The seasons are about to change and I am getting so excited to share another autumn with you!
We came back from our morning run with Abby yesterday and you insisted on walking the last quarter mile on your own. I thought you looked so stinkin' cute in your little overalls I just had to take a picture...
This week also brought the delivery of a new favorite toy of yours, your new Handy Manny Repair Toolbench. It is super cute and you LOVE it! Particularly liking what you call your "screwy-driver", carrying it around in your pockets all night long on Tuesday.
This toolbench came with everything - including a plumber's butt!! Just like Daddy!!
Of course, you also enjoyed the box of styrofoam peanuts about as much as the toolbench!
Wednesday brought a trip to the zoo with Audrey Ayi and then Uncle Flint was able to hang out with us a bit too once his shift ended. On the way there, you informed Audrey and I that you go to work and your job is to "look at airplanes". Very cute. Audrey Ayi said that she would love for you to think of her the next time you're hiring.
We had fun at the zoo. Each time we take you, you are more and more curious about the animals.
We still haven't gotten to see the polar bears swimming yet, but we enjoyed a nice "polar treat" over by their section...no trip to the zoo is complete without some yummy ice cream!
One more note about Wednesday that is kind of interesting...we had eaten chinese for dinner the night before and had given you the fortune cookie. The word on the back was "niu" meaning ox, but we had pointed out that "niu" was the same as in your soon-to-be friend, Niubei's name (Jen and Shawn's baby). You insisted on carrying this fortune around all night, tucking it in your diaper (in the absence of having pockets that night) and then sleeping with it. This is the email I got from Daddy Wednesday morning when I had asked him how your morning went...
"Really good. She was imitating me fixing my hair. She had a death grip on her fortune when she woke up. She carried it every where this morning. Right before we left, I talked her in to keeping it at home so she wouldn’t lose it at school. She finally let me take it so I put in on the ledge by the steps. When I locked the door I turned around and she was just standing on the porch with a sad face. I asked if she was said that she had to leave her fortune at home. She said yeah. I asked if she wanted to take it to school she said “No! Home! Safe!” I picked her up to walk to the car and I noticed she had tears running down her eyes. It was so cute. She was fine once we got in the car."
Wow ~ you are so sweet...the only thing we can think of is that you somehow are excited and feel connected in some way to Niubei already. Strange, but possibly true? I guess we can't really know for sure until you can tell us more, but it's very interesting.
This past week you have been doing great on your potty, especially at school. Actually, particularly at school, even wanting me to let you go potty in another classroom’s bathroom on our way out on Friday. Keep up the good work kid!
We went into Westerville after school on Friday and stopped at Once Upon a Child (which you promptly stated was “Maliana’s store” upon seeing the sign), and then your first visit to Great Harvest Bread Company. They give huge hunks of bread for samples and so we got a carton of chocolate milk and just sat outside, munching on a piece of their apple cinnamon bread. Your Lao Lao used to come here all the time when she worked in Westerville, so of course I had to text her a picture of you…
We headed back to Westerville for 4th Fridays tonight. When we finished dressing you and said you looked very pretty, you looked at yourself in the mirror and turned around saying “Very Nice”, just like the character Borat from the movie. It was perfect timing and used so appropriately, Daddy and I cracked up. We had a ball once we got to 4th Fridays, meeting your buds Cassidy and Carter there. It was a beautiful night and by the end of the evening, you were very silly and the biggest social butterfly at Dairy Queen. We ran into one of your teachers, saw Mark, Jenny, Roman, and Natalia too, as well as Lao Lao. You were in heaven with so many people you adore in one place! We even stopped by Uncle Flint’s apartment on the way home, a great way to top off the evening.
You even surprised us on the way home, recognizing the street where we turn off to go to your school, saying “Maliana’s school” and pointing to it, even in the dark, without being able to see very much at all. How in the world do you know these things?
This morning, Sunday, I woke up to a nice long Eskimo (or “nosey” as we call them) kiss. Just one of those quiet moments in the morning, laying in bed, and you lean over and do something so sweet ~ a terrific way to wake up!
Of course, poor thing, the sweet moments definitely went out the window for you a little later in the morning. Daddy told me that you were downstairs playing with him and evidently he must have had gas because he let one rip. Unfortunately for you, right at that moment you decided to run over onto his lap, quickly raring your head back and sticking your tongue out like you tasted something really bad and saying, “Eww, Daddy, yucky!!” Poor kid…sorry you had to take one for the team on that one!
Roman and Natalia came to play with you and go to the park this morning so I could get some grocery shopping done, wearing you out nicely so you also took a great nap. Once awake, we all got ready to go to Shawn and Jen’s house for a visit and some ice cream and for the first time ever, you tried to kick Daddy and I out of your room, saying “Maliana’s room.” Ordinarily I would be offended, but you weren’t really malicious about it and I just thought it was really neat to see you claiming your own space and room, after spending so much time without much to call your own back in China most likely. It made me feel good to see you confident in having a place to call your own.
We went to Shawn and Jen’s tonight as they are leaving for China in just 3 short days to bring Niubei home! You kept looking at pictures of her and saying “Maliana, Niubei”. It was really cute to see you so excited. We are definitely looking forward to the future when you girls can play together ~ what fun lies ahead for us all! By the time we left tonight, you were so tired. You had become what we call “drunk Mali”. You aren’t the kind of kid who has fits and meltdowns when you get tired, you just get EXTREMELY slaphappy. It is quite hilarious! You stayed awake the whole way home, singing songs with me and then of course, whenever Daddy and I tried to talk, you decided to get much more loud and boisterous, copying particular points of our conversation, just so you could join in. It is also pretty darn comical!
You couldn’t get enough of looking at pictures of Niubei.
I also think we are going to have to seriously consider adopting a cat soon…you LOVE their kitty Sierra (as you can see from the photo.)
Love,
Mama
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