I Can't Resist the Little Miss

We are living a crazy life in this place called China, but a lot of times it is still just regular old life.

When we were getting ready to leave for China I spent a lot of time thinking: what is my reason for going to China? Of course a huge reason was supporting Mister, but I felt like I needed to know why I needed to be there as an individual as well. The thought kept coming, "to be a mother." This was weird to me because I can be a mom anywhere, but maybe I wouldn't be the same mom if we weren't living here.

We stick out like a sore thumb in Nanjing where there aren't too many foreigners--and even less with children. Since we are watched all of the time, I am constantly aware of and analyzing the kind of parent I am becoming. (I have a long ways to go at figuring this whole mother thing out!)  :)

Despite my novice skills, Miss A has delighted us with her sweet personality and love to learn new things.

**This post may only be interesting to close family, but feel free to read on if you wish. :)

Miss A does chores.

• She loves to wash herself, the floor, her baby, and anything else she can get to. (She especially loves to clean things if she gets a hold of a pack of baby wipes and pulls all of them out.) 
• These days I have to leave the dust pan and little broom out for her when I finish sweeping. 
• She wants to help put the dishes away (even if they are still drying).
• She tries to dress herself (and gets frustrated when she can't put on her own sock).
• She feeds her baby (A few days ago I found a stray piece of pancake smashed into the doll's mouth...

Wipes all pulled out, changing pad down, washing her baby

Miss A does signs.

• drink, more, up, down, food, all done, please, bye, and thank you (and boy does she use them to communicate!)

Her favorite sign right now: up. She loves to be held (unless she wants to walk...)

Miss A does talking.

• Her favorite phrase is "Where'd it go??" She holds up her arms like she's asking a question and says something that sounds like "wha-go go?"
• She loves to say "woah!" when she likes something or is suprised.
• I don't think I can keep track of all the words she says, but I'll take a shot for record's sake: baby, more, please, mom, dad, bye, hi, uh oh, woah! (favorite), banana, ny night, bath, ball, please, drink, down, sock, shoes, mouth, nose, eyes, ear, hair, dog, mao (cat in Chinese), and no.

Where'd it go? (the baby--she has been calling all of our bellies babies lately)

Miss A does play

• She loves books, especially about animals and learns more animal sounds each day.
• She will transfer things (toys, our shoes, anything and everything) from one place to another all day long.
• She laughs and laughs when she plays "rough" with Mister.
• She has a sense of humor and likes to do things she thinks are funny

Best person to play with ever.

Miss A does messes.

• She splashes in the bath like it's no one's business.
• She takes out anything she can get her hands on.
• She pours her drinks on her highchair and splashes around.
• She throws food on the floor when she's full.
• She rips up our foam mattress pad.
• She soaks us with her splashes when taking a bath.

Miss A does growing up.

• She walks all over by herself. (Still a little concerned on the bumpy, cobble street-like roads here)
• She practices standing up from a sitting position--even if that means falling on her padded bum every few seconds.
• She has seven teeth and more coming in!
• She folds her arms for prayer and says amen at the end.
• She knows when we're talking about her and responds.
• She follows simple requests.

What a walker! She carried a ball while walking all through the grocery store yesterday.

Miss A does difficult

• She won't sleep without her pacifier.
• She cries when she doesn't get her way.
• She wines when she doesn't get her way.
• She throws a fit when things don't go her way.
• She wants to sit/stand/walk on her own (even when we're on a crazy moving bus.)

Miss A does taking my heart.

• She "woofs" when she hears the dog and pretend cries when she hears the crying baby in our complex.
• She laughs to get attention and it makes others smile.
• She snuggles in the morning.
• She loves to go to bed and lays her head on our shoulder when we tell her it is time.
• She softens hearts and gives love to the people of Nanjing.

Living in China is the best--thanks to this little one and her dad.