Don't Make Me Release the Flying Monkeys

Fall is truly my favourite time of year...but only if snow is not involved.
I love the changing colours of the trees and taking long walks with the crunching of leaves underfoot. The coolness in the air and even the ever shorter days.
But most of all...I absolutely ADORE all things Halloween (much to my DHs chagrin)!
Every year he tells me that I absolutely cannot, simply must not buy one more Halloween item, to which I reply "No...I've got enough" - HA...NEVER!
At any rate, I have been working very hard at getting C-X into the Halloween mood (together with understanding the whole concept of the season, eg. costumes, trick or treating and the now much anticipated Halloween fairy - yup...that's right...the Halloween fairy...second and distant cousin to the tooth fairy - who comes along and swoops up all of your candy once you've closed your tired and weary eyes and leaves you a wonderful present). It started before our most recent trip and is growing daily - also much to DHs dismay!
As for dressing the little lovely, well, we presently have a princess costume and a ladybug outfit and are currently pondering the purchase of unicorn jobbie too. But after I advised our little one that Mama ALWAYS goes as a witch (ala of the West or Wicked the musical)...she decided that a pink witchy witch outfit would suit her just fine. Uh...yeah...sweetie...witch costumes do not usually come in the gentle and tender shade of pink. Try explaining that to a 4-year old little girl who has decided that she LOVES all things pink (and not much else).
Well...October 31st will find us at the pumpkin patch picking out just the right one for carving...which we will do as a family and set out for all to see (which is usually NO ONE...as we don't really get many Halloweeners)...and then off to a friends house for trick or treating (as we are not really sure if C-X gets that part of it).
Anyhow...I've also posted some photos to catch up.

6-Month Review and Other Stuff

Well...The Rouse House had their 6-month review with the social worker...who said that things seemed to be going very well. It was a relief to have that hurdle over and to hear it from a professional that our little girl is doing so good.
We are getting ready to start preschool on Monday...so the usual fall school shopping is going on (check out the new shoes!).
We hit Butterfield Acres, Calaway Park and other fun stuff this summer.
We're doing more swimming in the fall and even a family wall climbing course after our LV vacation.
I can't wait to introduce C-X to all the joys of fall (my favourite time of year), including baking and walking in crunchy leaves and best of all pumpkins and Halloween!! I only hope she wants to dress up as a witch.
We're big into tattoos right now and wearing nothing but our panties around the house.
All in all...Martin and I know we are very lucky...she is a very special little girl who we love dearly! (PS: Thanks again to my friend Paige...were it not for you...we wouldn't have our darling C-X).

Papa's Little Girl

She's 4...and she is fiercely independent.
She learned to swim, doggie paddle style, on her own on our recent trip (with the help of her ladybug float device of course).
She learned the joys of sunbathing with a mister on (and 100 SPF).
She's checking out how she might look with glasses...when she's BIGGER!
But...in the end...she is still Papa's little girl!

What Happens in Vegas...Stays in Vegas

Leaving on a jet plane...oops...already went and now we are back.
Our little girl, who had been so very excited about going back onto a plane, did just great. She sat in her own seat, did up the seat belt and just took in all the sights. She will definitely be a frequent flyer...
We were very glad to have my niece along with us...she was a great help with our little going concern.
And, other than Mama burning her back...everyone had a great time!
I even have the pictures to prove it.

Gotcha Day/Forever Family...whatever you want to call it...we call it AWESOME!!!

Our driver in Chengdu was also a practicing amateur photographer...so here's some photos of this most wonderful of days!!!

Mmmm ice cream...

Too bad it isn't warmer out to enjoy this icy treat.
We saw the Cleft Team yesterday (over 5 hours and lotsa doctors poking and prodding).
Our little trooper did awesome...even after taking a header down the slide during our lunch break...Mr Martin was just glad we were already at the hospital, but thankfully it was not required to use the services any further.
The speech therapist was thrilled with her progress and told us to keep doing what we are doing and to come back in the fall.
And during our bedtime routine this evening Martin is fairly certain that Miss C-X said that she loved Mama and Papa. (If the little nose kisses she keeps laying on us are any indication, I'd say he might be have heard her correctly.
So...things are good at The Rouse House.

Panda Preparation

Our going concern likes to makes sure her "chumars" (AKA stuffed panda bears) are also tucked in safely and have a sufficient food supply...as this picture will show.
Excellent job Miss C-X!!

"Water Baby"

And her Mama thought swimming was going to be an issue, but after C-X and I took Miss Wrinkles to the swim tank at PetLand...she was totally into it...so out came the suit this weekend and in went C-X into Miss W's pool (thankfully Miss W is willing to share).
Hopefully the "real deal" will go just as well when we head to the Killarney Pool later this week.

"Sitting Pretty"

And her Papa thought that dresses were going to be out of the question....

Settling in...

If a picture can tell a story...then perhaps "settling in" might be an appropriate chapter heading for this one. Papa and Xin-Xin watching a bit of tellie before "ja ja"...probably ICarly (X-X's preference), but maybe In the Night Garden (M's favourite).

Just words...no pictures.

I can gladly say that things are coming along very nicely with our little Xin-Xin.
We are home more than 6-weeks now and, the few bumps in the road not withstanding, she is a pure delight.
Our course she still has crying jags, but...as Xin-Xin would say "come on"...she's only 4 (almost)....she's supposed to have a fit when Mama tells her that she can't have another ride on the marigoround and three times was enough.
We are going to start learning colours tomorrow as counting to ten has been perfectly mastered (almost).

On a personal note, I am determined to master loading pictures to this blog and some of the other fancy schmancy stuff that the blogs I like seem to have that this one is lacking.

Over and out...time for jaja (that's sleep for anyone not in the know).

Four days til we come home...and we are glad for it.

Well...we are all having our moments...as some of these other pictures will show.
We have not been able to do many of the events because one little girl tends to blow that out of the water. It definitely seems that the people with younger children are having a bit easier of a time...but things do seem as though they are coming along.
We are, however, looking very forward to coming home and getting into a routine that will suit everyone.

Just a few more photos...

And now we are three...

The moment we have all been waiting for...better late than never.
Here we are visiting the swan lake at the panda preserve in Chengdu. We were feeding fish and ducks. And yesterday at the Summer Palace in Beijing...Martin, Chloe-Xin and I were the biggest attraction for the locals when she "melted down" because she wouldn't go in the stroller (that's right, I carried the 30 pound bratnik around the Summer Palace for over an hour). Over all we are doing quite well, but looking forward to coming home.

Updated measurements...

We were VERY pleased today to have received some up to date measurements from FOI for our little one. Looks like she'll be tall like her Mommy and Daddy and need a little "fattening up", which I am certain we will be able to help with.
In just under 2-weeks we get to meet her...and we can hardly wait.

Isn't she lovely...

That's the phrase that comes to mind when I see this new photo of my darling niece.
She's the reason that I knew in my heart that I wanted to be a Mommy.
She is going to be a wonderful cousin to our little girl.
And, when everyone is settled, she'll make an excellent "toddler sitter" too!
We love you dearly Miss A!!!

And another update...here is what we believe to be the most recent photo of our little one. The file is labelled "passport style"...so we presume that refers to a recent occurrence.
I was told today, by people in the know, that my dream of carrying her all over China is probably not the best idea and that a folding stroller is a must. So...this Valentine's Day DH and I will be buying this and other baby necessities. It will be the BEST day ever!

One more thing crossed off the list...

Unbelievably, and thanks to the wonderful intervention of our local MPs office, we received a letter from CIC yesterday telling us that Part 1 of our Citizenship Application had been approved. Even more shocking, however, is the fact that this morning I received a call from CIC indicating that my letter begging and pleading which accompanied our sponsorship application had also done the trick!
Wow...I will never again complain about government works. OK...well, maybe not NEVER!
Bob was SO RELIEVED (and admitted that he was very concerned, but didn't want to say so).
So...one more thing crossed off the list...and only a 1 million more do so!
Including trying to update this dang thing.

And we're off...

We can hardly believe that our dream of having a child will actually shortly be a reality.
Faith @ ACS told us to use this time to relish our last moments as a couple and prepare to celebrate our beginning as a family.
Family...what a word that is.
Of course we've always thought of ourselves as a family, its just that up until now all of our children have had four legs (and lotsa fur----lotsa lotsa fur).
But adding Chloe-Xin will be a whole new beginning...she will finally make our house more of a home!