Merry Christmas, Y'all!!

Love, Us

5 months

Blythe turned 5 months on the 11th...And she JUST melts all of our hearts! This girl is the smiliest little love muffin EVER! Even her cry is not that loud or urgent (yet)...The 2 men in this house fight over her constantly...and I'm really not kidding. Brett and Harrison are always smothering her...Thankfully I get a few minutes to myself with her daily, and I stretch them out as long as I can. She is pure joy!
This month I didn't write a TON down, but Blythe had her first modeling gig (posted below) She laughed for the first time on November 17th. She rolled over again (but, she only does this a few times on one or two days right around the new month mark...definitely not rolling consistently).
Right after 4 months, I dropped the dreamfeed, which I probably could have dropped lots earlier because she slept 12 hours like a champ. However, she continues to be sick (for almost 3 months now), so she started waking up again almost 2 weeks ago. So, I picked back up the dreamfeed, which I still don't think she needs, but we will see.
She still has blue eyes, and I see some red in her hair (oh, what I wouldn't give for a little redhead--that would be SO FUN!) She is SO alert, LOVES her brother...smiles at EVERYONE, and is often the one initiating the smile. Has settled into 3 naps a day, sleeps 12-13 hours at night. Waking up some--boo! Continues to put weight on her feet a lot, coos, laughs, smiles...still nursing (thankfully), wearing 6 month clothes (for a month now), still squeezing into some 3-6 month clothes, wears medium or large diapers. Weighed 16.5-17ish pounds. And she is looking SO much like her brother, which means she will be looking like Daddy.

We love you to the sky, Blythey Bell! You are so precious!

3.5

Harrison Case,Today you are 3.5. For the past 4+months you have been the best big brother in the whole wide world. But, before that, for 3 years, 1 month, 3 weeks and 1 day, you were all mine. My buddy, my sidekick...we went everywhere together...you and me. I think maybe I have been booted from my role as your sidekick. I think you may prefer MeiMei (Little Sis) in that role now. I love that. And I love her...wouldn't trade having her for anything, but I am so thankful for every minute I had with just you.

Today you're a bit sick, so you snuggled up to me on our cab rides and on the couch. You are still pretty cuddly, but only about half the time. You are finding your independence, but it is so cute, as you run around, I see you constantly looking back to see if I'm there. I know that won't always be the case, and as much as I want to encourage you to explore and run and play, I take every opportunity to tell you, "Mommy's here."

You are cautious to the nth degree...you are careful, thoughtful, methodical, and SLOW to do anything. But once you do it, you are committed! You are loyal to the death. Daddy says that means you're like me, but I think you are far more loyal. If I'm honest, I worry that you will get your heart broken by the people you love most because you will literally give those special people the shirt off your back. I hope and pray your friends love you as much as you love them. You are going to be a good friend. The best.

You are right handed, and you have the BEST belly laugh in the world. You're SO ticklish. You are getting faster at running...you used to be more of a speed walker. You play hard. You like movies. You love cars, trains and trucks. Some of your favorite movies are Cars, all the Toy Story movies, Curious George, and more. You also like to watch PBS kids on the internet.

You have been in school about 6 weeks now for 3 mornings a week. It's all in Chinese. This week was the first time you said you wanted to go. All other times you did not want to go, but when I picked you up, you always said you had a blast. You don't speak a ton of the language, but you understand A LOT.

You are a little narrator, repeating everything we say and relaying it back to us. You are kind, tender, compassionate and sensitive. Again, sometimes I worry you're too sensitive. The things I worry the most about you are the things that are most like me. I love how God made you, and I am learning to embrace it, even if and when I see my own shortcomings in you.

About 9 months ago, your eyes turned from blue to green. Now they are more of a hazel...some days they look gray, some days green. But, all days, they are so handsome, and my heart does cartwheels when I look at you...especially when you're sleeping, or when you smile at me.

Also, about 9 months ago we started potty training you. Notice that we haven't finished yet. You can pee in the potty like no one's business, but your poop gets another post all on it's own. You have a lot of fear associated with this, and it is hard. It has been really, really hard. I have done a horrible job, and I pray I have not scarred you in this area. But, I'm proud of you...no matter what.

Whoever said the 2's were terrible never met 3 year old Harrison! Your 2's were angelic, until about 2 years, 9 months...You sure do know how to throw a tantrum, and you sure can get angry! But, you are also just as sweet and precious. You almost always understand why you have to get a consequence and you are quick to apologize...

And you're even quicker to forgive...

You have been most challenging at this age, but the MOST fun ever. I love you so, so much.

And no matter what, no matter where, whether you're looking to see if I'm there or not...

Mommy's here, buddy.

I love you to the moon and back. Always. Exactly how you are. No matter what.

I'm a model, you know what I mean...

We got Blythe's 100 day pictures taken when she was around 100 days old (duh!)...not sure if I posted any on here, but they're pretty adorable...I will have to get on that stat. Anyhow, after the photo session, the people at the studio asked if they could take more pictures of her for a Chinese advertisement for their studio. They offered to give us her 100 day pictures for free, as well as the pictures for the ad, as well as the 6 month photos. Um, let me think about it...SURE!

The pictures are about as cheesy as they come, but, like I said, they were free, and her adorableness makes up for it....Chinese people really like hats and teddy bears and flowers.

So, here is our munchkin model, shakin' her little toosh on the catwalk....

please notice the arm rolls...are they not THE yummiest thing you have ever seen??

4 months

this is the funniest picture of Harrison ever!!

Our Blythe turned 4 months last week!!

Some things I forgot to put in her 3 month post were that we stopped swaddling her and she got cold # 2!

Some memorable things from Month 4 in the exciting life of Blythe Hayward Dooley::

::You started wearing socks! Now, this is probably not exciting for most...I for one, love little baby feet...I cannot stand to put socks on those little piggies. But, the weather started getting cooler, and the Chinese grandmas will not let you get home without telling you that your baby does not have enough clothes on if they do not have 5 layers on once the temperature dips to about 75 degrees. And I am not exaggerating. at. all.

::October 13...you rolled over again. It appears that you roll over close to your month birthday each month. You roll over a handful of times within one or two days. Then you stop. So, I definitely can't say that you are rolling over, but you have indeed, rolled over.

::Cooing a lot! Smiling tons! And your smile is a melter!

::On October 27th you weighed 15.5 pounds

::Got cold # 3, which was BAD...

::You lost your voice for the first time and that turned into bronchitis/strep, so you...

::took your first antibiotic!

::On November 9 you weighed 7.5 kg with your clothes on (about 16.5 pounds) and you were 63 cm long (about 25 inches)

::Your eyes are still blue!!

::Still sleeping great. Although with your sickness, I gave into feeding you at night sometimes and decided not to drop the 10 pm feed to keep you hydrated.

::You still love your brother, and oh, how he loves you!

::Your 'ride' is the baby ergo or mommy's arms.

:: You are a squirmy wiggleworm! I don't think you will be a snuggler, which is sad for me, but don't worry, Daddy and I will find a way to snuggle you every day for as long as we can!

::I think you take 3 naps a day...but, we are mostly on the go, which means you take 4 shorter naps. You sleep 7-7ish.

And, we love you so very much. You make my days so much busier, but life feels so, so much better with you in it, Blythe! You are precious to us, and we will hold you as long as we can and love you even longer!!

Happy 4 months!

Meeting Grace

We got to meet Grace briefly this morning!!

It's SO hard to be so far away during times like these.

I'm SO thankful for Skype!

Grace

Grace Caroline Fierer

November 10, 2011

9:12 am

6 pounds, 15 ounces

19 3/4 inches long

Cary, North Carolina

Born to proud parents, Chris & Lindsey Fierer.

My first niece.

Perfection.

My heart aches to hold her.

I miss her so much and I have not even met her yet.

Wish I wasn't half a world away.

You just wait until I get my hands on you, my Gracie Goose!

I promise to love you all the days of my life.

I can't wait to hold you.

You will make me laugh and cry all at the same time,

just because you're you.

We may never be close in distance, but our hearts will never be far from yours.

We love you to the moon and back, Grace.

You are precious.

With all the love we have,

Aunt Lulu, Uncle Brett, Hare Bear and Blythie Bug

Lesson Learned

Harrison was "Super Harrison" for Halloween. We got a local tailor to make him a cape and eye mask. Brett and I have been having a blast playing with his little costume as well...The other day I put it on and this conversation followed...

Me: It's SUPER MOMMY! Here I am to save the day!

H: Mommy, don't say dat. Take it off, take it off, I don't want you to be Super Mommy!

Me: Well, Harrison, who would you like me to be?

H: I just want you to be Mommy!

I sure am glad he likes me the way I am because I am SO not a super Mom!

I love him just how he is too!

Quotable Harrison

(1st day of school pic-October 10th)

I cannot stop telling my precious Hare Bear how much fun he is lately. I think I have mentioned several times that I love age 3! It is also the hardest age for me so far. I can honestly say I have enjoyed every stage with my buddy. When he was born I received a card from a very old lady who had participated on one of our mission trips that we led to Spain. I will never forget it. She wrote a blurb on congratulations, and 'oh how wonderful to have a baby, etc, etc...' She has a lot of kids, grandkids and great grandkids. In her note, she wrote, 'enjoy every moment...even the middle of the night feedings because they go oh so fast.' At first, if I'm honest, I thought she was crazy. How do I enjoy those moments in the middle of the night? But, oh there were many of them, because my Harrison didn't sleep through the night (consistently) until he was 9 months old, so instead of dreading getting woken up, I enjoyed every minute starting then. And I have barely gotten up with him since, and I miss the snuggles as they are rare now! I really miss those midnight dates with him! My friend, Amanda, calls it "praying not to miss it." And oh, how I don't want to miss a thing! So, in effort to help my foggy memory, I have to write down these precious things that he says lately!!

:: "Bwyfie, we are going to be BEST friends!"

:: "Bwyfie, you're the best baby EVER!"

::*when Blythe is having tummy time and crying a little bit*....leans down next to her, scratches her back and whispers, "it's okay, Bwyfie, I'm here".

::"Bwyfie, you're so precious!"

::"Mom, I want to watch Jesus!" so, we show him the story of Jesus for children and he says:

::"Are they making quesadillas? Those are so yummy!"

::"Mom, Jesus is in his undies"

::"Mom, Jesus said fall of (follow) him, but I can't because I can't get inside your compeer (computer)".

::"Bwyfie, Jesus says love your enemies. He died on the cross" Um, wow! He was really paying attention!

:: "Mom, please don't take me to school." every day.

::"Mom, I had fun at school." every day.

:: "Mom, where do they live? Do they live in America?" *when we are talking about friends or family.

:: "Mom, I really like my chinese friend at school. He wears a red shirt" (He is the only American in his class right now, and all the Chinese kids wear red shirts! :)

He is a sweet, fun boy! He is pretty stubborn and angry at times as well, and that is really hard, but, overall, I see such a tender, compassionate and sensitive heart in my boy, mixed with a love of cars, trucks, leaves, wrestling (until he gets hurt), legos, and lots more. I love him and wish I could freeze time before he grows up too fast!

Cheers to the most fun I've ever had! I love you, buddy!

Weigh-in Wednesday

I have done something I never thought I would do...not because I didn't want to, but moreso because I thought I could not afford it, and that I didn't have the time.

I have hired a personal trainer.

I know what you're thinking...'what kind of personal trainer could she find in China of all places?' I would wonder the same myself as I am twice the size of every native here.

We meet in my living room at my convenience.

And her name is Jillian Michaels.

And she is attempting to shred off my baby weight in 30 days.

You guessed it. The 30 day shred.

Have you all been there? Although I have been through this whole post-maternal thing before, and lost almost all of my 45 pounds from little Harrison, it seems like I will never lose it this time around. I have about 12 more pounds to go, and I'm stuck.

Enter Jillian.

I will say that since we met about a month ago, she has gone easy on me and I've lost a few pounds. But, how do I get the rest off? Must I keep shredding? Ugh!

I actually really love to work out, but in a gym, or on a walk...but, for now, it is in my living room with J and her 'best girls' Natalie and Anita. I follow Anita...she's supposedly a beginner like me. But her abs do NOT look like beginner abs. Unless, of course, beginners have 12 packs.

So, as of today, there are 12 pounds to be lost. If any of you out there have had babies...how did you lose your last pesky pounds? And how long did it take? Please tell me your secret...I look forward to buttoning my pants again! And does it really mean I have to stop drinking coke? Quit Starbucks? No cookies? Say it ain't so!

Thank you for your time. I will patiently await your helpful answers, as will my dusty jeans.

Until then, I'll be shredding!

Thankful for every extra inch,

Curvy new Mama

100 days

I'm a little late on my 3 month post, but coincidentally, today, October 19th, little Blythie bug is 100 days old. How do I know this? I counted. Why do I know this? Because here in China, and in lots of Asian countries, 100 days is a big, big deal. It is even a bigger deal than the birth itself (how? why? I find myself asking the same thing...what could be a bigger deal than that?) A friend told me that it is because a long time ago, many babies did not survive the newborn period, so 100 days was a big celebration, like, 'they've made it!!' So, congrats Blythe, you have made it! I think you will survive!!

This picture was actually taken on her 3 month day!! And here are some things for my memory:
::September 12: Slept through the night (again) at 9 weeks. (Not consistent)

::September 16: Rolled over (again)...you seem to like to roll over 4 or 5 times and then not do it for another month.

::Holding head up so well since around the 1 month mark

::LOVES Big bro

::Smiley

::Squirmy

::Puts a lot of weight on feet (Harrison did not do this until he was about 12-13 months, so this is very new to me!)

::September 28 (just after 11 week mark), started sleeping through the night for real! I put you down at anywhere between 6-7 (trying to wait until 7), then feed you again sometime in between 10-11, and you usually sleep until somewhere between 6-7am. Thank you, thank you!!

::12 weeks: You found your thumb! You went from sucking on the base of your hand, to your 2 fingers, and now your thumb. I can't decide whether I like it or not, but it is SO CUTE! I think I don't like it, but I like the cuteness!

::Cooing a ton!

::14.8 pounds

::loooooong! All your dresses are too short

::lots of yummy rolls!

::eating well

::3-4 naps a day....wake time 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes

::Size small diapers (they go s, m, l, xl here)

And I think that's it!! Oh, Blythie, we LOVE YOU! I sneak every minute alone with you that I can. And tonight as I was holding you and looking at that precious smile, I thought, "How does it get any better than this?" You are such an easy baby and a joy to us and we all love you!

Love,

Mommy

I blinked...

That is all I did, I swear! I just blinked, and already, you are almost 3.5. Harrison Dooley, you slay me! I cannot even put into words how much I love you.

I'll try not to blink again...I have savored every minute with you.

7 years

This past Sunday, Brett & I celebrated 7 years of marriage...We had a fun little outing to Le Sud, a cute little French restaurant. It was our first time out just by ourselves since the baby was born and a tad overdue. We have a tradition of talking through our year and filling it into an anniversary book that Brett's mom gave us when we first got married. I love this book. It is truly something that I would want to take with me if our house was burning down. I hope it is something that our kids can look through and see snippets of our lives, the good and bad.

It is truly such a privilege to be married to Brett. I still cannot believe that we met here in China and now we are back here. We laughed at memories from this past year, while some brought tears. This last year was a hard one for us, but it also brought so much joy in the birth of our sweet girl. Last year on September 18th, our hope was that on our next anniversary that we would be on our way to having a bigger family after waiting for (in our minds) a long time. So, we rejoiced in our longings that were met, laughed, talked, and talked about what we hope for this next year, which, overall, is to be more thankful.

As I was looking through pictures, I realize that we don't have a ton of just us by ourselves since the little loves have joined the scene. I came across a few from the past couple of years. I'll try to take more of just us as time goes on!

September 18, 2010--our 6th anniversary

September, 2009--Anniversary # 5 in Maine

June, 2009--H's first trip to China

November, 2008 (I think)...cheesy portrait

October, 2008

March, 2010

August, 2011

August, 2011

Happy Anniversary, Brett! I love you and I will always follow you anywhere!