Happy Labor Day!!

Maliana ~

It's been another great week, although not without some additional challenges.

Monday morning as Daddy got ready for work, you watched the DVD I (with Lao Lao's help) put together for your first Gotcha/Family Day, a slide show of pictures from your referral photos all the way until your first anniversary with us, set to all sorts of your favorite songs. Anyway, Daddy said you watched it, sang along with the songs, and even did some of the hand motions that you and I have come up with. Daddy said it was pretty hysterical! You have also been watching this at other times throughout the week as well. I love that you are really enjoying it. That was the whole point! Lao Lao said she'll probably need to burn you another couple copies to prevent over-use, which is a really good idea.

As for the challenges this week, it's been a big adjustment for you and I both. I am working an extra hour every day at work, which means that you are now napping at school. You are having some trouble sleeping as much as you should, and with my working extra, we are both coming home a little crankier this week. By the end of the week, you were sleeping a little longer at school, which was great. I know this is just an adjustment period, but boy, was this week a bit tough. Hopefully next week will be better.

On Tuesday when I picked you up, your teachers actually suggested you start to wear your big girl underwear to school since you are doing so well. We went out and bought you some more pairs immediately after school. What a big step - I am so excited for you!

On Wednesday, the first day in big girl underwear, of course you had what I would call a "defiant pee" at home. You did great at school, but after me asking you to potty numerous times at home, you purposely peed all over the floor in the kitchen. Arrgghh! This coincided with your insistence on a M&M and when I wouldn't give you one (since you peed on the floor versus the potty), you had a tantrum. We ended up with you "taking a break" in your room for about 10 minutes to get all of the frustrations out and then rejoining me in the kitchen, as right as rain. Thank God we figured out how to get through those moments, which are becoming more frequent this week. I feel like a fish out of water, not knowing what is best for you when you get so upset. I get so excited with these little triumphs - all part of being a new mom I guess.

On a more upbeat note, here are a few highlights from this week...
Here you are washing your new car. You are so excited that we ALL have new cars now!

















I took you creekin' after we took Dilly bars to Daddy's office on Wednesday - you had soo much fun! You loved your new creekin' shoes and exploring with all of the ducks and critters in the creek!

















I couldn't get any pictures of you actually in the creek because I was too afraid of getting the camera wet, but take my word for it, you had a ball!!













Here you are, wrapping it up after creekin' - a little wiped out but looking cute as ever in your new dry outfit.

















On Thursday, we hung out at home and you and I caught our first butterfly! We put it in the bug jar that Wai Gong made for you and while you weren't too sure about getting too close to the jar (since it was flitting about inside like mad), you were very excited about photographing it from a distance.

On Friday, you took Lao Lao and rode your tricycle all the way around our block all by yourself for the first time ever! You are getting so good at riding your bike and only lost control a few times (below is one of those times, notice your face!)


















Saturday morning was a ton of fun for us all - your first Rock My Bao Bao class! It's a class for kids 3 and under (and their parents) through Central Ohio Families with Children from China, to help with the bonding process and learn about Chinese music, words, and culture through singing and movements. You jumped right in and loved it! It was also wonderful to see all kinds of families that looked like ours and everyone seems very nice. I can't wait for your next class!





















You wore your big girl undies to this class too, so suffice it to say we were a little nervous but you did great! Dry the whole time! You also were so excited about this new Snoopy shirt and loved the pockets in your jeans. In fact, you are currently insisting on carrying money in your pockets anytime your outfit has them...usually we give you two nickels (one for each pocket). You love your money!

Saturday night we went to dinner for Uncle Micah's birthday. You had fun running around the tables with your BFF Adrianna (Micah's niece). You two are hilarious together and I have never seen you hit it off with another kid so well. It probably has something to do with your being almost exactly the same age. It is awesome to see you being so darn silly, giggling the whole time at God only knows what! In fact, you two were so smitten, you were inseparable all the way up until Adrianna drove away!


















On Sunday, we all felt a little under the weather. We stayed home most of the day except for you taking us on a trike ride around the block. I tried to get some pictures but for the first time ever, you yelled at me "No pictures Mama!" It only took you 14 months to get completely sick of your mammarazzi! Before bed, you also turned around and told me "Rock on Mama" and gave me some little devil horns - ha! It was pretty funny. I never know what you are going to do next!

Given how sick we have all felt, we were thankful for a 3 day weekend and took advantage of Labor Day to relax and take it easy. This morning we ate peanut butter toast (a new favorite of yours) and watched the entire ET movie together. It's an oldie but a goodie - you loved it! I'll have to try to find one of those funky vintage ET dolls for you!

And let me just wrap this up by saying how absolutely, unbelievably, positively proud I am of you. You have worn big girl underwear and pottied, without accidents, for the last 3 DAYS IN A ROW!! I know that accidents and setbacks can happen at any time, but it's all part of the process and no matter what, I am proud of you. I keep telling Daddy how amazed I am. I have this huge sense of accomplishment for you - I can't believe how far you have come in such a short time. You are so smart and when you're ready for something, you just do it. You are just about the coolest kid I know.

Love,
Mama