November Updates

I have been surprised at how many folks have told me they still check our blog and where is an update... so here it is! We are doing really well. November has been a great month. We went to visit Sam and Usha at the end of October. I attended a conference the first week of November and Davis did great with me away for two nights and last weekend was Davis's baptisim. I've been amazed when I look at pictures from China how much he has grown since he has been home- and it's no surprise as he (like his sister) LOVES to eat!!! A favorite is 'french fries' but he will also eat pretty much whatever we are eating. He and his sister really love school and are talking more and more in Mandarin- they especially like to sing their Mandarin songs. Sarah Bess often wants mommy to repeat what she says and then is not too happy when Mommy can't say it right! Jimmy says she is developing some southern chinese as she puts a bit of an accent on it (as she does with words like milk that she produces with about 3 syllables!). Davis is also continuing to learn more and more English using two and three word sentences on a regular basis. He has never ending energy and the two of them are developing an incredible bond.

His baptisim was such a wonderful event and weekend. On Sunday Jimmy and I were both amazed that although he didn't understand the day, you could tell he knew it was for him. We both felt like it was one of his happiest days since we've had him (and he is always pretty happy).

We are really looking forward to Thanksgiving next week- it will be very busy with all of my family at the beach. I know the kids will both love it. Hope all of you reading this are well.

a few more pics...

Pictures

Has it been a month?

Hard to believe over a month has gone by since we last posted- we are staying busy! Davis becomes more and more adjusted everyday. I have gone back to work in the mornings and are gone before he and Sarah Bess get up. Jimmy gets both of them breakfast, dressed and off to school. This along with some other times spent just with Daddy have really increased Davis's bond to BaBa. He is now perfectly fine to see Mama head off somewhere if Baba and Mei Mei will remain with him. He is really enjoying school and his teachers say he is starting to ask them for things like going to the potty. (Speaking of potty... Sarah Bess is wearing big girl underwear except at naps and night- with the occasional accident, but doing great!)
As I type this, we are visiting Jimmy's parents and Sarah Bess and Davis are 'napping' in the room across the hall. The conversation goes more like this... Sarah Bess 'Mama will be right back'. Davis starts to sing 'e-i-e-i-o'. Sarah Bess says 'be quiet davis' and she begins to sing Twinkle Twinkle in Mandarin. Davis 'bad girl'. SB 'I not a bad girl....I see you Davis' and they both erupt in laughter. Maybe they will drift off soon.
Both of their language continues to grow more everyday. Sarah Bess is very inquisitive with lots of 'why' questions but then I am always amazed about things she knows and can say. Davis is speaking in two and three word phrases and continues to pick up more words also.
October has kept us busy and we have done many fun things like the lake, fair, and harvest fest at church so I'll post a few pictures.
(For those of you curious about Bailey- she is hanging in there and taking this time to nap before two twos start to terrorize her again!).
We continue to see various doctors at UNC to determine the best thing to help Davis as far as his growth and hip. The orthopaedist currently wants to do nothing as he consults with some colleagues about his hip. Davis is functioning so well on it he doesn't want to do anything that will not help that. Yesterday Davis had a hand x-ray and abdomen ultrasound both to make sure that it is his left side growing slower and not his right side growing faster. Who knew the bones in the hand were the most indicative of growth throughout the body.
I just asked Jimmy if there was anything I was forgetting to say and he said to let everyone know that we are always open to babysitters!
We are extremely exhausted and crazy, but feel so blessed to be parents of these wonderful two year olds.

Davis has started School!

I was finally able to get a few beach pictures on here. It was hard to pick the cutest ones.
Davis started school last week. It is going really well. The first day he cried most of the day (our friend's little girl who is 3 and 1/2 said "He cried all day. His Mama should have kept him home!"). Then Tuesday and Wednesday last week he cried a little less. Yesterday and today he cried when I left, but after he calmed down he did not cry anymore. He is always playing and happy when I pick him up and also enjoys talking about school later. Sarah Bess has been a great sister. She tells me she helps Davis at school and that she tells him "Mommy be right back Davis". I feel really great that he is adjusting so quickly.
He also had a big day on Saturday when I went to the UNC football game and he spent lunchtime until bedtime with Daddy and Sarah Bess. Again, he cried when I left but then did really well the rest of the time. Sarah Bess said they had so much fun and that she did not miss Mommy!
He continues to learn new words- has close to 100 now. He is also saying so many two and three word things. I'm always amazed at how much he learns.
We went to the doctor again last week. We have a minor exploratory surgery scheduled on his hip next Tuesday to determine the best plan following the MRI. They still do not feel his hip is dislocated, but is very abnormal and they want to make it as functional as possible for the future. He has been a tough boy through all the appointments.
I guess that's all the news at this point. Hope you are all well.

Beach Photos

The Beach- September 11, 2008

Time seems to get by so quickly now before putting anything new on here. I love going back to read some of the old posts.
We are at the beach this week with my Mom. Papa Rob was here also over the weekend and comes again tonight. Jimmy will come down tomorrow to celebrate his birthday over the weekend.
We are having a great time- Mom and I are generally exhausted at the end of the day because they keep us going at all times. We have had some great days on the beach- and some not great days. My children like to be entertained! Both of them are keeping us laughing with the things they do and say. Some of the things Sarah Bess says are just so hilarious even though she is trying to be very serious. Davis learns more words everyday- some of his new ones are Sudie, Papa Rob, slide, again (we know where he got that) and band aid! He has some toys that are particular favorites and he has a very hard time sharing those! Sarah Bess knows this and deliberately tries to get his goat by playing with them, which usually works.
He has learned to love to sing in the car and if you passed us on the road you would see Sudie and I singing "If you're Happy and You know it", "Wheels on the Bus", "Hot Potato" or "Old McDonald" with Sarah Bess and Davis singing and laughing in the back.
We still don't have a camera, but Mom has taken several pictures and I'll post some.
Next Monday will be Davis's first day of school. He loves to carry his backpack and talk about school with Mei Mei, so we will see how that goes. For those of you that don't already know this, Sarah Bess started going to a Mandarin Preschool last January two mornings a week. She now goes three mornings and Davis is going to be going there as well.
He has thankfully learned the phrase "right back" and so I am often able to go to the bathroom, park the car, etc and he will stay with Mom. How this will translate to school I don't know. I'll be sure to update after his first day!
Hope you all are well!