Chinese New Year, Snow Days, and Cabin Fever

Maliana ~

Lately things have been really good. I am finally coming out of my funk and feeling back to normal and you have been in such a good mood, especially recently. We have had a ton of snow and school has been canceled multiple days as of late. It's felt really good to feel like I've had some of my life back again and be able to be the kind of mama to you that I feel like I have missed due to my depression.

In the evenings at bedtime, you have even been asking to have our little "pillow talks" about how each of our days went. I always love these little peeks into your world and my heart is so warmed that you have grown to love them too. The honesty that comes out when laying with your kiddo in the dark is priceless.

And speaking of bedtime, you decided to hang something up right over our bed. Miss Stenger sent us a thank you card for the Christmas gift we gave her and you thought it was so special that you wanted to have it somewhere that you could read it any time, so you taped it to the wall right over where you sleep. When I told Miss Stenger about it at drop-off one morning, she was so tickled because she said she's never sure if those little gestures mean anything to her kids. Well...it definitely was special to you. Our sensitive little sweetheart!

there it is...right in the middle

And speaking of sensitive little sweethearts...an interesting thing happened over the last couple of weeks in regard to bath time too. On a particularly cold winter day, we were snuggling together on the couch for a bit (one of our favorite winter past-times lately) and I was about to take a shower and get warmed up when you asked if you could take a bath. Then, you asked if we could take a bath together. When I said that our tub was too small and it would be too difficult you became very upset, even to the point of tears. I was so puzzled why this bothered you so much and so I got down and looked right in your eyes and asked what else this was about and why it was so important to you. You immediately went over to the photo album we made for you as a baby of our time in China and flipped to the picture of you and I taking our first bath together in the tub. Everyone that helped us prepare for what to expect during those first days of getting to know each other had told us that baths may be traumatic and so climbing into the tub with you (in our bathing suits) might help make it a little more comforting, so that's exactly what we did for a while. Fast forward to now, I still wasn't sure why this was popping into your head at this moment, but I knew that recreating that bath time was of primary importance so we climbed into the tub (with me in my bathing suit) and I gave you a bath that way. It was so simple and made you so happy. I told you that no matter how big you get, you'll always be my little baby. And I mean it. Even when we're both little old ladies, you'll still be my little baby.

in China (2009)...what a tiny little peanut

As for the last couple of weeks...I think I'll just jot some of the random Facebook posts I've shared with our family and friends. You are always quite the character and keep us smiling, laughing, or saying "Awww..." all the time.

Here you go...

On our way to speech one morning, this happened:
Me: "Man! What is up with all the traffic this morning?!"
M: "I don't know! The weather report said there'd be no cars until Black Friday!"
Me: ???

We picked up some new running shoes for you and this happened:

taking your new running shoes for a trial run...
in the middle of a snow storm that ended up
being a white out in our neighborhood!

On Valentine's Day (a day that we don't typically celebrate very extravagantly since it's such a Hallmark holiday) you requested pink pancakes for breakfast and so this happened a la Daddy (nice job, Dad!):

I love M.W.

Then later that day you spent some time over at Lao Lao's finishing up the last of her Lego kits from Christmas and this happened when I was picking you up from her house:

M: "Lao Lao didn't even help me with the Legos!"
Lao Lao: "Yes, I did!"
Me: "Oooh. Thrown under the bus!"
M: *sighs in disgust* "That's not even a thing!"
#6goingon16

and here's picture proof that you are full of hooey, ha ha!

And finally we wrapped up Valentine's night by making some heart-shaped pizzas together. You love making it into a contest and we all had a fun time. I may not put a lot of stock into Valentine's Day but I sure do love my valentines!

We celebrated the Lunar New Year just this past week as well. In preparation, I came in and spoke with your daycare during my day off for President's Day (the Monday preceding Lunar New Year). It is always entertaining to talk to a group of little kids and you did amazingly well helping me read the book we brought and answering questions about the Chinese New Year holiday.

Then after, we picked up Lao Lao and headed to The Melting Pot for some delicious chocolate fondue. A tasty warm treat on such a cold winter day!

Chinese New Year itself was celebrated at our usual China Dynasty dinner with our Fu group friends. It was fun to eat some yummy food and watch the traditional lion dance. You plugged your ears the whole time because of your sensitivity to loud noises (the drums) but you seemed to enjoy running around with your friends afterwards. I had picked up some "worker man" (as you call them) shoes for you and you were excited to wear your "working man" suit. Since you weren't too keen on taking pictures that night, I could only get a few that (unfortunately) don't reflect a lot of smiles. However I just couldn't resist snapping a pic of you in your suit with Mia and the Happy Buddha. I guess Buddha's smiling enough for the both of you in this photo.

ready to feed the lion some hung bao

too loud for you

Earlier that day, you lost your last front tooth while at school and left this note for the Tooth Fairy...

Dear Tooth Fairy, I want to keep my tooth. Mali.

thanks, Tooth Fairy!

And here is another moment...one of those "mommy reflections" I have from time to time:

"It's the littlest things you commit to memory as a parent that likely mean nothing to anyone else but you simply because it's your kid. Right now in this moment, it's how M likes me to bend her spoon like a ladle when she eats soup and then makes big slurping noises with each bite. Small and silly but true. I love the tiny details in the every day ordinary."

And another random thought that I threw out to Facebook as I helped you with your reading homework:
"When helping your kid learn to read a particularly difficult word, does anyone else get so excited that they cheer/scream/jump up/clap loud enough to scare the crap out of your kid (AND your dog) when they finally get it right? Anyone? No? Just me?"

And finally, we just wrapped up a major snow storm this past weekend as well. I think we got somewhere around 5-6 inches in one day. It may not seem much to some parts of the country, but it was enough for us central Ohioans to thoroughly freak out while driving and race to bundle up and run out to romp in the winter wonderland. We definitely took advantage of the crisp, beautiful, fresh white powder with sledding in the neighborhood and some more snow fun at home. Here are some of the posts I shared from our recent snowy days:

all of the snow and below freezing temperatures aren't
quite as bad as long as you have a little bit of
sunshine and a kick-ass pair of shades!

"Hey Mom! You want to 'science study' snowflakes with me?"
(discovering that no two snowflakes are exactly alike,
just like people!)

making snow cones with our maple syrup...yum?

making homemade snow cream with my little peanut ~ it turned out delicious!

And finally, after all of the playing in the cold, you warmed up inside with a piping hot pizza.

practicing for college by attempting to eat an entire veggie
pizza while in bed watching TV

Love,
Mama

P.S.
And this just in...we have officially derailed as of late Sunday night...here, see for yourself.

attempting to peel a banana with your feet ~ crazy kid!
#cabinfever