I ordered a couple of phrase books to help use become more familiar with the languages we might encounter...one Ukrainian and one Russian. These books arrived today. Given that we don't know where we might end up once we get there, we need to be prepared for both. If we travel to the eastern side of the Ukraine, for example, most of the people are of Russian descent. Candace seems to be doing pretty well in preparing for the trip...she is spending time every day trying to learn the basic words and phrases. For myself, it has been pretty busy with work and in preparing for the trip, so I have had little time to learn much of the language. I have some things on my iPod that I have been listening to...but I expect I will do the crash-course method and read the phrase books during our flight. Hopefully, being immersed in the language while we are there will help.
The blog is set up so that the most recent post is shown first. If you want to catch up on what's been happening, start at the bottom and scroll up. You can also click "older posts" at the bottom of the page or use the blog archive on the left side of this homepage.
If you want to know what time it is in the Ukraine, click on the link to the left that says "Clock and weather".
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Eight more sleeps
I just got back from a two-day retreat for the Board and administrators of my school division. It was neat because there were several people that asked me about the trip and the upcoming adoption. Interestingly enough, it is not one of those things that loses its interest in the retelling. It feels so good to have plans finalized and to be able to share our news with others. Thinking about what's happening next week has become somewhat pervasive. I find that it is always just below the surface and that I am referencing what is happening in all kinds of contexts.
At supper, Candace and I were talking about how supportive everyone has been and all of the nice things that people have said in done for us in the last week. Even some of Candace's students have been among the well-wishers. As we were talking, we started imagining some of the wonderful things that lay in store for us. For example, I mentioned how Candace would now be getting gifts on Mother's Day from two of us.
I find myself thinking alot about the little one that is waiting so far away for Candace and I to come to her. I wonder what she looks like. I wonder what colour are her eyes. I wonder what makes her smile and I wonder what things her cry. I wonder if she knows that we're coming...in eight more sleeps.
At supper, Candace and I were talking about how supportive everyone has been and all of the nice things that people have said in done for us in the last week. Even some of Candace's students have been among the well-wishers. As we were talking, we started imagining some of the wonderful things that lay in store for us. For example, I mentioned how Candace would now be getting gifts on Mother's Day from two of us.
I find myself thinking alot about the little one that is waiting so far away for Candace and I to come to her. I wonder what she looks like. I wonder what colour are her eyes. I wonder what makes her smile and I wonder what things her cry. I wonder if she knows that we're coming...in eight more sleeps.
Monday, November 27, 2006
Monday...and trying to stay focused
Well...another day closer to December 12th. It has becoming more of a challenge to stay focused on anything other than what is happening next week. Fortunately, I am busy preparing for a meeting that is taking place on Tuesday and Wednesday. While I don't have anything major left to complete, there is enough to do to keep my mind occupied.
Someone asked in an email how all of this was making me feel. I was not sure how to characterize how I am feeling because it is a complicated mixture of emotions. Certainly, the news is having an effect...such as problems thinking about anything else other than our trip, feelings of intense euphoria and excitement, and intermittent, but relatively small, bouts of anxiety regarding plans for the trip and plans for the future. That being said, I certainly cannot complain because the root of these effects is extremely positive.
Someone asked in an email how all of this was making me feel. I was not sure how to characterize how I am feeling because it is a complicated mixture of emotions. Certainly, the news is having an effect...such as problems thinking about anything else other than our trip, feelings of intense euphoria and excitement, and intermittent, but relatively small, bouts of anxiety regarding plans for the trip and plans for the future. That being said, I certainly cannot complain because the root of these effects is extremely positive.
Sunday, November 26, 2006
A room for baby
Today we started preparing the room for our new addition. Essentially, all that was required was moving some furniture out and moving some other stuff in. We had always planned on using this particular room for our little one. It was just that we were reluctant to make any big changes until we had confirmation of our appointment. The best we did was to ensure any recent modifications (painting, etc) were flexible enough to be used for a guest room or a child’s room. So here we are this morning in a room that had been used for one purpose but was now to take on a new role. The significance of those small furnishing changes is striking me now as I make my blog entry. Wow...
Later in the morning, Candace and I then tried to order some things that we needed from Sears. Like the bedroom conversion, this was something else that we wanted to wait until we had confirmation. It is a bit challenging planning for things given the age range for our adoption...14 months to 3 years. (For anyone unfamiliar with adoption from the Ukraine, the youngest child you can get is 14 months old). We already have a crib (from friends) so we decided to get a bedroom set for a toddler, which she could grow into. Candace's sister gave us some stuff as well but we decided we wanted to get a new stroller, car seat, potty, change table, etc. There are some neat car seats that can convert as the child grows, from 0 - 22, 22 -40 then 40-80 lbs. Another friend sent a video regarding the importance of five-point harness systems for not just infants and small children...but for kids up to 8 - 9 years old. Anyone interested may check out the video at the link below.
Unfortunately, all the neat things we were going to get from Sears would not be ready for pick-up until December 15th which does not work given our departure one week earlier. So that order was quickly cancelled. Now we will be heading back to Brandon on the weekend...which is fine with me.
I realize that it is sort of tough to reference our daughter-to-be in these posts. I wonder what’s appropriate…using safe pronouns like “she” and “her” or addressing her as I have as the “new addition” or the “little one”. As far as I am concerned, they are all reasonable…because I am no longer talking about something abstract that might happen in the future. Now I am talking about something much more concrete…a special little person that Candace and I will be meeting in just over two weeks. As I said earlier…wow!
If you don't mind feeling really sad for about four-minutes...the car seat video is available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azgBhZfcqaQ&NR
Later in the morning, Candace and I then tried to order some things that we needed from Sears. Like the bedroom conversion, this was something else that we wanted to wait until we had confirmation. It is a bit challenging planning for things given the age range for our adoption...14 months to 3 years. (For anyone unfamiliar with adoption from the Ukraine, the youngest child you can get is 14 months old). We already have a crib (from friends) so we decided to get a bedroom set for a toddler, which she could grow into. Candace's sister gave us some stuff as well but we decided we wanted to get a new stroller, car seat, potty, change table, etc. There are some neat car seats that can convert as the child grows, from 0 - 22, 22 -40 then 40-80 lbs. Another friend sent a video regarding the importance of five-point harness systems for not just infants and small children...but for kids up to 8 - 9 years old. Anyone interested may check out the video at the link below.
Unfortunately, all the neat things we were going to get from Sears would not be ready for pick-up until December 15th which does not work given our departure one week earlier. So that order was quickly cancelled. Now we will be heading back to Brandon on the weekend...which is fine with me.
I realize that it is sort of tough to reference our daughter-to-be in these posts. I wonder what’s appropriate…using safe pronouns like “she” and “her” or addressing her as I have as the “new addition” or the “little one”. As far as I am concerned, they are all reasonable…because I am no longer talking about something abstract that might happen in the future. Now I am talking about something much more concrete…a special little person that Candace and I will be meeting in just over two weeks. As I said earlier…wow!
If you don't mind feeling really sad for about four-minutes...the car seat video is available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azgBhZfcqaQ&NR
Saturday, November 25, 2006
Shopping for the trip
Today Candace and I went to do all of the shopping required for our trip. In addition to many little things that we bought, we purchased a new digital camcorder. That's one of the rites of passages into parenthood in North America. Finally, we will have someone in our home worth videotaping 24 hours a day. We now have a chance to record someone's life, to share with family and friends ad naseum for the next couple of years...before storing the video away to pull out at a future graduation or marriage ceremony.
Looking at the weather for Kiev it is +7 Celsius today...at the same time that it is -16 C here with a -26 C wind chill. This is kind of neat because it will be my third consecutive year taking a warm weather vacation.
It was an interesting experience shopping for the trip. I feel so fortunate to have had the privilege to purchase Baby Tylenol and childrens' vitamins and cream for diaper rash. People keep telling me that it will change my life once the little one comes along. I have some news for them...it already has.
Looking at the weather for Kiev it is +7 Celsius today...at the same time that it is -16 C here with a -26 C wind chill. This is kind of neat because it will be my third consecutive year taking a warm weather vacation.
It was an interesting experience shopping for the trip. I feel so fortunate to have had the privilege to purchase Baby Tylenol and childrens' vitamins and cream for diaper rash. People keep telling me that it will change my life once the little one comes along. I have some news for them...it already has.
Friday, November 24, 2006
Making the blog
Tonight was the night I discovered how to create a blog. I spent about 10 minutes figuring out how to set it up followed by an hour messing around with the formatting. If I had known how easy it was I would have done it sooner. You'll notice that I made some posts for earlier days...since we are now ten days into our adventure, I thought it would be appropriate to fill in some of the details up to this point. Earlier this evening, I spent some time checking out websites regarding the Ukraine. One link outlined some tips for cultural etiquette. Note to self...do not place thumb between my first two fingers or shake hands across the threshold of a doorway. I also found some neat resources on the internet to help learn basic Ukrainian.
I was pretty excited about the blog so I went and got Candace out of bed to show her. She was excited too...but suggested I go to bed. I have decided that is probably a good idea. We are heading to Brandon tomorrow to buy all of those things that we need and we don't yet have...or those things that we have that we need more of. I can't wait to get that 220 V adaptor tomorrow...one small adaptor and one small step closer to December 8th.
I just realized that my internal countdown has been for December 8th...the day we are flying out of Winnipeg. Probably a day of more significance would be December 12th which is when we have our appointment at the adoption centre.
I was pretty excited about the blog so I went and got Candace out of bed to show her. She was excited too...but suggested I go to bed. I have decided that is probably a good idea. We are heading to Brandon tomorrow to buy all of those things that we need and we don't yet have...or those things that we have that we need more of. I can't wait to get that 220 V adaptor tomorrow...one small adaptor and one small step closer to December 8th.
I just realized that my internal countdown has been for December 8th...the day we are flying out of Winnipeg. Probably a day of more significance would be December 12th which is when we have our appointment at the adoption centre.
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Meeting in Winnipeg
I was in Winnipeg for a meeting. Later in the day I visited the agency for about 80 minutes to discuss how planning was going. Everyone has been really helpful and we are so appreciative of all that they have done. I don't know much about the code of ethics for blogging so I am going to hold off on naming anyone without their permission. Let me just say that we really appreciate a couple of people at an agency-to-be-named later.
Later in the evening, after I got home, I spent some time working on my three lists...our shopping list, our to do list, and our packing list. The busier I am, the faster time goes, and the sooner December 8th will be here.
Later in the evening, after I got home, I spent some time working on my three lists...our shopping list, our to do list, and our packing list. The busier I am, the faster time goes, and the sooner December 8th will be here.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
