A Year of Tiny...

As promised... here is one whole year of Tiny...

First glimpse - ("OMG! it's really her!!! IN THE FLESH!!! it's really her!!! she's really real!!!")
Can.not belive I'm really holding my daughter.

Day 2 - looks daddy straight in the eye, mimics funny faces

Day 4 (or 5?!) Getting Chinese Passport today

Last day in Guanghzhou - Tiny pulls a face... Mummy is going into ANOTHER shop!

In chilly Shanghai! We went to the Shanghai Museum, this day.

Flying from Guangzhou, to Shanghai... Tiny's first plane trip! She celebrated, by puking all over me, minutes after this photo was taken!!! She then went to sleep!!!

First morning, at home with Big Sister and Brother.

Been home a week (you can just see a suitcase or backpack in the doorway in the background... took a while to get organised!!!)

WALKING! I think this was about a month after Tiny came home?!

Love this photo. Taken May 2009 (home 3 months)

First ponytail! Just about to meet our batch for lunch, June 2009

So cute?!!

Not always a happy chappy?!!! Tiny has always been petrified of the dogs, we had to give Milo to a friend, as Tiny just wouldn't go outside, for fear of him. She tolerated Chewy, but sometimes... as in this photo... it got all a bit too much!!!

Sept 2009, unusually warm day - so we could play outside!

Eating bubbles!

First face painting! At Maya's fairy party... Nov 2009

Fun at Playgroup - Nov 2009 (had a haircut too!)

Up close and personal!

Forever Family Day, 12th Feb 2010 - Home one whole year. (Note: "Guangdong Girl" teeshirt! Thanks Jodie!)

Forever Family Day celebration... cheap supermarket mud cake, loaded with lollies & chocolate and fortune cookies for good luck!!!

Chinese New Year, 2010

Monday 15th Feb, 2010, - on the slide at the park

Blessings abound everyday.

ONE YEAR AS A FAMILY OF FIVE!!!

WOOHOO!!! It's been ONE WHOLE YEAR since the very day that Tiny was placed in our arms. I simply can't believe its been a year. Its SOOOOOO FAST!

So fast in fact, that I even missed my January update!!! January was a super crazy month... I'm so glad its over!!! Quick recap - went back to work, kids still on school holidays, my parents came to stay, we packed to move house, Tiny kept climbing out of her cot at night, so we put her in a bed... which didn't go so well, so she's in the portacot now! We moved house, our house started construction (just across the road, from the rental we're in!), we kept our previous house and will rent to international students (so been organising that too!), had loads of issues getting our shed (barn) delivered, and loads of work issues too!!! S0 we move into February, and I've started toilet training Tiny! Its going very well. I've just gone straight to knickers, I think those pull up nappy things are just TOOOO expensive!!! We've been going four days now, she has fewer accidents each day, but there's always more success than accidents anyway! HOORAY!

So, its been a year. I sat down last night, and went though the photos from China... it's just SO evident that our tiny daughter was so scared. She was so QUIET in China!!! She is definitely NOT quiet anymore!!! You've never heard a child scream, like Tiny screams!!! Its rarely because she's upset, its because she's excited, or simply wants to be heard!!! But good grief!!! The volume is amazing!!!

Ahhh... the photos.... I was tearing up in moments! Our bald little bubby!!! I remember all the emotion of Tiny Time. Yet on the day, I was so bewildered, I didn't cry at all!!! I just couldn't believe the day had final come... that this tiny girl in front of me, WAS MY DAUGHTER!!! It suddenly dawned on me, she is real. She's not a dream, not a story figment of my imagination!!! And there she was - in the flesh. We'd be taking her home. We really ARE a family of five!!!

She is now a full blown toddler. Can pitch a fit with the best of them! Has become the fussiest eater on the planet... but can see the golden arches a kilometre away - and screams "Chippy". She's still quite reserved in groups of people. Still doesn't really like men (unless she's around them regularly - my Dad is beside himself - she'll finally sit with him, give him a kiss and let him hold her - only because they've been living here for almost 2 months!). She LOVES D0ra. I bought some NiHao KaiLan DVDs and she's pretty chooffed with her as well! She loves music and loves to dance. Clothes still don't fit her properly - I have to pin all her waistbands! She's moved up into Size 1, although, all her summer dresses are still 6-12 months! She's gone up one shoe size, in the last year, and is now wearing size 5... sort of! They're all too wide, but she copes! Knickers are a nightmare, they're all WAY too baggy. She pee'd once, and the knickers were still dry... the leg holes are so big, they don't even touch her leg, so the pee ran down her leg, completely missing the knickers! I think HMan is the favoured sibling at present... she screams his name, when he comes home from school! She does love Miss M, but I think Miss M is a like a little Mummy, and bosses her around more than she plays!!! Tiny isn't very happy when I go to work. She knows the days I'm going, by what I'm wearing!!! As soon as I come out of my bedroom, she starts whining!! She is a sugar freak! She loves to brush her teeth (good, due to the previous character flaw). Being on the farm, she has discovered a real love for Chewy dog. She follows him around everywhere. She tries to ride him (he's a terrier!) She mimicks us, if we yell at Chewy... in her tiny unauthorative voice! She loves being outside. She LOVES the shower and the bath.... and swimming pools... it'd be safe to say, she just loves any form of water! Every 5 minutes she's trying to get her gear off! She also loves to be naked! She loves her batch mates - and can repeat all their names. We see them most Monday's at Playgroup. Its so good to see them so often! She really cries now, if she hurts herself - in the early days, she'd look like she was biting her lip, in an effort not to cry. She had her last vaccinations yesterday (hooray!) and MAN! did she cry! Poor baby was NOT too happy at all. She had a few months there, when she had very disrupted sleep - but seems to have settled back down, and is sleeping up to 3 hrs during the day and a good 11-12 hrs at night (most night's she has a little whinge around 1am, but settles very quickly).

All in all. We are ever so blessed to have this tiny livewire in our family. We are in awe.

Here's my celebratory layout.

I was going to upload a heap of photos... but realised I didn't compres them! Will do it in a few days!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I was a bit slow on the "Christmas" message... so instead you're getting a HAPPY NEW YEAR message!!!


We went on holidays on 12 Dec - 28 Dec, up to the Gold Coast where it's nice and warm, with lots of theme parks! We had a fantastic time, except for the part when Mr T slipped down 6 wet (stone) stairs, and has possibly fractured his back (again).... oh, and the part, where a nob driver ran up the back of the hire car I was driving... oh, and the part where the car insurance excess cost me $3300 - other than that - it was a smashing trip!



Here are some pics:

In the rain on Christmas morning... it was still 34 degreesC!
Kisses for big sister

Us

Flume Ride at Seaworld

Waiting to take Tiny on the kiddy rides

Tiny LOOOOOVES THE POOL!

Posers at Seaworld!

Googles for Christmas:

More googles for Christmas!

Layer upon layer, of kids!

Big brotherly love!

We had "old time" photos done... Tiny wouldn't smile!

How old does my girl look, in this shot?!

Serial killer in the making?!!!

Family of gangsters! Check out the rack on Mummy?!!! Honestly... it's all the dress!

Fly Tiny, Fly!

Fashionista... heels and googles - it's all the rage, this season?!

Hangin' with Porky... (and the pig statue?!)

Daddy and Tiny chill out at Wet n Wild (its the name of the water park... not a p0rn0?!)

Christmas morning was a very small affair - because we were on holidays, gifts were light on - but thoroughly enjoyed! Tiny's absolute favourite thing EVA... is Dora. Urgh. Dora? I find her EXTREMELY annoying!!!! Tiny wants to watch her every waking moment! "Dooorah? Dooorah?"

Well, from us down under - we wish you all an absolutely fantabulous new year! May 2010 be the year that your dreams come true - May you smile and laugh more than you ever have before - May you find where your treasure truly lies.

God Bless!

xxx Love OziFamily!

23 Dec 2008... 23 Dec 2009

Oh what a difference a year makes!! 23 Dec 2008 will be forever permeated into my memory, as a day of extreme emotion! See this post, for the details!

And here we are, a full 12 months later... it's almost strange!!! It's bizaare to think, that one could have a "connection", from purely looking at a photo - but that's how it was for me, from the very first glimpse of our daughter's tiny passport photo, attached to her file. Her eyes were mesmerising, her face completely angelic. The way her tiny mouth sat, slightly downturned - not upset, not determined or stubborn... just a wee bit sad.

I still look at that first photo, and get teary. Her eyes just look right into my soul, as if to say "Where are you Mummy?"

Well, we found each other - and haven't looked back. She is a blessing everyday (sometimes I have to remind myself, of her blessing... when she's throwing a huge tanty!) She's is one amazing little girl - I pray that she will know, what a blessing she is, and just how much she has added to our family. From the 23rd Dec 2008, our family changed forever.

To all you beautiful families, who finally received your allocations or the beautiful gift of your child in your arms this year, may this Christmas be the sweetest ever. To my wonderful friends, still holding onto the dream of their child, don't lose hope. The wait is crushing, for sure - but the first glimpse of your child, is beyond magical. You WILL see the face of your sweetpea... keep the faith.

Merry Christmas to you and yours... from us and ours!

12 DEC 2009

Well... it's almost a year, since the day we first saw our daughter's face. A YEAR!!! The year, has disappeared in the blink of an eye. So much has happened! Tiny continues to absolutely amaze us! She is talking ALOT more - and we can actually understand what she's saying now! She's even singing the words to some adverts! She loves to draw (on everything... including walls, suede chairs, tables... you get the picture?!!), she adores her older siblings - and here's one I'm not so proud of... she recognises the golden arches!!! Yikes!!!! She gets all excited, in the back of the car, and starts screaming - "CHIP! CHIP!" pointing wildly at the arches!!! Honestly we don't go there that often!!! But, the first thing she ate all by herself (without us feeding her) was a french fry, while we were in China!!! Guess it left a lasting impression?!!! She has a HUGE SWEET TOOTH! She says "lolly" clear as anything... once again... YIKES!!! She still loves shoes (everyone's and anyone's!!), her first word (while still in China) was Shooooz. Ahhh... I may not have given birth to her - but geez louise! This child is most certainly MY DAUGHTER!

Eye Candy for you!

No words needed... the teeshirt says it all!This girl couldn't get anymore sophisticated if she tried!!! hehehe!

Kisses for you.... right back at ya, sweetheart!

[how cute is the ladybug hairclip? it's not a real good shot of it - but its downright adorable! can't get anything like it here... we have the gorgeous KIM to thank!!! The Queen of Clippies!]

12th November 2009

Another month has disappeared - which marks, nine months from the first day we held Tiny. I was looking back through our trip photos the other day. How things have changed!!! I remembered the emotions. I remembered the sites and smells. Still gives me goosebumps to this day. How, oh how, did the person at C.c.A.@ allocate Tiny to us? It baffles me, how a person can place a child with a family - a child they've never met, new parents they've never met - yet they are perfect for each other? How does that happen?!!!




Well, they've done it again - CATHERINE finally has Hannah in her arms. Catherine has been an amazing encouragement and outstanding example of true faith in God. I feel my faith is so pathetic when I read of her strength and unwavering peace!!! I never doubted God... but I was such a bad example of peace (especially the week before we got our allocation!!!) Ah, Catherine - you deserve every blessing, that is to be had!

AND Doris and Dan received their allocation late October too!!! WOOHOO!!! I tell ya, there is NOTHING more heart warming than seeing families made. Seeing the photo of their sweet daughter, just gave me chills. They can finally put a face to their long awaited baby!!!

And in closing (ha! I should be a preacher, no?!!) here is my monthly photo report!!!

Tiny is:

* screaming like a banchee when she pitches a fit (I mean - peel the wallpaper off the walls, screaming!!) - I say this first... because she is screaming right now. I think H-man has something she wants?!

* mimics everything we say, but doesn't seem to use many words, on her own

* is now 8.6kgs, 83cm tall and is finally into size 1 (although still fits in many sz 0 dresses! they're made for 9 month olds!!!) still wears size 4 shoe

* still sleeping like a champion - 12 hrs at night, 3 hrs during the day

* is a very fussy eater. will eat something one day, but not the next etc etc. is currently loving oranges and grapes... everything else is on a day-to-day basis

* absolutely adores her older siblings. especially loves to play the piano with miss m, and play on the play equipment with h-man

* LOVES water. It got very warm, very quick here last week. We took the kids to the beach, Tiny just didn't want to get out of the water!!! She threw a huge fit, when we went to leave!

* loves music... even in the supermarket!!

* I think she has hayfever. Has had a constant (clear) runny nose for nearly 2 weeks, and has watery eyes. (**see last note: could be why she's had a runny nose?!)

* Loves LOLLIES! She is a sweets garbage disposal!!! Devours anything sweet in seconds.

* still loves her bath. She's doing a wee on the toilet before every bath, and even done a couple of poos on there... now the weather is warmer - I MUST pull my finger out, and get onto toilet training... I just need to find knickers that'll fit!!! Size 2 just won't stay up - and you can see through one leg - to the other!!! Mr T is going to Bali soon, will measure her, and get some tailor made!!!

* is just starting to get the hang of "loving" a soft toy, or doll. She'll give them hugs now.... then throw them to one side!!

* is much better with men now. Mr T has Wed off, and stays home with her (while I go to work!) and it has helped enormously!

* is screaming when I go to work, or leave her with someone else. Breaks my heart.

* loves my Mum!!! My Mum lives interstate, and has been over a couple of times in the last 6 weeks or so - so just LOVES her! (when my Mum is here... Tiny would rather be with her, than me!!! :(

* turned 2 late Sept... it was like a switch flicked, and now we have a "terrible 2"!!! She is just throwing fits, all the time!!! Over ridiculous stuff!!! And if I tell her off, she gives the most incredible pout, then turns around and slaps the closest thing to her!!! NOT something we encourage... so then she gets told off for doing that!!!

* still has bad teeth, at the front - must take her to the paed dentist (she had black on her teeth when we first got her - it went away for a month or so - but is back)

* has a gorgeous laugh - a real belly laugh

... and finally, to wrap up her 9 months with us... I'm pretty sure she has Chicken Pox!!! Urgh.

First Haircut

On Tues (27th Oct) Tiny had her first haircut! Poor little thing couldn't see!!! She was brilliant! Sat still. Didn't make a fuss at all!!!

Before (how funny is her expression in this photo?!!)

During

After

She thought it was all pretty good! A girl after my own heart!!!! I love going to the hairdressers!

I think the hairdresser was pretty vicious with her fringe (bangs, for my American readers!)... but it'll grow back! She cut the back into a nice little bob, and the sides are almost as long as the back... one more haircut, and it'll be all the same! Tiny has a kooky hairline, so the hairdresser had a bit of trouble knowing where to cut the fringe! Her hairline starts halfway back on her head!!! Anyway - I think she's very cute... and that's all that matters!

On another note: I went to see Mao's Last Dancer, the movie, last night, with a couple of other Mum's from our batch. I haven't read the book, but have heard it is very good. I liked the movie. Not the best movie I've ever seen... but it made me cry... so I guess the moviemakers did their job?!!! Gives a tiny insight to the Communism Regime, but somehow I think that the family would have received much more persecution than was portrayed in the movie? Anyway, was well worth watching - lots of subtitles, so I'm glad my hubs wasn't there - he hates subtitles!!! I actually liked that the majority of the movie was in Chinese... was nice to hear the language again...

I miss China. Can't wait to go back, one day.

Its been 8 months!

Holy Cow this year has just gone so fast!!! We're in October, already?!!! Crikey! Just a few more weeks and it'll be Christmas!!!

As is tradition... here is my monthly layout! (I used Vicki's Girly Girl kit... available at Scrap That Idea)

I thought I'd post this one too... just because I like it! I used RebeccaB's freebie kit, called Gypsy Rose... its soooo pretty!!! The picture was taken at Tiny's 2nd birthday party.

I also really like this photo I took today... haven't scrapped it yet!!

Here's little movie from today as well... just to give you a taste of a few seconds in my house!!!

Lil Movie

I took this yesterday... nothing exciting happens... I just thought it was cute! (I accidentally posted it to my scrapbooking blog, first!! Whoops!)





PS...I'm still in my pjs (stripey pink pants!)... just in case you thought I had terrible dress sense, and actually allow people to see my in horrible stripey pink pants!!!