Playing Catch Up

I feel like I'm behind on everything lately.  This China gig has really cramped my extra curricular time!  I need to play catch up with everything.  I have been thinking about what I need to get done.  I've decided to make a list and post it so that way when my mom reads my blog, she can annoy ask me continually if I have completed my tasks.  So I made this "todos" list.  (Ironically, "to do" combined is todo - which means "all" in Spanish.   I'm soooo gonna lose my Spanish in Beijing).  Anyways, here's my all-I've-gotta-do list:

Now some of these things might seem silly.  Like, "go to the salon".  But actually - when you live kinda like a single mom with hubs gone a lot and no family around, taking a few hours to go somewhere and do something for yourself seems like a wasteful, selfish thing to do.  I looked at my calendar and it's been over 4 months since I had a cut or color.  Time to go.  And it's REALLY time to update the blog - the Christmas trees need to be put up in their digital box for the year.

Gotta go.... I've been loving this 60-degree weather but it's REALLY messed up my allergies.  Time to rest and get ready to catch up.

Oh... one more thing on my list I forgot to put.

6. Get Veronica's 3-month photos taken

Nana & Grampy... final visit???

Nana and Grampy came to visit last week!  It was an amazing visit.  Nana came to visit a few days before Grampy.  She brought along with her an entire wardrobe for the girls to get through next winter.  We feel so blessed!  I had so much fun cutting off tags and packing it up into their new Disney suitcases (what a steal.... $39 for HUGE suitcases from TJ - originally $200).  We found some other great deals at the mall when we went shopping one afternoon.  You can really save some money buying all off-season clothes!  It's been a struggle for us - we need to try to buy the girls all their clothes for the next year and a half or so.  Mainly because the quality/availability of clothing in China is nowhere near that of the States.  Also, our girls have never really had a "real" winter.  They have never had to have warm, puffy winter coats because a simple warm sweater or light-weight jacket has always been enough.  Since China is VERY cold (I'm talking single digits and negative temps a lot of the winter days - and YES... it does snow!), they are were in desperate need of some things.

While Nana and I were busy shopping, the boys were busy fixing things around the house.  They painted, fixed doors, patched holes, fixed lights.... ALL kinds of odds and ends that a real estate inspector will be looking at when they come to assess the house.  I'm sure we will have a dozen more things to fix, but it was a great start.  

While Nana was there, I got to have a mommy-daughter date with my eldest, Bianca Dee.  We went to one of her favorite places, the Georgia Aquarium.  She loved it, as usual.  It was nice to have just me & B time.

After the aquarium we had a fun lunch together.

And while we were busy having mommy-daughter time, somebody else was left at home to have precious Nana-Vivi time.

Bianca LOVES her grampy.  He's a lotta rough fun.  And he also reads a nice Snowman story at night.

Come on, Nana... show us your skills.

Bianca loves her soccer ball.  Show Nana how to kick that ball!

Grampy knows how to kick the ball higher than the tree.

She'll wear you out.

Then we had to take the grandparents to Varsity.  I couldn't believe we had never taken them before.  

She got her own ice cream.  We had to cut her off.  Like her mommy, she didn't want to share ice cream.  Who does???

And when in Rome... 

When at Varsity, wear the hat.  hahahahaha....

It was a bittersweet visit.  We aren't really sure if it will be their last or not, but there's good chance it was.  We really enjoyed their company.  There's nothing like a nice visit from your parents to really help out.  We can't tell you how much we appreciated it.  Thanks again and we will see ya soon.... probably in Illinois!

Beijing, baby!

We have BIG news in the Cisel household.

We are moving.

Oh, but not just your regular, domestic-lower-48-states, English-speaking move.  OH, no.  We are really moving.  Like across the world.

Beijing, baby!

Derek was offered a wonderful opportunity for a promotion in Beijing, China.  After careful thinking and consideration, we have decided to take it.  

We just can't wait.  At first we were a bit nervous, hesitant maybe..... but now we're rearing to go!  We can't wait to start our lives in a new land with new ways of life.  We are blessed and thrilled!  We should be there for 2-3 years.  Derek hopes to be moved there in April.


I'm working on making a new blog to document everything about our experiences in Beijing, from our acceptance of moving to our daily lives.  It will be a different blog than this - I want to keep this blog mainly for updates about the kiddos.  In the meantime, visit my new friend's blog, Katharine.  She has been living in China for over a year now.  She is actually from Atlanta, Georgia (maybe the world isn't so small, afterall!), and has great insight about what life is really like over there.  Her latest blog post actually features a bunch'a questions I emailed her.  Check it out.  Pretty soon I hope to have my Beijing blog up and running, but it's a work in progress.  (we're a little busy here now!)

2 Months

Having a baby is surreal.  It seems from the moment they enter our world, we are transformed into new people.  They create new ways of living, thinking, and performing your "normal" everyday tasks.  Suddenly, life becomes not, "What am I going to do today?", but instead, "What are we going to do today?"  Really, it's "What am I going to do for you today?"  From the moment I wake up (which is still several times at night!) to right before I go to bed, I constantly have my babies on my mind.  How can I instill good values, how to make them behave well-mannered, what fun things can I plan, how to keep them safe and healthy..... the list goes on.

Having two babies just simply doubles your love, it does not divide it.  I find myself falling more in love with Veronica every time I look at her.  She has only been with us for 2 months, but I honestly feel like I don't remember life without her.  She is so special.  So beautiful.  So alive.  I cannot thank God enough for blessing us with this little person.  I feel complete.  I feel blessed.

Two months!  We certainly have learned a lot about Miss Vivi in the last 2 months.  Here's a few things:

She Loves
"talking" to people
being held
watching big sissy
eating
tickled under the chin
baby flashcards
warm baths
spreading out
sucking her thumb

She Does NOT Love
being fastened into the carseat
swaddling
sleeping at night:)
bottles, especially if the temp is not perfect
getting nails trimmed
Bumbo seat and tummy time - too much work:)

Yes, if you notice.... sucking thumb was listed.  It seems our Veronica is following Sissy footsteps, unfortunately.  She will actually take her hand, push out the pacifier, and stick her thumb in her mouth.  Pretty smart, I guess.  Daddy, start saving for braces!

At her 2-month appointment today, she got 4 shots.  Yikes!  I felt so bad for her.  She also was measured to make sure she's growing well.  She is!  Healthy as can be.  Here's her stats:
Height: 23 1/4 inches (80%)
Weight: 12 lb, 14 ounces (80%)
Head: 38 cm (30%)
She has her father's little "pea"-head, obviously.


Dr. Mekelburg said it's not good that she is not sleeping more than a few hours at night, so she thinks the reflux is probably still not under control.  She is recommending we try a new medicine to see if it helps.  I also fed Bianca at the appointment and she could still hear the reflux take place, so we are going to try a medication to help with it.  Maybe this momma will get some sleep.  Here's hoping!  But overall, everything was P-E-R-F-E-C-T!  We'll see the doctor again in 2 months.

Soccer Tots

(2 blogs already in 1 week.... and it's only Tuesday.  I'm back, people!)

Since we ended our Gymboree membership, we decided we needed to do something else so Bianca could release some of her energy.  Our neighbors, the Counts, said their son was going to start playing soccer next month.  Bianca really loves playing soccer, so we looked into it and signed her up to play.  Soccer Tots is an awesome program for kiddos.  It teaches great coordination, listening, and comprehension skills.  Little Miss Bianca was the only Belle of the class, but she made herself known (of course).  She and daddy had a great time.   

(these pics are not so great - I'm standing in a viewing room behind glass)

Coach Alex showing Daddy and Bianca how to hold the ball

Daddy is really loving this.

Show those boys how it's done!  (notice all the proud papas)

B likes to carry the ball - we have to remind her to "kick it".  I'm sure Mia Hamm had this same issue at 2 years.

My favorite pic of all - stretching with Daddy.  This wasn't new to B, she does it with daddy after his runs.

On another note, I've been digging in deep to a devotional my dear mother-in-law gave me for Christmas:

I want to share a passage I read the other day.  It starts with Philippians 3:13-14: Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  
STAY IN THE RACE
      In 1952, Florence Chadwick attempted to swim the chilly ocean waters between Catalina Island and the California shore.  She swam through foggy weather and choppy seas for fifteen hours.  Her muscles began to cramp, and her resolve weakened.  She begged to be taken out of the water, but her mother, riding in a boat alongside, urged her not to give up.  She kept trying but grew exhausted and stopped swimming.  Aides lifted her out of the water and into the boat.  They paddled a few more minutes, the mist broke, and she discovered that the shore was less than a half mile away.  "All I could see was the fog, " she explained at a news conference.  "I think if I could have seen the shore, I would have made it."
     Take a long look at the shore that awaits you.  Don't be fooled by the fog of the slump.  The finish may be only strokes away.  God may be, at this moment, lifting his hand to signal Gabriel to grab the trumpet.  Angels may be assembling, saints gathering, demons trembling.  Stay at it!  Stay in the water.  Stay in the race.  Stay in the fight.
     Give grace, one more time. Be generous, one more time.  Teach one more class, encourage one more soul, swim one more stroke.

I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.
Isaiah 46:4

He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.
Proverbs 10:5

Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9

January Happenings

Here I am, late doing another post.  Oops.  Time is getting away from me.  We've had a lot happening in our lives lately.  I'll try to share some of it in this post and then share some more with you in more posts to come later this week.

We've been visiting dinosaurs.

We took a trip to the Fernbank Museum of Natural History.  For those of you Real Housewives of Atlanta fans... it's the place where Cynthia was married last year on TV.  Wow, huh?  Anyways, for those of you not-up-to-speed with that show, just know it's a really cool place for kiddos, too.

you can plan atop of trees

or climb really cool bridges

 or dig up fossils

or attempt to hide from daddy

Bianca really loved the museum and we are glad we finally went.  My friends, the Dearies, had asked us to go some time back, but I had to wait because Bianca was afraid of dinosaurs for a while.  Not now... she digs 'em.

daddy on baby duty

the museum was pretty boring to others

dinosaurs are tiring.

I'm also busy (not) trying to lose this baby weight.  It seems like it's just not coming off as fast as it did last time.  But then my "dear" friends, The Dearies, sent me this cookie bouquet and sabotaged my weight loss.  It really was the highlight of my week... maybe month... getting this amazing bouquet.  

so thoughtful.... so sinful!

This next pic is very blurry, but it was taken on my iphone and I was trying not to laugh as I disciplined. This is what Bianca did one day during her nap.   She emptied out all her drawers and slept on her clothes.  Why???  I don't know.

this was what I found one day after naptime

Veronica is really growing.  She seems so big to me already.  She may be growing, but she is not sleeping.  She still wakes all night long every 1.5-3 hours.  Usually it's 2-3 feedings a night.  I keep telling myself she's in a growth spurt and that's why.....

she just looks so cute and innocent - how could I be upset?  I love seeing that face, even at 11pm, then again at 1am, again at 3am, and again at 5am

And she seems to have inherited the famous Schaub lashes.  And thumb.  Here's a pic of both.

Last night we had the nicest dinner in a long time.  We went out for pizza.  There was a live band playing right in front of our table.  Bianca loved dancing and clapping.  Then, a police officer came into the building and gave Bianca a "police badge sticker."  She was flirting with him and teasing the entire time he was there.  You can see him in the background of this pic and you can see her badge of flirting.

Last weeks' accomplishment: Veronica in Bumbo chair!  She loves the chair.  Bianca gets a little upset when she sees her in it - she thinks it's still hers.  Funny story: Last night when we had the green Bumbo downstairs, Bianca said, "That's My Chair!"  Then she went and dragged the green potty seat from the bathroom and said, "This is Sissy's Chair!"  Break it down: Bianca wants the Bumbo and feels Sissy can deal with the Potty seat.  I don't think so, sister!

I'll leave you with a smile.

My Atlanta Parents

A few weeks ago I thought I might not make it.  Honestly - it was bad.  Veronica was sick, I had blocked milk ducts, and Bianca was not sleeping, either.  Toss in a husband trying to get end-of-the-year work done and you have a tired, stressed out momma.

To the rescue came my adoptive parents, Fred and Mary.  Now, nobody could replace our natural parents.... but Fred and Mary are good subs when your own parents are states away.  It is so hard when your parents aren't just a car ride away.  Fred is a doctor I work with in the ER.  He is quite unlike any other person you have ever met.  Work is never boring when Fred is there.  Mary is his loving wife.  We meet for lunches and chat/email whenever we can.  They are simply amazing people who have been the greatest supporters you can imagine.

So when Mary and I had been texting and she heard the desperation in my words... they acted.  They brought us dinner, fresh fruit, toys for Bianca, a cookbook for me, and cookies I'm still trying to work off.  It was amazing.  And what was just as good was a pleasant visit from them both.  They offered to sit and watch the baby while I ran errands.  I wanted to sit and chat instead.  Mary said, "If you trust us with her, of course."  Who better than an ER doctor and a nurse to watch a baby???  Not to mention.....

I'd trust them more than they'll ever know.

Thank you, Fred and Mary, for being there for us!  We so appreciate it.