sore thumb

We went by the apartment yesterday with my parents and I LOVE the colors. I really, really do. Every room looks amazing and although Phil had no idea what I meant when I said, "It's so inviting!", he likes it, too. I can't wait to get to live in there. Which actually, I can wait because we still have a whole lot to do as far as packing and getting what we need for the new place. This week will be very busy. Yesterday, was extremely full with going from market to market looking for what we needed. We ended up splitting up and Phil and Dad found exactly what they were looking for and Mom, Madeleine, and I found what we wanted. So, the day ended in success and with the purchase of a new head and foot board for our bedroom. A lovely, simple pine. I'm happy.

Every two weeks or so I wake up around 3am wide awake. This started a couple months ago. If baby girl is also awake I lay there and feel every twist and kick. If it's like today, she's asleep but my mind starts thinking and thinking and thinking. Today's thoughts were on paint. Did we pick the right shades? Will we like it day after day? Will it be soothing or too loud? Silly, I know. Madeleine is growing up. And although I've heard it said of others I didn't realize I would also someday be thinking, "She's growing up too fast." Yesterday she came to where I was studying to tell me "goodbye" before she went outside to play. She gave me a quick hug and a wave goodbye. I was watching her walk away and couldn't believe she's my daughter. She turned and saw me watching her, walked back to me and gave me a kiss. She must have sensed the need I had to hold her again. I have a friend who recently had her second child. Anna, he

Well, as I believe I've said before, it's always obvious in blogland when Madeleine's waking up early because I never blog. And such has been the case over the last couple of weeks. Today is Sunday and since my husband told me to stay home and rest that's what I'm doing. M and P are at fellowship. The new news is that we're moving! Yes, we're moving within Xi'an to a brand spankin' new apartment. We're excited about having a place with lots of natural light and beautiful grounds. We're on the 8th floor which is why we get so much natural light but also means we have to look down to see all that greenery. It's a great apartment though and we're very happy with it. Of course, we haven't lived there yet so who knows what we might run into. That's something you just have to keep in mind when living in this lovely land. I can't think of any big thing we've done here that didn't have a few unexpected twists and

I'm in love. I love Malaysia. Well, I love Penang but I think I'd probably love all of Malaysia if I had the chance. It helps of course that some of our favorite people in the whole world where in Penang the same time we were and that those same people were able to show us all the best places to eat and go to. It was very hot. That's the only negative thing I can think of and even that wasn't all that horrible. In fact, when we stepped off the plane in Kuala Lumpur, I couldn't stop talking about how great it felt. So, when we went to the airport to head back to Xi'an Madeleine kept saying, "Feels so nice, feels so nice." She obviously thought that's what you say in tropical airports. The best story from the trip comes from our visit to the Eco Zoo. This zoo is special in that each section of the zoo puts you inside the "cages" of the animals. Unfortunately, for Madeleine I had given her a cookie right as we walked in the monkey s