PARCELS IN THE MAIL TODAY!!

I received a package in the mail today containing these signing dvd's and a cd of signing songs for Ava from my very good friend, Mary from Pickering, Ontario. I first saw these signing dvd's on another bloggers blog that I follow...her daughter Eliza was already signing at about 10months old and she was using these dvds to teach her. When Mary asked me what I needed for Ava I thought of these dvd's and voila...here they are! I can't wait to view them myself. Thanks so much Mary.

















I've been meaning to pick up a little something for Ava to put away as a present for CNY....was browsing through the gift shop at work today and this Robert Munsch book caught my eye...being the "YEAR OF THE PIG" and all...I had to get it.

THIS ONE'S FOR YOU SUE!

I posted a picture of this pillow with the Fu character earlier....but I didn't know that the manderin word for "upside down" is dao, which is a homonym for "arrives". So for maximum good luck, at the Lunar New Year Chinese families display the Fu character upside down within their houses.

I have now turned my pillow upside down!(thanks for the tip Sue)

QUILT SQARE # 28 & 29

QUILT PATCH # 28

This fabric and good wish page was sent by Mark, my cousin Joanne's son. I'm sure this fabric depicts what every kid wishes to hear their school announce!

QUILT SQUARE # 29

This fabric square was sent by Hunter, my cousin Joanne's son. It is a bright purple fabric with sparkly bits scattered throughout it. Ava will love it!

MORE FABRIC SQUARES ARRIVE TODAY!

This fabric sqare was sent by my cousin Joanne and her family from Beachburg Ontario. It is a very "CANADIAN" piece of fabric depicting our countries flag and our tradional sport, hockey!. On her blessing page she included a poem called, "Waiting".
WAITING

I haven't met you yet or seen your face
but in my heart you hold a place.
My hopes grow with each passing day
even though you're miles away
I know your're there waiting for me
as I am here waiting to see,
the child God has sent from above
to make me a mother
and share all my Love.

Love Shawn, Joanne, Hunter and Mark.

QUILT SQUARE # 26

I received this fabric sqare and best wish page in the mail today. It was sent by Sue from Ottawa, another adoptive parent waiting to adopt her son from Inner Mongolia. She sent a very vibrant piece of fabric showing women and children dancing. She included the lyrics from LeeAnn Womack's song, "I hope you Dance". She goes on to say that during the adoption of her first daughter from Vietnam they would always hear this song whenever doing anything connected to the adoption and then went on to realize that the lyrics of the song describe their wishes for their daughter. Ava's first fabric square and good wish were made by myself and I too had picked part of the lyrics from this same song...I find it so cool that both mom's to be of Inner Mongolia children had the same wish picked out. Thank you, Sue

p.s.-hopefully we get our TA's at around the same time and can travel together.

LOTUS FLOWER PICTURE FOR AVA

LOTUS FLOWER

I bought this picture for Ava's room when I was at the Pacific Mall today. Ava's chinese name is YaHan...the Han part of it meaning Lotus.

GIFTS FOR AVA

My sister sent these childrens cd's for Ava. They are a collection of world lullabies and soothing songs. I'm sure Ava will love them. Thanks, Cathy.

CHINESE NEW YEAR WITH FRIENDS

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CHINESE NEW YEAR LION DANCE!

Chinese New Year 2007 018
Video sent by yahan

CHINESE NEW YEAR DAY

Celebrating Chinese New Year with Friends

On Chinese New Year Day Sherri, her family and I went into Toronto to the CNE grounds to the Chinese New Year celebrations . We took in a show consisting of the Traditional Lion Dance, as well as several different and very talented displays of the Martial Arts. I have included a clip of the dragon dance. We toured around taking in the different displays of the chinese culture. I bought several beautiful chinese outfits for Ava and Shauna got a strikingly beautiful chinese top which she models in the slide show of pictures from today. After trying out a wide variety of authentic Chinese Cuisine and not doing too well with the "chop stick" part of it we all came home with our own pair of painted chop sticks to practice with. We tryed many different dishes, including several noodle dishes, a couple different dumpling dishes, a seaweed dish, a sticky rice and pork dish wrapped in tea leaves(delicious!), pork and chicken dishes as well as an egg dessert that is deep fryed and almost tastes like sponge cake. We also tryed deep fryed shrimp chips and for dessert something called dragons beard candy....sort of like cotton candy clumps with crushed almonds in the center(very sugary).

When we arrived home it was still early, around 4pm so Sherri invited me over for dinner. They dropped me off at my house so I could feed the dogs and then headed over to the Palmer residence for dinner. When I got there Sherri presented me with a beautiful bouquet of red roses...she said they are for my house as everyone is supposed to have fresh flowers in the house over the Chinese New Year as it is a symbol of growth or rebirth....how thoughtful is this girl!!!....another reason I asked her to accompany me to China to get my daughter. She also stopped at the store on the way home and picked up a cake and had "Happy Chinese New Year" written on it.

Sherri's daughter Shauna who is just 10 years old has embraced the opportunity to be part of the Chinese culture and learn whatever she can about it. As you can see in the slideshow of pictures she has decorated her room with hanging chinese lanterns, her chinese lantern that lights up that she got at the chinese lantern festival in the fall as well as her chinese umbrella. Today while in Toronto she added to her collection, several pig ornaments as it is the year of the pig. While waiting for dinner to be ready we went on the computor and looked up the history of the chinese zodiac and what animal year each of us was born in...Shauna was the year of the Ox.

Not only did she show a keen interest on the Sunday while in Toronto but on Monday morning she wore her new Chinese top to school and addressed the teacher with "Gong Xi Fa Cai"....and when the teacher asked her what that meant and Shauna told her she asked Shauna to stand in front of the class and share with them all about Chinese New Year and everything she has experienced.

I feel very blessed to have such good friends that take such an interest in my daughters culture and want to share it with me and be a part of Ava's life. Shauna, you will make a great surrogate jie jie(older sister) to Ava!

GONG XI FA CAI

Wishing you a Happy and Prosperous New Year!

"FU" CHARACTER

THE "FU" CHARACTER

This chinese character(Fu) represents luck, good fortune, and blessing. The Fu character is very popular in China, appearing over door ways and on walls, especially during the Chinese New Year.

I purchased two pillow slip covers with the Fu character on them to decorate for Chinese New Year.

PACIFIC MALL-MARKAM

Posters of Chinese Blessings on Red Paper
are hung in the windows or on each side of the
front door of Chinese homes to decorate for Chinese
New Year.

Chinese New Year depicting firecrackers-
is a symbol of good fortune.


Bought this string of Chinese Lanterns that light
up to decorate the house.


Scenes from Pacific Mall on eve of New Years Day


Taking in the Chinese Culture at the Pacific Mall
Food Court.


Sample of beautiful Chinese Garments



Chinese Lantern decorating the Mall


More Chinese Lantern Decorations


Chinese Lion Decoration in Pacific Mall




Sherri at Pacific Mall


Me at Pacific Mall


Me at Pacific Mall

On Saturday February 17th, the eve of Chinese New Year, Sherri and I ventured out to the Pacific Mall in Markam. It is the largest indoor Asian Mall in North America. We immersed ourselves in the Chinese Culture, shopping along side the large Toronto Chinese population, buying decorations for Chinese New Year and eating at an authentic Chinese restaraunt. We practiced our limited Mandarin by wishing anyone who would listen a "Gong Xi Fa Cai". We also bought chinese lucky candy and chocolate gold coins to put in the Chinese New Year red envelopes that are given out to children for good luck in the new year.

ALL ABOUT CHINESE NEW YEAR....AND YEAR OF THE PIG

Chinese New Year is the largest and most important celebration in the Chinese Calender. This year the Chinese New Year begins on February 18, 2007. The Chinese use the lunar calender, with each month starting on the darkest day or new moon. It is tradition for New Year festivities to start on the first day of the month and carry on until the 15th day when the moon is full or brightest.

The fifteen day celebration of the Chinese New Year:

On the first day they welcome the Gods of the Heavens and Earth. Many abstain from eating meat as they believe it will ensure long and happy lives.
On the second day they pray to ancestors and gods, they feed and treat their dogs well as they believe this is the birthday of all dogs.
On the third and fourth days son in laws pay respect to their parent in laws.
On the fifth day people stay at home and welcome the God of Wealth. No visiting takes place as it will bring bad luck.
On the sixth to tenth day visiting of relatives and friends is done freely. Temples are visited and prayers are said for good fortune and health.
On the seventh day farmers make a drink from seven vegetables to celebrate their produce. This is also considered the birthday of all human beings. They eat noodles to promote longevity and eat raw fish for success.
On the eighth day there are more family dinners and prayers to Tian Gong, the god of Heaven.
On the ninth day offerings are made to the Jade Emperor.
On the tenth to twelveth day friends and relatives come for dinner.
On the thirteenth day, after much feasting, to cleanse the system simple rice congee and mustard greens are eaten.
The fourteenth day is used in preparation to celebrate the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth night.

For weeks prior to the New Year people will take time off work to decorate and prepare for the celebration of the New Year.

Legend has it that Buddha asked all the animals to join him on Chinese New Year. Twelve came and he named a year after each. The twelve animals include, the rat, the ox, the tiger, the rabbit, the dragon, the snake, the horse, the sheep, the monkey, the rooster, the dog and the pig.
He stated that people born in that year would resemble the animals personality. People born in the year of the Pig work very hard, have excellent manners, are loyal friends and enjoy luxuries.

For Chinese New Year festivities people wear red clothes, decorate their homes with poems written on red paper, and give "lucky money" in red envelopes. Red is said to symbolize fire, according to legend it drives away bad luck. Fireworks help ward away evil spirits.
Live blooming plants represent rebirth and new growth.

In China, the Chinese New Year is a time when families travel back home to be with their loved ones, they gather at each others houses for visits and to share meals, especially the feast on New Years Eve. New Years Eve and New Years Day are celebrated as a family affair, a time of reunion and thanksgiving.

On New Years Day the Chinese family will eat a vegetarian dish called Jai, whole fish to represent togetherness and abundance and a chicken for prosperity. The chicken must be intact with its head, tail and feet to symbolize completeness. Any noodles should not be cut as they represent long life. Nian Gao(sweet steamed glutinous rice pudding) and Zong Zi(glutinous rice wrapped in reed leaves) are favorites in the South of China while steamed wheat bread(Man Tou) and small meat dumplings are the prefered food in the North.

The Lantern Festival occures on the 15th day to signify the end of Chinese New Year. The lanterns are painted with birds, flowers, animals, zodiac signs as well as scenes depictings legends and history. These lanterns are hung in temples and carried in the streets under the brightness of the full moon on the 15th night.

Often the highlight of the Lantern Festival is the Dragon dance. The dragon is usually made of silk, paper and bamboo and is held above the heads of men as they dance and guide this colourful dragon through the streets.

CHINESE NEW YEAR DECORATIONS

Chinese New Year is this sunday, February 18th. Here are some pictures of people in China decorating and getting ready for the festivities.
Not sure if it will be as colourful and decorative as this but I'm planning to head into Markam and Toronto this weekend with friends to partake in Chinese New Year events planned for there.

ONE QUARTER THE WAY....AVA'S 25TH QUILT SQUARE!

Well Ava, we are one quarter the way to collecting 100 quilt patches for your "100 Good Wishes Quilt". This beautiful green and red asian print fabric was given by Wilma, a friend from work. For her blessing page she did a unique design...she quilted it!...a stiking design of an asian girl, and she signed the back of it "For Ava Grace Yahan, to Welcome You"

"LADYBUG CHOCOLATES....WHAT NEXT!"

AVA'S HOLD ON MOMMY'S HEART

My sweet Ava, you will aways have a hold on my heart...just remember you did not grow under my heart but in it!

When I saw this cuddley soft pink heart it made me think of the place you have in my heart.

Happy Valentine's Day Ava!

Love Mommy.

XOXO

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY AVA, LOVE NANNA & PAPA

This is Ava's Valentines Day card from her Nana and Papa. It says "Hi, Love Bug-Happy Valentine's Day! All our Love, Nanna and Papa.

XOXO

FOR AVA

A red thread to China was cast today

From us to a child so far away.

This thread symbolizes an attachment of hearts

That distance alone can't keep us apart.

Her mother and I are caught in a chase

That time alone will bring us to face

This loving child we want so much to greet

With love in our hearts before we did meet.

This tiny,thin thread may stretch, tangle or fray

But our love for her grows stronger each day.

Through the test of time it won't break or sever

She'll be part of us forever and ever.

With oceans between us, the distance is spanned

By a love that is greater than man could have planned.

For God in his mercy loved her and us

And decided our family would be a great plus.

So for now we'll just love her and pray every day

That God keeps her and loves her for us till we may

Travel to China, that land of great past,

To the side of our daughter, to hold her at last.

AVA'S FIRST VALENTINE CARD FROM MOMMY!

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"ADOPTION HORMONES????"

I was out at the fabric store yesterday picking up fabric to exchange quilt squares with a couple other IM(Inner Mongolia) families for our "100 Good Wishes Quilts." The woman cutting the fabric just casually asked what I was doing with the fabric...as soon as I started to explain the tradition of the "100 Good Wishes Quilt" I could feel myself getting choked up and my lip begin to quiver...she also must have been feeling the emotion because she told me to stop...she couldn't hear anymore or she was going to start to cry...I could see her eyes watering. They say when you are pregnant your hormones are raging and just about anything can set you off...not sure how it works when "your're pregnant in your heart"...I hope there is such a thing as "adoption hormones"...because if there isn't I guess I'm just cracking up!...and this is NOT a convenient time for this to happen! I can be driving down the street, listening to the radio and all of a sudden something will set me off and the tears start to flow. Now, the rest of you out there, also impatiently waiting for your travel approval...please tell me your are going through the same roller coaster of emotions. I really need assurance that I'm not just loosing it. I'm assuming that having your childs picture and still not being able to hold them in your arms could evoke emotions in a similar way to those that are produced by the hormonal changes in one that is PHYSICALLY PREGNANT.

QUILT SQUARE # 24

This quilt patch was sent by my Aunt Alanna and Uncle Alex. Alanna will be joining me on my journey to China. Their fabric is a very pretty "girlie" print. Their blessing page is a ladybug poem.

QUILT SQARE # 23

This sqare was sent by my cousin Erin, it is a vibrant green shamrock pattern representing her Irish heritage. Her blessing page is an Irish blessing for a child.

MORE QUILT SQUARES ARRIVE!

QUILT SQARE #22
This sqare was sent by my cousin Tara, her husband Andre and their son Mathieu. It is a piece of brightly coloured fabric with crayons and pencils covering it encorporating all of the primary colours...there good wish page has a beautiful song on it called "The World is a Rainbow".