Isn't she beautiful...

I started a new job and in the week between finishing my old job and starting the new one, I got to spend a week with my Mum, Stepdad Paul, my sister and 'The G', my gorgeous nephew and beautiful new niece and soon to be God Daughter... isn't she beautiful... look at that hair and those cheeks. Beautiful.

Bloody Typical...

We start building and the heavens open! In the area where we live - a small country area of NSW - we have been in severe drought for about 2 years... to the point we have run out of water to service our toilets and to use for our showers and washing machines. We have been forced to cart water to our property for about 6 months now as our water tank is empty. The creek beds are dry, the livestock are being sold, and the talk of the town is about the lack of rain. But as soon as we started building we have had nothing but rain... and just yesterday we even found it hard to get up to see the latest on the house (which is not much) because our road was flooded from the creek. And while the rain is much needed by our farmer friends... all we can think is ...Bloody Typical!

This is the creek at the bottom of our property which usually goes under the road!

Sorry for the break in transmission...

I've been having problems with Blogger but think I've found a work around - thanks to Magnolia's Friend ... so let me catch you up on all the happenings in our little lives. I'll post each update separately!

Windows and Bricks

Well the house is powering along... literally! It's only been 6 weeks since the foundations were marked out and we now have half a house (well the external bit anyway)! In the last week the roof trusses have been finished, the facsia and guttering has gone on, the 'alfresco' dining area now has a frame, we have windows, and the brickwork has started!

By the end of the week all the brickwork should be finished, early next week the bricks will be bagged, by mid next week the tin should be on the roof, and by end of next week we will be at lock-up stage.

Of course this is all dependent on the weather... And as our luck would have it we have gone from drought to snow. Yes it has snowed this morning.

The house from the front with the french doors, windows and the brickwork on the left of the house half way up.

Close up of the bricks and the fascia and guttering.

When a year feels like a lifetime...

One year ago today we were advised by the Australian Government that all our information had travelled 1/2 way across the world and was logged into the systems at the Chinese Centre of Adoption Affairs in Beijing. Information about me and about your Daddy. About where we work, where we live, what our house is like, how we will raise you, how healthy we are, and what we know about China and about being parents to a little baby who will be born a world away.

One year ago... when the People's Republic of China received our information you were not even conceived - yet we loved you already.

One year ago... we named you - we gave you a name we love, a name we hope you will love too.

One year ago... we celebrated with a bottle of Champagne that we were going to be your parents.

One year ago... you became the centre of our world.

One year ago... I started shopping and haven't stopped...

My Angel, my daughter - I wish we didn't have to wait so long to meet. Everyday is a day we are without you, and you are without us. Wherever you are sweetheart - I hope your belly is full, you have a warm bed, you know you are loved and so, so wanted.

One year ago we were LID. I hope in one more year - you are in our arms.

We love you. xxx

House update... only not ours!

Weird thing this year - not only are we building a house, but my sister and her husband - 'The G' - are also building a house AND my Mum and Stepdad are about to start building a house... we didn't plan this - it has just worked out this way.

My sister and The G are the first in line, so we have eagerly been watching their house go up. And now it's up! My sister and I also have completely different lifestyles. We are country folk, we live in a small country town a few hours from the coast on a couple hundred acres. My sister and The G live on the coast - only a few hundred metres from a beautiful beach. As such, our houses are completely different - they have an ultra-modern beach house, and we are building a country homestead surrounded by wildlife.

We all actually have the best of both worlds - we get a beach side resort when we visit them, and they get a country retreat when they visit us. Perfect!

So here's an update on their house! D and 'The G' - you've done a great job and should be very proud of yourselves.

Rumpus room looking toward the lounge room...

Lounge room looking toward the dining room...

Great view from the balcony to the beach...

Tada... moving in very soon!