March 26 -- Happy Easter!

We leave in a mere 3 sleeps and will meet Lilah in 9. Wow! It's all so very surreal, yet incredibly exciting that next week this time I'll be posting in anticipation of Lilah -- FROM CHINA! The packing is nearly done and we'll be weighing our bags tomorrow when it is complete. I hope we are within the Air Canada limits, although I'm quite certain we'll be over on the much lower in-China limits and will pay the fine.

Speaking of the dreaded Air Canada -- a new hitch has developed with the return flights of some of our travel companions. Air Canada has dug up some rule that there can be no more than 15 infants on any given flight. Since we are a group of 18, four families in our group had to volunteer to travel home either a day earlier or later. We were prepared to come home on the 13th if we had to, but four other families in our group have already offered so it won't be necessary. I'd love to say something about Air Canada here, but will refrain in the interest of this being a family oriented site.

On top of getting all our packing done, we've managed to clear out our basement this week. By the time we get home, we'll have a rec room and a bathroom that are ready for prime, paint and flooring. Sort of a spontaneous decision, but I think Joel is trying to prepare for living in a house with three hormonal women! Actually, it seemed like a smart idea to have all the contract work done while we're gone - and Les Jibb (Naomi's babysitter's husband) gave us a great quote. I've noticed that Joel is already scoping out big screen TV's for his future room -- what is it with men and big televisions???

I had a fun day on Wednesday of this week. Joel had given me a gift certificate for Serenity Day Spa for my birthday and Valentine's Day. I had a manicure, pedicure and a facial. Fell asleep through 1/2 of the facial part . . . waking up every once in a while wondering if I really had made that snoring noise! Was happy to hear that my friend Andrea (who joined me for the facial part), did the same thing. All very relaxing nontheless.

Naomi and I have been enjoying the sunny and warmer weather over the past few days. We have started up our walking ritual with Sara and Gavin from down the road. I can't wait to get the double stroller out when we get home - hope Lilah takes to it faster than Naomi did initially. We also have been doing some puddle jumping and mud playing lately. I had forgotten what fun it is to be two years old during spring! Thank goodness for splash pants and rubber boots.

I've posted a photo of Naomi that I took yesterday (not puddle jumping). I've been trying to catch a good shot of her before we travel and was so excited with this one. We are putting it on a flyer with her referral photo and some Mandarin text. We plan to put it up at her finding spot, and my hope is that her birthfamily will see it and know that she's healthy, living in Canada and loved VERY much! I'm excited about this project. Being able to publicly recognize the losses my daughters' birthfamilies have suffered is very cathartic for me.

It seems strange to not be celebrating Easter with our families this year, but the reward is that next year we'll be celebrating with Lilah. Happy Easter to all our friends and family!

Karen