Chinese New Year 2011 (1 of 3)

I have to preface this post a bit. We've been talking a lot about Chinese New Year at home with Hannah over the past two weeks. I got out her Chinese New Year books and we've been reading them. This one titled "Lucky New Year" by Mary-Man Kong is the best of them all because it's a pop up book with all sorts of fun things to play with inside. You get to sweep the house, eat with the family and peek inside their pots to see what's for dinner, and there's a big dragon pop up. Fun fun! We also tried on Hannah's Chinese outfits to see what fits. We're attending three parties again this year, and Hannah has three outfits that fit. Perfect! While in Florida after Christmas we bought some Chinese New Year candies and brought them back home to bring to our special events.

Hannah has quite a sweet tooth, and has been looking at the Chinese New Year candy longingly. She knows that we couldn't open it until we go to a Chinese New Year party. She started pointing at the golden rabbit candy container and remarking, "That's Chinese." "Yes, Hannah. That is Chinese. Isn't that a pretty shiny golden rabbit?" A few days later while playing play-doh with Grandma, Hannah remarked, "I Chinese." Grandma called us in to come talk to her about that. Hannah and I had a little conversation about that. I told her that "You're Chinese Taiwanese Hakka American and beautiful on the inside and the outside." I don't know much of this she understands now... but we'll keep having this conversation and see where it goes.

Tonight was our first of three Chinese New Year parties. This party is with a group of Taiwan and China adoptive families. The families all have littles that are all around Hannah's age, and they are all fantastic people. I just wish we lived a little closer so we could see them more frequently.




Of course, Hannah was very pleased to break out the Chinese New Year candies. The photo below is my favorite one from the evening. Those little three year old beauties were very excited about the candy in the golden rabbit!



The kids made dragon masks and had Chinese New Year coloring pages. Families brought toys such as a little kitchen, play food, mega blocks, and some cars to play with as well.

I got to hold a three week old preemie baby girl that only weighted about five and a half pounds. I don't think I've ever held a baby that small before. It's so hard for me to imagine Hannah being that little. Her eyes were open the whole time I held her and talked to her.

If you're looking for recipes to take to Chinese New Year parties, here's links to what I made. I made almond jelly with fruit cocktail and mandarin orange broccoli salad. The almond jelly tastes just like the ingredients: gelatin, whole milk, sugar, and almond flavoring. It's very cool and smooth and would be good with any kind of fruit. I used twice as much almond flavoring, a little less sugar, and one cup less water to make the gelatin a thicker consistency so I could cube it more easily. The comments on the recipe suggested the alternations I made. The mandarin orange broccoli salad went over really well and I didn't come back home with many leftovers.

Taiwan R.O.C.ks

Calling all Taiwan adoptive families! If you haven't yet heard... you're invited to the first annual Taiwan R.O.C.ks adoptive family reunion August 12-14, 2011, at the Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine, Texas.

Doesn't this look like fun? We're going!

I ♥ this girl!

Yes, I'm very glad to have my girl back. It was pretty lonely all at home by myself without even the dog to keep me company. Kevin had carpel tunnel surgery yesterday and is going great at home. Grandma is here to help take care of everyone while Daddy can't pick anything up with his right dominant hand. I shopped way too much online while home alone. My favorite outfit, a second hand Matilda Jane peasant shirt and ruffles, arrived for Hannah today and she asked Mommy to "take pitch-ures." Mama was very happy to get out her dusty camera for this request!

Hannah turns three on Saturday. We plan on celebrating with a little family party at home.

Hannah is really enjoying having Grandma here. Grandma is sleeping in her room, and it is like a slumber party every night! :)

Redirect: Taiwanese American Youths Voice Taiwan’s Right to Self-Determination During Hu Jintao’s Visit

Chinese President Hu Jintao's arrived in the United States today for talks with President Obama and White House staff. Several delicate issues will be on the table for discussion. Taiwanese-American youths activists have planned demonstrations in Washington D.C., Boston, New York and San Francisco to voice security concerns in the Taiwan Strait and urge China to respect Taiwan’s right to international participation.

Redirect: Why I love my strict Chinese mom

The teenager at the center of NYC’s hottest controversy "Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior" speaks out in defense of her mother here with the New York Post.

Redirect: Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior

This Wall Street Journal Article titled "Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior" by Amy Chua, professor at Yale Law School, is getting a lot of press and THOUSANDS of comments on the WSJ web site. I don't want to discuss it here, but it's an interesting read... and has provoked even more interesting comments.

Link to Tonggu Momma's thoughts on this article. She links to other Asian American blogs on the subject.

Redirect: Debunking the Skinny Myth

Hat tip to my friend Judy on her post, Debunking the Skinny Myth, on weight loss and body image among Asian American women. Make sure you eventually get back to reading or listening to Lisa Lee's NPR interview on Asian Americans And The Quest For Thin.

the story of Dolly

I've known Dolly before I knew of my daughter. Dolly arrived at my door when I was feeling very sad. Months of waiting for Hannah's referral drug on... and on... and on. Janalee sent me a care package with presents for the unknown child that would become my daugher, and a few things for me as well. One of the items was a Carter's soft doll in a pink dress.

When my wish came true and we were matched with Hannah, Janalee sent me the most beautiful adoption book I've ever read titled "I Wished for You" by Marianne Richmond.

While waiting to be approved to adopt Hannah, we shipped the doll off to Hannah in her first care package from us. We bought a duplicate of the doll and kept her here at home, just in case we didn't get make it's way back from Taiwan with our daughter. {Yes, the doll traveled to Taiwan in a food saver bag!}

Unfortunately, the doll that was sent to Hannah in Taiwan never made it back to us. I figured that's what would happen.

Now days, our two year old has affectionately named this doll "Dolly." Dolly is the only doll of Hannah's that has a name. Dolly sleeps with Hannah every night, and is the only doll or stuffed animal that is allowed by Hannah in bed with her when she sleeps. Hannah is ritualistic about bed time. She requires "new water," a freshly cleaned sippy cup with fresh tap water, "two bank-ets" which are flannel receiving blankets, and "Dolly." Dolly is often tucked under her arm when she sleeps.

Hannah cries when Dolly is in the washer, so we have to launder her in secrecy. When Kevin and I don't see Dolly in Hannah's bedroom at night time, Hannah always knows where she is. She'll run and find where she put Dolly every time, even under blankets at the foot of Mommy and Daddy's bed! Gotta keep tabs on Dolly.

Dolly travels with us as well, usually in a ladybug backpack given to us by another Taiwan adoptive mama, KB. Hannah calls her backpack "pack pack."

Makes me wonder if Dolly spent time in Hannah's crib in Taiwan. I'd like to think so. :)

2010 in review

I'm so behind with blogging. December only contained four little posts, the smallest number of post ever on this blog since it's creation. With Christmas activities, work, a kid that wants to sit on my lap and look at the Toys R Us web site or watch Max and Ruby videos every time she sees me sit down at the computer, and Facebook that is so quick and easy in comparison with hour long blog post creations, no wonder I haven't written much here.

Kevin and Hannah are still in FL with his family, and I've come home to go back to work. Surely I'll have some time to play catch-up this week with posts on Christmas and our two year Hannahversary day. Wow, two years ago today we were welcomed home from Taiwan by a village of people at the airport. I'm pretty sure that was the first time I'd ever felt the "I'm so tired I think I'm going to die" tired.

Tonight I'm writing Hannah's yearly update that our adoption agency will forward to the baby home where Hannah lived in Taiwan. It's always bittersweet to write this letter and go through a year's worth of photos. So many fun times, squeals of laughter, and silly little things that she's done. It also brings my adoption guilt back to the surface. My daughter and her first mother are the ones that are or will be experiencing all of the losses because of the adoption. Adoptive parents gain everything. I purposely don't talk about it much openly, but I feel a deep connection to or empathy with my daughter's first mother, thinking about her often, wondering what she thinks about when she thinks about our daughter. I wonder if she'll ever read the translated letters I write or view all of the photos that I spend hours carefully selecting for her. I'm blessed to have a great support group of other adoptive mamas to talk to privately about this kind of stuff. I wonder if my daughter's first mother has anyone to talk to about this stuff. I hope so.

The house is eerily quiet without the sound of Kevin's racing cars on the Playstation, the jingle jingle of tags on Sedona's dog collar, and a little voice requesting apple juice in a Tinkerbelle cup with no lid.

Christmas humor

Kevin was suggesting another Christmas present for Hannah, and then claimed an injury.
Yes, he's like this all of the time. I live with this humor.

holiday fun at Allie's house

Friday morning we traveled to Lora and Allie's house for a play date for the "Taiwanese sisters." Hannah was ready to play dress up, heading right for the toy box. Hannah pulled out an Ariel dress up gown, Allie pulled on a Cinderella gown, and the fun began! Hannah found Allie's Ariel umbrella and carried it around half the time we were there exclaiming, "It's raining!" with her little sweet voice. After dress up Lora gave the girls presents to open. They both opened matching aprons to get ready for some Christmas cookie decorating. Lora's one smart mama, thinking ahead to place a drop cloth under the toddler table. Hannah put as many sprinkles in her mouth as she did on her cookies, and what didn't stick to the cookies ended up all over the floor.

I left my camera at home (boo hoo!) and just have a few shots from my phone, but Lora has a few photos up on her blog, including the lovely shots of my daughter shoving sprinkles into her mouth. Heehee!


After lunch the girls settled down for a little bit, sweetly sitting together behind a chair, both playing with little computers. They were so quiet, you'd think they were up to something!

Thanks for the lovely time once again, Miss Lora!

sky lantern release scene from "Tangled"

I heart this scene! I could watch it over and over... oh wait, I have watched it over and over! :)

thee years of visiting Santa

Christmas 2008 - Tainan, Taiwan


Christmas 2009 - Indiana, USA


Christmas 2010 - Indiana, USA
Photos say a lot, don't they? :)

We started talking about Santa and reading Christmas themed books this week. We'll break out the Little People nativity to play with this weekend as well. Santa sent Hannah a video message on the computer this week to remind her that she needs to keep working on her pleases and thank yous. She got really excited when Santa said her name and had photos of her in his book of good little girls and boys!

We made a trip to visit Santa tonight at the mall. Once again, Hannah was not going to sit on Santa's lap all by herself, but she agreed to sit on Daddy's lap while talking with Santa. She didn't seem scared of him, but she was much more interested wanting to ride the carousel down the hall than in taking to his bearded guy. I think she understands that Santa brings presents, but doesn't quite get the gist that it would be a good idea to tell Santa what she would like him to bring to her.

first movie

We took Hannah to her first movie tonight. I'd been interested in seeing "Tangled" but wondered about how long Hannah could sit in a darkened movie theater. After calculating that she's the same age I was when I saw my first movie in a movie theater {The Muppet Movie (1979)} and watching several YouTube clips of "Tangled," I decided we should give it a try.


I'm so proud of my big girl! She sat between us, sharing popcorn and Sprite nicely. Hannah even held her Daddy's hand for part of the movie. She alternated between sitting down and sitting on her knees. She only shouted out once with a shout out to Mickey Mouse during the opening credits. When Daddy broke out the M&Ms, Hannah kept asking me, "Is it yellow? Is this an orange one?" while looking at her M&Ms in the dark. At home, she has to say the name of the color of the M&M before she gets one. Works wonders on learning color words! Telling me the color of the M&M is the equivalent of asking permission to eat it. It was so hard not to giggle while explaining to Hannah, "I can't see the color in the dark. It's okay. You can go ahead and eat it." During some dark scenes toward the end she needed to sit on my lap, and that was fine. Towards the end she stood on her seat, and that's okay since her head barely reaches the top of the tall movie theater seat.

When the movie was over we asked if she liked the movie. Hannah replied, "I come back. Come back and see a new movie," over and over again. She calls the movie "Princess with Long Hair" and notes that the "Horse likes eat apples." She didn't want to go to bed when we got home tonight. I told her that she needed to go to bed and be good so she could go back and see more movies later. She scampered up into bed pretty quickly after that!


It was really touching to me that Rapunzel was drawn homeward by sky lanterns. I loved the sky lantern scene at the end so much!!! Makes me want to be in Taiwan for the release of a whole bunch of sky lanterns so badly. I wonder if sky lanterns will gain popularity in the US because of this movie. Hmmmm....

gingerbread men

Hannah went to Nana and Papa's house today.
Nana decided to make some gingerbread men cookies with Hannah.
First they rolled out the dough.

Then they cut out the shapes.

They put them on a cookie sheet to decorate them with red hots and raisins.

Papa remarked that this "looks more like a mob hit than gingerbread men." When Nana and Hannah delivered some gingerbread cookies to me at work this afternoon, I had the same thoughts as Papa. I counted 26 red hots all over one of my gingerbread men.
He was one HOT gingerbread man!

Hannah enjoyed looking at her cookies and Nana and Papa's Christmas trees.


I hope to get our tree up next weekend.

Our family Thanksgiving is tomorrow. Looking forward to family time. :)

life rolls on

We had our hair cut Friday morning. Hannah put ALL of the PINK clips in her hair.

We stopped at Steak and Shake on the way to Great Grandma and Grandpa's today.
Big fan of hot dogs, cheese fries, chocolate milk, and silly hats.

Great Grandpa Ray worked on the two year old's ping pong education.
It takes a lot of ball handlers to chase down ping pong
balls during ping pong school for two year olds.

We made a Target run on the way home tonight. Hannah discovered a $5 pink toy broom and dustpan in the toy section and is VERY excited about it. She wanted to hold them in the car all the way home. Mama thinks this is a great idea, especially because Daddy let Hannah run around the house with "popcorns" in a snack bowl this week, and now there's little "popcorns" all over the house. I think I'll let her break in her new TOY tomorrow by sweeping up all of her dropped "popcorns."

I taught Hannah how to feed the dog one morning. Later that afternoon she fed the dog again when I wasn't looking. You can see how well this plan of teaching Hannah new housekeeping skills is working out for me.

Redirect: Finding Diversity in the Library

Big fan of Tonggu Momma here. She had a very resourceful post today titled "Finding Diversity in the Library" with links to lists of multicultural children's books. Excellent resource.

Video: Why I care about Taiwanese politics

Thanks to Lawrence for the link to this video. This was part of a campaign ad by the Democractic Progressive Party of Taiwan, minus the election language. Pretty powerful.

Two years ago today on the other side of the globe...

... our dreams came true. :) Final decree!

Redirect: 12 Incredible Images of Taiwan

Found this post tonight of twelve incredible images by photographers in Taiwan. Cool. I've already thought a lot about really wishing I could go to a sky lantern festival (would have to be traveling the right time of year)... but right now I'm dreaming about soaking in the waters of a hot spring. Mmmmm. Think I'll go crawl in my warm cozy bed and think about that some more. G'night.

What do you think about doing in Taiwan? On my short list: 1) Visit the National Palace Museum. 2) Go to the Jianguo Jade and Flower Markets in Taipei. 3) Spend time with the Wus, two very special people. 4) Eat dumplings with soupy goodness in the middle at Din Tai Fung Dumpling House again. Mmmmm.

During breakfast this morning Hannah looked at the ceiling and saw a remnant of a cobweb. She told me to tell Daddy to get out of bed, get a ladder, and clean it up. Hahaha! Hannah's also started using the phrase, "Watcha doin?" I think she hears that phrase a lot at home, like today when she was caught coloring on the floor with a purple crayon.