The Pumpkin Report, (Almost) Four Months Home

Since Little Pumpkin has settled down nicely after the holidays, I thought I would take a moment and provide an update of sorts. She is now 16 months old and growing like a weed. She goes to her new Pediatrician on Tuesday and I'm very anxious to see just what she weighs and how tall she is. She can still wear 18 month clothing, but some of it is very tight on her. And, her size 5 shoes are getting to where they are tight and leave a mark, or I can't get them on at all. So, next week we're going to have to go shoe shopping for Queenie. I swear she is close to 40 pounds, but that could just be my age and excellent physical condition (or lack thereof, of course). LOL!!

Our daughter has earned many monikers in the four quick months she's been with us. Of course, there's Pumpkin, but there's also: Peanut, Munchkin, Scooter Butt, LeenaWinsky (in reference to Russian Weightlifter Persona [look at her thighs and you'll know where this one comes from]), Puddin, Baby Girl, Queenie, Stinker and Pudding Pot. As usual, she only gets the full three names when she's in TROUBLE. This would be when she continues to do something even after she's been removed from the trouble spot (repeatedly).

Leena has a very colorful personality that is generally bubbly and creative, except for when she's tired or teething. Then she is very short-fused and cranky. Otherwise, she is quite the ham and continues to be extremely curious and inquisitive (if I'm not being redundant). Often times she is more interested in how a toy works (i.e. looking for the on/off buttons or how the battery compartment opens) that playing with it. Her vocabulary is kind of at a stand still for the moment. She can say Mamma, Daddah, Pap-Pap, Up/Down, Thank You, Bless You (the baby version, but she still says it after you sneeze), Shhhhhhhhhhhhh, Baby and Dog. She can show you how old she is by holding up one finger, and knows where her nose, mouth and ears are. She just recently discovered zippers (hence the picture of her in the latest slide show unzipping her jammies) and how they work and how to undo her diaper. She still loves music and will stop whatever she's doing if she hears any music to stop and dance. She'll do the same thing if she hears clapping. Musically, she likes about any type of music, even commercial jingles, but (unfortunately for me) she LOVES Daddy's rock music (Led Zeppelin, Doors, etc.). It's enough that I must endure the music on road trips, but now Leena will be pulling for that stuff too....oh the pain and misery!

Leena loves bath time here at the house and, thankfully, is taking baths in the tub again. In China she loved the bath tub, but when we came to America she'd have no part of it. Nor would she bath at Nanna's house in the tub. For whatever reason (who cares, I'm just thankful that she's liking it) she loves bath time here at the house. She splashes and squeals and squirts herself with one of the twenty or so bath toys she has accumulated. I'm just grateful not to have to keep wiping down the cabinets after bathing her in the sink!

Surprisingly, Leena has apparently adopted Mommy's Scotch-Irish temper. Whether through osmosis or just the miracle of this adoption, she is definitely not the demure, subservient Chinese women of folklore. She is definitely headstrong, determined and will kick butt and take names if ever there was a woman to do so. We're considering some form of Tai Quan Do or Karate for her when she's a little older, although the possibilities of getting called to Kindergarten for her beating up the other boys seems to be a very real possibility. Hmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!

Well, that is all I can think to tell you about my baby girl right now. I am more exhausted that I think I ever recall being in my 45 years on this earth, but I am equally happier and more fulfilled than I have been since meeting my beloved husband. While I know for certain he is the other half of my soul and fills my life in ways I never thought were empty, Leena has taken everything one step further. Life as I knew it before is gone and I know that it will be many, many, many years until I can nap without keeping one ear open at all times, don't have to constantly keep my eyes peeled for danger or damage, or have to hurriedly shower or for that matter do whatever I can in the period known as Leena's nap time. But, I also now know the joy of holding my daughter in my arms and feeling her wrap her arms around me with a love that instantly washes away anything bad in this world. I am privileged to see the wonderment of new experiences in big brown eyes that otherwise may have never know the simple pleasures this world has to offer. I guess I can sum it all up by saying this is a hell of a ride so far and I'm strapping in for the long haul. So far it's been smooth sailing with lots of giggles, hugs and entertainment and DEFINITELY WORTH THE PRICE OF ADMISSION.