China Trip Part I

We spent the first two weeks of October in Daddy's hometown of Hangzhou, China. We're now home, safe and sound, and I am almost recovered from some pretty severe jetlag/complete day-night reversal. Mommy says we have a bunch of photos, so please anticipate several installments. It's been awhile since we've blogged -- consider us back in action!!

Here I am with Ye-Ye (Grandpa) at O'Hare airport in Chicago getting ready to board the flight to Shanghai. All five of us went to China: me, Mommy, Daddy, Ye-Ye, and Nai Nai (Nana).


Apples are a favorite fruit of mine, but unlike Daddy who eats ALL of the apple (core, seeds, stem), I eat NONE of the apple. I chew it all up and spit it all out. Mommy calls this "charming."

Me and Mommy on the airplane. I was an airplane champion thanks to bulkhead seating, a Boppy and a breast available at all times... I now hold the record, by the way, for consecutive hours nursing on a flight... six!!!

I LOVE my Diego rolling suitcase!

And no, I won't let you have it!!

We were welcomed at the Shanghai airport by my Ayi (auntie), who is Daddy's oldest cousin.

To be followed by a welcome from my Ye-Yes (on the right, my real Ye-Ye, and on the left, two of Ye-Ye's three brothers, whom we will also refer to as "Ye-Ye"). I was fond of the terminology: "Ye-Ye One," "Ye-Ye Two," and "Ye-Ye Three."

After several hours driving in a van, we arrived in Hangzhou to finally meet my Tai-Tai, who is my great-grandmother (Ye-Ye's mother). I am now very good at saying "Tai-Tai" whom I miss alot!

Notice my jumpsuit... this was supposed to be my travel "car seat"/restraint system, but it turned out the taxis (our main mode of travel during the trip) didn't have any seatbelts to which I could even be attached. Stay tuned to see the solution in later installments.
Here's Tai-Tai feeding me breakfast.

We had a really good time together.

Here I am in the beautiful crib that my Ye-Yes had waiting for me upon our arrival. If only I would have let mommy lay me down in this crib during the trip without crying... instead I became a co-sleeper. Mommy and Daddy say that never has their bed felt so small. I get the sense they are trying to break me of this co-sleeping since we've been back home... but I'm fighting it with every 2hour awakenings!
This is my new friend Edward, who is the grandson of one of Nai Nai's good friends...
Ok, so that's not really his name. It's the name Daddy suggested as an English name when Edward was born... Ed? Eddie? Here we are after I strongly suggested that Edward use my sippy cup, to which he did not object. And with me, the coveted Bee-yah.

Edward's family and a beautiful meal.

And an awesome telephone train that I tried to take to bed with me for several nights, but which mommy vetoed due to the loud music and train sounds... Luckily (says Mommy), I played with it so much the batteries died and the music stopped within only a few days.

Here are some photos from inside our new apartment. Tai-Tai will be living here part of the time for now. Then in June, my Ye-Ye will be moving here permanently from Indianapolis. Luckily, my Nai Nai is going to stay here with me for awhile yet.

A view of the river from the dining room.

And yet another view from the dining room window.

This is it for now, but only the beginning. Please stay tuned for more in the days to come!!

Reunion!!

Here I am with Mommy, Nana Peggy and Grampa Kent arriving for the Baurley family reunion!


One of my new words is "eye." I like to show people what I mean when I say the word.



Eating a lemon.

Here I am with my cousin Bailey... we finally got to meet after all this time!!! I tried to show off by climbing onto a chair, but then Bailey showed me up with her lightning-speed crawling.

Bailey wasn't feeling well and Mommy had a grand plan to wipe my hands with antibacterial wipes throughout the entire encounter...

But alas, foiled! This may have been the exact moment where I pulled a pretzel chip out of Bailey's mouth, put it into my own, and subsequently got the whole family sick (except for me and Mommy's awesome breastmilk antibodies!).

Here is Bailey's cute little pretzel trail, with one teeny bite taken out of each one.

After hanging out with Bailey, me and Mommy very briefly got in the pool, but she was cold and I was hungry.

First guest to arrive at the reunion... Bill Baurley and his awesome scooter. I coveted the beeping horn button.

Getting some hydration with, of course, a "ball" bottle.

Wearing Nana's "balls."

Nana is quick, diverting a swipe of my glasses-stealing hand into a kiss!

Hanging out with another ball... likely eating a leaf.

On the run with the walker I stole from Bailey.

It's hard to be stealthy, though, when your name is written on your back (thanks Uncle George!).

Going faster than the walker.

Eating ice.

Digging for more ice... and almost fell in!

Having a snack with ma-ma.

Check out my big-boy crocs... I didn't want to let these go. Thanks for letting me borrow them Sammy!

Posing for the camera.

Mommy thinks I look just like Daddy in this picture.

Checking out the tarmack.

Tippy-toes is my new thing.

Headed home!! Miss you Baurleys!! And especially you, Bailey!!

Fun Jack Pics and VIDEO!

It's been a few weeks since Mommy put up a blog... and I'm getting bigger! My new favorite food are grapes (cut in half, not whole, mind you). And my new favorite fashion accessory? Sunglasses. Pretty cute, huh? Thanks to my friend Will for these awesome glasses.

Of course, you already know that my other favorite accessory is the phone... here I'm taking turns on the land-line in one hand and the family cell phone in the other. (that's right, the "family cell phone"... pretty lame Mom and Dad!!)

Going shopping for rocks, leaves, dirt and worms.

Silly poses with Daddy.

Jack the Ham.

And VIDEO!!!!

Just Like My Daddy

Mommy thinks that I am just like my Daddy. Here's why...

We both like to read. Here I am reading Sweet Dreams Mimi to Daddy after he got home from a long night of work. We both like to wear red.

We both like balls. Daddy likes basketballs and footballs. I like food in the shape of balls... and I insist on eating them when I see them! I can't even go in and out of the house without picking a "ball, ball, ball, ball, ball, ball, ball" off of Nana's tomato plant.

I like to eat them whole.

Anticipating back blows from Mommy if I make any wrong moves.

Look closely and you will see the tomato pulp on my face and on Daddy's sleeve.

Daddy and I also like to eat bananas whole. Ok, so Daddy has only done that once...

But it is true that I prefer the peel.

Here I am at the park, and like Daddy, I look pretty cute.

Still cute.

And back to the balls... this time tasting sweet gum balls off of the ground.

I love you Daddy! Have a great night at work!!