Our normal.

After I got a call from Anne Marie this afternoon, Mom and Noah and I threw some shoes on

and headed to our "downtown",

if you will.

[Mom bending down to get a picture, so of course Noah had to do the same]

Trying to rally Noah. The only thing that works

is pretending that we see Albus [his favorite dog]

or Maddox [his favorite friend].

I am grateful for space for the boys to run and play. It's a little place called Sunny Block and it's 5 minutes away from our apartment.

It's random. And it's East Asia.

Airplanes, swings, and random flower beds.

[i hated every second of riding these things. i wanted mine to stay on the ground and forgot to ask how to do that very thing before it took off. no seatbelt. only a metal bar on the side with my hand glued to it.]

What do we do while they play with flowers and walk in straight lines?

We talk.

It's small things and big things, but they're special.

And i don't care if she has her jacket tied around her waist.

And she doesn't care if my hand is awkwardly touching the nasty pole.

Week 1

We've watched this little guy.

And he's tested us a lot.

Which leads to the explanation of Mom bringing this book along with her.

Ironically, she read it while I was his same age.

Watched Curious George over and over again.

Of course, the stuffed animal has to sit beside us every morning that this goes on.

Waited on a bus that took us to sandwiches for our tummies and butter for our fridge.

[We waited an hour and it took an hour to our grocery store

with import foods and a Subway nearby.]

I've loved this first week with Mom here and it's flown by.

I've seen this city, my son, and my marriage in a new way.

Sometimes it takes an outsider to shift my view.

And I like my view being shifted.

Because my old ways are getting... well, old.

First Sight in 7 Months

About 40 hours after she left the States, she arrived! They had to reroute unexpectedly, which resulted in a night in Beijing.

But here she is.

Her first day in East Asia.

This morning will be quite the experience, as she will be joining me in my Chinese class.

big news in our home

1. Mom is coming in 4 days. I can hardly stand it, I'm so excited.

[Sad to say Dad won't be making it this trip]

2. I just scrolled down this blog and somehow haven't mentioned that we're having another baby, due September! Just entered my 2nd trimester.

[Chinese hospital visit has been quite interesting. Scott reminds me:

"Cat, but you love a good story". No I don't. He does.]

3. Noah has a best friend. Okay, so that's not new news. But it's durn cute.

[pictures taken by AM]

4. Proof that Noah has a sweet side.

I catch myself just speaking of all the rough things that he does.

Which is very, very true. Okay but I just feel the need to show you his precious dimples that will make you forget that he bit you five seconds ago.

http://youtu.be/b82V-7VUrOs

His Very Own...

HELMET!

he loves it. and has a very difficult time when they need to part ways.

tickles to combat fits

noah has been pretty good with throwing some tantrums.

for example, not getting to touch scott's computer. that's usually a BIG upset.

or really to not do something that scott does is always an upset.

a couple of years ago, i sat back and stared at parents whose kids were out of control in public.

it didn't make sense.

just make them stop pitching fits. tell them sit in their chair at dinner. put them in their room. stop screaming. come on.

then came noah. wow has he forced me to look at people with grace. now i get it. more than anything it teaches me what's in my heart. noah can make a scene on the outside and i sure can on the inside... just with a sweet smile to cover it up, of course.

this baby has high highs and low lows.

that's just how he is right now. can't wait to tell him about it when he's all grown up and socially poised, right? praise Him that His goal isn't well behaved children.

so yesterday, scott's remedy was to tickle him right out of a fit.

and that little bit was good for that day.

BEACH

it's just good for the soul.

for mine, and his, and the little his.