A Puppy, A Baby, A Bike

 A girl down the road has a new poodle puppy. We fell in love with the mom of this pup two years ago, and this pup won our hearts as well. This is the kind of puppy our family wants, especially Sophia. I always thought poodles were wimpy dogs, but affection has grown in my heart for some very practical reasons: They are really smart, and they don't shed hair. And this one, that we pretty much baby sat for the day, was too cute. Even Gabrielle liked her.

Have I blogged this? This was an iphone moment as they held hands and started skipping along. I had them reenact it for the photo. The kids carpool with AB, I take and K picks up, it works out pretty well. 

Our old helper, and dear friend was expecting her first baby right after we arrived back from the States. She didn't call us a ton because she knew we were still getting settled. But our whole family did go see her in the hospital, and then right before she returned to her village I went and saw her one more time. What a precious boy!

 I was so glad I went, she hadn't nursed the baby yet because he was in another part of the hospital because of some lung issues. He was fine. I showed up as she was checking out of the hospital but needing to nurse. I dropped everything, sat down next to her and acted like all the Thai nurses that helped me nurse all my babies. I man handled him a bit, showed her it was all okay, and helped him latch. She had on about 3 layers of thick sweaters (with it about 90 degrees out, but it is their custom, lots of clothes), once we got the baby close to her, things went better. Her mom and others were trying to rush her to go home, but I told her this was REALLY important, and it would take awhile. She made it home okay, and called me about a week later saying his bottom was really red. I had given her a LOT of baby stuff. And some of it was bottles of things I had not used including baby lotion and diaper cream, all in English. I told her to put the thick stuff on his bottom! He is a real cutie!

 Speaking of cutie....Gabrielle is showing much personality these days, mimicking our sounds, laughing, getting animated, and not showing signs of really wanting to walk, though she does plant her feet and then push to her hands with her bottom in the air, she is just not stable enough to go any further.

 Bella REALLY wanted us to take her training wheels off of her brand new bike. And we knew it was time. We told her she would fall but it would be worth it in the end. Sophia encouraged her by telling her the story of her learning and her falling on top of her bike and daddy falling on top of them both. She also happened to have just fallen on this black area that was really slick because it had rained. I said: 'see, Sophia can ride her bike and she still falls'.

 We went to a nearby school area but the grass was so overgrown in some parts, and the gravel was packed and slick.

Tobin chose the outer concrete.

First couple of runs....this is so hard on the adult low back and hamstrings.

My turn, and I never lasted more than two rounds and about bit the dust myself.

David did start to let go and she would do well for a few feet. We cheered and cheered, but then she started to perform a little, ignoring everything we were saying....a fall or two did happen. But she was not discouraged.

Today they went back for about thirty minutes and David said she is doing well and almost has it....a couple more days of it!

Chinese First Grade

 This is one building of classrooms at the Elementary school where Sophia attends.

 another view of the courtyard.

 Her  classroom, crowded and dirty.

Her table mate. He is quite mischievous, but I don't think mean-spirited. Today when I picked her up he wasn't even in the seat next to her, he was outside and the teacher didn't know. I was planning on talking to his mom. He likes to touch Sophia's pencil when she is trying to write, and mess with her feet a lot. Writing Characters is hard enough without this egghead trying to mess her up. And I think he does this because he is mischievous, not because she is a foreigner, the last guy she had problems with in kindergarten used to kick her and call her an ugly foreigner.  That is not this boy's personality at all. This little kid is likable and always talks to me....but still. Enough is enough. It has been a few weeks and it is time for Sophia to be able to relax and do her work.

 Her classroom is on the right. First floor, first door.

All the parents waiting to pick up their kid. They only do this in first grade. We have to walk in and check off our name. We also cannot get in the gate without a pass. This is new. 

Each kid has a card to put in these phones to call home if they need to. Sophia has tried it one or five times :). Now that she knows how to use it we told her to use it in an emergency. Convenient.

The story of Sophia getting into this school is worth telling. I am sure I won't get the details right since we were not actually here for registration. It was at that time that JS called us in the States and said: 'come back! come back' and we replied: 'we are trying!!!'

I had put two local friends in charge of helping us register Sophia. The problem with that was all of our documents are English, etc. AND the big game changer was the new principle of the school. He was changing everything. My friend said: 'he doesn't take bribes? then I don't know what to do' such has been the system for so long for non-local residents ("countryside" folk) trying to get in this school.

Thankfully one of the friends had realized that that very afternoon someone needed to be there to get a number for the 'line' for non-locals. JS went (so thankful!). Then they realized that in order to KEEP the place in line for the next day, people were camping out all night. So our other local friend found someone to keep our place in line and paid them for it (the things parents do for their kids and school, lol). Sophia ended up being number 23 and they were only taking 20! BUT five people, who obviously did not get the memo about keeping your space in line, left. Sophia ended up being 18! When JS went back to wait and register, people/parents had been in an uproar, police were called, a riot almost really did ensue. JS admitted to being a bit scared by it all. I think there was another hiccup over something with our documents, but because JS had been chatting it up with someone there who knew something about something...it all worked out and Sophia got in. Thank you JS! Those Cookie bars were for all your hard work!

Sophia loves school. We are taking it week by week, but we are okay with it so far. Her teacher seems unorganized, and we thought our misunderstanding of her texts of the homework was just our poor Chinese, but as we got locals to look at it, they had trouble too. We think she is doing it so fast that she is mistyping and putting in the wrong character, and most people just know what she means, but for us trying to read it so literally it becomes hard. We will have to work on that.

Other than that, so far so good!

What I'm Doing....

Listening...
....Rend Collective: We had a dance party/praise time here this afternoon with our kiddos. I LOVE this group and I had just mentioned how great they would be in concert, when David informed me that they are in NC right now. I think they are from N. Ireland or something, we rock out to them!
....Natalie Grant: Your Great Name. I put this on repeat and bask in his greatness and power.
....Lord of the Rings. David and I are listening to this together. We read aloud when not too tired, but the audio is awesome. I have read the book but we wanted to read it together. It will be a long haul. But it is so good.

Reading...
....I just read 'Stepping Heavenward'. I know this is a classic but I hadn't read it. It changed my life. One of the best books on pursing godliness. And it was a journal format. I think I may reread it every year.
....Different Children, Different Needs. Or something like that. I am just getting into this, it is pretty good so far, very interesting.
....Blown away by Psalm 57 this morning  In the midst of 'disaster', in the midst of people that are like 'ravenous beasts', whose tongues are 'sharp swords' (mine sometimes), he cried out...he bowed down in distress, He cried out in praise and his heart was steadfast: "I will awaken the dawn" he said, with praise to his glorious God. God's faithfulness reaches to the skies, yes indeed!

Watching...
....nothing. We pretty much did not watch TV in the States and decided it was a good time to give it up. We never watched a ton anyway and it is not to say we won't go back, but for this season we are not missing it, and we don't have the time.
....when I was sick for almost 3 days, in bed for two, I did watch some more of Grey's Anatomy, continued from the airplane ride when I was first introduced to it. But this too, while it has some intriguing medical story lines that I love, has an overarching story theme that is one big unedifying soap opera, but that is almost any show these days, including Downtown Abby. Not against it really, just not going to have a consistent diet of it.

Eating....
....Speaking of diet. Not like 'lose weight' diet because we are not doing that, but what are we eating?....back to green smoothies, with added good oils that we hauled from the States: coconut oil, fish oil, extra-virgin olive oil. Yep, its all in there. Plus some protein powder. And of course the spinach and fruit. This is what David and I eat for lunch. It is a pretty high-calorie, high fat meal. But so good for you, and actually tasty, Tobin loves it, Bella likes it, and Sophia will endure it sometimes and says it is okay.
....lots of our local favorites: tonight was sour/hot fish, and noodles dipped in a lemon/cilantro/pepper sauce, stir fry veg, Green veg soup.
....One of our favorite restaurants closed while away, oh well.
....back to grilling once a week: David gave me a one minute tutorial and left for a meeting. I gave a new meaning to the word CHAR GRILL. Seriously, folks, the wings were on fire for a while. But half of them were really tasty. OOPS. 

Exercise...
....After only working out or running a total of ten times in 3.5 months, I am trying to get back into my Kettlebell workouts. Man, I had go way back down in weight. David and I went to a KB trainer and it was SO helpful for form, etc. So the lighter weight has been great. My schedule is so crazy now that I am just figuring out how to fit this in. I have done it at 6 a.m. (but kids usually take turns interrupting my night) and at 7:30 p.m. still not sure.
....running. I have not started. I may not run for about six weeks, David wants me to do a test. Do a 4 mile run now. Do KBs for 6 weeks and run again, and see how it improves my cardiovascular endurance. I think I will take him up on it. I just have to work in that first run.

Doing...
....Homeschool planning, lots and lots of HS planning! We have slowly started core subjects. Hope to start CC and history and a few other things in the next week or two. I may post a daily schedule at some point.
....always trying to figure out Sophia's Chinese homework.
....training a new helper! (she has worked two days and so far so good, but takes a  lot of training up front).
....keeping Gabrielle from crawling off into the sunset. Or at least out of the ants, we have a lot!
....biking and playing with kiddos. Bella got a new bike, Tobin got Bella's old bike (black and blue and very boy looking), they both love it. These were surprises for not crying at school. They LOVE their bikes. Soon Bella will go sans training wheels.

Tobin Quotables

Our internet has been quite rough for a few weeks. It works intermittently. I cannot upload pictures right now either. So just picture a real cute picture of Tobin.

Here are some recent quotes:
Context: The night before I had taken the kids on a bike ride around our neighborhood and we had a good time. We were discussing how everyone was out walking after dinner making it safer, cars had to go slow. We discussed how we loved living here.
Tobin: "China is my best home in the whole China world."

Context: The kids were begging to go 'to the water area' to ride bikes and play. I often do let them go there on their own but not riding bikes. Tobin had just gotten 'his very own bike' so he especially wanted to go, I told him that I couldn't go watch him right then...
Tobin: But Mama, we'll watch ourselves!

After looking at pictures of Uncle Lee and Aunt Laura all dressed up to go out.
Tobin: "Aunt Laura looks pretty, mommy" (he always compliments when I wear a dress or when Bella or Sophia have their hair done a certain way).

His prayers are the best. He always prays about whatever we just did. Thank you God for a good sleep. Thank you God for school. Thank you God for....cold water. 

Gabrielle's gifts and tidbits

 All the kids made cards for Gabrielle, she wanted to eat them, or crumple them up.

 David and Sophia ran up to the store (literally, there is a baby store just on the street near our house) and bought her some shoes, because I can't find any to fit her.

 She did love the baby doll, and actually hugged it.

Our friends gave her this beautiful white gown/dress. ALL the girls loved it, so I put it on her. Princess in the making.

This is our neighbor and one of our closest friends (mom of the local girl above). Gabrielle went straight to her and cuddled a bit, she did buy her the princess dress, after all. 

What is Gabrielle doing these days:

• crawling crazy fast., trying to pull up
• usually sleeps through the night and wakes around 7:30
• naps twice a day, and has started to cry almost every time we put her down, something she hasn't done before. She can cry for a while. 
• sucks her thumb to sleep
• drinks four bottles a day but doesn't drink nearly as much as she used to. Eats three meals, loves cheese, yogurt, bread, and loved the stir fry I made the other night (the restaurant stir fry is still too crunchy for her to eat, I made my beans and broccoli softer)
• has almost 8 teeth, the highest number for a Coker kid at her age.
• has run an elevated temperature on and off since we have been back
• babbles like crazy, and can say buh buh, for 'bye bye' and sometimes says 'ni ni' for night night, she doesn't do this consistently
• is doted on by her siblings SO much (and anyone else who gets their hands on her)
• is a blessing from God

Gabrielle is One!

I cannot believe a year ago we were giving our three eldest donuts, our friends were coming to watch them and we went to the hospital to deliver sweet baby G. She is precious sweetness. We are so thankful for her!

Yesterday I alerted David that we probably should get Gabrielle a gift, being her birthday and everything. Then I remembered we had a brand new 'American Girl' Baby baby doll, sure, it is for three years and up, but it would work. And I announced that afternoon we would make cupcakes and then on her birthday the kids could help me ice/decorate them. We are all for last minute these days. This thrown together plan worked well. I had already told the two families that I wanted to invite that they should come over after dinner. Small, simple. Gabrielle was not disappointed. 

 Gabrielle has been sleeping well since our return. But last night, on her birthday eve, she woke up and drank a full bottle. Honestly I have struggled to get her all the food she needs here. It has not been easy, she is at an in-between stage of table foods but not loving some textures, so not eating. Then I go back to basic easy spoon-feeding rice cereal and baby food...oh well.

Since our kids switch times of day that they go to school, I let Tobin and Bella help with sprinkles in the morning, and Sophia do a bit more in the afternoon. This worked well and they got really into it. 

Here is the day in pics:

 

 She is happy and crawling all around, we were deciding what to put on her for her birthday. She is the most flexible baby I have ever seen sometimes I think she is missing some joints! She wants to pull up to a stand but cannot yet.

No, I do not want this on my head.

distract her with the balloon, Soph!

Beautiful!

We had left over batter so I made G her own little cake in a glass bowl and flipped it over and iced it. I let Sophia completely dictate where I put the icing, etc. And this has got to be the funniest cake I have ever made, but I really didn't care how it looked, Sophia and I were bonding.

The candle is lit, and she wants to grab it.

Annabelle, show her what to do with the cake!

David finally put some in her mouth. What is this sticky stuff? 

Oh, I kind a like it.

Where has this been all my life. SUGAR!

How do I get into it all?

Then we took it away. She was fine with that. I gave her a quick wipe down.

The partay people.

Love this girl. She is hilarious and a good fit for our fam!

We actually did do gifts....next post.

America 35: The last one!

This concludes our three month trip to the U.S.

Of course there was so much more to it than all these happy pictures.

There was a bit of everyday life, there was a smidgen of homeschool, struggles for normalcy (whatever that is), there were deep conversations, much-needed reconnecting, crying conversations, much advice-seeking, detailed observation of godly people, lots of truth hearing, and love given and received. We were so thankful for all of our interactions with everyone. Thank you everyone for touching our lives in meaningful ways.

I will get back into Real Time life in China...but the posts will slow a bit.

Last tidbits in pics:

This is Sophia and Eli. Big hug goodbye. Even though they only see each other every two years, they actually remember each other. This was from early on in our trip. He wants to be pen pals, but Sophia didn't know what that was so she struggled to answer. But then decided she would. Of course that hasn't happened yet. She isn't writing letters right now. She is learning to write Chinese! When we start homeschool maybe we will get into letter-writing.

Russell came to town to visit and we had a very blessed day with him. He is one of our fave people and has influenced us greatly. We sure did miss Karla!

Can anyone guess where we ate breakfast?

We cleaned out our house and had about zero furniture. But the girls still somehow managed to play and find creative ways to be princesses. Here Queen Bella uses a bed sheet as her gown and train.

It was actually quite ceremonious.

Then she took off running with the sheet and casting her spells of Frozen power.

And for fun....