A Birthday in China

Today I have an 8 year old.  She is smart, and she is strong!  She is amazing beyond words.  She loves to sing, dance, play dress-up, read, create and direct plays with her friends, write stories, and watch "Dancing With the Stars" and "Cake Boss".  She is beautiful, inside and out.  My Annie Rose, wow.  How can a mom be so lucky?  :)

Yesterday we celebrated Annie's birthday early.  We went to a bakery called DIY where she made her own cake!  This place is extra special to our family.  When our son turned 3 last March we ordered a birthday cake.  His nanny took him to this shop and he made his cake there, too.  So cool to finally be in China wtih Charlie and visit the same place now, as our family of 4.  Annie had a blast making her cake, and it was dazzling and delicious!  For his part, Dan Dan established total pandimonium in the cake shop, as Annie iced and decorated away.  I am pretty sure the bakery staff hates us.  Our driver, Mr. Yang, and our guide, Ivan, they are angels from above.  Every time we leave the hotel they are on Dan Dan's heels, to our HUGE relief.  Shad and Granna and I were able to watch Annie make her cake, and Ivan and Mr. Yang chased Dan Dan, cajoled him, and tried to keep him from running down the streets of Tianjin.  Shad described it perfectly when he said the three of them together looked like an episode of Benny Hill, as Dan Dan flopped on the floor, grabbed at the pasteries, and ran in fast motion as two grown men tried to keep up.  Our son is hilarious, and also a stunning sight.  I am going to beg Mr. Yang and Ivan to go to the US with us.  Maybe we can adopt them, too.

After the cake shop, we went back to the hotel and had a little party in our room for Annie.  Ivan had a chat in Mandarin with Dan Dan, who was trying to get into Annie's birthday cake on the ride home.  Ivan said he told our son that if he is nice, Annie will share a piece with him.  He said Charlie said he will never be bad to his sister.  He has moments of sweetness, mixed in with the crazy, too.  :)  We ate her cake, complete with candles and singing, and the sight of my children together on such a special day brought tears to my eyes.  Dan Dan's face lit up when he saw the candles, and he sang evey word to "Happy Birthday".  Annie cut the cake and served it to everyone in the room.  Ivan told her she should serve her parents first out of respect, and she did.  All children should take lessons from Ivan.  :)

For her 8th birthday, Annie has a new brother!  Whether she wants him or not.  :)  This week has not been easy, and today Annie's "big sister" hopes and dreams have fallen flat.  She is not so sure she likes having a brother after all, which is totally normal, and totally disheartening for her, too.  We have had many moments this week that have been happy and touching and hysterical.  And we've also had challenges.  Dan Dan is a large personality, and he is coping with so much.  He is bold and in your face and tries to control the world, at a time when so much of his world must feel out of control.   His behavior is often not easy to take.  I keep reminding myself things will get better, and my compassion for him is immense.  I know this transition is hardest for him most of all, and like the rest of us, he is doing his best. 

As I write this post, my kids are playing chase and jumping on the bed.  Happy sounds that make me smile.  This, after Dan Dan just dumped an orange soda on the carpet, just for grins.  Ah, good times, friends.  Good times.  :)