Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Traditions, the tree





After almost seven years of marriage we decided to get a Christmas tree. Living in China has actually made it easier for our family to keep things simple and much more focused on the story of the incarnation and the cross at Christmas. And as our family has grown we are trying to find festive ways to teach our children the meaning of the holidays.

So, we have a tiny tree, now deemed the 'prince of peace' tree, it has hand sewn dove ornaments (not by me)that point us to the Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace. Our new tree is bigger and is also intended to point us to Christ, not just as a baby in a manger, but the reason why he had to be Immanuel, God with us. By focusing on the names given him in His word we are reminded of his promises to us and who He is for us. What joy to share these truths with our little ones and those around us.




Bella 6 months





Isabella Hayil is now six months old. She is mimicking sounds, says 'mama' but doesn't know what it means, she loves to roll on her belly, is close to sitting up on her own, and still is as smiley as ever.

We introduced solid foods, but when we went on our trip I gave her Heinz brand from a jar, upon return when using homemade stuff so far she has rejected a lot of it, though still eating rice cereal. We will see what happens with that. I am still working on her schedule since being back. But she still nurses 5 times a day and eats solids about 3x a day, but usually not too much at each sitting. She has eaten: pears, apple, banana, sweet potato (hates it), and rice cereal. She still naps 3x/day, though the past two I have given her an extra cat nap in the evening b/c her other naps were so short and she was so fussy, really trying to work on that!

Still not much hair to speak of though it is definitely lighter than Sophia's and her eyes seem to be staying green, Sophia's are dark brown.

We will continue to bore you with these 'scrapbook' details as she grows on!

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

love to find this...


reading in a basket in Gator gear, all things I love...and the precious face of course

phuket pics


what we did on vacation: lounge. Bella saying: 'this doesn't seem too fair'


Daddy taking Sophia on the slide. Day 1 and 2 she tried the slide, no problem. Day 3, she kept saying 'no.' hmmm???


the hand off, I wasn't quite ready with the camera


She LOVED being thrown up in the sky, we told her to wave to mommy when she was up in the air.


another go at the slide. J and C waiting in anticipation for the hand off


good pass, daddy



ready for the beach


Thailand has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world (according to all the books), we have been to quite a few and they are breathtaking, but we took zero beach shots this time. Our friends took some pics we will have to get, but this was our first time as a foursome going to the beach, and quite frankly we didn't have an extra arm to carry the camera, we will have to work on that.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Crazy days in Thailand

Traveling backwards: Our first stop was Bangkok, of course, where we recovered our stroller and buggy board and did more medical stuff. This time it was the girl's turn for needles and blood, and all that fun. Sophia barely flinches at the shot and loves her doctor, but the blood drawn (for routine CBC and heavy metal screening) left her flailing and screaming. She would calm down some through it and try to talk, we couldn't tell what she was saying, until finally, 'I want to suck my thumb,' don't you know they were drawing blood from her left hand, her favorite thumb sucking side? She recovered just fine.

Isabella was the opposite, the appropriate scream at the shots and then smiled while they drew her blood, I thought this nurse a miracle worker on such a tiny vein. I took Bella back for her BCG/TB lymph node problem. It is now an open wound pretty much that has started to drain, apparently this sounds/looks worse than it is ???!!! The doc did not seem too concerned but wants me to really start cleaning/dressing the wound 2x a day to prevent infection, and keep her on the medicine. It should go away in a few months at the most, she says.

Next stop, Chiang Mai. GREAT time with friends talking/discussing/reflecting/forward processing. This was the first time our family of four all stayed in one hotel room, and without a crib or pack and play. No worries, Bella did great on the floor (she can really only roll one way), and Sophia had her own bed in the room.

And yesterday we arrived in Phuket, the largest island in Thailand on the Andaman Sea. We got discount flights through Air Asia or Asia Air, forget what it is called, and we got rooms at Ramada for almost half price right on the edge of peak season. We did this using latestays.com, check it out. Hotels are all about making money, and would rather rent a room for some money than have it empty with no money. We will only be here a few days, but already we are feeling rested and having fun. We have two connecting rooms and the girls are still doing well sleeping in the same room. Our friends will join us today.

We went to the beach this morning, mainly just to check it out, we will probably stay in and around the resort. The beach was clean and nice, we rented chairs and Bella went right to sleep for almost an hour on the chair, while Sophia and Daddy played. Sophia was timid of the water and enjoyed the pool a lot more after we returned.

As you can tell, we have taken zero pictures so far. Maybe today. Maybe not. We will see if we get around to it...
we return home...I have no idea when, the day after tomorrow I think, my brain is vacating, can you tell?

Beholding...

My sis and crew left on Dec 2nd, Wednesday. David and J had a premiere English teaching event that Thursday and Friday, and the following Thursday we left for Thailand. And now I sit, in the blazing sun on our balcony in Phuket, great blessings from God. We got out on the beach today, one baby asleep, the other playing in the sand with daddy and I said to David: 'you know what I forgot to bring down? A book.....but I don't need it, I am just beholding this beauty. It is awesome.' 'Read the glories.' he replied. And I did. I took it all in and just praised the Creator for all the hues, the breeze, the girls, the man before me. Redeemed life. Precious gifts. Rest.

Monday, December 7, 2009

more matching dresses


looks like she is waving...

CC bought these cute dresses


Always the mom, I think she is trying to make her smile...

oh, but the kiss did it