Eden's Birthday - Part ONE

ssshhhhhhh. Let's not talk about the fact that this post is about a week and a half late.

Eden had a great birthday! With all the hype we put up about it, the timing of presents, and Gramma and Granddad coming into town, it actually was more like a birthday week!

As soon as she woke up, we rushed in and filled her crib with balloons. aaaannnddd she's talked about it ever since. In fact, she enjoyed it so much that she's now learned to climb INTO her crib. She's too scared to try climbing out, which is a good thing, but now we'll occasionally hear her shouting from her crib after she's climbed in, "ba-oons!" oops. That kinda back-fired.


It was Wednesday, so that meant "gym-en-ats!" She got to sport her new "gym-en-ats suit" from BonBon and Pops, which she tooooootally loves!



Then we came home to have lunch and open presents.


Birthdays are a big hit with Eden, apparently! She's now obsessed with wishing Happy Birthday to everyone (and occasionally things) and can't wait for someone she actually knows to have a birthday.

Little Cup is Two!

Two years ago today, on the opposite side of the planet, our sweet baby girl was born!
I could spend blog eternity going on and on about how awesome Eden is and how I can't believe how much she's changed, but I'll just post pictures instead! :)





When Eden was born, we joked that she heard more Thai being spoken in those first few days than English. Thai has such a sing-song-y sound to it that she seemed to find it really soothing. The nursery workers could put her right to sleep! And because she seemed to like them and her pediatrician so much, we started calling her "Little Cup" because she'd hear "khup" so much while they'd be speaking (part of their language...not real sure what it means...different for guys than for girls...blah blah blah...I don't really understand it all). Anyhow, it stuck. :)

And now she's two!

More pictures of her birthday-day to come. Elmo themed b-day party is scheduled for Saturday! More to come on that "two!"

Speaking of two...
Since you've obviously all been adding things up in your head, may I introduce to you blog post #200!! And what a great day for it to fall on!
Some of our favorites since day one, post one:
Eden's Birth
Salem's Birth
A Tale of DouFu
Our Arrival in Chiner
Split-Pantology
Same,Same, But Different
Poopy Sleeve (this one has drawn recent interest! :)
Contagious Laughter
The Infamous Egg Line - a video MUST SEE!
Randomness
and just because I HAVE to keep trying...Argentina

If you had 3 hours you might realize the recurring theme is that most of them are from when we were in Chiner, The Big Chicken, Zhongguo...(take your pick) Maybe I'm feeling a bit nostalgic.

Happy TWO to Eden!
And happy 200 to our blog!

Dear Big Chicken,

We've missed you. (most of the time).

I'll be honest...Family is close, Target is fun, Arby's is just a jog down the street, and Redbox has become our special friend.

But you, Big Chicken, our hearts are eager to see you again.

It won't be long now. Plans are in the works.

Once again He has proven faithful, has renewed our calling, and amazes us with His provision.

Our hearts are bubbly with anticipation of what is to come.

We think of you daily.

See you (fairly) soon,

BAES

Helmet.....Check!

Brandon made the plunge and bought a bike seat for Eden.
meh...it's a little late in the "summer" but, better late than never!

Mr. Personality

I love this age! Salem is flashing more smiles these days and getting close to those first laughs!

Eden, The Realist

I've been making inconsistent attempts at working out again at our local YMCA.

I say inconsistent because I have a 2 year old and a 3 month old that get cranky without naps and come down with colds at inopportune times.

But today! yes, today! We made it up there at 9:15 am!

I figure that's a pretty good accomplishment in my world.

Making it out the door with all of our gear is hard enough, let alone actually getting a decent work out in without the nursery workers having to come get me and tell me my child is screaming.

Yes, Eden is still dealing with separation anxiety apparently. She's decided that the YMCA nursery (as well as the church nursery, but that's another blog for another day) is the worst place on earth. We now only visit the Y if we know some of her friends are going to be there because that usually distracts her for about 20 minutes. Once I come to the rescue, she immediately becomes confused and preoccupied with the sweat dripping down my forehead.

Today she made it 30 minutes.

Me and the elliptical machine are becoming good friends.

So now she's getting used to "going to the Y." I try to get her warmed up to the idea as soon as she wakes up, that way it's not all shock, drama, and craziness when we pull up and she realizes she's nearing the dreaded nursery.

So on the drive there, I was going over the details of what was about to go down...

Me: "We're going to the Y and it's going to be so much fun! You'll have friends there and you can color and play with new toys! and Mama is going to work out while you play. ok?"

Eden: "ok!" (sure, it's all fine and dandy in the safety of the car)

Me: "You gotta be a good girl and play and have fun so that mama can go work out and get skinny! Is mama gonna get skinny?"

Eden: "ummmm. (long pause) No. Just sweaty."

Thank you, Eden, for a good laugh today. :) And probably a good reminder of what's REALLY going down!

A Taste of China

J & H, some of our awesome Chinese friends, had us over for dinner the other night and it was SO! GOOD! It was the first time we've had real homemade Chinese food since returning last year! They spent the summer in Chiner so they missed Salem's birth, but soon after they're return they dropped by, making them Salem's first Chinese acquaintances...with hopefully many more to come. We felt it was a notable moment in his life. :) They're busy coming up with an appropriate Chinese name for Salem so that his little friends when we go to the Big Chicken will have something to call him. (at least a name that they can pronounce anyway!)

They're sweet daughter, Anna, thought Salem was pretty cool but REALLY enjoys playing with Eden.

The boy is growing like a weed. crazy. He's coming in at 15 lbs now and outgrowing clothes that fit him for about a day.

And then there's Eden, turning 2 at the end of this month but already acting much like a 4 year old. She's Lil Miss Independent. One of her new favorite activities is rummaging through her drawers and finding new "outfits."

She keeps us laughing. And I guess like most 2 year olds, keeps us wondering what is going through her head...