February...the Ups Far Outweighed the Downs

Maliana ~

So, this month will be a bit different. Obviously, I'm running a tad behind lately. I have been battling my own brand of ups and downs which have had me simply not feeling like myself. Between the crappy weather, my back having been kinked for weeks, and concerns over my loved ones, it's been overwhelming and a chore just to get myself out of bed some mornings, and an even bigger task to keep things somewhat normal so that I don't burden your days with grown up stuff. That being said, I thought I'd just do a big "photo dump" for this blog post. It's a bit easier and about the best I can do with my struggles as of late. Looking forward, I am very hopeful that March will be better. Promise.

At the beginning of the month, we attended a Valentine box decorating party at the Cleft Lip and Palate Center that I, along with staff and other moms on the Parent Advisory Committee, helped plan. After the party, you, Daddy, and I ate lunch in Children's Hospital cafeteria and you announced, "I'm not scared anymore of getting my bone graft!" Much of that likely due to getting to come to the hospital for fun (non-scary) stuff like this. We got to tour the entire remodeled CLPC clinic and hear loads and loads of anecdotes illustrating how much the staff loves what they do and care for the kids. It's a great reminder of what we already know and a wonderful reassurance for us as current patients. Love Nationwide Children's Hospital!

After we finished there, Kristy (Jos's mom) called and asked if you would like to join them for an impromptu trip to COSI. Umm...heck yeah! You had a fantastic time and we are so thankful for their friendship. As you will see below...there is a picture of a text that Kristy and I exchanged showing just how fondly you think of them. So sweet.

And with no further ado...the "Photo Dump"!

discovered your cowboy boots...again

soaking this in...it rarely happens anymore so
when you fall asleep on me nowadays, I
don't dare move an inch...love this!

A post from Facebook...important message. I love listening to you.

exploring with Maddy on a warm day

we had Courtney over for a fire...she is now a Buckeye
(living here from San Diego) and we are so excited
to add her to our list of "framily"!

Juan hung out for a bit at our fire too

protecting yourself from the smoke...
(actually, pretty smart idea!)

you were digging Lao Lao's hat

adorably engrossed in Harry Potter 

I forgot to post this before...but this is the
bag with your secret tooth and a note that
you left for the Tooth Fairy...note that
you wrote here it was "speshler" (aww!)

note for the Tooth Fairy

Suzy loves her sibling...same situation every night

good friends rock

Valentine Party at Children’s with the
Cleft Lip and Palate Center 

trip to COSI with your bud, Jos and her family

awww

yee haw and giddy up!

a little motherly advice for my kiddo who is well on
their way to embracing themselves whole-heartedly

way cool kid

jumping on the bridge to check for trolls

lion dance for Chinese New Year

home of the Happy Buddha 

first library card!

spontaneous sledding trip before dark

my Valentines Day card from you 

I love it

cousins 

Courtney and Brandon
(B was visiting his sister from San Diego)

ready?

Joey

Sam

Alex

and...you got a little stuck

wipe out!

into the woods

about to go exploring with Sam

Papaw and his camera

Daddy

homework 

loving your new desk

pool time or snow time?

school's out so you went to a day camp
at the zoo (and loved it!)

making a volcano with Lao Lao 

hunting for a new couch

behind the scenes of our silly shot at White Castle
(what you requested for dinner after furniture shopping)

crave nation!

this desk is magical, you came in and sat
down to do homework without being asked!

gettin' yer hairs did

the streaks didn't stay long but they
definitely looked cool while they lasted

you and Maddy, deep in imagination land

picnic!

I never know what I'll get when
you have Daddy's phone

olives!

we helped welcome Delilah Ann (our littlest cousin by Blake and Allie)
into the world on Feb 20th as well...Aunt Lori would be over the moon!

and once home...Bentley was determined
not to be outdone by his new sister, Delilah

the rock in our neighborhood that you just
have to climb onto every time we pass it

Daddy and I had a nice Sunday morning chat with you
here and I just thought you looked so beautiful in the sunlight

And one more silly Mali-quote before I sign off...you crack me up.

So, even though I may be having some tough times (personally)...I am ever so grateful for your sweet, comedic relief. All you have to do is be yourself and I can't help but smile. You are such a gift.

Love,
Mama

Surgery Prep for Bone Graft

Maliana ~

So, on January 22nd we headed to OSU to get your 'secret tooth' pulled to make way for your bone graft this spring. They say you'll need to heal for 2 months before the next surgery. This time around I am happy to report that there really wasn't much anxiety before the procedure. Audrey went with us and it was a huge support. She helped distract you all morning and as we waited in the lobby for your turn, you each took turns drawing portraits on my phone. They were pretty good too! She was also so sweet to bring you a stuffed lion that you could cuddle and help you be brave. So thankful to have her in our lives. We all were fairly happy and giggly all the way up until you saw the room where it would all go down. That'sounds when you whipped out your super human strength and were all tears and muscles until the gas knocked you out. I think it took myself, as well as 3 nurses to hold you down!

on our way from the parking garage into
the medical center at OSU

portraits!

Audrey was trying to get you to wake up a bit afterwards

Later that afternoon, Papaw came over to see how you were doing. You were dang near back to normal already. We were catching him up on everything and you told him, "I was freaking out". When I shared how you were kicking us, you contradicted me and said, "I wasn't kicking you, I was just trying to run away from you guys". True enough.

It was actually extremely impressive by how quickly you bounced back from it all. By Saturday morning, you were pretty much your old self again. And actually, I was thankful for that because I had had a raging headache and backache off and on for a while and in spite of what you'd been through, all on your own you extended yourself to help me. You see, Daddy and I had a surprise party to attend that evening. I needed to rally, and fast. You came up with the idea to give me a back massage and assist with my makeup to help me out and get me ready. I was taken aback by your spontaneous generosity, in spite of having felt somewhat crappy less than 24 hours before. And you did a dang good job too! You are amazing.

the best assistant ever! I was ready to party!

And in that same vein, the one thing that stood out to me through all of this was your crazy and infectious laugh. That Woody the Woodpecker giggle that you do when you get excited. It amazed me that all around your rather big and scary events this weekend, you still maintained that beautiful attitude and magical laugh. Love that about you.

The rest of the weekend we took it easy but did go bowling (to combat our cabin fever) and had a birthday lunch for Flint at P.F. Chang's.

using my selfie stick...not bad!

One hurdle down, one to go! Bone graft...we're ready for you! We got this!

Love,
Mama

Friends, Family, and Our First Snow

Maliana ~

We started the new year pretty well, enjoying a family game night just before you had to return to school after break. It was so much fun and we all laughed so hard. I love our little tribe so much!

And I do just have to say that I adore the relationship you have with Suzy, which has been steadily growing over the last 6 months in particular. There is just something so sweet about the subtle little ways the two of you interact.

You also latched on to one of Daddy's old beanies and wore it for a few days in a row recently as well. I have to say that if I looked this cute in a beanie, I'd probably wear it every day too! Go Irish!

on this night you also wanted your hair colored
when I did mine. you are 7 going on 17!

And your most recent Mali-isms have included:

~ A Christmas tree skirt is now a "tree curtain".
~ As we lit a candle so you and I could meditate, you called the candle wicks, "candle twix". Ha.

Love these little words of yours.

Our second official weekend of 2016 was spent with a KCAP class and then a special visit from our friends, Ziying, Zuchao, and Lucas. They drove all the way up from Wooster and it was so nice to spend time with them again. I wish they still lived closer but I am so grateful that we have all kept in touch and that their lives are going so well. It was also interesting to see you compete with Enle for attention. It made me think that as much as you say you'd like a little sister, I wonder if you really understand how much our family dynamic would change. Sibling rivalry is tough!

as we prepared for our visitors, I found you
sitting in your bed wearing your new storm
trooper mask and whispering to your lion
(are we about to be invaded?)

Lucas liked your mask too

Zuchao, Enle, and Ziying

chili for dinner!

checking out our bunnies

going for laundry basket rides

I think Enle liked our cupcakes

The very next day we slept in (yesss!) and woke up to a light covering of snow on the ground! Yay! Exciting stuff. You were thrilled to finally get to put all of your snow gear to use. You played outside on your own with Suzy for a while and then later Daddy took you to the hill in our neighborhood for a few runs on your innertube. (Thank you for braving the cold with our munchkin today, Daddy!) He said you were all squeals, giggles, and excitement the whole time. You even had enough energy to insist on walking the entire way home while Daddy drove at about 2 mph in the car next to you. Silly kid!

Unfortunately, the snow gradually melted the rest of that week but it stayed cold enough to keep us shivering.

Memaw also had a big week by having a surgery she has needed for years. She was a bit nervous and I am happy to report that it all went well, even though she has a fairly long and pretty sore recovery ahead of her. You were a bit shy when we visited her in the hospital that first day, but became pretty concerned about her later. We got this picture from Daddy the next day and you were relieved to see her up and walking around. She came home later that same night.

As for myself, I had a rough day recently too. Not as rough as Memaw's surgery day, but rough all the same. As I took you to school the next morning on our usual Friday routine, we had this conversation. In spite of my lingering headache, you made me start my day with a laugh.

Me: "Ok, let's hurry! I have to drop you off and get to work. I don't want to be late again."
M: "Would your boss be mad if you were late?"
Me: "Probably."
M: "Well, you tell your boss to keep it weird. Being normal is boring!"
‪#‎keepitweird‬ ‪#‎normalisboring‬ ‪#‎7yearoldwisdom‬


I love how you think, kiddo!

Anyway, we fortunately had a long weekend up next and were able to spend more time with friends. First, a fun dinner at Uncle Joe and Aunt Tina's where you loved hanging with your bud, E. Later that weekend, we hosted a play date for you and your friend Lucy from school. I'm happy to report it went really well and you two were all giggles. 

chilling with E and Beatrice

playing with Lucy

On Martin Luther King Jr Day you and I spent all day together. It was really nice. We shopped, visited with Memaw (and Papaw) to see how she was feeling (sore, but a little better), and put our heads together to use our imaginations to bring to life a house for your LPS made out of cardboard and mosaic tiles (so far). I really truly loved spending this time with you, as every day that goes by brings more and more changes in you as a person. You are still so young, but there is no denying you are growing up. The conversations we have, comments and jokes you make surprise me all the time. And speaking of surprises, you actually gave me a really big kiss out of nowhere that night. You are not the biggest fan of giving bear hugs or kissing mom or dad anymore, so this was so special to me. It truly made my heart swell. I love you so much! Whether it's many or just a few kisses from you, I love you so much!

picking out your paints

since this picture, you have painted and
made a few more adjustments 

Since we celebrated Martin Luther King Jr Day recently, I suppose it was fitting that on a trip to Target the next day, you sang a tribute song to him at the top of your lungs from the family bathroom there. You had been learning it in school and even knew all the sign language for it. Wonder if anyone heard your sweet song? Nothing cuter than a kid singing. The very next day after that you shared with me that you were watching a movie about Ruby Bridges in school too. You described the racism she experienced and said that it made you sad, adding it was hard to watch because you have trouble handling sad things. I admitted that I have trouble watching sad things too. (Like those dang ASPCA commercials...good grief!) Sometimes it's hard to have sensitive hearts like ours. But, I wouldn't trade them for anything. Feelings are nothing to be afraid of and if it weren't for people in the world who deeply care about others, we'd all be in trouble. The people who can empathize are the ones who hold the keys to making the world a better place. I'm proud of that in myself and I'm proud of it in you too. Hang onto that ability, kiddo. It will take you to all of the good places in life. I promise.

Love you tons, my tender-hearted Monkeyfish!
Mama