Boing, Boing, Boing...Bouncing into the birthday week!

Maliana ~

You have had me cracking up all week, and made me proud a time or two as well!

First, here's the status that began our laughter this week...
Theresa Hart ~ Mali's eating apples tonight and touching her throat...concerned, I asked if she was ok. She happily replied "Yeah, I'm ok! I keep eating apples and I'm going to get an apple!" (AKA adam's apple) LOL

Later that same night, you slept in your bed for the first time. We tucked you in, and you were so giddy, and excited to be a big kid in your own bed, and also excited about the freedom of being on your own in your room. This was evident by the padding of little footie jammies jumping down off your bed, scurrying across your floor, and then down the hall to spy on me in the kitchen. As I turned around, I'd hear giggling as you hightailed it back to your room. Eventually, I snuck down the hall right outside your door, and the next time you tried sneaking out and rounded the corner to the hallway I yelled, "You are so BUSTED!" and scooped you up, giggling like an ornery little maniac. All of this of course was heard by Daddy from the other end of the baby monitor. Pretty funny stuff. Finally, I snuggled up in your loft and tickled your back while singing to you and you were out in a matter of minutes...works like a charm, every time. Throughout the week, you've been sleeping in your bed and staying there at least half the night, even making it until about 5:30am on Friday morning. It's not perfect, but it's progress! To be honest, I secretly love when I hear that squeaky little "Mommy?" through the monitor and you end up coming in our bed to snuggle at 3:30am. It's like my "mommy drug".

As for speech this week, I am happy and proud to announce that you kicked butt! I told you that we could go to the playground across the street if you cooperated and tried really hard, and you did! You were so excited and ran from place to place the entire time we were on that playground. You even made some friends while there, but not before sticking up for a kid who was being picked on. You were all on the swings and one older boy was bothering his little brother, with his little brother repeatedly telling him to stop. When the older one wouldn't quit kicking at the younger one, you stopped swinging and stood up to the older one and said, "Hey! He said stop!" I love that you stood up for another little kid like that. It was a cool moment for me as a parent to see you take a stand (completely appropriately) for the little guy, against the big guy no less. And what's even cooler is that the little brother ended up being your playmate the rest of the time there. You're awesome girl.

On a tough note this week, Uncle Joe had to go to the hospital with what they thought was an appendicitis or gallstones, but now they aren't sure what it was. While he and Aunt Tina were busy in the ER, you and I headed over to their house to walk their dogs and say hello to their turtles. You walked in and kissed each dog, then later said, "Hi little buddy!" to the turtles. You loved walking the dogs and we both loved helping out friends. Now we just hope they can figure out what is wrong with Uncle Joe and help him feel better soon.

walking Scootie and Zootie

In the middle of the week it was unseasonably warm...I mean, REALLY warm for February...nearly 70 degrees! Since you have been fighting sleep lately, I decided to get you all ready for bed and then take a long walk in the warm evening with you under the moonlight. We loaded the stroller with blankets and a big fluffy pillow and headed out. My plan did not work in tiring you out, as you chittered and chattered the whole way, even yelling to a woman who was out walking her dogs, "Hi! I like your flashlight!" Ha ha. Regardless of whether it worked in getting you sleepier or not, it was nice to spend time in the quiet darkness and look at the stars with you.

Having that nice quiet evening walk with you got me to thinking. Lately I've been feeling like we've all been way too into the computer or TV, burying our noses for way too much time each night. I didn't think we'd have to worry about this until you were much older. So, Thursday of this week I decided to ban turning any of that on for most of the evening. Instead, you and I turned on some music and made jambalaya together, then you gave me a makeover. And oh, what a makeover it was. When you were finishing up, I asked you, "Do I look pretty?" to which you replied, "Nope! Like a bad guy!" Ha!

Mama's little helper

my "bad guy" face a la Mali

Later that night, we tried to tuck you in again, which you fought as usual. Initially you said you'd go to bed with Daddy if we let you wear your monkey Halloween costume. So we did. But that only lasted a little bit. You complained you weren't tired, so we agreed to let you read in bed with a flashlight for a while...and here you are. You are so cute.

On Friday I left work early so I could help our friends You You and William with their car that had broken down. Before I left them, they made sure to send me with a bunch of candy to give you for your upcoming birthday. So nice of them!

Thank you Ziying and Zuchao!

Also, when I finally did pick you up, you were playing on some kind of pre-school type stilts in your classroom. You were doing pretty good on them too. I didn't even know you could do that!

Once home, a big line of storms hit Ohio, as well as surrounding states. Before the major thunderstorms stopped at our house, you wanted to use your umbrella and take a walk with Abby in the drizzle. We pretended to be "exploring" (your choice of words) and spotted all kinds of "jungle animals" in the neighborhood (imaginary of course). We weren't going to let a little rain ruin our safari.

And finally, Saturday was the big day this week. You had your fourth birthday party at the World of Bounce. You and I ran out in the morning to get your balloons and unfortunately they were all out of Justin Bieber (you really stuck with that choice all this time) balloons at the closest Party City store. So, rather than taking this opportunity to force encourage you to choose different balloons, I drove all the way across town so you could have your inflated Justin Bieber heads bobbing above your cupcake table. Oy. I didn't think I was that kind of mom, but I guess I am.

Thankfully you took a two and a half hour nap before the festivities, which helped you bring your true self to the party (rather than the seldom seen but greatly feared 'sleep-deprived super grump' version). That, along with all of our wonderful friends who were able to make it to the party, made it a hugely successful event. You kids all played amazingly well together, there were (surprisingly) no tears from anyone, and you floated around to various friends, having a blast and spending time with everyone. I could barely keep track of you as you raced from inflatable to inflatable, and my only regret was that I couldn't get more pictures of everyone bouncing and having fun. I was very proud of you for eventually going down the super slide all by yourself (previously you had been scared of it), but even more proud of how you were so polite to all of your guests and as you opened presents you looked for each card, and said thank you's to everyone for their generosity. Even Lao Lao made a comment on the way home that you are one of the most well-behaved (almost) four year olds she knows. On that drive home, you were so giddy. Forget about sleep, you (and all of us) were walking on clouds just thinking about how well everything went...it's not even officially your birthday yet, and we've had the best time already!

listening to the rules of the bounce room

what a good little rule follower!

Lao Lao and I even got in on the fun!

wheee!

there you go!

oh Joe, Tina, and Daddy...you're so silly!

Daddy, you, and Sammy heading down the big slide together

now just you and Sammy...all the way down by yourselves!

racing Daddy

completely solo ~ look at you go!

group picture...whew! that was tough but we got one!

and now your silly faces...by this time you were so POOPED and ready
for pizza and cupcakes, but if you look at some of your friend's faces, they are
pretty funny, especially Carter and Mia's when they spotted Daddy with his
big belly sticking out trying to get you all to laugh

you, Sammy, Mia

the kids' table

your throne for the afternoon

listening to everyone sing you 'Happy Birthday'

the infamous Bieber cupcakes

sweet sweet Niubei, who sung you 'Happy Birthday' in sign
language with the help of her Mommy
(it brought a tear to my eye)

saying one of your many thank you's

Mommy playing a mean joke on you...you had opened the present
and the box was all plain white. I said, "That's it! That's your present!
Now say thank you to Memaw and Papaw!" You were thoroughly confused
but said thank you anyway. So proud of your manners!
(eventually you opened the box to see your actual gift...I'm not THAT mean!)

loving on the Chinese New Year dragon that Papaw was
finally able to get you from Build a Bear

the very special panda that Papaw hand carved for you!

me tearing up while thanking Papaw...we later learned he had
been working on this gift for you ever since you came home

high on sugar! look at Sammy's icing covered face!

looking comfy on your throne

a close up shot of the panda...Papaw is so talented!
an amazing wood carver and this gift will forever
be a keepsake to be treasured in our family

Papaw's signature on the panda...you call Papaw "Hym" for
some reason...we think you were trying to say "Tim" (his name)
and well, it just stuck

After such a fun crazy time on Saturday, Sunday was a relaxing day with a leisurely breakfast and playtime with all of your new birthday toys. Just before I went running, I snapped a few pictures of you and Daddy in "Mali's Diner".

multi-tasking...feeding your baby while you eat too

Later Lao Lao came over and helped me make microphone cupcake cones for your friends at school on Tuesday (your actual birthday). As much as we love your help, it was probably a good thing we got the majority of these done before you woke up from your nap. They were trickier than I thought, and don't look nearly like I had hoped (although still pretty cool), but luckily you four year olds don't have the highest standards when it comes to that kind of thing. As long as there is sugar involved, you kids are pretty easy to please.

Not much more to report the rest of the evening, just the usual romping, wrestling, laughing, and okay, occasional power struggle and tantrum that accompanies life at our house.

Happy birthday this week Mali...we've had a wonderful time already and can't wait until Tuesday when we can officially call you our FOUR year old!!

Love,
Mama

Oh, and P.S.
On your birthday eve eve, you unfortunately woke up a few times in the night. However, these turned out to be good surprises after all. The first time you woke up was because you had to go to the bathroom (a good step in the right direction for staying dry all night) and the second time was due to a bad dream. While the nightmare wasn't the best experience, what WAS amazing is the fact you requested to be put back in your OWN bed! Daddy and I couldn't believe our ears! You really are growing up in so many new and wonderful ways! Love you birthday girl!