Purl asks...

Purl asked...

How about your first day with Buttons (both in China and back home)? Wow, that's a whole post in itself for sure. I'm working on that post. What a great question.

A day in your life? No day seems typical, but most days go a little something like this... Usually I wake up with a swift kick from Buttons who has joined our bed sometime between 2am or 7am. There is a shuffling to get ready, Hubby for work and Buttons for school, playgroup or storytime at the library. I'm in heaven if I get a 3 minute shower and am thankful that my leg hair is blonde and grows very slowly. (Hubby often skips a shower so I can get mine.) I usually skip breakfast (I know, I know) and after Buttons has her fill we hurriedly rush out the door for one of the above events.

If Buttons is in school I go shopping, work out or stay home and do housework (or blog) and then pick her up 2 hours later. We sometimes meet friends for lunch or come home, eat lunch, play a little and then it's nap time. I try to do phone calls, computer and housework during this time, but she often wakes up after a short time still needing more sleep and I take her to our bed for a little snuggle and rest. We usually watch a little something after her nap and most of the time the request is for a cooking show.

I'd like to say I make a fabulous dinner every night, but most of the time it's leftovers or I wing it by putting together quick chicken or tofu dishes with a steamed veggie and rice. Hubby comes home and often puts together the meal as well and we eat. Buttons likes a leisurely pace for meals, so they can last a long time before we're ready for little play time which could consist of reading, dancing, or playing a game.

Hubby gives Buttons a bath while I do dishes or catch up on e-mail. We take turns doing the Bedtime Routine. Yes, capitals are important here since Buttons has an elaborate routine that is epic in scale and quite dramatic. That's a whole other post. No, really it is.

I enjoy tucking Buttons in and I look forward to seeing her in the morning, but I do enjoy the quietness once she's finally sawing wood. My best intentions are to do a monster of the house, but I almost always sink into the couch with knitting and a remote. Sometimes I'm even too tired to knit. Gasp! I'm also a little addicted to the computer game "The Sims" so sometimes I play on that a bit. Hubby will sometimes watch TV with me, but he has his own addiction as well. I often fall asleep on the sofa and Hubby drags me up to bed. I sleep and then it begins again.

Favorite books? I haven't had much concentration for books lately, so I'm feeling rather dry in that area. I did read "Wanting a Daughter, Needing a Son" and I recommend it for anyone who is interested in adopting a child from China or anyone who wants to understand more about it. After reading this book, I felt armed with information to answer some of the really difficult questions about the abandonment of children in China. I have more favorite books, but right now Buttons is up from her nap...

Happy Moon Festival!

The Moon Festival is a very important holiday in China. It's a celebration that includes the story of a goddess named Chang'e who traveled to the moon and lives there still. Since the moon is a very important part of Chinese culture where their calender is based on the lunar cycles, she is an important figure.

The Moon Festival (or Mid Autumn Festival) is very similar to Thanksgiving in the U.S. as Both holidays revolve around family reunions, food and tradition. Mooncakes (see picture) are eaten with family in the evening outside while watching the moon. If there is family that cannot make the reunion, there is comfort in knowing that on that evening you are looking at the same moon as your loved ones far away. So, tonight when we eat our mooncakes at a local park, I'll look at the moon and think of Buttons' birthparents. Surely they'll be thinking of her and wondering if she is looking at the very same moon. I wish peace for them and I would love to tell them what a wonderful child she is and how lucky we are to be raising her. When I put her to bed, we have a new ritual of giving thanks and I love hearing what she's thankful for which included kitty cats, curtains and her uncle last night. I'm sorry her birth-mom and birth-dad are not able to know these wonderful things about her, but I am selfish enough to be thankful she is with us. On other nights we have both spoken our thanks for the moon. Tonight I will give thanks to the moon and its connection to the people who brought Buttons into the world.

I am also thankful for Buttons' teachers, one of which asked if we celebrated any Chinese holidays and if so, would I mind giving her some ideas for crafts to go along with them. Yeah, what a great teacher, huh? So, I made 16 paper lanterns for her class since bright lanterns are a big part of the festival. Gosh, kids are fun. Don't forget to check out the moon tonight!