Ooooh, Baby Baby!

We're super stoked to announce that we're expecting! Baby Two is due this May, 2019. This Thanksgiving we couldn't be more grateful for the blessing of a growing family. Yessssss!

Family Photos

Thanks to Jonah Masson for taking these sweet pictures!

This Easter

Happy Easter from the Rosenbergs

Easter has come and gone, and we did not see one piece of holiday paraphernalia or marketing around our city. This means we rely on homemade Easter decorations and treats to make our home festive, and celebrating with our friends here takes on special significance. Laura did a great job baking and decorating spring themed cookies, putting together baskets with candy and gifts, and organizing a gathering with some friends in town.

Owen checking out his Easter basket

Delicious frosted sugar cookie cut outs
Laura made for the festivities 

We hosted three other foreign families at our place this year to celebrate Easter with us. (In the past we've welcomed upwards of 50 people, so this was a smaller crowd for sure. The food was still abundant!) Sunday morning consisted of worship, reading the story of His death and resurrection, and participating in communion. Then we hid plastic, candy-filled eggs and let all the kids rummage through the freshly pesticide sprayed landscape around our apartment. By this time it was about noon and everybody was hungry! Each family brought a dish or two to share potluck style, and we feasted on chicken, pork, broccoli casserole, bread, potatoes and salad. Lastly, we went back outside and played a midwest favorite yard game called cornhole.

Owen's a professional egg hunter

Holidays like Easter remind Laura and I not only of the power of His life, death, and resurrection in our lives, but also about the importance of a community--a body of people who bring into existence this power here and now on Earth. We are grateful for this community that knows and loves us and spurs us on to be light and salt in this world. We hope that your Easter festivities were as enjoyable as ours!

Owen & James enjoying the great weather

The (Elder) Rosenbergs Visit!

We had the privilege of welcoming James' parents, Joy and Dave, to our side of the globe this April. It was their first time in Asia and only our second time to host family! After a few days in Beijing, they spent two weeks with us exploring our home, nearby cities, and the mountains where we live.

A rainy day selfie with Lugu Lake in the background.

Dave examines the exposed engine of a loaded truck.

The vegetables from these local minority ladies' gardens made a delicious salad!

Joy examines a tiny teacup at a market stall.

 Dave & Joy check out produce at the open market.

The temple in Shangrila's Old Town.

We spent one afternoon in a Tibetan family's home. 

 Owen, as well as the grands, had their first tastes of yak butter tea, barley cake, and yak meat.

 Joy, Owen, and Dave stand before Haba Mountain.

It was a wonderful visit. We so appreciate their enthusiasm for all we shared with them, their generosity in all that they shared with us, and their affection for Owen. They are much missed!

Owen's First Birthday

On April 14, our baby boy turned one! Where has this year gone? Before he was born, I felt like we were waiting for him to join our family for ages. But since his arrival, it seems like life has been in fast-forward. James and I wish we could freeze time so we could enjoy these moments forever, yet we can't wait for each new day with this kiddo.

We celebrated in a typical American fashion by filling his crib with orange balloons, throwing him a polkadot-themed party, presenting him with a sprinkles-covered smash cake, plopping him in a homemade ball pit, and smothering him with even more kisses than usual.

Owen in a crib full of balloons.

The first birthday in China is traditionally celebrated at one month with a naming party. The parents hold a feast, a patriarch or village elder announces the child's official name, and friends and family come with gifts of money in red envelopes. Or, many Chinese families celebrate on their baby's 100th day.

For Owen's American-style party, our house was full of friends, both local and foreign. Our Chinese guests were especially entertained by all the decorations, our menu of pizza and salad, and the games we played. Recognizable western traditions like singing "Happy Birthday," and not so recognizable ones like blowing out candles and a smash cake were an absolute fascination. Many of our friends were experiencing "firsts" alongside Owen! It was just too much fun.

NaiNai and Grandpa with the birthday boy.

His grands (James' folks, Dave and Joy) were in town too, which made the festivities even more special. They came bearing a suitcase full of gifts, helped hang steamers and blow up balloons, and Dave engineered the ball pit from old cardboard boxes. They had questions about the Chinese practices that punctuated Owen's birthday too.

He wore silver bangles on each wrist that were given to him at his birth by one of our old Chinese language teachers. We explained that bracelets like Owen's are worn every day by minority babies in our area and believed to protect them from harm. Though James and I do not believe the bracelets have any power and trust God for Owen's safety, we wanted him to wear them to show our appreciation for the costly gift and to display our desire to be parents who care for our child's welfare. Another deviation they noticed was that we saved the presents guests brought Owen and didn't open them until after the party. It is considered poor manners in Chinese culture to open a gift in front of the giver and even worse to have gifts "compared" by opening them in front of a crowd. Living cross-culturally frequently means accepting new ideas and adapting our own!

Looking dapper in his blue polkadot bow tie.

Owen having a ball.

Smash cake!

Owen shares a handful of cake with Daddy.

Owen and Mommy on their way to the sink.

We missed our family and friends back home, but felt so blessed by all the sweet birthday wishes you sent! Wish you all could've been here with us.