Happy Father's Day

Though I had planned a few options to celebrate Papa's Day, we had a low key day because Papa just wanted to chill out. Ken is a great Papa, so we did what he wanted to celebrate his day. Mia presented Papa with the cards and handprint she made and I gave him my first scrapbooking project. Mia and Papa went to a park in the morning so that the house would be quiet for Didi (poor boy had a terrible nap week with all our activities) and then went to church while I stayed home. Didi took a mega long nap! I wish I could have made it to church because Mia and the rest of the kids performed some songs from VBS (Vacation Bible School, an annual week long Bible camp that many churches put on) and Papa was really moved and proud of our little girl. I'm glad I bought the CD with the songs so that she can keep listening and dancing to the songs.

We went to McClellan Ranch, but the trail was closed so we headed to Pichetti Winery, but Didi fell asleep again so we just sat on the lawn and had a snack. Mia spotted a huge peacock and while she was very interested in it, she was worried that it would come after our food. I think she's still traumatized by the squirrels at Washington Park that climbed into our stroller and almost got into our snack bag.

Since my Dad is gone, I try to think of him each Father's Day and do something that reminds me of him. Earlier in the week, I came across a recipe for Watermelon Lemonade that jogged a memory. When I was little, my father would sometimes make watermelon juice and it was always such a fun thing for us kids. Now I realize how easy it is to do, but back then, it somehow seemed magical and lots of work to take out the blender and cut up the watermelon, so today as a tribute to him, I used my good old Magic Bullet to make some watermelon juice. I even took the extra step of using a strainer to get rid of the pulp. So refreshing. I miss you Daddy!

David 8 months

The little guy is growing up fast. And yes, he's sitting on the john. Doesn't always go on it, but I'm trying to get him to learn that the diaper isn't the only place to pee and poop. Not an EC (Elimination Communication) fanatic, but want to streamline potty training when the time comes.

Currently Didi's a bit out of sorts because he's sprouting his fourth tooth. He's just learned to wave bye bye and does an uncoordinated clap and "gong xi gong xi" movement. It's all very irresistible as I make him my little monkey and laugh at each "performance". Babies are just so much joy to have around.

I braced myself for a boy who would crawl and pull himself up and walk by 9 months. But been lucky so far. While he's really wiggly he's not really crawling yet at 8 months, so he's like Mia. Having another kid makes life interesting because you get to see the similarities in your offspring. So far, I think they are more similar than different. Both are pretty happy go lucky types and rarely fuss, but I have come to realize that this does not mean they are mellow. David is very vocal like Mia. He babbles and "talks" very loudly. He has started signing. The only signs he has picked up are "milk" and "more". We are trying to teach him "please" and "thank you", but he's a bit neanderthal like and wants what he wants NOW and not a second later. Can't be bothered with niceties.

My kids are both proving to be stubborn. Didi is refusing to be fed, wants to feed himself and will bang on his tray until he gets what he wants. He also does this odd, fast breathing through is nostrils a la Bruce Lee when he's pissed off that Cheerios or Puffs are not on the menu. It is actually cute, but we're trying not to laugh or give him any kind of positive reinforcement for such behavior. I'll try to get a video of it up soon.

Lastly our Kona ba Bona turned five this week. Happy Birthday my precious pooch!

Professional Photos

We had some family pics taken by a gal from church, Peichi Waite. They turned out great. Wish we had more of Didi and Mia together. But he was napping and we took pics for nearly an hour without him, so hence fewer pics of them together. I hope he doesn't get all sensitive about it when he grows up. The pics of Mia turned out beautifully. If you are in the Bay Area, check out Peichi Waite's website. I also posted almost all the pics on my FB account.
Fairy Mia

Mischievous Mia-this picture really captures Mia's silly side.

Family

Recent Conversations

Here are some recent things Mia has said that we find funny even though she drives us nuts sometimes.

Mia to Papa: I don't love boys, but I love you Papa.

My sugar and spice. She has decided that she does not like boys, but she still has some friends who are boys. Like the one who kept ramming her with the shopping cart while she was in a car at school.

****************************
Papa went upstairs after eating some yummy nori wrapped seaweed crackers because he heard Mia leave her room at bedtime.
Papa: Stay in bed, don't break the rules!
Mia: Taking a more pronounced sniff, What smells so good Papa?
She sussed out the scent of her favorite crackers. Ken came downstairs doubled over in laughter. I gave her the remainder of the bag the next day during her snack time. She didn't seem to make a connection.
***************************
Mama: When you grow up you will leave Mama and Papa to go to a school called college. Mama and Papa left home for college when we grew up.
Mia: Don't worry, I will come back home.
Mama: That would make me very happy.
Mia: Didi needs money for college too. (This is because Mia has a piggy bank from her Uncle Yukon and Aunt Helen that says money for college. Didi has a bank too, but Mia knows she has more coins in hers)
***************************
Mia: Mama, do you know Barbie?
Mama: Where did you learn about Barbie from?
Mia: From school today.
Mama: Who told you about Barbie?
Mia: A----
Mama: Oh, during sharing time that is what A---- brought?
Mia: Yes, it was one that looked like Tinkerbell but wasn't Tinkerbell.

Guess I could not keep her sheltered from the world of Barbie. The princesses infiltrated first. I'll try to keep Barbie at bay for another year or so. . .

What Pitter Patter?

It's more like FE-FI-FO-FUM when Mia walks around the house. So our little miss has been finding her way into our room. It didn't start when she transitioned to her big girl bed in anticipation of David's arrival last July. It didn't even start happening after he was born in September though she did come out many times during the going to bed process. It must have started around February of this year or so when she would come into our room and help herself into bed. In the beginning I always heard her coming. It was her telltale steps of a GIANT. I would first hear her door then the BOOM BOOM BOOM of her big toddler feet (Size 9-9.5) as she ran to my side of the bed (which is closest to the door).

At first one of us brought her back and stayed with her until she fell asleep or found ourselves waking up in her room around 6:30am. Not by choice by the way, that is when Mia usually wakes up. Then we got lazy and found it easier to endure the mad rustling, odd sleeping positions, slaps to the face, and kicking off of blankets than to take her back and get stuck in a twin. Seriously, the child can cause some damage, yet whenever I check on her in her own bed, she looks so peaceful sleeping on her side with her hands cradling her cute round face.

Mia Napping

Nowadays, she finds her way over about 4-5 nights a week and I don't even notice most nights. She's either learned to walk more stealthily or I'm too overtired to hear her. I often wake up and ask Ken what time she came over. He usually doesn't know either. And when we do know, there's NO PATTERN of behavior. One night it could bet 12:40, another night 3:23, and another night 4:35.

Some nights after I wake up to feed Didi and return to my bed, I'm glad to be returning to her and Papa. It's really nice to see her there even if it means much less real estate in our Queen. So I totally see why people find it hard to give up the family bed. Deep down, I'm all for the hippy attachment parenting. It's also funny when I see Mia and Papa sleeping in exactly the same position. Often with their head facing the side, one arm folded on their tummies, and the other splayed at their side. Sometimes they are both on their sides with their hands under their heads or necks. It's so sweet. And now I see that Didi likes to roll over to his side too.

Once the night before Ken left for a long trip, he said he was sad that she didn't make an appearance because he wanted to be close to her before he left for so long. So somewhere we lost our resolve to kick her out. We figure she'll outgrow it one day. But it will be a sad bittersweet day.

Mia's Bday at School

Mia Thinks She is THREE

Since my family was able to come to town we celebrated Mia's birthday over Easter weekend. In her little head, she's already three. I really can't believe it. She's not even a toddler anymore, she's a little kid!



At three Mia is into dancing, ballet, Caillou, Pinkalicious, Fancy Nancy, playdough, playing mail carrier/post office, tending to sick dolls, princess stuff and Tinkerbell. Before she got her fairy wings from Uncle Jamean, she would put her hands behind her back and pretend she had wings. . .



Mia's party was at the Little Gym where she jumped, bounced and climbed with about 26 other three year olds. It was a bit out of control. Next year we'll leave it to her friends not friends of her parents.