For Mary!

Dear Aunt Mary,

It's been a while since I've seen you! My sister and I really do miss you and all our other awesome Aunts and Uncles! I'm getting to be a BIG BOY these days! I can hold my head up NO PROBLEM and I'm even learning to push myself up when mom puts me on my belly! I wanted to write to you and tell you that EG has been talking about you a lot lately. She got these really cool red rainboots and she insists on wearing them all the time! Every time she puts them on she says, "MARY!" because she remembers all your funky rainboots! We miss you Aunt Mary! Hope your exams are going well! Come see us soon! love, Jackie Boya

Too Big for His Britches!

I just moved Jack into 6-9 month clothes, some of which were already too small! He's packing on the pounds at record speed and grinning very step of the way! I am still nursing him and currently eat a gazillion calories a day to keep up with our combined hunger. I often out-eat Andy at each meal and have several large snacks throughout the day! Last night at about ten, I was so hungry and couldn't find anything filling to eat so I ended up eating plain white rice from the fridge. I am becoming Chinese!

One of my favorite things about Jack is that he has my brother's ears! SO CUTE!

My love hate relationship

With the Chinese Dairy Industry...

I LOVE that I get my milk and yogurt delivered to my window each day.

I don't love (hate is such a strong word!) that I have to buy my mild, just ok cheese in a forty pound block and then shred it by hand and put it in the freezer!

I LOVE that yogurt is a drink in this country! You can imagine what a two year old does with a spoon and a container of yogurt!

I don't love that really good cheese is really expensive here. Oh, Bleu, Oh Pepperjack, I have such wonderful memories of our time together in the U.S. and please know, I think of you often.

I LOVE THAT GOD MADE DAIRY and I am so grateful for the access we do have to milk, yogurt, BIG GIANT HUNKS of mild cheese and an occasional block of expensive pepperjack!

P.S. Some friends and I are ordering a forty pound block of Cheddar and twenty lbs of Mozzarella this week! If you remember my Italy Savings plan, you'll be glad to know, I've currently saved enough to pay for one meal while in Italy!

RICE CEREAL for JACK!

I gave Jack his first taste of Rice Cereal this week. Like Emma Grace, he didn't really like it at first. I haven't given it to him again, just because I've been so busy lately. But if he's anything like the rest of his family, my guess is he'll start loving to eat really soon!

Friends!

One of our neighborhood Xiao Peng You's (little friends) came over to play this past weekend. This is Ju Ju. She is just a few months older than Emma Grace and they seem to really like each other! Her grandmother brought her over for an afternoon visit. Ju Ju loved putting necklaces on EG and they both enjoyed some xiao man tou-a great chinese finger snack that looks like small steamed buns but tastes more like a slightly sweet puff of some sort! EG isn't really speaking chinese, but I am encouraged that she is learning new words most every day!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANDY

If you want a sure fire way to help you really really really appreciate and celebrate your husband on his birthday, then do the following: Just send him away for a week while you stay home with your two little kids all week! You won't believe how quickly you'll begin to miss his companionship, his jokes, his prayers, his morning coffee making, his leading of devotions, his taking out the garbage, and his servant leadership of your family!

Happy Birthday to you, ANDY HUFFMAN! We are celebrating your life today and thanking God that he made you Husband and Father to this gang of three "eagerly waiting to see you" Huffmans! COME HOME SOON!!!!!

A Poem for Andy

We're Doing Fine Without You

Oh Daddy, Oh Daddy can you believe it's true?
I've learned all my colors just for you.
The sun is yellow and trees a green hue,
And yes of course, the grass is still blue!

Oh Daddy, Oh Daddy, can you believe it's true,

I sleep through the night now, just for you!

Well, except that is, when I cry at four

and wake sister when mom opens the door.

.

Oh Daddy, Oh Daddy can you believe it's true?
I learned to change my diaper just for you.
Could you hand me a diaper and a wipe or two?
Well, you just go ahead, since you know what to do!

Oh Hubby, Oh Hubby can you believe it's true?
I've organized the house just for you.
Everything's put away all nice and swell,
Though we're missing your coat, a remote and my dell.

Oh Andy Oh Andy, we've missed you, it's true,
But as you can see, we're fine without you.

Nope, no problems caring for two under two,

Though that is permanent marker on your favorite shoes.

Day One

Andy is out of town for the week. Today was really packed for me! Just enough time left in the day to get online and post that I've made it through 25 hours of single parenthood. Only 94 1/2 to go, not that I'm counting. HEHE! I managed to brush my teeth and put on deodorant but that's as far as my personal hygiene went today. Wishful thinking maybe, but I hope to take a shower tomorrow. More likely, I'll be spending my time calling repairmen. My appliances seem to have banned together and plotted an attack on me while I am weak and without sufficient back up. Both my fridge and dryer are on the brink of sudden death and are making really loud humming noises like something is really loose inside. I have to keep the door to the laundry room shut so that my kids can sleep and opening the fridge to get something is like sticking your head in a wind tunnel. Oh, life. Well I can't hear myself think so I am going to bed!

Easter Fun

Here are some photos from last week! First we dyed Easter Eggs with Julianna and Lydia!

EG is a tad too young to get the concept, but she really enjoyed throwing the eggs into the cups of dye. Needless to say, we came home with a basket of mostly cracked eggs!

Friends are the best!

And then on Sunday the girls had an Easter egg hunt!

Despite the fact that we stayed home all week, we've had a pretty busy few days. We've had guests most nights this week which has been fun but also a bit of work for me. We've taken major strides in the potty department and EG will sometimes even tell me she needs to go! She's also doing pretty well sleeping on her "big girl bed" (which is actually just a palate in the floor until we get something made) though she did come out of her room tonight totally naked after I had put her to bed. That breaks two of our big girl bed rules...No getting up, no taking your clothes off. Well, actually I just made up rule that last rule when I found her naked. Seems I keep having to make up more rules as she keeps finding things to do! So far we have: No books, no toys, no getting up, no taking your clothes off, and no pooping. She is such a little firecracker! Overall, she is doing really well with all the transition. The Jelly Bean Reward System for the potty is also helping quite a bit!

Andy will be out of town for 5 days this upcoming week so I am planning on doing several things: first on the list: NO COOKING! My goal is to eat meals from the freezer or meals prepared by loving wonderful friends like Laura and Xiao Li. Laura, did you really mean it when you said we could eat at your house everyday next week? HEHE! Secondly I am embarking on PROJECT ORGANIZE MY LIFE. Though we are technically "settled in," there a gazillion little nooks and crannies that need to be organized so that's how I plan to spend my no cooking, kids sleeping time next week!

That's all for now! Have a great weekend!

HAPPY EASTER!

Jack Attack

Since Jack's three month pictures were on the camera we just got back, I'm going to post his three and four month pictures together. He's doing great and is one smiley, happy little guy. He loves to lay in his little jungle gym and pull at the things hanging down. He also loves to spit up on any and every one. (Both my children have had the supernatural ability to spit up just when you've put a new outfit on and haven't quite gotten the bib on yet. Note that both his three and four month shirts are soaked.) He's very interested in Emma Grace and loves for his Dad to put him upside down and tickle him! Oh my, this Momma is in love.

Throwing my plans out the window!

Like I said earlier, we are doing potty training on the fly. I was planning on waiting a few more months until we really got settled in and all that jazz. But the rash sped up my plan. We have not totally arrived-still working out the kinks when it comes to the poop issue but we're well on our way. Seems I should just throw all my plans out the window these days, because once again we are "on the fly" with another big transition. I was planning on waiting a couple more months to move EG to a big girl bed. Mainly because I hadn't gotten around to picking out and ordering the bed we want and because we are going to borrow a bed rail from some friends who are going to the US in May. I should just resign myself to the fact that I'm not in control here!

On Saturday morning Andy and I heard a fairly loud thump but figured it was something outside. When we then heard someone rattling a door, Andy and I both jumped up to find EG standing at her door grinning at us. Somehow she had managed to climb out of her crib, which is pretty high! We should not have been surprised since our little one has quite the mind of her own but we were! We are just thankful she was not hurt. So no more crib for EG. We've moved her to a palate on the floor until we can figure out what kind of bed we want to get. We are debating between a small toddler bed which we can extend or a set of bunk beds since she and Jack are going to share a room for now.

Andy and I went and looked at beds yesterday but haven't totally decided what we want to do. Seems I am moving at a snails pace in terms of letting my first child grow up. I think this notion of me just barely keeping up with her will be true for the rest of her childhood! Knowing her, she'll be asking to start school next year! HEHE!

We got our camera back this weekend so here's a picture of my not so little one playing at a toy store in Charleston, WV a few weeks ago!

This is actually working

The high from successfully potty training your kids can be compared to the feeling of just completing a half marathon! In the process, part of you is thinking, "why am I doing this? I can't do this. This is insane!" but the other part of you is excited and you are so totally thrilled when you finally reach that finish line. Now we have by NO MEANS reached the finish line but we are on our way! The first morning was rough with way more accidents than successes. Day two was much better and today we've had no accidents so far. I am taking EG to the potty fairly frequently so she hasn't really had the opportunity to actually tell me she needs to go. I am not sure how it will go when I forget to take her. Maybe I should wait and see if she is able to tell me she needs to go? Not sure. I should contact some of my mom friends and find out what the book they read says.

We are pretty sure her rash is a yeast diaper rash, which according to the internet is fairly common. We have some cream for it and it seems to be getting better. Please do pray that it will continue to heal. She hasn't complained in a day or so, so that's good news.

We are just hanging out this weekend, enjoying some much needed down time! I'll be making some Eastern NC style BBQ for Easter!

Hope to post some pics of our Easter Egg dying soon!

Potty Training on the Fly

This is one of those posts that I am certain only grandmas and other grandma types will be interested in!

I'm pretty sure that when you decide to potty train your child, you should first read a book, survey a bunch of other moms on the secret tricks of training, make a plan, get mentally prepared, and purchase a small toilet! We did none of those things before beginning our journey towards Elmo panties!

As I said in my last post, EG has what we thought was severe diaper rash. I am starting to doubt that it is actually diaper rash, but in any case, it has been getting worse, not better. A mom of four told me that sometimes if it's really bad, the creams make it worse because it holds the moisture in. The doctor had told her that sometimes it's best to keep their bottoms dry and let the air do it's work. So she suggested I let EG run around for a while without bottoms. But with carpet, we decided I should at least put some lightweight undies on her. Herein lies my problem.

I didn't think it was a good idea to let her walk around all day peeing in her panties. For one, I certainly didn't want to be cleaning it up all day. Two, I love my carpet too much and three, it seems counterproductive for future potty training efforts.

So I decided if I wanted to really give her bottom a chance to dry out, I should go ahead and make the potty training plunge. I had no book, no survey results, no plan really, and no small toilet. (I did send Andy out to find one and he came back with a chamber pot. Good try honey.) Thankfully I did have chocolate chips in my arsenal and Alisa on the other end of the phone. She recently trained her daughter so I got the cliff notes of the book she read at about 9 am. By 11 am I was ready to give up. I made EG drink a lot to really get her going and by 11, we'd had a couple successes, but way more accidents. But by lunch time we were doing a little better and her nap gave me the break I needed. After lunch we did GREAT! She only had one accident and one foot in the toilet-at that point we borrowed a small potty from Julianna! I am not 100% sure if I want to keep it up but I feel like I should! Her bottom needs the air, I don't have to go anywhere or cook for the next 3 days and EG is loving the little pink potty that's just her size. So now seems to be as good a time as any. ELMO panties here we come!

Please do pray for wisdom for us about her rash and for healing-it's pretty severe and we're not sure what it is. We're gonna email a doctor friend in the US to see what he thinks.

GO HEELS!

Andy spent the morning cheering the Heels to victory. We are so thrilled they won, but also wishing our time at UNC could have included some great basketball. Sad, we got lots of construction and a stinky basketball team for our four years. Oh well. Tis Life!

I spent the morning caring for kiddos/hanging out with a fellow alum, Laura. This is our life Laura-no more gathering at Charles Gouch's trailer mansion to watch the game (you were there right?) and no more getting up with the hubsters and the rest of the gang to watch a game from distant China. BUT-it's a life I thoroughly enjoy!

I don't know much more about the game except that they won by a large margin. What I do know is that my daughter has really bad diaper rash, which we are trying to figure out what to do about. Please pray for that. I also know that lemon juice, oregano, garlic and salt make a mean marinade for grilling pork chops! We had those, cheese grits and green beans for dinner. And I also know that hearing Jack laugh is one of the highlights of my day. He's currently laughing at his Daddy as I type this!

We have a VERY VERY low key two weeks planned. Just hanging around the house, getting life back in order and desperately trying to restock the condiment section of my fridge. The Huffmans love condiments and they give recipes the extra zing you need. I've already borrowed Laura's Worcestershire sauce two times now! Already put my imported cocktail sauce to good use. It's the not so secret ingredient in my Gmaw's veggie soup!

Xiao Li and I made Strawberry Jam last night. It was really fun and surprisingly successful considering neither of us had the slightest clue what we were doing. Well, she had made it once before so she knew a little more than I did. I only got burned by boiling strawberry jam twice.

Looks like our camera might be a few more weeks before arriving. But I'll leave you with a couple recent pictures Mamma Nette took!

At Green Lake:

Jack is into lifting weights already! Just kidding. This rattle belonged to Andy as babe!Who could ask for anything more?

12 (going on 13) little Munchkins!

My mom left on Friday night which was sad for me. She told me not to cry at the airport and I didn't. I just waited til I got in the car and burst into tears. I am pretty sure my driver thinks I am insane. We had a great time and my tears were the "good kind of sad" tears-sad to see her leave as I enjoyed having her around each day and sad for EG and Jack not to be around their grandparents for a while. EG woke up asking for Mamma Nette.

Thankfully we had QUITE the distraction the very next day! Check out all these munchkins sitting on my couch less than 24 hours after my mom left! Who can be sad looking at all these precious faces?

We had some friends over for a cookout and these are all the youngins-12 under 4 and one more on the way! (the smallest is just two weeks old!) The kids swam in our kiddie pool and ran around like little monkeys! We enjoyed some amazing food-Andy grilled chicken for us and everyone brought sides and desserts. It was really fun to see everyone, though Andy and I both had to take a nap today to recover!

A little side note-in this picture, not one child is crying. Getting them to all sit on the couch for a picture in and of itself is pretty amazing, but no crying? Pretty much a miracle! I'll try to get some more pictures of the outdoor fun soon. Our camera is hopefully arriving this week. But no fear grandparents-your fellow grandparent Lynnette took enough pictures while she was here to keep me blogging for a year! For some great pictures of China and her perspective on our life here, you should check out her blog: thethackfamily.blogspot.com.

This will be our first week of "normal life" in over 4 months! Responsibility is knocking at my door with no grandparents around to help. But we're thankful for a taste of normal for a bit! Speaking of responsibility-I need to change a diaper, put a child to bed, wash my dishes, fold the laundry and plan this weeks' meals before I go to bed. Pray for me.

What will I do??

Who will entertain EG while I make dinner?

Who will put EG in her bed in the morning so I can sleep in a little bit?

Who will organize my cabinets?

Who will make sweet tea everyday?

Who will wash my laundry when it's getting really backed up?

Who will bounce Jack in his seat while reading a book so that I can go outside with Emma Grace?

Who will help me to see China through new eyes?

Who will give me advice and wisdom on parenting and relationships from an older more experienced perspective?

Who will I share my love of China McDonald's with? (ok, I still have Andy!)

Who will I enjoy a good sliced tomato with?

Oh, this having two kids thing is about to get a lot tougher come 11:55 tomorrow evening-a quite a bit lonelier!

And finally, what will I do when EG stands at the bottom of the stairs and yells, "Mamma Nette, where are you?"

Be sad. That's what I'm gonna do. And maybe cry. My leaving America was made much easier by the fact that my mom came with us. So my crying was delayed a little-but the tears are coming, I can feel it. The reality that my mom and all the other grandparents are so far away is starting to set in. And the fact that we're really on our own raising two little ones is a tiny bit overwhelming!

We've had a great time and it's been so fun for her to see our life here! Thanks so much for coming Mamma Nette and thanks to Dan and Katie for giving her up for a couple weeks so she could join us! Here we are enjoying dinner with Xiao Li and A Xin!

Emma Grace of course did some entertaining. She showed everyone her acrobatics and her Mary move!
We love you Mamma Nette! Thanks for coming! And say a prayer for me as I'm really on my own now!

Friends and Kacki Cakes

If I had a dollar for every time Emma Grace called "Junanna" on the phone while we were in the US, I'd be rich! These girls are like cousins to EG and we are so happy they are back in town with their new little brother in tote! Jack and Isaac aren't really interested in each other just yet, but I can see a great friendship in the making! Andy is absolutely thrilled that Jack has another boy to pal around with! One thing is for sure, EG is very interested in Lydia and Julianna! They came over today to borrow some salt and stayed for a while to play! EG says you guys should run out of salt more often!

I love Lydia's curls and I am amazed by how independent Julianna is these days!

There's a lot of pink clothing and blonde hair going on in this picture!

Grandmas are the best!

Welcome to my play area Julianna!

In other news, we had Kacki Cakes for dinner tonight and EG loved them. We've decided to start calling pancakes Kacki Cakes because that's the name they truly deserve. When we arrived in America, Kathi decided she really wanted to have something special that would remind EG of her every time she saw it...she landed on pancakes and every time EG went over to Kacki's, she always came home smelling like maple syrup. Well, Kacki-your plan worked! As soon as I mention pancakes she says your name! And when I asked her who taught her about pancakes she immediately tells me, "Kacki!" But don't worry Kacki, there are many many many things that remind her of you! When we talk about the finer things in life, she always attributes them to you-Chocolate Baba's, Chuck E Cheese, diamonds, and coffee, just to name a few! We sure do miss you guys. Come over soon!