early, early childhood memories?

After discussing some 'adoption issues' today with some other parents of children fro China, I started to think about early childhood memories. I'm not sure if research has ever been done on the earliest its possible to have memories...too lazy to actually google it tonight. Anyway, I'm wondering if its possible that my daughter, adopted at 12 months old, could have memories of the time before her adoption. According to her, she does. She 'remembers' details about a caregiver. The details she has shared are interesting and not related to any other topic that we've discussed with her...so it begs the question - Are these real or imagined memories? Does it really matter? I'm not sure it matters, so I choose to treat her memories as real and valid. I believe that if I questioned these memories at this time, it would give her a sense that perhaps she shouldn't open up about her adoption. She is four years old. I've heard that this particular age is when regular discussions/questions are often requested by the child...that is if he/she has been given the message that adoption is a comfortable, valuable, interesting topic to discuss. We've always been open with T about her adoption...we talk a lot about China, about our trips there (she's been part of both - her adoption trip and E's adoption trip this past summer). She is quite proud of being 'Chinese and Canadian' and she finds great comfort in hearing about the day that we met....we go over that time and time again...its very sweet to hear her now tell the story.

The real reason I am even thinking about memories is because I often question whether issues that come up are just part of childhood, or if, in fact, they are adoption related. In our particular situation with T, I tend to think most things are regular 'kid issues'...not so with E. I see more 'adoption related' issues with him. But, he was adopted at a slightly older age and he seems much more comfortable expressing his stronger feelings (like anger, hurt, diappointment, frustration) than his sister....personality, gender or again with the 'adoption issues', I'm not sure. The ironic thing with E is that I immediately felt bonded, connected and attached to him...not so with T...it took us both a little while. E has attached to me, but its still a bit shaky at times....we have our days where I could swear he could care less that I'm his Mama...but we're working on it and I just love him to bits :)

I think I'll be discussing this more on one of my Yahoo groups....not sure if there is even anyone reading this blog anymore..... but if you are, I'd l ove to hear what you have to say :)

New Year....not so new crap and complaining...with a bit of hopefullness chucked in for good measure...

Back from the va-cay...with mixed feelings. Had a good time in the D.R....up until the first part of the second week, when the poo and the puke came to us with a vengeance! Good thing we pack the whole pharmacy...here's a short run-down of what we used....4 different kinds of antibiotics - 1 for an infected foot (caused by a nasty blister), 1 for a urinary tract infection, 1 for the squirts and 1 for pneumonia; lots of gravol (kids and adult - tablet and injectable forms); immodium and Pepto tablets; benedryl and aerius - for a pesky sun rash; and some other random stuff like the usual Advil and Tylenol. Kinda takes the fun out of vacation when the whole fam-damily is holed up in the hotel room for 3 days straight....but we were all better in time to enjoy the last 3 days of sun and sand.

Today, as we are back to the regular scheduled programming (read: kids at school, too much laundry to do, a big, dunpy mess of a house to clean....), I am also waiting in anticipation to hear referral news from friends of ours who have waited entirely too long to see the face of their newest addition. They travelled to China with us in 2004 - our daughters are from the same orpahanage and are only a few days apart in age....did I mention that they are also two of the most gorgeous girls I've ever seen? Biased? Who, me?

I've been lingering online throughout today, checking to see if there is any referral news....so far, nothing...but I know its on the way....
can't wait to see her face :)

Waiting also for nanny news...when she will arrive (read: when my life will be back to a semblance of normal....house cleaned, meals cooked, laundry not piled up waiting for weeks to be put away.....you get the drift). i guess seh really won't be a 'nanny' per se...more of a live-in housekeeper with some child care duties.

Planning to redo our kitchen this summer. I'm gearing up to go searching for kitchen contractors in the next few weeks. I'd like to get a few quotes...and a few suggestions. Our current kitchen is circa-1973....and I will not miss one thing about it when its smashed to smitherines to make way for the new kitchen. We are also planning on finishing up some other reno work at the same time...some flooring changes (to take the last remaining remnants of the 1970's out of this house) and some flooring repairs (to take the last remaining remnants of the damage done to the hardwood by the previous owner's devil of a dog) and some paint changes....not sure I'm digging some of the colour choices I made 2 years ago. In order to let the contractor/workers do their jobs interupted, we've decided that once the work begins, we will take the kids and temporarily move to the cottage...anywhere from 3 weeks to a month. Usually we spend mostly weekends plus a week, maybe two at the cottage...looking forward to a big chunk of time at the lake :)

Gotta go troll the Internet for news of referrals...perhaps a trip to the Rumor Queen is in order.....