Maple Walnut Mama

I remember when I first started my blog almost 4 years the welcome I got from some of my blogger friends. Since then I have met so many wonderful people because of my blog.

I want to introduce my friend, Maple Walnut Mama, who just started up her own blog.

Her family was built through adoption as well. They adopted domestically which is just as emotional and hairy as international adoption.

We met sometime ago and then she moved away. It wasn't until after she moved that we started to get to know each other.

She read my blog and we emailed.

They got their referral for Lovebug almost 2 years ago and she continued to send notes of encouragement and support throughout our lengthy process to bring Ade home.

When we were in Vancouver last week, we had the chance to reunite and see our two kidlets finally playing together!

I am thankful for her friendship!

She had always mentioned how she would like to blog but wasn't sure she was ready to share all of her emotions with The Internets.

She didn't think she should "blubber, bawl or snot all over people."

Well, this is something I have been doing since the beginning! As have so many of us here in blogger-adoption land.

So, welcome to the blubbering, bawling and snotting all over people club.

It continues even now that the kidlet is home except now it is because of loss of sleep or tantrums.

I look forward to reading your posts about the good, bad, fun, and very busy times of parenthood!

Please go and give her a nice big "Welcome to the block!"

Meeting Great Blogger Friends

Since I started blogging 3 1/2 years ago, I have had the pleasure of "meeting" some really fantastic people.

I put "meeting" in quotations because a great deal of these people live far away in another city, province or country and I have not met them in person.

Most of the time the friendships have been "online" friendships which have grown from following each other's blogs.

Some people I have started emailing regularly with and on the odd occasion the friendship has moved to a "we talk on the phone" friend.

Talking on the phone friendships are special to me because it seems in this day and age no one talks on the phone anymore. They email or text but don't actually converse and hear the sound of each other's voices. It makes me a little sad.

The best part of these "cyber" friendships is when I get to meet someone in person. And for the most part when I meet that person they are just as lovely if not lovelier than I imagined.

There is always an element of "Will we have something to say to each other?" when we meet. Looking into someones eyes and actually seeing their facial expressions can be intimidating.

Plus if the person you are meeting doesn't have a blog or doesn't post pictures there is always the "I pictured you one way and you are totally different from that image."

And a photo or series of, does not truly represent who someone is as meeting them does. I mean meeting someone allows you to see them in action.

Right here where I live some of those friendships have grown quite close and I am so thankful for that.

This past weekend I had the pleasure of meeting a person I have "known" for a while. For the life of me, I can't remember how we started following each other's blogs. It seems as though she was just always there. We moved to emailing and again not sure how that happened but if I don't get an email from her every couple of weeks I feel sad.

One day she called me. She took a leap of faith, picked up the phone and dialed my number. I'm pretty sure she wasn't expecting to get the crazed, crying gal on the other end but she did. She could have said "I'll call you another time" and hung up, never to be heard from again. But she didn't. Instead she listened to me talk about my post adoption depression and she let me get it all out.

And she was there for me over the last few months as I dealt with it.

It seemed only right that we meet. And so we did. And it wasn't awkward at all. Oh sure, there is that initial "Will this turn out o.k." fear. But when we opened the gate to her house she was there, arms open, waiting with a giant hug and I knew it would be o.k.

Plus our toddler boys fell instantly into like with each other.

So thanks Tova, for being my friend. It is a pleasure and an honour to know you and to have not just you but your entire family! And over Sushi to boot!!!!

Road Trippin'

Yesterday Ade and I went on a 2 hour tour down south from where we live to visit our friends, The Lawson's.

At first I was a little hesitant about driving 2 hours with my young, rambunctious, sometimes whinny, sweet, but very chatty and loud 2 year old. But then I threw caution to the wind and loaded him up along with the pantry and we set off.

He did so well in the car. He didn't even flinch when we stopped on the side of the road for a wide-open trunk diaper change. I, however, did the fastest diaper change this side of the Rockies because of all the friggin' mosquitoes! Damn, I hate those things!



Ade really wanted to see his friend Neveah who he spent sometime with in the foster home in Ethiopia. They enjoyed their lunch date immensely!



Since Nev celebrated her 2nd birthday not so long ago, Ade thought it would be a good idea to get her a Leap Top as a gift. He loves his so much he thought she would too! And she does!

Now they can email each other! (Kidding, they can't, they're only 2 people!)

Nev's big sister came home from school and hung out with the kiddos! Ade was smitten. He kept re-adjusting how he was sitting next to her in attempts to sit as close as possible.

A great day was had by all! And wee little dude was so pooped out by the time we got in the car he could hardly keep his eyes open. 5 minutes into the drive home he was sound asleep!

The Friends We Meet Along The Way

We have been very privileged to meet some amazing people because of our adoption.

Near and far, we have made some very good friends over the last 3 years.

We could not have gotten to this point with out those friends.

Last weekend (August Long - I know this is very late but I was waiting to be sure it was o.k. to post their photos on my blog)

Last weekend we had the absolute pleasure of meeting Laura, Chad and Sara .

They were on their way to Cypress for a family reunion and Laura emailed and asked if they could stop in and meet us on their way down.

We have been emailing for quite sometime and read each other's blogs faithfully, so I jumped at the chance and said of course.

They stayed one night with us and it was so much fun.

It is always a bit nerve wracking meeting new people for the first time. Especially 'Internet friends' because 'Hey, you never know' they might be axe wielding murderers!

But Chad, Laura and Sara were definitely not! They are awesome!

Both Yvan and I felt extremely comfortable with them from the get go and really enjoyed their relaxed, easygoing style.

Laura is amazing to talk to - I felt like I had known her forever.

Sara is a cutie-patootie!! She loved, loved, loved the animals and they loved her too. She wants to be a vet one day and she will be fabulous at it!

We both have a friend, Laura, in common who lives where I live.

She is also in the process of adopting from Ethiopia so her and her family came over for dessert and a visit.

It is so nice to be able to connect with people who understand what you are going through.

Next year, we will all have to meet half way between where we live and you live Chad, Laura and Sara for a visit!!!

The Cake That Made Me Cry

Our staff has a get together every year in the summer for a BBQ and pool party - this year the rain managed to stay away long enough for a bite to eat and a dip in the pool.

We were surprised with a celebratory cake for passing court by one of the gals who works with us.

She is very talented when it comes to cake making

and this cake.....

Made. Me. Cry.

Notice the soccer ball for South Africa ('cause of World Cup), Mount Kilimanjaro, the pyramids, and a little desert.

The best part is the little heart for Ethiopia - that just got me!! And so did the little Ethiopian flag and the cute baby giraffe!!!

I pretty much had the ugly cry in front of everyone.

Kristie, the oh-so talented, cake lady showing her cake! Thank you so much Kristie - you are an amazing friend!

I have been pretty quiet on the adoption front lately. It has been hard to blog about my wait knowing there are good friends of mine going through the hardest time right now. I think of these lovely ladies every day - Steph, Lyndsey, Colleen, Alex, Jen, Bonnie and Kelly (and anyone else who might be caught in Oromia) - know there are so many of us sending love and hugs to you!

It has been almost 7 weeks since we passed court. I did really good the first 4 weeks - there were smiles all around.

Now. the anxiousness is creeping back in.

Last week I was a festival of water works again.

Enough.

We are ready.

Ade needs to come home.

Our docs should be headed to Nairobi next week if all goes well....and then the final step begins.

Immigration.

It used to take 3 weeks to get a visa and now the new norm is anywhere from 6 to 16 weeks.

I'm not going to set myself up for failure by hanging on to the 6 weeks but I'm also hoping with every fibre of my being it won't be the 16 weeks.

As for Ade's room - well..that is a work in progress. I;m having a hard time with it.

I started cleaning it out - moved the office downstairs and just need to get the big furniture out.

Shopping still needs to be done and I really want to get out and do it but I am still so scared something will go wrong. So I am waiting a bit before I really get into it but I promise to post pictures when it is all done.

It has been a long haul and we both feel like our hearts still need protecting. Logically we know he is coming home but when is the bigger question.

Honestly, until he is in our arms, we won't be able to rest easy.

What Took So Long To Say We Passed?

What took me so long to post that we had passed...well let me tell you.

Our court date was actually on Monday, May 31. Originally we had been told it was Sunday, May 30 but we knew court wasn't open on Sundays and when we asked about this they told us our actual date would be the Monday.

Monday came and we were anxious!!

Ummmmm...I was actually crawling the walls...I think Carolyn and I set a record pace for the number of emails we have sent each other in a given day in the first 2 hours of the morning.

Finally, about 10:30a.m. I called Yvan and asked him to call and find out if there was news on court.

He phoned me back and said he was told "you had court today and everything was really good but they have set another date for tomorrow because the consent from MOWA was not in."

O.k. we knew this could happen and both of us were o.k. with it. We were reassured this was very good news.

Later in the afternoon I decided, because as a woman it's my right, that I needed to talk to our agency myself...ask some more indepth questions (ha, not sure what they would have been it was just an excuse to call them)

Call them I did and they said "oh after we talked to Yvan we talked to R and she said the consent from MOWA is there it just came in after your court appearance so that is why they re-booked you for tomorrow. We will call you tomorrow once we have the actual confirm that the judge has officially passed our case"

OK - this is good I thought. And you would say I would relax a bit and you would be right.

Then Tuesday morning came and we thought "right, we should hear by 10:30a.m. Well, that time came and went...so I made Yvan phone again (I was too scared in case it was bad news).

No luck - they hadn't heard anything. So, I emailed and said "is there anyway you can call them or text or email" and they said "we already tried but can't get a hold of them"

By 3:30 I was distraught - what if they changed their minds and decided we weren't going to be good parents, what if the judge got really sick and couldn't come to court...what if, what if what if!

Wednesday morning I was so sad.....I didn't sleep very well...I got up and was making myself breakfast thinking "let it go, you have to just let it go...what will be will be" This has been my new mantra for the last - oh - 5 1/2 months...

And then at 7:55a.m. .....THE PHONE RANG!

I looked at it and it had our agency's name on it and I just about passed out!

So, I said 'hello' all shaky and nervous like....and they said right away "CONGRATULATIONS MOM, YOU PASSED COURT! YOU AND YVAN ARE OFFICIALLY PARENTS"

I must have been squawking pretty loud because Yvan came downstairs and I said "YOU'RE A DAD" and he started crying which in turn got me crying (because until then I was in a state of shock) and I think we almost got our Agency's rep crying too.

After that it was a whirlwind of phone calls to Moms and dads, and siblings and Aunties...and oh boy did the Mommas cry :)

This day was pretty much the best day of our lives.

I want to say THANK YOU to all you who emailed me leading up to court and just before we shared our news.

I had wanted to post what was happening as it was happening but I was so scared of jinxing anything....I was honestly emotionally paralysed and just couldn't answer an email or make a post until we knew 100% what was going on.

And you waited.

The adoption community is like nothing else in the world. Full of love and support!

So, many of you were thinking of us and sending prayers and positive thoughts. Some of you were worried we hadn't passed and were reaching out to let us know you were there for us!

THANK YOU!!

I couldn't have made it through this without all of you - even though I haven't been blogging much and had taken a step back from reading other blogs too...you were still there for us!

Amazing! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

For Carolyn and Adam

Thank you!

You were our inspiration to keep on when things didn't look so good.

You supported us when we were going through our darkest days even though you were struggling more than we can ever know.

You hoped for us when you had little hope for yourselves at times.

You cared about us, even though we have never met in person, you cared!

Never have I seen such determination and dedication in all my life.

You knew in your hearts Leul was your son and you never gave up hope.

Even when you made the agonizing decision to wait for another referral you still thought of him.

You worried what would become of him and where he would live.

When you were told the option to adopt him was open again...you didn't even hesitate.

Well, now we know what will become of him and where he will live!

He will become your son and he will come home to live with you.

He will be loved, nurtured and cared for by two of the most amazing people I have ever had the privilege of knowing.

We are humbled and honoured to be on this journey with you and we know we will meet you in person in Ethiopia!

Carolyn, I could not have made it through this without your daily emails and support. Yvan also thanks you for it ;)


We send the hugest Congratulations to you - sweet family of 3!!!

Lady Bug Angel

I found this little Lady Bug Angel on our doorstep Friday night.

I hear tell in the adoption world they are very lucky.

But did you know they can also bake...it's true they can - she managed to carry a whole big tray of delicious homebaking on her wee little wings :)

We have amazing friends.

We couldn't get thru this without you.

Thank You!!!!

Always Believe

Sometimes you find your strength waning.

You think you can't make it one more step.

Then a very good friend sends you something to remind you

to "Always Believe".

Welcome 2010

We welcomed in 2010 fondue style with Yvan's sister D, her husband K, Yvan's brother J-G and our good friends C & L.

All I can say was it as F.U.N.

The World Junior Hockey Championships are being hosted where we live...and last night's game was Canada vs. U.S.A so we watched the game while dipping our delicious treats. I am not a big fan of watching sports on t.v. but do like a good match between rivals.

Canada was down 4-2 with 9 minutes left and managed to tie the game...sudden death overtime followed with no score and onto a shoot-out...

...this is what happened while watching the shoot out!

Obviously Canada won the game securing them a spot in the semi-finals.

It was a great way to say Hello to 2010!

New Year's Project - on a bit of whim last night after reading another blog - I have decided to document my year in 2010, The Year of Ade (thanks for that Jackie), by doing my very own little Project 365...what is that you say - well you will have to go here to find out:

Ranavan's Project 365

I wanted to keep this project separate from our adoption blog because it is a "Year in the life" look back for myself - I will likely cross post from time to time so I hope you don't mind.

If you want to follow along I would be honoured - you will also find the link on the right side of my blog as well.

Wish me luck!

Pizza and Friends

So, we aren't all doom and gloom...we do like to have fun!!!

And fun we had with our good friends Mary and Brendan and Jess and Darrell.

as they attended Ranavan's Infamous Pizza Night!!!!

We had a few cocktails...

Made some pizzas

(you can tell alot about people by how they make their pizza...)

It was a lovely evening with a great group of people who make us laugh which is just what we needed :)

Uber Cute! Like Really Cute! Too Cute For Words!

Those are the words our friends have used to describe our baby boy!!!

Lisa and Jason and Jenn and Dave are in Ethiopia picking up their sweet kids and they got to see Ade!!!

Jenn's email yesterday morning had me crying tears of joy! I actually scared Yvan when I yelped very loudly when I saw the email from Jenn in my inbox with the title "Your Son is Amazing!"

Oh, my heart is busting! I can't wait to get over there and see him FOR MYSELF!!

They said he entertained them with his smiles and giggles and he is a healthy weight and saw no signs of him being sick anymore. He didn't play shy at all :)

That's our boy! Outgoing like his momma and entertaining like his poppa!!

Oh I get all teary-eyed just writing this post!!

I am so happy our agency allows families who are picking up their kids to see other families kids who are in the foster home!

Lisa would have given Ade his care package - which means so much! He won't know he is looking at his future parents in the photo album we sent but some how just knowing he has it - well.....it makes me feel that much more connected to him.

Thank you to Jenn and Lisa for taking time to see our boy and to email us with a much anticipated update!!

Much love,

Rana
-I am a giant pile of love again this weekend

7 Months Old

Our wee babe is 7 months old today!

We wish were with him now but we know in time we will be.

It seemed fitting that today we packed up his little care package which Lisa and Jason have so graciously offered to take with them when they go to Ethiopia to bring home their two wee ones(which could be as soon as next week - Yahooooo to you guys!) We have never met them in person but this is the kindness that adoptive parents embody!!

They are with the same agency as us and it rocks that they allow families to do this for each other!!!!!

We are so thrilled and can't put into words how much it means to us that you are doing this for us.

We are even more thrilled that your journey is almost at its end and you will soon be united with your 2 beautiful children!

Here are a few photos of the package we put together!!

We put in 2 little sleepers, 2 little blankets, a chewable picture book, and 2 little toys

Isn't this picture book great! I was looking for one just like this and couldn't find one. Then my sweet, sweet friend Hazel sent us this in the mail!

Perfecto! Thanks Hazel!!! We love it!

We are holding it up to the world map by Ethiopia :)...we are so sappy!

Happy 7 months baby Ade!!!

*edit* - I have come back to read this post again and again! I CAN NOT believe we are sending a care package! It makes me all weepy and such!

Julie and Steven Have A Referral!!!

Our good, kind, sweet, lovely friends Julie and Steven finally have a referral for two children.

Go give them your love.

Don't Give Up

That is what everyone is telling me.

I haven't of course. But at the time...when I heard those words again "Sorry, we don't have anything for you this time" all the air rushed out of my body like someone had hit me in the stomach with a 1000lb weight.

I could literally hear the tinkling of my heart as it broke into teeny, tiny shards. It was screaming at me...."I can't do this anymore"...while my brain was saying..."you will get thru this, we will get thru this" oh wait...that was Yvan whispering in my ear as I cried into my pillow! I love that man...he is the best!

I have had so many people post on my blog and send me emails and messages...it is unbelievable...how can I not go on when we have so much support and love...honestly you are all so amazing...it really renews your faith in the goodness of people.

Crystal wrote: "Stay strong however you can and when you can't stand this journey, sit... and then crawl and just keep moving forward day by day... hour by hour... minute by minute...Don't give up! You have come so far!!"

I have definitely hit the crawling stage...but bloody knees and all I will keep going.

I asked in my last post "When does one say enough?"

I'll tell you when!

When we walk thru the airports doors, into the arms of our family and friends, with our wee one finally with us forever.

Congratulations Are in Order

My good friend Hazel got the best news ever yesterday.

A wee baby girl.

Go give her your congratulations!

Hazel - thank you for every thing - you have been a great strength of support, laughter and friendship to me. Enjoy this beautiful moment!

I Love L.A.

My blogger friend Julie and her husband Steven opened up their home to Yvan and me for 4 days last week. While we have emailed and blogged for quite a while but we had never met in person.

When they invited us to stay with them, we decided to venture forth and make new friends. And friends, indeed, we made! Julie and Steven are just our kind of people and I do believe we will be friends for life.

Who knew you could connect so well with people you have never met?!

So, with out further ado - here is L.A. Adventure!!

Arriving into L.A. via LAX

Waiting with anticipation to meet Julie for the first time when she picked us up at the airport!

Julie whisked us away to visit the set of the show that Steven works on.

After a tour of the set we headed to Hollywood Boulevard.


Walk of Fame


Mann's Chinese Theatre

Uh...sorry Julie! I didn't know...and it cost me a dollar too!





Hello?! I love Christopher Walken....


So I just had too!





After a busy first day we needed to rest on the big, yellow, not-so-comfy couch

Saturday we headed to Little Ethiopia for an adoption gathering and excellent Ethiopian food

Shopping in Little Ethiopia - maybe we can learn some Amharic finally!

Off to Beverly Hills and the SLS Hotel - supposed to look like a Dali painting but it was more

like Alice in Wonderland!

Hmmmm...a giant horse head lamp - I need one of these for our house!

The Getty Villa in Malibu - where John Paul Getty lived and then donated it to the city of L.A.

Pacific Coast Highway to Malibu

Venice Beach and the canals

Check out Yvan in his bird man get up!
(Drumming circle on venice beach)

Dance Yvan, dance!

Venice Beach Pier

I asked these guys if I could take a spin, obviously they said no!

We tried to make some friends...

...but he wasn't havin' it.

Ahhhhhh....the beach...we might move to L.A.

Yvan's favourite car EVER!!!

Oh I wish I were an Oscar Mayer Wiener.....

The Hollywood Hills

We contemplated buying this house as our vacation home...

... but decided to go for Pink Berry instead.

We had a great time in L.A. huge thanks to Julie and Steven for being our L.A. tour guides. We couldn't have asked for better!

I do believe we came back pretty normal...at least the Scientologists didn't get us....

Or did they?!

Next up...VEGAS BABY!!!