'Innocent wonder' is the theme over at 'I Heart Faces' this week. I wouldn't know where to start for this theme, I was looking through my Flickr sets and I found a lot of photos that (I felt) suited this subject!
In fact, it is my absolute favourite way to capture Lilah - when she's facinated with something, trying to figure it out, studying it, intrigued with the wonder of it - I can't help but want to capture those moments. Indeed, it's one of the main reasons I pull out my camera so much.
Her favourite question at the moment is "But why?" Oftentimes I have no answer for her 'why', because it's unanswerable. She is just so curious about stuff and life that 'why' is the way she communicates to try and understand it. It is absolutely amazing to watch her grow and learn. I get swept up in her zeal to soak up every little thing.
I am learning about life again, the big things and the little things, the complex things and the simple things - through her eyes. And it is incredible.
We went back to the Rideau Canal yesterday, even though the weather was minus 24°C. Yes, freezing! Did you know it's the world's longest skating rink? And if I'm being perfectly honest, I just love taking pictures.
Actually, I was all about hibernating today, but Lilah begged me and I gave in. I can't believe I'm about to say this, but it was beautiful, gorgeous even and refreshing. It goes without saying that Lilah had a fantastic time, once again.
On the walk home we stopped by a new Vietnamese restaurant in our area for lunch. We enjoyed some honey garlic ribs - Lilah calls them 'bones'! She tells me she loves bones. I think she's ridiculously cute!
me: i love you to the moon and back
her: well, I love you to the sunshine and back
me: i also love you to the stars and back
her: well, I love you to the clouds and back
"it takes a second to say I love you, but a lifetime to show it" - anonymous
see the bottom middle photo of her twisting her ear and sticking her tongue out, at the same time?
yeah, it probably goes without saying that Baba taught her that!
[ more pictures here ]
Steven Curtis Chapman is going to be touring Canada! And he's coming to Ottawa this March!
Oh my, I'm so excited!
For those who don't know him, Steven Curtis Chapman is a Christian singer and songwriter. To be quite honest, I'd never heard of him until I started my research (on adoption) and realized what a great vocal advocate he is for adoption. He and his wife, Mary Beth, adopted three sweet girls from China. Sadly he lost one of his little girls, Maria Hope, in a tragic accident over two years ago. She was 5 years old. After her death he released the album 'Beauty Will Rise' which focuses on the event and its aftermath. The songs are all very touching, however the first song on the album, 'Heaven Is The Face' is one of my favourites, I can't listen to it without crying.
'When Love Takes You In' is one of my all time favourite songs. When I listen to it, it takes me back three years ago, to when we were waiting for Lilah. I listened to it every single day before we got her. It speaks to me deeply and without a doubt, started my love for Steven Curtis Chapman's music.
Geoff Moore is a special guest at this event. He is Steven's best friend and he too is an incredible Christian music artist and songwriter. He also is the father of two beautiful girls adopted from China.
I booked tickets for Colin and I this evening. Can you believe in the two years Lilah has been with us, we haven't went out together, as a couple, without her. So this evening I was telling Lilah how that some night we would go out and someone (she knew well) would come and look after her. In a teary voice she asked: "But you'll never leave me?" I had to reassure her that of course we'd only be gone for a short while and she'll have so much fun without us, etc, etc. She thought on it for a bit and then said "I'll like getting rid of yous!" Heh! Colin and I both laughed. But the truth is, what she said was in no way heartfelt. There's no doubt that this subject will be brought up plenty more times before our date night in March - as is the subject of school and anything else that possibly involves 'leaving us'. It scares her. And to be quite honest, that worries me.
We took Lilah to the Rideau Canal today so she could try out her first pair of ice skates.
I'm so proud of my girl, she loved every single second of it, falling down, getting up, walking around, getting her balance, slipping and sliding. One time she fell down and started making a snow angel - she is always the opportunist! And another time, after falling down, she looked up at me and said: "If you fall down too Mama, we might break the ice!" Heh! I can't say this often enough, how it makes my heart swell to see her love for life. How determined she is, how much she laughs and the fun we have together. I'm so very very blessed.
I'm also a ridiculously biased Mama, because I think she's a complete natural on ice. And I have a feeling we're going to be slipping and sliding around the Rideau Canal quite often now! Thankfully it's just a skip and a hop up the street from our house.
"the colour of springtime is in the flowers, the colour of winter is in the imagination"
blue skies, white ice
and
cotton candy ice-cream
(that coincidentally matched her purple hat and pink sunglasses to perfection!)
Colin and I arrived in Canada 11 years ago, yesterday.
I can distinctly remember that it was as unbearably cold then as it was today! And yes, there are freezing cold days (like today!) that make me wonder: Why on earth?! What were we thinking?!
But moving here was a huge part of God's plan in building our little family.
And because of that, I'm so very thankful. Cold weather and all!
"You're not ready yet Mama, because you haven't put that perfume under your arms."
"Don't call me baby Lilah, because I'm going to be a big girl when I grow up."
"I can't reach that soup in the fridge, because I'm just a lower girl."
"You're welcome for me making you so proud."
"Did you eat one of my cookies? I'm not so happy 'bout that!"
"What happened my beach ball? It's looser now!"
"Mama, your the best green-eyed-girl making supper in the whole wide world!"
I kinda felt like we'd seen enough of this cold white stuff while we were in Ireland. But no such thing - welcome to Canada! I guess we'll be putting up with snow for another few weeks and months! So we may as well embrace it! Lilah loves it, she has so much fun in the snow! It does my heart good to see her enjoy the outdoors. She's good for me, she really pushes me to get out and enjoy the winter season.
And we both love hot chocolate! It's our reward for putting up with freezing cold weather!
This morning at Church, a Chinese lady came over to me and said: "I looked over at her (Lilah) this morning and thought to myself, I wish her birth mother knew how happy she is".
At which point we both started crying, because more than anything, I wish the same.
Our girl studies books with such intensity. She loves being read to and usually after we read her a story, she will take the book off us and say, "I'll read it to you now". She then reads it back to us in her own words. It is so sweet, I love hearing her version!
After about 5 minutes studying this Cain & Abel picture (showing below) in her Bible Story book today, she suddenly asked me "Why do those people have bare feet?"
We read one of these Classic Bible Stories every night after supper. She certainly doesn't let us forget!
Our girl is showing more and more independence by the day - in a good way!
On Sunday past, when we went out for lunch, Lilah picked up the menu and said to us, "I'm going to make a choice!" - we're just lucky she's still easily influenced by us! She dresses herself now too. More recently I've started to set out her clothes for the day and she takes care of the rest. She wants to do it in her own bedroom, alone. She tells us "I'll let you know if I need help!" and is very VERY proud of her achievements!
I am still amazed at how much she listens to our adult conversations and totally gets everything we say. She'll bring it up hours, days and even weeks later. A couple of nights ago while we were eating supper, Colin was telling me about how slippery the roads had been that morning on his drive into work and was going into a bit of detail on how even the brand new tyres that he got on his car last week would spin when he was taking off. About 5 minutes later Lilah asked, in a very pronounced adult voice, "Baba, is there a problem with the Focus?" - he drives a Ford Focus!
She sure keeps us on our toes!
We're home sweet home. Great to be home, but as always, we miss our 'other home' and family.
We had a really wonderful holiday.
And I know Lilah misses her cousins and grandparents. She told me while we were in Ireland that her cousins were her favourite people in the whole wide world, her words. She was spoiled and loved. Today I overheard her doing some grandparent role playing, with her stuffed animals. It made me smile.
Some day soon I'll get around to blogging about our trip, I have many many pictures. I did get a chance to take a few pictures of my girl yesterday, no idea how, since I had just over 200lbs of suitcases to unpack - washing and organizing galore. I guess I just had my priorities right!
Wishing you and your loved ones a safe, healthy and very happy 2011!
He has made everything beautiful in His time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men;
yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:11
