Giggles with Daddy

Eating Sunglasses and Tortillas from Heaven

Hello from dark, quiet, “sound machine running in the background” Thailand. HEHE. Actually, it’s very hot and sunny outside, but I am currently sitting in a dark room while Emma Grace naps. That’s how I’ve been spending a lot of my time. But I don’t mind it. I am doing lots of reading and I love to hear her start “talking” when she wakes up! It’s been a different experience this time around with a babe who still takes 3 naps a day. But she has done GREAT and we’ve had a really good time. I am making a daily run to starbucks for my grande caramel macchiato and reading several books. Just started Marley and Me-a book about a really bad Labrador. It’s cute. I am not sure if I should be reading it or not. Andy and I are thinking of getting a dog in the spring. This might help me know what I am in for, but it also might convince me that a dog is not in the cards for us! We’ll see. Either way, it’s a good read.

Emma Grace is doing well. She and I just got back from a dip in the pool. I tried to get her to wear sunglasses, but as you can see, she wanted to eat them, not wear them. (Sorry they are a bit blurry. She did not want to sit still) The drypers continue to be the bane of my vacation-we have at least one leak per day. (2 today so far) But I am gonna use them til they’re gone. EG is officially a sitter now-she can sit for 20 minutes just playing without falling over. It must be nice to see the world from a new perspective.

Andy is in class from 8-5 this week with an hour break for lunch. Today we tried to go out for lunch but it’s not enough time. This area is so busy so it takes a while to get food. So, we are gonna do sandwiches in the room this week. Yipee. I love sandwiches and there isn’t really good sandwich stuff in our country. Funny that I am excited about sandwiches and chips…of course they are sour cream and onion!

Speaking of food…we’ve had great Thai several days in a row and tonight we are having chicken and steak fajita burritos smothered with enchilada sauce. (that is some serious Mexican fusion going on) Andy’s gone to pick it up now. I’m a bit embarrassed that we are so into food and even more embarrassed that my life is so boring that the only thing I can think of to write about is what we are eating. Oh well. I guess when you spend 6 hours a day in a dark room listening to the sound of running water you can’t really expect to have much to say that will interest the blog reading world!

On a final note, I was encouraged today as I thought about the “east asian” translation of the phrase “my grace is sufficient” It literally says: “my grace is enough for your use” It just shed new light for me on a phrase I’ve heard many times. It encourages me to think that no matter how great my sin of pride or arrogance or harshness (or a gazillion other things), the grace found in Christ Jesus is enough for my use. Thank you Lord, for your “enough for my use” grace that covers me!

Well, Dougy just returned with 8 mexican dishes all rolled into one giant tortilla from heaven, so I gotta go! See you!

4 baths in 4 days...that's a record

you may or may not know but I am not a huge fan of giving Emma Grace a bath. it's a lot of work for one person to do alone and she's kinda like a greased pig when wet. So, I usually put it off as long as possible. But in Thailand, we have been bathing ALOT! Mainly because we are swimming everyday and who wants to go to sleep when you are covered in icky sunscreen. But today, she had her 4th bath in 4 days beacause of some really cheap diapers. Now normally we go for the good ones, but we couldn't find any here so we got the "Drypers" brand. The name is misleading. anyway, the poop went from neck to toes...literally. this picture i(n her cute little outfit from our friends Ingrid and Russell) was taken minutes before said explosion. anyway, she was cute while it lasted. she is learning to play by herself! WAY TO GO EG! We are having a great time. Enjoyed good Thai food last night from a hole in the wall place (always the way to go in asia) ok, talk to you soon. gotta run as Andy's gotta get to a dentist appt.

pictures

Here are some pictures of EG's first swim in Thailand. she cried at first, I think becasue the water was a little chilly. But after she adjusted, she loved it. We are planning to go for a dip again today after her nap.

For all you moms, I have a book recommendation: Treasuring God in your traditions by Noel Piper. it's really good. That's what I've been reading while Emma Grace takes her naps. We had pepper poppers, ribs, cornbread slaw and fries and a piece of apple pie last night for dinner! we went with our old buddies Steve and Tamara then had a rematch of settlers (our favorite board game) well, miss you guys. enjoy the pictures


adjusted and loving it...
Emma Grace crying when she got in...

Hello From Thailand

Hello Hello from Thailand! We arrived safely in Chiang Mai on Sunday evening after a fairly smooth trip. We didn't get checked into our room until about 10 pm! Eg took the lack of sleep really well. Instead of crying, she was laughing her head off! it was really cute. She was so sleep deprived that she went into "insane person laughing" mode.

We've had a great time so far and we have a good set up in our room. Eg is kinda in a corner with some blankets rigged up to create a litte "closet" of sorts for her. it's really dark and with the sound machine she's sleeping like a baby. I have been in the room quite a bit for her naps but have ambitious reading plans for that time so I am happy to have the time alone! (i really am becoming an introvert!)

The internet here is not running so great, but I will try to posts some pics when I can. Our friends Steve and Tamara are here from the US (they lived in our city for 5 years and are our dear friends) It's been really fun to reconnect with them! We are headed out soon to get some good western food with them. So far I've had swensen's celebrity brownie sunday and an oreo blizzard from DQ and Pizza Company (kinda like Pizza Hut) and some not so good thai food from the hotel. Andy has "MAPPED OUT' (literally) all the places we must eat while here. He really is becoming Doug Heffernen! He went to get a map of our city yesterday afternoon and was gone for an hour. What I didn't realize until he came back was that he had been sitting in the lobby locating all the places we want to eat and circling them on the map for easy access! hehe. I love that man. He and I both share a love for food. He says it's one of the main reasons he married me. Ok, not really, but def an added bonus.

EG took a 3 hour nap yesterday...I think the insane laughing no sleeping from the night before did her in.

well, bum. I am trying to upload some photos but it won't let me. ok, I will try again later. But atleast you got a little update from us!

we love you and miss you lots. PS. we don't have our skype number set to ring our cell phones but if you need to call us you can call our cells:

From america dial:
Andy: 01166835808671
EA:01166835808671

catch you soon

I'm not a true blogger

Hey guys. I think I set the bar too high for myself, and consequently set your expectations too high! when I started this blog, I was updating it almost everyday. but now, I am doing good if I get one post a week. sorry about that! oh well. will try to do better! hehe. well, we are off to Thailand today. Andy and I counted yesterday and this will be my 9th and Andy's 8th trip. (EG's 3rd-one before she was born) It's fun for us to have a place that we go to every year. It's fun that we know all the good local restuarants at the spot we vacation. It feels a bit like Myrtle Beach (for Andy) and Atlantic (for me) - you know, a place that kinda feels a bit like a little second home. Well, I guess that would make Thailand our 4th home. NC/WV-1st, NC/SC beaches-2nd, where we live now-3rd, Thailand-4th. Well, actually this place is starting to feel strangely like home. I like that in some ways but it other ways it's kinda wierd. I am starting to dress like my friends here. kid you not!

We are leaving the winter coats behind and putting on our summer duds! WOO HOO! See you on the blog in sunny Thailand!

Really soon we'll put up some more pics of the Bean (Andy's nickname for EG).

Around town

Here are some random photos from around our town. Thought you might enjoy seeing the mix of modern and more traditional ways of living all in one little town! Our home is in a small apartment complex seated near the back gate of our town. The town consists of one main road (less than a mile long) with housing and shops on both sides. The town is funded by the factory here. Almost everyone that lives here has some sort of job at tehe factory. Everyone knows everyone and they definitely know us!

Here is the market where I buy my fruits and veggies. it's about a 10 minute walk from the house.

cute little guy in the marketThis is some sort of noodle station. (not sure exactly) it's in our market and I think you pick the stuff you want to go in your bowl of noodles. I thought it was colorful.this guy is the cook at our favorite little restuarant. Well, you might call it a stall. it is open air and he cooks all day at the opening of his little stall. I tried to take his pic and when he saw me he got really excited and said "hold on" and turned his hat sideways. now he was ready for photo op! They really seem to like us there and their food is delicious.

hot peppers drying out in the sun...

The track where EG and I do a lap every morning on our walk.

some kind of green leafy veggie being dried on the gate to the track...
Get your chickens...Actually I can't bear to buy my chickens this way. I buy mine in litte styrofoam containers at a grocery store in town (you know the meat that doesn't resemble an animal anymore)
Sugar cane and oranges for sell outside the track
EG looking cute in her new hat from Aunt Marv

checking out the flowers that were recently planted on the main street of our town.
this is the main road. I am about a 4 minute walk from my apartment (which is at the back gate of the town) and the building in front of the big hill in this pic are at the front gate. so, you can see our town is quite small

EG's favorite time of day. Going on a puppy hunt

Eg in front of park


Well, that's about it for our little town. I am growing to love this place and the people. I especially love the slow pace of life here. And this little town has no shortage of puppies so Emma Grace loves it too! thanks for visiting mayberry. come back anytime! we'll leave the light on for you!

7 months

EG is 7 months now! The time is going by so fast! She has several tricks now. They include...

Grunting really loudly

occassionally saying "ba ba ba"

putting her feet in her mouth (we are esp proud of this one)

THE RIVER DANCE

passing things easily from one hand to the other and also into her mouth. (she masterted this a long time ago!)

giggling when you tickle her

giggling when I put on hair on her belly

giggling when I dust

giggling at almost anything

sitting up on her own for about 2.5 minutes

sipping coke out of a cup (blame her dad)

going to sleep with NO CRYING!!! (my parents should be proud of this one since they started a therapy fund for EG when they found out we were letting her cry herself to sleep)

moving her arms up and down really spastically when she shes a dog

she has a few more, but I figure that's enough to keep you entertained. Have to spread out the wealth and share the other 3 some other day!

Happy Happy Birthday to our precious daughter!

Sunday Morning River Dance

Emma Grace slept until 8 this morning and when she got up she was full of energy. While waiting for me to make her apples and oatmeal, she decided to entertain us with her version of RIVER DANCE!

Gram Kacki and PooPaw!

What a precious, sweet, wonderful, fun, encouraging gift the Lord gave us-having Tim and Kathi come visit! It was a blast. I can't express in words how wonderful it was to have our family here with us and for them to see our life and spend time with Emma Grace! It was so good for Andy and I and also really relaxing for me! I didn't change a single poopy diaper the whole week! Andy and I slept in most mornings and the grandparents were on EG duty, which they loved! Here's a pic of Kathi feeding EG some peas, I think.
Well, as you know, Santa didn't visit us (though many of you voted that he should) But santa didn't have to visit us-WE HAD TIMBO INSTEAD! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to everyone who sent gifts for us. It was overwhelming and really fun to have all those special treats from home. (actually a lot of them were made here so you just sent them back to their home! hehe)

Tim and Kathi's bags were late in getting here so we had several frustrating calls with the airlines to figure out where they were. We never acutally figured it out, but after praying, they showed up at the airport here.

It was really fun for us to share the joy of Emma Grace with her grandparents. And they loved it too! We had lots of laughs with Emma Grace and she started "talking" while they were here. She's moved from grunts to the "ba ba ba" sound! Yipee! Which Baba is actually the way you say daddy in our local language here, so Andy is really happy!
Timril the chief did some awesome cooking for us and Xiao Li cooked the local food for us several times! We all gained a little weight. The best part of the trip was just being with them, spending time together, talking, drinking LOTS OF coffee, and just showing them what our life is like here. I am still recovering from their leaving. For the first 2 days I cried everytime I went to the coffee pot! But this is a reminder to me that we were not made for goodbyes and I am so thankful we have the hope of our eternal home where we won't have to say goodbye! Thanks Tim and Kathi for spending the time, energy and money to come see us. It was the highlight of our semester for sure!

Emma Grace loves her grandparents!

Christmas

Hey There! Sorry it's been so long since we've updated the blog. We've been busy enjoying time with Tim and Kathi (Andy's parents) and haven't been on the computer much. Here are a few pics from the past few weeks. I just love these overalls! Emma Grace is sitting up on her own now. She can sit for about 2 or 3 minutes before toppling over. How cute!

We had a great Christmas. Andy and I spent Christmas Eve with our neighbors Matt and Laura. We had pancakes for dinner. We came home and did our final candle on our advent wreath. It was a really peaceful and fun way to celebrate. Here is a pic of Xiao Li with Emma Grace in a Bei Bao (a back pack of sorts) This was Xiao Li's gift to us for Christmas. Her mom actually HAND MADE IT! It is beautiful and is the traditional way to carry children in our country. Emma Grace loves it. The locals think it's really neat that I carry her in it. The embriodery on this thing is really beautiful.

Here are Matt and Julianna enjoying some Christmas lunch at our house. We had a total of 12 guests over for Christmas lunch. We bought all the hubbies remote control helicopters, which they enjoyed. Unfortunately, Andy's broke early on in the day but the other guys were nice to share! WE had a fabulous meal. Unfortunately, I was recovering from a stomach bug and couldnt' eat that much. oh well, it was still a blast. Andy bought me a Kithcen Aid like mixer for Christmas. It's been fun to use. When making your own sour cream, that thing comes in handy. I am pretty sure Andy bought it for me so I would make cookies more often.

sorry I didn't take more pics of Christmas Day. I was busy just enjoying the day and forgot. oh well. Hope you guys had a great Christmas and a fun New Year!