enjoying the cookies and taking a breather. This afternoon I got to go shopping by myself. I bought pyjamas and slippers.

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Friday night I'm reading at the Yellow Bird Cafe Fundraiser for Haiti, 7:00 pm at Arlington Woods Free Methodist Church, 225 McLellan Road, Ottawa, Ontario. Come on out if you're free.