Two of a Kind, Expat Edition

Well, we're packing up the desktop computer tonight, and I will have limited internet access over the next week, so I probably won't be blogging until (gulp) the big arrival into Wuxi.

And with that, our new blog header....

Wish us lots of luck, patience and may the travel Gods be with us as we take a 13 hour flight to our new home with an infant, a cat and a few suitcases in tow.

Until then, zài jiàn (goodbye).

Sal's newest trick

Mama's not so sure she likes Sal's newest trick of rolling over from back to belly when he sleeps.


Our little belly sleeper

Thankfully, we saw it coming while at my dad's last week. Sal has this jungle gym with an arc over  it that toys hang from. Sal got himself wedged against the arc many times, which kept him from completing the full back to belly roll.
He loves to be swaddled, but my fear was that he would roll over with his arms straightjacketed shut, and not be able to roll back over. So, the arm swaddling came to an abrupt when we returned home-- and that in turn lead to a few extra wakings each night as he got used to the freedom.

I ended up switching him into a sleep sack  for naps and night time. It  has swaddle wings that wrap UNDER his arm pits, around the belly, so he still feels secure at night. Today was his first nap as a completely free man. I didn't plan it that way, but I just forgot to wrap him up before starting our naptime routine, and by golly--he fell asleep without it.

We still makea point to put him down on his back, but it is literally only a matter of a few footsteps towards the door until he works his way over to the belly.
Sigh.

I guess this is just a normal sign the boy is growing up. I admit to checking on him multiple times each sleep period, sometimes going as far as to risk to waking him as I flip him back over.

Did anyone else have a coronary the first time they walked in to find their little one belly down in the crib?

Oh Sal, I'm pretty sure you're going to keep this mama on her toes for the next 18 years and beyond.


How we spent our Memorial weekend..

Three words.

Garage Sale.

Packing.

Oh, and lunch at Hooters.

(okay, so I had more words than three, but give my tired butt a break)

Yep. A Hooters opened up in town this past week. And call us crazy, but they actually do have really good wings.

And waitresses.

Sal loved the waitresses.

And they loved Sal.

I seriously can't wait for this move to be over so I can cook in my own kitchen again and just have some dang chicken and veggies for supper. Spare me with the " You know, they eat cat in China" jokes.

Heck, these days, I'd probably even settle for cat, just because it's meat.

Somebody give this girl a protein shake.

Oh wait.

Our blender has been sold.

Wah, wah.

Three days til the movers come take our stuff to storage, and 10 days till we board a plane with one way tickets to China.

Sigh.

Playdate

I admit, I often have bigger plans than I have time for. I often say I should meet up with so and so....and never do. Time gets the best of me. Even before children.

But this week, I was able to meet up with one of my collegiate teammates ( UCDavis gymnastics) at the park with our kids. I love meeting up with my old teammates. I've said it more than once, but the gymnastics team was not only my sorority, but also my family while up at school, especially while i was battling Graves' disease and radiation. Even after my retirement, many of those girls stuck by my side, including me in team functions--and that meant, and still does, mean a lot to me.

We were all in it together, and it's nice to know that we could all still pick up right where we left off over 13 years ago!

Anyways, meeting up with Krissy and her two daughters was refreshing. She's one of those people who you could talk to for hours, and she's always good for a one liner that will make you laugh. And did I mention, she's an awesome photographer?

Sal & mama (4 months old)
photo property of kmphotographyonline.com

She busted out her camera at the end of our playdate, and caught this adorable grin of Sal's, with the help of our "when the saints come marching" rendition. Thankfully, krissy's version is the same as mine, as I have been known to fudge the lyrics on many a song.

Thanks for the meet up Krissy!

check her out : http://www.kmphotographyonline.com/

Millville weekend

Let's see if I can complete a post before Sal wakes up from his (so far) only nap of the day. With the multiple showings of our home, combined with a return from vacation, he and I have been trying to play catch up, and are both a bit off kilter this week. I don't see an end to the chaos coming within the next few weeks, so all I can do is sit down, shut up and hold on..with my best effort of a smile. I am trying not to stress, but anyone who knows me well, knows that going with the flow just isn't my style. If stressing was a sport, I'd be pro.

Anyways, time to catch up with the blogging and brag say how wonderful Sal did on his first plane flights! We took a quick trip up to see my dad and his girlfriend last week. We could have driven the 8+ hours, but knowing that I was nervous about flying with Sal, Nick arranged for us to do some test flights. We flew LAX to SFO, and SFO into Redding ( on a 30 seater prop plane, which turned out to be just the right level of white noise to make Sal pass out before take off!). Other than the rookie mistake of nursing him before we even backed away from the gates (OMgaaaawd child, please don't cry--they haven't even closed cabin doors yet!..Quick, here's something that will pacify you and I will earn mother of the year from all the surrounding passengers for having such a quiet baby), he did incredibly well. So, okay, I was done nursing him before we even took off, that's what the other side is for, right?

Simply put, he was well fed that day.

And a gem (can you call boys gems?) to travel with.

Sal says hi to grandpa Jet

We arrived to redding Airport, and we saw my dad and Mary waiting for us at the chainlink fence ( yes, some airports are still that small!) to land, camera in hand. I think they were excited. Maybe just a little. Okay, A lot.

And I'm pretty convinced upon our return to the States, that we're going to have to buy a diesel truck ( yah yah yah on the fuel guzzling lectures--I'm only kidding) because Sal caught most of his vacation naps in the back of my dad's truck while cruising down the dirt road to and from his house. The bumpy ride, mixed with the diesel rumble suited him just fine.

We spent most of the weekend relaxing. Nick and pop went fly fishing on the Sac river and we girls went shopping ( for Sal of course) and got our brows threaded. I'm pretty sure that threading is my new favorite form of hair removal. I hope I can find it in China.

Nick and I were treated to babysitting and a helicopter ride on Saturday afternoon, which was so freaking awesome. I can't wait til Sal is old enough to go with us. Maybe next time.

Sal & NZ

Pop and Me

NZ & me

Pop & Nick bring home the bacon (err, the turkey).
And yes, we are it.

Sal meets cousin Simon

checking out houseboats on Shasta

There's just something about my pop's that makes us take a step back, breathe in the fresh country air, and relax.

It was the perfect (and much needed) breather before we buckle down and get this show on the road..

Hel(i) Yeah!

A quick post until I can commit more time in front of the screen...NZ and I went on our first helicopter ride last weekend! We were up visiting my dad out in the boonies, and someone he knew has a helicopter--and it just so happened he was giving rides that day.

How lucky is that?

We got picked up in dad's neighbor's yard, and flew off into the sky. We got a bird's eye view of Millville & Palo Cedro and the ride was so freakin awesome. It was like that ride at California Adventure "Soarin over CA", only, we weren't on an amusement park ride, and the swooping and sideways turns and the sights, smells and sound were real.

Now I've been bitten.

I want to buy a helicopter.

But that would mean I'd need a license.

And lessons.

And a money tree.

I'll just settle for seeking out helicopter rides on future vacations.

I'm sure my ol man would appreciate that more than me asking for a helicopter for Christmas.

Three Years Old

Today is May 18th.

Even the tiniest of footprints leave a mark on this world.
Denise 05-18-09

I'm wishing that we had a sassy pants 3 year old to celebrate today.

Wishing that the culmination of agonizing over which party dress to put her in, and the deets of a family birthday party were all coming together...and definitely, most definitely, charging our camera battery so we could capture her nailing the pinata with a whiffle bat.

Instead, I'm sitting here remembering the little girl that we had to say hello and goodbye to in the very same breath. Not a day goes by that I don't think about her in some way. Sure, time has mended my broken heart, but the scar is still there, and it's still not completely healed. I'm pretty sure it never will.

I'm okay with that. I like to think about her. I don't want to forget her, because as I've said over and over in this blog...she was very much wanted and loved.

This year has blessed us with a little brother for Denise.

It's bittersweet, it really is.

Sometimes I stare at him while he is sleeping, and wonder if she would have looked like him. I wonder if she would have acted like he does, or smile the way he does...and sure, it makes me a bit sad that I will never get to know, but at the same time, I feel like I see a part of her everytime I look at him.

And for that, I am ever so thankful.

Happy 3rd Birthday, baby girl..( if she were around I bet she'd say "Mama, I isn't your baby. I'z a big girl!" or something so stinkin cute I'd go grab the video camera and prod her to say it again)

Denise, your mama misses you. Every.Single. Day.

And with that, I'll leave you with a link to my song for her from the Band Perry.