Today was awesome!

Spent an entire afternoon in a gorgeous park with 4,000 years worth of history. No kidding. I took TONS of pictures, but, unfortunately, not with my camera since my camera is currently in Hubei Province at Wudang Shan with Donnie. For those of you who might be geographically challenged (really, unless you are Chinese, you don't know the geography of this place anyway), it is a 24 hour train ride away. Yes, 24 hours.

I should get pictures uploaded later this weekend... It's worth the wait, I promise.

PSA:

If the people outside my window don't stop playing the same shitty techno song on blast I am going to move the screen and drop poopie diapers and or shoes on their heads.


Freaking China, man.


::EDIT:: It gets even better. Upon further investigation, the reason the same bad song is on repeat is because there is some sort of wannabe Chinese Spice Girls rehearsal going on on the sidewalk next to our building. I am trying to be annoyed *giggle*, really I am, but the absolute hilarity is winning here.

I'm 99% sure...

Quinlon said his first word today.


Ya-ya.

Which, in Chinese is the baby way of saying 'duck'. The real name is ya (yah) zi (tzuh), but ya-ya means duckie... get my drift?


There is a small pond/fountain on campus that has ducks and he LOVES them. We feed them almost everyday and today, when we turned the corner and he saw the pond, he started yelling "ya ya". Even the Chinese people there could tell he was saying duck. While we were tossing bits of cake to them he kept repeating "ya-ya". To prove he is doing it intentionally, we tried and tried to get him to say "ya-ya" the rest of the day to no avail. I am curious to see if he says it again tomorrow because that will clinch it for me.

The funny thing is, my first word was duck followed closely by Daddy.

Later today, he said Baba and ran over to DH (Chinese for Daddy and what we have called DH from early on).

Guess he takes after me in the talking department. I can hear my mom laughing all the way over here at this one because she knows what a nonstop chatterbox I was and is probably gloating at what is in store for me now.

For what it's worth, he has said a few things we've wondered about in English too. He goes to the fish tank and says "ishies" and has said "yesssssss" on a few occasions that have made us raise our eyebrows. It might just be parroting, but I definitely see a massive language breakthrough imminent.

Happy Anniversary to us!

Yesterday was Donnie and I's 3 year wedding anniversary. It's strange to me how that seems like such a short time, but at the same time, like an eternity (in a good way, of course).

We've been through so much together and this year really benchmarked how much we have grown as a couple and family.

We had a super low-key day. DH had his normal Chinese lessons until 12PM and then we had lunch with out friends/teachers/babysitter (all the same two people). Then we took off for an afternoon alone to wonder around downtown as we pleased.

We bought a Gwan Yin statue for our altar (long overdue, I might add) and some nice chopsticks to take with us when we eat out at some of the less stellarly clean restaurants (they have the best cheapest food). In China it's wise to use the disposable chopsticks or some of your own because the chance that the ones the restaurant washes aren't getting completely clean and can commonly carry BAD stomach viruses and Hep B.

And I got some rad shoes that are way supportive of my fragile arches that I have been immaturely been ignoring.

We finished the night with some delicious pineapple beer. Yes, I said pineapple beer. It is amazing in all ways.

Here's the gratuitous pics!










::EDIT::

I totally suck and didn't post a pick of Gwan Yin! She is the goddess of mercy in Budhism and Taoism. We view her as more of a focal point for the energy of prayers and a symbol of always being humble and thankful for what the Tao brings into our lives.


Keep in mind this is just our makeshift temporary altar until we move into the permanent apartment next month (which is huge and way awesome btw). Once we move, it will be more elaborate and decorated to show our love and devotion.

I finally made something for me!

I've been dying to get a artsy, chic slouchy hat made for myself, but alas, my time was not my own for a long long time.

Having suddenly found myself with empty needles, I cast on and finished in less than 3 days.

Excuse the apparent display of narcissism... I just love my hat.

The funny thing about guan xi...

Is once you start to make connections, opportunities in China, just fall into your lap.

One of the people that work with Donnie on campus introduced us to a friend of a friend (Dunn) who owns 6 private English schools in the city. He offered Donnie and myself (contingent on our childcare situation) jobs anytime with his schools.

He has a 7th location opening this summer that will have daycare on premises, so regardless of what our childcare situation was, I knew I could start working there when it opened.

Fortunately, we found an amazing babysitter and pay him nearly double what he was making working 70 hours a week at a hotel job just to be on call for us and work maybe 20-25 hours a week watching Quinlon. Quinlon adores him and Yuan Jie feels the same about the little hellion.

So happy and confident that our son is in capable hands, I have started doing private tutoring at one of Dunn's schools for 10-15 hours a week and it's been wonderful. The income is awesome and I only work 2 days a week so I can still be a full time mommy.

Last night Dunn through a party for all the Chinese and foreign teachers. There was booze and snacks and music and lots of fun... but the most important part for my guan xi happened as we were leaving, Dunn walked us out. We left before the party even began winding down because we live on campus and the gate and door to our building close at 11PM. On the way out, Dunn said he wants to have an early childhood development program at the new campus and since I have experience with this level of education (almost 2 years of daycare experience) he wants ME to develop and RUN the program for preschoolers.

Holy shit!

I am incredibly flattered that someone who has really only met me 3 times judges me capable of such an undertaking. It really makes me feel good that my intelligence is not lost on people entirely.

So here I sit, with not a single clue where to begin, but damn, I am excited!!!

We got fish!

And I am kicking myself for not having a water element in the house sooner because the energy change is tremendous.

For less than $13 USD We got the bowl, pump, 4 fancy gold fish, a bag of food, rocks and lucky bamboo.

The fishies are shy, so pardon the shoddy photos.





Now taking suggestions on names for them. They are two mathing pairs. 2 with the fancy fins and bumpy heads and 2 that look like miniature koi with long flowy tails.

Baby ain't got back...

I have a nice little story for you today.

Once upon a time, I had this wonderful round bubble butt that I was very fond of. It looked fabulous in jeans and down right killer in skirt and dresses. I was blessed.

Then, I got pregnant and the booty got a bit out of control, but I was pregnant, so there was nothing that could be done and I just enjoyed every moment of being exceptionally round that I could.

After giving birth to my amazing son, I assumed my booty would just resume it's rightful proportions and all would be well with the world... I was ever so wrong. I began to notice that pre-pregnancy clothes were not fitting the same in the derriere as they used to. I was getting this strange sagging of extra fabric. What could this be?!?!

Turns out, upon vacating the premises, my little tenant had taken with him my beloved booty.

I was devestated. I even had an identity crisis of sorts. And now, a year later, I have what cannot even be rightfully called a booty; I have an anti-booty.

Jean shopping has been a nightmare since. I still have wide-ish hips but no butt or thighs to fill out the rest of the pants so when I find a pair that fit my hips, the sagging in the butt and thighs is quite depressing. But conversely, if they fit wonerfully in the butt and thighs, inevitably, I cannot button them. EVER.

I finally resigned myself to having to spend a fortune just to get jeans that fit normally.

Try 399 元。 And that is the SALE price. I hunted down good old Levis in China and was flabberghasted at the price tag. The cheapest regular price pair was 699 元. I got lucky and they had one pair that fit me on the clearance rack... but holy sticker shock.

The good news is that now I can wear a 28inch waist Levi, but I am still mourning the loss of that fabulous booty.

Nicole!

I need a copy of the password for your blog. The firewalls in China aren't letting me fill out the form on your blog to request it and I can't find your email address to just shoot you a quick line.

I'm having trouble getting back into this.

Thanks to Carrie over at a blog I faithfully stalk I am being forced to break the slump and at least post this.


Here are the rules:

1. Put the logo on your blog or post.
2. Nominate 10 blogs with great attitude and/or gratitude.
3. Be sure to link to your nominees in your post.
4. Let your nominees know they have received the award by leaving them a comment on their blog.
5. Be sure to link this post to the person who nominated you for the award


I suck at the nominating thing and my head hurts so I'm extra sucky.

Jenny Mae
Queen Bee
Jessica
.mamacopter
Jewels


Seriously, enough. My head hurts so 5 is what you get.

Also...

forgive any radio silence in the next few days... This week is the 3 year anniversary of our miscarriage and, as always, it hits hard. I always think that next year will be better, easier, something other than this hard knot in my chest and unabashed tears.

It just makes me hold Quinlon that much tighter and know that there is no way I could ever take such a beautiful blessing for granted. I love him so much it hurts.

Still alive...

and fighting this bug. I'm totally drained to the point all I can do is sleep. I'm not throwing up or having diarrhea anymore which is terrific, but my stomach is still iffy when I try to eat or drink anything more than a few mouthfuls.

This is quite possibly the most ill I have EVER been and I never want to do it again.

It only got worse.

By 12 o clock I couldn't keep even the smallest sips of water down with immediately losing 10x as much liquid from both ends. My body was so achey and I could barely move.

One of our friends offered to take me to the doctor and so we did.

2 shots in the butt and and IV later, I felt immensely better, but it doesn't end there. They sent me home with some FOUL tasting herbs to take for the next 2 days that should help kill whatever cruel virus was wreaking havoc on my body.

I've been able to keep down water since about 3 AM this morning and am only dry heaving, but the diarrhea is still crazy.

I'm eating a banana and hoping it stays down and does something to make the diarrhea better. Thanks for all the well wishes!!

There's something in the water...

and it's vicious.

I think I might die. Started off with a bit of queasiness after having tea with Donnie last night around 11PM and the stomach discomfort continued throughout the night until early this morning, I rolled over only to have to BOLT to the bathroom.

I've been vomiting and diarrhea nearly every hour for the last 5 hours and now intense body aches are setting in.

Ack. Gotta run, literally.

Birthday Party #1

We invited our friends we have made since being here over on Saturday for cake and general celebratory fun in honor of the little Prince's first birthday. It was a blast. The cake was riduculously good and the company even better.

Ugh...

I hate circumcision.


Botched circ suit results in 2.3 million dollar verdict