Oh to be a mama!

Oh the sound of Ethan calling me "mama" just melts my heart! Been working with Ethan to say "mama" rather than just "ma" or "mom". Ethan's been calling his dad, "daddy" and Marisa, "Sa" but now he is able to say "Sa Sa". He is full of surprises, especially when he does things without any prompting. He's pointed to his left eye and said "eye". He loves to read with me and loves to hear me sing "wheels on the bus" but I would replace "wheel" with every animals that I can think off.

He saw a picture of my father in the spare room and said "Tu". Tu, translates in Laotian, mean grandfather or grandmother. I was so happy to hear him call my father that, even though I don't believe Ethan has ever heard me called my father "Tu". Ethan likes to go into this room. Van had set aside this spare bedroom for his Buddhas and I also have a picture of my dad and Van's dad in there. Ethan loves to go into this room to pay respect and "wai". Wai is when you put your hands together into a prayer like position and then bowing down as a sign of respect. Ethan sits on the floor and wai several times. So sweet to see that he knows how to do this and wants to do this. I hope that he will continue to follow our tradition, unlike his big sister, who will only do this on our Vietnamese/Chinese New Year.

Another moment to remember is Ethan's love of water. We went down to Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond to drop Ashley and Amanda off. Thida was to watch Ethan while Van and I helped Ashley take her personal belongs into her dorm. When we came downstairs, we saw Ethan doing his doggy walk in the front yard with Thida laughing. My baby boy was drenched but it was really cute to see him laughing and smiling. I let him get his thrills until he was truly drenched! I tried to take pictures with my camera phone but Ethan was way too fast for me to snap his pictures! Oh to be a mama...how lucky I am?

Keith Urban's "But for the grace of God"
I must've been born a lucky guy (I'm replacing with gal)
Heaven only knows how I've been blessed
With the gift of you love
And I look around and all I see
Is your happiness embracing me
Oh Lord I'd be lost
But for the grace of God

I love Ethan's kisses and his embraces...most of all, Ethan is pure joy!

Amazed

It's Saturday evening and Marisa is not with us. She went on vacation with her friend, Liz Barnes, to Florida and then on a cruise to Mexico. This is Marisa's first trip without us but more so without a family member. It's hard accepting the fact that she is growing up too quickly.

Van and I are sitting around and watching Ethan dance to Thai music videos. We are reminded of when Marisa was Ethan's age and she too loved to listen and danced to Thai songs. Many years have passed but we still remember them like it was just yesterday. Marisa brought warmth into my heart and Ethan brought life into my soul.

Van and I were blessed over fifteen years ago with our little girl Marisa. She is our world and I thank God for her everyday. She IS who I wish I WAS when I was her age...loved, cherished, precious, beautiful, strong will, confident, carefree, and so full of hope.

Words can not express the feelings that I have when it comes to our baby boy Ethan! I can't believe that it will be three years in October that I was blessed with another angel. With God's grace, I was given the greatest gift of becoming a mother to the most precious baby boy.

Ethan's disposition is just amazing! He is my sunshine..bringing smiles to everyone. His glance, his eyes, his smiles, his laughter, his hugs, his kisses...so pure and so precious.

Ethan saw our family picture on this blog and pointed to me and said "mom", to his father and said "daddy", to his sister and said "Sa" and then to himself but just looked at me. I told him to say "me" and he said me!

So consumed by my emotions!