"NO Whining in NOvember" is off to a pretty good start!

Maliana ~

Well, November started splendidly! November 1st was a beautiful sunny day so you and I packed a snack and hit the trail with Abby, ending up on the playground after school. We played for a long time and then you insisted on walking the entire way back. You actually ran about ¾ mile all on your own (doing this little criss cross thing with your arms that you told me was how you got your energy, then you’d take off and show me how fast you could run = very cute). You topped it off by pushing the jogging stroller all the way up the enormous hill back to our neighborhood! I was truly impressed with your stamina!

nom nom nom

trying out running with the jogging stroller like Mommy

scouting ahead on the trail

the infamous "criss cross" thing, to "get more energy"

you pushed that stroller ALL the way up that hill ~ you are STRONG!

After we got home, a nurse met us and did some blood work, etc (life insurance stuff for me), and you peppered her with questions. She even made a comment about how inquisitive you were. You wanted to know about EVERYthing she was doing. Then when Daddy got home, you requested that he take you on a date into Westerville where you had dinner with him. Daddy was so tired when he got home for work, but there is no way he could say no to a date request from you.

November 2nd did not go as “splendidly” as the 1st, unfortunately. You and I had a MAJOR blowout after school that began because you simply refused to get into your car seat, and then escalated from there. Whew doggie…you can fight girl! Once home, and after a timeout, I had you on my lap and was trying to talk to you about what happened and you fell asleep in mid-discussion. You must not have had a nap that day…so I let you sleep and snuggled with you on my chest for an hour and a half. When you woke up, you felt infinitely better. I’ll have to remember that next time…when you are acting completely out of character for yourself, it is likely because you are running on fumes and desperately need sleep. I should know, I get the same exact way. Just ask Daddy.

We ended the night though with a pleasant surprise. You were singing in the tub and I was amazed to hear you counting to ten, in SPANISH! I didn’t even realize you could do that! I talked to Miss Rachel at school the next day and she said they have been introducing that to you guys lately, and since your brains are like sponges, it’s sticking! It was really cool to hear you do that out of the blue. Now, if we can just work on counting to ten in Chinese too, that would be awesome!

So…the saying holds true that the 3rd time is a charm, at least for us in November anyway. On the 3rd, your behavior was like night and day from the day before. You were cooperative with us the entire day and there was NO whining from morning until night. We filled your responsibility & reward chart up with praises! You even went in and picked out a book for bedtime and when you had a question, you actually said, “Excuse me Mom”. (Huh?) Honestly, Daddy and I were a little freaked out. Ha ha. But we’ll take it! You got the biggest satisfied smirk when I thanked you and gushed about how happy I was with your behavior before turning out the light at bedtime. Thank you again sweetie…you have no idea how nice that was.

It was Lao Lao’s birthday this week, so we got to see her a few times. We had her over on her actual birthday for enchiladas and mini chocolate cupcakes.

Happy Birthday Lao Lao!

make a wish!

Then we met Lao Lao and her friends out at On the Border for dinner and drinks another night too. We showed up early and at that time, there was only one of her friends there when we arrived. You looked around the big table and asked her, “Why you only have one friend?” Ha ha.

When we came home from dinner, you must have still had your sassy pants on because when I was being silly and singing in the kitchen you came in and looked at me, slightly amused/annoyed and said, “Really?” Geesh…I thought I had at least 9 more years before I’d be able to truly embarrass or aggravate you with my singing! And by the way…how do you know about these expressions?!?

Saturday morning we were getting ready to go to your China class with our Fu friends, and you were asking if Michelle and Mia would be there, which led to you asking about baby Freddy and then onto your asking about why baby Freddy grew in Michelle’s belly and whose belly you grew in as a baby. I said that some people grow babies in their bellies when they want children and some people adopt babies like we adopted you. I also said that we really didn’t know for sure whose belly you grew in but that you were born in China and your birth mom probably lives in China. Then I asked you what your ideas were about your birth mom. After some discussion, you told me that her name was Ellia (spelling?) and that she was tall with long red hair. Hmm…ok. I suppose she can be whatever you want her to be. I like that you are starting to fill in the blanks for yourself now. I know that these details, thoughts, feelings, etc will change multiple times over the years…but I love that we are beginning to discuss them now. It’s fascinating to me and I hope you always know that I will welcome these discussions, no matter what you have to say.

We had fun at China class, making crafts and learning a few new words. It was nice to see the other kids too, and this group of parents is wonderful. Having a network of people who have shared our similar experience and simply “get it” is great for all of us.

painting a huang (yellow) sun

sorting and gluing hong (red) pictures
(you LOVE glue sticks!)

sitting on the porch with Jaden

This weekend was mostly a lazy weekend other than our venture to China class. You had Daddy and I cracking up with your impressions of the stars from Lemonade Mouth…bouncing around the house with your jacket thrown open in a feisty pose, singing “You know it! You know it!” like the lead singer of Mudslide Crush in the movie.

"You know it...You know it!"

Sunday morning you got to go on a breakfast date with Lao Lao. You insisted on wearing your Santa Claus footie jammies that I had bought for you the night before. You LOVE these things. Luckily, at 3 years old, you can get away with going to Panera in footie jammies, and to tell you the truth, some days I wish that were the case at 36 years old too. Evidently, you were a chatterbox with the people there and when some others came over to talk to Lao Lao about you and ask you questions, you looked at them and then back at Lao Lao (slightly puzzled) and asked, “Are they your friends?” Of course, that produced big laughs.

making sure Lao Lao is all zipped up

After breakfast, Lao Lao came back over and you introduced her to Lemonade Mouth. I think this has to be the 20th viewing for you. It is a good movie though, with a great message, and Lao Lao enjoyed it too.

Like I said, this weekend was a lazy one, the perfect medicine for a busy week. In spite of the sunshine, it’s been a chilly autumn so I took the opportunity to warm up the kitchen and cook some casseroles (one for us and one for our neighbors that you and Daddy took next door ~ a thank you for them feeding you so often). As you came upstairs and into the kitchen, you sniffed the air and said, “Mmmm…that smells yummy Mommy!” Then when I told you what I was making you said, “Thank you Mommy!” (God, I love you!) That made me feel so good. You are such a sweet, sweet kid!

And as if your praise for my cooking wasn’t enough to make my week…you came in the kitchen to tell me that you actually hung up your jacket all on your own (it’s something we’ve been working on lately, picking up after ourselves, with you hanging up your own jacket being quite the battle)…I was floored! I gushed once again and we slapped multiple high fives. I know, I know. I probably over do it, but I don’t care. Like that old saying goes, “Someday we’ll look back and realize that the little things were actually the big things”…so I will always try to do cartwheels and back flips about the most seemingly minute stuff. Because, when we look back, all that "little stuff" is the stuff that adds up to mean the most.

So…Yay Mali! You go girl! I’m so proud of you…every day.
~insert back flip here~


Love,
Mama