We're back on track...Happy Halloween!!

Maliana ~

Hi sweetie! After a rather bumpy last week, this week has been much, much better for all of us ~ thank goodness! We are all on the upswing after some great, honest conversations between Daddy and I. That is one thing about your dad and I, our relationship may not be perfect (no one's is), but we have that communication thing nailed, which is half the battle in most cases. We are doing good and thankfully, in spite of having to go to school an hour earlier now, you are also doing well and looking forward to, and happy to be at, school this week. We are all doing better and I am so grateful.

Monday started with my getting to see you do some of your tumbling at school and it was so cute. You were thrilled to see me come a little early and be able to show off your hi-yah kicks, log rolls, and somersaults to me. When you realized that you were going to be able to show off a little, you did this hilarious leap into the air and landed right on your butt, laughing! It looked like it could have been a little painful, but you were absolutely unfazed. I took you out to the car later and I have to mention that you have also been buckling yourself in your car seat lately. Pretty impressive for 2 1/2 years old! Then tonight, you, Daddy, and I carved our pumpkins and you were so excited to light them. You squealed in delight as they came to life as jack-o-lanterns.

sorting the seeds

pumpkin guts



ewww...gross!



checking out the lit jack-o-lanterns

happy with our creations :)

Tuesday, a huge rainbow stretched across our neighborhood, looking spectacular against the sunset's golden puffs of clouds. We were actually able to see both sides of the arc and it was amazing. Of course, I always think of you when I see rainbows since that day that we got our first approval for adopting you from China. There was a double rainbow across the skies of Columbus. Needless to say, rainbows now have a special place in my heart because of you.

Wednesday, I was really exhausted. However, somehow you must have sensed that because you couldn't have been any more helpful. All on your own, you "helped" me get my clothes changed, (directing me on what I needed to put on next, etc) so we could go to the park. You even got my running shoes out of the closet and untied them for me so I could put them on easier. What a kid! We went to the local park and you had a ball running all over the place, climbing, sliding, and swinging on the monkey bars. Then, Lao Lao came over after work and we went for a walk on the running trail behind our house. I thought you were going to be tired after all that running at the park, however you insisted on getting out of your stroller and running some more. Lao Lao had to really work to keep up with you! You are getting so much more coordinated, the bigger you get. We are both so surprised with all that you can do anymore.

c'mon Lao Lao, hurry up!

Thursday was a good day. From the moment I picked you up from school, you had me laughing. As you ate chips in your car seat (fingers and mouth completely orange from the dust), you admonished me after I put some more chips for you on the front of your car seat, saying "No Mama! Dirty!", and brushing the crumbs off with your cheesy fingers, (only slightly ironic, right?) Then, you proceeded to tell me, once home, that your legs were broken and I needed to carry you up the stairs. (What!?!) I guess you are paying attention when we kid you about that, asking "Are your legs broken?", whenever you (usually in a dramatic fashion) try to get us to do something for you that we know you can do on your own. There isn't much that gets by you kiddo.

Thursday night was your first trick or treat in our neighborhood. You wore your rooster costume again (it still fit this year), and were so cute. You were excited to put it on very early, and here is a picture of you after I told you that you still had to wait 2 more hours before we could actually trick or treat. Love the expression!

Lao Lao, Memaw, and Papaw came over and went trick or treating with us. You did really well but were so tired. You lasted about 45 minutes, and then we all hung out at the bonfire in Mark and Jen's driveway, roasting marshmallows, talking, and snuggling. You livened up a little bit, and sure do love Lalie, spending quite a bit of time on her lap.

yes, even Abby dressed up, as a frog...judging by her expression, she is hoping she doesn't run into any of her friends :)

Memaw and Papaw

happily hanging with your Lao Lao

your buddy, Lalie

Friday, was a rough day for a bit, but it got better. I left work an hour early after getting a call that you hit your head on the lunch cart at school and had quite the goose egg right in the middle of your forehead. Evidently, you came tearing out of the bathroom after going potty, and ran full steam into the lunch cart. They felt really bad about it, but you were actually fine after the swelling went down. I got to take a nap with you at home, which was a really nice change for both of us. That is one thing that I do miss sometimes since you are staying later at school, our naps together. Once you woke up, we headed to Lao Lao's work where a lot of people were dressed up in their costumes, and of course people came out of the woodwork to bring you candy. You made out quite nicely.

@ Lao Lao's office

Saturday morning we were supposed to have your Rock my Bao Bao class, but for some reason it was cancelled, although I didn't realize that. Luckily, there was one other mother who didn't know either and showed up for class as well. Instead of wasting the trip, we decided to let you girls play at the playground behind the church and you and Charis (who is about 10 months younger than you) had so much fun! It worked out really well and they actually live really close to us. Hopefully, we can have more play dates in the future. It all happened for a reason - now you have a new friend!

I have been feeling a bit under the weather lately, my throat and head really hurting at certain times this week. On Saturday, you were acutely aware of it, since my voice was so hoarse it was nearly non-existent, and kept asking if I needed big hugs, giving me kisses, and tickling my arms or legs, then asking if I was "happy" (a.k.a. your way of asking if I feel better). It was so sweet. You are such a gentle and caring little person. I love it. Your kindness and helpfulness truly melts my heart.

Saturday night we went to dinner for Jenn Metz's birthday at an Indian restaurant. You tried quite a bit of the food, and really LOVED the coconut chicken. I love that you are so adventurous at trying new things...now if we can just convince your daddy to like Indian food too, we will be set! You also had me laughing today, and at dinner, as you are currently doing what I can only describe as telling jokes now. You will say something, like you are telling a story, and then at the end, gesture with your hands, throw your head back, and laugh at yourself. It is so cute and funny. I can pick out certain words but usually the entire joke escapes me. I would really love to know what your jokes are, but for now, just watching you enjoy yourself and all of your silly antics is plenty for me. Like I told you earlier this week, you make my heart smile.

And finally, today was Halloween! We had a mostly relaxing day at home. You woke up so sweetly, cuddling with me in the morning as soon as you opened your eyes, then continuing with our routine of climbing up onto my chest and me tickling your back, arms, and legs until we both are awake enough to get up and out of bed. Audrey came over to play with us for a couple hours before we headed over to Wai Gong and Memaw Lisa's house for their neighborhood's trick or treat. You wanted to be a dinosaur tonight, and got many compliments on your costume. The best being that one particular couple (who we noticed noticing you from across the street) said, "Hands down, that is absolutely the cutest costume all night". Very sweet.

Audrey Ayi and a cute little dinosaur

Memaw Lisa took you across the street to check out the decorations...you were NOT so sure about this guy

scaring Wai Gong with your dinosaur RAWR!

After only about a half hour, you asked to go home (it was pretty cold tonight). So we headed back to Wai Gong's and I think you may have had even more fun hanging out on the porch and passing out candy to all of the other kids. You cracked us up, acting as the "sidewalk police", yelling, "Move Daddy!! More people!", anytime Daddy (or anyone) would block the walkway up to their porch. You were hilarious kid! I loved it.

getting some extra candy from Wai Gong



having fun giving candy to all of the other kids

What a great day to wrap up a fantastic week. I think I am finally, truly realizing how people feel when they say that they wish they could keep their kids at a certain age forever, basically freeze them in time just as they are now. As we were driving home tonight I was reflecting on you, and telling (or perhaps lamenting to) Daddy that each year you are just going to keep getting bigger and bigger, and while it makes me happy, it also makes me sad because you are just so much fun, exactly as you are now. Part of me, (the selfish part), wishes I could just keep you exactly this size, at exactly this stage, forever. You are such a phenomenal kid and such a blast to be around right at this moment in time...I just don't want you to grow up. I know, I know. That's not fair. And I suspect I'll be saying the same thing about you next year (or even next month for that matter), so everything is fine and just as it should be. I guess my point is that I finally feel like part of that "parent club" that I've heard so much about. I think I just might know (on a visceral level) what everyone means when I've heard them say about their own kids that they just never want them to grow up. As sad as it can be, to think of you growing up and eventually leaving home, it's all still really cool to think of all the possibilities too. I hope to be lucky enough to share in all of the ups and downs, joys and sorrows, challenges and triumphs that is and will be your life. All of it is pretty cool, pretty cool indeed.

Love,
Mama