October with Mom & Emma

This was the last picture of us together during Mom and Emma's visit--right before we left to go to the airport. We were all very sad to say goodbye to one another. Even though they've only been gone for twelve days, it feels a lot longer!

Willow is smiling ear to ear! She just loves playing with her Aunt Emma!








Willow passed out---she was so tired she didn't even wake up when Emma changed her diaper!



Willow tried on my wedding ring. She loves sparkly things.


We made a raspberry cheesecake with the help of two lovely ladies that I mentor. It was very good! If I ever make it again, though, I will definitely just use my deeper pans (vs. the shallow ones). Wasn't sure how successful I would be, especially without the traditional equipment, but it worked out great.


Last night with Grandma!




Maybe Willow was sad because she heard Emma was going back to America.





Emma got a beautiful manicure while in Shenyang. Four detailed flowers painted on each finger nail!


Wow! Look at that expression! Willow finds a lot of the world to be very shocking.


We'll end on a not so shocking note.

~julie

Hat from Grandma

Dear Grandma,

Thank you for buying me this super cute hat a little while ago. I love to wear it since the weather's a bit chilly these days. I'm not used to the cold yet! I miss you a lot!

Love,

Willow

Is that REAL?

About a week ago, our school had it's annual International Day. Many different countries are celebrated with food and exhibits--parents, students, teachers...and even a baby named Willow enjoyed the event. There's a fun flag ceremony that initiates the day, but we missed that part of the festivities. We arrived just when the food was being served in the market place. Lunch is always a little chaotic on International Day...imagine over 400 people (probably) in a room smaller than a basketball court, getting food from a dozen different tables at basically the same time. The whistle is blown every few minutes to signal the rotation of tables...it was always hard as an elementary teacher to help heard the little ones around and makes sure that they ate enough healthy food (instead of just desserts) or didn't over eat/under eat. It was a little easier this year because I only had to keep my eye on Willow, who was taking a nap in her bjorn. However, I didn't get to eat very much because I was almost constantly surrounded by kids and parents who wanted to see Willow, touch her hands, talk to her, and take pictures with her....

A rare moment when I got actually eat.
It was probably soon after this picture was taken that a parent came up to me (someone I didn't recognize) and asked me if I was carrying a stuffed animal around (notice Willow's hat?). Yes...because I frequently like the feeling of strapping a stuffed animal to my body and carrying it around crowded places. I thought the question was funny---especially when she realized that the stuffed animal was actually a sleeping baby.

One of the presenters was sick, so was unable to make the event last minute. Our great national staff put together an impromptu presentation about Chinese dancing. Of course, Adam had to get in on the fun. Willow hated watching Adam dance. At first I thought she was laughing...but then I realized between her looks of horror/anxiety, and the lack of giggle sounds that she was just yelling at him in frustration. The Chinese ladies around me thought it was hysterical, and were trying to get Willow to calm down, "It's ok baby, don't be scared!" It was commical!

~julie

The Eyebrow Girl

Or maybe Cinderella? Keep reading to find out!

So, like all my posts seem to be saying lately, Willow is growing so much! Her eyebrows too...I wonder what will become of those eyebrows in the next few years--they are just massive on her baby face! But, she makes them cute and dolls them up a lot, as if she knows that she has these crazy eyebrows with which she can make lots of different expressions. I think that I can do half of the things that she can do with her eyebrows.


She's also in love with her fingers. She loves to suck on her hands all the time, and I'm a little worried her hands are getting the rough side of the bargain since she's chomping on them with her two little teeth.


Something I just figured out is how much she also likes to bite on her burp cloths. I don't know what it is about those burp cloths--maybe because they've always been an arms length away from her for the past three months--but she loves them.



I love it when she is this tired and this calm. She's so precious! It's like she's too tired to make a fuss about it, and would rather just sit there until her eyes close and she drifts to sleep. I wish this was how every night worked out! :)



"Look at me, dad! I'm wearing my leopard print mini skirt to fellowship! What do you think?"


This picture was taken last Sunday, and she's gotten even better at sitting up since then. She needs a little support, but her balance is improving on a daily basis.


Working on her head control during tummy time. She's improved a lot in this area over the past month. She doesn't scream so much anymore and has built up a little stamina.


Last Sunday was the first time that she put her hands down and held herself up with her arms, however! Yay, Willow!


She held herself up like this for about a minute and just looked around in bewilderment. I think she shocked herself with her strength.



"Sometimes it's so hard to stay awake at night--I don't know what I want more....to eat or to sleep."

Friends of ours in Shenyang are lending this bumbo seat to Willow. She's a little unsure about her new get-up though. Take it easy, Willow!


She mostly looks at her feet while sitting in this chair. She's fascinated by her cute little feet and really likes to stare at the chicks on her socks.


It's starting to cool down here. In our first floor, cement walled/floored/ceilinged apartment, it stays chilly. Mornings and evenings are cool as we wait another two weeks for the heat to get turned on by the government.


I think they share an eyebrow resemblance...

Willow's Chinese name now has a fun story. I'm not sure what the characters look like as of right now, but I will figure it out soon. Willow tree in Mandarin is "liu shu". Rose in Mandarin is something with the word "mei" (which means flower). So, our Chinese friend told us that we should name Willow, "Liu Mei". We could choose which kind of 'mei' we wanted to use though. There are different tones in Mandarin which usually alter the meaning of the word. It might sound the same to foreigners, but little changes in the pitch of the word can totally change the meaning. Well, there are a few different meanings for the word 'mei', depending on how you say it. Sometimes, however, words are pronounced the same but can have different spellings--or characters--much like homophones in English. So, one meaning for 'mei' can be for flower, but it is also used in part of the word for eyebrow. Apparently, there is a Chinese word to talk about the flowers that grow on the Willow trees--Liu Mei--because it looks like the trees have eyebrows. Actually, the pronunciations of Liu Mei (Willow tree with the eyebrows) and Liu Mei (willow flower/rose) are the same...but the characters are different.

We decided to choose the characters where 'mei' is talking about eyebrows. It is fitting for our Willow because she has such crazy expressive eyebrows! Our friend was happy about this because he said it is a very fanciful name--like being named after a fairy tale. Apparently there is a famous fairy-tale type story written in China a few decades ago where the protagonist is a girl name Liu Mei (like the eyebrow). I asked him if this was like being named Cinderella....and he said yes! So, Willow has quite a unique name in English--but also an unusual name in Mandarin. A willow tree with a flower that's like an eyebrow....also like being named Cinderella. Oh my!

Sometime I'll have to explain some of the reasons why I really like Willow's name and the verse that goes along with it.

~julie

School is Out!

...for me!

mini laundry....it's so darling...

A box is sitting on Willow's bedroom floor, filled with her summery outfits--cute little garments that are sized 0-3 months. Little bits of lace, embroidery, and crocheted details. Frills and ribbons, rick-rack and ruffles. Little girls clothes are the sweetest. It's so sad to pack these outfits away. I've been dreading the job--and although she has plenty of cute clothes that fit her right now, it's a little sad packing away her clothes. She'll never wear them again--that's a good thing--but she's growing up so fast! Some babies seem to take a longer time to jump sizes in onsies and diapers, but for whatever reason Willow has been growing a lot lately. She's probably past fifteen pounds now, and my back can attest to the butterball effect. Her double chin keeps growing, and now it's practically touching her rib cage! I'm so happy she's growing up, developing and learning so normally--but looking at her little outfits, I'm reminded that she used to be just a seven and a half pound little person (with a lot more hair on her head)! I can hardly believe that she used to wear these tiny little clothes and that they used to be BIG on her! Now she's wearing 6 month clothing and I can't believe it!

The first three and a half months have just flown by. I'm so excited for the stage that she is in right now (sleeping longer at night, etc.), she's not a newborn anymore and that's a good thing. There are so many joys attached to having a three month old. She's sleeping well, eating well, playing well. She laughs and smiles and recognizes her mom and dad....but I just can't get over how fast she's growing. Soon she'll be six months old...and then that's just half way to hitting the one year mark! I'm dedicated to cherishing all the moments, the good and the challenging. I should say "challenging" because there really aren't any 'bad' moments yet. We've been so blessed, and except for this little cold she's had the past few days, she's had great health. I'm so thankful for the little, chubby person she is. I love watching her personality broaden with each week that passes. She's always been a mover, but now she's just spastic. She wants to twist and arch and scrunch and scoot as much as possible. It doesn't matter if she's sitting in your lap or the bouncy chair, or lying on the floor--she's trying to get places. I'm just hoping that it's a bit longer before she starts that mobile stage....oof....Not ready for that yet!

Adam just found out that he has a paper due for his graduate studies...today. I'm a little stressed out for him as he searches for sources and starts writing his paragraphs. I'm also really relieved that I don't have to be writing a paper right now. I love being a student, I love assignments and tedious homework...but I think I need a break from academics and I'm enjoying every minute of it! No planning, no preparing, no grading, no homework, no researching....yes! I didn't think that I would enjoy it this much, but I do! Who knows, maybe someday I will be a student again, but for right now, I'm enjoying a fairly academic-free existence. Adam, however, is very diligent about his homework. I'm proud with how well he seems to be keeping up with all his responsibilities--and he rarely seems stressed about how much he works.

It seems like a lot of my friends in America that have kids are taking pictures of their children with pumpkins. That seems the thing to do, in light of Fall festivities. But, no pumpkins here. If Willow would wake up from her nap before the sun goes down, I wanted to take her out for my Chinese version of this photo trend. Guess which vegetable she'll be posing with....it's not pumpkin.

It seems like the minute the leaves change color here, they start to fall to the ground. Fortunately, there are lots of trees in our apartment complex that have turned to yellows and reds. I feel like a lot of the trees in Shenyang just stay green all winter long. Fall feels different in Shenyang for lots of reasons. If I were in America now, I bet I'd be drinking hot cider, going to the apple orchard, raking leaves, and smelling bonfire smoke. Maybe there'd be harvest parties or tricker-treaters. There'd be lots of holiday decorations out for Halloween and Thanksgiving, and people would be getting ready to raid the stores for Christmas gifts. I feel like Fall in Shenyang is much simpler--and it would just pass by if you didn't take the time to notice it. It's just a different flavor here and I'm learning to appreciate how Autumn is celebrated on this side of the world. Different kinds of veggies are set out on the curb to dry, people are airing their winter blankets and coats, the sweet potatoes smell great from the street food vendors, and there were a lot of moon cakes being sold during the Festival time.

So, the days are just slipping by. I feel like every week flies past, which is strange because they used to go by so slowly. They felt heavy. I like being a mom! Every day is full and nonstop, but having just one baby is a little easier than taking care of a couple handful of kids. I'm trying to work on "Little Women" every day too. It was hard the last two years because I felt like I was trying to do two full time jobs simultaneously. I thought it was going to be so much easier this year because I wouldn't be teaching anymore. Today, it struck me...I'm still trying to do two full time jobs simultaneously. Whoops. :)

Can I just say, I'm really excited about the costume possibilities for "Little Women".

This week I read a book called, "The Help" and loved it! Thanks to my mother-in-law for sending it for my birthday! I think I read the whole thing in three days, which is quite a feat with Willow around. Too bad I don't live near a great library, because I think reading might become one of my hobbies again. Willow and I have also been fighting off colds for the past few days. She has been sleeping a little more during the day because of her cold...and not sleeping as well at night because of her stuffy nose. Every day is different around here. I can pretty much count on Willow acting differently every day when it comes to her sleep patterns.

Everything is going well around here. And if I haven't said it enough already--I'm loving the fact that I get to stay home with Willow. This is the first time in my life since I entered kindergarten that I haven't had to be in school. Yay!

~julie

Goals

So, when I was still pregnant, another woman who has been a mom for a while gave me some good advice. She said that once my baby was born, I should lower the expectations that I might have for myself during the day. One or two simple goals. I've really taken that to heart, and maybe it makes me a little lazy, but I don't expect too much out of each day. Take a shower. Make something to eat. Play with Willow. Maybe work on Little Women (our next play!). Just trying to keep things simple because there's no reason to stress out about what I want to get done. This mentality has kind of taken over even more since my mom and sister left. Life is so different these days. It's nonstop, but instead of having a million things on my checklist, I have just a few---and I love spending time with little Willow. She's a lot of fun to hang out with, even if she can't speak, we have lots of interesting conversations.

International Day was fun to attend. Lots of yummy food, familiar faces, and entertaining sights. Adam had to dance at one of the exhibits, and Willow did not like that at all. It sounded like she was laughing at first, but then I realized she was yelling in....fear/anxiety?....at Adam. She was totally disturbed by his Chinese dancing!

Right now it's Saturday night and we're trying to keep Willow awake a little longer--perhaps foolishly skipping a nap--so that she can fall asleep earlier tonight. We'll give her a bath soon to keep her awake and also tire her out even more...Her teeth are still coming up and causing her lots of discomfort. She loves to chew on her burp cloths.

Relatively boring post. Nothing really to report--but at least I accomplished my goal of posting this picture! :)

~julie

Time Flies

When you're having fun!

The last week or two that my mom and sister were in Shenyang seemed to just speed by on fast forward. Every moment just slipped through my fingers way too fast. We were able to do a lot in the last few days, and just spending time with them was great. I was very sad to say goodbye to them and wished that they could stay longer. This is the first day that I have been by myself since Willow was born. When I was still pregnant, I knew that this was going to be the case, and I was a little hesitant about the cons of being a constant guest or having guests for three months. That's a long time! But, now that it's over, I am so glad that this is what happened. It was great having my mom and sister over for seven weeks of company. They kept me entertained and sane and helped so much with house work, meals, shopping...We experimented with new recipes, redid some old favorites, and definitely ate lots of yummy food! Thanks mom and Emma for all the help! I was super glad that they were able to spend more time with Willow as well. She really loves them and they were able to experience a lot of firsts in her life. It was also great to show them around our community, our city, and even Beijing! They were able to meet our friends, fellowship, and school. I was extremely thankful to have my mom's constant presence to help with Willow's jetlag and midnight crying fits. She gave me so much advice and was a great model of what a mother ought to be. She was also still MY mother. She took care of me through a couple bouts of mastitis (nasty painful!) and was so willing to take care of everyone. She is so sacrificial of her time and energy! I don't think I can ever top her patience.

Emma made friends here, which was another fun aspect of their stay. She was able to go on the fall camp with the middle school students, run three times a week with her friends, and play on the volleyball team. She had sleep overs, play dates, and even a surprise going away party. Emma also picked up a good deal of Mandarin without being taught directly. That was very impressive! She was getting to the point of being able to bargain at markets! Emma is a confident and sweet sister--I was so impressed with her willingness to come here and experience all the foreign aspects of living here. She braved a lot of interesting situations and was always so calm about it. She is an awesome playmate for Willow too--I know Willow is going to grow up absolutely loving her Aunt Emma! She can make Willow laugh so easily, it's enough to make me feel a little jealous! :)

It was fun for me to see my mom and sister learning how to get around and feel almost "comfortable" here. It was refreshing to see this place through their eyes.

Now, I'm on my own with Willow and I've told Adam many times that I need his help more than ever now. He and I were spoiled by all the help, support, and love we've received over the course of the summer and fall. Now, it's time to start grocery shopping, cooking, and cleaning again. In the meantime, we have this cute baby girl to keep us occupied nonstop.

I miss you guys, mom and Emma! It's hard to not to get all choked up writing this (not that this is an emotional post) just because it's hard to believe that you were here just the other day, and now you are half way across the world. I'm so glad that you were able to come! Thank you for taking care of me, loving Willow, and letting me drag you all over the place. I hope you enjoyed the trip and will have lots of stories to tell others for years to come! I'm also so glad that your trip went well and that you're safe at home again. Enjoy your Chicago Fall---it's the best!

~julie

Three Months Today

,
It's October 8, which means Willow has hit the three month mark. She's learning and growing so much and I love her little self more than ever. She's accomplished quite a lot in her short life and continues to impress us everyday. We're very easily won over by her.

Willow can....

Say ahgooo, ahhh, cooo, ai, oi...and lots of other little combinations.

Complain with her baby noises quite emphatically.

Play with her hands and suck on her fingers.

Grab toys and hold onto them.

Snuggle with her soft toys.

Hold her head up 90 degrees.

Scoot forward on her stomach.

Try to do sit ups---relax, baby!

Bear weight on her legs.

Almost able to sit on her own--sometimes can balance for half a minute.

Watch her praise dvd with fascination.

Smile when she's happy and when people smile at her.

She is teething--as of this past week, two teeth have emerged! I'm so sad that her toothless smile has started to disappear.

She's learning how to laugh (the cutest thing!) and have baby conversations. She is trying to roll over. She loves her bouncy chair, and her soft blankets. Her favorite toy was lost on our trip to Beijing--oops. That toy was MAGIC, and now it's gone. I'm really upset that it was misplaced somewhere--I knew it was risky bringing it along, but I thought I would be more careful. I think it must have gotten kicked under the bed at the hotel because that room was empty when we left.

Willow has also taken many forms of transportation during the last three months...

Cars

Planes

Trains

Subways

Strollers

Baby carriers

Bikes

Taxis

Buses

Chair lifts

Rickshaws

She just needs some forms of water travel to add to her list.

We just got back from our trip to Beijing. Willow was so happy to get back home! Babies love their safe places. Emma is at a friend's house--she had a sleep over last night. She has been blessed with quite the social life here, more than I could have asked for or expected! She will miss all the nice girls she got to know here, I think. My mom and Emma head back to the US on Wednesday. It will be so lonely without them during the day---and a lot more housework for me! They've been so helpful with shopping, laundry, dishes, cooking, baking, and cleaning...not to mention all the help with Willow! I will be sad to see them go, but am so thankful that they were able to come and stay so long!

Emma just got back from her slumber party--it turned out to be a surprise party that all her little friends put together. They even made her a little scrap book with pictures, notes, and their email address. How sweet! :)

~julie