Jen's Post

During our stay in Cebu we were able to attend a session at the Cebu, Philippines Temple, which opened last summer. Since we went on vacation with friends from home TP and I were able to attend together. Since it's a new temple everything was just so beautiful and clean. The grounds were immaculate, as always. It's nice to be able to do this when we can since we have limited opportunities where we live.
TP was really sweet and gave me such a thoughtful gift: a 'Mommy-to-be' massage at the resort spa. I was curious as to how this would work since it's uncomfortable lying on stomach, and back, but they had me lie on my side. It was really relaxing, and such a sweet gesture.
Fri. night we were able to attend a Philippine BBQ at the resort, complete with a whole roasted pig, and lots of mango for dessert. The mango was the best I've ever tasted...like in Taiwan. After dinner there was a show of cultural dancing from different parts of the island. Will loved getting into the drumming. He would head bang in rhythm, while drumming his little chubby hands. It was a nice way to end our week of fun.
One highlight of the trip was our grassy knoll. We called it the grassy knoll because of the rolling green hills with reclined sun chairs. It was always nice and shady-and empty since everyone was at the beach. Will loved chasing the birds here. He's come to like little birdies that 'flap-flap-flap' learned from one of his most favorite buddies, Elmo (Sesame Street). He'd flap his little arms while singing the song "flap-flap-flap" over and over again. Then he'd do this loud call to the birds with his stomach sticking out--kind of like a war call, and then he'd charge straight into a cluster of birds. Will has gotten very fast, but the birds were always just a bit quicker than him.
Last night we had to leave and head home. Now it's time to get Will back on a somewhat normal sleeping schedule. TP left the following day for Manila, and then will head to Japan for meetings, and then to Beijing on Wed. for a dinner with current Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman, along with some business students from Utah State. TP will be speaking to these students and getting them excited to finish their degree ;)

So unfortunately, this meant W. and I had to travel back home, alone. Our first leg of the trip left at 1 AM, then a 3 hr. layover from Korea to China this morning. W. did well and slept the entire first flight. TP gave me his gold card to get into the lounges-we had hoped. The rule is that only the person who holds the card can enter the lounge, along with guests, if any. So there was chance I would be refused. In Korea, I entered the lounge and handed them my silver card (silver is not high enough to enter the lounge) and TP's Gold. The nice counter lady asked for our boarding tickets. She looked at the gold card and looked at William, and said, "Is this William?" "Yes," I said. She checked our boarding passes and gave a warm welcome to Will and let us in. She thought Will was TP-(good thing they have the same name). I wondered if she had wondered why the baby travels enough to be Gold, where the mother only has Silver status...I was grateful anyhow to be let in, and have a place for Will to relax, eat, and gear up for the next flight. All the nice lounge ladies took a liking to Will. He flirted with them, danced with them, showed off for them by doing his spin move, talked with them, held their hands...they just loved it. They loved him. They even brought him a special plate of fruit not offered at the food bar. They brought it covered in a napkin to be conspicuous to others. The front desk lady who let us in came in and gave a welcome to Will. I think he liked this attention.

Will also flirted with the stewardesses on the plane. He was playing peek-a-boo with them, and saying 'hi', and 'bye' while waving. We often had more than a few stewardesses playing with him. As we landed and were exiting the plane Will insisted on holding hands with one stewardess, and he wouldn't let her go. She had to accompany us off the plane, holding hands with Will. She loved it.

W. just has a way of making people smile. He sure makes us smile. He makes living in China much more enjoyable since everyone's always smiling at him, and me, too, since I'm his mom.

We are looking forward to TP's return on Wed. (it's actually Thursday- TP)