Parker says "bye bye" :)

I have had this video on my computer for a while... but just got around to posting it.  Sorry it is sideways... just turn your head slightly :) He is cute at any angle. 

It's My Birthday and...

I'm feeling incredibly blessed!!  Today- I am 28 years old.  I remember as a pre-teen planning out my life and what I wanted to do before certain ages... somehow 28 was always a magical number.  I wanted to have all my children before I turned 28 and well a list of many other "pre-teen" ideas :) 
I don't have all my children (or so I think) BUT I have one amazing little boy!!

and a WONDERFUL husband!! 

Today for lunch we went out with a roomful of my good Chinese friends (many of whom I have seen come to know HIM) and let's just say - I feel great! 
I have pictures from lunch but I will post them later. 
P is napping, Wes is boxing with some boys... and I am thanking the Father for my many blessings.
I thought I would share

 28 little things about me :)
1. My family is the thing I treasure the most.  They have always been there for me- through thick and thin. 
2.  I never in all my life thought I would have a little boy (even thought it is a 50/50 chance it never crossed my mind) BUT I can't imagine life without P :)
3. Purple is my favorite color
4.  Reading at night before I go to bed is my "treasured time"  My parents are amazing and got me an Amazon gift card for my b'day so I can get books on my kindle :)
5.  There is nothing better than taking a walk with my husband.
6.  I am going to miss walking up the stairs to get to my house when we move back to America.
7.  I feel lost if I don't have a watch on.
8.  The Father has stretched and grown me so much while living in China- I wouldn't trade this experience for anything.
9.  In my opinion - Skype is the greatest invention for living abroad.
10.  I LOVE Coke Zero
11.  I also LOVE Coffee
12.  I can't wait to squeeze my little niece, Lexie!!
13.  My love language is gifts.
14.  I have Bible verses written ALL over the walls in my kitchen.  It helps me remember who I am.
15.  Sometimes, if I don't have much to say but P is with me- I will just quote as many Bible verses out loud as I can remember.
16.  I am a TERRIBLE dancer (and I don't like it) except my 3:30 dance time with P :)  I jump around with him in my arms and look crazy with nobody watching.
17.  I love reading other peoples blogs.
18.  I love shopping ... but not so much in China.
19.  Card games are fun (except Monopoly Deal :)
20.  Hawaii is the only state I haven't been to (I have amazing parents)
21.  North Carolina is HOME (even though I was born in VA)
22.  I am a water bug-- I LOVE the lake.
23.  I hate mushrooms- they are a slimy fungus.
24.  I thought I was 24 when I was pregnant with Parker... but then sadly realized hours later that I was 27
25.  My favorite Disney movie is Little Mermaid
26.  I love to see people succeed and reach goals... sometimes I choke up when the good guy pulls though
27.  When I was a little girl- I had a birthday party with ponies.  (my parent tell me they were little ponies... but I still remember being on top of this MASSIVE horse :)
28.  My 28 years have been amazingly wonderful.  I have a loving husband, a smilely little boy, a supportive family and everything else a girl could ask for :)

More of my Sweet P

Everything goes in my mouth.  EVERYTHING!!

Covering my area... why am I naked??

Too cute for my overalls!!

 

Blessing from the Father

I have already introduced you to Terence on the blog... but I wanted to do another little post about him.  He has been such a blessing to us. 

Coming a little late to Hengyang (because of P's birth) and having a team full of new foreigner... a lot of the relationships we built were "take over" (per say) before we got back.  Since I am at home most of the time and do not have classrooms full of students - it has been harder to make friends BUT the Father brought Terence into our lives.  He is an amazing brother!  We both like shopping and McDonalds (so that is a huge bonus)

Terence is in Hengyang for just a short time (he lives in Beijing but Hengyang is his hometown)  He came home to get his drivers license (he is 26) and spend some time with his family.  He will leave for Beijing just after my birthday. 

Terence went with us to get our pictures done.
P boy LOVES Terence.  He held him for us while we were getting our "couples shots"  Most of Chinese friends (boys) will hold P for about a second and give him back but Terence is always saying "Give me Parker" :)  It is so nice to know he loves our son too :)
Anyways-- I am so thankful for him and for his friendship. 

 

Outdoor gym/Adult Playground

Not so sure if I classify this as a "playground" because in my mind that still is slides, swings and sandboxes... maybe outdoor gym ??  Recently our apartment complex has been doing projects to improve the outdoor common areas... Hengyang has had so many changes in our 2 short years... it has become a much easier (somewhat more convenient city to live in)  There still aren't many "western" things... but it is definitely becoming nicer city. 

Here is the equipment you can see the bike-thing in the background and then ab twisters.

Pull-up bars :)  I love it... no matter what country you live in... exercise equipment is used as a coat rack :)  haha

There is also an elliptical type thing that is not picture.  Thank you apartment complex for cleaning up the "block" :)

Family

Another family shot from our photos :) 

Wes Birthday Present to Me :)

For my birthday this year, Wes gave me some professional pictures at a Chinese studio.  We had SO much fun!!  Here are some of my favorites!! 

My sweet baby with his glow worm

 

 

 

Me and P boy

We took some in Traditional Tang Dynasty clothing...

 

 

 

Family Pics (I will post some more of these family shots... a lot of them are really good)

 

Little Man

The two men in my life.  LOVE them :) 

I have about 168 more photos :)  But these are my favorites.  Great birthday present!!  Thank you Wes!  Love you!!