getting ready for cold

We are taking our first rest and recuperation trip (R&R) back to the States starting on December 29. We will be in MD/VA for three weeks, soaking up all our friends and family and everything we miss about home. I ordered a coat as well as hat and mittens for Addie so we'd have something right away when we get to DC. She tried them on last night and walked around in them for quite some time. I'm sure in her head it was equivalent to a costume. When we pealed her out of it she was unhappy. I guess better that then I can't get her to wear it when we get to the cold weather. The chilly winter on the East Coast is going to feel extra cold to us since the weather is still warm, muggy, and 80 degrees every day. I'm jealous to hear of the almost 2 feet of snow my folks in Washington are experiencing right now. I would love some snow right now, I'd even take sleat! Maybe I'd settle for a cool enough day where I could see my breath outside. East Coast winter, here we come.

Hokie Bird 2 is a...girl!

I promise we didn't cave! It was an accident that we found out the sex of the baby. We had the congenital scan on Saturday (ultrasound room slightly different than Fairfax Radiological...like 30 years difference). The doctor slipped and just started calling the baby "she" and "her" after he'd determined the gender. We never confirmed it with him just to leave a hint of a mystery (Justin was sure he was referring to the baby as one would refer to a ship). Then at home I pulled out the detailed results from the scan and plain as day beside "gender" was the word "female"! We both couldn't stop smiling at the scan. She (so strange to know Hokie Bird 2 is a she) is a healthy and active baby. Her arms were up by her face just like Addie and her profile looks just like her sister's at this stage. Everything is perfect and healthy. I couldn't be happier that Adelaide is going to go through life with a sister only 2 years younger than her. My sisters are my closest friends and I'm so happy that Addie will always have that in her life. Justin said he grew a few new gray hairs the moment he found out he was going to be a sucker for another woman in his life. He's completely thrilled to have another daughter since Addie melts his heart on a daily basis. Now we are just getting used to the idea that the baby is not going to arrive for another 20 weeks and we already know it's a GIRL! Crazy!

friends

We've had so much fun getting to know new friends here in Manila. We have a few good friends including adorable Stella pictured here with Addie. We try to see eachother once a week so the girls can play while Sunny and I can chat. They are expecting baby number two as well. Soon the play date will be a bit more crowded.

busy week

I started off my baking week enthusiastic and ended it exhausted. I'm not sure that spreading out the baking made it any easier. Let me just say, baking with a toddler (even with a yaya) is tough. I finished all my goodies and even tried a new one. It's the French lace cookie. They turned out OK but I think next year I'll use real butter not the shortening it called for. Now I'm packaging up the goodies as gifts. This plate of cookies is going downstairs to the building administrators office for all the employees at our building that keep us guarded, safe, comfortable, and happy in our condo.

This week we also had Justin's office holiday party which was on the 33rd floor of the Tower Club here in Makati. The view was spectacular and the venue super posh. I almost forgot we were in a third world country. I had a lovely time chatting with the three other pregnant wives in Justin's office. We claimed the few chairs in the room and sat there chatting about all sorts of ailments and our other kids. It was loads of fun.

Justin is off on a business trip so Addie and I are keeping busy at home and with friends. Here she is pretty in yellow ready for her play date with a new friend we made at the park.

Dinner time has been a battle for the past week or two with Addie. She'll sit down and take a look at her plate, maybe take a bite or two and demand to get up and play, even if she's hungry. I just let her go for a while but then forced her to stay seated even if she wasn't going to eat out of principle. Screaming fits ensued and every meal was a disaster. I always had cold food and indigestion later. So for the past two days I haven't given her any snacks between lunch and dinner. Success! Last night she sat and ate almost her entire plate of brown rice and chicken and vegetable stir fry. She was quiet and concentrating on using her fork and drank her milk. It was so peaceful. I was so proud of her she got a cookie for dessert. I think I'm on to something with the no snack rule.

Christmas spirit

Today started off our week of Christmas baking. I have to admit, it is lovely to spread out the baking since I am not working this year. In past years I scramble on a Saturday to do everything. All my cookie recipes are my Mother's. We've been baking the same cookies every Christmas since I was a little girl. There has never been a need to search out new Christmas cookie recipes because these are honest-to-God, the best selection you will ever find. I started out with the Spritz cookies, impressing my helper with my old fashioned cookie press (discovered at an estate sale no doubt by my folks). It's in the original box with the paperwork. The receipt inside states that the original owner paid $3.50 for it new! Too cute. I'm not sure what year it was made but on the side of the box it says that it was approved by the Good Housekeeping Institute in 1920.

Anyhow, I got a little off-track. Addie helped with the maraschino cherries and the green sprinkles. She favored the Christmas trees once they were out of the oven. We listened to Christmas music and burned a mistletoe candle while baking. I was grinning just from the happy feelings making these cookies gives me. It's even nicer that now I have a daughter to pass on the tradition to. From her avid interest in the mixer and ingredients, she will most likely prove to be a very good student. She's already figured out that when the mixer is off she can sneak her finger on the edge for a taste. Smart girl.

The cookies turned out pretty like every other year. On to the next cookie tomorrow.

Party #2

Today was a day for Addie (as if all our days aren't really devoted to her). After our breakfast with Santa we came home and after a nap and lunch had some serious Duplo building time. We built a castle and a huge tower. Justin and I were more excited about it than Addie. Duplos are our favorite new toy! Then it was on to party number 2 at the British School Manila for the Mothers and Darlings group we belong to. We made some Christmas crafts, watched the kids on the bouncy castle (Addie was fascinated but too scared to get in herself), ate yummy snacks, watched a bubble show, and a really cool acrobatic routine.

More than any of these things Addie loved the huge gymnastics mat in the middle of the gym. She wandered over on her own and started dancing to the music. Soon enough other kids were joining her. She wore herself completely out and was asleep on the car ride home. She rarely does this and always wakes up when we bring her inside. Tonight she was so tired she stayed asleep and we had to finally wake her up for dinner. It was a fun filled day.

Breakfast with Santa

This morning we had a special pancake breakfast with Santa Claus. Addie started crying and grabbing Justin's leg immediately when Santa walked in the door. She adamantly said she didn't want to sit on his lap but as we waited in line the idea didn't seem as horrible to her. When it was our turn she wasn't happy about it and squirmed through a few photos. I also took a great photo of her grumpy "I'm a stubborn independent toddler" face. Along with one of her sweet angelic face.