Belly Shot- finally

OK, well here is a belly shot at last. It has taken me awhile to get around to it- it goes so fast the second time around. I am now officially 23 weeks pregnant. The little guy has been moving for awhile, but has started packing more in his punch lately. His kicks and little movements are stronger and Chris finally felt them for the first time not long ago. Austin is too impatient to sit still long enough to feel them, but maybe in another month or two.



We had a good Friday. Playgroup this morning, time outside this afternoon and all three of us home for dinner this evening. It was a beautiful day here today, though pretty warm. It is a cool and windy night as I write this with a clear sky- something to appreciate here.

Clean Up and Big Rocks

Today I felt like I experienced a small victory in my mothering skills. I was planning to read Austin some books and kept calling him over to sit with me, when i realized why he wasn't responding. He was holding one of his (empty) toy baskets and putting some of the toys into it. He was also saying "clean up, clean up". He was initiating cleaning up his toys! This is definitely a first, though we have been working on cleaning up and putting things back for months now. Of course, he still only put about 4 toys in the basket before he got distracted by one of them and stopped (it happened to be a small stuffed pig. He then went to find Daddy, since Daddy makes the best pig oinks in the family). Still, I was impressed and hope this will be a trend.

We of course were outside this morning and I decided to bring the camera along. I wanted to capture Austin walking around, since it has changed so dramatically since many of you have seen him only 5-6 weeks ago. I also included a funny video clip of Austin with rocks today- especially for you, Dad!




The backside of Austin moving quickly is what I see most when we are outside!




Here is Austin with a "big rock". We have been learning about big and little lately and he has begun associating this with rocks. After holding it a few minutes he discovered is was muddy on one side- listen for his reaction.

Here is Austin officially on the "up and down".

Today was very windy, which is very common for the spring here. Austin does not really like it when it is "win-ie" outside, and happily says "all done" the minute the wind dies down. He was sitting here outside a door in our apartment complex during a rather strong gust.

Here is Austin near a pile of "big rocks" in our neighborhood.

Today Austin woke up at 5:40 am and then only took a one hour nap, which made for a very long day for both Austin and Mommy. This evening he had a very slight temperature and he has been chewing on his fingers all day and drooling, so I think his eye teeth are coming in. Hopefully we will all get some sleep tonight!

Learning grammar

Well, Austin is starting to put more than one word together and it is very cute to hear what he comes up with. When he is looking for someone or something now, he says the word plus "go" at the end of it - to mean "where did XXX go?" . I think he learned it from me, because before bed we are always looking for a paci and I often say "Where did your paci go?" So now he says things like "paci go?" or if I am out of the room for long he walks around looking for me saying "Mommy go? Mommy go?"

He also says "there" when he is trying to show where something is. For example, we often ask him "where is the baby?" and now he is will say "baby there" and point ( to either my stomach or often to his own). Another favorite word he adds onto things is "now". After dinner tonight he said "all done now" or "outside now". I think he understands what he is saying, which is sort of amazing to me how fast his little brain is developing.

The favorite word however that he tacks on to other words is "ok". Ok basically means "I want this". So recently he often climbs up on the couch and says "video ok ok" meaning- I want to watch a video or "milk ok ok"- I want some milk. He is certainly learning to communicate he likes and dislikes now.

The "Up and Down" and playgroup

Again, a quick anecdote from the playground. Austin's three favorite things on the actual playground (apart from grass, rocks and dirt, etc.) are the slide, the swing and the "up and down", otherwise known as a seesaw. The up and down has beaten the slide out of the "favorite" category in the past week or so. Usually Austin sits on one end and we lift it up and down for about 2 minutes and then he is "all done". Then he goes and gets on the other seesaw and does it again. Well, today he had found a rock and decided to give the rock a ride on the "up and down". So he put the rock on the seat and used his hands to lift it up and down. Then he picked up the rock and put it on the other seesaw seat and lifted it up and down. The paci has also had a ride on the up and down and I am sure if he ever had the chance to bring his (stuffed animal) doggies out, they would get a ride too.

Today is Friday, which means playgroup day. I am not sure who looks forward to it more- me or Austin. Recently we changed the format so we get there about 9:30, the kids play, a friend comes to babysit the kids for one hour and we moms go across the street, get a milk tea and share recent concerns, praises or requests and then we bring take out rice dishes back to Goldie's house and all eat lunch together. Today was extra special, as we gave Angie (otherwise known as Bree's mom) a little surprise baby shower, as she is due with baby #2 in two weeks! Here are some pictures from the day.

Here are the moms out celebrating-(Back from left) Emily and Sarah (bottom) me, Angie, Goldie

We lined up the kids on the couch today and got at least one shot where a majority are smiling- from the left is Sydney (19 mo.), Isaac (18 mo) Bree (2 yrs) Austin and David (10 mo). Can you guess which child belongs to which mom?

Isaac giving Austin a kiss. Austin isn't quite sure what to think.

The Playground

I know the blog hasn't been very Austin-centered lately, so I am trying to do that today. I am even posting pictures. Going outside continues to be his favorite activity. Today he was in an especially "exploratory" mood. He wanted to go outside the complex gate, so we ended up at the park across the street. He enjoyed looking at flowers and grass, and especially loves the tube slides and sand (or dirt) box there. He did get a little upset over getting hit by a sprinkler, but otherwise was happy, even after many "spills" on the sidewalk (he thinks he can go faster than he can). There are these little signs all over the park (and every park in China for that matter) saying "Love the grass" (it actually says glass) "Take care of every blade" etc. but Austin tends to ignore those signs. At this park though they are orange and shaped like a flower. Austin however thinks it is a lion head, so he growled every time we passed one. These pictures are actually from a few weeks ago, but at the same park so you get the idea of what he likes to do there.

The slide

Playing with rocks. Yesterday I had to discipline him for repeatedly trying to eat rocks he found at the playground.

A little girl at the park took a liking to Austin and wanted to help him. Austin tolerated her directing where she wanted him to go for a little while, but then broke loose on his own.

Chris is out of town for the next three days. Austin and I have a normal week and probably will spend lots of time outside. One other thing before I sign off. My friend who is in Sichuan asked me today if I can help them find donations of child-size wheelchairs for children who have been handicapped as a result of the earthquake. I guess the child-size ones are hard to find here. If anyone has any leads or ideas of how that might happen, let me know.

Time of Mourning

Today was the first of three official days of mourning in China for the victims of the earthquake. We were able to get a lot of the medical supplies, with the help of friends, and Chris and I spent the afternoon taking about 8 boxes of stuff to the airport to meet a group that was flying to help in the disaster area. We were thankful to have a very tiny part and hope the things are well used. Two boxes of rubbing alcohol did not make it because it is flammable and they won't take it on the plane. So we will try to find someone going by train or car to take it later.

We happened to still be at the airport at 2:28 pm, which started a three-minute time of silence to remember the earthquake. The quake hit at 2:28 a week ago Monday and lasted for three minutes. Three minutes is a long time to stand still and be silent and I can only imagine how those three minutes must have felt like an eternity in the midst of shaking and destruction. It was completely silent at the airport, only the sound of a siren, which played around the country. We watched TV broadcasts of people around the country observing the three minutes. In some ways I was glad I was there and not at home, because it felt like I was participating more with the Chinese people during this time. THere were many tears (including my own) as I looked around the terminal. Apparently cars and trains were stopped during those three minutes, really everything stopped around the country at that time.

Well, I don't think I have much more to say, but the sense of heaviness and loss is still very real here a week after the quake.

Dough!

Today Austin "helped" me make cinnamon rolls. I don't know why I was inspired to make them- maybe because I was inside all day because of bad weather. But after the bread maker made the dough, I was rolling it out and Austin was very interested in it. I told him it was dough and he apparently thought this was a great word, because he kept saying very emphatically- dough! dough! He stood on a stool next to me and "helped" me spread the cinnamon sugar on the dough and was very excited as I rolled it up and cut it. He kept trying to grab little chunks of cinnamon sugar and eat them and saying, "mmmm". I wished I had had the camera, but Chris had taken it out at the time. So you will have to imagine him helping with cinnamon all over his face and licking a beater with frosting on it afterwards.

In earthquake news, we continue to feel sad and helpless at times. But I heard from a Chinese friend from here who is working with the Red Cross in Beichuan, one of the hardest hit areas. She asked for help getting them gloves, face masks, rubbing alcohol, bandages etc. So we are trying to find large quantities hopefully by tomorrow or Monday and send through her friend. You can think about us and hope we can do it in a timely way. Apparently they are getting worried about disease. In my friend's text message she also added that Friday they had been able to save only a few children from a primary school and toddler pre-school, the rest had been crushed. It just continues to be heart breaking, but it will feel good to be able to help in a very small way. Also, our friend was interviewed on NPR- one of the Americans helping through the Heart to Heart group mentioned in a Friday broadcast if anyone heard it.

All boy

Well, it seems Austin is becoming more and more of an active little boy. He usually is not really meaning to be naughty, but is into everything these days (though sometimes he does mean to disobey). In the past week, I have found 2 pacifiers, a pair of socks, a cup, a bowl and a spoon in the trashcan. He has started to realize that we throw things in the trashcan- he says "trashcan" as well- but he isn't too clear on what is actually trash. I also found "Spot Goes to the Park" book in the toilet, pen drawn across one of the couch cushions and many odd items in the washing machine. When we go outside to play now, the slide, swing and seesaw hold his attention for one or two rounds. But what he really likes is grass (he has to climb up a little wall to get to parts that actually have grass) and rocks. We have been working on cleaning up and putting things back, so now when we clean up he says "back, back" repeating what I often say "put it back where you found it now". The other day he was pulling up blades of grass and then saying "back, back" as he tried (unsuccessfully) to put them back. So, he keeps me on my toes lately.

In other news, we are continuing to closely follow the earthquake news and I personally have felt really sad. Not only is it sad in general, but feels so close to home for me. We are still looking for some way to be involved or help, but for the moment praying is our main involvement. Some of our friends in the area are going out to help people, dig through rubble or offer comforting words. People here are being very generous as well. I heard they were turning people away at a blood bank here because they had too many people wanting to donate. Please continue to lift up the people of Sichuan.

Earthquake rumbles

It has been a strange day even here as I keep up with the news. Still all of my friends in Chengdu are fine, but experienced a very scary time. It is so surreal to see these places that are so familiar to me and close to my heart with so much chaos and damage. Again, those in Chengdu are safe, but many slept outside last night and have damage to their apartments. I have been reading friends' personal accounts of the earthquake and many aftershocks and it is hard to imagine. I have also been to DuJiangYan and WenChuan county in the past, places that are some of the hardest hit. At this point I don't know anyway we can help, but we will be on the lookout for ways to help with relief efforts. Please continue to pray for those in Sichuan.

It's a ...

boy! A little brother or "didi" for Austin. We had a good check up today, everything looks good and healthy and we have another little boy to join our family. He was moving around and even started sucking his thumb during the ultrasound! It was very cute. We told Austin that he was going to have a little brother and his response was ..."paci?" Yeah, he was much more focused on finding his pacifier at that moment and clearly unimpressed. (We need to work on getting rid of that thing before little brother has one that Austin might want).
So, we are excited to have another little boy and hopefully a close playmate for Austin.

Here is a really clear picture of his head - with his nose and mouth on top- he kind of looks like he is hanging upside down. So, that is the big news for our family today. Please do be lifting up our friends who were near the earthquake- no reports of injury, but still a scary day with some homes damaged, etc, for many of our friends.

We are fine - no worries about earthquake

In case any of you have been reading the news and were worried, we are fine after this afternoon's earthquake. It was felt here where we are by a lot of people, but Chris and I did not even feel it at all. We were in a cab when it occured and I guess that is why we didn't feel anything.

We have talked with some of our friends from Chengdu. No one seems hurt or injured, though some peoples' homes did get cracked walls, broken light fixtures, etc. We will keep you updated if there is anything to update, but at where we are we had no problems, other than some people feeling tremors. More in a little bit about hong dou...

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all of our mom-reading friends, especially our own moms and grandmothers! We enjoyed a quiet day at home, since the weather was cold and rainy today. Chris had a busy morning leading music at both services at church. Austin "drew" me a card and Daddy threw in a back massage and we enjoyed a special dinner (I didn't cook!) at home. Now Austin and Chris are reading books before bed.

Stay tuned - tomorrow we get our big ultrasound and can hopefully find out the sex of the baby. And I will try to get a good "belly shot" as some of you have been asking for. Again, Happy Mother's Day!

Week in Review

Well, I was a little slack this week with updating the blog, but now that I have some time I will do a quick week in review for you.

Sunday: Austin went to his first friend birthday party (other than his own) for Aiden. Aiden turned 3 and Austin was the youngest person there. He enjoyed the food (hotdogs), playing with their pretend grill and eating ice cream (ice-eam, as he calls it). All week he has been saying "party, party, outside". In Austin-language, party sounds exactly like "potty" so I was confused at first, but finally figured out he wanted to go to another party.


Monday: Pretty routine day, but Chris and I did have a date- we ate Indian food and then split dessert at a new Grandma's Kitchen restaurant on our side of town. The Grandma's part should have been fun, but it is in the new mall on the 5th floor and somehow seemed too wierd- such a far cry from visiting the first homey, Chengdu Grandma's on opening day about 9 years ago.

Wednesday: I had a very fun "Ladies Night Out" with my mom friends in our playgroup. It was the first time we had done anything like this, but we got pedicures and then at a nice Italian restuarant while Dads' babysat. A rare treat! (unfortunately, we all forgot cameras except for Sarah, but the camera battery died at the beginning of the evening, so no good pix)

Thursday: Chris saw a doctor in town (my friend Sarah's dad) who prescribed something to help with Chris' nightmares and had some other suggestions to help with his tiredness. We are praying this will help significantly. We also had our neighbors the Shaffars over for dinner- we had not really seen them in a long time. Austin had fun playing with the geges ("older brothers") Simeon and Benny and he always says "mei mei" when he sees Jasmine ( the little sis, 10 months old).

Today: Today Austin and I went to playgroup. He is starting more and more to actually play with the other kids. Today it was just Isaac and Bree. Austin and Isaac are (kind of) learning to share with each other, though also often go after the same toy. They did also hug each other at one point, though somehow Austin ended up on the floor at the end of it. Chris had a dinner cancelled tonight, so we enjoyed an unexpected dinner together.

Austin has not really had the potty success he was having before our trip to the States recently. Tonight we he seemed like he had to go after dinner and sat on the potty, but no success. A few minutes later I heard a cry from Chris, who was giving Austin a bath- turned out Austin waited till getting IN the bath to poopoo- so we had an eventful early evening. Now Austin is in bed, Chris is practicing music for a big day of practice tomorrow(morning practice for church worship and afternoon for his band). That's it for now!

Check out Chris' music now

We fixed the problem with the link to the music Chris has written. Just click on the link on the upper right of the page and it should take you right to his current recorded music. Enjoy and send us your feedback!

Bucket Head

It seems that almost all children are born with a natural instinct to put a bucket on their head upon finding one. Well, Austin is apparently no exception. I bought a little bucket set with a shovel and rake the other day b/c there is a sandbox at the playground across the street and Austin likes to use the other kids' shovels. So I thought he needed his own. We have not yet actually taken the bucket set to the sandbox. But after I opened it, he immediately wanted to put it on his head. He calls it a hat and if he can't get it on right he says "help, help" until someone helps him get it on his head. He also has begun to show a lot of interest in himself. He says his name, points himself out in pictures and likes to look at himself in the mirror. Wearing a bucket on his head was definitely a good reason to need to look in the mirror, as you can see below.

He also has started showing an interest in doing certain adult activities. Currently, he likes to sweep or "weep" as he calls it.　He doesn't really sweep, but he does walk around with the broom and dustpan and tries to dump the dustpan into the trash can. So, this will help you understand the following pictures.

Fun Visitors

From Monday to Wednesday we had fun friends visit us- Graham and Ashlei! They stopped through on their way back to the States to have their first baby. Austin had lots of fun playing with Aiyi and ShuShu ("aunt" and "uncle"). Chris and I enjoyed catching up and sending them on their way. We look forward to meeting their little "didi" (little brother- its a boy) after he is born. One of the nice things about where we now live is that people pass through here on their way in and out of the country and sometimes get to stop for a visit.

Today is May 1 - known for two important events. One is my dad's birthday- Happy Birthday Bop! The other is the beginning of a national holiday here- Labor Day. Many people travel during this time, but we are happy to stay put and avoid all the crowds. We did have a relaxing day at home and outside at the park together as a family. More updates on fun at the park on another day.