Black and White Wednesday - every leaf

every leaf, a new discovery
I don't have much to write about this week, except that I'm so glad the weather is warming up and we can be outside to explore leaves and go down slides. Yesterday afternoon was beautiful and we went to the elementary school to check out the slides. Hannah went down each and every slide, even the highest and fastest ones. She had a runny nose but was a very happy girl. Thirty minutes later her attitude slid downhill and she's been a wreck ever since. After a trip to the pediatrician this morning, we learned that Hannah has double ear infections. No amount of Tylenol, juice, crackers, and holding her can comfort her for very long. Mama has boogers on each shoulder of her shirt and is very tired.

Our 2010 census mailing arrived yesterday. Taiwanese Americans and parents of Taiwanese Americans, be sure to check "OTHER ASIAN" and write in "TAIWANESE." Be counted. Be recognized.

green

Happy St. Patrick's Day!
{photo by Kevin, editing by Sarah}

Hannah's not feeling so hot. Clingy girl. Nothing makes her happy. "No no no no no no..." All stuffed up, and she threw up twice last night. She throws up easily when her nose is all stuffed up. I'm getting ready to wake her up to go to see our pediatrician in an hour. Sigh.

learning curve

big camera. big lens. big learning curve. big sigh.
little patience.

"'Tis some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door - Only this and nothing more."

I was in the bathroom with the door tightly secured, doing what parents do when they want to be ALONE and have the bathroom door shut tightly. I heard the pitter patter of little feet scamper down the hall towards me. She doesn't like it when I shut a door and she can't see me. The knocking started, like usual. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap tap tap tap. "Mama!" Mama!"

"'Tis some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door - Only this and nothing more." I'm not opening that door. She can learn that mama needs a few minutes of private time in the bathroom sometimes. She's not upset, she just wants in because she thinks she's missing the party.

Tap. Tap. Tap. "Mama, open the door!"

What!?!?!?! A phrase!!!!

I think the bathroom door opened up in 0.6 seconds. A phrase!!! She said another phrase, I say!

tricycle

Hannah got her first tricycle, a red Radio Flyer with red and white tassels. She can reach the pedals, but can't move it very far. She shows a lot of interest in sitting on the tricycle, but hops off when she realizes that she can't make it move much on her own. You'll get it, baby. Just at your own pace, like everything else you learn how to do.

video: weight lifting at Walmart

Allie and Hannah's playdate

We drove over to Allie's house yesterday morning to play. Allie was very good with sharing her toys. Hannah's feet can't reach the pedals of Allie's big girl tricycle, so Allie pushed the tricycle around so Hannah could ride.

{For those of you who are new here, Allie and Hannah lived in the same orphanage in Taiwan. HERE you can see a post the first time we got them together over a year ago.}



They spent a lot of time just running around. Allie following Hannah and then Hannah following Hannah.



Lora brought out the crayons and the Ni hao, Kai-Lan coloring pages.



Thanks to whomever developed washable crayons!



Then it was time to clean up.



The girls ran around with a mop and a broom for a long time.



And waved them around in the air, of course.



Out came the bucket and scrub brush.



Hannah spot cleaned the carpets with a brush.
We went upstairs to Allie's room and that's when the fun really started. I didn't bring my camera with me, but we got lots of funny shots with Lora's camera of the little monkeys jumping in Allie's bed and playing dress up with hats, shoes, fairy wings, and a purple boa. Head on over to Allie's blog to see pics of more fun!

Lora, Hannah fell asleep in her carseat before we got out of town. Thanks so much for having us over, ladies! We had a great time! Looking forward to seeing you again sometime when the weather is warmer and we can play outside.

6.4 earthquake rocks southern Taiwan today

links:
AP news article here
map of earthquake's intensity here