HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!

CNY 2008

Sunday afternoon Ava and I and my friend Sherri and her daughter Shauna went to my agency's CNY party in Toronto.


Ava in her traditional Mongolian Dress


Having fun at the craft tables



Ava and Shauna making their cherry blossom trees




Trying to get a picture of Ava and Olivia(her mom Deb is a friend from the waiting moms group) sitting on the steps...everytime Ava would sit down, Olivia would stand up and visa versa!






Having fun running around on the stage after the show was over!







The Lion Dance








Two tired girls!

FAVORITE FOTO FRIDAY!!

Since Ava has been sleeping in my bed, this is the sweet face I get to look at just before I go to sleep every night and as soon as I wake up every morning...who could ask for anything more?

OUR LAST HURRAH!!!

Well, I head back to work tomorrow after being home with Ava for almost 10 months! It's going to be hard to not be with her all day every day but I am looking forward to a pay check again...so I can start to pay off my adoption and parental leave debt.
For our last Hurrah, Ava and I spent last week in Peurto Plata, Dominican Republic with my friend Mary and her three kids. We had a great time and already miss the sun and heat! I didn't think she would but after reading about Sen's girls napping by the poolside while in Cuba I tryed having Ava nap in her stroller on the beach...she slept two hours in it each day we spent there! The last day there we took an "Outback Safari Tour" going into the countryside, visiting a local family in their home, children in their school and at the end of the day we were taken to a secluded beach and went boogie boarding...well everyone else went boogie boarding...Ava and I tryed our luck at a few more pictures. Here they are below.

More pics of our week away.

A white dress....$15.00

A sandy beach destination....$1600.00

A not so cooperative 2 1/2 year old....Priceless!!!

*any of you who are familiar with sign language will note that Ava is signing "cookie" in several of these pictures...I tryed bribing her cooperation with the promise of a cookie...didn't quite work...she got the cookie anyway!

THANK YOU!

Doris, a wonderful friend from "3D's adoption" that Ava and I had the pleasure of meeting and getting to know this past summer has nominated us for the "Blogger with a Purpose" award.
I am shocked and honoured! Just wish she lived closer .
I began my blog back when my paperchase for China started as a way that friends and family could follow my journey to adopt my daughter Ava and then also keep up to date once we arrived home. I never guessed I would meet so many great people and make so many new friends as a result of it. I keep the blog pretty simple...just pics and updates on what Ava is up to now...I'm a very private person and the more personal issues (attachment issues we are dealing with etc.) I'm just not ready to blog about yet...maybe soon. I know the buzz is all about keeping it real and not candy coating your blog...but that's not for everyone...so for now you all just get to enjoy looking at my beautiful Ava.
I am now supposed to extend this honour to 5 other bloggers...but I am only going to choose one.
"Eliza's Story", it's on my side bar...sorry I don't know how to link it here. Tiffany is also a single mother who is juggling working full time, living life and being a fabulous mother to Eliza all while maintaining her sanity! She also, doesn't get too personal on her blog but I have learned tons from following her blog. It seems that even though Ava is several months older than Eliza developmentally I think she is following right behind Eliza...it's keeping me one step ahead of the game! I'm so hoping that some day Ava and I will have the honour of meeting them both in person. The invitation is always open if you ever want to head north!

AWARD GUIDELINES:

Awarded parties must nominate 5 people who have not received the award.

1.The blogs that receive the award must serve some purpose.
2. In their post about the award they need to link back to the original entry.
3.Awarded parties must post the award banner on their site. The banner must remain linked to "Eric Novaks site" (don't know how to do that so you'll have to go back to 3D's site to link...sorry!)

AVA'S TWO FAVORITE THINGS RIGHT NOW.....

SNOW/SNOWMEN....

and SPINNING....





this is what she was doing while she was supposed to be napping!




hoping this is typical toddler fascination...and not a symptom of autism!

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU AND YOURS!

CHRISTMAS /07 ROUND 2!

CELEBRITY LOOK ALIKE!

http://www.myheritage.com/collage

CHRISTMAS DAY 2007

CHRISTMAS EVE!

We went to my friend Sherri's house Christmas Eve day for Brunch. Had a wonderful meal and visit...and of course Ava and I were spoiled with all the presents...we even came home with one for each of our two labs! Ava just loved her Talking Elmo stocking!

We spent the rest of the evening just the two of us...reading Christmas books and settling in for an early night in anticipation for a busy Christmas day.
Here are a few pics from the day: Ava with Shauna at brunch, Ava getting caught stealing the candy canes off the tree!, and reading before bed.

CHECKING OUT THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS!!

This is Ava clowning around when I asked to take her picture in her Santa jammies before we took a ride to see the Christmas lights.

All smiles when she sees how many lights there are!

THANK YOU, RHONDA!!!

Friday night Ava and I had the pleasure of joining several of our adoptive friends for dinner at the Lone Star! We spent a great evening with, Catherine(Catherine's Chatter), Doris and Dan(3D's Adoption), K1 and K2, Dolores and Shawn(Watch our Family Grow), Rhonda and Josh and at least in spirit, Michelle and Mark(Waiting for Pumpkin).




This is the adorable T-shirt that Ava got from Rhonda!
Thank you so much Rhonda!

Ava thanking Rhonda for her T-shirt!!

PICKING OUT, CUTTING DOWN AND DECORATING OUR CHRISTMAS TREE!!

CHILDREN'S BRIDGE CHRISTMAS PARTY!

This afternoon we attended the Children's Bridges(my agency) Christmas Party! It's the first members event that we've attended...and even fighting pneumonia, Ava managed to have a great time. We had signed up weeks ago but it wasn't until this AM that I was sure we would attend as Ava has been feeling so poorly the past week.


Giving the craft table a try. Still doesn't like having glue on her hands!


Her finished candycane!



Having a blast playing under the rainbow parachute with the other kids!

Trying out the games table!

Listening to Christmas carols with Mama.

Helping out the music entertainment by playing the tamberine!

Checking out the man in the red suit!

Ava and her gift from Santa.

FEELING WELL ENOUGH TO START OUR CHRISTMAS DECORATING!

Headed into Sick Kids this morning to see the surgeon...wanted to make sure the source of Ava's temperature wasn't anything to do with her palate. Got the all clear from the surgeon...so I guess it is a bit of a chest infection. Still running a low grade fever off and on...but is getting her energy back and getting back to herself!
Started our Christmas decorating this evening and Ava decided the dogs needed to be taken care of first!

GET WELL PRESENTS FOR AVA!

My cousin Anita sent cute lion and card.

My sister Cathy and her family sent all these bath goodies.

POST OP DAY # 7...STILL FEELING A LITTLE ROUGH!

Well, it's post op day #7 and Ava is still feeling a little rough! She's been on the antibiotics for 48hrs now and is still running a low grade fever. So to ease my mind...that the source isn't the operative site(her mouth) and actually is her chest as per the pediatrician...we are heading back to Sick Kids in the AM to see her surgeon. That's seven days running a fever...I wasn't comfortable letting it go without him having a look in her mouth.

She found the "hair toys" this AM and wanted as many "ponies" as I could get in her hair!

I guess you can see she ran out of hair but still had some "hair toys" left...so guess who got there hair done? OK!...no comments from the peanut gallery...I'm sure most of you have sported a "do" like this one at some time or other....and if not, guess what you have to look forward to!

VISIT WITH SANTA!

A couple Christmas ornaments I ordered for Ava off the internet.

The Hallmark Keepsake Ornament from the "Joy to the World" collection.