She's three

In honor of the apple of our eyes' third birthday, here is a post of threes...

Three random things about Lindy...

1. When she hears a story, she thinks the ending is "amen" instead of "the end."
2. She loves, loves, loves to watch "Dancing With the Stars" and dance along, too.
3. She may be starting to get a bit of a Texas twang or whatever it is here. Just the other day she asked for a "big ole glass of water."
   

Three pictures of her in the early days before we brought her home...

July 2005

August 2005

November 8, 2005 (six months)

Three pictures from her first birthday...

Three pictures from her second birthday...

Three things she prays for...

1. Thank you for all our blessin's. (TX twang again)
2. Thank you for food.
3. Help mei mei come home soon.

Three things we'll do today...

1. Eat cake.
2. Eat ice cream.
3. Open presents.

And I thought I could handle twins?!?

"A two-year old is kind of like having a blender, but you don't have a top for it.” Jerry Seinfeld

A few weeks ago my friend pitched an idea to me. She would watch Lindy for about three hours a week and then the following week I would watch her two year old, Bethany (nine months younger than Lindy). Since I don't have Lindy in school we are together 24/7 for the most part and I don't really have any free time without her. Although it is tiring and can be difficult, I have chosen this path and I am happy to have the privilege to be a stay at home mother. I have to admit, though, having a few hours of some free time is VERY nice. I love the quiet and being able to get a bit more done without interruptions.

I also have to admit, keeping up with more than one two year old is HARD work. I can't even believe when I was young that I used to babysit four little ones at a time, work in a daycare, spend so much time with little kids, and WANT twins (actually, we requested and were approved for them when we were waiting for Lindy). I am out of practice when it comes to watching more than one and they really keep me running! My hat goes out to you who have multiples, children close in age, and those who make a career out of watching children.

It has been working out nicely. They play pretty well with each other for the most part. Occasionally, there is a bite or a scream but nothing too bad. Usually they just giggle and play. I have a hard enough time capturing Lindy on camera but I did get these quick shots of them "playing footsie" this past week...

Viva Fiesta

It is Fiesta time in San Antonio. Honestly, that really doesn't mean a lot to us because we really aren't big into the Fiesta scene. However, last Friday we joined some friends for a night of Fiesta fun and overpriced food on a stick. It was Lindy's first Fiesta outing. She seemed to enjoy the food, watching the people, and listening to karaoke. She even walked away with a couple strands of Mardi Gras beads but I assure you she didn't do anything naughty to earn them.

When in San Antonio, do as the San Antonians...

After we left, we joined our friends at their house for a bit of cascarone action. Lindy excels at making a mess, so she thought breaking cascarones over her friends' heads was pretty cool.

Take that, Sam!

We're still finding confetti...


Our little senorita...

"Look Mom, she's Chinese!"

For close to a year now, Lindy has been able to recognize Asian people (she thinks they are all Chinese). I first remember her pointing it out in Schlotzky's and the grocery store. Then she noticed people on TV--first broadcasts regarding China on the nightly news, then Sandra Oh on a Grey's Anatomy trailer, then a contestant on Wheel of Fortune. She's even pointed it out in caricature drawings. She's not at all bashful about letting me know when she spots someone of Asian descent. She'll say FULL volume, "Look Mom, she's/he's Chinese like me!" Yep, the embarrassing kid comments are alive and well...

There are a couple interesting things about her fascination with Asian people...

1. Don and I haven't really placed much emphasis on her being Chinese or from China. While we are not ashamed of the fact that she is Chinese, it just hasn't been a big topic of discussion. A lot of it is because she's only two. When we look at Lindy, we just see our daughter not our Chinese daughter. We know it will definitely come up more in the future, though, and we'll handle the various issues as they come.

2. There isn't a huge Asian population where we live. Up until recently, the only Asian friends she's had have been pictures on blogs and the refrigerator.

So, while I don't know where she learned to be so in tune with Asians, it is there. Somehow, I think it must be kind of important to her.

Recently, Lindy was blessed to meet these two little beauties, Libby(left) and Maliah(right).

When she talks about her new friends "Wibby" and "Mawiah," she makes sure to point out they are Chinese.

These three are very active, very social, and funny little spitfires!

It is fun watching them play together and I am hopeful they will continue to be friends as they grow and get older.

Celebrating Gotcha Day

Me on the red couch at the White Swan right before coming home




Me on the eggplant couch at home almost two years later

Yesterday we celebrated my second Gotcha Day. I asked Mommy if it was my birthday and she said Gotcha Day is a special day kind of like a birthday. It is the celebration of the day we finally met in China. Today, April 4th, is the day we officially became a family forever.




First picture with Daddy

Forever his girl

Unfortunately, we didn't have a lot of time to celebrate as a family last night because Daddy had an important meeting. However, Mommy made sweet and sour chicken with rice, as well as egg drop soup. Mommy promised me she'll make me some dumplings another time. I can't wait!!!

Dinner was okay but dessert was THE BEST!!! Mommy brought home an ice cream cake that was DELICIOUS. It was called Peanut Butter Playground. I could play at that playground ALL day long!!!

To wrap up the night, Mommy read I Love You Like Crazy Cakes. Actually, I told the story. She CRIES every time she reads that book and Shaoey and Dot, too. Not really sure why. She tells me one day I'll understand...

Thanks for letting me tell you about my special day!

Love,

Lindy Li-Xiao

Take me out to the ballgame...

Yesterday afternoon I took Lindy to her first baseball game. We joined our friend, Carolyn, to cheer on the high school team her husband coaches and her son (Lindy's "boyfriend") plays for. Lindy spent a lot of the time eating ballpark food; however, she checked in occasionally to watch the game and cheer for the players. The weather was so pleasant and the Mavs won, which was great!

Despite her inability to stay put, I have a feeling this was the first of many baseball games for Lindy. Her daddy spent many years playing baseball and her mommy was the team scorekeeper/manager for the baseball team throughout high school. Her Grandpa is waiting to take her to a Kansas City Royals game someday, I bet, too.

Here are a few pictures of our outing to the ballpark. If you click on the pictures, they should appear larger...

Play ball!

Make a postcard - it's easy!

Ordinary and extraordinary

Dear Lindy,

Today was a typical busy Saturday. When I think about it, there wasn't one thing extraordinary for us. We ate at home, ran errands, played, read books, you watched Cinderella, and Mommy and Daddy tried to tackle the never-ending "To-Do" list. Some would call it a boring day. We call it a day in the life.

Two years ago today was not at all a boring day for us. It was the day we boarded a plane to go to China to bring you home. I remember being so excited I couldn't sleep, read, or watch the in-flight movies. That made for a VERY long trip. Poor Daddy was in the middle seat sitting next to a drunk guy who was causing trouble. He had an even LONGER trip.

There are days that are so ordinary, they just kind of blend into the next day and really aren't too memorable. March 29, 2008 is definitely one of them! Then there are extraordinary days you want to hang onto forever and remember every detail of them. March 29, 2006 and the days following are definitely those types of days!

This week we will celebrate you being our daughter for two years. I look forward to celebrating the memories we've created and can't wait to see what the future holds for us.

Love,
Mommy

Easter 2008

We had a nice day yesterday, although Don was sick and not at 100%. After church we shared Easter dinner with the Brown family--a special tradition. When I went into her room at 7:45 to wake her up, I asked, "Do you know what day it is today?" She usually answers, "Sunday." Yesterday she answered, "Easter." Lindy was quite excited to find out the Easter Bunny had come to visit. She didn't seem to notice the cool pink vacuum he left because she was too concerned with the candy. By the end of the day I was tired from telling her, "No, you can't have any more candy..." She is not very good at letting "no" be the end of the conversation. RELENTLESS, that one!

She had fun hunting eggs in the Brown's backyard and even more fun eating the M & Ms.

Here are some pictures of the day...

A look at past Easters

The first Sunday after we brought Lindy home in April 2006 was Easter. I was really torn about whether we should take Lindy to church but Don insisted. If I remember correctly, she did really well and the people around us were quite forgiving! Looking at these pictures, I can't believe how little she was. She had chubby little wrists and thighs and that toothy grin and cheesy, squinty smile cracked us up.

In 2007 it was very cold (for south Texas) and rainy, so she didn't get to wear the first two dresses I had chosen for her. We also had to hide eggs inside. We hadn't even told her she was going to hunt for eggs or the purpose of the basket but it must've been instinctive. We handed her the basket and in moments she had gathered all the eggs. Believe me, she's NOT that ambitious or efficient when it comes to cleaning her room!

Tomorrow is supposed to be cooler and possibly rainy, so I'm already choosing plan B for her dress. I am looking forward to her enjoying the day and I already know she'll be thrilled there is candy involved...

Happy Easter!

Festive Friday

I'll admit it, I have issues when it comes to doing arts and crafts with Lindy. First, unfortunately I am not very gifted in this area, so I feel a bit inept. I want to do stuff but sometimes I just don't know where to begin. Second, I am always worried about the mess. Third, my nature to want to control situations rears its head, even when it doesn't matter. If Lindy wants to color the moon green, why can't she? She's two. The whole process makes me kind of nervous. I know that probably sounds silly but it is true.

However, I was watching Super Nanny the other night (go ahead and laugh) and it was so obvious the parents weren't doing anything with their kids. It was sad. These miserably, atrociously behaved kids were crying out for interaction with their parents and they really didn't get much. It was quite sad. It reminded me how important it is to take time to do fun stuff with her, even if it is messy and a bit out of my comfort zone.

So, today we decorated Easter eggs. Honestly, I can't remember the last time I did this. She was so excited and I tried to be laid back about the process. We didn't even get that dirty. I guess she liked it because she said, "I love you Mommy. You're my best friend" over and over.

Here are some pictures...

Happy Spring

How did Lindy celebrate the first day of spring? By blowing lots and lots of bubbles in the backyard.

Look out Eva Longoria Parker

This overheard during the last few minutes of the Spurs game yesterday:

Mommy: "Go! GO!!! GOOOO!!! C'mon Tony..."

Lindy: "Go! GO!!! GOOOOO!!!! C'mon Tony. He's sooooo cute."

Mommy: "What? You think Tony Parker is cute?"

Lindy: "Yes."

Not sure where that came from. I keep reminding myself that she also thinks babies, kittens, and puppies are cute, too. Hopefully it will stay like that for(ever) a long time and she'll stay away from NBA players.

I apologize to any readers who have no idea what this post was about.

Trip to the zoo

Last Wednesday Lindy and I joined some friends of ours for our first trip to the zoo this year. Now those of you in cooler climates please know I'm not trying to taunt you. It was 92 degrees here last Monday and I detested it!!! Your beautiful days are coming and I'm in fear of what our spring and summer will hold. Anyway, just have to share one story...

We were visiting the Africa section of the zoo and stopped by to visit the black rhino. She was in a pit about four feet below us. I hoisted Lindy up on top of the wall to see the rhino. Lindy was a bit fidgety and more interested in her friend's snack than the rhino. Since she wasn't interested, I put her back in her stroller. I must make a disclaimer right here that I wasn't pulling a Michael Jackson move and dangling my child over a steep edge!!! At the same moment I put Lindy down, I heard something hit the ground, noticed my child had only a sock on her right foot, and heard Lindy say, "uh-oh." Sure enough, I looked over the pit and there was Lindy's shoe in the rhino pit. GREAT!!! Now what???

Mrs. Rhino suddenly aware of something in her pit shuffles toward the shoe and picks up the shoe with her mouth. I am frozen with fear and contend I am not the best in "crisis" situations. I am envisioning the 6:00 news..."A black rhino at the zoo passed away this afternoon after eating a two year old's shoe." I am begging the rhino not to swallow the shoe. I really think she picked it up in an effort to give it back. It didn't work, so she put it back down. Meanwhile, Lindy is hysterically screaming, "Hippo is eating my shoe. Hippo is eating my shoe." Not sure why but all I could think to tell her is that it was a rhino not a hippo. Way to pull out the maternal instincts, Lisa!!! All of a sudden, I am aware of a small crowd gathering around the rhino pit and my screaming child. "NOTHING TO SEE HERE FOLKS!!!"

After a few moments, someone tracked down the rhino's caretaker and she retrieved the shoe. The shoe was fine, the rhino was fine, and Lindy calmed down and learned the difference between the hippo and rhino...

Of course, in my paralysis to act, I didn't take any pictures of the event but I did capture a couple of the day.

And people wonder why I don't fill my days with excursions and activities...

Lindy loved the fish exhibit...

Thinking maybe we should stick to safer things like feeding the ducks and birds!