Highs & Lows

I really thought today was going to be a boring day to write about. It wasn't.
But in order to document it all, I'm gonna write it, so it very well could get boring to read.
L O N G 
Cute boys though!

I'll start with a HIGH.

Roman LOVED his second bath last night. We added bubbles, Hot Wheels, and his Spiderman washcloth. He had a blast!

LOW:
We had our first showdown.
He was throwing and after gentle reminders and then a couple stern ones, I started removing the things he was throwing. He didn't care for that, so he started picking up everything in reach and throwing it hard. He didn't get far because I picked him up and removed him instead. I put him in my lap and spoke gently and rocked. He took off for the door. So I sat in front of it while he rolled around on the wall whimpering. I thought... this is it. Reality is hitting for him. But after a few minutes he slowly walked away, picked up his favorite toy, giggled, and ran back and hugged me.

Reality did hit a little later... for Cale. He was pretty tired and pretty over it. Cale loves to play and rough house with Roman, but when he's done, he's done. Roman is never done. So while Cale has done amazingly well with all of it, he was just really done last night.

We did go out for dinner which was much easier with our guide! I let him pick out what he wanted, but when our food came he said, Mmmm, Mommy, your's looks more delicious. I should like to eat that!

HIGH:
He slept well again. (And I saw Cale reach over and cover him up at least twice.)
I also slathered us all with calming essential oils today.

We got to Skype with Daddy and the girls! Nathan took the phone in to wake AG up and she JUMPED up when she saw me.  Roman said, "I LOVE YOU, DADDY!" in English for the first time!

HIGH/LOW:
Since he liked my fried noodles so much last night, I got him a plate full at breakfast this morning. Even found the chopsticks for him! He wouldn't use them- he wanted a fork like Mommy. Sweet, but makes me sad too. I knew he wouldn't use them forever, but it's only our third day.

HIGH:
We went to the Children's Museum to burn off some energy (Kids get in free and adults are only 30yuan = less than $5)!

Energy was burned and then we proceeded to Walmart, naturally.

We were nearly out of snacks and I had promised Cale a matching toy to Roman's. Roman is obsessed with his toy (similar to beyblades). It's the only toy he came with, he loves it... and so does Cale. Roman has done a pretty good job sharing it, but it is his. And lawsy mercy, Cale has earned one of his own.

But, of course, Roman is sure he needs another one. And then there's this other guy they both really want and... dang it. To justify be fair, most of the toys/entertainment I brought for them isn't working out and THIS is what they play with. So, they both got both. He was so sweet, squeezing my hand saying, "xie xie, mommy!" (Thank you!) over and over. And then something that I would guess translates to "My new American mommy is a succkkkaa."

He also rambled on some story to our guide and she asked if he was speaking (his variation of Mandarin). No, no... you can't understand me because I speak English now. haha. He is SO smart. He told us Russia is the biggest, then Canada, then China and America. He couldn't remember what comes before Australia and do we know that they also speak English?  SMART BOY. Then he said, "How do I tell my mommy that I would like to try a hamburger?" Have you ever had a hamburger? "No, that's why I want to try one!"

Han bao! He ate his and Cale's.  I have not been able to get him to try any American food until this.

LOW:

 Jet lag blows. We are still waking up way too early and tired mid-afternoon.  

The boys got battle toys and mommy got a headache. They battled and battled until C was battled out and  frustrated.

Back to the park.

It's actually exercise equipment, not playground equipment, but you know... boys. It's all playground equipment.

As every good Cosmo girl knows, exercise creates endorphins and endorphins make people happy. So I "played" on the equipment too. 

The little wild man was playing his toy and decided to try it in the air instead of on the ground, where it immediately collided with my head. HARD. I cried. He kind of froze, waiting to see my reaction. He said he was sorry. I hugged him and told him it was okay, and he ran off into the wind. 

Only to return with a flower. And...

A KISS!! He kissed me!!

HIGH HIGH HIGH

Bless you, Cale West, for taking 7000 pictures of the park on my phone!

I cropped this into a keeper!

It was the first of many today :) :) :)

HIGH/LOW/HIGH:

It was hot and Cale has really wanted to swim at the pool. So we go up to change and I use iTranslate to ask Roman: Do you want to go swim at the pool?

Yes! Yes! I want to go swim!

Do you know how to swim??!

Yes! yes! (Mimmicks swimming motion).

No, he doesn't.

I thought we'd be okay in the baby pool because it's only .4 meters deep. 

That was the first and last time he went down the slide.

He landed on his feet, but his face flipped forward into the water and he FLIPPED OUT. 

He was standing on his feet, but he was too panicked to get his face out of the water. He started flailing his arms... just panicked. About the time I put my camera down to get to him, Cale had come down the slide and picked him up. He was in shock for a several good minutes. I put my feet in and showed him he could just stand and not go under- I didn't know how we were ever going to get him near the water again. 

But he loves that toy! And he really wanted to know what would happen if he put that toy in the water.

So proud of him. He is a brave BRAVE boy!

Cale got some space in the big pool and everyone was happy when we tried to leave. The pool experience got pretty comical after that. They closed the gate we came in through and you had to exit through the shower rooms. We went round and round about this (no English on their end) for ten minutes. I was fully clothed, with my camera and bag and was not going through the shower. Oy. FINALLY, I was able to gesture enough to get them to turn the water off while I walked through but it was quite the ordeal there for a hot minute.

HIGH:

Since they had han bao (hamburgers) for lunch, we ate in the room for dinner. And Roman happily ate macaroni and cheese! With chopsticks!

HIGH:

After such an eventful day, both boys put themselves in bed and were snoring before 8:00pm.

I hope tomorrow is too boring to write about!