Raisin Bran & Ice Cream...what do they have in common?

Dos Scoops

2 Scoops

 
TWO Scoops of...Patience  

Yesterday, I was happily informed, during my sweet baby girls 2 yr old physical, that her emotional development is right on track and NORMAL!!!

Now, when I read the list below, the words that come to my mind (snotty, bratty, obnoxious) are clearly not the word "normal":

easily frustrated

favorite words "MINE", "NO", "I DO IT"

very possessive - offers toys to others, but then wants them back

emotions are like a roller coaster - can go from excitement to frustration to anger in a few moments (I really did not think PMS started this early :-)

needs considerable time to change activities

capable of frequent tantrums, often the result of inability to express herself (always a joy when in the middle of Target your 2 yr old screams at the top of her lungs because you won't hand her the item she so desperately wants. I quickly am taken back then to what I used to think about parents whose children were screaming and they continued to go about their business of shopping almost ignorant of their screaming child in the basket.WOW, am I becoming one of them?!)

can show aggressive behavior and intent to hurt others

may resist sleeping or settling down to sleep (no kidding! Naps have been awful to say the least these past few weeks)

can be extremely demanding and persistent (different than teenagers - this is the constant "mom, mom, mom, mom" that is repeated over and over at records speeds by a whiny 2 year old)

destructive to objects around her when frustrated and angry (seriously you should see what happens when her baby stroller gets stuck)

possessive about caregiver's (aka MOM) attention; show feelings of jealousy

cannot sit still of play with a toy for more than a few minutes

 Don't get me wrong, I am thrilled to see that my baby girl is developing 'normally', however it just means that I am going to need a double-dose, double scoop, double decker of patience to get through it. I am not sure why I seem to be having trouble coping in this area. I've had 2 year olds before, it's not like this is the first time I am experiencing this.

On the flip side, the following list are also traits (much more delightful traits) of development in a 2 year old:

affectionate - hugs and kisses

has sense of humor; capable of laughter

shows interest in dressing, brushing hair, teeth

enjoys simple make-believe like talking on phone (so true)

enjoys simple songs, stories

hums or tries to sing (constantly)

likes to look at books

Little Miss Girly-Girl turns 2

Well at least I don't win the "TOTAL LOSER" mom award as I managed to get this one posted ON the actual birthday! I really did not think when I woke up this morning that it was going to be one of those days.

Abigail's day started with quite the bang, 5:45am to be exact! And NO I did not get up with her then, rather I allowed her to talk and sing in her crib until I was completely positive I was not going to fall back to sleep.

We, the collective 4 of us (Daddy and Tanner were both out of town) ~ The Mommy, Dalton, Noah and Grandma Webb (who surprised us with a special birthday visit) made the decision that the little Princess needed to start her day with presents. So she began with the present she received in the mail from Aunt/Uncle/Cousins, then G-ma/Papa and lastly ours - a Dora tent with tunnel.

Next order of business was breakfast! Now, in our house it has always been the tradition that if there is left-over cake from the night before, they could have it for breakfast. Well, why break the tradition now right?!? AND since we had cake left over from last night's party (which ultimately meant I did not need to bake another one for Little Miss Girly-girl - at least not this year. I know I won't always get away with this one.) - WaLaa - cake for breakfast. And not just any cake but Birthday cake. So we proceeded to place a candle in the cake, lit it, she blew it out and then enjoyed it thoroughly.

Moving on...alas, time for a nap, if you remember correctly Little Miss Girly-girl was up early! So down she goes and I take a sigh of relief. I figure I have a few moments and I head to our family drug store for some peace and quiet. My phone rings - it's from home - Noah says, "Mom, Abigail woke up and threw up in her crib!" Did I forget to mention that she has developed a cold and usually when that happens the snot is enough to make you want to throw up! I race home to have Noah inform me that it is just "spit-up" of which Dalton quickly corrects him and says, "That's not spit up...go look in the crib." I guess I am going to have to teach that oldest boy of mine what "spit-up" is versus "it's everywhere". Yep, it was just a small amount of spit-up - probably caused by a coughing fit gone bad.

Well, Little Miss Girly-girl is bathed, changed and ready for the day - AGAIN! I am happy to report that we managed to make it through the rest of the day without too much drama - no afternoon nap, but still not too much drama.

It will be early to bed for Birthday girl!

Happy 2nd Birthday, sweet Little Miss Abigail!

Happy 13th Birthday NOAH!!!

UUgghhhhhh!

I hate it when I am all tapped out! I've got zip, nada, nothing. My brain is fried and for no good reason either! I sat down last night (September 23rd) to type this incredibly awesome "13" post for my cool new teenager and came up empty! Not to mention that I did not even manage to post it ON his birthday, but rather a day late and definitely more than a few dollars short.

Nonetheless, my dear sweet son Noah has entered the world of teenage-hood and I, his mother, have a lack of words. Who would have thunk.

BUT, I couldn't let it slip by without wishing you a Flippin' HUMONGOUS "Flaming" Happy Birthday!!!

Keep reading...as it is a 3-fer posts deal today!

I did not realize that I had so much to say today! Okay, well maybe not that much to say but rather catching up. I realized the other day that I hardly take photos anymore...of anyone. So I am working hard to remedy that. It is not like I have anything keeping me from doing it, I just do not think about it first.

Anyways, the other day was a big day in our house as the 2nd one of our sons has entered the world of no braces - Yippee! AND because I can say this...what a handsome young man he is!!!

BEFORE (May 2009)

BEFORE (in the car on the way to the ortho September 2009)

AFTER (in the car on the way home after the ortho September 2009)

Congrats Dalton!!!

Walking a mile in someone else's shoes...ok maybe not

So, Abigail has this thing that she loves to put on other people's shoes. It does not matter whose shoes they are, she just wants to wear them. I was getting ready to go to the post office the other day and she really wanted to come along, so I told her to go get her shoes. She walked away returning quickly with these:

Well, I could not resist putting them on her feet and tying them super tight around the ankles so they would not fall off! I brought her out into the kitchen and showed the boys who laughed and said, "Abigail you look like you have clown feet." Upon which I said, "Look out Ronald McDonald!"

Needless to say she was sooooo proud of herself, mind you she could not walk a step in them as it is like walking in a pair of flippers, but that did not stop her from trying.

I know her eyes are closed shut in this one but I could not resist the completely "blissful" look on her face.

1 year Gotcha moments

 I can honestly say I had the best of intentions for Abigail's 1 year Gotcha Anniversary of taking lots of pictures and even video and can you believe I barely got a few snapshots and all of them while she was in her high chair with a bib on!

 

"Doesn't cake look good on me too?"

Nonetheless, I did manage to snap a few of her in her traditional red chinese silk dress. Of course it was not until after the fact that I thought "Why didn't I put her in her original gotcha outfit (the one they gave her to me in) to show how much she's grown?!?" I guess I just was not thinking. So a few days late - but still the same affect!

THEN: Abigail (Xiu Hua Qiu) with Mommy, September 16, 2008

THEN: Abigail (Xiu Hua Qiu), her nanny (He Fang ~ was what I was told) and Mommy, September 16, 2008

NOW: Abigail Juliet and Mommy, September 19, 2009 (I think she looks a lot happier now than a year ago)

NOW: And to think that the outfit they gave her to me in would fit her perfectly 1 year later

As FIVE became SIX

Wow! I actually had planned to sit down and write this incredibly heartfelt, long post and as I sit here I find myself quite speechless at the moment (I know hard to believe huh?).

You can find our original post a year ago HERE!

{Lovin' my brother's}

I am in awe of our daughter who in her first 2 years of life has lived through things that I/Brian haven't lived through in 42 years. I am in awe of her development, her language grasp, her personality, her intelligence, her incredible cuteness, how funny she is (and she knows it). I am in awe of how great our GOD is to have blessed our family with this amazing little girl.

My darling Abigail,
Oh how I love you! I love everything about you. You are such a delight to all of us! As I tucked Noah into bed last night, to hear him pray for you and thank God that you are a part of his family, our family was/is truly a testament to how much your brothers think about you. You have a permanent place in all of our hearts, forever!


This day is incredibly special to all of us as it was the mark or even end as you will to a life of just us and a beginning to a life with you a part of it! As a man and women come together on their wedding day, celebrating 2 very separate lives and joining together as man and wife ~ Gotcha day is truly no different. We came, the 5 of us living 1/2 way around the world, living separate lives and joined together with you as one! I cannot even begin to think what it was like for you, nor will you even be able to tell me as you were still so young. Though I can see in your eyes and on your face how scared and unsure you were. We were foreign to you! We were what you didn't know you needed!


I was thinking about it this morning that you have lived with us now longer than you haven't. My prayer and hope is that you know inside your tiny little soul that we ARE and were always meant to be your family. I am so very thankful for your birth mother and father. Though you were born in a country that basically sees little girls as disposable or "throw aways", I do not believe for a second that your birth parents thought that as they took enough thought, love and care to place you where they knew you would be found. I know she thinks about you. I know she wonders what ever became of you. I would say to your birth mother, Xiu Hua Qiu, a child that you didn't name, but the child that you gave birth to ~ know that she is loved beyond measure.


Abigail Juliet Mei Li Webb you are a treasure worth exploring, worth finding, worth celebrating! Before we even had the opportunity to love you, you were loved by the God of the Universe. You are a princess of the King. May your life be a constant reflection of God's incredible grace, mercy and love.


All my love,
Mommy

A special gift for me.

A few weeks ago I posted that I had won a special giveaway from Cinnamon Sticks Boutique (my favorite all time site for handmade silver jewelry~ here shop can be found HERE ). Canela is such a hard worker as well as a devoted wife and mother to 6 children. She has such a gift for making amazing creations and Praise God she is using that gift. ~ So, a few days ago it arrived.

I was given the opportunity to design whatever I want - so here it is:



~live (tiara symbolizes to live as a Princess of the KING)
~love (heart symbolizes to love with ALL my heart the way God intended)
~laugh (daisy symbolizes happiness, glee, fun, laughter as they are such a happy flower).

So if you are in the market for a new piece of jewelry or maybe you need a gift for someone ~ won't you consider sending Canela your business - you won't be disappointed!!! :0)

Anniversaries come and go

This day is a unique day!

Today is my father's birthday. A day that now holds a bittersweet remembrance for him.

9/11 a day that will forever be remembered by millions of people all over the world, as a day of sorrow and grief, sadness and mourning!

A day that holds a very different memory for me and for our family.

A day that we thought and dreamed about for months/years.

A day that gave us butterflies and gitty feelings all the same.

One year ago today we loaded 6 of us and a bazillion suitcases onto an airplane and flew half way around the world to a land unknown to us to receive a daughter, unknown to us.

Today is a very unique day!

To My Beloved!

My dearest Brian;
"I am my lover's and my lover is mine..." Song of Solomon 6:3
This was true that splendid Friday evening, 20 years ago and is more true today and every new day as my love for you grows more and more and more.

It's so hard to imagine that day, 20 years ago where 2 young adults stood before one another pledging our love and commitment to one another, not even knowing what was before us!
No GPS, no blue prints, no handbook that would shed light on how to live 'happily ever after'.
All we had was each other and our love for God to guide our way!

You were my "knight in shining amour" then and you still are today and forever will be!
I love you will all my heart.

My prayer for the next 20, 30, 40 years is that we will continue to put God first, that we would love each other un-abandoned and that we would share ALL that we are with those around us!

You are amazing to me!
I am so proud to stand beside you as your partner, your companion, your lover for all these years!

Happy Anniversary My Love!!!

Happy September 1st