A COMMENT

Thanks for the comments about food, you confirmed my thoughts and sometimes it nice to have that reassurance.

One reader (that's you Snick!) left a comment and ended with TTSP. Any ideas?

PARENTING EXPERIENCE NEEDED

We stayed at soft play for our lunch today, they have a child friendly (but not particularly healthy) menu. Alice had sausages, beans and chips and she ate every scrap.

Usually I cook her lunch and she doesn't get a choice of food, she has a snack style supper and she does get a limited choice. Tonight she wouldn't make a choice, this happens once or twice a week, but then (having made a supper that usually she'd demolish) she refused to eat more than a mouthful or too. I left her to sit at the table for a while, she drank a lot but didn't eat any more. In these situations, when she refuses a meal that I know that she likes, I give her some time to eat and then she gets down from the table - nothing is offered as an alternative and no pudding is provided.

I'm not worried as she'd eaten a good breakfast and lunch but I'd love to know what other readers do in situations like these, please leave a comment!

MY BERRY GIRL!

No one guessed correctly! Alice was devouring RASPBERRIES! The raspberries were from the freezer so they'd leaked a lot of juice.

She's loving berries at the moment, demanding raspberries for every meal, but happy to have blackberries or blueberries instead. With the gastric issues we've had recently I've had to be careful to limit her berry intake - otherwise she'd eat them exclusively for every meal. Her tastes have changed recently - the old favourites of sausages are barely tolerated and she won't even try yoghurt at the moment. Meanwhile 'dippy' (boiled) eggs and berries are by far the most requested foods.

LOVELY WEATHER!

The weather was much warmer today, the sun shone and it felt warm enough to be outside in long sleeves but without coats.

We took full advantage, the kitchen door was open for several hours as the dogs and Alice wombled in the garden. I restricted Alice to the paths and paving and she's beginning to understand the boundaries (with a lot of reminding and positive reinforcement). 'Baby' had a good walk, Pudding stretched her legs before coming inside to pee on the carpet and Alice had fun - she didn't want to come in for lunch!

(And Cynthia - I agree!! If the rest of you want to know 'with what' you'll have to read recent comments!)

JUST FOR SNICKERDOODLE

Please leave me a comment with your email address and I won't publish it, thanks.

TIRED

. . . Alice's still not well . . . not ill, but not well either . . . nappy rash is still there, better but still looks sore . . . her tummy's still bad too . . . she doesn't want to sleep in her cot . . . after 2 nights of Alice being in my bed I was cranky ALL DAY . . . I need a good night's sleep . . . tonight she cried it out while I felt guilty - running up and down stairs . . . something's gotta give

. . . and coming soon a post about blogging, comments and opinions . . . with a warning to all that I moderate comments before they are published . . . still cross . . . it wouldn't be good to challenge me right now . . .

POTTY TRAINING

All tips and hints VERY gratefully received!

ALICE'S BAPTISM - MEMORIES

(I'm not sure whether to call this Part 1 or just to keep editing it!)

The vicar forgot to add GFW to the list of Godparents - his name was hidden under the note I'd attached to the form! I quickly corrected him - GFW would never have forgiven me if he'd been overlooked, he'll probably never let me forget it either!

Alice. Happy, beautiful, bringing such joy.

Alice - wanting to look in the font repeatedly.

Being surrounded by friends and family - their presence alone confirming their love for Alice.

But most of all - Alice, rebaptising herself several times after the service (still in the vicar's arms!!) She liked it so much that he brought her a shell of her own - so that she can do it again at home!

Please comment and add your own memories.

BLOG READING IN CHINA

There seem to have been a stream of readers from China in the past few days - and more from the Far East in the last few weeks than before.

PLEASE I'd love to have comments from readers in the Far East. I'd love to know who you are - adoptive parents in China? Who knows? Please comment - I love connections with my daughter's country of birth.

FIRST HOLIDAY!

Alice and I are going on holiday next weekend - I feel fairly safe putting that on the blog as the house won't be empty and I have a good burglar alarm.

We stayed in a hotel for 2 nights for the CACH weekend in March, but this will be the first time when it's just us - no friends around, no support and not able to get home quickly should everything go pear shaped.

Those of you who know me personally will know where we're going!! But this time we'll be going by ferry - so we can take lots of Alice's things and toys which will help make the transition easier. Any comments welcomed about essential or helpful objects to take - I've been so absent-minded recently that I'm liable to forget everything!!

SPECIAL FRIENDS - OLD AND NEW!

2 phonecalls, both warmed my heart.

Last night GFW phoned. It was lovely to catch up on all his baby news. I can't wait to meet her but I'll have to as I've got a chest infection, ugh.

Tonight S phoned - concerned about us and to ask about comments. First of all, we're OK (more of that in a separate post). Secondly I've obviously got email issues again - I haven't received the notifications of comments, so hadn't published. So thanks to all who left comments, I've skimmed so far and Photobox seems to be the popular solution to online printing.

PHOTOS

I've asked before, but can't remember the answers!

UK readers only please:

• which online photo printing service would you recommend?

Please leave a comment to let me know - that way I can't forget the answer!

Thanks, K x

QUIET NIGHTS AT HOME . . .

. . . I'm using my quiet time to continue my research for Little Sis.

I'm currently considering Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan or even Ethiopia! I'm also practising my spelling and brushing up on my world geography.

There is very little information available from the UK - so far most of my information has come from yahoo groups, adoption blogs, US adoption agencies and the US government sites, all via Google. Nevertheless all information, links, experiences or contacts would be gratefully received - please leave a comment if you can help!

I feel a little more positive about IA this week - as I was beginning to feel that there was no hope of Alice having a sibling who stood a chance of looking even slightly like her. Even getting some 'proper' research underway is making me feel more optimistic. I don't think I ever felt this way about Alice's adoption - I was committed to China from almost the very beginning and it was an established and clear route which was easy to find out about. I'm still struggling to come to terms with the fact that the second adoption is a greater challenge than the first - after all most things are more straightforward the second time around, but then again, my life was never that simple. It's probably Fate's way of making me appreciate my child(ren), if so, it's working!

COMMENTS

Love 'em!

Please keep them coming.

Unfortunately they haven't been getting through to me, will use 'The Dashboard' more often, promise!

PHOTOS OF PHOTOS!

The past few nights I've been busy, collecting, printing, triming and arranging photos for Alice.

Photos of life in China, our time together in China and life together at home as well as photos of the important people in her life. (Don't be insulted if you think you should be included and can't spot yourself, there is another side and it's an ongoing project!)

I've bought a 'thingy' to hang in her nursery - it's going to go by the changing table.

I left the 'thingy' hanging in the kitchen - to get the wrinkles out and so that Alice would see it this morning - judging by her reaction she liked it!! (But it could only hold her attention for 'so long' before vanity got the better of her - she totally believes that the oven's main use is as her personal mirror!!)

Next step is to hang it! Then I'm on to working on Alice's first lifebook - does anyone know where to get hold of a toddler friendly photo album (like a Whoozit but with more pockets)? Comments please!

LINKS WITH THE CHINESE COMMUNITY

I know that there's a group in Cardiff that meets on the first Saturday of each month, but I don't know where or exactly when - please let me know the details if you know!

Also I'd love to know of other events in the South Wales, Bristol or Hereford areas that are linked to Chinese communities or culture.

Comments please!

10% OFF

I like that price!!

Seriously though - there are discounts to be had for very little effort.

Mumsnet offers discounts to their members and they're free to join! As a member you will qualify for discounts (mostly 10%) at several of my favourite retailers, including J0J0 M B, GLT*C, Bl00ming M@rvellous, The Wh1te Comp@ny, Letterb0x and B0den!

Any other tips bargain hunters? Comments please!

VIDEO CLIPS

So I've treated you to a few clips.

What do you think?

They're very short as they take so long to upload. Also Blogger seems to cut the end of each clip, might try You or U T*be?

Comments, opinions, anyone?!

FLORAL PRINTS

To the anonymous commenter - please tell me a little more or leave me an email address for direct contact (I won't publish comments with email addresses in them).

Floral prints?

• The recent ones (from 14th Dec) - matching top and tights (lovely pressies from S, M and T - thanks!) are from N*xt.
• The ones from 30th Nov, red leggings and co-ordinating top are also N*xt (another super pressie from J and D, thanks)!

COMMENTS AND PRESSIES

I know that people are still reading and a very few leave comments (thanks B).

I'd love to hear from you, but if not how about leaving a virtual pressie? No expense but a kind gesture.