Our Little Chef

So now that the Little Miss is down to one nap a day and it's hotter than blue blazes in the desert, we're trying to find activities to keep the Little Miss occupied until nap time. She has always been interested in what we do in the kitchen and most recently wanting to help feed the dogs. I decided last week would be a good time to start baking.

I used to bake about once a week but when Sophie came along time between baking sessions has dwindled since my time is devoted to either keeping watch over her or working I just don't get to bake. I miss baking, though I can't say my body misses the baked goods. Ask Y and he'll tell you he's missed my baking. A lot.

Anyway, we started our baking adventure with some simple peanut butter cookies. I missed getting pictures of the Little Miss pouring the ingredients into the mixer but she LOVED making the criss-cross patterns and "squishing" (ish-ish as she would say) them with a fork. Of course she'd get overly excited and start STABBING the cookies.

 "Mama! There's sugar on my hand!"

Next up: Homemade Ice Cream and Chocolate Chip cookies! Yum!

Wordless Wednesday: Old

Florida!

So WAY back in May we had a short vacation/family gathering in the Ft. Lauderdale area. Y's grandmother turned 90 and we did our best to gather the entire family. We were mostly successful minus an Aunt, Uncle & Cousins in Massachusetts that couldn't make it down for health reasons.

 The Little Miss on Pompano Beach

Our day started off at 5:15am to catch a REALLY early flight. We traveled cross-country with The Little Miss' grandparents. Sophie was so, so good on the planes. Numerous fellow-passengers would comment: "She was so good!" or "I didn't know there was a little one on the plane. We never heard a thing!". And it was true (yes, I'm bragging...sorry). She really didn't make a  fuss and until, quite literally, the last THREE minutes of the first flight she didn't sleep.

The three-hour time difference was a struggle but we managed. We arrived on a Thursday night. The party was Saturday so we were able to let the Little Miss get settled and get to know some family members she'd never met before throwing her into a party with even MORE people she didn't know. Since this was Y's side of the family we had to remember the proper relation name in Chinese for each member of the family. By the time the long weekend was over I think we finally had it down!

First up was Zeng Nana (the person of honor and her Great Grandmother):

Zeng Nana was so great. She's getting around extremely well for 90. Sophie loved on her despite having only known her in photos. The Little Miss would play peek-a-boo with her and bring her all the various books she had lying on her coffee table.

Then there was was DaJojo and Nana Hong (her Grand Uncle and Aunt):

Nana Hong loving on Sophie.

 

Nana Hong ADORED Sophie. Every moment they were together she'd whisk Sophie away to go play or explore. The Little Miss was a little unsure of what to think at first but then she began to figure out Nana Hong would take her to do fun things. We spent Friday afternoon and evening at their home where Hong made an exceptionally good dinner starting with homemade spring rolls. My mouth waters every time I think of them. Sophie spent the entire time climbing their stairs.

Playing on DaJojo and Nana Hong's balcony.

Next up was Uncle Mike, GouMa Tchi (whom she met last summer), and her two cousins Griffin and Shao Ming. It was also our first time meeting Shao Ming (he's exactly 2 weeks younger than the Little Miss) since he was just adopted from China in March:

 L to R: Cousin Griffin, Uncle Mike, Cousin Shao-Ming and GouMa Tchi

Then her second cousins Thuy, Thien and her second cousin once-removed Sophia and Chantam (You know, the whole cousin lineage is really confusing!):

Thuy and Chantam 

Sophia

The party was chaotic but fun. The kids all gathered in the neighboring ballroom to run free while the adults chatted and ate. The youngest kids (Shao Ming, Sophie, and Chantam) were getting cranky so we left a little early to head to our hotels for a little R&R time before meeting up for dinner and some beach time.

The kids playing the the adjoining ballroom

After naptime, we met Sophie's Aunt & Uncle on the beach to let the kids run around before grabbing some dinner. Because of their huge adoption trip to China we were only able to spend Saturday with Y's sister and family. We hated they had such a short time to spend in FL because the kids (and we adults) were having a great time together!

(Click image to see it larger)

The rest of the trip was spending more time at the beach and visiting with the family we rarely get to see. The beach, of course, was a huge hit. Because of pending storms we were never able to allow Sophie too far in the water. We had to laugh at the young couple wanting to spend some romantic time together on the beach and Sophie just wanted to watch them. She'd go running over and stand in front of them until they'd smile at her. No matter how many times we distracted her she kept returning to that young couple. Thankfully they were good sports and started laughing every time we had to run interception.

Family time is always precious and we enjoyed our time together. We just wish we were able to get together more often!

Wordless Wednesday: Stately Saguaro

Really? 19 Days....

 since I declared us STILL sick!? Wow.

Well, we're all (FINALLY) better. That virus was one of the longest lingering things we've had possibly ever. Y still has a lingering cough but I believe we're pretty well back to normal. The virus had us down for what seemed like ages then we spent the next week or two trying to catch up on all the work we became behind on.

I have several posts I need to catch up on and few things that have been weighing on my mind and heart I'd like to put out there. So in the meantime here are some random happenings from the past month or more:

• The Little Miss is mimicking EVERYTHING. Just the other night I look up from making dinner to see her with her hands in the air above her head, twirling like the dancers on an episode of The Wiggles. Adorable.
• We're down to one nap a day as of last week. It just happened. One day she was taking two naps a day and the next she'd only take one. I'd put her down for her second nap and she'd spend it reading books, playing and chattering until I'd hear: "Mama!". We're currently struggling with WHEN she should go down. She usually can't make it past 11am but that means from 1pm(ish) until bedtime there are no naps and by 5pm she's turned into a Crank Monster.
• This is a difficult one to admit but I'm worried about Sophie's speech. She's smart, no doubt (although what parent WON'T say they're child is smart!?), but she's also very stubborn and strong-willed. Why should she use words when her grunts, points, and sign-language get the point across? Having worked with children with speech delays I instantly worry.
• A close friend of mine passed away two weeks ago very unexpectedly. She had complications from a recent surgery. It's hit me really hard. She was just 2 years older than myself with a 12 year-old daughter. All I can think of is her daughter and how much she has to be struggling with her loss. A death at ANY time is so difficult to cope with but...well, I just can't fathom how the family is coping.
• I miss my hobbies. I used to read, scrapbook, and take photos. I still take photos and I still read but it's not the same. The photos are mostly of The Little Miss. Don't get me wrong, I WANT to take those photos but I also miss just taking off and finding random things to take pictures of. Reading is just a few pages before going to bed at night. I haven't had a day where I felt like I could just curl up with a good book and spend the day reading. Scrapbooking - it's non-existent. I have the supplies but they are stored away, awaiting the day I have the time (and the SPACE) to spread everything out and get those photos in an album. I know there will be a day when I can do all of these again but for now, I miss my hobbies.
• I received an early birthday present. The Wii Fit Plus package. The results were depressing. I know I can't lose a ton of weight with the Wii but I'm hoping it will be a little something extra as the heat of the AZ desert turns unbearable and I can't get to the treadmill that's currently in the (non-air conditioned) garage.
• I wish there was a way to spend time with someone from the past. I've been missing my Dad lately. The Little Miss is a riot most days and I KNOW my Dad would have adored her. She has the same spunk my Dad possessed and I can just see them being the best of buddies.

Enjoy a photo of the Little Miss while you await the next post (which I really hope is coming SOON!):

Taken at her Great Grandmother's 90th birthday party.

She wasn't sure what to make of all the strange people around!

Happy Father's Day!

To my dear, sweet Y:

Thanks for being the great Dad you are to the Little Miss. She is SO incredibly lucky to have you around day in and day out to share in those little moments of her life. Thank you for being silly, loving, adventurous, and stern when needed.

 

Happy Father's Day, Daddy!

We're wishing all those Dads and Dads-to-be in the world a day of honor and love....and of course a little spoiling! Happy Father's Day dear readers!

STILL Sick.

Yes, the virus rages.

Nine days and counting for me. I was at Urgent Care Sunday for a horrible, horrible cough and difficulty breathing. I was worried this was turning into bronchitis or, even worse, pneumonia. As of Sunday this is a bad upper respiratory infection. I was sent home with antibiotics and an inhaler. I thought I was improving until Tuesday hit. I started running a fever and the evil cough is back.

Y's been dealing with his version of the evil virus since last Thursday. The day before a four-day weekend for him. Four-day weekends RARELY happen in his job. One of his managers was very generous giving the team an extra day off last Friday. Guess how we spent our long, four-day weekend? Yep, in bed. Sick.

The Little Miss? She's great. Still a bit congested but running at full speed, meanwhile, Mom and Dad's tanks are running on empty.

I announced tonight that I was DONE. OVER IT. I've had ENOUGH.

We'll see if the powers that be agree with my proclamation.

In the meantime, enjoy a picture of our little beach bunny from our recent trip to Florida to celebrate a 90th birthday (Y's grandmother) which I will blog about once we're recovered.

Wordless Wednesday: Pompano Beach Pier