Friday, August 31, 2012

Sacked Out

I am slowly working my way through my photos from our annual camping trip in early August.  It was a nice, but exhausting trip.
Sweet Pea took her 45 minute nap in her Daddy's arms all the way down the mountain in the shuttle and in the walk back to camp.  Of course she wouldn't have been so zonked if she hadn't woken up every hour or two the night before (and every night of the trip.)  We are almost back to her before trip sleeping schedule...if waking every 3-4 hours can be considered a schedule.  

For the last 6 years I told God I could probably handle any issue as long as we got some sleep.  He said, "you might be right, but I don't want you to handle it.  I want you to turn to and need Me.   So sleep issues it is." 

We are tired.  So very tired.  But aside from that, every thing is going so very, very well.  At less than 13 months she has taken her first steps, has 6 teeth, signed more and eat, said Mama and Dada, and so much more.  She has the best laugh and giggle and loves to play.  It is a joy and a huge privilege to be her Mama.
23 pounds of serious cuteness worth every wake-up and midnight cuddle. 
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Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Sunflower Run

On Saturday evening, we went to the park.
TimeStamp: 9:16:08 a.m.
I wanted to capture Sunflower in one of her new birthday presents. 

But then..."oh, Mommy, don't you remember when I fell at home today and hurt my knee? Don't you?"
TimeStamp: 9:18:25 a.m.
 "That's fine.  You can sit for the photos..."
TimeStamp: 9:18:34 a.m.

TimeStamp: 9:18:38 a.m.

TimeStamp: 9:18:45 a.m.
I guess standing will work.  Also, I have now adjusted the timezone on my camera back to PST from Beijing time.
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Saturday, August 18, 2012

Birthday Week

A few weeks ago we celebrated 3 birthdays in our family.  Saturday we went out for dinner for my 40th.  Sunday we had cake for my birthday (it took that long for it to finish frosting--I don't mind stretching the celebration.)
Sweet Pea was napping.  She didn't seem to mind missing out when she joined us later.
Tuesday, on Sweet Pea's 1st birthday we went to the park and escaped what was terrifyingly close to being a terrible accident with minor car damage.  Then Wednesday, on Sunflower's birthday, we opened our presents from Major Awesome.  They were shipped and wrapped by Amazon.
All the presents came in the same sized bag, including Sweet Pea's soft, sweet little lovey.
Sunflower may have gotten the most joy out of opening her present.
But she approaches everything with intensity.
But I am happy to have a new game (which I confess has been used 4-5 times already, but always without me, but not today...I want to get in on the fun, too) and Sunflower is excited to have some new play clothes.
And SnapDragon, too.  She put it all on immediately.
I admit, I find it hard to imagine her to have the patience and stillness to be a Vet as an adult, but stuffed animals seem to like her bedside manner just fine.

So thank you, Major Awesome, for our gifts and providing us something to do to make Sunflower's actual birthday special when we were too busy planning the "Big Girl's Party" for the upcoming Sunday to be prepared.

We also got a lot of enjoyment in the wrapping itself.
Next year we'll have 2, 5, and 41...whew...only the 5 year old will care.
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Tuesday, August 14, 2012

A Moment in Our Day

I need to get back to blogging for my own peace and joy, but sitting down to write all the words swirling in my head is not something I have time for, or more accurately concentration for...yet.  But we are finding a routine, the girls are settling in (Sunflower had a difficult transition to the new norm), and I have been spending time on my other passion, photography.

You would think since it is such a normal part of our lives, she would have lost her curiosity about the camera by now.
Playing there, looking adorable, but the camera is out.  I'd better crawl towards Mama.

 Reaching for it.  Maybe this time she'll let me have it.

No?

Okay, I'm calm.  If I ask nicely?

Fine.  I'll settle for the lens cap.  

Ummph.  Maybe someone else is doing something more interesting.  It looks like Daddy is packing.  I hope he is planning to take me with him this time.

We have had a busy summer.  Bike rides, trips to the park, spraygrounds, BBQ's, Birthday Parties, and just now we're back from our annual extended family camping trip.  I haven't had time to write about it, but rest assured I have it all documented with photos.
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