One day off...

**To my friends out in blogland ~ thank you for your comments, emails and phone calls regarding my previous post. I was scared to put my feelings out there, but the confirmation that I'm not alone in what I felt made me glad that I did! There's strength in numbers, and in being prayed for when you are down!**

So following the "breakthrough" in my thinking pattern, I decided that yesterday would be a day off from the chaos. I quietly puttered around the house, actually enjoying the organizing for a change, UNTIL Kylie woke up. From then on it was a day for the two of us to celebrate being mommy and daughter. She was dry when she woke up and I offered her a treat if she went pee-pee on the potty. She did, so when she asked for one of the brownies left over from dinner that Glenda brought us Monday night I figured, "Brownies for breakfast, well, why not?" and I joined her in the little secret. We had our sweets and then she wanted to talk when "Dahma" called, and it is too cute not to share...

After she got off the phone we sat and colored together for a while, worked on puzzles, and watched the Beach Day episode of Kai Lan (I think I know all the words to that one now...). Shortly after that Shannon called and said that since it was such a beautiful day that she was going to take Lottie to the park that is walking distance from our house. Kylie and I quickly got out of our pajamas (all good lounge days involve being in pajamas super late!) and joined them for a quick play date.


The girls climbed, slid, and giggled for about 30 minutes while Shannon and I discussed packing for my upcoming trip to China. From the playground, Kylie and I headed home for "funny sandwiches" (turkey and cheese on mini whole grain bagels) and then nap time. I sorted through some of Caleb's clothes, got the pork chops ready to put into the oven for dinner later, and typed a few emails during the first part of her nap. After only an hour she awakened and I then she and I snuggled (and both slept) on the couch for another hour.

Following nap time we took "a nih-ce wok" around the block in our neighborhood. I hate that I didn't get a good shot of Kylie holding Maya's leash, but please do notice the accessories she insisted on taking with her. Yes, both purses are STUFFED with treasures ~ I suppose you never know what you may need on the sidewalk these days. Oh, and she picked the shoes...

After our walk we still had about 30 minutes before I expected Ian to be home, so we got out the bubbles and went out back. Kylie had a grand time blowing bubbles for me to pop and then popping bubbles that I blew for her! We tossed a tennis ball for Maya and sang all of her favorite "Bible school" ~ what she calls her Sunday School class ~ and "Pee-cool" songs.

Maya's favorite place to be these days is within touching distance of Kylie. She has even given up sleeping on the floor on Ian's side of the bed in our room to sleep right beside Kylie's trundle. The devotion of dog to child is so sweet and I just had to share!

And as much fun as she and I had together, the topper at the end of the day was her scrambling off the hardwood floor (kinda cartoon like as she was having a hard time getting her footing) to go running to Ian yelling, "My daddy, my daddy!" when she heard the door open and Ian yell, "Where's my girl?" It's been hard to leave, but being back together as a family in the evenings has been worth it! She's stuck to her daddy like glue and is even willing to do the dishes with him instead of playing in the living room with me ~ wonder how long dishes with daddy will win out...

It's different, but yeah, I'll have to say ~ Life is good!

And now it's back to packing ~ reality is setting in! We'll be about to land in Beijing this time next week!!!! Caleb Lu Tao, here we come!