tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174232332012-02-16T19:01:30.066-08:00Preparing for adoption in a multicultural familyCompanoreply@blogger.comBlogger391100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17423233.post-72479277527764921262007-03-30T20:31:00.000-07:002007-03-30T20:32:56.317-07:00

Just emerging to say that we are officially approved to adopt a Black or Biracial child, aged 0-3. And I couldn't be more thrilled.

Companoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17423233.post-41542859949346439122006-12-22T06:24:00.001-08:002006-12-22T07:09:26.720-08:00

I consider December 21st to be the real New Year's Eve- as the Darkest Day, the rest of the year only gets brighter until summer solstice. So in light of this, I present to you: The Bad Stuff. The dark, the cynical, the difficult, the tragic. Don't worry, tomorrow's post is all about bunnies and flowers. In no particular order:1. Scat. No, get your smutty little mind out of the gutter, I'm talkin

Companoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17423233.post-84199165696690899532006-12-20T06:52:00.000-08:002006-12-20T06:54:58.055-08:00

Papi Bello: I go be a doctor I grow up.Compa: Cool! What kind of doctor?Papi Bello: A yellow and green one._____________________________New post coming soon on our penultimate homestudy session. Promise.

Companoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17423233.post-62689592236022618582006-12-12T18:40:00.000-08:002006-12-12T18:48:30.527-08:00

So around noon today, as I was going home to obsessively clean my kitchen because THE SW IS COMING TOMORROW FOR MORE HOMESTUDY GOODNESS BUT WE AREN'T THINKING ABOUT THAT, I got into my car, and noticed that there was some sort of plastic wrapped catalogue or something tucked beneath my wiper.That's odd, I thought, I haven't been witness to that sort of marketing campaign before. I wonder what the

Companoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17423233.post-54070908606619633022006-12-09T11:40:00.000-08:002006-12-09T11:44:42.080-08:00

Cross-posted at Canada Adopts:Okay, never one to shy away from controversy, I thought I'd post something I noticed when perusing the parent registry (btw, congratulations Sheila & Patrick on your new addition!).I did a count of how many successful adoptive parents adopted boys & how many adopted girls, and was a bit surprised to find it was 2-1: 31 boys were placed (including a set of twins) and

Companoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17423233.post-80340334979215206982006-12-08T21:54:00.001-08:002006-12-08T21:54:05.612-08:00

I may have mentioned before that I am not a fan of babyish speech affectations, generally speaking. In fact, the Leon's commercial above ranks as my Least Favourite Commercial of All Time (I mean, come on, when she gets to the word "you", she looks like she may gag on her own tongue from all the incredulity).It is with great trepidation, therefore, that I must announce that my son did the Cutest

Companoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17423233.post-5951373869954638392006-12-03T19:27:00.000-08:002006-12-03T19:28:41.286-08:00

46 MonthsPapi Bello,It has been interesting to watch you as you develop your own religion in this loosely agnostic household: It is confirmed that Santa is your God. Whenever you want to trace letters, it is always Santa’s name you want to spell. You didn’t get the whole “Santa gives presents” thing for quite a while; when I asked you what you thought Santa would bring you, you said, “yeah, let’s

Companoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17423233.post-68203388776356540782006-11-28T17:30:00.000-08:002006-11-28T17:31:12.403-08:00

Yesterdaywhilst folding laundry in my childhood laundrymatcursing the tardiness that is Sears’ washing machine deliveryI remembered how my mother, for the first fifteen years of my lifedragged the same bags of dirty clothesand stared at the same machines as the clothesrevolved endlesslyThere were reruns on then tooback then it was The Cosby Showand CheersNow it’s old episodes of FriendsI spun

Companoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17423233.post-38985729535127687662006-11-22T19:31:00.000-08:002006-11-22T19:57:51.366-08:00

Inspired by Afrindie MumI may have mentioned before that I was a cynical little girl. And if not cynical, then most certainly rational. I am told (with no small degree of pride, by my emminently rational mother) that there was only one year in which I believed in Santa- the year I was two and a half. My mother, not wanting to embrace her inner party-pooper quite so completely at such a tender age

Companoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17423233.post-17017699699321982162006-11-20T10:56:00.000-08:002006-11-20T21:22:09.175-08:00

It would be fair to say that I take care of Bidness... less frequently than Every Day. It would also be fair to say that often, nay, too frequently, I am only prompted to take care of it when I am sent a rockin' new design by Señor Compa. However, given that such is the case today (a day when I am at home, pondering whether I should like quietly on the couch and moan or whether I should writhe

Companoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17423233.post-12589130505041648032006-11-19T18:11:00.000-08:002006-11-19T18:28:38.853-08:00

Papi Bello, You are, for all the world, a sweetheart. Your favourite thing in the world remains birthdays, and it is how we mark the time for you: a thing might be after great-grandma's birthday but before your birthday: you get that. We're still working on the days of the week thing. During the past couple of weeks, your cognition has taken off in leaps and bounds. Today, you first built a tower

Companoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17423233.post-63118629325329841472006-11-16T06:06:00.000-08:002006-11-19T18:03:17.701-08:00

I'd like to mourn the fact that, in the past week or so, three of my favourite bloggers (as it happens, all with an Asian American focus in some respect) have closed up shop. The rest of y'all: Don't even think about it. [makes scary Compa face, in hopes of appearing intimidating. No?]*Sigh**Sniff* Hey! Wait a minute! Woot! *Edited to add: And also! Woot! (Weigook Saram's new incarnation)

Companoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17423233.post-89523598212150657982006-11-16T05:59:00.000-08:002006-11-16T06:00:38.625-08:00

Well. Canadian high schools must be good for something.You paid attention during 91% of high school! 85-100% You must be an autodidact, because American high schools don't get scores that high! Good show, old chap!Do you deserve your high school diploma?Create a Quiz

Companoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17423233.post-79738608567006244992006-11-11T12:47:00.000-08:002006-11-11T12:51:03.902-08:00

Compa [in a Chinese restaurant, having erroneously ordered some spicy tomato virgin drink with cherries and lemon, seeing a sign for Bubble Tea]: Aw man, bubble tea! I wish I had ordered bubble tea!Papi Bello: I'm a bubble tea! Compa: You are?Papi Bello: Yeah! A BIG one!

Companoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17423233.post-14241062521540455622006-11-09T17:22:00.000-08:002006-11-09T17:58:48.176-08:00

In completely non-adoption related news, we are still totally geeking out about this new place. I have started to play the guitar again. I feel a sense of peace and tranquility in here. I feel like it's our little nest in the trees. We cheerfully clean the place up, because quite frankly, it doesn't take long to do so, and it looks so darn good when it's clean (unlike our old place, that looked

Companoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17423233.post-88933312469567875572006-11-05T05:08:00.000-08:002006-11-05T05:09:49.397-08:00

Dear Papi Bello,The beginning of your 46th month was quite the adventure. We moved, to the upstairs flat in a beautiful old house in a quiet little neighbourhood. Geographically, it’s not actually all that far away from the old hood, but it feels like miles.You like it here, which I am so glad of. You always ask if we are going home to “the New House”, and when I say yes, you let out a big cheer.

Companoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17423233.post-45884118029122878622006-11-01T18:36:00.000-08:002006-11-01T18:54:48.605-08:00

Dear Mr. Dude who Gave our Moving Van a Ticket for Not Using Parking Lights:Wasn't it fairly obvious that we were temporarily parked, what with all the coming and going and the open goddamn moving van doors and everything? And when did you find time to skulk by and GIVE us a parking ticket, anyway? I don't think between the four of us we could have been away from the van for more than 30 seconds

Companoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17423233.post-54574596959541165602006-10-26T10:41:00.000-07:002006-10-26T11:21:51.433-07:00

Our moving process began three months ago. And for a long time, we managed to keep the Move from invading the rest of the house. We warehoused the Move in Sr. Compa & my bedroom, and we set up residence in Compaito's room.But now? Now our old room is full, and there are boxes, boxes everywhere. It's funny; were I to go on a five day trip, I would know exactly how much to pack, and what I didn't

Companoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17423233.post-72721378207792305862006-10-19T19:07:00.000-07:002006-10-19T19:38:08.507-07:00

Wait, don't go away! So I was moping around throwing myself a little pity party and Not Posting and I got linked on A Little Pregnant!No, hold your applause, I wasn't linked because I am witty and charming and otherwise an All-Round Halfway Decent Person, I got linked because I asked to be. And Julie, gracious host of Linkdom that she is, acquiesed.And then I stopped posting.And the reason I

Companoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17423233.post-6510390208247518082006-10-13T10:07:00.000-07:002006-10-13T10:08:57.789-07:00

So last homestudy session was the one (I had thought the only one) where the cultural competency assessment was done.I knew it was coming; I welcomed it. I think it’s crucial for parents who intend to parent cross-culturally to have some measure of cultural competency. I felt comfortable that we would “pass”, not that anyone ever “fails” any portion of a homestudy, they just have to “work on”

Companoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17423233.post-67305911263741743212006-10-13T07:08:00.000-07:002006-10-13T07:16:40.723-07:00

So I guess Sr. Compa was missing his island a little, because he went and created this wicked new design, which we of course went crazy and put on everything from bags to bibs to threads for young and old, to sell in our on-line diversity store. Here in Small Canadian City, it is raining. And wet. And generally miserable, as is our wont. So you can't blame the guy for wanting to bring a little

Companoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17423233.post-33029131555607568612006-10-11T15:38:00.000-07:002006-10-11T16:02:26.101-07:00

So I was reading about the exploits of a certain young cowboy over at A Little Pregnant, and was painfully reminded of my own parenting faults. Because, you see, Compaito has a nasty little habit, which is that whenever he wants to express his extreme displeasure, he lets loose a big ol' "FUCKIT!", which when I am lucky, sounds more like "Puck It" or "Bucket", but which, deprived of any context

Companoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17423233.post-1160499987733459902006-10-10T09:48:00.000-07:002006-10-11T06:55:01.147-07:00

I recently had a conversation with an old friend about my plans to adopt, as well as how emotionally difficult dealing with a developmental delay can be. She questioned whether adopting another child was something I should do, given that I have not exactly been skipping through fields of petunias in response to the fact that my son has a (mild) developmental delay, and given that many children in

Companoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17423233.post-1160492750960437242006-10-10T07:52:00.000-07:002006-10-11T06:55:01.087-07:00

In the past month or so, a number of very funny, strong, thoughtful bloggers have shared the stories of their battles with depression. Reading them has helped me come to the decision to face my own increasing anxiety head-on, and for that I am deeply greatful.After all, why let something that can be resolved or managed within 6-8 weeks affect a lifetime? I'm no math whiz, but the right choice

Companoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17423233.post-1160453411093871392006-10-09T21:05:00.000-07:002006-10-11T06:55:01.026-07:00

Sorry for the delay in posting- I was busy getting the first AA Christmas Card design up for our new store. No official opening yet, as we still need many more designs, but you are welcome to purchase the ones available. I'm excited- it's looking more and more real!

Companoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17423233.post-1160149648209174292006-10-06T08:25:00.000-07:002006-10-11T06:55:00.967-07:00

When I was a kid, I was decidedly not cute. I wasn't physically ugly, but I'm pretty sure I wasn't endearing to adults. I was very precocious, and likely came across as a know-it-all (if present behaviour is any indication of past behaviour). I began writing at age 3, and reading at age 4. By age 5 I read chapter books.Once I told all the other kids in daycare that there was no Santa Claus. Our

Companoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17423233.post-1160015442662345412006-10-04T18:47:00.000-07:002006-10-11T06:55:00.908-07:00

A big part of the reason the blog My Beloved Monster & Me speaks to me the way it does (get it? Speaks to me? Arrrgh- Oh, the gross unfairness of it all, but YES, Schuyler's story speaks to me) is because of the Monster metaphor employed.We are now in the middle of all kinds of specialist's appointments, and trying valiantly to be both proactive and to ignore the big question mark that hangs over

Companoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17423233.post-1159977623728687582006-10-04T08:43:00.000-07:002006-10-11T06:55:00.851-07:00

I looked back with bemusement at some of my 101 things, as well as things I said or thought in earlier posts. What a difference a year can make:-I am now trying to lose twenty pounds, down from my worst point (thirty)-I now don't have to worry about a TV in our bedroom- because we are sharing with our son (oh mouldy former bedroom, how I hate thee). Needless to say, we will be moving shortly.-The

Companoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17423233.post-1159934767515422842006-10-03T20:29:00.001-07:002006-10-11T06:55:00.791-07:00

Papi Bello,It has been so many months since you were born that I had to count them on my fingers. And even THEN I got it wrong. To the best of my figuring, you are now just a bit over 44 months.I haven't lovingly chronicled every moment or even every month of your development, but have often wished I had. I wished it at a few weeks, then a few months. It has now been a few years (a bit over three

Companoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17423233.post-1159932047628707492006-10-03T20:01:00.000-07:002006-10-11T06:55:00.670-07:00

For whatever reason, what is almost now a year ago, I stopped blogging- shortly after I had started. I have thought a lot about why I stopped; concerns over privacy, over how much to share and how much to hold back.Ultimately, I think it was a holding my breath, not quite believing that someday, we would adopt. There are days it still feels very unreal; days that I still don't believe it could

Companoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17423233.post-1133302581432386162005-11-29T14:13:00.000-08:002006-10-11T06:55:00.614-07:00

I called the Department of Community Services number to get the information package for adoption! We are on our way... woo hoo!!!!!!

Companoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17423233.post-1129071771087009212005-10-11T15:30:00.000-07:002006-10-11T06:55:00.559-07:00

I've been pondering the pheonomenon of maternal pride, specifically pride surrounding the nature of one's birth (we are all supposed to be Very Brave and have Quick, Unmedicated Vaginal Births as the Good Lord Intended). It is, in fact, all Leery Polyp's fault that the trauma of my very medicated, emergency cesarean has come to the surface.Looking now at my two and a half year old son, contorting

Companoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17423233.post-1128736631347542972005-10-07T18:40:00.000-07:002006-10-11T06:55:00.380-07:00

A friend of mine's mother is an adoption placement worker with CAS. My friend says of all the aspects of her mother's job, the part that she understands least is the fact that all prospective adoptive parents, regardless of their fertility status or sexual orientation, must take a course called "grieving your infertility" before adopting.That is to say, you may have birthed and parented a whole

Companoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17423233.post-1128531952794803582005-10-05T10:04:00.000-07:002006-10-11T06:55:00.261-07:00

I am technically a permanent resident of a Latin American country, although I haven’t lived there in over two years.I make a mean guacamoleI have a curly-headed sonMy son looks very little like meMy husband is quite the attractive chickenlegged personI have written a number of songsI graduated cum laudeI love peanut sauce- Señor Chickenlegs doesn’t even want peanut butter in the houseI enjoyed

Companoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17423233.post-1128476163308131862005-10-04T18:30:00.000-07:002006-10-11T06:55:00.206-07:00

Just when I think Señor Chickenlegs must come from another universe, never mind another planet (ahem, hello Mars), he comes out with something that makes beautiful, perfect sense. Out of the blue today, he said: I'd like to get two things, once we have a little money saved up. One is a dishwasher, and the other is a decent matress (we sleep on a suckay-suckay futon).And I looked at him and

Companoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17423233.post-1128467462856817142005-10-04T16:08:00.000-07:002006-10-11T06:55:00.148-07:00

I just wanted to say Welcome! to the CA folks, and remember: comments are a blogger's best friend :-)I hope to write some posts about my adoption journey soon- our adoption journey will begin with the arranging of our finances to save for a house. Step numero uno... wish us luck.

Companoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17423233.post-1128396143328324642005-10-03T20:14:00.000-07:002006-10-11T06:55:00.081-07:00

I am suffering from a wee bit of insomnia of late and of course my son is kindly participating in my anxious effort by being difficult about going to bed. Suddenly every night he wants "LightON!" and "Medidin!" (although he hasn't needed it for a week) and he insists on pulling up his blind and leaving the door open. Lord knows what dark monsters lurk in the recesses of the two-and-a-half year

Companoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17423233.post-1128395516595323772005-10-03T20:06:00.000-07:002006-10-11T06:55:00.006-07:00

Well, I'm jonesing for some ceviche, having had a sink-related plumbing accident that derailed our dinner plans- we wound up eating at Wendy's. So rather than cook the stuff at midnight, I'll write about it (a fabulous if highly unproductive compromise, if I do say so myself). Here is Señor Chickenlegs' Top Secret Ceviche Recipe.1 package pre-cooked frozen shrimp ring. (Thaw it and shell it, my

Companoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17423233.post-1128388987078419022005-10-03T18:19:00.000-07:002006-10-11T06:54:59.937-07:00

So I thought I would make this initial post and jump into the abyss that is blogland. I'll keep my blog anonymous for now, and see what becomes of it.Like many people, my blog will be about my life generally: being a parent, expanding or not expanding my family, birthing or adopting, trials and tribulations at work and reflections on life in the "rich cultural tapestry" that is my home.I look

Companoreply@blogger.com0