New Bath Towel

Parker is getting so BIG!! He is outgrowing far to many thing-- including his bath towels!! Here is his new bigger bath towel.
There is nothing better than the smell of a clean baby :)

Watermelon

It is watermelon/pineapple/mango season here in Hunan.  I love all fruit (except durian which taste like gasoline) but I especially LOVE watermelon.  Interesting- watermelon is the only thing I threw up while I was pregnant with Parker... but it didn't ruin the deliciousness for me. 
What's better than a nice cold red watermelon... a nice cold yellow watermelon.  :)
super delicious- sweet- juicy!!

 

Rubber Ducky

Rubber Ducky-- The New Best Friend
Bear Bear still gets the biggest smiles... BUT... a new toy has taken top place in Parker's books/play time... the rubber ducky.  My sister gave this to Parker- it was his one and only bath toy- BUT now it is more than a bath toy :)  It is an everywhere toy.  So... theme for P's First birthday-- RUBBER DUCKY :)
(I was undecided between Rubber Ducky and Dr. Seuss-- but the new found love has made my decision)

Potty Time

I started putting Parker on the potty around 5 months old.  I just thought it would be a good introduction for him.  I have read about kids that are potty trained early... I have a lot of time around the house... why not :) 
He successfully pee pees on the potty before and after nap time.  Today- I noticed him getting the "poopie face" -- why not try - ran through my mind... so I scooped him up and we went to the potty.  SUCCESS!!  I am so excited- my little boy (7 months) pooped on the potty.  I realize that I am more training myself to his cues... but still... we did a celebration dance in the Thomas house!! 

Really Blessed... Super Cute... Into EVERYTHING

My sweet friend, Faith, graciously gave us all of Parker's clothing for the first year.  It has been SUCH a blessing.  Just about every morning while I am dressing P, I thank the Father for Faith and her generosity.  She passed along SO many cute clothes.  I have been really excited about the warmer weather and 6-9 month clothing specifically because of the outfit above--  Hungry Caterpillar overalls.  It is SUPER cute!! 
I also can't believe how big he looks in this picture!! 
He is getting into everything.  He can now "battle-field crawl"- named by Wes, walk holding my hands and manevour his walker around the entire apartment.  I have learned (maybe the hard way) ... if I don't want him to touch it, put it in his mouth or grab at it... put it away!  :) 

Happy Easter

Reading my Easter book with Peter Rabbit  :)

 

 

Factory Tour... kind of

We have started to make our "China bucket list" as we will leave China in July to move back to America.  One thing that I really want to do before we leave is a factory tour. 
Wes' good friend, Wyatt, just started working for a company called Innovation that makes green pig feed.  We told him that we would love to see more about his company ... and he offered a tour.  So... here we are in the back of a private car... on our way to "tour" the factory
 

Here are Wes and Wyatt in the company foyer. 

We went up and meet the Vice President of the company.  He proceeded to tell us about the company history and even showed us the patents they have with the Chinese governement.  We asked if we could tour the factory... and an uncomfortable hush fell over the room.  In Chinese the VP told Wyatt that we could not tour the factory because the fear we might "steal" their secrets.  This was HILARIOUS to me!!!  Here we are just English teachers in China... could care less about green pig feed secrets... but in his mind we might steal the secrets for America.  haha
So instead we were allowed to see the outside and the store room for the feed.  Here we are outside the factory.

 

And here are the store rooms...

Next we went to the slaughter house.  Talk about stinky.  This is where the pigs die.  See the blood on the floor. 

And here are the pigs that will die ... SOON. 

 

Poor Parker was pooped... so he took a little nap.  He missed the pigs, smell and well... that's about it.

It wasn't quite the factory tour that I was hoping for... but that's ok.  We tried.  It reminds me ... regarding life in China-- ALWAYS lower your expectations and you won't be disappointed.