Sophia-sations (conversations)

On our way down the stairs:
S: "diaper full" (she often tells me if she has a 'poopy' but never if it is full of 'pee pee')
Me: "your diaper is full?"
S: "diaper full"
Me: Do you want to go back up and change it? (I never ask, always tell, but I was willing to go outside and play for twenty minutes and then change her)
S: (turns to go back up the stairs, this shocked me because she loves to go play outside, usually nothing, not even a full diaper will stand in her way).
I changed her diaper and we went out to play. I think she is ready for potty training. Soon and very soon, am I ready???

sophia-isms:

'bian pao, boom, boom' : bian pao is how you say firecracker in Chinese, she adds the 'boom boom because that is what they do. She does not know the English word, but said this all weekend after her teacher taught it to her. This is because our apartment is off of the street that leads out and up the mountain to bury people, so when there is a funeral we hear firecrackers as they funeral procession goes by. And any time a new shop opens (which is often) they set off firecrackers. At least once a week we hear them!

'thankyouwelcome': she sometimes says 'thank you' without being prompted, but often times we will tell her to say it, and she usually puts 'thank you' and 'your welcome' together.

'fia video': translation: I want to watch videos of Sophia.

'Lap, book': translation: I want to sit in your lap and read a book.

'Fluoride,': amazing, I know, she doesn't really know what fluoride is or does, she just knows it as part of her nightly routine and says it pretty clearly. Her routine: read the Bible, sing songs, pray, eat a snack, brush teeth, take fluoride, pray again. She can tell you this routine if prompted.

'zao bao' this is our helper's name, and she said it probably a hundred times this morning....with correct tones and everything.

'shoulder owie..Poppy.' Translation: Poppy (David's dad) has a shoulder owie (he just had shoulder surgery).

Her language is really progressing, both English and Chinese. ABCs are next...

forgot this...

This picture, it is one of my favorites of Julie and Anna, her only daughter, out of four children. This is on the month of March of my Calendar and Sophia often says: 'Julie, Anna'. All weekend she said 'happy brfday Jewee....'.

Jewelz, Happy Birthday (video)

Today (the 28th in the US) is my sis' birthday!!! There are not enough words to do justice to the way I feel about her! She is an amazing mother of four, an incredible sister, a best friend. I can share any and all things with her, know I will get wise counsel, rebuke if necessary, and great comfort and love. She is a selfless servant to others and seriously, she is the one of the best moms I have ever seen...Even though we live thousands of miles away, we talk as if there has been no ocean between us for these past four plus years. What a blessing and gift she is to me.

On her birthday Travis organized a group of people to compete in a version of 'the Amazing Race' set in downtown Raleigh. There were four teams (I think) possibly more, and it was all done on bicycles. Julie and her best friend, Heather, the oldest of the crew won the race!!! Great props go out to them! Congrats! And Kristin made her a cake of the city (with tall buildings and all), my jaw dropped when I heard about it. So sorry we missed out on everything.

we love you Julie! Happy 34th bday!

big girl bed (video)

We bought Sophia a bed and it came in early this week. As the men were putting it together she just knelt on the mats (I told her not to move and get in their way) and then she repeated about five hundred times "big girl bed." Of course when I pull out the camera she gets quiet, she was quite enthralled with their work. The guy actually ordered us two beds (they are one meter, all the stores all have 1.2 meter beds, and we wanted a smaller one, because we will need two eventually). We still haven't decided if we will go ahead and get the other now and really set the room up or what. It is a big bedroom with great space, but it is getting smaller! I just found the perfect bedding and bought two sets that included two decorative pillows, bottom sheet, and then a top sheet which they make into a duvet type cover to cover a blanket, but it is all sheet material. This was all for 240 RMB which is $35, not as cheap as I thought it would be, wal mart has beds-in-a-bag for cheaper maybe, which usually includes a good bedspread...oh well. I love the pattern! will post it soon.

our 48 hour journey

We are back, we left Monday at 4 pm ish and returned Wednesday the same time. The more we visit the capital the less we like it. Sure, the McDees ice cream cone is great, but all the traffic, the hotel (which doesn't turn AC on even if it is 80 degrees out and about 90 in the room, no exaggeration), and just the pure stress of traveling, makes us long for home. Here are some tidbits:

• David spent Tues morning at the Thai consulate while Sophia and I went to feed fish in an area near our hotel. She absolutely loved it! We all traveled because we thought all three of us had to be there, but we tried it with just David (we were on call in case we needed to get to the consulate), and no problems!
• The weather was perfect, low 70s, sunny, slight breeze.
  
• we went to buy some western food supplies like butter, cheese, etc. and look for 'authorized' movies, meaning not fake ones. The vendors tell us which these are, they are more expensive and have far less the selection, but we still opt for the real deal.
  
• Tues night we went over to eat with some friends and then back to their house for some dessert. They have a very sweet dog that Sophia warmed up to nicely... we had a great time with them, Sophia staying up way past bed time
• Weds: this anecdote is worth retelling: at breakfast David decided to enjoy a croissant, but it was a little hard so he squashed it a little and put it through the toaster, which is a rolling toaster that spits the toast out on the opposite side. He waited a bit, then looked inside as it was rolling through and saw it was aflame, yes, on fire! he quickly grabbed the tongs, and as it was spit out it jumped the tray and rolled onto the table cloth, still ablaze. David put it on the tray and put the 'fire' out. He left the blackened croissant for spectators to see, grabbed another, and walked away laughing...then, after almost burning down this nice hotel in the middle of downtown he went to get Sophia some cheerios and the dispenser stuck and tons went on the floor...Sophia already made a spectacle the day before by screaming/ throwing a fit for not getting what she wanted. I think these people were ready for us to leave.
• After breakfast David took Sophia to pick up the visas while I journeyed across town to pay a bill for a shipment of imported foods that we ordered with a friend a few weeks ago. This store is great, the lady tells us 'just pay when you come through.' and we did, over $100 worth of food, how convenient! her name is 'auntie,' well that is what we call her.
  
• I met David at McDonalds where he was meeting with another friend and Sophia played happily on Ronald Mcdonald's big red shoe (a children's play slide), she did great while I was gone and then continued playing with new friends there for another hour! we ate lunch, checked out of the hotel and caught our flight!
  
• on the bus taking us to the airplane, I gave Sophia her 'moo moo' blanket in hopes she may nap a little, of course she definitley sucks her thumb with moo moo in hand. the lady sitting next to me pulled Sophia's thumb out of her mouth and kept telling us how dirty it was (most chinese do not let their kids suck their thumbs), David and I got quite frustrated with her, and in my mind I had some really great come backs...from which I refrained because they were not edifying... we did tell her that we were not like them in this regard and that we let her do this. People do comment on her thumb sucking, I have just never had someone pull her thumb out of her mouth before...cross cultural living, always think I am used to it, then I get surprised.
• On the airplane David held Sophia and sometimes he lets her stand on his lap and look over our heads behind us at all the people. He told her to wave to the people...we didn't really think she would do this, but she did first with her left hand, for a little bit, then she would switch hands and wave some more, just like little miss america or something, the people loved it, Sophia our little ham.
  

off and away for a few days

we just decided that now would be the most convenient time to go to the provincial capital and get our Thai visas, needed for when we go to have the baby. Now meaning like in a few hours... I am signing off for a few days...we will be able to enjoy some McDonalds, maybe pizza hut, maybe some mexican food....we will be really busy, but we won't be hungry! blessings while we are gone!

banana bread help

I decided to make some banana bread for David to take to some friends this week, this is the first time I let Sophia really help me, here she is mashing bananas, she did quite a good job.



Yes, it was Sunday, and David was already with a local friend at the hospital when his old teacher (and one of David's best friends) called him on his cell and said he and his girlfriend wanted to come visit Sophia (he now teaches about an hour away so we don't see him too often). Because he wasn't at home David somewhat told him it wasn't a good time. That is when I discovered I was short a banana, right in the middle of mixing everything together. when David called to tell me about him telling his friend to wait, I said: 'send them on and please have him bring me some bananas, I will pay him back.' Lets just say I would never in a million years do this, it is not culturally appropriate to ask someone to bring fruit over, but that just shows you how close we are to this guy. He has hung out at our house a ton, slept on our couch during 'rest time' in the afternoon, watched movies with us, Sophia adores him, and he is always willing to help out....so he saved the day and brought the banana (way more than one), then he and his girlfriend played with Sophia while I finished up (another big cultural no no, not very hospitable), but they knew I was in the middle of stuff and didn't mind at all. I actually explained to his girlfriend how to make the bread. I was only occupied a few minutes and then I had a wonderful time being a real host. Sophia was in rare form, dancing all around, putting on quite a little show. And David did make it home not too long after that. We always have a great time when Uncle ai Muan comes over!

Uncle Ai Muan and Sophia with visors on, she made him put it on! He is such a good sport.

Sophia as student

I heard Sophia 'babbling' reading and discovered her here on the couch studying. Incidentally she is studying 'your baby: the first year,' I think she is trying to figure out what it will be like with a baby around...she looks like she is not too game, what do you think?



random: the first time I put her hair in pig tails...pic is not great, sorry

sophia as teacher

The other day during 'school' I went in Sophia's room where she and her teacher were playing. This is what I found:


Sophia put her bear and monkey on the stools and was having them 'color' or tryint to teach them, who knows. If you look carefully she put the pen on the bears ear, I guess she couldn't get it in his paw...

then she really shows him how to draw...

That girl...hilarious.

more reading (video)

An animated reading video. In the middle of everything else, she is saying 'jump right here,' I am not sure what page she was looking at...notice her very boyish PJs a gift from Laura and Lee, she has these and her very favorite, ones with airplanes on them...these are the bottom layer, we put 'girl PJs' over these :)

Chatty on the phone

Sophia loves to chat like this on the 'phone' or even as she is reading books, she seems to know exactly what she is talking about. She can talk to us in sentences and communicate pretty well, but when she gets like this she is in her own little world/conversation. Often we can understand a few words, but still not understand her 'story.'

Spoiled rotten by loved ones

I was in the middle of preparing one of our healthy meals of the week (no meat, little oil, lots of veg), (our helper prepared all the ingredients, then I 'throw it all together,' She is SO helpful, it is a little like having a cooking show or something...)...pause in the story...

ingredients for Indian curried vegetables. the bright orange spice is Tumeric, with cumin, and curry, I omitted the coriander (I didn't have any). the processed stuff is the onion, ginger, garlic, and hot pepper. here is the recipe, if you like curry, this is really good...

Indian Coconut Curried Vegetables

Ingredients:

• 1 onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1 tbsp fresh ginger
• 1green chili, seeded
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1/2 tsp turmeric
• 1/2 tsp coriander
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp curry
• 1/2 cauliflower, chopped (I forgot this so added more of the other veg)
  
• 1 cup green beans
• 1 carrot, sliced
• 1 zucchini, sliced
• 1 cup coconut milk

Preparation:

Process the onion, garlic, ginger and chili in a food processor until smooth.

In a large skillet, heat the onion mixture and spices along with the oil and spices. Allow to cook for a minute or two, stirring frequently.

Add the vegetables and the coconut milk and stir well.

Cover and allow to cook for at least 20 minutes, or until veggie are tender.

Serve over rice if desired.

Ingredients for Mediterranean Eggplant and beans, sorry no recipe included (not typed up yet), but it is basically: steamed eggplant, sauteed onion and green pepper, raisens, ketchup, lemon juice, and beans all mixed together...I thought these two recipes would not go well together but I did it anyway and it was great, all served with brown rice! then all of a sudden.....

We got a call that we had 2 packages! wow, as you know we had just gotten one from the Bugnars. We were so spoiled and encouraged by some incredible gifts. One package was my birthday package from TCC Williams' girls, and did they ever spoil me!!! Scrapbooking stuff, magazines (Runner's world, my fave), junior mints, a movie, travel scrabble (awesome), lotion, little girl clothes, and the blessings go on and on....here is what they gave Sophia:



a beautiful head band (she doesn't have one, she loves this), and a little strawberry shortcake bag, how did they know she loves bags like this. She looks so grown up! they also gave a little candy (we will save for potty training), and some coloring books...all things she loves!! Thank you so much...

But the blessings didn't end. Another package, an 'anniversary' package and just plain blessing from the Cokers (Poppy and CC), goodies for me, and goodies for both of us, David's favorite: Nutty Bars (little debbie), and a cake mix, and perhaps most important :) graham crackers and chocolate icing, this makes making our favorite dessert (chocolate eclair cake), so much simpler... so...we indulged after our healthy meal (which happened to be our date night), and ate some junior mints and nutty bars. When will I make the cake???? Soon and very soon....


this is Sophia's new book from Poppy and CC, she loves all things books!

we are overflowing with gratitude and just want to say if you know someone living overseas a small package from home will make their day, month, year, not just because of the 'things' but the thoughtfulness and encouragement it brings. thanks guys for consistently showing us your love through these gifts...we appreciate it more than you know!

sweet package

we got a great package from the Bugnars, thanks so much! We love everything! They sent Sophia some stuff, here she is using her new 'flower' fork and spoon and her little bird cup. She loves it. She did indeed try to eat her cheerios with both fork and spoon and was somewhat successful.

weekend fun

of course we enjoyed Cinnabons, yummie! I will not even tell you how much butter we consumed this weekend in our Anniversary meal and Cinnabons. And we rarely use butter!


We hung out as a family, Sophia likes to draw with Chalk


David took this from the stairwell, no that is not our car!


this is at the top of a small ramp (see below pic) this is one of Sophia' favorite spots, she goes up and down, up and down. This cute pink dress is from Aunt Laura, along with the hair bow, adorable.


there she goes, and yes, she has fallen down this too.


she loves to sit on any ledge like this. Here she was watching Caleb (one of her favorite people) play football.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, our helper watched Sophia for a few hours while we went bed shopping--for Sophia. Yes it is about that time, time for a big girl bed. I am so sorry I didn't take the camera, we found some really cool beds, we looked at bunk beds, and regular beds. We even found a bunk bed that you could slide down for about $1000, yes, that is USD. No thank you.
we haven't decided yet...

learning a new song

Sophia's teacher is teaching her this song. She can sing a little bit of it, the tune stays in my head all day. It is about making/becoming good friends. Notice in the middle of her rendition Sophia goes over and closes a drawer that was slightly open. anything slightly open really bothers her, it must be 'fixed'.

one more thing

The other day as I was sorting clothes or doing some chore in our bedroom, I let Sophia go through David's sock drawer, knowing she would put them away when I asked her to...I laughed so hard when I heard her say 'help,' (we are trying to teach her to say 'please help me mommy' instead of whine when she gets frustrated, this works maybe 50% of the time), what did she need help with? She had successfully gotten David's underwear around her neck and one sock on her hand, but how on earth was she to get the other sock on her other hand? And so I helped her...then ran and got the camera.

silly, serious, and sundry Sofa loaf (Sophia)

Most evenings after dinner David takes Sophia out to play. She has a blast driving her car, drawing with chalk, wooing the nursing students, and hanging out with her little friends seen below. These first two pics are taken from David's cell phone. These children are all older than Sophia, all at least two years old, a great age to start making friends...






Our old helper came over to visit today, she just got back in town. She may come back to work for us in a few months, after she goes home and helps her mom farm some. (all the villages around here are farming tobacco, under the government's persuasion)

She had lots of fun playing with Eh So jie jie

Eh So gave her this jacket, she loved it because it has an elephant, zebra, and giraffe on it!


one of her latest things is playing with all her barrettes and hair bows...she looks like she may be up to something in this picture.


At 'school' today Sophia and Ayi put all her animals in a row like this. She had never done this before and had to come get me and show me. I really think she is starting to learn some Chinese, she at least repeats a lot and does use some things in the right context! She surprises us every day. Now we cannot use Chinese as code for some things. For example, I would say to David, 'should I give Sophia some 'cao mei' (strawberries)? If she hears me say 'strawberries', its all over. But now she knows what cao mei are and can even say it herself...

Anniversary week...

This Sunday is our 6th wedding Anniversary. It has been an incredible six years...going by so fast but also feeling like we have been married for forever.
Last year we were in the US and David took me to the Burke Manor Inn for a night while his parents watched Sophia. Our time in the States was quite stressful at times so this was a wonderful reprieve!


2008

The year before that, prego as I was and actually supposed to be on bed rest for the weekend because I felt what I thought were contractions (while in the middle of Chinese class), I made Krispy Kreme donuts from a Copy Cat recipe. This was a complete surprise to David. And what surprised me was that they actually tasted like Krispy Kreme!!!

2007

In 2006 we happened to be in the provincial capital so we went out to one of our favorite restaurants there and ate some 'mexican' food. It was delicious. I am sure we enjoyed some good coffee too...


2006

what will we be doing this year???

Friday night I am making the following menu:

Chicken Parmesan
Peas and Almonds
Glazed Carrots
Garlic Cheese bread

and then Saturday I will make another of David's favorite:
Cinnabons, from a copy cat cinnabon recipe. I have made these before but it has been a long time! He loves them! I am brainstorming a dessert for Friday night, but still thinking....

He surprised me by 'buying' me Kitchen Aid, it is not bought yet, because he actually decided to consult me on it. I always said I don't need one...then the other day as I was whipping cream that took over ten minutes, I thought it would be quite nice, especially with kids, to have hands free. And I do love to bake, I just try not to do it too much (to limit our calories). Anyway. David knows I do not want a $500 (that is USD) mixer! On all the Chinese websites to get one to match our voltage they are at least that much! No way! so...we are researching more and possibly going to wait until Thailand and see if we can find one on Craig's list or ebay or something from there...I will let you know. This was a huge surprise to me (spurred on by my sis just receiving one for her bday, thanks Jules). David is so thoughtful, I am so excited.

more village pics...

The bride and groom


Me, hangin' with the kiddos, these two boys adored Sophia, from the minute we got there they took her by the hand and led her around. Yes, her face got touched a hundred times by every single person, with the constant words of 'so white, so pretty'. But these boys were tender and sweet. She didn't seem to mind them touching her curls every so often...





just plain sweet...

In the village

David was in the village all weekend attending a wedding and he even attended again today, while Sophia and I took part just on Sunday for the morning and early afternoon. This is also our helper's village, so Sophia was happy to see her Jie Jie! But I think she liked the pigs and little chicks better than anything...


looking at some little chicks with friends


the pigs are just on the other side of the bricks. Love the raw meat hanging there. This happened to be where all the 'meat prep' for the wedding was taking place. It was a grotesque scene, one we have gotten used to. Sophia had no clue, she just wanted to see the pigs and make her 'oink oink' sounds.


this is just so you can see the house of our helper (we were already good friends with the family before she came to work for us). Every good mother must take certain items to the village for it to be a successful day: lots of snacks, lots of juice/water, and good toys: this blow up soccer ball was a hit, as were the bubbles...this was when I just needed a little 'control' time.

Children's Activity Table

Here is the latest furniture we have gotten to prep for 'schooling' our children (that sounds weird to say). It is a complete knock off of Pottery Barn's children's activity table, all at a very small fraction of the price!!! Here is the link for a better photo of the real deal, but they are very similar. The great thing about pottery barn is they post all the dimensions, makes it easy for replicating!!! Sophia enjoys her table!

'Chili's Salsa'

While in the States, David and I grew to LOVE Chili's bottomless chips and salsa and their honey chipotle chicken tenders, our favorite meal out! I decided to try to mimic their salsa instead of the chunky kind I would always make....I found a copy cat recipe copied below and found Here



Ingredients

• 1 (14 1/2 ounce) can tomatoes and green chilies
• 1 (14 1/2 ounce) can whole canned tomatoes (plus the juice)
• 4 teaspoons jalapenos (canned,diced, not pickled)
• 1/4 cup yellow onion (diced)
• 1/2-3/4 teaspoon garlic salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon sugar

Directions

1. In food processor place jalapenos and onions.
2. Process for just a few seconds.
3. Add both cans of tomatoes, salt, sugar, and cumin.
4. Process all ingredients until well blended but do not puree.
5. Place in covered container and chill.
6. A couple of hours of chilling will help blend and enrich the flavor.
7. Serve with your favorite thin corn tortilla chips.

In China here is what I do, it still needs some tweaking, but it is getting close to the real deal!!!

• 3 1/2 cups chopped tomatoes
  
• 1 tsp garlic salt
• 3/4 tsp cumin
• 1/2 tsp sugar
• a little more than 1/4 cup onion chopped (can only get purple onion)
• 2 green peppers, not the hot kind, somewhat like bell, seeded and chopped
• 1/2 tsp hot red peppers (the tiny kind), seeded and chopped

I follow the same directions above. I make this a day or two in advance so I can add more heat if needed, we like it spicy, even though Chili's salsa is not that spicy. my version makes more than the above version too.
Yes, those are pringles in the picture, we actually prefer the Chinese generic version of the same chip but they were out. I also usually buy 'wraps' from the duck restaurant and then cut them up and bake them with a little a butter and salt on top, they work great, but I had zero time to go across town and get them and prep, so pringles it was...

BTW, Sophia refused the bbq we made, the sweet beans, and potato corn chowder (from a friend), all very American dishes. But the spicier creole chicken and rice, quite spicy, she loved, and the salsa too which we also make pretty spicy! Crazy girl, not for the faint of heart

Menu plans..

I have a skeleton menu plan that I work with, we have some staples that we do every week, like chinese dumplings, and usually 'over the bridge noodles,' so those stay put, though their timing is flexible. We eat the same thing for Breakfast everyday, oatmeal with yogurt, and on Saturdays do a fun breakfast. When cooking at home I try to follow my health food books (Eat to live, eat for health) and then on Friday it is family fun night so I can cook whatever, like pizza or mexican, etc. And unless hosting something I usually do about one dessert a week towards the end of the week for Friday and to enjoy on the weekend. I may post some recipes soon too. look out...

Last week's menu plan

• Monday: lunch: Left over Thai peanut chicken and fried rice, salad with lots of veg, Sophia: grilled cheese, peas and carrots. Dinner: order out, local chinese
• Tuesday: lunch: left overs from previous dinner; Dinner: roast chicken, stirfry zucchini and peppers, corn on the cob
• Wednesday: chicken waldorf salad (sandwiches); dinner: vegetable burritos, stuffed eggplant
• Thursday: Lunch: left overs; dinner: chinese dumplings (out)
• Friday: lunch: left overs; dinner: bbq pork sandwiches, oriental salad, baked beans, homemade ice cream sandwiches
• Saturday: Fun bfast: blueberry muffins (a mix); lunch: over the bridge noodles; dinner: left overs
• sunday: coffee cake for group, lunch: out with group; dinner: left overs

This week's menu plan:

• Monday: lunch: left over bbq, oriental salad; dinner: Creole chicken with spinach and rice
• Tuesday: lunch: Left overs; dinner: out, local chinese
• Wednesday: lunch: left over chinese; dinner: Enchilada Casserole, salsa
• Thursday: lunch: left overs; dinner: chinese dumplings (made key lime pie)
  
• Friday: Lunch: left overs; dinner: hearty macaroni dinner, key lime pie
• Saturday: David stays in village, we eat left overs or PBJ sandwiches with vegetables
• Sunday: we all go to village wedding, take Sophia spaghetti; dinner: out

Most of what I make is from scratch unless we have gotten a package with mixes or something. we used to have a small import store that closed down. But it sold some cream of mushroom and chicken soups (can be made from scratch as well), etc. so I used that in the Enchilada casserole, the casserole is definitely a 'Friday Fun night' meal, but moved to Weds. because my tortillas were on their way out and I could not waste them. So the 'Hearty Mac' which is healthy (no cheese or meat), is our Friday meal, but accented with key lime pie (made without keylimes, just lemon's, so I should really change the name).

Sophia's school

okay, not really school. but a friend who comes and speaks clear chinese with Sophia for an hour a day. This has been her first week and it is going great so far! Our helper's chinese is not that great, plus I keep her pretty busy, so we decided a 'class' was needed for this stage. they just play together and have a blast, talking the whole time! and she is repeating, we don't know if she knows what she is saying, but it is a start. Today she put on everyone's shoes, including her new Ayi's heels. (ahyee, aunt in chinese). I will post our new schedule in the next few posts or so, and some things we are eating these days...stay tuned.

walking in daddy's running shoes


Ayi's heels

With xiao chen, Sophia's Ayi, and teacher

Micah turns 4

Isaiah, Micah, Anna, the snowman's hat comes from our little town here!

Happy birthday Micah Williams (Sophia's cousin). here are some pics of the Williams enjoying snow in Jan (did you guys just get snow again right?).