Children's Day (again)

I just had to post a couple from Children's Day - probably most of you didn't go to the link I posted with ALL the pictures from that day - so here are a couple:

All the boys wore the same outfits.  They all initially had the red sticker on their foreheads but most of them "came off" shortly after, Reister's especially quickly.  They also had make-up put on them.... interesting...

Reister really enjoyed his "Kung Fu" class this spring and enjoyed performing with his class on Children's Day

Mason's Birthday Part 3

As I was looking back through pictures from Mason's birthday I couldn't help but post a couple more...

Sweet brothers - but Reister's got his eye on the cake :)

Daddy and the birthday boy

Our friend Kirk (seems to be Mason's role model) is a younger single guy who's a talented musician (the picture I got of Mason & him didn't turn out that great or else I'd post it).  He graciously agreed to come to Mason's party and led the kids in some fun songs, including Mason's alltime favorite "The Lord's Army".  Mason is "zooming o'er the enemy" here.

Mason enjoyed his cake :)

Mommy and the birthday boy 

Mason's Birthday Part 2

Mason's big present was a pedaless bike.  We had several friends who got these for their kids and supposedly they help teach balance and then they can eventually transition straight to a pedal bike without training wheels.  Mason had just woken up from his nap and wasn't quite sure what to think of it but he has really enjoyed it and gotten the hang of it.

 The weekend after Mason's birthday we had his party at our home.  We had several families and also kind of celebrated America's Independence day with hot dogs, baked beans, potato salad, chips, fruit and cake. But it was definitely a Mickey Mouse themed party :)  I was happy with the way his cake turned out. Better than last year's - (which was also Mickey Mouse themed).

Blowing out the exaggerated candle (doubled as our 'fireworks' for the day) 

Not all, but most of the friends in attendance at the party:

Nesting...

I find it really amusing that I have been doing some serious nesting. It also seems like a God given gift to pregnant moms who need to get things ready for the new baby.

This first 'project' isn't really related to preparing for a new baby, but it is related to saving my back.  I had been keeping my cookbooks in a lower cabinet and kept straining my back to lean down to get them out.  One time I even knocked over a jar of coffee, shattering it, in the process of pulling one out.  I found this little shelf at IKEA for 39RMB which is about $6US.  I can just call up the handy repairman employed by our apartment complex anytime I need something drilled into the wall - he only charges 10RMB ($1.55US) per time to drill as many things as I want.  Here is my new shelf that will save my back and keep my cookbooks, timer and salt and pepper shakers right and arms reach!  You can also take a peak at that corner of my kitchen. The appliance in the top right of the picture is my oven.  I've had it for almost 6 years and it still does a great job.  If I remember correctly, it cost me 280RMB ($43US).  

 One other nesting project that was something I pondered for quite a while included the putting up of the quilt that was part of the bedding I used with both boys.  But, I actually found that although the quilt is adorable and I love the colors and design of it, it wasn't the most comfortable thing for a baby to sleep with. I guess most quilts that come with baby bedding are probably that way.  Also I could never find a great way to "display" it - hanging it over the side of the crib always required folding it so part of it was not visible.  After looking online at some pictures I realized hanging it up would be a good option. The local curtain lady had a scrap piece of rod, brackets and knobs all that matched the dark wood in the nursery.  She sewed the backing on the quilt that made it possible to put in the little hooks that would connect to the rings.  I was very pleased with how it turned out.

I also completely rearranged the nursery including moving the huge armoir (closet), sofa bed, crib and now the room has a lot more space and feels more open.  I'm also getting it ready for my parents who are coming next month for a visit! Yeah!

Mason's Birthday Part 1

On the actual day of Mason's 3rd birthday I took cupcakes up to his school to share with his class. I thought it would be a simple thing but his teachers were so sweet and I guess make a big deal of birthdays if they know about it.  These pictures are out of order... I'll just explain them that way.

Mason sharing his cupcakes with his friends.  I don't think any of them had eaten a cupcake before -they normally eat cakes (different from ours because they normally have fruit in them).  They got chocolate icing all over their faces :)

 Here's Mason with the cupcakes.  Notice the party hat - he wore it to school and kept it on the whole morning.

 Mason's teacher had each student come up individually and wish Mason a happy birthday in the way they wanted - they could either say something, sing, dance, give him a hug or kiss.  This is Mason's best friend in the class, Lucas, and he sang the whole birthday song (in chinese) to Mason and gave him a big hug and kiss.

Ms. Ying, Mason's teacher started out by explaining that in one year, the earth rotates around the sun one full time. Then she used the small globe and went around Mason three times, having the class count with her, to show how Mason had been alive for 3 years.

It seemed like we they sang Happy Birthday multiple times, once to music on the CD player, once with the teacher playing piano, a couple more times when the kids just wanted to sing it.  I think I brought out the candle on the cupcake during the first time and then wondered if I had acted too soon on the others.

It was super hot that day and I was sweating up a storm as I watched and helped serve cupcakes. My big ole pregnant belly was soaking my shirt :)  But it was a special time to celebrate Mason at his school.  It's funny how different my boys are because last year I asked Reister if he wanted me to bring cake to his school and he answered with a certain "No".  But Mason seemed to really enjoy being the center of attention.  He would never demand it or even do anything to try and get attention, but he doesn't mind it :)  He's so precious!

Baby #3 at 24 weeks

Last week Mason and I had to go to Hong Kong for his eye doctor appointment. I took the opportunity to have a pre-natal appointment with a really good OB that I like in the same practice as his doctor.  It was a long day of doctor appointments and getting lenses put in his new, larger frames (they look just the same as his previous ones).  But it was all good reports - Mason's eyes have not changed in his prescription strength, but he was able to see and recognize letters that were up on a screen by pointing them out on a card the doctor held in front of Mason.  The doctor was pleased and so was I!

Then that afternoon I had a thorough ultrasound where the doctor looked at all the vital organs. She was very pleased with all of his organs - heart, kidneys, limbs, etc.  She commented on how ACTIVE he was and thought it must be hard for me to endure it! Ha!  Here is a sweet picture of baby boy's face in 3D:

I think he has Mason's nose - which I'm sure is from one of us or another relative.  Isn't he so cute!?  I'm feeling so large but I have 3+ months left.  It's warming up too, which is contributing to some swelling :)
Thanks so much for all of your prayers and support - especially regarding our precious #3. We hope to have our name picked out soon!

Children's Day Pics

June 1 is International Children's Day and this country observes it (in a big way!)  I will select some individual pictures to post, but for now, check out the multitude that Micah took with our good camera. i posted them to our Shutterfly share site:  Click Here

20 weeks

 I'm now 21 weeks but we took these pics last week, so I was at 20 weeks. Everything is going well and I'm feeling baby boy move quite a bit.  Although I could compare some of his moves to a boxing match, it's not to the point where it hurts me or is uncomfortable (I'll never forget the last 2 weeks of pregnancy with Reister when his kicking and moving hurt so bad I cried!)  I'm sure as he grows and gets stronger we'll get to that point. :)  My only complaint at this point in the second trimester is the bulging veins in my legs.  I'm going to try out some support hose that my mother-in-law will be sending in a package soon.  I've read they can get worse with each succeeding pregnancy and with age, so I've got those both against me.
We're researching names and making a list of our top choices. Hopefully we'll pick sometime soon and let you all know so we can start calling him by name!

Summer Haircuts

Yesterday I took the boys to get summer haircuts. Well, they definitely got short cuts! I wanted to leave Mason's a little longer, but since they were getting them done at the same time and Reister is a little more "sensitive" about hair falling in his face, etc, I was too busy comforting him to notice that the stylist was cutting off a lot more than I expected with Mason. By the time I turned back to Mason his curls were all GONE!  He looks like a totally different boy, even more so with his glasses off.  Here are my big boys with their short hair. Micah likes both of their hair long, I prefer it short. So I guess we'll compromise by keeping it longer in the winter and shorter in the summer. I feel bad for them when they wake up in a pool of sweat from naps or are dripping outside. I guess the heat will get to them even with short hair, but I feel like they'll feel more comfortable with less!  Oh and it's so nice to get both of their haircut for $4USD!  If we lived in the states, I'd have to do it myself it costs so much! (that wouldn't be too pretty, I promise!)

Brothers... + one

I found some old pictures on our Nikon camera - even though they're not looking at the camera I thought it was sweet.
Plus, I realized that we announced on Facebook but not on the blog that we found out baby #3 is also a BOY!  Before too long (in about 20 weeks actually) we'll have three boys in the Webb clan!

Urgent Prayer Requests

I believe in the power of prayer.  Would you please visit this site this weekend and pray for and consider giving to my friend Meredith's family? Read their story and see how they have faced incredible trials over the last 7 years but have stayed so strong in their faith.  Meredith and I went to college together and were in a Christian women's organization together.
I have been praying for Meredith for a long time but feel that a weekend dedicated to prayer for her and her family will be a powerful thing.
Meredith and Ben Fox Relief Project








While I'm at it, can I ask you to please also pray for my high school friend, Kim F? She has five kids 7 and under and suffers from pretty extreme Rheumatoid Arthritis and probable Lupas.  She just had a pretty intense surgery on her right (dominant) arm and finger.  The recovery is not going so well and I know she's really struggling. Please ask for good medical help, healing and sanity and peace for her.  She and her family live in Georgetown, Texas.

Mason Goes to School (again)

Remember my post about Mason going to school? Well that little school closed down at the end of March. But his teacher forewarned us at the end of February that it was going to, so we took him out at that point.  We went on vacation in March and then Micah's parents were here visiting (I need to post about that) so it was okay.  Then at the beginning of May we decided to put him in at Reister's preschool.  Reister goes to a full blown preschool for 2-6 year olds. Essentially kids can go there all the way through what we consider the "kindergarten" year. Both boys are only going half days, 5 days a week.  Although Mason had a hard time saying goodbye the first week or so, he's doing well now.  He really enjoys the 'exercise' part where they do little dances / movements to music. Both boys are preparing for the June 1 Children's day performance and will participate in little performances for the parents. They will have to wear special outfits for it.  I'm excited and promise to take lots of pictures and video.
Here are the boys at the bottom entrance to their school:

Up close of them

Mason in his classroom on the first day

We're very thankful for this school, although it costs more than we would like :)  It is so convenient - right across the street from our gate.  The teachers are all nice and speak standard Mandarin, it is a nice clean facility, and the boys get to make local friends and learn Chinese (Mandarin)!

Mason loves his friends

Lately Mason has been talking a lot about his friends. He likes to pray for his friends and talk about who his friends are. We recently were at a meeting where he had a caregiver who was a young male college graduate named Tim. He really liked him and said "Tim is my friend".
Unfortunately Mason's little school that he was going to closed down. We are waiting until he is potty-trained and will start him at Reister's school in the younger class. But we are still in touch with the families of some of Mason's old classmates. Here is Mason and his friend, Iron Head. Lest you think I'm joking, this boy's Chinese name is truly "Tie Tou" - which literally means "Iron Head". I need to remember to ask his Mom what the intended meaning of that was!

I can't believe Mason will be 3 in only two months!

15 weeks

Here I am in a picture taken today. I am 15 weeks along. I can feel the baby moving sometimes. Micah was even able to feel him/her kick once or twice last night.

I know I'm still way behind in posting since Christmas! I hope to catch up someday.
The first tri-mester was not really that bad. I had some nausea and fatigue in the early part and then felt pretty good for the latter part. I have actually felt a little more tired since starting the second tri-mester. Surprisingly, the more I exercise (my running habit has morphed into a slow jog habit) the better I feel and the less muscle aches I have. So, I'm trying to be diligent about "running" 2-3 times a week.

Doctor Visit #2

I am amazed this video uploaded - it was a very large file. Have fun hearing the baby's heartbeat AND the 'sound' of him/her kicking :0