What an amazingly packed and fun-filled weekend! Just got back from the Italian Festival with Daddy, you, and our new friends, Angela and her 4 y/o son, Renzo. We had one of the most fun family times here with you last year, so we were excited to take you back this year. You were a completely different kid this year...running all over the place and trying out new things right and left. I'm happy to say, I am completely in love with both of you :) Renzo decided that he wanted to get his face painted, and as soon as he said this, you said that you did too, saying "Mali face painted, same, Renzo" ~ it was soo cute. You surprised Daddy and I by sitting perfectly still for the whole thing (we were very impressed as you'd never had your face painted before)...here is the finished product, a pink and purple sparkly tiger!
Pizza Time!!
Along with an amazing time today ~ we pulled off one of the best surprise parties ever for Daddy yesterday. We threw a surprise 40th birthday party for Daddy last night, out at Dill's Greenhouse. He didn't suspect a thing and everyone had a wonderful time. You ran all over that greenhouse, making your way from family member to friend, playing with everyone and having a blast. We even went on a night hayride in the dark! You know what I got to thinking as I watched the festivities for Daddy, and of course you spreading your joy to each guest? I got to thinking that you and Daddy have one more thing in common, you are loved by soooo many people, naturally, just by being yourselves. That's definitely an amazing gift that you both share. I feel so lucky to share my lives with both of you.
Anyway, we all had a blast...here are just a few photos of the festivities ~
You were so happy to see your cousins Alex and Joey
Here you are with some of Daddy's oldest and dearest friends
Hayride!
Going backwards, here are some other highlights from the week...
This morning, you had me cracking up. I'm so happy to realize today that we are spending enough time with both Mia and Niubei to make an impression on you already. Here are two examples ~ you were searching through my hair accessory drawer, and finally found and put on a headband, turning to me and saying proudly, "Mali's Niubei!" This was especially endearing because Niubei frequently wears these super cute headbands, and I just think it is so sweet that you pick up on these little details. Then a little later, you were walking around the house, saying to yourself over and over again, "Mia, Fred, Michelle, Mia, Mia, Mia" ~ no idea what it meant, but it was so cute.
Saturday, you woke up and sweetly told Daddy "Happy Birthday" in bed. I just love to hear your little voice first thing in the morning. Then, before the party, you, Daddy and I went to eat lunch at North Star Cafe @ Easton. It was so nice and relaxing. You wore your new pumpkin shirt and orange and black striped leg warmers and were so stinkin' cute. As we walked back to the car, Daddy held you and you insisted on me walking close enough so that you could put your arm around my neck too as we walked. I love that you love simply having us three together, as a family. It means so much to me that that kind of thing makes you so happy.
Unfortunately, Thursday was a bit of a rough day. I felt awful when I picked you up at school. Evidently, you had just woken up from a nap, and there was a bit of a miscommunication, and so you had had a poopy accident and were just standing in the bathroom there, with no one helping you. To give them credit, when Daddy took you in on Friday morning, the teachers apologized profusely for the oversight, but it still made my heart break for you. When I took you to the car, you had a tantrum, and neither of us said much on the way home as you just seemed so profoundly sad. When we got home, I asked you if you needed a hug, and you said yes. Then I just sat there, outside the car, rocking you back and forth and whispering to you how I am still so proud of you no matter what, how you are still a big girl, and that being in a new classroom is always hard at first, but it gets easier, and that I love you so much. It seemed to help, as you seemed to feel a bit better once we went inside. It has been a hard week since this has been your first full week, all morning long, in the "big kids" classroom. You are expected to know when you have to potty, get to the bathroom and wipe, all by yourself. You have been doing exceptionally well, however like any big transition, especially with these new expectations, it has been a challenge. I am hopeful and pray that next week will be easier for you.
On Wednesday, it was another tough day. I call it our "Grumpy Girls Day 2010". We went to Easton to paint some pottery for Daddy for his birthday (you picked out a rice bowl and did a super job!) Well, we both were grumpy with not much patience for anything or each other, so I decided to stop fighting it, and embrace it. I acknowledged it, asking if you were grumpy, and you said "yeahh", then when I asked if you thought I was grumpy, you emphatically said, "Yeah!" So then, after poking a bit of fun at our grumpiness, you and I got some photos in the photo booth, with some of our best 'grumpy faces'. It was fun, in spite of all of our grumbling! After the photo booth, we headed to Starbucks to get some cocoa, which you thought was super cool since you got your own coffee cup like mine. Thank goodness we figured out how to turn even one of our toughest days into a memory maker :)
Daddy's rice bowl that you painted for him. We get to pick it up on Tuesday next week, after it's been all fired and glazed...I can't wait to see the finished product!
On Tuesday, Audrey Ayi and I took you to Children's Hospital for another full team evaluation since it's been 6 months since your palate repair. They were all impressed with how well you are doing. You passed their tests with flying colors, and while you have some work to do with your speech, it's nothing that wasn't expected and with how smart you are and how much you put your heart into everything, I am hopeful that our next evaluation will be just as great, if not even better. If I said it once, I'll say it a million more times, I'm proud of you no matter what. You had Audrey and I laughing all afternoon, and it was nice to have Audrey there as she also made the 3 plus hour evaluation much more bearable and a lot more fun. You particularly had us cracking up in the parking garage as you told us to "Huwwee up! Winwee outside!!" (hurry up! it's windy outside!) You are so dang adorable!
On Tuesday night, we took dinner over to Niubei, Shawn, and Jen again. It was great to see them. Bei Bei is getting sillier and sillier, just like you. I also got to see the first inklings of something like "sibling rivalry" in that you are trying hard to adjust to sharing the attention of everyone with Bei Bei. It's very interesting to me, particularly since I didn't have siblings very close in age to me. I am looking forward to seeing how this all plays out and how you work this out for yourself. I have a feeling though, like I've said before, once Bei Bei is up and as mobile as you, you girls are going to be hilariously unstoppable!
Finally, a few more adorable notes. On Sunday night of last week, you surprised me and were so helpful. After brushing your teeth, you went into our room, turned on the sound machine, picked out some books, and climbed into bed, all by yourself! I couldn't believe it. Then, the next day, you began something else new, talking back to Mickey Mouse on the Disney channel and also responding to your toys that talk...it's the funniest thing! You also started a new tumbling class at school on Mondays and you LOVE it so far. In fact, later this week, you started doing somersaults everywhere and jumping up, saying "Ta Dah!" And on Monday, you, Daddy, Abby, and I walked to the park after dinner. It was something so simple, however so special. You were running up and down the jungle gym, sliding over and over again ~ boy how much you have changed since this time last year! Daddy and I had such a good time, watching you have fun, and playing together as a family. We've waited for these simple joys for so long, we're so glad you are home.
Love,
Mama
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