More Pictures

The proofs of the girls photos are online. I can't give you a direct link, but you can click here, then click on the link to Enter Site (the picture of the guy playing a guitar). This will take you to the site homepage. Click the link for the CLIENTS page. My password is DTCA (all in caps). Then you can see all of the amazing photos of the girls. Today my favorites are 05, 06, 08, 09, 17, 18, 21, 22, and 27.

If you need a good laugh

Go check out this lady on UTube. I laughed until I couldn't breathe – family, you know what I mean. She is hysterical and clean! Enjoy.

Hey, Did You Happen to See the Most Beautiful Girls in the World?

I took the girls to have pictures taken by a professional photographer today - you know the kind who doesn't work at Sears! After seeing her sample shots, all I can say is WOW! See for yourself. http://indigomoment.typepad.com/everything_indigo/

About Bella

We have had a run of back luck with pets. First, our beloved Marbles had to be put down back in August. That broke my heart. Then we brought home the cats only to learn the hard way that OBaby is apparently extremely allergic to cats. Back to the rescue group they went. Then, we got Sammy – the perfect dog for us ON PAPER! In reality, not so much so. He was a purebred Havanese so he should have been great with kids. Yeah, no. He was like the Tasmanian Devil – he never stopped wreaking havoc on our house. Plus, he was really way too aggressive with YBaby. The final straw was when he peed ON MY BED not once but TWICE in two days. That's when I knew it was time for Sammy to find a new family to terrorize. We delivered him in all his craziness to a nice girl from the Havanese rescue. So, we were pet-less for about 3 months. See, I told O that we would talk about getting another dog after Christmas. December 26^th, she started in on me again – "Mommy, can we get a dog? Mommy, I miss Marbles. Mommy . . . " I see a great future ahead for her as a lawyer or maybe a police detective. A couple of hours alone with her and criminals would be confessing to crimes they only thought about committing!

So, as of Saturday, we again have a dog. She is a little Chihuahua/pug mix (known as a chug). She's about a year old and lost her home in the floods we had around her a couple of weeks ago. She is housebroken, likes kids, doesn't jump on people, and seems to know how to live in a house like a civilized little animal. She doesn't even beg when we eat in front of her! How nice is that – we can actually eat a meal without having to lock the dog outside.

We've settled on the name Bella. It's cute, and Ying can say it, so Bella she is. Hopefully, this one is a keeper (yes, Mandy, I added that just for you!).

Bella

Being Impor-tant

The other night I was trying to find something to wear to work the next day. OBaby was playing in the laundry room and asked what I was doing. I told her I was trying to find something nice to wear to work the next day because I had to give a lecture and I needed to look important. Without missing a beat (or looking up from her toys) OBaby replied in a very serious voice, "You are impor-tant, Mommy. You're a mommy."

God, I love that kid.

Pee

We are working on potty training with Ying in my typical let's-not-get-in-a-hurry-and-actually-accomplish-anything kind of way. By that I mean I have shown her the potty, talked about it quite a lot, and even sat her on it several times – 2 or 3 times actually resulting in pee pee in the potty (which, of course, requires my patented "Pee Pee in the Pot-tay" song and dance). But, overall, we're not getting too anal about it (pardon the pun!). She likes to run around naked (really, who doesn't?), which in our house, thanks to my baby sister, is referred to as "naked bacon". Yeah, we don't know why either. But, it's totally cute to see naked Ying running around yelling "naka naka" while patting her tummy.

So, back to pee. Last night, I was letting Ying run around being "naked bacon". I explained to her that if she needed to pee, she should tell Momma and I would take her to the potty. Ok, so then I took the trash out. When I came in, Ying ran up to me and said, "Pee, pee, pee". I'm mentally praising myself for raising such a brilliant child, coming to tell me that she needs to go pee. So I say, "Ok, let's go to the potty". She takes my hand and leads me not to the bathroom, but to the hallway where she points to a wet spot on the carpet and proudly proclaims, "PEE!" Darned if she wasn't right.

Sigh.

Back By Popular Demand

Ok, ok, I heard you. You miss seeing how cute and funny and simply adorable the girls are. So, here are some pictures to tide you over until I have time to write up some of their unbearable cuteness.


Christmas angels. This would have been our Christmas card picture, if I had sent out Christmas cards this year.


My pop star wannabe.


"Check me out – I got pony tails!" From bald to ponies in only 10 months.


Yes, she's asleep. She picked the hat out herself – and it's the only one she will keep on her head!

A hug or a head-lock? You decide.

Sleeping beauties.

Breakfast with Santa

Operation Happy Holidays!

This weekend, the babies and I are going to put together a care package to send to my cousin, Doug. Doug, who is just a few days older than I am, is currently serving with the US Army in a war zone (see how in tune I am with OPSEC – I'm not posting exactly where his unit is, just that it is in a war zone). Doug has spent his whole adult life serving our country, and now, at the ripe old age of 42 (I can say that, 'cause I'm 42 myself) he is still serving! So, we want him to know how much we love him and appreciate all the sacrifices he's had to make. OBaby is especially excited about making a care package. She's not 100% sure she remembers who Doug is (she's only seen him twice), but she knows that he is part of our "fambily" and that's all that really matters. I've been checking on line to see what kinds of things we should send. Personally, I haven't sent a care package overseas since the days of Desert Storm, the Original. Then, I was sending them to boys I'd been stationed with in England. So, we'll go out tomorrow and stock up on trail mix and gum, beef jerky and playing cards, and candy and magazines. Then, on Monday I'll be making a trip to the post office since Monday is the deadline for sending packages before Christmas. Did you know that you can get a flat-rate box and the post office that will allow you to ship anything that fits in the box, regardless of weight, for just $8.95 since military APO addresses are considered domestic mail? What a bargain! If any of you would like to send a care package to a service man or woman in a war zone but you don't know anyone who is currently serving, you can go to the web site called Soldier's Angels that will match you with a soldier who you can "adopt". Unfortunately, there are lots of men and women over there who don't have anyone at home to send them any mail. I know we plan to send plenty of stuff so that Doug can share with the others in his unit. It's a little thing we can do for those who do so much for us. Hey, if you don't want to adopt a soldier, email me and you can just send a package to Doug to share with his unit! Come on, I'm trying to make this easy for you!

Conversation at the Bus Stop

Ying’s babysitter (aka ABIGAIL’S Mama) lets the neighborhood kids wait for the bus on her front porch on rainy mornings (like today). As Ying and I were on our way in this morning, I had the following conversation with the kids:

Little girl: How old is that baby?

Me: She’s 2.

Little girl: (sounding surprised) 2?

Me: Yeah, I know, she’s little for 2.

Little boy: She looks the right size for 2.

Little girl: Unt-uh – she looks like she’s still in her zeros!

Older boy: Yeah, but she’s pretty.

Little girl: (still sounding like she doesn’t believe me) Yeah, she is pretty.

Baby goes Bowling

From the Mouth of OBaby

OBaby really likes to talk. A. Lot. As in, all the time. As in, I now have a running commentary on my daily life. It can be exhausting, but at times, very amusing. Take last night. We were on our way home, and OBaby commented on how see can’t see really well when it’s all black and the moon is out. She said, “I need some glasses so I can see things the way blind people do.”

Huh?

I was going to ask about that, but by the time I stopped silent-laughing, she had moved on to the next topic.

Trick or Treat (Tee-Tee-Tee)!

The girls had a ball trick or treating (tee-tee-tee, as YBaby said) last night. Olivia had been planning her costume –Hannah (“H-A-N-N-A-H”) Montana, since August. If you don’t know who Hannah Montana is 1) count yourself lucky and 2) O looked just like her. I decided that Ying-a-Bing, my little Autumn Flower, should be a flower, in Autumn. See how that worked out?

First we dazzled everyone one in our neighborhood. Ying wasn’t so sure about the whole process, but once the idea of candy in her bucket was introduced, she held on to that bucket with a two-handed death grip. Even Momma was not allowed to help carry it. Later, we moved on to Aunt M and Uncle J’s house so that they could “oohh” and “ahhh” over the babies. E and a friend took them out for even more trick or treating. I’m not sure who had more fun there, the babies or the big girls!

Remember the nice old couple who live on our street? The ones who stopped by to talk the night I was taking out the trash in my pajama pants and Ying had a blow out diaper? Yeah, sure you remember them. We stopped by their house. The best part of the night – when we were leaving there, OBaby gave them each one of her great arms-wrapped-around-your-knees hugs totally on her own initiative. They were both so happy to get a hug! What a sweetie she is, huh?

Just so you don’t think my kids are perfect, Ying did demand “MORE” from almost every person handing out candy and had to be forcibly removed from more than one candy bowl. What can I say? It was CANDY!

Pretty Pouty Princess

Olivia’s school, being rather “culturally diverse” (there are kids in her class from several different countries), chooses not to celebrate certain holidays such as Halloween. So, instead, the 4/5s had a “Name Parade” where they celebrated their names. No costumes, but some cute paper crowns and sashes. As you can tell from the pictures. OBaby was NOT really having a good day.

She did manage to smile once, and her offical school pictures came in today, too. Note to self: Next year, get O's bangs cut before school pictures.

Being Momma

Last night, ok very early this morning, as I was sitting with YBaby trying to will her to go back to sleep, she looked up at me and smiled and said, “Momma”. Sigh. I love being Momma. OBaby called me Momma for a long time, then it was Mommy, then she moved on to Mom, and now, occasionally, an exasperated “Mother!” But, she never calls me Momma any more. Only YBaby does. I guess it is a baby thing. And I like it. I like the “Momma!” screamed through the house when she is looking for me. I like the “Momma” whispered with a grin when we are being quite. I even like the “Momma” called through sobs with little arms held high for Momma to pick her up. The best Momma, of course, is the running, screaming, feet dancing one I get at the end of a long day when I pick her up from the sitter. I know that some day soon, Momma will give way to Mommy, and that’s nice, too. But there is something special about being Momma. I hope I get to enjoy it for awhile longer.

It Will Never Be Just Another Day

Time does not bring relief; you all have lied
Who told me time would ease me of my pain!
I miss him in the weeping of the rain;
I want him at the shrinking of the tide;
The old snows melt from every mountain-side,
And last year's leaves are smoke in every lane;
But last year's bitter loving must remain
Heaped on my heart, and my old thoughts abide!
There are a hundred places where I fear
To go, -- so with his memory they brim!
And entering with relief some quiet place
Where never fell his foot or shone his face
I say, "There is no memory of him here!"
And so stand stricken, so remembering him!

--Edna St. Vincent Millay

At the Pumpkin Patch

Baby's First Hair Cut

We went to Chicago on Friday and spent the afternoon in Chinatown. I decided to stop and get Olivia’s bangs cut (see Sammy picture below). While we were there, the ladies in the shop convinced me that Ying needed her hair cut. I was reluctant since she has so little hair, but they were right. It just needed to be cleaned up a little so it will all grow in more evenly. Of course, YBaby loved being the center of attention!

Mom Song

If you haven't seen the U Tube video of the Mom Song, go check it out! I had to watch it a couple of times because it is just so funny.

Help Chinese Orphans Carry the Olympic Torch

Jenny Bowen, mother of two girls adopted from China, is in a competition to be one of the few foreigners allowed to carry the Olympic torch in China for the 2008 games. Jenny founded Half the Sky Foundation, an organization that works to improve the lives of China’s orphans. The Bowen family moved to China 3 years ago to be closer to their work. If she wins. Jenny will be running with the children – 8 orphans from 8 different provinces will get to be part of this amazing event. Can you imagine what a thrill that would be for these kids?!? If you want to vote for Jenny, just click here. You can only vote once from each computer. Thanks!

Ying Rules!

We had our 6-month post-placement visit today with a new social worker. She has to write a report to send to China to let them know how Ying is adjusting to her new home. Well, let me tell you, Ying was ON! I swear, it was like she was trying to impress the woman. First of all, she came to the door with me and said “hi’ when B walked in. Then, she proceeded to put on a little show for her. Ying showed her how her favorite toys work, and danced for her, then she came and sat in my lap and talked up a storm. I couldn’t quite catch everything she was saying, but I think the jest of it was, “This is my house, and these are my toys, and this is my Mama, and I like it here very much. Please tell China that I would like to stay here because they give me everything I want. I rule this house!” Well, at least that’s what I got out of it.

So, I don’t think we are going to have any problems getting a favorable report. And, as an added bonus, my house it so clean it shines. I was actually up at 2 o’clock this morning mopping my kitchen and bathroom floors. You know, there are just some things you cannot do when 2 children are awake! Of course, B didn’t actually want to see the house, but if she had asked to use the bathroom, she would have been impressed, I’m sure!

Out of the Mouth of YBaby

Last night, as I was trying to get YBaby to go to sleep, I was telling her what a good girl she is and what a good girl Jie-Jie is. When I said “Jie-Jie is a good girl”, YBaby responded, “I yuv Jie-Jie.” Man, she is just too cute for words.

One thing I swore I'd never do . . .

I entered Ying’s picture in a photo contest at Baby Zone, and she was selected as one of 8 toddlers in this week’s competition. Actually, the contest is supposed to be about the best picture, not the cutest kid. Of course, in Ying’s case, she is both! So, if you have a minute, drop by and vote for Ying! She is in the Toddler competition. Yes, I’m totally shameless!

Half a Year

As of today, I have been Ying’s mommy for 6 whole months. Yes, 6 months ago today that tiny little bundle of clothes was brought to my door at the Gloria Hotel in Nanchang. I remember thinking, “That can’t be her. That’s a tiny baby.” But it was her, and she might have been tiny, but she was tough. She went through some hard grieving and seriously tested my mothering skills (my strategy, hold back and let her come to me, which she eventually did). The first week was horrible. The second week was bearable. And each and every day, it just gets better.

My tiny girl is still tiny, but she has really started talking up a storm lately. She has a whole slew of new vocabulary words. Right now, her favorite game is to tell me “Be right back” as she walks away from me. She will turn around and yell “bye bye” a time or two, then go out of my sight (usually around the corner). Then she will run back to me with her arms out for hugs and say “I yuv ooo”. Apparently, this is very, very funny. More funny if it is repeated approximately 27 times. The girl has a wicked sense of humor. She finds everything funny, especially her own jokes. Boy, does she ever fit in with the rest of our family!

It’s incredible to think what Little Miss Ying has been through in 6 months. She left her home and her nanny. She left her birth country. She came to a place where no one looked normal or spoke a language she could understand. So, she learned the new language. She learned how to walk. She learned how to eat American food (and lots of it!). She learned how to drink out of a bottle, then with a straw, then out of a cup. She learned what it is to have a sister and a mommy. She had surgery to help her see better and make her eyes more comfortable. And she’s done all of this in just 6 months! I can’t wait to see what the next 6 months will bring!