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Thursday,
February 14, 2008
CLUBB FAMILY UPDATE
Happy (belated) Valentine’s Day! We had a day (well, maybe a
whole week) full of sugary sweetness that we enjoyed more than
ever now that we have Griffin & Ainsley with us! The kids LOVED
having special treats that they don’t get very often – cookies,
cupcakes, and lots of pink icing! It was a great day to love on
each other and just have some extra special fun! We hope you had
a special one as well.
Since returning from our trip to Negril, Jamaica (January
19-26), where we were outside in the sun and warm temperatures
and crystal clear waters from sunrise to sunset (more details
below), it has been quite a change for us to have to settle into
the Pittsburgh winter, especially due to the recent snowfalls
and very cold temperatures that tend to keep us bundled up
inside our cozy, warm house instead of outside running around.
Even so, we try to embrace all the seasons and try to stay
active, so we took the kids outside and re-introduced them to
the snow. They enjoyed (we’re using this term very loosely!) a
full three minutes bundled up in the snow! Griffin was
definitely more interested in the snow than Ainsley, but he was
so bundled up he could barely move. And Ainsley would have been
happy to stay indoors and just look at the “no” (snow). (I think
we are already thinking of another trip somewhere warm and
sunny!)
Jamaica in January
We had a wonderful week of sun, sand, and swimming in Negril,
Jamaica! We continue to be amazed and feel so blessed that the
kids are such outstanding travelers. We really are so fortunate
that they do as well as they do. We had some concerns that
Griffin would be a bit of a challenge on the 3 ½ hour flight
since he is now very active and mobile. But he actually was
great on the flight there and the flight back. No problems at
all!
We do admit that we had a little luck on our side with some
extra space on our flights, which helped with having two lap
children. We were able to have a whole three-seat row to
ourselves, which gave us some room to spread out with toys and
snacks. Again, we weren’t sure what to expect with an active 10
month old on the trip, but it all turned out just great! We
really do see that the kids are getting very used to the airport
environment and the whole travel routine. And we are committed
to continuing our travels to places far beyond the Caribbean, so
stay tuned!
While in beautiful Negril, Jamaica, we were outside on the beach
and at the pool from sunrise to sunset! Griffin and Ainsley
served as our daily alarm clock, making sure to wake us up
around 6:30/7:00 a.m. We would then get everyone ready (the
hardest part being putting suntan lotion on each of the kids,
though that got easier as the week went by). We then headed out
the door for breakfast by around 7:30/8:00 a.m. every morning,
eating at a nice pool-side restaurant. After about an hour-long
leisurely breakfast, watching the sun continue to move further
up into the sky above the trees along the beach, we would head
out to our perfect little spot on the beach where we had a
cabana behind us, a nice section of shade, and also a nice
section of sun just beyond the shade. We would sit in the cool
morning sand and build sandcastles, make moats filled with
buckets of ocean water, and otherwise have a blast getting messy
in the sand. Griffin typically took a little morning nap out on
the beach (and Ainsley did too sometimes).
Around 11:00 a.m. we would all migrate to the pool for some fun
pulling Griffin and Ainsley around on floating mats. Lunchtime
soon followed around 12:00 p.m. After lunch (and an ice cream
cone shared between Daddy and Griffin – a tradition Daddy
started!), Daddy and Mommy would take turns alternating days as
to who would go back to the room for afternoon naps. The other
got to spend a couple of hours lounging on the beach all on
their own!
After naptime was over around 3:00/4:00 p.m., we would all
re-connect and spend a few more hours soaking in the sun and
enjoying the sand on the beach as the sun was getting closer to
setting. Sometimes we would also take a float down this lazy
river they had at the resort. Or Daddy would go down a water
slide (one of two) that was so fast and scary! Really! Mommy
finally took the dare and went as well, but there would be no
repeat!
Around 5:30/6:00 p.m. we would head inside and get baths and get
dressed for dinner. Not a bad daily routine!
Griffin fell in love with the sand and ocean – he could have
spent his entire week just sitting in the sand with his buckets
and crawling toward the ocean! He was fearless as he would just
crawl straight into the ocean with the little ripple waves
crashing in on him. Ainsley, however, was not as much of a fan
of the ocean. She preferred the pool, where she played with her
little watering bucket and loved jumping in over and over again
(just like she did when we were in Turks & Caicos in July last
year).
It really was a great week and we wish we were there now! |
Ainsley turned 22 months old
on February 5. She continues to be such a great learner, soaking
in so much all around her. She knows all of the letters in her
name and can point them out if you show her all the letters of
the alphabet and ask her to show you “a” or “i” for example. She
repeats the entire alphabet as we say it. She also knows many
colors and can consistently point out orange and purple. She is
a very smart little girl. Finally, she is also becoming more and
more vocal, knowing so many more words and being able to more
clearly communicate. It is very clear that she comprehends and
understands so much more than she is able to communicate
verbally.
One interesting phenomenon that we have observed centers around
a few simple Chinese words that Daddy has taught Ainsley, like
the word for “hello,” which is “ni hao.” Whenever we are out and
about and Ainsley sees another Asian person, she always starts
pointing and saying “ni hao” repeatedly (and often loudly!),
making Mommy a little embarrassed when we’re in the mall or
grocery store! Even if she just sees a picture of an Asian
person in a magazine or wherever, she does the same thing. So,
she seems to somehow distinguish the physical differences and
understand that this may also mean differences in terms of
words/language. Very interesting. And she certainly had a lot of
opportunity recently to say “ni hao” when we went to a large
Chinese New Year/Spring Festival event at the University of
Pittsburgh (see below for more on that).
Ainsley also continues to be a great big sister. While she and
Griffin are starting to have some interesting disputes that they
have to resolve, Ainsley is so protective of him and usually so
willing to share in one way or another. We wish you could see
some of their interactions. It is so fun to observe. They are
really learning to love each other and have a blast playing
together.
This month marks the one year anniversary of the date when we
finally received our referral and saw the cute little pictures
of Ainsley for the first time. We got “the call” on February 1,
2007 and saw our daughter’s picture for the first time on
February 2. At that time we had no idea what joy she would bring
into our lives or what challenges we would face as a new family
of four. This anniversary was a good time for us to reflect on
the whole adoption process, the waiting, the anticipation, the
unknown and to just hug Ainsley and be thankful she is finally
here.
Happy Chinese New Year!
It was not hard to convince us to go out for Chinese this month!
We had lots of reasons to celebrate, including the start of
Chinese New Year (also called Spring Festival) on February 7. So
we have enjoyed several dinners out to our favorite local
Chinese restaurant where the kids have begun to seem right at
home! And we also celebrated at the University of Pittsburgh’s
Chinese New Year event, sponsored by the Chinese Student &
Scholar Association (CSSA). The event, one of many during CSSA’s
Chinese Culture Exhibition Month from January 28 through
February 29, included lots of fun Chinese crafts and activities,
a dinner, and a stage show. Earlier in the week, there was also
a major event to showcase the upcoming Olympics that will take
place in Beijing. Daddy was invited to give short welcoming
remarks at that event, which was a lot of fun because it gave
him a chance to practice his Chinese as he gave the first half
of his remarks entirely in Chinese.
For the Chinese New Year event, Ainsley wore the same outfit she
wore when she arrived in Pittsburgh and, believe it or not, it
all fit, including her squeaky shoes (which must have been too
big when she wore it the first time since she has definitely
grown since then)! She looked adorable and was in love with
wearing her squeaky shoes once again! Griffin had a Chinese
outfit but it didn’t fit. Still he looked adorable too! And he
seemed to have lots of fun too. |
Griffin turned 11 months old
on February 9. The countdown has begun to him becoming a
toddler! Mommy is having a hard time “letting go” of her little
baby boy and seeing this independent toddler show himself! Mommy
and Daddy are both amazed and proud of his development. It is
such fun seeing him learn and grow (but at the same time it is
still hard to see it all happen so quickly). In the past month
he has started trying to comb his hair when handed a comb; fed
himself with a spoon when food is placed on it; continued to
make tons of funny noises as he communicates; discovered his
love of the ocean and sand; had his first taste of Chinese food;
and….started WALKING! He isn’t quite fully walking, but he
started with 2-3 independent steps and has worked up to 15+
steps at a time. Of course, each time we try to get it on video,
he opts to crawl instead, but we are still trying to catch some
footage to share! He continues having huge developmental months
and it is hard to keep up with all the new things he is doing
and learning.
Griffin loves playing with his big sister. He likes sorting
shapes and pushing his cars along the floor. Most of all,
Griffin LOVES his ride-on train! He spends hours sitting on the
train, pushing it, putting things in the little compartment
underneath the seat, and pushing his big sister OFF the train
when she tries to take over! He really plays well independently
as well as with anyone else who wants to join in the fun.
Griffin also discovered playing peek-a-boo with a blanket or
restaurant napkin. He likes putting it over his head and when we
ask “where’s Griffin” he pulls it off to reveal himself and just
laughs and laughs!
Mommy and Daddy weren’t prepared for their grocery bills to
increase so much while the kids were still so young, but with
Griffin in the house, we are constantly re-stocking the cabinets
and refrigerator! He eats so much and gets so excited when
mealtimes come along. We had a special homemade waffle night
recently where Griffin ate more than Daddy! He continues to not
only eat a lot of food, but also enjoys eating a variety of
healthy foods (as does Ainsley). Some of his new current
favorites are broccoli, blueberries, oatmeal and spaghetti. He
still loves some of his old standbys of avocados, tofu mixed
with fruit and squash. Of course, he does occasionally get some
sugary treats, so if he even catches sight of a cupcake or
cookie, he is reaching right for it!
It is so great seeing Griffin develop in so many ways,
particularly seeing his unique personality come out more and
more every day. And it looks like he is going to be an
adventurous, risk-taking, no-fear, rough-house kind of guy who
will be hard to keep up with. We will have to really direct all
of that energy in a positive direction or I think we will have
our hands full with such a strong-willed little boy. We look
forward to the challenges ahead!
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Ainsley in her Valentine’s Day chef hat and apron
preparing a delicious meal
Ainsley and Griffin “enjoying” the snow (quite a shock after
just returning from sunny and warm Jamaica)
“Clubb Family of Four” at sunset in Negril, Jamaica
Griffin and Ainsley settling into
our perfect early-morning beach spot
Ainsley at the beach with her favorite watering bucket in hand
Griffin during our early-morning sandcastle building marathons
Griffin, Mommy, and Ainsley enjoying the pool
Ainsley playing in the sand
(still not sure if she is 100% into it)
Griffin at one with the sand (for sure 100% into it!)
Ainsley at the pool (her preference over the ocean)
Daddy and Griffin having fun in the pool
Sleeping beauties – Griffin and Ainsley taking their morning nap
on the beach
Ainsley and Griffin ready for dinner
after a long day of fun in the sun
Ainsley all dressed up for the Chinese New Year/Spring Festival
event
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