Lily's pics

I wanted to get another set of pictures done with the guy that did our family portraits in Aug 2007, but I just never got around to it. Too busy. So when I had a day off (day before Thanksgiving) and a coupon, I took her to Sears. Not too shabby. Now, we waited an hour from the time we arrived until they actually took us back.

I wouldn't suggest doing pics when EVERY SCHOOL in the area is out for Thanksgiving. The service when we returned to order the pics wasn't that great either. In fact, the session ran into lunch and Lily's nap. That's why I didn't order the day of the session. They were a little miffed that I wasn't looking at/ordering that day. Anyway . . .

Click here view the pics.

Blog posts

SCC posted a video you might like to see: http://chapmanchannel.typepad.com/scc/

Kerry Hasenbalg had some very convicting and neat blog posts recently. She works with her husband advocating for orphan care (husband is the executive director of Shaohannah's Hope): http://kerryhasenbalg.typepad.com/

Christmas trees and "snowman poop"

Well, here is a picture of our completed tree. Lily has been noticing all the trees around. I asked her if she would like to have a "trismas tree" at home. She got extremely excited about that! Lily helped to decorate it. It we had left it up to her, ALL of the ornaments would have ended up on the same branch! Now we have to convince her that she is done touching the tree and it is just looking time! The pic is a little fuzzy as I took it in the complete dark. I think our little flash didn't do too badly.

I need to explain the title and the video a bit. The first part of the video is just of Lily as I was putting up the lights on the tree by myself with a two-year old wanting and trying to help. The second part needs a little explanation. Someone gave me "snowman poop" one year. It was a bag of white cottonballs with a little poem in it. I kept it all these years, because I thought it was really funny. Lily found it in the ornament bag and asked what it was. I, obviously without thinking too much, answered her with "snowman poop."

She proceeded to repeat it incessantly. At the same time, she also found a snowman bell (had a small crack in the bottom to allow you to hear the snowman ring better). She started stuffing the "snowman poop" into the bottom of the snowman bell. It made me about roll on the floor! Which is a very good thing as this week has been an incredibly stressful week. Not because Steve's been home. In fact, having him home made it easier to handle the various stressors. Anyway, I digress . . . Suffice it to say that I NEEDED a good LAUGH!

We ended up putting the "snowman poop" on the Christmas tree. I think I see a tradition starting. Just one way to remember the hard times and how God provided laughter to get through it.

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Thanksgiving

We had a wonderfully relaxing, rambling day. Much like this post is going to end up like. We did NOTHING! Steve hasn't left the house at all and Lily and I didn't leave until about 6:30 to get Daddy some Sprite and Tylenol. Yes, he isn't really feeling like himself.

I had cooked most of the dinner yesterday (except for the Turkey). I made only smalls portions as I didn't want to have too much food left over. It worked out nicely. We will have enough turkey to feed us for awhile, but just enough other stuff for one more meal.

Lily surprised the both of us this afternoon. We were both sitting on the couch with a football game on the tv. Steve's gamecube was plugged in, but not being used. Lily proceeded to turn the tv to channel 3, take the game out that was in there, put the game in that she and Daddy have "played" together, and turned the gamecube's power on. Unfortunately, the console wasn't reading the game because the last time Lily had the disc out she got something sticky on the disc.

We told her to take the game to Daddy and he would clean it for her. She did so and then headed to the kitchen returning shortly with a wet washcloth which she insisted on using herself to clean the disc. She trotted off to the player and started to put it in still a little wet. Daddy told her to rub hard on her shirt and she did so with gusto. She put the disc in, turned the player off and then back on. What do you know - the game worked!

Lily does try my patience on a daily basis it seems, but . . . I am so thankful to have her! I was thinking specifically about her birthmom today. We were playing with her belly button and it got me thinking about the woman who chose to give her life. I know this day doesn't hold much significance in China, but I am thinking of her anyway . . .

Sharpie Markers

Now you see it . . .

Now you don't . . .

This happened awhile ago and I never got around to getting the pics posted. This is what happens when you let a two year old play in the living room while you lay in bed and talk to your husband. BTW, magic eraser is what got it all off!

Do you have and know how to use a . . .

FIRE EXTINGUISHER? We do. I balked at the idea on having to get one for our home study approval when we moved to VA. IN doesn't require one.

Last night, I was making my first batch of homemade granola. I went to check on it during the first 10 minute baking segment and found flames in our oven! Steve reminded me to not open the door and see if it would go out on its own, but no such luck. I noticed quickly the cause.

I used one of those gladware baking dishes. Someone had given us lasagna in it when we brought Lily home from China. Well, my only guess is that they are supposed to be one-time use only as the entire pan had melted completely and everything was sitting on the oven floor. The temperature in the oven was only 325F, a reasonable temperature for the dish.

At that point, I told Stephen that I thought we needed to get the extinguisher out. The granola had olive oil in it and I knew from experience that water isn't a good idea when oil is involved.

My advice:
#1 - Get one
#2 - Figure out how to use it before you need to

P.A.S.S.: Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep.
Pull the safety pin from the handle.
Aim the extinguisher nozzle at the base of the fire.
Squeeze the handle to discharge the agent.
Sweep side to side approximately 6' from the fire.

I thought about taking pics while we were cleaning up, but it was after 11 pm and we were both tired! I made a small batch today and used only my metal pans. Very tasty!

Thanksgiving Flowers

Thank you Grandpa and Grandma Woof for the American Thanksgiving flowers!

Maria: SIx months in heaven

Just a friendly reminder to keep praying for the Chapman family. Tomorrow is the 6 month anniversary of "the accident" and of Maria Chapman's passing. They need our prayers every day, but ESPECIALLY tomorrow!

Jen

We're still here

My inital reaction was to say not much is going on here. But . . . The truth is I have been very busy. School (as in dealing with Kindergarten in a public school) is getting progressively harder for me. I am trying to show God's love, but when you have parents who refuse to medicate when it is NECESSARY and those who just don't care. It is hard to teach when various behaviors rear their lovely heads.

Lily is making some progress on the potty-training front. We have found that she likes nuts. SOrry Daddy, I guess she is taking after her mom on this one. I bought a can of mixed nuts and she gets to pick one every time she goes in the potty. This morning we were even late for church, because she was sitting on the potty trying to go #2. Well, it happened. It just took 10-15 minutes.

Gotta run. I want to get to bed early. If you can think of it, pray for all three of us this week. We didn't make connections this weekend. This is only the second time since Steve left for school. The last time, the week was long and hard. Lily is starting to ask to talk to Daddy on the phone more readily. We are looking forward to getting webcam set up after Thanksgiving.

More Lily Musings

"Daddy, sit" Do want Daddy to drive? "Yes" (we met at my school in Amherst so I could survey the "damage" from being out yesterday, so we had two cars there) Whose going to drive Daddy's car? Do you want Mommy to drive it? "Yes"

"Fruit, Look, Guys, I eat it."

"Seatbelt off"

"Mommy's house" upon returning home with daddy from mommy's school

"It's my turn" You want daddy to check you out? (with her Dr. bag) "Yes"

"I'll be right back. I got it!"

"Party Cake" upon finding her birthday candles in the kitchen drawer

These are mearly from the last two hours! There is SOOOO much more I can't keep track of it all.

The Potty

Bless her heart - she tried!

We were laying in bed and I asked Lily is she needed to go potty. She didn't really say anything, but stood up and told Cassie to "Stay here." She turned around and told me the exact same thing. I thought she was going to play, then I heard the distressed cry - "Mommy!"

Her potty is one of those all-in-one. It is a self-contained potty that sits on the floor (I was told that it is easier for them to learn to go #2 if their feet can rest on the ground) and you can remove the seat to put it on the big potty and then use the rest of the potty as a step stool.

Well, yesterday we tried sitting with the seat on the big potty and I hadn't changed it back. I followed the voice to the bathroom. She had proceeded to pull her jammies and her pull-up down, but could not climb up onto the big potty before she had an accident. I feel sure that if it had been on the ground she would have done the whole process (pulling down, potty, and pulling up) by herself.

Bible

I brought Lily into bed with me just after 6am to try and rest a little while longer. About 6:20, I thought I heard her leafing through my Bible. I turned over to look at her. She was laying on her stomach with her elbows on the bed and her chin propped up in her hands. She would "read" a little, say "bible," then turn the pages. All this transpired shortly before the "potty" incident mentioned above.

Her sitter also told me Thursday afternoon that she is very reverant and takes praying before meals very seriously!

Visit with Daddy

Trying to sit on the blanket while Daddy was folding it
"Trying on" Daddy's sweatshirt and pants


Almost there!

These are from last weekend. I was home sick yesterday, so I had time to upload some pics

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Adoption Day at Hess's Corn Maze

Bethany, our adoption agency, had an adoption fun day celebrating National Adoption Month last Sunday. It happened to be in Harrisonburg, so Lily napped at "Daddy's House" and then we stopped by for a couple hours. The weather was much nicer than last year. After Deanna, our social worker, tied the balloon to Lily I let her wander a bit as I could readily keep track of her. She played contentedly for quite some time until I saw her heading for the corn field. Now, it was a corn maze, but she didn't enter at the entrance. If you look closely at the picture of the field, you can see her balloon.

If I can get it uploaded, I will try to get some video posted.

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Thank you Cristie

Please read this post regarding orphans. http://martinemadness.blogspot.com/2008/10/reminder-of-gods-mercy.html I love Lily so much. I often take for granted that she hasn't always been a part of our family. Cristie also had a WONDERFUL post regarding the upcoming election that you should read if you have time. I have never met her, but we have a link that is so VERY strong. Our daughters spent 5 months living under the same roof in China! Maliah came home to her family just 7 months before Lily joined our family!

ps I took some wonderful pics this weekend in H-burg. I NEED some sleep or I would post them now!