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english monday

Tonight was our 1st English class at the seminary. We have 2 classes with about 25 students in each. It went really well. It's too bad that Sharon, Jolene, and I can't always teach together because it was a lot of fun. We all went tonight just because we thought it would be the best way to start the 1st class. Phil has the beginners and they are definitely beginners. Our class is a nice mix of high beginners and intermediates. There are a few really high level students, too. So, I'll see them again on Friday.

From what we were told Maddie did really well with the sitter. Her name is Theresa. She is a daughter of a Chinese coworker. She got a little nervous and called her mom to come over and help so they were both here when we got home. I'm not sure what made her nervous. We had asked her to give Madeleine a bath. Again, I'm not sure what she did but she told us that Maddie's shower was short because she didn't like the water. So I'm assuming she tried to give her a shower instead of a bath. Kinda funny. I would have liked to seen that.

Maddie cried when we were closing the front door to leave. That was the 1st time she's done that. I thought she would.

I was very relieved to come home and find her sleeping soundly. I hadn't worried about her at all but it's always good to come home to a sleeping baby!

I'm starting some very early stages of weening. I have a feeling that it may take Maddie awhile to get used to the idea and I'd like her to be weened by the end of December. I also just want to take it slow. So today I dropped her mid-afternoon feeding. She didn't seem to mind. She normally eats as soon as she gets up from a nap so I just fed her a banana right away. Later she had some pasta. I expect the 1st morning and bedtime feedings to be the hardest to stop. It actually makes me feel a little sad talking about it.

Maddie really likes instant noodles - like Ramen Noodles. Instant noodles are popular here with young people and we often eat them for a quick lunch. As soon as Maddie sees us eating them she starts whining for them. She's really cute because she slurps them up off of her chin.

Tomorrow Maddie and I have a morning outing. We have to go to a large grocery store and get some dishes. I didn't get any the other day because I didn't really like the designs and I want to like what I get because I hope to use them for a long time. So, in the morning after breakfast I plan on using the stroller and walking to Hualian (grocery store name). I also want to pick up some lunch meats that we were told about and some cheese. Cheese is not common here so it will be interesting to see what it's like. Lunch is the hardest meal here for me. Most Chinese cook a regular meal and I just don't want to take the time and energy (of cleaning up) for that. I asked some coworkers what they do for lunch and so they told me where to find some convienent foods. Hence, the hunt for lunch meats and cheese tomorrow.

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