Hail to the Chief

The Today Show was on while we were getting dressed this morning. OBaby was listening to Hilary Clinton talk when she suddenly announced, "I want to be president of the U-nited States, Mommy." (OBaby, not Hilary) I just nodded and said "Sure, honey, when you grow up." No point going into the whole "you can't be president because you weren't born in the US" conversation since I totally expect Arnold's people to get that problem fixed long before O is old enough to vote, let alone run.

"No, Mommy, I want to be president now."

Hmm, well, how do we respond to this? Oh, yeah, "Well, babe, you have to be a grown up and at least as old as Mrs. Clinton before you can be the president."

"Oh." Still, I could see the wheels were still turning. "Ok, then can I be the president of the Baby U-nited States?"

So, it's official. OBaby is now running for president of the Baby U-nited States. She is accepting contributions to her college, er, I mean campaign fund.

Why I’ll Never Sleep Alone

Last night, the girls were in rare form – neither one listening to me or obeying my too frequent demands that they get in bed and be quite. Finally, I totally lost all patience with them and sent them both to sleep in their own room. They have a queen size bed in there, so it's not like they can't still sleep together. Well, judging by the reaction, you'd think I'd sent them to sleep in a den of vipers. They both screamed and cried and sobbed. Ying got out of bed and came to me in the family room. I tried the Super Nanny thing and took her back to her bed and explained that she needed to sleep here with jie-jie and Mama would sleep in her bed. I went into my room and closed the door. Through the wall I could hear the wailing. Then I heard Ying outside my door sobbing so hard I was afraid she would throw up. I heard Bella scratch at the door, but still I didn't open the door. A couple of minutes later, I hear Bella coming through the half bath into my room, with Ying right behind her. I could just imagine her telling Ying, "Hey, follow me kid. I know a back way into your mom's room." Bella came in the room, stood and looked at me for a minute, then left – "Here's your kid, lady. She wants you." Now I have a sobbing Ying standing in the middle of my floor. I picked her up, thinking I would take her back to her bed, then realized that the poor little thing was scared to death. I asked her if she was ok – head nod "no". "Do you want to sleep with Mama?" – tiny little whisper "yes". DANG. I am never going to get to sleep alone, ever, in my entire life. They both ended up sleeping in my bed last night. And I ended up feeling like a total jerk because Ying really was just terrified by the idea of not sleeping with Mama. Score: Girls 1, Mama 0.

Chinese New Year, Part I

We went to the first of three Chinese New Year Celebrations we will be attending this year. Last night we went to a party at a local restaurant for our local group of Families With Chinese Children. It was a nice party. There were tons of beautiful little girls there with their families. OBaby enjoyed doing crafts and helping Mommy fill her plate (something I don't normally let her do). YBaby enjoyed a nice nap. Yeah, she fell asleep on the way to the party and slept for an hour and a half. I had to wake her up at 6 so that she would be able to sleep last night. She woke up in a good mood and enjoyed seeing so many of her friends. Thursday (the day of the actual new year) we go to dinner at our favorite Chinese place, then next Sunday is the big new year's event at the Chinese Christian Church and co-sponsored this year by the university Chinese student group. By the end of the month we will have had our fill of dim sum and then some!

Olivia working on her dragon.

Ying all-partied out - before the party!

She finally joined the party and scarfed down some yummy food!

They Grow Up So Fast

OBaby got her ears pierced yesterday. She asked if she could have it done for her birthday. She was very sure she wanted it done – even if it was going to hurt. Fortunately, it didn’t hurt. She held my hand while the ladies did it, and her only reaction was to say “ouch” – yeah, not even a capital letters OUCH, just a very calm little ouch. No tears, no whining, no complaints. She was great. What a big girl. Sigh.

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!