Monday, September 29, 2008
An Apple a Day
The Chunster loves her apples. When she had been here maybe a month, I had been trying without much success to get her to try some new foods. I had sliced, peeled, and cored an apple and was trying to get her to try it. Not so much! Then, The Chunster spied a whole apple, red and shiny. She pointed to it. She wanted it. Hint to mom: she recognized it! I handed it to her, and she walked around the house with it, happily munching. Several minutes later, she brought me back a stem. That's it - just the stem. She ate the whole apple, core and all. Fast forward nearly two years, and my girl still loves an apple. She takes one in her lunch every day, and some evenings she asks for one for a bedtime snack. Last weekend, I took Amelia to the apple orchard's apple butter festival, where she delightedly picked her own apples, took a hayride, and even got her face painted. How 'bout them apples?!
Friday, September 12, 2008
When it Rains, it Pours
We live in arid West Texas, where we average maybe a couple of inches of rain a month. Yesterday, it rained over 8 inches in a single day. Now, 8 inches in some places might not be a big deal. However, when the region is flatter than a pancake, there is nowhere for the water to go. Rain to this degree has not occurred here in over 100 years. SO.... our streets and roadways are impassable, some area homes have flooded, and basically, it's safest to stay home. The mayor declared a state of emergency Thursday night, and all the schools and government offices in the area closed for Friday. What does that mean for Mama and The Chunster? No work, No school!!! YIPPEE!!! Don't get me wrong, we feel really badly for those folks who have flood damage, for the farmers who have lost crops, etc. But... NO WORK!!! NO SCHOOL!!!! I immediately instituted "Rain Day Rules" and we have had a grand day!
Rule #1: Thou Shalt Wear Pajamas All Day!
Rule #2: Of course you can PAINT!!!
Rule #3: Of course you can build a Tower of Love for your Mama! (And draw a rocketship just for fun!!)
Rule #4: Of course you can move your easel in front of the TV so you can watch Max & Ruby and play Pablo Picasso at the same time!!! Why not? It's a RAIN DAY!
Rule #5: After helping your Mama make a pot of pintos and a skillet of homemade cornbread, of course your dinner should be eaten on a blanket in the living room, picnic style!
(BAD Mama, forgot to take the photo!)
Other things The Chunster learned today: Election 101. Today, The Chunster learned how to say, "election," "President of the United States," "McCain," "Obama," and "We are Republicans." Of course, being the tease she is, she also tried to tell me, "Mom, you a Repubwican. I'm a Democrat." LOL!!! Alas, she can't vote yet, so you Demo-friends out there don't get too excited. She also told me, "I am not a Repubwican or Democrat. I'm a Bobo-head!" Hmm, a new polictical party headed by The Chunster!! And with a much more appropriate name. HAHA. I swear, I did NOT teach her that!!!!
From WET West Texas!
Amy
Rule #1: Thou Shalt Wear Pajamas All Day!
Rule #2: Of course you can PAINT!!!
Rule #3: Of course you can build a Tower of Love for your Mama! (And draw a rocketship just for fun!!)
Rule #4: Of course you can move your easel in front of the TV so you can watch Max & Ruby and play Pablo Picasso at the same time!!! Why not? It's a RAIN DAY!
Rule #5: After helping your Mama make a pot of pintos and a skillet of homemade cornbread, of course your dinner should be eaten on a blanket in the living room, picnic style!
(BAD Mama, forgot to take the photo!)
Other things The Chunster learned today: Election 101. Today, The Chunster learned how to say, "election," "President of the United States," "McCain," "Obama," and "We are Republicans." Of course, being the tease she is, she also tried to tell me, "Mom, you a Repubwican. I'm a Democrat." LOL!!! Alas, she can't vote yet, so you Demo-friends out there don't get too excited. She also told me, "I am not a Repubwican or Democrat. I'm a Bobo-head!" Hmm, a new polictical party headed by The Chunster!! And with a much more appropriate name. HAHA. I swear, I did NOT teach her that!!!!
From WET West Texas!
Amy
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Meet the Fam
What? You don't see any photos? Well, that's because the newest members of our family are imaginary.
For those who have not heard, our family has been expanding. First, Amelia’s big brother moved in. His name is Guyza. Guyza is generally pretty calm and, well, invisible. Guyza goes with the flow unless he accidentally gets left outside on the park. He did break an arm this weekend, but that’s about the only exciting thing that Guyza has been involved in. He also does not like having the door shut in his face, however accidental it may be. I also discovered recently, quite by accident, that Guyza wears contacts. Guyza has been with us for most of the summer, and I was fine with having one visible child and one invisible one.
Then, a few weeks ago, Amelia’s dad showed up on the scene. He might be handsome (I can’t tell because I can’t see the man), but he is not really the helpful sort. I keep waiting for him to make a mortgage payment, take out the trash, or mow the lawn. So far, all he’s really done is call Amelia’s cell phone to let us know we need to pick up some more milk and to remind me to get gas. Apparently, Dad could not pump the gas because he was watching TV. I guess I should find it comforting that her fantasies have some basis in reality. Last night, Amelia asked me what that brown ball that looks like an oval is called. Uhmm, a football? Apparently, Dad likes to watch football. Great. How will I explain when football season is in full swing (now) that one of the perks of being a single woman is not having to watch football?
When Amelia and I went out for Starbucks recently, she helpfully let me know that I didn’t need to order anything for Dad and Guyza because they stayed home to do boy stuff. Super, especially since I wasn’t planning on shelling out for 2 additional Starbucks for the gentlemen. Amelia also told me that they don’t like to shop (what a relief – they won’t be putting things in the basket!). Amelia tells me on a regular basis that Dad’s car is faster than mine. Really???
This weekend, Amelia received a call on her cell phone that someone was in trouble and needed help. Then she said, “never mind, Mom, I will call Dad.” She proceeded to do just that. She “lost” her connection once, but managed to reconnect to tell Dad about the trouble. Then she helpfully let me know that “Dad will take care of it, Mom.” Grand, really.
I thought we were all set with Dad and Guyza filling in the familial gap that Amelia seems to think exists, when, a little over a week ago, Amelia’s baby sister arrived. It took me a while to figure out that she had arrived, since I didn’t hear from her very often, and when I did, I never heard her name. Amelia finally told me that her baby sister is from China and that I would not understand her name if she told me. After much insisting that I could understand and pronounce the name, Amelia laid it out there: Fyo-mei. (Okay, maybe Amelia was right, and I can’t pronounce it. I certainly cannot spell it.) Fyo-mei goes everywhere with us these days, and Amelia was teaching Fyo-mei how to write her name and how to do ballet. Fyo-mei even got a little backpack to go to school.
Thus, now our family consists of Dad, Mom, Guyza, Amelia AiChun and Baby Fyo-Mei. I am left to wonder whether my child needs a larger family, a therapist, or both. I think I know which one I need.
Amy
For those who have not heard, our family has been expanding. First, Amelia’s big brother moved in. His name is Guyza. Guyza is generally pretty calm and, well, invisible. Guyza goes with the flow unless he accidentally gets left outside on the park. He did break an arm this weekend, but that’s about the only exciting thing that Guyza has been involved in. He also does not like having the door shut in his face, however accidental it may be. I also discovered recently, quite by accident, that Guyza wears contacts. Guyza has been with us for most of the summer, and I was fine with having one visible child and one invisible one.
Then, a few weeks ago, Amelia’s dad showed up on the scene. He might be handsome (I can’t tell because I can’t see the man), but he is not really the helpful sort. I keep waiting for him to make a mortgage payment, take out the trash, or mow the lawn. So far, all he’s really done is call Amelia’s cell phone to let us know we need to pick up some more milk and to remind me to get gas. Apparently, Dad could not pump the gas because he was watching TV. I guess I should find it comforting that her fantasies have some basis in reality. Last night, Amelia asked me what that brown ball that looks like an oval is called. Uhmm, a football? Apparently, Dad likes to watch football. Great. How will I explain when football season is in full swing (now) that one of the perks of being a single woman is not having to watch football?
When Amelia and I went out for Starbucks recently, she helpfully let me know that I didn’t need to order anything for Dad and Guyza because they stayed home to do boy stuff. Super, especially since I wasn’t planning on shelling out for 2 additional Starbucks for the gentlemen. Amelia also told me that they don’t like to shop (what a relief – they won’t be putting things in the basket!). Amelia tells me on a regular basis that Dad’s car is faster than mine. Really???
This weekend, Amelia received a call on her cell phone that someone was in trouble and needed help. Then she said, “never mind, Mom, I will call Dad.” She proceeded to do just that. She “lost” her connection once, but managed to reconnect to tell Dad about the trouble. Then she helpfully let me know that “Dad will take care of it, Mom.” Grand, really.
I thought we were all set with Dad and Guyza filling in the familial gap that Amelia seems to think exists, when, a little over a week ago, Amelia’s baby sister arrived. It took me a while to figure out that she had arrived, since I didn’t hear from her very often, and when I did, I never heard her name. Amelia finally told me that her baby sister is from China and that I would not understand her name if she told me. After much insisting that I could understand and pronounce the name, Amelia laid it out there: Fyo-mei. (Okay, maybe Amelia was right, and I can’t pronounce it. I certainly cannot spell it.) Fyo-mei goes everywhere with us these days, and Amelia was teaching Fyo-mei how to write her name and how to do ballet. Fyo-mei even got a little backpack to go to school.
Thus, now our family consists of Dad, Mom, Guyza, Amelia AiChun and Baby Fyo-Mei. I am left to wonder whether my child needs a larger family, a therapist, or both. I think I know which one I need.
Amy
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Can you say CHUNSTER?
Chun, pronounced "chyoon," rhymes with moon, soon, prune,and my favorite - loon. This was the personal name (what we could call the middle name) given to Amelia in China by her caretakers. She was called AiChun or Chun-chun most of the time.
Since she was adopted at age 2, Amelia knew herself as AiChun. While transitioning her to her new name, family and friends called her Amelia AiChun. Amelia insisted (yes, even at barely 2 years old) on being called by both names. If you called her left off the AiChun, she would add it on herself. Eventually, we shorted "Amelia AiChun" to all versions of Chun - Chun-bug, Chunie, Chuniebelle, and our favorite, The Chunster. Our friend Sara started call Amelia The Chunster while in China, and it really stuck, because of her sparkly personality. I changed the name of the blog to match, and now she is officially Amelia at school, and multiple variations of her English and Chinese names at home.
Amy
Friday, September 5, 2008
One of a Kind
Chunie's my one and only, so it's hard to know what behaviors are "every kid" and which are, well, strictly Chunie. I joked a lot the first week I had her that the Lord must be having a good laugh at my expense by giving me a child with OCD. (Please don't flame me, I know OCD is no laughing matter.) Still, the signs were there - the fastidious wiping of the chopsticks between every bite, the constant organizing, the sorting of every tangible item we owned. Well, we have been a family 3 months shy of 2 years. The Chunster has relaxed on many fronts - she has been known to sport a messy face (gasp!), let her shoes sit side by side without being lined up exactly right (double gasp), and even has stopped polishing the display cases and clothing racks while we shop (it's so nice to not have to explain to the salesclerks that my 2 year old just loves to clean). I no longer consider The Chunster in imminent need of therapy (well, except on the issue of the imaginary family she has created for herself, but more on that later.) Still, sometimes, especially when she's tired, I see some of those old tendencies. Sometimes, when she plays, it comes out, too. Here, she has made balls of playdough, and then has painstakingly sorted them from largest to smallest. So here's the question: is sorting the playdough a "regular kid" thing or is it the Type A personality kicking in?
Monday, September 1, 2008
Joining the Red Letters Campaign
My friend, Holly Mac, whose blog you can follow at www.purposedrivenfamily.blogspot.com, introduced me to the Red Letters Campaign. The Red Letters Campaign is a faith-driven campaign to educate people about poverty, adoption, HIV, and a variety of other topics. I have been following along, reading others' comments and observations for some time now. Having traveled in Africa, Eastern Europe and South America, and having been to China three times, the third time of which was to adopt, it seems appropriate for me to join the discussion. Yes, I believe Christians are called -OBLIGATED- to care about the people of the world. I do believe we should care about our neighbors in our own communities and in our own country (of course we should!), but as Jesus explained the the story of The Good Samaritan, our neighbor is not only those with whom we share a nationality or a skin color or a socioeconomic similarity. Our neighbor is anyone in need.
This week's red letter topic is: what have you learned from the red letter campaign? What I have learned is that there are people out there just like me, women who work, who parent, who love their children, and who wish they could do something more - adopt one more child, minister to one more dying mother, provide antivirals to one more HIV positive teenager, drill a water well in one more village. One more. I have loved reading the blogs of these other people, especially the mothers who have adopted children and who are living testaments to their husbands, children, coworkers, communities of faith, and neighbors.
This week's red letter topic is: what have you learned from the red letter campaign? What I have learned is that there are people out there just like me, women who work, who parent, who love their children, and who wish they could do something more - adopt one more child, minister to one more dying mother, provide antivirals to one more HIV positive teenager, drill a water well in one more village. One more. I have loved reading the blogs of these other people, especially the mothers who have adopted children and who are living testaments to their husbands, children, coworkers, communities of faith, and neighbors.
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