Anchors Aweigh....

For those of you who don't know it, Don is a Naval Academy alum. So, it is no wonder that this was his favorite dress of Lindy's this summer...

Lindy's Hans & Franz look

Anyone remember the Hans and Franz skits from Saturday Night Live with Dana Carvey and Kevin Nealon??? I know, I'm totally dating myself...Well, Lindy briefly donned a Hans & Franz look at the Families with Children from China pool party on Saturday.

We had decided she needed a bathing (or as she says "babing") suit with built in floaties. Great idea, right??? Unfortunately, the suit was a bit big for her and it didn't work out yet. However, we did get a kick out of her new buff look. Lindy is here to "pump you up."

I guess we'll give it a try again next year. For now she'll have to stick with the princess fairy look...

In training

I really can't believe I am posting about this but it is a big part of what is going on with Lindy and us these days--potty training.

Lindy is officially in training and so are we. I think it is going fairly well and coming together. Lindy has stayed dry throughout the day for several days in a row. She is not shy about telling us when she has to go. She announces it in full voice and is quite insistent and persistent about it, even when we don't want her to be like in church or the middle of a furniture store.

I have heard some kids are afraid of the process, are particular about where they do it and with whom, etc. So far, it doesn't seem to matter where we are or who she's with. If she wants to she will, if she doesn't she won't.

I'll admit we haven't read one thing about this and we are totally winging it. We've opted to bribe umm I mean reward her successes with a single M&M. She enjoys the M&Ms, the high fives, and praise. It is fun to see her excited about her accomplishments.

It is definitely a time-consuming process and a commitment. I know the more committed I am to the process, the more successful she will be. I hope it won't be long before we are completely diaper free but I know we still have a way to go...

Lunch with the girls

Today Lindy and I went to lunch with two of our favorite girls--Erin & Emily. Don and I have known Erin and Emily since spring of 1996 when they were just little girls. We have shared holidays together, had sleepovers, baked cookies, gone to the beach, slept together in the same cabin during family retreats, just to name a few things...

As hard as it is for me to believe, Emily had freshman high school orientation today and we were getting together to say farewell to Erin as she heads off to college on Friday. These precious girls whom we would "babysit" are now babysitting Lindy. Watching Erin and Emily grow from little girls to young women is a bittersweet reminder of how fast time goes by AND that we are ALL aging.

We love you Erin and will miss you lots while you're away at college!!! Have fun, study hard, and don't forget to come back to visit.

We love you Emily and hope you will enjoy being in high school. Congratulations on making varsity tennis!!! We'll come check out a match when we can.

I won an award

Earlier this week, my sweet blogger friend and fellow April Panda, Margie, awarded this blog with the "Blogger Reflection Award." Not knowing what that meant I read the following:

"The Blogger Reflection Award should make an individual reflect upon bloggers who have been an encouragement, a source of love, impacted you in some way, and who have provided a Godly example. In other words, bloggers whom, when you reflect upon them, you are filled with a sense of pride and joy...of knowing them and being blessed by them.”

I was really very surprised and honored someone would think of me in this manner. I really am such a novice blogger and I know my three little blogs are just little fish in a VERY, VERY, VERY big blogging ocean. The primary reason I began blogging was to keep family and friends updated about our trip to China to bring home Lindy. I never dreamed it would also be an outlet for me to "meet" other people and encourage as well as be encouraged.

This award is meant to be passed on to someone else in the blogosphere. I am going to pass it to Heather at Especially Heather. I don't know Heather, nor do I even remember how I found her blog. In fact, I think Don found it. Heather is a young woman who has faced (and continues to face) more trials than it seems like anyone should have to bear. However, her faith is so strong and her example of perseverance is incredible. She constantly is talking about her blessings, passing on nuggets of wisdom, and offering reminders that we are not in control but God is. On days when I feel like things aren't going right, I remember some of the things Heather has written about and gone through and it not only offers me perspective but hope, as well. I know she is blessed and prayed for by many people but I also know she blesses many people with her spiritual maturity.

Thank you, Margie for this award and for causing me to take some time to reflect on who to pass it on to.

Happy National Smile Week

A smile is a curve that sets everything straight. ~Phyllis Diller

There are days (and I know I'm not alone) when I just don't feel like smiling. When I see this face, however, sometimes it is impossible NOT to smile.

A smile is really the easiest thing to give someone and it is completely free. Mother Teresa said, "Everytime you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing."

I am blessed to have this sweet little girl who freely gives smiles all day long. (Except for when I am trying to capture it via a camera and then I better work fast!!!)

Lindy loves company!

Yesterday we were treated to a brief visit from Aunt Nadine & Uncle Al from southern California. They were only in town for a few hours but it didn't take more than a few seconds for Lindy to warm up to them like she'd known them forever.

She had Uncle Al reading to her and Aunt Nadine playing babies with her. It was such a kick to watch them as they played with their GREAT, GREAT niece. I think at one point Uncle Al was ready to trade many of his prized possessions for Miss Lindy.

They took great pleasure in reminding me of how when I was Lindy's age I would cry whenever I was around Uncle Al. It's true. There are pictures of me with red-rimmed, crying eyes and my dear uncle.

Not having any family nearby, it is always a nice treat to spend a little time together when we can.

Thanks for adding us to your itinerary! We loved seeing you.

Singing in the rain

Maybe you've seen on TV that Texas has received an unusual amount of rain this summer. I don't mind the rain, so I've been pretty content with it and am missing it this week...

One thing I found myself dreading about the rain was getting out in it. Before you call me prissy, let me clarify that I don't use umbrellas and am not afraid of melting in it. My main hesitation was being out in it with Lindy.

Lindy LOVES the rain. Everytime we'd go somewhere I'd tell her to stay in the garage and walk to her side of the car. Did she listen? Sure. Did she obey? No. She'd dart right out into it and splash in the puddles, put her hands under the rain spout, and throw her hands in the air and twirl around in the rain. This would frustrate me to no end.

Then one day I stopped and watched her. She was having so much fun and it wasn't really hurting anything, so I let her get wet and play in the rain. She is filled with so much joy and it is moments like these I remind myself to relax and let her take joy in the simple pleasures of life.

A little reunion

I am suffering from a bit of blogger backlog. I seriously don't know how so many people blog on a daily basis and still keep it interesting...

Two weeks ago, Lindy and I were reunited with my friend, Lisa, and her family during their annual visit to Texas. Lisa and I "met" each other online through the April 2005 DTC Yahoo group and we were also a part of a special prayer group. Eventually we met face to face in China at the White Swan after she had adopted Aubrey and we had adopted Lindy. Then we also got to see each other last July.

Last year when we went to dinner our girls were fairly quiet and reserved. Lindy had just started walking, so she couldn't make it around much without a hand to hold onto. This year was such a contrast!!! Our girls were both loud, bold, and on the move EVERYWHERE--even in the pouring rain! Without a doubt, both Lindy and Aubrey have made the adjustment!

Aubrey (34 months) and Lindy (26 months)

I am happy that Lisa took the time away from her visit with family to catch up with us. I look forward to making it an annual tradition and watching our girls continue to blossom and grow.

Tellin' it like it is...

You really have to love the honesty of young children. They call it as they see it.

For example, on Monday while Lindy and I were eating lunch, I spilled some water ALL the way down my light blue t-shirt. A few moments later Lindy was tugging at her bib and kept saying, "Bib, Mommy. Bib, Mommy. Bib, Mommy." Confused, I acknowledged that she was wearing her big over-sized bib. Nothing new about that...why all the fuss???

Then the light bulb clicked on when she pointed at my big dribble and said, "Bib, Mommy" again. She was trying to give me her bib because I was such a mess. I laughed and asked her if she thought I needed a bib and she laughed back and said, "yes." Funny thing is, judging by some of my shirts, I probably do...

Red, white, and blue, and lots of rain, too

We had a very laid back, soggy Fourth of July holiday. The highlight was seeing Uncle Steve & Aunt Pauline who pulled into town on Monday all the way from southern California. We feel really honored and blessed that they would come all this way to see us, considering my cousin (their son) and his family live in the Lubbock area. If you're not familiar with TX, Lubbock and San Antonio aren't exactly in the same vicinity.

We talked a lot, ate a lot, and they played a lot with Lindy. She loved having them around to willingly play with her, read to her, and give her lots of attention. I tried to talk them into potty training her but no deal there...They did however provide some helpful advice regarding the matter.

Hope all of you had a lovely day and that you had a chance to reflect on the meaning of the holiday. Here are some pictures of us during the holiday.

Little Drummer Girl

One of the things we hope Lindy will take an interest in is music. Both Don and I love music and we'd love for that to be a part of Lindy's life, too.

Lindy has shown an interest in the piano but last week she got a taste of a new instrument--THE DRUMS. At first she really wasn't sure about them. "Noisy" she said. But it didn't take long before she wanted to have a try. I kid you not, but there was one time where she banged the sticks together three times like good drummers often do before the music starts.

Here are some pictures of our little drummer girl getting her first drum lesson from her special friend Cliff.

Happy Father's Day, Daddy

Dear Daddy,

I hope you will have a great Father's Day because you are a great Daddy to me! I have so much fun with you and always feel safe when I am in your big, strong arms.

Love,

Lindy Li

Pull out the brooms!?!

Lindy has pulled out the broom in hopes that tonight

her Spurs will sweep the Cavs!

She hopes her man Ginobili scores

a bit more than three points tonight.

Go SPURS go!!!

Weekend at the beach

Hi,

This weekend Daddy & Mommy took me to the beach--well, actually they say the coast in Texas. I had forgotten what it is like to walk on the beach, so it took me a little bit to get used to it. Once I remembered how the sand feels between my toes, I didn't mind it too much. There was a lot of seaweed but Daddy cleared a path for us to walk from our beach chairs to the water. I had fun playing in the ocean and this time I didn't mind being in the swimming pool, either, because the water was warmer.

I had lots of fun this weekend, made sure not to get a sunburn because I wore lots of sunscreen, saw lots of doggies at the beach, and rode on my first ferry ride. Here are some pictures from our quick weekend away to Port A.

Go SPURS go!!!

I have to take a nap today so I won't be able to watch the Spurs as they take on Utah this afternoon. I am very excited to be a Spurs fan and would like to talk a little smack to my family in Denver and Phoenix and remind them who is the #1 team in the West!

Go SPURS go!!!!

To my daughter on Mother's Day

Darling Lindy,

On my second Mother's Day I want you to know how much I love you and what a special gift from God you are. Thank you for opening up my eyes, teaching me so many things, and showing me a brand new world as I look into your eyes and see things for the first time through your eyes.

I will always love you,

Mommy

In My Daughter's Eyes-by Martina McBride

In my daughter's eyes I am a hero

I am strong and wise and I know no fear

But the truth is plain to see

She was sent to rescue me

I see who I wanna be

In my daughter's eyes

In my daughter's eyes everyone is equal

Darkness turns to light

and the world is at peace

This miracle God gave to me gives me

strength when I am weak

I find reason to believe

In my daughter's eyes

And when she wraps her hand

around my finger

Oh it puts a smile in my heart

Everything becomes a little clearer

I realize what life is all about

It's hangin' on when your heart

has had enough

It's giving more when you feel like giving up

I've seen the light

It's in my daugter's eyes

In my daughter's eyes I can see the future

A reflection of who I am and what will be

Though she'll grow and someday leave

Maybe raise a family

When I'm gone I hope you see how happy

she made me

For I'll be there

In my daughter's eyes

We are now the proud owners of a two year old

On Tuesday, May 8th, Lindy celebrated her second birthday. It seems like we were just celebrating her first birthday (see below). Yikes! Where does time go?

She had her two year checkup and a Hep B to start the day. Am I a mean Mommy or what?! She wasn't too happy about that arrangement but it went fast and was virtually painless. She weighed in at 21 pounds/15 oz and was 33 inches tall. She's a petite little thing but not at all scrawny. The doc says she looks great!

We had a nice lowkey day and birthday evening. She had several calls, emails, cards, presents, and her friends Jordan and Ellen even came over for a few minutes. For dessert we had birthday cupcakes which she was much more excited about than last year. She even pursed her lips to blow out the candles. She loves singing the birthday song and I've even "caught" her singing it in her crib over the baby monitor.

Lindy continues to amaze us each and every day. She is so full of life and personality. It has been a year filled with many milestones and accomplishments. She is chattering up a storm and her vocabulary is growing daily. She is stringing words together to form sentences. She counts to 10 pretty easily and is making her way to 15. She spells her name. She can identify several colors: Green, blue, pink, red, black, white, yellow, orange, brown, and purple. She loves to sing and dance and doing the splits. I know I'm gushing...Sorry...Kind of...It is just that when I see her smile, I can't help but smile--even when I'm in a foul mood.
Each day I wonder if this is the day that she's going to be a two year old in every stretch of the imagination. I fear it...I dread it...but I know somehow we'll all get through it! She can be sassy and headstrong and the tantrums may be coming but so far they've been manageable.

We look forward to another special year with our sweet girl and celebrate our two year old.