We didn’t do anything special this weekend. It was just nice to have a couple of days at home. The girls played with Dora… or maybe DD played while Doodlebug observed. Some days are like that. DD doesn’t always invite DB to participate. I’m sure however, that if Doodlebug wanted Dora, she would have taken her. She’s learned to just take what she wants and hope that she can get by with it. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. LOL

I think the Desert Rats gave DD this doll on her first Christmas with us..2 yrs. ago. I’m surprised that we still have most of the pieces.

The girls and I made chocolate chip muffins and strawberry muffins Saturday morning. We ate them out on the patio while Daddy Darling slept in. His nights are pretty short during the week, so we thought we would give him a little break.

YUMMY!

Good pictures are sometimes hard to get. See what I mean. What could they both be looking at on different sides of the room????
Training for their summer jobs at the carwash?… Not really, just giving Daddy Darling a little help.

Clean up. Clean up, everybody everywhere.
Clean up. Clean up, everybody do their share.

(Barney song)

Doodlebug became Daddy D’s buddy this weekend. This is quite a change. He has waited for a long time for her to really warm up to him. This weekend she was Daddy’s Girl all the way!!!!

She even let Daddy style her hair!!!! I think we may be in trouble! LOL

Just Practicing!

Since the girls didn’t get to go to the park Monday, they’ve been practicing their skills in our backyard. I’m sure Doodlebug will be an expert on the slide and swings when she finally gets to go with the play group. I’m hoping that we get to go next Monday, but there's rain in our forecast, so who knows. We are really enjoying having this sweet little girl in our family. Her smile just adds an extra ray of sunshine to our lives. She gets so excited about the “little” things that we take for granted everyday. Although we’ve only had her a month, I can’t imagine life without her. She’s such a blessing!

A few days ago Doodlebug got really quiet, so I went to check on her…you know how it is.

This is what I found:

Well, at least someone is getting potty-trained! LOL Good job, George! Doodlebug is showing some interest in potty-training. She was actually successful the first time we tried, but I’m not pushing it right now. We’ve got too many other adjustments to make before I try to tackle the potty business. We're still working on what's yours, mine and ours with DD...but we're making progress.

The New Chic at Chick-Fil-A

The playgroup met at Chick-Fil-A today. We contemplated going to the park, but decided that there would be less ragweed at C-F-A (lol). The girls had a good time! Doodlebug actually ventured into the play area. SnowBunny and SpicyGirl were so helpful. They made sure that she knew how to get up to the top and encouraged her to slide down. When it was time to eat, they crawled up into the play area to get Doodlebug, so that I didn't have to. I was quite relieved...Not that I couldn't have climbed up there, but I am REALLY glad that I didn't have to. She’s still a novelty to them.
Doodlebug had a blast. I think she’s fitting in just fine!

After a great time with our friends, I thought DB would easily go down for an afternoon nap when we got home..no such luck. I put her down twice, but she was awakened both times by Brother Darling “accidentally.” So we just went outside and enjoyed the afternoon. Who needs to sleep anyway????? Life is so much fun with these girls!

THE STORY OF GOD'S "GRACE"

I mentioned in an earlier post that Nanny Darling gave DD a very special book called The Story of God’s “Grace.” What I didn’t mention is that the book was actually written by my cousin, William Boyd Chisum, who is also a great musician, singer, and songwriter. I wanted to get permission from him before posting anything due to copyright issues, although I didn’t think he would actually mind.
DD loves this book! It comes with a CD that sings the story to her. She loves to sing along with and follow the words in the book. She just knows that Boyd is singing about her!In this book, God’s grace is personified in the form of a little girl (Grace) who is ever- present and just waiting to be accepted. The book gives several examples of how God’s grace is sufficient in every circumstance. It even has an example about a little girl in an orphanage waiting for her Forever Family. I don’t think you will be able to read it without crying both tears of sorrow and joy!

This is the chorus/theme that is repeated several times throughout the book. (the part that DD loves to sing):

God’s Grace, God’s Grace
Each day I long to see
What life brings to me
And with each and every problem that comes my way
I will face it, I will embrace it
With God’s “Grace.”

It’s a great book. I know it can be purchased on Amazon.com You might also want to visit his website http://www.williamboydchisum.comto learn how God has worked in his personal life and about his other books/concerts/movie plans, etc.

Interestingly, he is in the process of writing another book at this time called, “Where Grace Meets Hope.” I could probably fill him in on this one…perhaps from a different angle entirely. LOL

Pachelbel Bedtime

A very special friend shared this video with me. It's hilarious, but soooo true. You're right, Jennifer. This says it all.LOL Thanks for sharing it with me.

THIS AND THAT and then SOME!

Can you tell by looking at their faces who’s enjoying the ride the most? I really think that Doodlebug will be our little daredevil when she finally gets adjusted, but right now, the riding mower is just not for her (although she really likes her hat and sunglasses.)

This sad picture is of the girls after being sent to bed against their will “more than once.” Desheng Darling is quietly looking through her books in her bed…albeit upside down in her bed. But Doodlebug is headed back to the toy box for more jewelry.

Looks like she’s got her loot and she’s headed back to bed…

Look at these beautiful quilts that Nanny Darling, Aunt Muh, and Aunt Sherry made for the girls. I can’t imagine them not wanting to go to bed and snuggle up under these beautiful quilts! Can you? I am so thankful for these gifts!!! Hours and hours of time were put into each one.

This one belongs to DD. Aunt Sherry digitized and appliquéd this design. She even embroidered this symbol on each corner.

It is gorgeous. The pictures don’t really do it justice.

This beautiful quilt was made for Doodlebug. Although you can’t see it in the picture, each fan has fine lace on the edges and beautiful butterflies worked into the quilting pattern. DB’s quilt was delivered this weekend when several of my family members came to meet Doodlebug. Of course, they brought all kinds of other gifts, too. (And we wonder why our girls are so spoiled?) LOL

Aunt Muh brought the girls some cheerleading costumes. DD doesn’t want to take hers off. She wanted to wear it to play group this morning at McD’s.

Aunt Sherry and Uncle Al also brought a bubble machine! What fun!!!

Nanny brought gifts and a special book for DD. It’s a wonderful book that I’ll post about when I can do it justice.

Today was Doodlebug’s first play date! She didn’t participate much while the girls were playing, but she enjoyed the eating part immensely. LOL She ate her meal, as well as, part of DD’s.

Her favorite part was dipping French fries into caramel sauce…surely that’s not a common Chinese dish! (The girls are wearing special Big and Little Sister shirts that Aunt Sherry made, but you can't see them in the picture. I'll try to post pix later.)

DOUBLE TROUBLE

I know this won’t seem so cute when DD and Doodlebug actually drive off together in a real car. I still remember the knot I had in my stomach when Sister and Brother Darling drove off together for the first time with Sister Darling driving. I can’t say that I feel a whole lot better about it even now. LOL But for today, I’ll just enjoy the little ones acting goofy and having fun. There will be plenty to worry about later on.

Silly, Silly, Silly!

Doodlebug Doings!

Playing a little “dress-up with Desheng Darling!”

Jammin’ Down with Brother Darling

Making new friends at midnight when she’s supposed to be sleeping. (We thought she was asleep until we heard the familiar “E-L-M-O” song coming from the hallway.)

LABOR DAY 2007

We’re beginning to get better adjusted to the time change. Doodlebug is doing very well.
She is feeling right at home. Here she is playing in the dog’s food…poor Annie.
Desheng Darling is trying to adjust. She has spent more time in the naughty chair over the past few days than I can ever remember. It must be hard for a princess to share her kingdom. I’m hoping they come to a royal understanding soon.

I trimmed Doodlebug’s bangs today. I’m going to have to wait awhile to really even them out. We’re just glad she has a little hair. Some of the babies had fresh haircuts…really fresh. Their mommies are going to have to wait for quite awhile before putting bows in.

The girls enjoyed watching the rain, but I think they would have enjoyed running out in it even more.
I started this post on Labor Day after the girls had gone to bed. Unfortunately, they both woke up around midnight and stayed up until almost 3:00 a.m, so the first and second sentences of this posting are bogus!

DOODLEBUG UPDATE

We had good intentions of getting up early this morning and getting back on schedule. I don’t know who we thought we were fooling. We slept ALL MORNING and then some! I guess we are still on China time.

We had a great day…what was left of it anyway. It is so funny watching the girls. Doodlebug studies DD very closely and tries to do whatever she does. Here are some pictures of them sticking tiles between their toes…Not exactly what we wanted DD to teach her, but I guess it could be worse. LOL Doodlebug actually gave Daddy Darling a hug and kiss after watching DD, so we’re making progress.

Aunt Sherry and Uncle Al gave DD this car when she was younger. They’ll be glad to know that it’s still running, getting very good gas mileage and lots of use. Doodlebug loves it! This is quite unfortunate for our walls and furniture. (BTW… she does own clothing, but we just hadn’t got around to it at the time of this photo)

No words necessary!!!

HOME...AT LAST

Wow, it feels so good to be at home! I won’t go as far as to say that the trip was enjoyable, but it was 100 times better than the last trip home from China. The girls were great. They slept for a large portion of the trip and watched the portable DVD player for quite awhile. Doodlebug really enjoyed a Chinese musical DVD. She was glued to the screen for about 30 minutes! I couldn’t have asked them to be any better. By the time we landed at our airport, we had been in the traveling mode for over 24 hours…either in flight or at an airport waiting to board, going through customs, immigration, etc. When we landed we were greeted by some personal friends, family, and friends from our play group. It was wonderful to see their familiar faces. They were so good to us. They had gifts for Desheng Darling and Doodlebug, delivered our car to the airport for us, and provided a wonderful meal for the weekend!!! Thank you! Thank you!!!!!

It was around 3:00 am when we finally got to bed. DD was still on China time and had difficulty falling asleep. When we got home she pulled out practically every toy that she owned. I guess she just missed having them in China. When we drove into our driveway, Doodlebug started clapping!!! It was so funny.

Doodlebug had a GREAT DAY! She was happy practically all day. She was such a joy!!!

Unfortunately, she had a very difficult time when we tried to put her in the car seat. Evidently, it triggered some sort of memory or fear in her. She screamed and cried until she was exhausted and fell asleep. When she awoke, she continued to be in the same fearful mood. I was afraid that we had undone all of the progress that we had made thus far. Later, she snapped out of it and began to laugh and play again, but it was a very serious time for her. I can’t help but think that it might have had something to do with her time in the orphanage. We received a few pictures of her that were taken before we got her. She appears to have white rags tied around her ankles. I’m not sure what they were for, but I think they may have been used to tie her to a chair. Has anyone else experienced similar problems with a car seat? Any suggestions? We sure don’t want to go through these meltdowns every time we decide to go somewhere! Help!