Boat trips and train journeys

This weekend we had our first overnight trip away as a family.  We were advised not to have visits away from the home until we were sure Raina was settled enough; which she did seem to be.  We also thought it would benefit her as we would return home at the end of the visit and that it might help to cement the permanency of her new home; as a place we all come back to and call 'home'.

I have realised that as a parent, when going away, I now get to pack;

Toothpaste
Toothbrush
Clean underwear
Nothing else.

Raina gets to pack;

Teddies
Blanket
Pajamas
Wash bag
Toy
Crayons
Colouring book
Book X 2
Slippers
Snacks
Nappies
The list goes on.

We stayed the night on a narrow-boat near Derby that Grandad and Aunty Jewel were hiring.  Trust my father to pick the week to hire a canal boat in British summer when the rivers are overflowing and there are gale force winds blowing! The three of us shared a bed together; Raina slept well and sprawled herself across the bed. Momma and I didn't sleep too well.....but we all had a wonderful time and Raina really enjoyed meeting her Grandad and 'Aunty Ju'.  Raina enjoyed travelling on the train and thankfully slept for an hour and a half, which helped to kill some travelling time!

Raina has been asking about her Daddy quite a lot over the last few days; she also mentions the name of the Contact Supervisor, who managed the contact she had with her Birth Father and Mother.  Today I realised she was asking about her birth Mother too; who she refers to as Mummy.  I know that she is too young to find it weird how she can have so many Mum's, but I think that at times it must confuse her and I have certainly had times when I have been confused by what she has said because of the plurality of 'Mum's'.  We have been advised to refer to Raina's Birth Mother as 'tummy mummy' to help make a distinction; we have been doing this but she has not used the term yet herself.  When Raina asks about her birth parents, we are reassuring her by simply letting her know the name of the City that her birth parents live in.  She doesn't ask any more questions about them at the moment, but clearly we expect more and more as time goes by.


Today we took Raina along to the monthly New Family Social meet-up that takes place at Coram Fields.

http://www.coramsfields.org/

We have been along a few times in the past (pre-Raina) and both found it really useful as a way of meeting other same-sex prospective adopters and adopters alike.  Today we met up with some friends who we met on our prep course back in January 2011 and their son.  It was nice for Raina to meet their son; she really likes small children (he is about 18 months) and think about how far we have all come in the last year or so.  We also met some other lesbian parents with their children and although Raina was oblivious to the whole thing; I am comforted that in time she can she that her family is not the only same-sex adoptive family in the world!!!

Tantrums have been lessening over the last few days and she seems a bit calmer which is clearly a positive sign.