We may have a problem

Our oldest?

She has a bit of the stereotypical red-headed temper.  And stubbornness.

I decided to take a break from writing the story of Quinn's birth to bring you a few exhibits to prove the supposition.

Case Number One: Toddler wants the tent out of her room.  Hilarity ensues.

Did you note how she totally played it off in the end?  "Oh, I need to take my Halloween teddy to Daddy's office now."

Yeahhhhhhh.

Case Number Two: there was the day she played with some fun kitchen items at our friend's flat while we decided where to go for dinner.  Once decided, we went to gather the girls.  Harper INSISTED on taking the colander with her.  Since nothing would be harmed, we said fine.  Here are a few shots of a girl holding hands with Daddy on one side and clutching her stainless steel buddy on the other.

The people at the restaurant thought it was hilarious.  The German guys at the next table laughed and laughed.

Stubborn.  And tenacious. Hopefully the traits will prove to be a strength for the young woman she becomes.

And now to add a little about the littlest Golson girl. Quinn is growing fast and starting to smile and coo.  I attempted to get a coo on video, but instead got some milk on the newly cleaned changing pad.

And one more for good measure.  Pay no attention to the banging in the background.  Big sister was "cooking" using her play kitchen and babbling away about it.  

Our fearless little fish

Okay.  I have lived the last few weeks in denial about how soon little sister will be arriving.  The reality is sinking in now though- at 8 1/2 months pregnant (34 weeks), I cannot take Harper to the pool alone anymore.  Honestly, it has been a few weeks since I tried.

You see, the kid ADORES the water.  She comes by it honestly- both Neil and I really enjoy swimming and water sports, and we actually met for the first time in a lifeguarding certification renewal class.

When you ask Harper if she would like to go to the pool, you must be ready to get her there in the next ten minutes else she might burst with excitement.  Maybe even tunnel straight through the wall a la the Tasmanian Devil if you don't move fast enough for her taste.  Reason number one I don't do it alone: I don't do much of anything quickly anymore and putting on my bathing suit is an act I can only compare to the hippo ballet dance in Fantasia.  Except it takes longer.

Also, the child has zero interest in the kiddie pool.  She likes the water feature that spills water from brightly-colored containers, but Harper has little interest in actually swimming there.  The tile on the bottom is glazed and therefore slippery, and she needs traction in her life.

Well, that leaves the "hot tub" and large lap pool/ adult pool.  The lattert has no stairs as entrance- only ladders.  And ladders are fine, but one cannot enter the water on the ladder while holding a toddler- never mind while being extremely pregnant.  And Harper is not so good at staying on the side while I get in or out.  Sister has to MOVE.

And she loves the hot tub (disclaimer: it is not the 100+ degree hot tub we know and love in America.  It's like a really warm bath- just around body temperature or a bit more). With all the benches and jets to play with, she is in heaven in there.

However, dear readers, the main reason my overly pregnant self does not take Harper to the pool alone is her fearlessness in water.  Not an ounce of healthy concern in her little toddler body.  We have had her in it since she was  a little bug, and she is incredibly comfortable maneuvering on her own and with help.  She blows bubbles, kicks her feet, jumps in from the side, pulls herself up, wants to be tossed/ thrown/ bobbed/ dunked by us.  We just started working with a kick board and the only skill we continue to have an issue with is the back float.  I mean, why hold still when you can swim?

As illustration, I have a couple videos to share.  First, in the hot tub with Daddy.

Then, Harper in the big pool.

I rest my case.

About signs.

There are some really great signs in China.  Really great.

First of all, Shanghai spoils us.  The city is incredibly kind to foreigners, especially Anglos.  Most road signs are in both Mandarin and English.  Most areas that do business with expats also have dual-language signage.  There are times that one can easily forget that you are even in Asia.

But sometimes the signs just stop you in your tracks.  You guffaw. You make eye contact with your spouse and do that little head jerk that means "lookovertherebutdon'tLOOKlikeyou'relookingoverthere"
the first few times.  But now?

Now I take pictures.  Because those things are awesome.

So starts a regular feature we will call Shanghai Signs.  I have three pieces for you all this evening.

Found in our apartment

The light switches are very cool in modern in our apartment, and all labeled well for easy use.  Took me a couple weeks to realize that this did not, in fact, actually say "dining."  I now giggle almost every time I use it.

Found in our area grocery store- the fancy "Whole Foods" like one

The spelling of yogurt aside, the pronoun usage along with the adjective instead of the noun just makes for a great sign.  Totally communicates the point, so successful there, and totally makes me want frozen yogurt, so successful marketing.  (This commentary is also where I remind all of you that I am an English teacher by trade; therefore, grammatical explanations tend to be specific and use proper terms.  However, also note that I am writing this blog as a casual matter, and I take liberties with the general rules of grammar and usage to speak in an authentic voice and better communicate tone.  Contradiction?  You betcha.)

Also from said grocery store

I am going to have to write out for you the wording of this sign. 

Ahem.

"Meat, in its broadest definition, is animal tissue used as food. Most often it refers to skeletal muscle and associated fat, but it may also refer to non-muscle organs such as lungs, livers,"

You know what makes me hungry for steak?

Not that sign. 

On another note: Thanks for the concern about the finger.  I am doing well, the finger is healing and the throbbing has finally stopped.  I have a few posts in the hopper and should be posting on the regular yet again.