Girls, girls, girls... and a boy!

I went to Shanghai for my 20 week check-up yesterday. It was some day. I missed my plane, which was mostly my fault but also my driver's fault. I got confused about the time of my to Shanghai time and my return to Nanchang time and unfortunately I was about 20 minutes too late to catch my flight. It was partly my driver's fault because I asked him to come at 8:00 and he didn't show until 8:30, which means if he had come on time I would have probably made my flight by the skin of my teeth. But it's all good - I was able to get another ticket and arrived an hour after my original flight... but it cost me about $75 : (

Anyway, I got a taxi right off the airport bus and my driver actually knew where to go... miracle! I didn't get to eat lunch, but I made my appointment on time! I saw a midwife at Shanghai United and then a skilled ultrasound tech. To my very great surprise she informed me that our little Rachel is a boy. It was a little bit overwhelming. I was so excited to call and tell Matt. I lost some of my umf because my credit card wouldn't work so I had to first call Matt to call the credit card company... first thing he asked? "Well, did you find out for sure?" I put him off! Got the credit card working and then called him back. He just giggled with delight! It was awesome. As soon as he told Gracie I could hear howling in the background because she has "only wanted a boy" this whole time.

We have never been able to agree on a name for a boy, but after we knew little bit was definitely a boy it was like we all knew right away. Gracie has been calling the baby Peter for some time and I didn't really like it, but honestly all the other choices I had liked before just didn't sit well with me once I knew I was going to have a son. All of a sudden Peter James sounded like the name we should choose. I texted it to Matt a few minutes after we hung up and he called right back to say that was the very name he and Gracie had just chosen. So Peter James it is... at least for now. But I like it. Peter - the great apostle and James - the one Jesus loved. James was also my Dad's name. I am thinking I like the ring of PJ for a little boy too!

So, exciting times in the Owen's house. We are going to have a boy.

Noise Makers...

It really isn't the neighbors fault, I know that. I could blame it on the poor construction of our apartment building since there is not a thread of insulation in the place, but compared to other buildings ours is well made... so I best not complain about that either. I guess I am just once again suffering from my spoiled American upbringing. We never lived in an apartment building, we never had loud neighbors, our home was well insulated and we could barely hear what was going on right outside our own bedroom door. No one shot off firecrackers randomly at 5 am or 9 pm and they didn't stand outside our window and shout into their cell phone either. But that is case in point - I grew up in America and this ain't America.

Why am I rambling you wonder? Because tonight Lola, who does not go to bed well anyway, was just about to sleep when our upstairs neighbors dropped what sounded like a bowling ball on the floor above our heads. She was almost there again and a chair was dragged across the floor. Then they started jump-roping, later they were arguing... it really isn't their fault we can hear everything they do and say as though they are in our room, but really - could they just not make so much noise between 7:30 - 8? I just have to explain the insulation-less problem. Our building, like all the others here in China, is made of brick and cement. We live in a cement shell. The inside has the appearance of something else because they whitewash the wall, put tile or hardwood type floors down and decorate accordingly. But it is just cement and sound carries. At this point, I wish I had gone to loud concerts as a teenager, or walked around with those ear buds in listening to high decibel music every day. My ears were protected to my detriment. As I type, a group of people are walking home from some place - it is 9:05 pm and I can hear every word they are saying as if they were in my room. Actually if they were I would ask them to speak little more softly because it is loud even with space and walls between us.

Lord knows I love em, but I sure do live in a country full of noise makers!

Lola's 2...

Lola had a birthday muffin on her birthday because that was on a Thursday. Her party was Saturday and she blew out the candles one more time. Happy Birthday Lola!


Time really does seem to fly, especially when you are talking about your kids growing up. Lola had her 2nd birthday on September 9th and I can hardly believe it. She has grown up so much. Over the summer she got weaned, potty trained and began to chatter away. Her favorite songs are Qing Qing Ting - a Chinese worship song and Ring Around the Rosies. She loves Barney, the Wiggles, and Yang Yang (a Chinese cartoon). She dances and sings and smiles all the time. She is such a joy! And she spreads that joy everywhere she goes. She is more than happy to greet the young ladies and gentlemen with a friendly Ayi Hao or Shu Shu Hao (hello auntie, hello uncle) and the grandmas and grandpas with a friendly Nai Nai Hao or YeYe Hao (Hello Grandma, Hello Grandpa). Everyone loves to hear her speak Chinese, and I have to admit it is very standard. She actually speaks Chinese much clearer than English - I think it is because a lot of English words have too many syllables. It is so much fun though to watch her develop.
Mimi sent Lola a Cinderella dress.

This past week we went out to walk and think about our neighborhood. When we came upon a group of children with their mommas hanging out in the shade Lola decided it was time to get out of the stroller and break out the bubbles. All the other children were delighted. They all chased bubbles as Lola blew them into the wind. After a while she decided it was time to teach one of the little boys about her age how to blow bubbles. It was really cute. She would say "tui, tui" (Blow, blow) as she held the wand to her lips. Then she would dip it in again and hold it to his lips and repeat the command for him. He had obviously never blown bubbles before and was a little scared of the wand in his face, but after a while he gave it a try. Too cute.


Now that Gracie is going to Chinese school half days I get to spend some time with Lola one on one. This has been a sweet time, especially since there will be another little one come February. I am so thankful to be able to have some time alone with my little sweet pea. She is just that!