I wrote an email about the story of what happened to me and Nathan to my hubby. After thinking for a while, maybe I could share/document this so that I could re-read later on. The days goes…

Today er gu(second aunty from Andy’s dad) was leaving Tangshan. So, we sent er gu off at the train station. Before we entered the cab, it started raining. Andy’s mom hesitated about Nathan and I going to the train station with them. But I insisted that I should go and send her off. The weather was not bad at all when we reached the train station. Anyway, we were waiting for er yi(second aunt from Andy’s mom) and shen tong(her son) to come because shen tong was going to take er gu to beijing with him. Er gu started crying before she left. Don’t know why when Nathan said good bye to her and Nathan started crying also… it makes er gu cried even more. Your mom pursuaded us to leave early so that she won’t cry more. By the time we were leaving, the weather was fine initially. We wanted to take a cab to er yi’s house to pay a visit for a while. But just after we stepped out of the station, the rain came back. This time stronger and we had to stop under the big commercial umbrella to avoid the rain. We thought that it would be good enough with the protection, but the wind blew so strong that the umbrella flew away. Then it started raining hails. We had to run back to the station to avoid the rain. I ran with Nathan and I wasn’t careful with the step and we both fell down on the ground. Nathan was frightened. We quickly picked him up and ran to the store. In the store, he was crying and even a bar of chocolate was not good enough. He was wet and frightened… poor baby!

We decided that we had to go home by a cab. So, er yi ran out in the rain to catch a cab for us. We finally took a cab… but there was a car stopped behind the cab and make the cab driver so difficult to go out. Er yi had ran out in the rain again to push away the bikes in front of the cab so that the cab driver could make a left turn to get out of there instead of just reversed the cab out. In the cab, the driver took a long way to er yi’s house. So, we got stucked in the market street with many cars. So, er yi decided to walk home because of the poor baby was still wet and frightened and crying.

This cab driver apparently is not very skillful driver at all… I guess for one she is a lady driver and second I think she just got her license. She even could forget how to make a turn around when steering (she said that she was confused). Mom and I had to teach her a little how to steer. What a day… Finally got home, we had to bathe Nathan so that he won’t get sick. He was crying even louder. So, I decided that I need to nurse him to comfort him. After this he was better!! With the fall, I had a achy leg and little scratch on the hand. Whew… what a day but I still thank God that everybody is still safe and sound!

I’ve been such a slacker in blogging since I left USA beginning of this year. I couldn’t bear myself for not writing down this very special stage of my life. At 19 1/2 months, I’m finally starting to wean Nathan off breastmilk. I always thought that weaning is difficult because how absolutely we both enjoy the intimate relationship between a mother and a child. Everytime I meet a breastfeeding mother, I would ask about their weaning experience. They would tell me the same story of when we both are ready then the process would be easy. I doubt about it everytime I hear. Soon and behold, one day I got up and thought that it is time to wean him… I tried out the first day during his nap time without giving him milk, he whined for a while. He took a long time to fall asleep… Then the evening comes, he wasn’t even asking for milk anymore when we go to bed. I thought I should breastfeed him so that I could wean him gradually instead of going cold turkey. I asked whether he wants, of course the answer was YES! The next day, he was ready to go to nap without milk. When evening comes he was perfectly fine without it and this time I didn’t offer. The next morning, I couldn’t stand the engorgement, so I offer Nathan milk again. The following days, he was just have milk in the morning when he wakes up and everytime was not offered by request. I was so surprised at how he was so ready to wean too! So far… I’ve not completely weaned him… it has only been 4 days! I’m actually starting to miss the breastfeeding days now… I really enjoyed these moments. I’m now a wholeheartedly the supporter and advocate of breastfeeding. One of the best thing that a mother could do for her little angel(s)! I’m so proud of Nathan… and this begins the next chapter of his life.

We just want to wish everybody a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!! Jesus is the reason for this holiday and we want to thank God for all that he has done in our lives. Blessing from the Ma’s to yours!

We used this picture for our greeting cards this year… Hope you have a safe and happy holidays!

Today I took some pictures of the green sweater that his grandma knitted for him. After I reviewed the pictures and decided on the title… he is not a baby anymore… look at him, doesn’t he look like a big boy now?

Andy finally got home today after gotten renewed his passport at Houston. He brought us A LOT of food home. I just remember an idiom in Malay - “kamping masuk bandar” I learned in high school, which literary means a goat enters the city aka people who never been to the city and everything seems so excited and curious. After been in the Fayetteville for a long time, the big city suddenly offers a lot of things.. ahhah at least food which we care much! Andy bought home e.g. roast duck, roast pork, polo bun, sesame ball, pamelo (grapefruit) etc hahah.. even hard to remember them all.

When I first saw the pomelo that he brought back, then  I remember the game that I used to play when I was a little kid. We would cut out the peel of the pomelo with perfect cup and wear them on the head. We also did that tonight and thought that was fun!! It was a great time of reminiscing my childhood when I see the little Nathan wearing the pomelo.

We had a thanksgiving dinner at the Reeve’s! It was great because they were gracious enough to invite us over when we didn’t plan to do anything for thanksgiving this year.  As usual, the thanksgiving was not complete without the delicious turkey and stuffing. We had  good eat and good company with very wonderful friends who include the host - the Reeve’s, the 3 generations of Loh’s family and Annee. The boys were so totally enjoyed each other’s company. You can imagine all 5 boys and NO girls!!! I thought it was funny… maybe God will bless us all with girls next time and they can hang out together next time. We’re thankful for all the good friends and family who have constantly bless us and shower us with love! Happy thanksgiving 2008.

I really this picture of the boys! Thanks Laurel for taking this picture!

Today I noticed that there was an hole on Nathan’s jammies. Actually a few of his jammies have already got holes… does it mean that he has outgrown them or just walking around too much with them?? Anyway, maybe it’s a good signs that Nathan is growing bigger and taller each day! Another reason to be thankful of. It’s just hard to imagine that my little baby has grown so much!

Look at the hole on the wall… can you even imagine this 14 months old baby did it??

Yea… I’m proud of it too!!! Of course got spanking of his daddy! Should I expect more repair around the house? or he should learn something by now? We’ll see how adventureous is this little one!

Can you believe that a few days ago we had hail in our subdivision?? It even didn’t happen at JB Hunt which is 5 minutes away from our house. It looked like we had an ice storm from the pictures…

The beautiful Fall season, the colorful trees and leaves are the first thing that comes into my mind.

“There is a time for everything,
       and a season for every activity under heaven” - Ecc 3:1

   In the US, people observe the Thanksgiving holiday. Even though I’m not an American, it is very meaningful for me because this holiday reminds me to be thankful to God. Sometimes we just take everything for granted but I think this is a great opportunity to pause and ponder upon all the blessings that God had bestowed upon us. I’m also enjoying the beautiful weather very much. So does Nathan! Playing the leaves in the backyard. I would say that I didn’t capture the best shot for the beauty of the tree at her prime… this is actually going to die and that’s why it’s turning brown instead of vibrant orange and red colors.