COSI, Friends, and Dinosaurs!

COSI on Friday, friends over on Saturday, and a birthday party today (Sunday). What a great and busy weekend, Maliana!

Just got back from the coolest birthday party - looking for dinosaur fossils in a cave! It was a ton of fun and you were so excited to go "look for dinosaurs"...we made our own fossils first and then took a short hike to a little cave, climbed inside, and explored with flashlights. You were so brave and since the ceiling was so low, you went ahead and did a little bit on your own. Such a big girl! You wore your dinosaur explorer shirt and vest, which you felt pretty fancy in, and I have a feeling you'll insist on wearing to school tomorrow. The party was for Collin, one of our friends who was also adopted, but from Guatemala. The whole party was full of families of all kinds, adoptive and biological, and it was so neat to see all of those faces together, having fun and loving life. Many of them are in a playgroup together, which Heather (Collin's mommy) invited us to as well, and as we drove home tonight, I made myself a promise to try to get more involved with these kinds of groups for you. I realize how valuable it could be, seeing all of these kids really enjoying each other. On the way home I could tell you had fun at the party because you were such a "chatty Kathy", talking up a storm about all sorts of things, one of them being taking an airplane to Mexico. Mexico? Really? You crack me up with what comes out of your little head lately. Speaking of which, this morning you also began talking to someone named "Hubey" in the bathroom...come to find out, it appears to be a fairly ornery imaginary cow of yours...you're pretty funny kid.

showing off your "dino explorer" patch on your vest

making your fossil

stopping to look for fossils on the outside of the caves

hiking to the cave

taking your little flashlight and checking things out inside the cave

this is cool!

Last night, our friends (the Sheltons) came over and you got to play with Carter and Cassidy. We all ate a bunch of yummy desserts and made hats for the upcoming Chinese New Year, then you kids watched movies downstairs, all cuddled on the couch together. It was so nice to have them over again and we definitely have to make it a habit to get together more often.

being silly with your buddies

making Chinese New Year hats

cuddling

finishing up your Chinese New Year hat

Earlier in the day, you surprised me by digging out your map of China and pointing to Xuwen in southern China, saying "Mali born here". I couldn't believe you remembered this. I haven't shown you or talked about this with you for at least a month or more. Your memory is a steel trap! And I love that these kinds of facts are so important to you already.

I laid down with you for a nap, and while I had many other things to do before we had company, you fell asleep on my chest and I decided to just stay there, snuggled together with you, soaking in every moment of this special opportunity that I know won't last forever. It was one of those times I was glad that I recognized where my priorities lie, and decided to take advantage of this seemingly common, every day moment that could have passed me by, but at least this time, I didn't let it. Feeling your warm little body, laying there contentedly on my chest, was true peace, real life. Thanks for giving me this gift today honey.

my Heaven

After the nap, you and Daddy went to the store together and had been listening to Bruno Mars, "Just the Way You Are", and evidently began singing it together at the top of your lungs throughout the store. Daddy came home, relating this story, and it tickles me every time you and he have these moments together. He also told me that you asked for the song again, and when he asked you what song, you said, "Bruno Mars, Daddy!" Ha ha. Like I said, steel trap! When you got home, you were so excited to surprise me with the cake you had bought for that night, dragging me upstairs saying, "Close your eyes Mommy" and then only letting me open them when we were right in front of the cake. Then, for the next 20 minutes, you kept surprising me with random things around the house. You really enjoyed the thrill of surprising someone else with something they might like, it was too cute!

On Friday, I found out it was Family Night at COSI, so Lao Lao, Uncle Forge, you and I all headed downtown for some science fun! Before they got to our house, you insisted on waiting outside for them, so we both shoveled some snow on the driveway while we waited. You may be small, but you're one strong little booger!

strong as an ox

On the way to COSI, we stopped at Katzinger's Deli and had some yummy sandwiches and their famous pickles! Mmmmm.

We brought your jammies, since we would be out so late, to put on you before leaving the museum in case you fell asleep on the way home. Once at COSI, as we paid our admission, you started to take off your shirt and asking me for your jammies. Evidently you thought we were going to change into your jammies as soon as we got there. How observant you are, I didn't even realize you had heard me talk about bringing your jammies! We hit some of the exhibits and you insisted on doing a fitness challenge after watching some older kids do it. I was pretty impressed that you were actually able to do sit ups and push ups! It was so cute. We hit KidSpace and found the water section, which you had a blast with. I can't believe we hadn't seen that part before! Towards the end of the night, we stopped to get Dippin Dots and you decided to take off your shirt and eat it topless, right in the middle of the lobby. I have no idea why. I figured it didn't hurt anything, so I just went with it. After ice cream, you made Lao Lao chase you in circles while trying to put your coat on, giggling hysterically. Then on the way home, you babbled endlessly, laughing, dancing, and singing non-stop the whole way home, mostly "Party in the USA", but also yelling, "Ni Hao!" and "Xie Xie!" randomly as well. It was such a fun night!

sit ups!

push ups!

yay water! (and Mommy says, "yay raincoats!")

hula hooping with Lao Lao in the Progress section

As for the rest of the week, here's the scoop.

Thursday as we ran errands I played "Lullaby" by the Dixie Chicks and when it came on, you said "That's my song!" and sang along with it. I couldn't believe you knew as many words as you did! Daddy and I had a date night and Memaw and Papaw came over to play with you while we were out.  When Memaw and Papaw came over, you had fun doctoring Memaw with your Dr Kit, ate dinner with them, and had fun playing throughout the night. However, evidently you were adamant about not going to bed until we got home, and Papaw said that about every 15 minutes you were asking where we were. Daddy had picked out a soccer ball (just your size) while we were out and since you were still up when we got home, he gave it to you. You loved it! Even slept with it that night! It was quite a funny sight when I came to bed later. The next morning, you said "Thank you Daddy" again, for your soccer ball. You are such a sweet, thankful little thing!

doctoring Memaw

it's always a little scary when your doctor stops to read the instructions in the middle of your exam

helping Papaw cut the bread for dinner

fast asleep with your new love, the soccer ball

On Wednesday, I took you next door so that I could go run while Natalia watched you for a bit. I love how when I bring you in, you are welcomed so warmly by all of them (Jenny, Natalia, and Roman), and how Romie just whisks you away as soon as we set foot in the door. After I ran, we came home and you painted your wooden dinosaur model. So serious in your focus ~ You were really into it! Then later, your sensitive side came out after I stubbed my toe and was busy saying all kinds of four letter words that no two year old's ears should hear. In spite of my "less than stellar mom moment", you proceeded to crawl between my legs, rub, and kiss my stubbed toe, saying, "It'll be ok, Mommy. Feel better?" Daddy kept trying to tell you to leave me alone, but you wouldn't listen. You were on a mission to help me. Man, you are one in a million. I just hope none of those four letter words come back to haunt me in the future. Ha ha.

On Tuesday bedtime, I got to see firsthand how you recite your books now, actually "reading" 2-3 pages of your "Llama Llama Mad at Mama" book. It was so cool to see. Then, my favorite part was after we had turned out the lights and were settling in, when I felt your tiny little hands searching for my face in the dark, and then once you found me, you leaned over and gave me a salty little "fish kiss" (salty from what I am sure was a slightly runny nose). But, salty or not, it touched my heart. It's funny the kinds of things you embrace once you're a parent. Actually welcoming all kinds of things that, at one point in my life would have been gross but, now are a treasure.

And finally, Monday began the week well. You were in a great mood, reciting a bunch of your Llama Llama books in the car on the way to school. I was early when I got to school to pick you up and so I got to see some of your fancy jumps and tumbles during your tumbling class. You were so proud to show off a little bit, and I thought it was so awesome too when a bunch of kids (and your teacher) surrounded you and rejoiced like crazy when you got your own zipper zipped on your coat before we left. It was so cute! I love that you have that kind of support at school! We headed to McDonald's after school and took our time eating some yummy McFlurries and just hanging out and having fun together. You held your hand up and told me it was your phone, pretending to scroll through pictures and show me each one on your palm. Too cute. Then a bit later, you gave me a big spontaneous kiss. Gotta love those!

Anyway, last week began on a good note, and ended on a superb note! I can only hope this coming week follows suit.

Love,
Mama