Elijah Turned 3! What a Party!

Our little man is growing up so fast!  We celebrated Elijah's 3rd birthday this week, and it was truly so much fun.  He had a birthday party with several of his friends (Gege, Ellen, Katie, Caleb, Roman, Reuben, and of course, Auburn Grace).  My mom was so sweet to send decorations from the Cars movie which Elijah just loved, but due to his recent love of Blues Clues as well, we decided to combine the two themes for his party.  One side of the room was all decorated with Blues Clues things including a "real live" reconstruction of "Mailbox" that held a birthday note from "Blue" to Elijah inside.  We started the party out on this side of the room.  When the guests arrived, everyone colored a Blues Clues coloring sheet and hung them on the wall to display.

After that, we did some dancing to "The Hokey Pokey".

Then we played a relay race game with "Pail" and "Shovel" characters from show.  After that we did a freeze dance to the "Hot Dog" song from the Mickey Mouse clubhouse which is a favorite of Elijah's.  Then it was time to play pin the paw on "Blue".

After that the mail came and delivered a birthday note from "Blue" to Elijah.  He was really excited about this, and insisted on hanging the note in his room that afternoon.

We then played Blues Clues to find out who Elijah's favorite cartoon character is.  We searched for clues and found one with the color red, one with a steering wheel, and one with a lightning bolt.  Who could it be??? Lightning McQueen!  So we moved to the other side of the room decorated with all the fun Cars decor to have cookie cake, blueberries, candy, and cheese puffs!



After having our snacks we went back into the living room for a special treat- our friend N came to make balloon animals for all the kids.  They just loved it!

The party wrapped up with dancing to "Dinosaurumpus", and everyone had a blast!

Easter Grass

When I got the Easter supplies out this year I let Auburn Grace play in the Easter grass for a sensory time. As the pictures show, she absolutely loved it! She pulled it all out, threw it over her head, rolled around in it and then helped me put it back in the basket. What a fun time!

 

Auburn Grace is 10 Months!

I can still hardly believe my little baby just turned 10 months old.  She is still the most precious thing on the planet and has a smile that will melt your heart.  She is doing all kinds of cute things like "talking" (mama, nana, baba, and I think I even heard her say "lijah" the other day), crawling (better late than never), pulling up, clapping, walking with lots of help, and even kicking the ball (such a cute video on this below).  She has quite the temper and is very demonstrative about her feelings.  She eats anything and everything you put in front of her solid food wise, but she is borderline weaning herself as she just doesn't want to sit still long enough to nurse.   

Auburn Grace loves to watch Elijah and play with everything he has.  Her favorite books right now are touch and feel ones, and her favorite toy is the riding choo choo train (is there any kid in this world who doesn't love that train?!).  She still has a preference for mommy, but I think her Papa is a close 2nd.  What a blessing and a joy little Auburn Grace is to us! 

Lord we thank you for 10 amazing months with Auburn Grace.  We thank you for the ways you have used her to sharpen us and to soften us.  We look forward to all the ways you will work in and through her life!

Raising Tadpoles



While my dad was here, we took Elijah fishing a couple of times, and while we were down by the lake, we noticed lots of little tadpoles in the water.  I asked Elijah if he would like to raise some of these little baby tadpoles until they turned into frogs and of course, he was thrilled.  We got a little net and scooped up some of the little guys (probably some girls too) and plopped them into our glass jar.  Then my dad had the great idea to scoop up some of the pond water and algae as that is what the tadpoles would need to eat.  I also made sure to pick up various shells and rocks along the banks for their habitat.  I had never really raised anything, but I thought it would be helpful to have as much of their natural environment as possible.

We brought them home made their little habitat and let them loose in their new aluminum "pond".  Elijah even thought it would be nice to add some "friends" to their home so they wouldn't get lonely.  The next morning I thought they were all dead, but they were just resting, and later that day they were super active, swishing the water, swimming all over the place and hiding under shells and rocks.  Elijah and I have tried naming the tadpoles a few times, but it is really too hard to keep them separate since they all look almost identical.  Every day all throughout the day Elijah gets his little stool and climbs up to the kitchen counter to check on the babies.  They already have back legs, and they are so cute.  We feed them, talk to them, and sometimes shake their habitat just for fun. 

I am still a bit shocked at myself for allowing these little creatures into our home, but what can I say except that is what a mother's love will do.  I will say however, that as soon as their little front legs begin to sprout back to the pond they will go.  Raising tadpoles is one thing, but raising little hopping frogs is entirely another.

My Garlicky Girl

Since Auburn Grace was born, we have all said how much she takes after David in the way she looks.  Definitely she seems to have more of my personality (she is quite vocal about how she is feeling), but as for her hair, her eyes, and her skin tone she takes after her tall, dark, and handsome daddy.
Well, just recently I found out that there is one more characteristic that Auburn Grace has that is straight from David.  I was running low on baby food one day (we make all our own baby food since they don't sell it here), and since I didn't have time to whip up something quick I grabbed a dish off the lunch table, put some in a blender, and whallah.  She really loved it- a combination of broad beans, pork, and... garlic shoots.

Fast forward a couple of hours... I go in AG's room to get her up from her nap, and the air wreaks of it... GARLIC!  My mind immediately jumps to the only other times I have ever smelled this strong of a garlic scent in my own home- the mornings after David has eaten garlic for dinner!  It is almost hard for me to believe that something like that can be passed down, but alas, my most precious little sweetie now wears the fragrance of garlic any time it is anywhere near her food. 
 

David says that it is a God-given natural deterrent from men (he, of course, wants to be her hero for all time).  Sweet thing!

On Contentment

Even though I am a tried and true EXTREMELY scheduled, organized, live by a routine, ordered girl, there are times when I am just itching for some spontaneity.  I vascillate from wanting to have everything written out on a minute-by-minute schedule for the entire week (including play dates, meal plans, projects to get done) to wanting something new in my days to spice things up.  My personality is such that although I am a creature of habit and do not love change at all, I also get bored very easily with the mundane and routine things in life, and I often grow weary in wanting a change, a challenge, something new and interesting to do. 

This is often difficult due to where we live and the stage of life we are in.  Diapers must be changed all throughout the day, meals must be prepped and cooked, clothes must be washed, tot school must be taught, etc. Monday through Sunday all of these things take place; and then it starts all over again.

So today, after having had such a fun time with my dad here having all kinds of new experiences and exciting adventures, I looked forward at my plain old week of routine and felt discontentment growing.  I know that I should have "punched that beast in the nose" (this is a phrase Elijah and I often say when we don't like something) and forced myself to muster up words of thanksgiving knowing that thanksgiving precedes joy, but instead I grumbled... and not just a little.  I had a full out pity party and wanted everyone around to join in. 

Not knowing what exactly to say, David took the kids for a walk and gave me some time to think.  First came grieving...again...grieving the loss of what I feel I want or deserve.  Then came the giving up... giving up my will, my way, my rights.  Finally came the words of thanksgiving and of prayer... asking God to satisfy my soul and give me overwhelming contentment in Him.  This is a journey I have been on for years, and I am so thankful that even when I lose my way and get off the path a bit, the Lord is always so sweet to bring me back and set me straight again.

I Often Think About...

...when I look at Auburn Grace, I think about how blessed I am to have her, and how different, maybe even a little bit sad, my life would be without her in it.  I think about her sweet smile and her cute sounds.  I think about how soft her face is and how much she loves to cuddle.  I think about how she loves to play and chew on things and how her bright eyes just make your heart melt. 

And the greatest thing about Auburn Grace is that God planned her for us.  He chose her for our family, and He did it through a miscarriage.  Losing a baby is definitely one of the most grievous times a woman can go through, but I often think about how gracious God was to take one life from me and to give another life in Auburn Grace.  In His sovereignty and of His pleasing He did that for His glory.  I really can't imagine our lives without her in it, and even though it was a different journey to her life than I would have planned, God was at work all along. 

Thank you Lord for Your amazing plan for our lives.  Thank you that we can trust you in all things.  And thank you for precious Auburn Grace- she is such a gift of grace to us.

All About Elijah

For a while now I have been wanting to capture in writing some of the things that Elijah is doing and saying these days that is just so sweet and special to me during this stage of his life:

• Elijah is extremely quick to say he is sorry for things.  He has a tender heart that has not yet been ravaged by the ugly character of pride.  If he does something sinful or even just something that he knows will cause someone frustration (like when he "misses" while aiming for the toilet during going potty), when it is pointed out to him, he always says, "I'm forry mommy."  This is one of my favorite things about his character right now.
• Elijah is such an encourager to Auburn Grace.  If Auburn Grace is doing something unique or on her own that we have been working with her on for a while, he will say (and often point out to me), "Good job Auburn Grace; You did it!"  He praises her for crawling, clapping, and most recently, learning to drink from a cup all by herself.
• He is so cute about time: Elijah will often ask if we can do something like get a sucker or ride a ride while we are out, and I will look at my watch and respond something like, "We'll just have to see if we have time."  So recently when I ask him if he would like to do something like ride his bike or call someone on Skype, he will look at his watchless wrist and say, "We have time?"  Some things are definitely caught by nurture.
• Elijah's two favorite songs are "Jesus loves me" and "Jesus loves the little children".
• He sleeps with lots of "friends" at night including lovey, Tigger, and now Blue (a little blue puppy Nana sent him for Easter), and he likes to be covered up with his blanket.
• Going down the stairs he has to be jumping and going up the stairs he takes supersteps.
• Elijah's closest friends that he talks about almost daily are: EnHui, GeGe, Roman, and Katie-Ellen (these are actually two little girls that live upstairs from us, but he always says their names as one double-name).
• His favorite show right now is Blues Clues. We bought a set once and he watches them over and over again.  He also loves Mater Tales.
• He is into anything machines, cars, transportation.
• In the past week or so, Elijah just started asking "why" to many things.  We knew this stage would come, and I actually looked forward to it as I enjoy finding out the "why's" of so many things as well.  This is something we are really working through with him though- that he can ask "why" for information but that he cannot ask "why" about a command we have given him or a "no" we have given him.  He is actually doing pretty well with it and really seeking to obey us while learning a lot of information.
• Elijah is potty-trained (at least for the daytime), and he is doing such a great job going potty all by himself all throughout the day.  I stressed about this one on and off for a while, but I'll be honest, once he was ready physically and mentally it was super easy.
• Elijah loves to pray at EVERY SINGLE MEAL.  If we even think about eating without praying, he will not allow it.  His sweet prayers go something like this: 

                "Thank God for mommy, thank God for daddy, thank God for Lijah and AwnGray, thank God for food, thank God for wonderful day....AAAAAAAAmen!"
          Recently he has added his old tutor that had to move away into the list of people, and she gets prayed for at least 3 times a day!

• Elijah loves to be outside.  Recently, he has started saying, "I don't want to go home. I want to live outside."
• He can spot a crane or buildozer or excavator or any construction vehicle a mile away and is always sure to point it out to me.
• When he doesn't want to get a spanking he will say, "Mommy give you mercy this time."  I often have to remind him that the most merciful thing I can do for him is to actually spank him.

Thank you Lord for the precious days in Elijah's life.  They are fleeting.  Help me to soak them up and never take him for granted for even a moment.  Thank you for the amazing boy you have given us in Elijah.  Our lives are so much richer because of him.

Is This a Dream?

As I sit here tonight I can still hardly believe I am writing this post.  After almost 8 years of on-my-knees begging and two grandchildren (the latter cinching the deal), my dad finally came to China to visit us!  We had the most wonderful time together and did so many fun things:
The first day (Tuesday) when Papa arrived both the kids were a little surprised.  Elijah already has a pretty special bond with Papa (due to the many boat, bulldozer, 4-wheeler, and golf cart rides they experienced together last March) and warmed up to him immediately, but since Auburn Grace has never met my dad, it took her a little longer.  But once she realized that he was not going to replace mommy, she was glad for him to hold her, play pee-pie with her and love on her.

Tuesday afternoon we went to a playground in a nearby neighborhood.  Elijah and Papa played on the see-saw and slide, and then Elijah showed Papa where to find lots of sticks!





The second day (Wednesday morning) we went fishing with the new rod and reel that Papa brought for Elijah.  Papa is a professional fisherman with all kinds of tips and tricks, and he is always so patient with teaching Elijah how to throw the line and reel it in.  This was definitely one of Elijah's favorite things to do. 

Later that afternoon we went to the park to let Elijah jump at the bouncy house.

The third day (Thursday morning) we went to the zoo and the amusement park.  We brought bananas for the monkeys and pears for the deer.  Elijah really loved feeding the animals.  At the amusement partk, Papa was really brave and rode lots of the rides with Elijah (I only rode one of the rides with him, and I got so dizzy I couldn't ride anymore).

The fourth day (Friday morning) David took off from work, and we prepared to head up to ride the cable car to the middle of Gan Tong mountain.  We packed up bags for the kids and ourselves and loaded up in the truck.  We drove to the base of the mountain, walked up about a million steps to get to the ticket booth and were promptly told that the cable car was being repaired that day and we would not be able to ride in it.  Discouraged but not downcast we came up with a different plan which turned out to be so much fun- cormorant fishing!  We all thought this we really unique and so interesting.  Though Elijah loved watching the birds, the thing he most enjoyed was rowing the boat. 

After fishing we grabbed some pizza in Old Town and headed home for naps.  Whew!

The fifth day (Saturday) we first went to the Bird and Flower market to buy some new house plants.  Later we had a picnic and Easter egg hunt with friends here at a nearby park on the hill.  All the kids had a great time, and loved finding eggs full of candy.


The sixth day (Sunday) we enjoyed celebrating Easter with a few friends and had a wonderful lunch together.  That afternoon we went for a walk in the park.

The seventh day (Monday) we went to the open air market to give my dad a taste of what grocery shopping is like here.  It was quite chaotic and had lots of interesting and huge veges according to my dad.

The eighth day (Tuesday morning) we re-attempted the cable car up the mountain and had great success.  Riding the cable car brings stunning views of the  mountains and the lake.  At the top, we hiked around and even paddled a small boat around a little pond.  There were also monkeys (which I do not like) and a giant chess board.  One funny thing Elijah did while we were there was to put his hands in water and make handprints all over a wooden chair.  He kept saying "Look mommy, a clue!" which obviously comes from his recent obsession with "Blues Clues".

The ninth day (Wednesday morning) we went to the wetland park to fish on the opposite side of the lake.  We didn't catch anything, but again, Elijah had the best time just reeling the line in.  He also climbed on rocks, ran down hills, and picked up lots of sticks.

That afternoon we went out to visit some of our friends in the village and had dinner with them.  It was amazing to see how much my dad had in common with the couple we visited.  The both had no electricity or running water in their early years.  They both had many brothers and sisters.  They both had well water growing up.  They were both farmers.  Really neat.

The tenth day (Thursday morning) we went to Wal-Mart to do our weekly grocery and toiletry shopping.  Elijah played in the playplace for a while too which he always loves.

Later that afternoon, we all went out to collect tadpoles which we had seen earlier that week and bought a net to catch from the bird and flower market.  (This is definitely worthy of a separate post altogether!)

That night, we went to an amazing light/water fountain show.  We had heard about the show but had never been, and I must say, we will definitely be going back.

The eleventh day (Friday morning) we rode the double-decker bus and several taxis around town to buy a few gifts to send back with my dad. 

Each day we had wonderful mealtime conversations, lots of playtime in the floor, lots of late night talks on current events, family happenings, etc.  Papa read lots of books to the kids, played outside on the public patio with the kids a lot, watched lots of kids' videos with Elijah, and played with Auburn Grace and Elijah constantly.  He was an incredible blessing to us day in and day out.



Though we know he has to return to his home and to Nana, Xander, and Kylie, he has left a huge hole in our days and in our lives, and we already miss him terribly.  Tonight, when Elijah was saying his prayers before bed, it suddenly occured to him that Papa was not here anymore.  When I explained that Papa had to go back to his home, he asked, "May I go to Papa's home too?"  There were many bonds made between our kids and their Papa, and I am so thankful for his willingness to come and for his many expressions of love toward us and the kids while he was here. 

 We love you so much dad/Papa and can't wait to see you again!

Swinging

He and this little boy were fast friends, and loved playing together.

There are really no swingsets to speak of here, so being the imaginative child he is, Elijah decided to make a swing out of a piece "old persons exercise equipment". He loves to do pretty much anything outside, and this playground is a weekly activity for us.    

Here he is on the "swing".

Look at that smile!