Poll

I'm taking a poll...

Is that the most mischievous little face you have EVER seen??

Christmas 2006 in review

When The Kid came out into the living room Chrismas morning, she totally ignored all the presents and the tree and went straight to Grandmumsy.

Finally acknowledging the presents.

Next year, a KEYTAR! And also note the Blue Mickey Shirt from Santa....a big hit.


















Playing with some of the toys that 'Santa' was too busy (or lazy) to wrap before the BIG fun began.








All in all, we had a wonderful Christmas and hope that all of our friends and family did, too. Check back in a day or so, as I hope to have video of The Kid's first lounge act performance.

Merry Christmas!

For those of you who celebrate it, Merry Christmas! We are hoping Santa will be good to you all this year.

Three birds.....one post

Donna over at Double Happiness is having another Family Fotofun picture challenge. The challenge this week is PIGTAILS! (click on over to see some of the other adorable participants!)

Last week's challenge was PAJAMAS and the challenge before that was Christmas Tree Photos so I should be all caught up now!

Doctor and bed time

Little Miss had her 2 year checkup today (yeah, I know....I'm four months late. Deal.) Anyway, she is on the US growth charts! 10th percentile for height and 25th percentile for weight. She also had to have about 15 gallons of blood drawn and some shots. Needless to say, we got ice cream afterwards.

Here's her newest thing.....we have had variations on this for the last few nights, but this was pretty much how it went down tonight. I put her to bed (which she has ALWAYS gone to bed super easy) and as soon as I get her all tucked in, she jumps up and starts saying "nowantgonightnight nowantgonightnight". We finally get settled from that and then she goes to bed. TONIGHT, she wakes up about 2 hours after bedtime, and is JUMPING up and down in her crib screaming "OWOWOWOWOWOWWOWWW! MAMA! OW! OW! OW!"

I go in and ask her what's wrong. "Knee hurt mama!"
"Which one?" I say.
"Knee hurt mama!"

I pick up her nearest leg and give her knee a kiss. "Thanks mama."
"You are welcome honey. Now go back to sleep."

I go back to what I was doing and five minutes later hear "MAMA!!! MAMA!!!! MAMA!!!! Oh, no! OH, NO!!!"

I try to tell her that everything is fine and just to go back to sleep but she starts crying really hard. I go in her room and she is standing up in bed again and I see tears on her face (I am such a sucker!).

"What's the matter, honey?" I ask.
"Poo, mama! Chay dia!" (change diaper)

There are no *signs* that she needs her diaper changed, but I take her word for it (big mistake). As I suspected to begin with, there was no reason to change her diaper, so I start getting her all dressed again.

"No caca-poopoo, mama?" she asks. "No honey."
"No fahhhhr, mama?" "No sweetie," I answer.
She stands up and gives me the sweetest hug and says, "I sorry, mama. I sorry."

Light a candle

This was from an email I received...
Today, Bristol-Myers Squibb, the pharmaceutical monolith that charges nearly $1,000 for a 30 day supply of one of its HIV/AIDS medications, is donating $1 to the National AIDS Fund for each person who simply visits their website and "virtually lights a candle."

The tally is near 1, 500,000 now.

Please, please take a minute to "light a candle":

http://www.lighttounite.org/

Christmas with Santa

Here is the best Santa picture we have this year.

We went to see the mall Santa a couple of weeks ago and he was a jerk. The Kid wanted NOTHING to do with him so I had to be in the picture with them. All copies have been destroyed....

This was from my company Family Christmas Party. I bribed her to go up to him by telling her he would give her a candy cane. This was her LEAPING out of his lap as soon as she got the loot.

In other news, she DESPERATELY wants a 'blue Mickey shirt' from Santa. I *think* that Santa is going to be able to come through for her as long as the US Postal Service cooperates. She has also mentioned once or twice that she would like a choo-choo train. But I think that is just because ALL SHE TALKS ABOUT IS RIDING THE TRAIN AT THE MALL. Seriously. She is obsessed. This morning when she got up, I asked her if she had fun last night (meaning our Christmas Party) and she said "YEAH! Ride choo-choo train!!" I said "did you ride a choo-choo train yesterday??" "YEAH!!! Choo-choo train!!!" Grandmumsy denies that story.

Tonight when I put her down for bed this was the 'good night list'.

"Nigh-nigh blue Mick shirt!"
*Then mama must repeat*
"Nigh-nigh Santa Claus!"
*Mama repeats*
"Nigh-nigh Aww Pickles!"
*Mama repeats followed by hysterical laughter for a good 10 minutes.

Luck

There is a rumor circulating that come 2007, China will no longer adopt to single parents. When I first heard that, I was pretty upset. Not because I was planning on adopting again (I was going to think about it again in a few years.....but I wasn't committing to anything), but because now I no longer have the option. If I had decided to adopt again, I would have gone back to China because then the two kiddos would have a common bond. I know how close my sister and I are and I would love for The Kid to have that, too. But, as Doris Day sang, que sera sera.

After I thought all that through, then I was worked up thinking about my situation. If things in my situation had happened later, I might not have been able to be that sweet little girl's mom. I might not be a mom. That thought just about brings me to tears. I think about all the other hopeful 'someday' parents who maybe didn't luck into a single's slot like I did or who didn't quite meet all the requirements yet. I can't help but feel for them.

I don't buy the whole ladybugs and redthreads theories and all of that, but I do know one thing. My daughter's Chinese name means New Luck. And for whatever reason, we were lucky enough to both be in the right place at the right time.

Christmas Card tradition BEGINS!

This is the Christmas card picture of us kids that my parents sent out in 1978 (I was 5).

Note the $TAR WAR$ shirt I am sporting. (Nice of me to get all gussied up, wasn't it?? Apparently I didn't get the memo about the striped turtleneck sweaters.)

I have saved that shirt and will be forcing Ms. R to wear it for her Christmas Card picture in a couple of years. Funny, but it will be funky, retro and cool when she does it. I was just a nerd. Maybe she can pass it onto her child(ren) along with my Smurfette t-shirt I wore for my 3rd grade school picture.

Christmas 2006

I forgot to take a picture of her in front of the tree yesterday, so here it is today!

I'm also participating in Donna's Family Fotofun challenge this week. To see the other participants, click here!

Decorating the tree

Hanging ornaments
She was so careful...











So precise....













So intense.....

And everything she hung was in the same spot!

Turkey Dinner

Say, you wouldn't happen to know of a place a girl can take her bear and get some turkey would you?



Sadly, this is the ONLY picture I took on 'Thanksgiving'. It never fails. I had a long weekend and lots of things planned, and I end up getting sick.

Thanks

-To my family for being so supportive. You guys are the best and I couldn’t have accomplished half of what I have without you.

-To my friends….who are also a part of my family. I lucked out with all of you….well maybe not YOU (yeah, I’m talking about you, ya bum).

-To the inventors of coffee, thanks for making it possible for me to haul my carcass out of the house before noon every day.

-To the cast and crew of the greatest show ever, thanks LOST for making me MORE afraid to get on a plane than I already was.

-To my daughter for teaching me about all the important things; holidays, birthdays, clouds, trees, butterflies, etc….

-To a man and a woman that I have never met (but will always have a connection to), who made it possible for me to be a mom to the greatest little girl in the world.

That is her toy poodle pet carrier that insisted on wearing on her head for her nap.

These are the things that I am most thankful for this year. I hope you all have a safe and happy Thanksgiving.

Pictures! One for every month (I think)

Highchair Hi-jinxs

**This may become a regular segment**

Me: TK, what does Santa Claus say?
TK: Goo goo!
(I think she is confusing Santa and a turkey or combining them into her own Holiday icon. Instead of "Ho! Ho! Ho!" and "Gobble! Gobble!" we just have the multipurpose "Goo Goo!")

***

TK: Nee hel! Nee hel! (Translation: Need help! Need help!)
Me: What do you need help with, honey?
TK: Caaah boom! (Translation: Car go boom!) (This is followed by maniacal laughter, and rolling on the floor)

***
Scene: TK spots an unidentified object on the floor as I'm folding laundry.
TK: Oh, no! Oh, no! Oh, no!!!
Me: What's the matter?
TK picks up the UIO from the floor and brings it to me as though it were toxic waste.
TK: Die shee! (Translation: Dryer sheet!)
Me: And the problem would be???
TK: OH NO!! Oh NO!!!!! YUCK!!
TK flings the dryer sheet at me and runs away as though it were going to eat her.

***
TK is eating her dinner.
TK: (mouth overflowing with food) MOH NOOD! (Translation: More Noodles!)
Me: Uhhhhh, I don't think so.
TK: MOOOOOOH NOOOOOOOD!
Me: Where will you put them? In your pants?
TK nods emphatically

Randomly funny

The other night, we were in the car heading home. This is the conversation that went on for 10 minutes...

The Kid: Uh-oh. Uh-oh. Uh-oh.
Me: What, honey?
The Kid: Uh-oh. Uh-oh. Uh-oh.
Me: Uh-oh, what?
The Kid: Tree!
Me: Tree?
The Kid: Uh-oh! Uh-oh! Uh-oh!

This whole exchange went on about 30 more times until I was laughing so hard I was crying. Then she started laughing. And then it started up again.

Things I Love

I love that my daughter is developing a wicked sense of humor. Ask her a question and more often than not, she will give you the wrong answer, just because she can.

I love how she never wants to give me a hug when I want one, but she will sneak up and surprise me with a hug. It never fails to choke me up.

I love how she says Hello, Goodbye and Night-Night to things. Every morning she says hello to her dragon. She rarely leaves the bathroom without saying bye-bye to her potty chair. And she always says bye-bye or night-night to the moon.

I love how she says mama and baby as if she were a pretentious British child....or Madonna.

I love that her favorite television show is Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and there will be hell to pay if it is missed.

I love that Donald Duck is ALWAYS referred to as Blue Donald and woe unto you who does not call him by his full and proper title.

I love that when she is in trouble she will slowly try to break eye contact and pretend like she doesn't know that I am talking to her. If she could whistle, she would.

FRANKENSTEINA!!!

Trick or treat event #1
Crackin' up at Spookapalooza with Auntie J.
Toddler Mosh Pit

Happy Halloween!

That's not stage blood on her face, it's chocolate.

We'll have pictures in her costume in a couple of days. Prepare to be terrified.

Footloose and Fancy Free

I was recently away on a business trip for 5 days. It was the first time I had been away from The Kiddo for more than a few hours since the day I met her. It was interesting to see how we both reacted to it.

According to Grandmumsy and Auntie J, she was fine and only seemed to notice that I was gone a couple of times and then she was over it. Well! Not that I wanted her to be inconsolable over me being gone or anything....but that kinda hurt. But maybe she was just having such a good time, that she didn't have a chance to miss me. Right?

I was another story. In the back of my head, I thought, "Hey! This'll be fun! It'll be kinda like being my old single self again! I can sleep without being brought out of a dead sleep by someone crying in the next room, come and go as I please, not have to change poopy diapers for a few days!" And while those things were nice, I really missed just having her with me. I missed that sloppy kiss and clingy hug every morning. I missed the fights over changing her diaper. I missed how every question I ask is ALWAYS answered with an emphatic NO (even if I'm asking if she wants a cookie). I missed her goofy grin every night after I put her to bed and she tries to give me one of her toys. I missed walking into the room and having her scream "Muh-mah!" and give me a great big knee hug. And yes, I did fight back a few tears and I probably bored my traveling companion to tears with all of my talk about The Kidlet, but I think I did pretty well. I just hope I don't have to do it again for awhile.

Weekend at the park

Saturday was a beautiful day for a little drive and some park time.
Crawling through the tunnels.
Note the static electricity IN the tunnels.
The Kid and Auntie J. 

My funny little kiddo - Status Update

Lately, The Kid's sense of humor has really been showing itself. For awhile now, she will crawl around and 'meow' and pretend she's a cat. Last night at dinner, we were talking and out of nowhere she just looks at us and said 'MEOW!' Funny stuff. I think she will have a dry, off-the-wall sense of humor like me. And that makes me very happy.

Another recent funny story...we were in the car yesterday and she wanted to pretend going 'night-night'. Usually, that means we close our eyes and I make funny snoring sounds. I was driving, so I just started snoring. I think she really thought I was asleep and she was screaming at me from the back seat, "NO! NO! 1, 2, 2, FEE!" (when she's naughty, I count to 3 and then she better stop or else). I nearly wet myself I laughed so hard.

She has been making some slow, but steady advances in speech. She tries to say a lot more than she would before. In fact, she seems to say new words better than a few of her first words. Her favorite word right now is NO. Any question, just assume that the answer is no. Most of the time, that will be screamed or said in her most demented voice. A close second would be OW. This appears to be her cunning attempt at a cuddle and kisses. I'm not complaining, because she's generally so busy that both of those are few and far between. When I come home from work, it is like pulling teeth to get a hug out of her. But she also has quickly figured out how to work the system. If there is something she doesn't want to do, that is usually when she is at her huggiest. Time for a diaper change? NO, it's time for hugs!!! Time for bed? NO, silly momma! It's time to cuddle and give kisses!

But, I would guess that, she probably has about 30-40 words under her belt. About 6 months ago, she maybe could say 5 words. I hear other parents talk about their kids having a language explosion, and while I wouldn't go that far, I think maybe her fuse has been lit. It might be a pretty long one, but it is burning. I'm still anxious for the day we can have actual conversations, but I do think that day will come.

Happy Birthday, Auntie J!!!!

Today is Auntie J, my big sister's, birthday. I couldn't have asked for a better sister. J has always been there for me and has especially been a huge support (along with Grandmumsy!) over the past couple of years as I've made my way to becoming a mom. I love you so much, J, and am so glad you are my sister. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Auntie J, the early years

That's Auntie J on the right. Why were we having a picnic in the baby pool? Beats me!
Is that Sven, the Swedish foreign exchange student helping to hold me up on the snowy mountain? NO! It's Auntie J rockin' a serious Cousin Oliver hairdo. But, check out my fancy socks with my moccassins.....and shorts. SWEET!
That's DJ J bustin' a move on her (15th?) birthday.

SHOUT OUT!

Congratulations to Sherri for knowing that 'Say Something with a Hat Day' was from one of the best movies of all time....

Horn Tootin'

And just because I've had a couple of snarky comments from people for not updating for awhile.....

I made The Kid this ultra hip and cool poncho. Isn't it neat? I did such a good job. Yay me!!
Too bad it's about 3 years from fitting! 

Say Something with a Hat Day

We went to the *Ultimate Party Superstore* this weekend to try and find the perfect Halloween costume. I have it narrowed down to two choices, but I didn't find quite what I wanted. Anyway, while we were there we took the time to try on a few of the more entertaining hats.

**And I'll give a "Shout Out" to anyone who knows what movie today's title is from.** (Auntie J...you are not eligible.)

That's a chicken hat.

Land ho, mateys! Arrrrr.
It was great when it all began.
I was a regular Frankie fan....