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