Winter & Adoption are not the last Option

I think winter is the Top 1 Canadian "landmark".   You know, that is the first thing that comes to mind when you say Ca-na-da.  Hockey would be number two (for sport fans) which is totally related to winter anyway, followed by Maple Syrup which I am totally for... (yay... maple syrup!)-  that in case you haven't picked up yet my loooove for sugar from previous blog posts. 

However,  Canada has beautiful summers and falls.  And somehow, when it’s summer time you tend to forget that there is an actual winter every year…. and that winter is slowly crawling back without you even noticing. It’s like somehow you are so happy with the beautiful weather that you ignore what I call the “signals”.  And let me tell you; there are many signals.   Like falling leaves and TV commercials.  They change from advertising T-Shirts and colorful clothing, to sweaters and black winter jackets.  Or restaurants (I’m thinking Tim Hortons to make it even more Canadian) no longer have the  “ice latte” as main product, but  now present hot warm soups to their customers…. And so on…

I,  on the other hand, normally prefer to keep in total winter denial until the last minute; me on my own little summery world ignoring the "signals".  But then… winter is back.  And it surprises you.  One evening you go to sleep to weak up to 15 cm of snow in the driveway,  and -21 C outside temperatures.  Yeah,  kinda of like Calgary last week.  

And it's kind of funny because if you would have asked me 10 years ago if I was remotely interested in moving to a place where you could weak up to snow and freezing temperatures, I would have thought you were crazy.  Anybody who knew me ten years ago would agree to that statement,  nothing but sandals and sunny days was acceptable.  

Neither would I classify shoveling driveways as the funnest activity or getting frozen toes particularly enjoyable.  

However.... here I am... sandals girl in snowy Canada.  Being surprisingly happy to be closer to the North Pole.  Ha ha... or Ho HO Ho??? : ) - Ok that's my Christmasy mood kicking in.  : ) 

The most interesting of all is that winters are also beautiful, and the cold seasons have teached me to appreciate the summers even more.  

A little parenthesis before I go on for one of my all time favorites lists. 

Five great things about the Winter: 

1. Sparkly flying snow dust. 

2. Duna getting extremely excited because its "finally snowing"... and running outside to get her nose in the snow. (Literally inside the pile of snow) 

3. Evergreens covered with - almost falling - super white snow. 

4. Ice skating in the evening at a lake, to the tune of Christmas songs with a nice baileys enriched, hot chocolate.

5. Working from home in your fav pajamas because you can't get to the office ; )

 So Canada and its winters are no longer my last option. Actually,  they  became my preferred option.  My home. 

Which brings me to my second point.  Because the winter made me think about our option to live in Canada and of course,  our decision to adopt.  So let's go back 3 paragraphs and a list:  If you would have asked me ten years ago if I was remotely interested in adoption I would have thought you were crazy.  It wasn't even in my thoughts, therefore anybody who knew me ten years ago couldn't have agreed to that statement... because I just never talked about it.  It never crossed my mind. 

But a series of events and life pointed me to Canada and also to adoption.  And people, if you must know: adoption was neither Tavo's or mine last option.  But instead our preferred one.  I must confess in a way, it's like winter.  I didn't really think about it or liked it until I was faced with it.  And although it seemed hard, and it required more preparation and planning, it definitely feels now like it will be totally worth it.   Just as the cold season teached us to appreciate the summers,  the road to adoption has teached us to appreciate kids, and the opportunity to have a family. 

 And just like in winter there will be bad days (I'm talking -32C!), I am sure being a parent will bring its own challenges (doesn't every parent have a bad, really bad day?).  Days with crying, non sleeping,  pooping babies.   But I think the smiles of the next day, the first word, first crawl, first step... will be like the flower that comes out  in the summer.  : ) 

All that to say that adoption is not the last option.  Adoption is only an option...  an option that might not seem the easiest, most straight forward road to parenthood, but is an option that exists and that for many people just makes sense.  People that think the world needs more parents for children without parents;  or people that are tired of feeling like a pin-couching,  or can't think of spending money and time in unreasonable fertility treatments; or people that just realize that the only kind of miracle is not conception and carrying to term a pregnancy.  Miracles are presented to us in many ways... like white pieces of rain in form of sparking snow or in the form of a baby that didn't grow in your tummy.  

Are you ignoring the signals?

Until the next post,

Luz M.

Things to do before baby Cristancho comes

I have to admit... I haven't exactly been a very committed blogger lately.  It's been what? two weeks? Although you might disagree,  I have a very good twofold excuse:  First, we had guests and second, it's been craaaazzzyy at work, which strongly limits my appetite for computer time when I get home.  

I won't really talk much about life at work though.  I can only say that everybody decided at the same time that they needed to spend their money.  You see, in the corporate budget world... either you spend it or you loose it. Which means that we... the professional "spenders"  have to freakiiiinnnggg rush to get everything done properly when all of our business customers start spending... it's kind of like Christmas starting October! But instead of nice red wrapped gift you go for industrial goods or services.  :)  

Anyway... let's get into happier subject matters.  Introducing our guests:  Oscar, his wife Andrea and little Pipe.  And I have to say that these guys are the perfect guests! They are super nice, super neat and we had a great time together. I used to work with Oscar long time ago in Colombia.  Since then we have kept in touch, and they've always wanted to move to Canada.  Oscar is a petroleum engineer... so what better city to move to than Calgary?  Well, they will finally be arriving next spring.  So two weeks ago they came to see the city and to get an idea about neighborhoods, daycares and other stuff before doing the final move. 

Here is everybody (including Duna), in Banff.

Anyway, it was again a great opportunity to experience first hand how much the addition of a little one changes a couple's life. Since my last blog some of my friends have volunteered ideas of things Tavo and I need to take time to appreciate before baby Cristancho arrives (that's blog research people!- I am doing my homework).  And I've been waiting two weeks to share them with you, my faithful readers!! - well... you probably already read them if you are in fb, but still... they are so cool I had to use them today. 

Here they go (another top ten):

1. Being able to eat together (not in turns) and eat when food is still hot.  - This was from the last blog.
2. A hot shower lasting more than 5 minutes without little people, or your screaming husband outside your door.
3. Peering without and audience.  - Although I've gotten used to having a dog and cat as audience. 
4. Wearing your hair down and not worrying about little fists pulling it out in clumps (you will be surprised with how many variations of the standard pony tail you can come up with!) - by the way, I think the same applies with long hanging jewelry...
 5. Carrying a small purse that you can actually zip up because it is not crammed full of diapers, wipes, toys, bottles, snacks and the like...
6. Going to a mall and actually have more than 15 minutes uninterrupted shopping.
7. Sleeping in on Saturdays (yes I know... I did mention that a couple times already... but I just can't get over it)
8. Taking the time to be tired after work...
9. Not going into total worrying shock because you forgot to bring an extra set of pants in case little one has an "accident".
10. And my final favorite learned after a week of hanging out with a potty training toddler: Enjoy not having to leave everything and anything you are doing when you hear the magic words: mommy, pipi !

Fun uh?  One of my friends in her total wisdom said the point is to "be excited for the wonderful journey of parenthood but enjoy the every day little things until then!"  And this comes from a mother of twins... so we all have to take it very seriously.

And with that thought I leave you. Oh well... maybe not... two updates before I do (leave you).

1.  Have tried to get some info out of the nice ladies at the Colombian government - ICBF- about how long this waiting might take... (it's been two months since we were approved); but they are extremely good at saying nothing... with a lot of nice words.  The common theme in every conversation is: patience
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2.  My company decided to deny again my petition to have the same rights as a tummy mommy would.  I have to admit I was pretty sad about it and ignored the e-mail for about a week.  However,  sad became mad and mad prompted some ideas. It is not over!!! She's baaaacckkkk...

Until next post,

Luz M.