January...Visitors...

Nothing so eventful as the last couple of posts here. Leah's chin healed up pretty well. We managed to keep the bandage dry enough for a full week and the plastic surgeon removed the bandage and stitches. It looked pretty decent even upon first removal. Leah did cry when he took the bandage off, but she admitted it didn't really hurt but "I was just a little bit scared." She calmed down after he removed the first stitch and showed her that it was out and painless...and then she calmed down as he removed the rest. At his suggestion, we kept tape on it, changing the tape daily for a week - just for some extra protection. And now 2 weeks after injury it is a fairly small pink line under her chin, pretty much along the jawbone - around an inch or so long but v shaped. We're going to leave it alone and see what happens, but even if it does scar, it is in a very hidden spot. And more importantly...Leah is back on her scooter...and promises to use her hands to break her falls...not her chin.Leah still loves school and gymnastics and ballet classes. Will still thinks Leah is the most interesting and funniest thing on the planet. He's getting a bit more mobile. He can go from sitting to lying on his belly fairly gracefully now...although this usually happens while reaching for a toy and once he has said toy he does not actually want to be on his belly. He occasionally rolls from front to back...but it still hasn't quite clicked that this is the fastest way to get off of his belly. He has also managed to get from lying to sitting, but that may have been a fluke occurrence and even with some assisted practice he has not realized that he is capable of doing that regularly. Mostly once he is on his belly he scoots...backwards...by pushing with his hands. He is also quite good at turning in a circle, both while sitting and while lying on his belly. But he continues to do his pathetic performance frequently...lying his head down and crying until someone helps him up. It's awfully cute. And we're confident that eventually he will figure out how to sit, crawl, stand, walk, etc.

My friends Jess & Jason Willey came for a visit this week. They have left London, where they have been living for 2.5 years, and are headed back to the US this summer. In the meantime, they are traveling the world for a few months. We were a 3 day stop on their itinerary between South Africa and Vietnam. I think they enjoyed sightseeing in HK a bit, but they also enjoyed sleeping in Leah's room (while she slept in Will's room), having some home cooked meals with us, and having their laundry done here. It was nice to see them. Will definitely took a liking to Jess and her patience for walking him around the apartment. But Jess better watch out, as Leah is moving in on her man. Leah loved playing with Jason. Every time we went out with them, she walked right up and held his hand. He was a very good sport about it. And they both read Leah a Madeline book before bed...sealing them as well-loved visitors.

That's about all the news at the moment. We are car shopping (a task I am happily leaving to Shafi). It will be nice to get a car for running errands, getting to and from the American Club, friends' apartments, etc. Chinese New Year is this coming Thursday. We're not quite sure what to expect but if nothing else it will be nice for Shafi to have a 4 day weekend. Will is turning 9 months on Sunday (a week from today)...and Leah is turning 3 years on Monday. Since many people will be away for the Chinese New Year holiday, we are having her party on the 13th. Looks like we'll have about a dozen 3-4 year olds along with their siblings and parents. It should be a casual get together at the little cafe by the beach just a block from home - with a princess theme, some pizza and drinks, and maybe some simple arts & crafts to entertain the kids.