Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Merry Christmas

Two years ago, I spent my last Christmas as a non-mom. It was a month before I left for China to adopt Eena, and I was pregnant with Baba. The unknown filled me with excitement and a bit of nervousness. Last year, my daughters celebrated their first Christmas. Eena didn't quite know what to make of the gifts, and Baba was too little to even know what was happening.

This morning, I told them that Santa would visit when they go to sleep tonight. Within 5 seconds, both girls were on the floor pretending to sleep. What a difference a year makes! I can't wait for them to see what Santa brings.

My girls, of course, are the best gift in the world.

Happy holidays!

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Now I know my ABCs...



In honor of Eena learning the ABC song, I baked letter cookies for her alphabet party. Eena sang at the beginning of the party, which also featured Alpha Bit cereal. Crunched for time, we postponed the alphabet pasta until Christmas dinner.

Baba hopes to have an alphabet party soon; she already knows "hijklmnop."

Who need to buy presents?
















Eena loves to pretend she's a robot with the tubes that formally house wrapping paper. My daughters also love boxes, gift wrap, bows and--most of all--bubble wrap.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

New roomies

We moved the girls into the same room yesterday. Eena was so excited to share a room with Baba. I was nervous about them actually sleeping, but surprisingly they did! At naptime, they talked for an hour and slept for an hour. When they awoke, a lamp was turned over and the child's rocking chair was moved to the middle of the room. Oh, and part of a plant--which had always been in Eena's room--was on the bookshelf.

At bedtime, they played and talked for about an hour. On the monitor, I could see Baba tossing a stuffed animal out of her crib and Eena throwing it back at her. I also observed Eena giving tissues to her sister, which she promptly shredded and threw on the floor. They finally fell asleep and slept through the night:)

This is the start of a beautiful relationship as sister roommates. Hopefully, they'll have as much fun as my sister and I had.

10 things done

10 things I've crossed of my to-do list

1. Write the first draft of a children's book that I hope to publish.
2. Bake an apple pie from scratch.
3. Move my girls into the same room.
4. Take Mommy & Me classes with my daughters.
5. Bake holiday cookies from scratch.
6. Give a speech on writing to an audience at the library.
7.Clean the basement.
8. Work on my non-fiction book that I also hope to publish.
9. Create an address database on computer for holiday cards.
10. Drove 12 hours with two toddlers in the car.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Riding in style

Marc Jacobs and Bugaboo have joined forces to design a new stroller. The result? A $1,500 black stroller. My husband and I have amassed 6 strollers (some hand-me-downs, some gifts). My favorites are two umbrella strollers that I bought. They're easy to get in and out of the car when I go to the mall or when we travel. They were also the cheapest; they each cost under $15. We bought stroller connectors that convert it into a double stroller. Although there's no designer name attached to it, the strollers are practical ... and who says practicality can't be fashion forward?

Friday, November 28, 2008

So thankful
















I asked Eena what she was thankful for last night. She said:
1. Soy milk
2. Elmo
3. Her blanket.

I, of course, am so thankful for my two little girls. Eena just said the alphabet from A to Z during our trip to the East Coast. She's so proud of herself, and she sings it non-stop. Baba is also singing, but her song of choice is "Happy Birthday."

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Cousinhood of Traveling Pants or Dress



Eena and Baba love living so close to their cousins! They share toys and clothes. Once in a while, each girl is able to wear the same dress. It's adorable to see them wear the same clothes, especially when we remember what Big Cousin looked like in an outfit three or four years ago.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Waiting game


Our Dakota Fanning future is on hold for, well, three more months. We went to Talent Agency # 1, and an Employee asked to bring her out to meet the agents (without her parents). My husband and I watched as the agents said hello to Eena and she just ate her apple slices quietly. I had no idea that is what they would do or else I would have prepped her to say hi to everyone.

When they returned to the room, the Employee said to bring her back in three months when she'll be a size 3T and when she'll likely be more talkative. The Employee said several times that Eena is super cute and that they definitely want to see her again.

Next time, I'll make sure she isn't eating and that she's ready to talk to everyone. Well, at least, we have three more months to prepare.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Twinkle twinkle little star

When layoffs were looming at my former place of employment, I told friends that if the ax fell on me I would become a stage mom. Think Jade Barrymore, Dina Lohan, Lynne Spears but without all the drama. Last month, my husband and I sent in pictures of our daughters to Talent Agency #1 in Chicago. They called and want to interview Eena on Wednesday. We don't have to bring anything just ourselves. Baba will stay home with our nanny.

Eena is sometimes a little shy when she first meets someone. However, the talent agency wants outgoing kids. I'm going to do my first Stage Mommy thing and give her a little candy beforehand to make sure she's energetic. Just so you don't think I'm a bad mom: Eena rarely has sugar, and she eats tons of vegetables and fruits every day.

Will Eena be the next Dakota Fanning? Only time will tell...

Monday, November 3, 2008

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Ni-Ou, Neo and Ne-Yo


Every once in awhile, I record "Dancing With the Stars" to watch with A & K. They love the music and the dancing. We watched last night's show tonight. A was dancing around the living room, especially after she saw the two little girls dancing. K was shaking to the music too. R&B singer Ne-Yo performed his song "Closer." A's Chinese name is Ni-Ou, and and we kept it as one of her middle names. We also gave K the middle name of Neo, the Greek spelling. When I told A that the singer was named Ne-Yo, she said: "Just like me!"

Although I'm not sure of their singing skills yet, I recently sent photos of the girls to a talent agency in Chicago...maybe my Ni-Ou and Neo will be famous too.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Future Nittany Lion


Like most of KJ’s clothes, this Penn State shirt was worn by AJ last year. I bought this shirt in June 2005--before either of my children were born. Although we’re not into football, I still want my daughters to show off their Penn State pride because that’s where their parents met and fell in love.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Dream, sweet dreams


I don’t know what my daughter slept in the first night of her life when she was abandoned at the Zhonglin Medical Center. I also don’t know where she slept the first four months of her life while she was in foster care. But I saw the crib she slept in from age 4 months until she was 9 months and 24 days old when I visited the Fuzhou Social Welfare Institute. It was small and attached to five other cribs. The baby that was sleeping in her crib was under layers of blankets, and I could only imagine that’s how she slept too.

The first night AJ was with us at the Jiangxi Hotel in Nanchang, she fell asleep quickly in a blue playpen. At the White Swan, a brown wooden crib. At home, she slept in her tan crib. Two weeks ago, we converted it into a toddler daybed or as she calls it her “big-girl bed.”

We’ve been talking about it for a while now, but as you see the time was right. She’s been sleeping in it every night! And, she even gets up to use the potty in the morning. We still haven’t figured out how to get her to go in the middle of the night, but my sister assures that it will just happen around the time she turns 3, which will be in April.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Sleepless nights

Whenever I can't fall back asleep in the middle of the night, I often think about the days I became a mother for the first and second time. I close my eyes and imagine being in the Hualong International Building, a high-rise housing the Jiangxi Province Center for Adoption Services--on the 26th floor--in Nanchang, China, on Jan. 30, 2007. I remember seeing Athena for the first time and crying as she was placed in my arms.
I also think back to July 30, 2007, when Kallista was born. I held her and cried too, this time in the Highland Park Hospital. I remember being shocked that she was born on the 6-month anniversary of the day we adopted Athena. I'm not sure if all moms re-live the day they became parents, but I find such comfort in these memories. It's ironic that the two little girls who gave me sleepless nights in the beginning are the ones who help me return to Snoozy Snooze Land.

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Fit for a (Burger) King


Long car rides guarantee one thing for us: multiple potty stops. It was near lunchtime when Eena had to go. We pulled into a fast-food restaurant parking lot. After going potty, Eena expressed her hunger.

My husband and I became vegetarians almost 10 years ago, swearing off not only meat but fast-food restaurants too. Well, that all changed in the parking lot. We’re still vegetarians, but we ate at the Burger King. To our great surprise, there were Mac & Cheese kids’ meals with apple “fries.” The girls loved it. We loved that the high chairs contained disposable bibs, wipes and the requisite Burger King crowns.

While there are no whoppers in our future, the little princesses are keeping our minds open.

The daily juggle



Blogging is tougher than I thought. Especially when you’re looking for a new job…oh, and chasing a 2 year old and 13 month old all day.

There’s the endless attention required by the children—sippy cups that need to be refilled, a constant parade of snacks that in their aftermath need to be removed—in crumb form—from the floor. I’m no different than other moms here, pulling delightful contented smiles from my kids in the midst of a meltdown, or juggling the laundry buzzer, the boiling water on the stove (for pasta, of course), and the endless cleanup of toys like so many flaming bowling pins.

The job search is going OK. Most people were away on vacation last week because of the Labor Day holiday. With that in mind, my husband, daughters and I traveled to St. Louis to visit my in-laws. It was a nice break away from Chicago.

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Divorcing work diet

Who knew I didn't have to break up with you to lose weight. I just had to break up with my job. Since my former job parted ways with me last week, I've shed 4 pounds. How did I do it? The loss of appetite from losing my job, the increased veggie and fruit intake with my children, more time to walk/exercise and, of course, the girls who are always 5 steps ahead of me.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Ring ring

The call.

When you're in high school--and small things are of earth-shattering importance--the call usually comes from that cute boy you like. Toward the end of college, the call is your first job offer, and you move, in the moment, from one world to another. As you get older, you receive different types of calls, sadder calls, disappointing calls: "You're not pregnant." ... "Your father-in-law has brain cancer." ... "Your mother has been hit by a man driving a pick up truck. She's brain-dead. There's no hope."

Then, there are calls you've been praying for: "You have a daughter from China. She's from the Jiangxi Province. She's beautiful with big eyes and a round face. She's driving a toy car to come see you." or "You're pregnant. Congratulations."

There's also the dreaded call.

With mass layoffs in the newspaper industry, in particular at my home, the Chicago Tribune, I feared getting that call. Last Friday morning, the call came at 10:43 a.m. It was one of the editors--the person who hired me 6 years ago--saying due to the economy that it would be my last day. Calling me a "terrific employee " and "too good a person," he unfortunately was calling to say goodbye. 6 years and more than 200 articles...gone in few seconds.

Join me as I explore my possibilities, write about life with my two girls and comment on everything from parenting to trends to whatever is on my mind. Athena (who calls herself "Eena") and Kallista (who Athena calls "Baba") make calling anyone impossible.

Call me, or, on second thought, post a comment here.