A Game of Hide N' Seek

Well, it was a few weeks ago, maybe a month or so, and my Noodle & I were just having fun. Hide n' Seek is a ton of fun around here. I caught these cute photos and if no one else, I knew Lao Lao would enjoy them!

My little Chinese Jumping Noodle...Troy says we can't call her a jumping bean...so, this is my version.

Ho ho hee hee...that's a good one, Mama...I got a good belly laugh out of that one!

Pretty Jacket Lao Lao made me!

This is my jacket with "flufferbyes" that Lao Lao made me. Mama said she sewed it. Isn't it pretty?

I'm showing Mama that my tooth is coming in on the top in the back in this photo!

Aren't I just too cute!

More fun with Waldo...

...and introducing, his buddy, Winston (he's the smaller fuzzier one).

So, I'm a Mama obsessed. I just think my baby's so darn cute, I can't choose just one photo...I go a little nuts. You should see my scrapbook, it's ridiculous how many photos I have of my baby! *sigh* What's a mother to do?

Maybe I can find a 12 step program of some kind...although if loving my baby's an addiction, I don't wanna get better!! lol

Here she is...

Awww...Waldo, You're a good boy...I need to give you kisses!

Heehee....I just love those light switches! How many times do you think I can turn the lights on and off? Do you wanna see??

(By the way...the piggy tails have only come out for baths! She won't even let us take them out when she goes to sleep! I guess I don't have to worry about HER taking them out! Who knew piggy tails would have been so much fun?)

Yup, I love my doggies, I need to pucker up to give them lots of kisses!

She's double fistin' it now!

A girl and her doggies...don't leave home without them!

By the way, the cute outfit is brought to you by Lao Lao, from who else, but Gymboree!

Happy Chinese New Year! (for real this time)

Since tomorrow is the official Chinese New Year, we went to the Library downtown today to a performance/celebration. It was fun, Sarah really loved the music and dancing and was having a ball up in the balcony where we were sitting.

See, Mama, I want to swing on the bar, like the little monkey that I am!

EEE, EEEE, EEEE

Hmmm, I'll have to think a little before I decide on that one...

Here is the Lion Dance, Sarah just LOVED it! She's been talking about it ALL DAY LONG!! It's a tradition in China when the Lion comes near you to feed it money and they say it will bring you prosperity in the New Year.

Here is our little one, pretending to dance....she thinks that somersaults constitue dancing for some odd reason. Either way, I couldn't resist that little bum!

That Baba of mine, is sooo silly!!!

Pretty Chinese Princess

I never knew Piggy Tails...

...were so much fun!

Well, when I was brushing Sarah's hair today I was realizing how long it has gotten! Soooo, I decided to try out some piggy tails (as Sarah calls them). She hasn't even tried to take them out, either! So, you know I just HAD to grab that camera! When I see how cute they are, I just wonder...why didn't I think of that sooner??

See, Mama...Piggy tails!

How can anyone resist that face??

Look, Mama...Baba's flashlight!

New Song Video

Well, I couldn't figure out how to post this video on my blog, so here's the link to it. It's really precious. The contemporary Christian group, New Song, went to China and they made this video from their visit to an orphanage. It's really sweet. Just makes me want to fly back to China and bring them all home...

New Song Video

Photo Shoot with Waldo!

And so it's time that we bring to you, all the way from Sarah's arms...her most favorite toy and dog in all the world....dah dah daaahhhh

WALDO!

Sarah absolutely insisted that I take Waldo's picture, and since she would NOT put him down....there you have it. I doubt there's ever been a little pink & white stuffed dog that's ever been loved so much by his girl. (I really hope to find another one as a backup or I may be in trouble!)

A girl and her dog

This is normally where you find Waldo

We let Waldo have a little nap for a game of "where's Sarah" behind the corner of the wall. Can I tell you I just love my camera, she was only out there for like 2 seconds and it was enough to catch that beautiful smile!

Okay, Mama...can't I just go to my nap now? Haven't we had enough? Waldo is really sleepy and wants to go to bed. I'll meet you up there...

Potty Talk II-The Sequel

A couple of weeks ago, Troy was helping me out with Sarah and decided to give her an evening bath instead of the normal morning one. It was nice, I was downstairs relaxing and enjoying a break. I could hear everything that was happening upstairs in the bathroom. It was a riot. Sarah and Troy were playing, splashing, putting their faces in the water and blowing bubbles. I tell you, it was more fun than I'm sure is legal in some countries! So, I'm just relaxing and smiling as I listen to the loves of my life enjoying themselves, it just warmed my heart.

I heard them blowing bubbles in the water, then Troy said as he was laughing, "EW, Sarah, you blew bubbles from the wrong end in the water!" (yup, she tooted)

Then, to my surprise, I hear this from Troy:

"What the...?"

"EWWW, SARAH, GET OUT!!! GET OUT!!!"

I RAN upstairs to see what happened and looked at Sarah who was standing in the bathroom with her ducky towel on her and a look on her face that said, "What happened? Did I do something wrong?"

Then, I look at my dear husband and see him holding his hands opened up and as far away from his body as he can, like there was something on them. I quickly look to the tub, to see a few floaties in the water! I immediately knew what had happened! YUP, my baby pooped in the bathtub! But the kicker was, Troy had picked it up to see what it was!!

It must have happened 2 weeks ago, and I still burst out in laughter when I think about it. The look on his face when he realized he had just touched her poop, with bare hands, no less...was hilarious.

Bubble Bath: $3.99

Rubber Ducky: $2.49

Sarah's Spongee: $1.99

Look on husband's face when he touches 2 year old's poop in the bath: PRICELESS!

Happy Valentine's Day from Lao Lao

Lao Lao made Sarah the most adorable Valentine skirt to twirl around in. Sarah absolutely LOVED it! She didn't want to take it off last night and then, put it back on this morning under the dress she was already wearing! Of course there are like a hundred photos cause I couldn't narrow it down. I'm just too proud of a Mama.

She thinks she's funny, switching the lights on and off and on and off and on and off, and on...etc...

Sarah, you are much too young to pose like that little lady!

When I told her to pull up her skirt, that's NOT what I meant!

She thinks if I close my eyes and don't smile, Mama won't take my photo!



Forget this...I am OUTTA HERE!

Favorite Sarah-isms

So, the last little while I've been keeping track of some of my favorite Sarah-isms just because they CRACK ME UP or melt my heart to a blob of love on the floor! I couldn't help but keep track of them for a while so that I could share them here with you all.

1. I was ironing in the kitchen the other day working on some quilt squares that I was swapping with people for our 100 Good Wishes Quilt. This was the first time Sarah had ever seen the iron, as it's usually in the basement. I explained to her that it was hot, so as not to touch it..."Mama is ironing, it's hot...don't touch or you'll get owies!"

To which Sarah pointed at the iron/ironing board and confidently proclaimed, "Mama's onion ring!"

Hmm...no more going to Sonic for this family!

2. We were reading stories and Sarah grabbed her favorite Veggie Tales board book so Mama could read to her. She opened it up and announced to her Mama, "Bob Mato" as she pointed to the Red, Round character on the page.

To which I responded encouragingly, "YES, Sarah, that's Bob the Tomato! Who is the green one?"

She looked at the green vegetable on the page, pointed at him and looked up to me and said, enunciating every syllable perfectly, "Larry Cute-Cum-Ber"

I giggled, "YES, Baby, that's Larry the Cucumber!"

3. A week or so ago Sarah was standing on her chair next to me so she could reach my hair and was looking at it. She picked up my hair and let it fall back down to my shoulders, giggling, and telling me, "Mama-hair long!"

Me: "Is Mama's hair long?"

"Yup!"

This is when she absolutely melted my heart...She grabbed my cheeks in both hands, gave me the sweetest kiss and laid her head on my shoulders, telling me, "ugg, Mama"

...These are the times my heart is so full *sigh*

4. Sarah has a little dog, "Lil' Snoopy" from Fisher Price with a cord to pull him around...we got it for her first Christmas with us back in 2005. She now must take him all over the place with her. Every time we let the dogs out in the back yard to "do their business" she HAS to grab her little doggie, she runs to find him, grabs him and declares, "DOGGIE GO POTTY!" He must be put on porch, even in a snowstorm, while she waits in the kitchen, for him to "do his business."

5. The other day, Sarah some how got a hold of the roll of paper towels while my back was turned. She has this adorable plush Lamb chair that she loves to sit in. You can see him in the background here. By the time I turned around she had pulled about 6 paper towels off the roll, draped them across her Lamb chairs face, and declared to me, "Lambie blow nose!"

6. I've been going to a bible study on Thursday nights at church the past couple of weeks. 2 weeks ago, Troy got home from work before I needed to leave, so he put her to bed for me at the appropriate time. I got home probably about 15 minutes after he'd put her down and when he did, he told her that "when Mama gets home, she'll come and say good night to you."

So, I walk in the door and am telling Troy a story and just figured I'd wait until I was done to go up to her. She had heard the garage door open up and then heard my voice. She screamed, "MAMAAAA!!" Since I was telling a story, I didn't answer and continued to talk to Troy. After 2 or 3 minutes of me talking to Troy and Sarah screaming, "MAMAAAA" she thought she would try something different. All of a sudden, I hear, "MAMA! WHERE ARE YOUUUUUUU???"

I just about busted a gut!

7. We were driving home today and Troy had called my cell phone and we talked for a few minutes. At the end of the conversation, we said the normal, "I love you"s and I hung up. After which, the following occurred:

Sarah: "I love you!"

Mama: "I love Baba, do you love Baba, too?"

Sarah: "Yup...Love Baba...We Keep him"

I have told her that in passing a few times, but it must have been at least 3 months ago the last time I said it. It absolutely cracked me up!! I still laugh and it happened hours ago!

8. Every morning, before Troy goes to work, we pray as a family. The three of us hold hands and say a prayer, Mama for Baba and Baba for Mama and Sarah. Every day when I pray for Troy, one of the things I says is, "Protect Baba and protect his truck and trailer from any accident or harm."

This morning we were sitting on my bed and Sarah was in Troy's lap. He prayed for us and I started to pray for him. When I got to the part of asking for protection for him, "Lord, protect Baba..."

I hear the sweetest, smallest little voice say, "truck and trailer"

Both our hearts melted that time...

What a sweetie, MAN, I am blessed!

Take a Picture, Mama!

So, Sarah is finally starting to get it where photos are concerned. Last night she got our her toy camera that Lucy (she's from the same SWI as Sarah and was adopted by Teresa & Chris sho live in Florida) gave her and kept telling me to smile so she could take my picture. When she saw me with the camera tonight, she kept telling me, "take picture, Mama!" She even went to the stairs (our regular photo spot when I'm trying to take a photo of her cute outfit to show Lao Lao).

Tonight my Danny Boy needed a bit of a trim. So, I got the scissors out myself and hacked away at his hair. He looks pretty mangy, but he needed it. When he gives me a chance, I'll fix it the rest of the way. Afterwards, Sarah kept telling me how soft he was and Danny Boy, who normally stays away from Sarah, let her pet him. See, that little dog has been with me for a LONG time, longer than my husband, by many years! He is 14 1/2 years old and I've had him since he was 9 weeks old. He doesn't hear very well anymore, and his eyes look like he maybe has some cataracts or something messing with his vision. I sure do love that little dog, though. I'll be extremely heartbroken when he's not with us anymore. I don't even want to think about it!

Sarah ran over to the couch once I grabbed the camera and kept telling me, "take picture, Mama." "Danny boy soft, take picture...pet Danny boy" So, of course, I couldn't resist.

It looks like my dog isn't the only one who needs a little bit of a trim, huh?

Oh, and of course, she just HAD to give him kisses!

Wow, How time FLIES!

I can't believe that Sarah has been in our family for over 15 months. That means that in her short life of 2 years, and 3 months...or 27 months...she has been an Archer for the majority of her life! I don't know how this milestone passed me by without my realizing it. But, I love being able to say that she's been in my arms for longer than she was in anyone else's.

Every day in her eyes, I see more and more trust and more and more love. I thank God for the honor and privilege of being Sarah's Mama, and that HE entrusted us with this beautiful girl from so far away.

Everyone always talks about how great we are because we adopted an orphan and how we saved her. I just look at those beautiful, dark, almond shaped eyes and think, I'm the lucky one! I get to be the Mother to the most beautiful little girl I've ever seen. I get the best hugs and kisses anyone ever got in the history of time. I get to read stories to the sweetest little girl on the planet, all curled up on my lap and snuggled up against me. I get to hold and sing to this little soul entrusted to my care when she needs comfort and has owies that need kissing. I get to say prayers with the cutest little girl you've ever seen, as her Baba holds her before bed and she puts one hand on each of our heads and says, "pay, Baba!" So, I don't feel like a hero because I'm Sarah's Mama, I feel humbled, honored, and blessed that of all the women in this world...God chose me to be her mother.