I knew it was only a matter of time

Avery said it, the one sentence I've been waiting for "When is she going back".

Avery and I were in the car, running errands. I was trying to have some Avery and mommy alone time. We are at a stop light and Avery mumbles "why is Brennyn taking so long". I have no idea what she is talking about so I said "do you mean why she sleeps so much"? "No, I mean why is she taking so long". Still not getting this I ask again, "honey, what do you mean". "Mommy, why is she here so long?"

I couldn't help it, I started to chuckle a bit (that's why I nominate myself for mother of the year again).

I did manage to choke out that Brennyn lives with us, we are her family, etc. Avery asked again "when is she going back to China". I explained that Brennyn is her sister, to which Avery replied "no she isn't" and "She cries a lot".

I just had the talk with her again at bedtime, but I still don't think she is convinced!

Halloween

I took the girls to a harvest festival last Saturday. It involved some trick or treating at the stores downtown. Avery thought she looked pretty cute in her costume. As I was putting her in the car, she said "I hope everyone thinks I look cute, oh of course they will, I am cute". I can't make this stuff up!
I did have to pretend Brennyn's costume was a coat, because there was no way she was going to put that thing on.

Avery is still asking me why everyone kept asking her "would your little brother like some candy too?"

Brennyn won't be trick or treating on Halloween. Too much going on for her!

First sentence

Brennyn said her first sentence today. Okay, so most people probably wouldn't understand what she said but we do. It was "brush please" (sounded like buh peese). We'll take it! She did kind of say "buh buh nana" (bye bye nana) the other day too.

Let me think, what else can she say. I have to keep track on the blog because being the awesome mom I am, I didn't buy her a baby book yet. Yes, Avery has a baby book (I think the last entry was from Jan. 2008, again, awesome mom here).

Back to the words: mama, dada, dog, car, people, nana, please, thank-you, up (her favourite), Avery (sounds like riri), hot, hi, bye, good girl (because we said it so much in China), boo boo, book, duck, yummy (and she rubs her tummy).

Again, most of these words are only understood by us and her grandparents but we still count them! I can't think of anymore right now, brain doesn't work like it used to.

Oh and we taught her the sign for stop but she thinks it means don't cry in Mandarin (because we were always saying that while using the sign). The other day, a little boy was crying in Avery's preschool and Brennyn stopped what she was doing, made the sign and said "bu ku".

Appointments

Just received a phone call from the genetics department. They are now booking appointments into 2011. Great. That was the second choice hospital, we still haven't heard from Sick Kids. We also have not heard from the plastic surgery department either, which is the more urgent appointment. We did get a call from the family doctor letting us know that the plastic surgery department did tell them that we will not get in until Feb. at the earliest.
The positive side to the long wait is that Brennyn will have more time to adjust to us and her new home before she has to have surgery and spend time at the hospital.

At least we are seeing the local paediatrician in two weeks. Our poor girl has developed some seriously dry skin. Avery had dry skin as well when she first came home, but not like this. Poor girls skin is cracking and she scratches at it causing bleeding. My friend bought us some amazing cream (it's so thick you can only put it on at night) so we are hoping it helps.

Sisters

Boy oh boy can these two fight. Not that surprising, but still.
At the same time, Brennyn loves to copy everything Avery does. It is so cute. Not sure if Avery thinks it's cute.
We're still working on the jealousy, but that will take time. Can be frustrating if both kids are playing QUIETLY and suddenly Avery just has to take whatever toy Brennyn has.

Have to say that in one month Brennyn has come a long way. She doesn't even look like the same girl to me. You can see the confidence in her eyes, amazing!
Still long way to go, but wow!

Just a few random pictures taken over the last week. As usual, I have put them on out of order, but it still works!
Both girls love play dough, although Brennyn just likes to pull it apart and squish it. Daddy made a Franklin, the man puts me to shame! I just make snowmen (art was never my thing).

We put out the Halloween decorations and had some fun with the wigs. Brennyn wants to put the wigs on all the time now, so funny!

No time to blog

Really don't have much blogging time lately. Perhaps if I could stay awake past 9:00pm I could do a post or two but that just isn't happening. Brennyn is awake longer than Blair and I.
That girl would sleep in until 9:00am if we let her. I am starting to think she is going to be a night hawk, unlike the rest of us. Blair puts her to bed between 7 and 7:30 but she plays around until at least 8:30. Avery insists that mommy puts her to bed, so that is what we are doing for now.

Speaking of Avery, we're having a few big sister issues (which is not surprising at all). She is just in Brennyn's face constantly, or in our faces. I understand now why people kept telling me that going from one child to two is a major adjustment. They were not lying!

Brennyn still cries a lot around me. Almost more of a whine really. Blair seems to be able to snap her out of it, but around me she just wants to be picked up. I'm thinking she believes that I am the big softy and I will give in. Daddy on the other hand, is serious.
She could be playing perfectly well and then I come in the room and she will start to cry/whine/want to picked up, etc.
Anyone else have this happen???

Honestly, I will blog about our trip to China one of these days. Just don't seem to have any time. Between the 2 girls fighting, playing, crying, eating, etc. my days seem to fly. Sibling rivalry is alive and well at our house.

Here are some more pictures for now.
The terracotta warriors were so amazing. Actually, I found Xi'an to be very interesting. I would love to go back one day and learn more about the history.

Laughter

There is nothing like the sound of a child laughing! It's even better coming from someone who has been so sad. Brennyn was really laughing today. I guess there was something funny about Mommy shaking her groove thing. I was dancing up a storm and Brennyn could not stop laughing. Avery insisted that I keep "wiggling my butt". Hey, anything to amuse the kids.

We're still having some issues here (and will be for some time) but now and than the laughter still wins out!

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy turkey day everyone! Just finished off turkey, stuffing, roasted potatoes, mmmmm. Decided the other day to pick up a turkey just for the 4 of us. I'm very glad I did, yummy. Brennyn wasn't a big turkey fan but she devoured the peas and mashed potatoes (oh, and I didn't think she'd like the stuffing, I was wrong).

It's getting cold in these parts, but we still need to get outside. Blair and I have been bundling the kids up and going on nice long walks. As long as the sun is shining, it really doesn't matter what the temperature is.

More pics

Have a second while Brennyn is napping, so here are a few more pictures. Brennyn does smile sometimes, honest! Seriously though, she does have a sense of humour that seems to be showing through a bit more. She likes to make you laugh, especially when she is supposed to be sleeping!

Oh, and I don't know if I mentioned why Blair looks so rough in his pictures. He caught a bug in China (plus he was a tad stressed out) and ended up visiting the hospital in Xi'an. That was an experience!

Poor Brennyn

Poor girl seems to have a bit of a fever this morning and is CRANKY. More cranky than usual. Nothing makes her happy. Sometimes I wonder if she will ever be a happy girl. Although yesterday she played all morning with hardly a cry. Still, she just isn't a happy girl. I mean, this must be so difficult for her, strange country, strange people, another little girl around all the time taking attention away from her.

Cross your fingers for us, cause this isn't going to be easy!

More pictures

Hey Jo, the pizza and beer picture is for you! Of course, Blair made me eat at a pizza place while in China (for those that don't know my husband, he is NOT an adventurous eater).

Still adjusting to life with 2 kids! Brennyn is still adjusting to life with a family. Seems like we take a few steps forward, only to fall back again. However, it has only been 2 weeks with Brennyn.
She is very, very clingy to mommy (which is understandable) and really HATES when mommy pays attention to anyone else.
The food situation is much better though. Brennyn no longer stuffs everything in her mouth, and actually chews her food.

I think we are going to try the crib this weekend. We can't leave her in the bed, she will wander the house at night and I need to get some sleep. Wish us luck!!

Finally had a chance to upload photos. Here are a few!
One is of Brennyn and I when we met for the first time.
The other is a picture of me with our guide, Jessica.

Ahh, jet-lag

I swear I will post pics soon, honest. Haven't had a chance to upload photos yet. Although I could probably do it while I am awake at 2:00am. Jet-lag and I just don't get along.
I have been napping when Brennyn naps, but it is harder when you also have a 3 1/2 year old at home who missed her mommy and daddy.

Actually, Avery had a great time with grandma and nana. We definitely made the correct decision in keeping her at home. It would have been a nightmare for her in China. She is getting used to her little sister, but it can't be easy for her. Brennyn gets so upset if Avery hugs me or Blair. Brennyn likes us to only pay attention to her. She has taken a swing at Avery already, but Avery has been so good. I do believe Miss Brennyn is very used to fighting for things at the orphanage.

The nanny did say that Brennyn was very quiet, except for when she screams or cries. That was an understatement. That girl has an amazing set of lungs. I feel so sorry for anyone who was on our plane from China to Toronto on Thursday. Let's just say that Brennyn probably screamed for half the flight. We won't be going on any planes for a very, very long time.

We're also working on the sleep situation. Trying to decide if I should try the crib. Brennyn has been sleeping with me (or on me) since we met her. She has nightmares and screams while sleeping. If you try to talk to her, she screams harder. The only thing that works is rocking (and that is only sometimes). Thinking the crib thing may set her back. The only problem is that I don't sleep well with a 2 year old tossing and turning.

This post is so all over the place, blame it on the jet-lag!

WE'RE HOME

Have to do a big post when I have more time. Blogger would not work for me at all in China, couldn't remember my password to post via e-mail.
Don't think there would have been time anyway. Let's just say that this adoption trip was very, very different from Avery's trip.
Poor baby Brennyn grieved very heavily, cried often, and is not at a 2 year old level.
You can read all the books you want to prepare in advance, but it sure is different when you are living it.

We are very happy that we finally have our girl home, but it isn't going to be an easy road!!