weekend recap

savvy girl had a big weekend. in the last 2 days she has perfected: sitting up on her own, an awesome spitting noise followed by a proud smile, grabbing my face and pulling it into her own, and this hilarious "ya-ya-ya-ya" chant while chomping her gums up & down. i always say how she is coming into her own and this weekend was no exception. she is feisty, determined, and when she gets her eye on something, there is no distracting her. she rolls around the room and i'm certain will be crawling before long. still as sweet as ever in her demeanor, content doing pretty much anything.

fal gal? she's her own 1-woman show. she loves to make believe that her little toy figures/babies/whatever-she-can-get-a-hold-of are a family: "this is the mommy, this is the daddy, and this is the baby. watch your head on the ceiling, daddy! oh, you don't have to cry baby, i'm right here!"

her vocabulary and ability to participate in conversation is incredible. just when i think she isn't listening, she repeats or answers a question that was not even asked to her. and oh, the catch phrases are to die for...

a common reply: "yes, i do." not yes, not yeah, not mm-hmm. "yes, i do."

"no thanks, i'm good."

"i wanna pray for ONE MORE person." "how about ONE MORE person." "just ONE MORE person, mom."

"good morning, sunshine. what would you like for breakfast, baby? did you have a good sleep?" (and many more routines with her baby that i regularly do with her.)

"i need this for work, mommy." (oops, better be careful with that one)

"hey fal!" "como estas, mommy."

oh how i wish i kept this list during the day while it was happening, i could blog for days.

and me? i wish i could have the weekend back. don't get me wrong, it was a GREAT couple of days spent at lake geneva with my parents. they graciously and selflessly loved on the girls, gave my arms a break, and hosted us with their always open-arms. this monday morning, i picked up my bible that had not been used in days. i engaged in some quiet reflective time and i felt my body, soul, attitude, mind fill up with the joyful Spirit that God promises us. i reflected on a good weekend but one that i could have been much more PRESENT and positive and pouring out God's love. i'm thankful for a reminder that i need God's strength every single day and i'm thankful for another day to do it all again. you know how there are some people who talk about not being aware of their own sin and shortcomings? i'm not one of those lucky kind of people....

that said, got some good runs in around the lake, bought an insanely potent christmas tree candle that i'm VERY excited about, and enjoyed days filled with raking leaves & napping with my baby and evenings filled with reading, fires, and wine. sounds like my evenings were out of a nicholas sparks novel, rest assured, there was no husband rubbing my feet or jazz playing in the background. the only sparks were from the fake logs in the fire.

and this handsome fella has kept us entertained with pictures, emails, and hilarious stories of: taxi's kicking him out of the car, interesting characters YELLING chinese "cheers" to and about him, encounters with the chinese military, and so much more. as usual, he's thriving, encouraging us, and making us laugh. he doesn't exactly blend in with the locals..... we had face-time over the weekend and i haven't stopped thinking about his dimples and broad shoulders since. i digress :)

a blessed monday to all!