Readjusting

This past weekend we took a mini-trip. The main purpose was to attend the wedding of a good friend of ours, but we also managed to visit with the grandparents and great-grandparents and let them spend time with their grandchildren.

Bear spent some time in my grandmother's garden picking callalilies with my mom. She was fascinated with the insides of the flower.



Chipmunk spent his time lounging in my grandfather's favorite chair.



After a jam-packed weekend of visiting friends, attending a wedding, hanging out with grandparents on both sides of the family, we managed to get home.

It's always hard readjusting to being at home again. Nap times and feeding times are all out of synch and the kids are little bit more rebellious. Bear spent her time fighting nap time, so much so that she didn't nap at all, fell asleep early, woke up in the middle of the night from having a nightmare and then slept till 10 am the next morning. Chipmunk would sleep during wake time and was awake during sleep time and fed at odd times.



We also had to take him for his 2 month appointment the next morning (first set of shots!) so he spent the day fighting off his innoculations with a slight fever.

You see, there's always this time of readjustment after each trip we take. The longer we're on a trip, the longer it takes to readjust. I figure it takes about 2-3 days to readjust back to our home routine.

It's slowly getting there, but we're starting to slowly readjust...until we take another trip, that is.

Arm Exercise

The other day I was complaining to Matt that my arms were getting sore.

Today I weighed Chipmunk and the scale blinked 14 pounds at me.

Seriously, what is this kid eating?

Encounters

I was at one of my favorite stores today and after toting around two kids and returning the cart, I ran into one of my former students. He was an employee there and he was running around picking up the floating carts in the lot.

He actually approached me first and started to say, "Are you...", but I interrupted him with "Hey! How are you?!" I think he thought I wouldn't recognize him, but of course, I did.

I remember him being one of the students who would sit in my class with this serious glower on his face and I was sure he was just counting down the minutes till he could be free of the tortures of Biology.

But now, he had the biggest smile on his face and was talking to me about how things were going for him lately. He even asked me how I was doing.

It's just nice to see my students being grown ups rather than ridden with teenage angst.

Encounters like these happen all the time. I just happen to live close enough to where I taught that I happen to run into my former students quite often. So far I haven't had any encounters where the student cusses me out and tells me how I failed them. So far they've all been pleasant. I hope it stays that way.

Bear the Artist

Bear and I were coloring the other day. She picked up her purple crayon and started drawing. I asked her, "What are you drawing?"

"I color happy face!" Bear said with a smile.

Then she pointed to different parts of her drawing and pointed out the eyes, the nose, the mouth and the hair.

I was impressed. Can you see her happy face in her drawing?

Sometimes Being A Mom Sucks...

It always amazes me how some moms can get out of the house dressed up, hair done, make-up on and towing their spotless kids behind them. I feel happy if I brushed my teeth that morning.

Or I wonder how some moms have their home spotless, organized and pristine...dishes are clean and put away, toys are in their places, carpets are clean and dust free. I on the other hand usually find banana squished into my carpet, usually found accidentally with my bare foot.

So I wonder whether some moms just have it all together or they just hide it very well. I know for a fact that I don't have anything together, and trust me I can't hide it even if I tried.

A mother of three told me last weekend that I seemed like I was handling well being a mom of two. I told her, "Handling? I don't know. I don't know if it's handling well or just doing it because it has to be done." She nodded in agreement.

So I asked a mom of four how she does it...how she handles being home with four to care for. Her response (and I love the honesty) was that "usually when the youngest one cries, [she's] crying with her."

Ah. I see. Sometimes being a mom sucks. It's tough. It's rough. It sometimes makes you want to cry. Sometimes we just aren't at our best (or even close).

So why do we try so hard to make it seem like we've got it all together when we're really not? Is there really such thing as a "super mom?" If so, I'd like to meet her and see whether or not she actually gets any sleep. Meanwhile, I'm quite happy being "not-so-super" mom just trying to get through each day. I guess if I took the time to clean myself and my house up, I'd never get the time to spend hugging and enjoying the company of my kids. Here's to all you "not-so-super" moms out there...I think you're the best!

Mommy Unaware

Matt doesn't understand why I don't notice when he gets haircuts. I don't notice when anyone gets haircuts...that is, unless there were multiple feet of hair chopped off. It's just not one of those things I notice. It always amazes me, those women, who notice when someone gets even just a trim.

So it's always a game we play. Matt gets a haircut and waits to see how long it takes me to notice.

Last Saturday Matt got a haircut after work. Bear saw her dad for the first time that day and said, "Daddy Hair!"

I just don't get it.

Similarities

I saw this picture of Chipmunk and laughed because it reminded me so much of a post we wrote on Bear around the same age.



The similarities are there...

Happy Face!

I agree with Nina that toddlers are all about obsessions. Bear's latest obsession is all about happy faces.

If you happen to color with her, she'll probably demand that you draw a happy face. If you're lucky, she'll draw one for you, too.

Whenever we make the trip to Costco, it's always her responsibility to hand the receipt to the folks that check the carts when we exit. They always draw a happy face for her on the back of the receipt and she will stare at it with glee all the way to the car.

When Chipmunk starts to grimace, she yells out, "Baby Happy Face!" Okay, so he's not really smiling, but at least she's trying to understand the concept. I don't know if "frowning" is in her vocabulary yet.

This morning she took apart a box of wipes and ran up to me yelling, "happy face! happy face! happy face!" This is what she showed me:



She really is seeing happy faces everywhere.

6 Weeks

Here's a picture that Matt snapped of Chipmunk smiling.



It's these moments that remind me that all the rest of the hardships that we're going through are worth it.

Chipmunk has so far been at his worst when it comes to colic. I'm hoping that this is the peak of the fussiness and crying. He used to cry for part of the day...these past few days he's been crying most of the day. At night he won't sleep unless I'm holding him.

He also hates being in the car. He cries loudly until he goes hoarse whenever we're driving places. So driving long distances aren't really an option right now. Fortunately, the crying doesn't bother Bear much. She aptly tells me, "Baby crying! Baby Hung-gy (Hungry)" and then most of the time just falls asleep to the background noise of the wailing. Impressive.

So it doesn't matter. He cries at home, he cries in the car. I will just have to deal with it until the colic disappears. Just pray that I can remain sane and keep some semblance of patience in the meantime. And while I wait, I can always enjoy his smiles here and there...reminding me that the constant crying is just temporary.

Longing for a Haircut

Reasons to Cut My Hair:

1) The last time I had it cut, Bear was in the womb.
2) I have to use Costco size bottles of conditioner in order to have enough to condition it.
3) Brushing is a painful ordeal. Bear actually copies me by pretending to brush her own hair. She even says, "ow ow ow."
4) Every time I sit down I sit on my hair.
5) Every time I lay down I lay on my hair.
6) Chipmunk likes to grab the loose hairs while he feeds. Ouch.
7) It takes forever to dry.
8) Last but not least, Someone out there could really use my hair.

One of these days I will get to it.

Mommy and Me Time

Since Chipmunk needs to be held a lot, Bear often has to do things on her own. She's a trooper though and doesn't seem to mind too much that I'm always carrying the Chipmunk around. Because of that I've been trying to find some special time for just the two of us to hang out and have fun. There is this span of time in the late afternoon where Chipmunk is sleeping and she's ready and refreshed after her nap that's perfect for some Mommy & Bear activities.

Today's activity was egg dying. She was so excited as I was diluting all the dyes, it was a task keeping her from spilling them. I even pulled out the non-washable crayons for her to color her eggs with. She was so thrilled that she slammed a couple of the eggs on the table and cracked them. Whoops.



Here are her eggs. She's so proud of them and even adorned them with stickers later on.



I tried to get a nice picture of Bear with her eggs, but she developed a "camera smile." You know, the ones kids force when they say "cheese." Unfortunately, her fake smile makes it look like she's in pain in most of her pictures.

Despite the look on her face, I think she had a good time.

Deprivation and Reward

When you lack something, it helps you appreciate it all the more when it comes.

Last night I got to sleep for 3 and a half hours straight. Wow, it felt great. Yup. Chipmunk slept for a 4 and a half hour stretch.

More of a schedule is finally settling in. Chipmunk actually gave us 2 colic free nights.

And the snot? Well, that's starting to lessen as well.

Aaaah.

Then again, we won't know what will happen tomorrow.

(Sorry, haven't posted any pictures...well, because my children were snotty)

Surviving

It's been rough. I won't lie. Having 2 sick kids takes a lot out of you. Bear wakes constantly at night and is super tired and cranky during the day. She also has these nice canker sores which she complains about constantly and keeps her from eating. Chipmunk has trouble staying asleep and has trouble eating with his stuffy nose (along with his bouts of crying for hours). Both of them have had fits of coughing and our humidifier has been on constantly. Gratefully there are no fevers...just a lot of snot.

But we're surviving...snot and all.

On the other hand, I've been super industrious. Well, some women shop when they're having a rough time. I clean. I don't just vacuum and wash dishes. I rearrange furniture and scrub grout between tiles with old toothbrushes.

I should be sleeping though...and perhaps I shouldn't be moving furniture either.

Numbers

30 - the number of minutes it takes to pack 2 kids into the car

19 - the number of times I told Bear to stop waking up her brother this morning

17 - the number of diapers I changed yesterday

9 - the number of times Chipmunk woke up out of a sound nap suddenly, usually from snorting (stuffy nose)

8 - the number of times Bear lost Sonja and ran through the house screaming for her

6 - the number of dirty outfits I changed yesterday

5 - the number of hours Chipmunk was up last night crying

4 - the number of Curious George episodes I had to watch today

3 - the number of hours of sleep I got last night(in 3 different parts)

2 - the number of kids in this house with colds involving stuffy noses

1 - the number of tired moms in this house

One Down, Two to Go

When I was a first time parent with Bear, I spent most of the first month feeling like I was doing something wrong. Actually, I spent most of the first year feeling like I was doing something wrong. Seasoned parents would tell me that "3 months" was the magic number. "Just wait 3 months," they said, "it'll seem much better then." Of course it was hard for me to imagine with a screaming one month old day in and day out. When 3 months rolled around, it was like magic...the colicky symptoms went away, a better schedule was established and I felt much more at ease about being a parent.

I find that having experienced the dramatic difference of 3 months, I've been impatiently waiting for Chipmunk to hit that point. I find myself muttering things like, "only 8 more weeks to go" or "one month down, two more to go." Now that Chipmunk has hit the 1 month mark though, I realize that 4 weeks came and went much quicker than I expected.

So perhaps I should stop looking forward to "3 months" and just enjoy "right now" because I'm afraid I'm going to miss out on something special...like the joy of having a newborn...

Whoa Mama!

I've read that newborns are supposed to gain on average an ounce a day. Sixteen days ago Chipmunk was 8 pounds which was 13 ounces less than his birth weight. Today he weighed in at 9 pounds 8 ounces! That's 24 ounces in 16 days! The doctor took a look at the chart and said "Whoa Mama, what have you been feeding this boy?"

Suffice it to say I'm not too worried about his weight anymore...however I am concerned about his feeding habits. When you're feeding a child every two hours it wears you down after a while. I hope he grows out of this growth spurt soon and slows down the frequency of his feedings. I really do need longer intervals of sleep. I think 20 minutes at a time just isn't healthy.

Entertaining ourselves

When you're sleep deprived, you've got to entertain yourself somehow.



Thanks, Matt, for making me laugh.

Falling Asleep Standing

I took a Humanities class during my freshman year of college where the most interesting part of the class was seeing how many people were sleeping through the lecture the morning after a paper was due. One time, there was this poor soul who obviously ran to class to turn the paper in time, was too late to get an actual seat, ended up having to sit on the steps of the lecture hall, where he promptly fell asleep and snored loudly (to the amusement of those sitting around him) throughout the hour and a half of lecture.

Ah, sleep...so very necessary...yet so fleeting when you've got a newborn.

This time around I've been trying harder to get rest when I can...especially with our little Chipmunk who has daytime and nightime reversed...so he's up all night, and come morning, up rises Bear who needs my attention as well. So my sleep has been short and sporadic. I think if I had to sit through a Humanities lecture right now, I'd be the one snoring.

Granted, Chipmunk is more predictable since he's our second kid...we're able to read him better than we could as new parents with Bear...so it's not as frustrating...just more sleep depriving. I'm amazed that Matt can get up to go to work at 6:30 in the morning after a night of sleeping in a chair with Chipmunk in his lap.

So, I'm afraid that one of these days I'll catch myself falling asleep while standing. Now that would be something to see.

All About Personality...

Chipmunk had his follow up appointment with the doctor today. As I feared, he hasn't really been gaining any weight. I know, he was 8 pounds 13 ounces when he was born, which is quite sizable, but when we left he weighed just 8 pounds. Babies do lose weight during those first few days...but they're not supposed to lose that much.

So today he weighed 8 pounds...still. I was a little disappointed. I felt that perhaps I wasn't feeding him well enough...

So the doctor asked me a ton of questions...turns out he is eating...he just likes to take his merry, sweet time. For example, last night he ate for about an hour and a half straight. He drank the whole time, just very...very...slowly.

The doctor said that he was alert, well-hydrated and probably gaining weight (assuming he lost some weight after we left the hospital, too)...his personality was just too mellow and easy-going to be a vigorous eater.

Too mellow and easy-going to eat? Too lazy to eat, perhaps. It's so opposite from Bear's first few days who was constantly hungry and ate too quickly.

Different personalities? I guess we'll soon find out.

Rare Moment

Bear is fast asleep.

Chipmunk is fast asleep.

Matt is fast asleep.

It's 4:30 in the afternoon.

I'm awake watching chick flicks.

I think this is going to be a rare moment, indeed.

Our Hungry Chipmunk

Just wanted to update with some pictures of our little "chipmunk."



He was a big boy when he was born. He continues to amaze us with his superior eating abilities. He actively eats for an hour and then asks for more. I just don't have enough for him. He practically eats another meal right afterwards of what is supposed to be "supplemental" formula.

Here's Bear with her brother.



She came to the hospital everyday...ran into the room, wouldn't say hi to mom or dad, but would run over to her brother and yell out, "Hi Baby!" Ever since the chipmunk came home, she's been hugging and kissing him, patting his head and trying to tickle him.

Here's our family of four:



Whoa. Four. That's going to take some getting used to.

Turkey is done... (by padawanlee)

Just an update for everyone. Our newest member of the family came out healthy and well done today. He was born at 12:30pm at 8 lbs 13 oz and 20 inches long. Both mom and baby are resting and doing well in the hospital, mom is recovering well from the delivery and dad is happy that everyone is well and he is adjusting to being a parent of a newborn again. There will be no more tickets for sale for the traveling mommy show anymore but a new attraction will be soon taking its place. More updates and pictures to follow once we settle down.

Thank you all for your support, prayers, and words of encouragement over the past few months as God has blessed our family with this new baby boy.

Will Write Again Soon

One year for Thanksgiving I remember shopping for turkeys and considering the number of people we decided to get a 10 pound turkey. Comparatively, it's a small turkey.

I apparently have a small turkey inside me. He's estimated to be 9 pounds (give or take a pound) and he's stubbornly hanging out in the wrong position.

No, I don't know how this baby turned out to be 9 pounds. It was quite a shock for Matt and myself (Bear was only 7 lbs).

Apparently our turkey is done baking. He's being removed from the oven tomorrow at noon.

Will write again soon.

Welcome to the Freak Show...

You ever have the feeling that wherever you go people are looking at you funny?

Everywhere I go these days I feel like that. I feel like a freak show.

It's interesting to see people's reactions. Some people smile. Some people shake their heads. Some people have a pained expression on their face. Some try to discreetly point me out as they whisper to their companions. Some have the courage to even speak to me.

"You just have one in there, right?"

"Wow, you must be due soon!"

"You look like you're ready to pop!"

That's me. A one-woman freak show. Better get your tickets soon, the show will hopefully be ending shortly.

Eat Hot Dog? (by padawanlee)

I wonder when kids actually learn to read. Yesterday we went to Costco to pick up some supplies before baby #2's arrival and as we pulled into the parking lot Bear commented from the backseat "eat dinner, hot dog". Carina and I looked at each other with a befuddled look comprehending what Bear just said. One, we didn't mention hot dogs at all during the car trip and second, the Costco we were at was not the usual one we shop at. So either Baby Bear can read signs now or she had a strange craving for a hot dog... what do you think?

Bear is Swedish, Yah?

It's fun to ask Bear questions these days. She actually answers. I remember a couple of years ago when I'd be walking through the grocery store and asking Bear questions like, "Should we have pork or beef?" and the most of a reaction I'd get from her was a coo or a smile. I do realize that I talked to myself a lot those first few months of parenthood.

As one who is not well-versed in the art of baby talk, I tend to talk to Bear like she's an adult. Yesterday I caught myself telling her, "You really need to work on your organizational skills." Ha ha...like that's going to happen any time soon (as I groan and pick up a billion toys off the floor while I'm practically 9 months pregnant).

It's just nice to hear an actual response to my questions when I ask them now.

The only thing I'm a little puzzled about is how my toddler came to respond to questions with "Yah" instead of "Yes." She used to use the latter (and I love how she emphatically nods her head at the same time). Recently, she's decided to answer questions affirmatively with "Yah."

Last week a friend came over and asked Bear, "Are you going to be a good big sister to the baby?" Bear bobbed her head up and down a few times and said, "Yah!"

Later in the week I asked her, "Bear do you want an apple?" She responded, "eat appoh(apple), yah!"

Apparently, Bear is becoming European.

A Little Goodbye

If I wasn't 38 weeks pregnant and having irregular contractions, I'd probably be making my way up to Nor Cal right about now.

When I was pregnant with Bear, one of my hopes was that she would get to meet her great great grandma (or "big big ma ma" as she called her)...I just thought, "how neat would it be for all five generations to be together in one room...how precious it would be." So they met, and although Bear probably won't remember...and her great great grandma wasn't even sure who we all were...it was still a sweet moment where we could capture the 5 generations in a photo op.

About an hour ago I heard the news that my kun halmoni passed away. I wish I could be there to say goodbye...Instead this will have to do.



We'll miss you kun halmoni and "big big ma ma."

Hard, Easy, Hard, Easy...

No, I'm not writing about eggs...

A couple nights ago a father of four told me that in his experience (and also comparing with some other parents that he knew) the first child is always hard, the second is easier (emphasis on "er"), the third is again hard, and then the fourth is easy.

I thought about that for a while and then I wondered, "Is Bear hard or easy to raise?" We know the answer is "hard" but apparently appearances can be deceiving. We've heard way too often about how Bear seems so easy...ha ha ha...that's funny.

But if Bear is an easy child to raise and we've just been overdramatizing everything in our heads, then does that mean we are going to give birth to a little hellraiser in a couple of weeks? I don't know if we are ready for that.

Two Years and a Thank You

I realized the other day that our blog is coming upon 2 years now...and what once started as a place I could just express myself while being trapped at home with a newborn has now become a glimpse into the world that we like to call "our family."

First off, just wanted to send out a little "thanks" to all of you readers out there whoever you are. Whether you are friend, family or friends of the friends and family, we appreciate your visit to our humble little site that mostly revolves around one silly little girl.

Just for fun, I thought I'd provide links to some of our favorite moments in the past 2 years...

Why Bear cried during bathtime (9-11-2007)
Why you should never leave a child unattended with yogurt (4-17-07)
Why Matt wonders where his genes went (3-2-07)
Why Daddy was saying "Doh"(12-22-06)
Why 11 month olds shouldn't play with fruit(11-12-06)
How Kids pick things up so easily when you're not there(7-9-06)

Stay tuned...I'm quite sure more stories and laughs are to come.

Christmas Wrap-Up

Sometimes I wonder if Bear will remember any of these moments. My earliest memory was when I was 3 years old and my sister was born...Perhaps it's ingrained in my memory because it was such a happy (er...traumatic) moment in my life. My brother once recalled a moment when he was 2. I've heard that (although rare) some people actually remember being in their cribs watching their mobiles. Spooky. Whatever the case may be, I still wonder how much Bear is impacted by all of these moments in her life.

Christmas

We spent Christmas with Matt's family in Sacramento this year. It was nice. Bear had a great time eating and of course, opening presents (Abre Peh-sent?). As I've been heading towards immobility, it was nice having lots of family around to care for and entertain Bear. Being as inquisitive as she is, Bear followed Grandma and Grandpa around constantly asking, "What doing?"

After Christmas

For Bear's birthday we headed West and visited my side of the family. Bear continued to eat and open presents. We went to this pizza place in Berkeley called Zachary's. For those of you who have never been, their pizza is a serious deep dish pizza. I could only manage one slice. Bear meanwhile ate about half a salad and almost 2 pieces of pizza. Amazing.

Fun Being 2

Bear rode a carousel for the first time. I couldn't tell if she was enjoying it while she was riding it, but after she got off she promptly told me "Dun (Fun)."

I think throughout our week in Nor Cal, I enjoyed most watching Bear take in all of her surroundings. We took walks in Sacramento where she was fascinated with leaves and rocks and grass. Visiting her Great Grandma she enjoyed opening all the cabinets and finding "treasures" here and there. Even when it was just so cold Bear was running around in her blue parka on the grass or she was watching the rainfall. We even had an engrossing conversation about "poo" when she asked about the brown turd on the car window (B: Bir poo poo? Me: Yes, all animals poo poo. [later in the conversation] B: Tanta poo poo? Me: Does Santa poo poo? Uh, I don't know.).



Going Home

This year we didn't have to stuff a 4 foot pink pony into our car...but if anyone looked in our trunk they would have thought that we were building an altar for Dora the Explorer (Dora clothes, Dora games, Dora books, Dora bandages?). I guess brand marketing worked on this family.

After a week Matt and I were exhausted...on the other hand, Bear was revved up and even more of a conversationalist than when we arrived. Seven hours (of toddler conversation) later we arrived home and rang in the New Year by falling asleep.

Ah, good times.


Bear's 1st Christmas Gift of 2007 from her mom and dad

Why I Can't Count...

Someone asked me about a month ago how far along I was in this pregnancy. I thought about it, but was really puzzled because I had absolutely no clue. I just answered, "I don't know...somewhere in the 3rd trimester, I think?"

I just can't count the weeks this time around. I actually signed up at Babycenter for weekly emails to tell me how far along I am. Otherwise, I have to grab others who are pregnant (and counting) so I can somehow figure out where I am compared to them.

Honestly there's a lot of things I don't know about this pregnancy. We still don't know the gender of the baby (not without lack of trying). I haven't really read any books to prepare for this baby. I don't even know if we have everything we need for this baby. Perhaps I should at least pack my bag for the hospital.

Sometimes I feel as if I should have more anxiety than I presently do...especially since so many people give me a nervous look and say, "You're due in February? I don't think you're going to make it to February." And yet, I look at the toys spilled all over our floor and I feel more compelled to get that cleaned up rather than think about the future (which is quickly approaching).

So I will just enjoy sitting with Bear and watch her take in the world around her. She's even started counting objects on her own (one, two, fee, door, dive, tix, eben, eight, nine, twendy!) Perhaps I'll have her keep track of this pregnancy for me.

The Best Day of the Year?

I overheard Matt explaining to Bear this morning that today (Jan 1st) is the "best day of the year." He said, "you can watch football all day!" Bear just responded by asking for more juice.

My only thought though is what happened to the names of all the beloved bowl games? Seriously, what is a "Chick-Fil-A" Bowl? Or even better..."Capital One" Bowl? Okay, so I'm not going to watch any of these bowl games, but I just had to ask.

Happy New Year!

So it's about 11:00 pm on New Year's Eve and I'm about ready to tuck myself in and drift off into needed sleep. How sad is that? Has counting down to the new year lost it's luster since entering into parenthood? I guess so. The last time I truly remember celebrating the new year was when we rang in 2005.

But I still wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year! I hope 2008 brings you days of hope, joy and peace.

I feel so lame skipping out on the countdown, but hey if you had 7 hours in the car with this, you'd be tired, too.

Bear: Mommy!

Me: Yes!

Bear: Mommy!

Me: What is it?

Bear: Mommy! Mommy!

Me: Yes! Did you want to tell me something?

Bear: Mommy!

Me: Okay, yes, that's my name.

Bear: Mommy! Mommy!

Me: Are you going to tell me something or what?

Bear: Mommy! Mommy!

Me: Aargh!

Strong Impression Made

We haven't written in a while...mostly because we've been sleep deprived. So when choosing to nap or blog, uh, well, I'm sure you know what the answer is. Bear has been having some sleeping issues...we don't know why, although we've been over many possible theories....but that's not why I blog today.

Actually, something interesting happened yesterday while the three of us were out doing some Christmas shopping. We were standing in line waiting to pay for a box set of DVDs when Bear caught the attention of the 2 women standing in front of us (usual occurence for our little attention getter). They started smiling and waved at Bear. Bear smiled back with her teethy grin and said, "hi!" Then one of the women said that she remembered seeing Bear before. Her exact words were, "Yeah, I remember seeing her about a month ago at [a restaurant] where she was thoroughly enjoying a plate of fruit...I remember that smile of hers too."

How odd is that? We weren't anywhere in the vicinity of that restaurant at the time, and it was true, we were at that restaurant a month previously. Apparently, Bear leaves some strong impressions. Amazing.

Conversations with Toddlers

As Bear continues to develop, I've been finding that conversations with her are becoming more interesting. Sometimes there is actually some substance to our "chats."

For example, yesterday...

Me: Bear, do you need to use the potty?

Bear: No, pah-yee(potty)...change die-ber(diaper). I yike die-ber.

Me: But you're becoming a big girl. You're still my baby girl, but there will be another baby soon and you'll be the big sister.

Bear: Baby? (and proceeds to rub my belly) My Baby?

Me: Yes, the baby will be yours, too.

Bear: (pointing to her belly) Baby here?

Me: No, you don't have a baby. Only mommy has the baby.

Bear: Eji Tales?(Veggie Tales?)

Me: Uh, okay, you can watch some Veggie Tales.

Okay, so she changes the subject quicker than a fox jumping over a lazy dog, but hey, this is the closest to a heart-to-heart chat we've ever had. I'll take what I can get.

Thanksgiving Weekend

Hope that all of you out there had wonderful holiday weekends.

I was trying to think of a way to cleverly sum up our weekend, but as I have been Mrs. Scatterbrain lately, cleverness just isn't my thing. Other than that, I'm sure that Matt will tell you that I have been "nesting" to full capacity...at least until a week or so ago when I hit a wall...and now I've just been doing a lot of complaining.

But back to Thanksgiving weekend...

After watching my mom madly shop for and cook mass quantities of eats, we had a wonderful dinner with family. Bear managed to eat half of the grape tomatoes on her own and half a box of tangerines. As usual, she entertained everyone with her silly antics. Pictures will have to come later.

Saturday was Bear's first trip to Disneyland to help celebrate Auntie R's birthday. She had this look on her face most of the day:



Bear was overwhelmed and couldn't believe that she was seeing her cartoon heroes in person. She managed to give Goofy, Mickey and Minnie a kiss. She even shared Sonja with Mickey. That lucky mouse.

We managed to get on a few rides. Surprisingly, Bear can ride more rides than I can at this point. We stuck with the ones that we all could ride. Here she is "Finding Nemo" and riding the "Choo Choo."





That was our weekend in a nutshell.

Emotions

There are those people in life that no matter how angry or mad you get, they always seem to turn it around in an instant.

Bear is like that. She has this way of making anger and sadness melt away.

Like any human being, I do get angry...at her, especially when I've asked her 10 times in a row not to touch something, or when I'm trying to keep her away from something potentially dangerous and she just chooses to endanger herself again and again.

But she has this way of always turning those situations around...and somehow I end up laughing with her, hugging her, enjoying the moment where a few minutes ago I was ready to pop out a vein.

Throughout our day together, I have to keep myself from bursting out laughing because of all the silly things she does when she thinks I'm not looking. Her most recent antic is to yell "Abre! (is that how it's spelled?)" at the most random times, imitating her favorite tv character Dora when she wants things to "Open" like the door, a book, or even at laundry as she throws it up in the air.

Other times when I'm feeling blue, she tries to cheer me up in her own special ways. Often that means offering Sonja or her cup of juice to me. Sometimes if I have to cry, she sits in my lap and cries with me. Once she even offered Sonja's hand to me, because for her sucking on Sonja's hand is comforting.

And I feel for her when she cries...Somehow a broken dish or spilled milk all over the floor just doesn't matter when your child is whimpering and feeling bad for what she did. The comforting hug always comes first...clean up comes later.

So wiping up all sorts of biological messes, finding irreversible pen marks on favorite books, waking up in the middle of the night of an already shortened sleep, is nothing. Realizing that your child needs you and you love your child, is absolutely something.

Bear's Rules to Live By

1) TV Theme songs are for dancing.
2) When playing with toys, it's more fun to pour out the whole box of toys and then pick one.
3) Stickers are for adorning the front door.
4) When traveling from room to room, I must carry Sonja, a blanket, a cup of water, and Snoopy.
5) When I find something new to play with I will drop Sonja, blanket, cup of water and Snoopy.
6) If mommy does it, I must do it too.
7) If there's a mess, just leave it. It magically goes away when I wake up the next morning.
8) Food is more fun to eat when it gets all over the place.
9) Things that happen on Dor@ the Explorer are what really happens in life.
10) What mommy and daddy tell me to do are just guidelines, there's always a loophole.

Thankful for 30

Now that I'm thirty, here's 30 things I'm thankful for:

1) A wonderful husband who always knows when I need a hug.
2) Bear, who makes me laugh on a daily basis.
3) Waking up each morning knowing that it's another day God has blessed me with.
4) My family who knows all of my quirks and still seem to keep me around.
5) The friends near and far that have each touched my life in one form or another.
6) Baby Lee who we can't wait to meet in February (or possibly January).
7) Lots of pillows that I can wedge myself into bed every night.
8) A place that we can call "home" even if the ceiling falls in every now and again.
9) The fact that I always cry on the last scene of "M0nster's Inc."
10) My mom who taught me everything "crafty" as I was growing up...who knew they'd come in handy so often.
11) My artsy sister who if I didn't have her around growing up, I'd always walk out of the house wearing 2 different colors of black.
12) My brother who without I would not know anything about anime, Pl@ystation, or good cheesecake.
13) My 5th grade teacher, who encouraged me to be myself, and still remembers my name to this day when I run into her.
14) Binder clips...I like binder clips...they're so handy.
15) Avocados...yum.
16) Craft stores, of which I could spend hours perusing items I don't need.
17) My guitar, my piano, and for music that helps to soothe my soul.
18) Rainy days, because everything is always so clean after the downpour.
19) Bear's pediatrician, who really knows her stuff, and truly cares for Bear.
20) Quarters...of which without we wouldn't have clean laundry.
21) Noisy neighbors, who help me understand the joy of peace and quiet.
22) People who are extremely down to earth...especially when their position in life would generally cause them to have their head in the clouds.
23) My childhood memories of fun times that I think back on and hope Bear will have a chance to experience.
24) My church, all the good and the bad, and the things I learn week after week.
25) My memories of teaching, my memories of my students, and the things they taught me each week.
26) Those moments when I actually get a chance to brush my hair.
27) Books of all sorts...that I can read to learn or read to relax.
28) God's creativity, that I see everyday, in everyone and everything.
29) My fears, that keep me on my toes, but don't consume me.
30) The trials and challenges in my life, the tears and heartaches, and the joys and sorrows that made me into the person that I am. Thanks.

Of course, I'm thankful for a lot of things...but these are the first 30 that I thought of...I'll close with a picture from Bear's October 31st fun.

For Some Reason...

It's 11 pm and for some reason Bear is still up and running around.

She was fast asleep and then the neighbors upstairs made a horrific noise (sounded like a bookshelf fell over). Ever since then we've been wondering when she'll go back to sleep. She is currently running around the livingroom with a flashlight saying, "Yight Aw (Light On)."

Fun.

Pre-Halloween Chuckle

Here she is...all ready for trick-or-treating!

3 Years...

So it's been 3 years since Matt and I have been married...I can't complain. It's been a good 3 years (with all the ups and downs). We have our 1.5 kids, a cluttered apartment, and lots of happy memories. It's good.

It's kind of weird to think though that it was about 11 and a half years ago when we met (did I do the math right?). He claims that I "picked him up." Well, I did, but I picked him and 3 other people up to drive them to an on-campus fellowship event. After that we went through 4 years of friendship, 4 years of dating and now 3 years of marriage.

Happy Anniversary, Padawanlee!

Traditions...

I've been pulling my hair out trying to decide how to dress Bear for Halloween this year. The reason being that I would love to continue to make Bear's costume again for her. So needless to say, time is running out to make a decision. Last year she was a darling little piggy. This year (only being her second Halloween) I'm stumped.

The reason I'm so adamant about wanting to make Bear's costume myself is because most of the costumes I wore growing up were handmade by my mom. She labored every year at the sewing machine so that my siblings and I could dress up as we pleased. Some of the costumes I remember were quite intricate...the pink flapper dress, the angel costume complete with satin wings and a halo, even the baby bumblebee and wings that my sis wore. So since I now have my mom's old sewing machine, I would love to continue the tradition of homemade Halloweens.

Matt and I have been going back and forth over how to dress Bear. He really wanted to dress her as a Jawa. I wasn't so enthused. He also came up with the idea to dress Bear up in a Sonja costume which most people laugh at the idea (I laughed too - hey, it's funny). Other suggestions are to dress her as some kind of animal, like a bear, a jedi (so I don't have to dress her as a Jawa but it's still Star Wars related), some kind of ballerina or princess to appease her girly-girl nature, or I could just dress her in her purple fairy skirt and wings although I may have to censor her.

So I'm looking for suggestions...any ideas?

Times sure have changed

Matt and I went to a wedding last weekend. It was great. We got to see a good friend from college tie the knot with his longtime love. Beyond that, we also got to see some other friends from our college days, some we haven't seen since college.

You have to understand, we had some interesting college days. I won't go into details, but some of the people we knew were legendary in a sense. They weren't necessarily a legend, but the stories about them were. For those of you reading who went to college with us, you know the people and you know the stories. Some might say "crazy," but to us they were the stories that made us laugh over dorm meals.

Yet, there we all were sitting at two tables at a wedding. Some of those old stories did come out again for us to chuckle over. This time was a little different though. Proud dads were pulling out their phones and PDAs to show off their baby boys and girls. Others shared how they became doctors, businessmen and assistant principals since we last saw them. There were some who moved far, some who bought homes, and some who became newly engaged. Times sure had changed.

I was totally bewildered when I witnessed a group of guys sitting around recommending books on baby sleep training...

...and then they started talking about how excited they were for Starcraft II to come out and discussing when they could get together for a LAN party.

I guess times haven't changed that much.

Being One's Own...

The most common comment we've gotten recently about Bear is "She's soooo independent!" This being said as she is running away from us and running towards other people to say "hi" and show off her Sonja doll. Like today, we went to the mall and she just had to go through the red door (T@lbots). She even started waving to people who were trying to enter or leave the store probably hoping one of them would let her through. Earlier at brunch, the waitress came to take our order and Bear promptly pointed to the menu and told her "Meat...Wice(rice)."

What can I say? She definitely has her own opinions. As much as people tell me that it's a good thing, I find myself battling her day by day. "Do you want to wear the pink or the blue shirt today?" "NO BOO (Blue), NO PICK (Pink)...Dess(Dress- pointing into the closet)." "Eat your sandwich, Bear." "NO, EAT APO-DOS (applesauce)." My cousin even bought her this really cute purple fairy style skirt with wings, and Bear loves it, but she insists taking everything else off in order to wear them. So Bear runs around practically naked with a see-through skirt, a diaper and a pair of wings. So I've been trying to take a picture of her in her little outfit, so I can send it to my cousin, but uh...yeah.

As I've spent the greater part of my life trying to find and accept my own opinion, to avoid being so wishy-washy, it's such a weird concept to me that Bear is just so innately opinionated.

I would never want to squash her opinions, nor the charisma she has. I mean seriously, it took me almost 30 years before I could find my own voice. Although I do realize that my opinions were always there, I just never expressed them because I was just afraid of what people thought of me. So I guess it took me 30 years before I realized that no one really cares, and if they do, then well I shouldn't care. I am just trying to be my own.

And that is something that Bear has shown me well...It's important to just be your own...and not lose yourself to others. And it's important to appreciate others as they are. Otherwise, what's the point of God creating us each so differently?

The Fun Stage

I guess each stage of development has it's fun. Sometimes I find myself longing for those days when Bear would just sit there and I wouldn't have to run after her nor clean up her messes. Having a toddler is fun though...there's so much more we can do with her now.

The Beach - She played in the water, dug in the sand and amassed a collection of "smooshed" sandcrabs. Poor sandcrabs, never had a chance.



The Fair - We went to the County Fair and Bear really loved looking at all the farm animals. She just kept saying, "Mor Dow! (More Cow)" and would "Baa" at all the sheep. She also took a liking to roasted corn and fake snow (yes, one building had fake snow that she got to play with).

Facing Fears - Bear faced her fears this weekend and picked her very own avocado from a tree in a family friends' backyard.



She was so excited, she ran around the yard yelling "tado!" and then would throw the poor thing onto the concrete like it was a football.

So it's been fun with Bear these days...she enjoys all the activities just as much as we do.

Long Weekend...

I teetered back and forth about writing about this especially in such a semi-public way. But I concluded that as much as I'd like for this blog to be light-hearted and filled with Bear's silly little antics, it's also a place where I've been writing about the lessons I've learned as a parent.

As my mom said, we grew an extra layer of skin this past weekend. I'll spare you all the details mostly because I'm sparing myself some tears upon remembering each moment as it happened.

Bear came down with a fever this past weekend...it escalated to the point where she had a febrile seizure. Although I've read about it in books and even as a teacher who is supposed to be trained in dealing with instances of any kind of seizure, I just wasn't prepared. I never felt so at a loss in my life.

I appreciated the people who tended to her (nurses, doctors, paramedics), but I didn't appreciate their constant repetition of the same few phrases...This kind of thing happens all the time...We can't really do much because it's not that big of an emergency...Don't worry, she'll be fine. As much as someone tells you not to worry, it doesn't help...sometimes you just have to worry. Sometimes you just need to feel scared.

So after our brief stint in the hospital, Matt and I were carefully monitoring our sick little girl. I don't think either of us wanted to leave her side at any moment. Even she wouldn't let us leave her sight unless she knew where we were going. We spent the day at home half sleeping, half awake...constantly keeping one eye on Bear.

Monday morning she woke up with a smile, no fever, or any other sign of sickness. She grabbed her doll, her blanket, her cup of water and came to sit in the livingroom just like it was any other day, just as if nothing had ever happened.

Kids are so resilient. I wish I could say the same for myself.

(Bear is fine. We went to the pediatrician on Monday [a wonderful doctor who didn't say anything of the sort like the people at the hospital] and everything checked out fine. Her temperature was normal and there's no sign of an infection. She must have just caught a random virus and unfortunately has the genetic predisposition towards febrile seizures. She is once again her happy-go-lucky self...and possibly a bit more chatty).

The Cry from the Bathroom

Matt usually takes care of bathtime and bedtime. It's his time of day to spend with his little girl. These days I've been using bathtime as clean up time.

Tonight I was in the kitchen tidying up some dishes when I heard Bear start crying. I was a little concerned, but I thought, hmmm, she probably doesn't want to come out of the bath yet.

What actually happened: Matt informed me that Bear looked at her pruney hands, tried to wipe away the wrinkles, even tried to pick them off, and then started crying because they just wouldn't go away.

After her bath, she came running out to me holding out her hands and whimpering. She pointed to the pruney wrinkles and started tearing up. She ran over to the sink and said, "wsh hans(wash hands)" and started to cry again when I told her that it wouldn't help. So I hugged her and assured her that her hands would be okay once she dried off.

Poor kid. I hope this doesn't deter her from taking baths.

Wee!

Here's a conversation we had at a friend's house recently.

Bear: Wee wee!

Friend: Uh, Matt? Does Bear need to use the bathroom?

Matt: Why do you ask?

Friend: She's running around yelling "Wee wee!"

Matt: Oh, no. She's actually saying, "Wii wii." She wants to play the Wii.

Friend: Only your kid would have "Wee" refer to the "Wii."

Bear: Wii wii!

No Way!

Me: Bear! It's time for a nap!

Bear: No way! No way!

----------------------

Me: Bear! Pick up your toys!

Bear: No way! No way!

----------------------

Me: It's time to change your diaper!

Bear: No way! No way!

----------------------

I'm not quite sure where she picked up this phrase...but she sure has been using it a lot. What happened to just "no?"

Haircutting 101

So can anyone out there tell me how to properly cut hair? Especially the hair of a squirmy, squiggly toddler?

A few months ago, I managed to cut Bear's bangs, but it took me three days to get it right. In the end, I cut it a little too short, a little too straight, and my baby looked liked one of those dolls you get from the Americ@n Girl Company.

Now her hair is growing out again into and over her eyes. I've been attempting to chop it here and there, but it's just becoming a jagged mess.

Help.

Mommy got ditched

Last Saturday Bear and I attended the "Saturday Party" celebrating the end of VBS week at our church. This is the day where all the kids invite their families to come and watch them perform songs, view a slideshow of the week's activities, and then enjoy a lunch together. I wheeled Bear to the front once the performance started and within a minute she said, "Dow (Down)."

A minute later she saw one of the moms (we'll call her J) who helps out in the nursery, pointed at her with a smile and said, "Heeeey!" Then Bear promptly ran over to where J was sitting with her daughter and husband climbed up onto the pew next to her and sat there for the remainder of the performance.

So I sat all alone. Bear ditched me. Actually, it is quite funny, so I'm not upset even if you are laughing at my misery.

One time, I thought she was returning to me, so I held out my arms to her. She quickly grabbed Sonja from the stroller and ran back to sit with J. Ha ha.

So I watched her as she applauded each of the kids. I watched as she screamed in enjoyment at the slideshow. I watched as she attempted to dance to each of the songs, but I watched all of this from afar.

I'm glad that Bear is so comfortable running up and sitting with other people (people she knows...not strangers). Lately, she has been much more comfortable at church, too. I often lose her because she's visiting other friends and families. I think she mingles at church more than Matt or I ever do.

So even if I do get ditched by my own daughter, I always know that in the end she'll come running back to me asking to be picked up and held. I will gladly oblige.

Ode to the Sticker

Stickers, stickers everywhere,
On my pants and in my hair.
Oh, just how did they get in there?
A little toddler put them "dare!"

As we walk from room to room,
those little stickers cling to our shoes.
We constantly find them on our feet,
Little hitchhikers that give us the blues.

Oh, but how these stickers bring such joys,
it's better than all her other toys.
On long car rides, she sits without noise,
Sticking stickers that she enjoys.

And when the day comes to a close,
And it's bathtime in our little household,
Dad has the task of removing those
Sticky little stickers that are on her clothes.

Ah, yes, although we tire of these,
thousands of stickers, we are pleased,
she does enjoy them and even asks, "please."
And the time seems to pass as if a breeze.

So perhaps one day you may find,
yourself at our home, keep in mind
that you watch just where you step,
because those little stickers will find you yet.

Being a Grown Up is Not Fun

I keep telling myself that college really wasn't that long ago, and high school was just before that...but this week, I'm realizing more and more just how far that gap stretches...if not in years, then in maturity and life experience.

It's VBS again this week. Once again I've taken on a role much larger than I should have. I'm in charge of the crafts center, so I get the privilege of seeing all the kids (all 120 of them) in my little classroom throughout the day. It makes me miss teaching (a little).

I also have the privilege of working with a small staff mostly comprised of junior high and high school students. Today I had to have a little "discussion" with them about their conduct (standing in the back chatting instead of helping, flirting with the other helpers, riling up the kids). I still have that "strict teacher" in me, because the moment I ushered that last kindergartner out of classroom (with a smile), I shut the door and turned on my staff (with a frown). I remember saying things like, "you're here to help the kids, not help yourselves" and "whether you know it or not, these kids are looking to you as examples, and they sure are following it!" I believe I even threw in "I know it's fun to hang out with your friends, but I shouldn't be the only person working in this room!"

But I know the reason why I have so many of the junior high and high schoolers under my wing...it's because the people in charge knew that I wouldn't be afraid to just tell them straight out if they were erring on the side of unhelpful. It's my job to be the grown-up in that classroom. And although it's not always the fun job, it's important...

Even when I was teaching Biology, I knew that I wouldn't just be teaching about organ systems and plant life. I knew that a bulk of it would be teaching manners, study skills and even proper socialization. As this week goes, I know that I'm not just telling the K-6th graders how to put together a beaded necklace, I'm also teaching them about working together as well as re-emphasizing some great Bible Stories. Through the midst of it I'm also teaching some young adults that sometimes it's just not fun being the grown up, but somebody has to do it.

Thirty-Something

I had to catch myself today. I was reading a blog (a friend of a friend), and I started to snicker a little at their latest entry. My first thought was, "ha ha, only a twenty-something could do that." I stopped though when I realized that I'm still a twenty-something (at least for 3 and some months). I was laughing (not maliciously but rather nostalgically) because I could have seen myself doing the same thing only 5 years ago. Rewind.

Ah, those adventurous days after college. We had jobs, but no mortgages to pay. We were single and without kids, responsible only for ourselves. It was easy to pack up a car, drive 5 hours to visit friends, stay a day or two, and come right back. Gatherings were at bars, clubs, and fine dining restaurants and it was exciting to try new places, dress up, and just enjoy each other's company.

Although, I remember how scared I was turning 25. My good friends told me to "suck it up, it's not that bad." I think I just had this notion that I should have had my life pulled together by the time I was 25. I have since learned that I will be 80 and still telling myself that I need to pull my life together.

Fast forward 5 years later and I'm running after a toddler who thought it was funny to rub her lunch into the couch. I wear clothes that are comfortable and washable, my hair is developing this nest like formation in the back where I never seem to have time to brush, and the next thing on my to-do list is to wash a million, colorful plastic cups and dishes. Whoa. A total flip-flop from 5 years ago.

I don't regret what my life has become. It just happened, and I'm okay with that. I don't think I was a very good twenty-something anyway. I just wasn't that "live it up" type. Perhaps I'll make a better thirty-something. Looking forward to it.

And hey, later on in life I can take a page out of my mom's book. All I have to say about that is, "when the kids are away, grandma sure knows how to play." Rock on, mom. You deserve all the fun you're having.

San Diego

Our little family doesn't travel much. We're just not the traveling type...we're not opposed to it, we just like being home...except recently I started getting a little sick of being home...so I suggested that we should at least take a short trip. So we did.

Good ol' San Diego...It was a really busy weekend in SD. C0mic-con was going on as well as Americ@n Idol auditions. Everywhere we went we saw people with name badges from the convention or armbands from the auditions. Matt participated in one of the two...you can take your guess on which one.

Here are some highlights of our trip...


UCSD...One of the best places in the world...


This is one of my favorites photos from the trip...they have the same smile


Bear enjoying a smoothie


A "Dar" (Star) that Bear was fascinated with at the tidepools at Se@ World


Bear playing at Sh@mu's Happy Harbor

We had a great time. Although one of us ended up rather gloomy looking by the end of the trip.



Guess it's time to do laundry again.

Toy Store Tantrums

I went to the toy store today with Bear. I wasn't looking for anything in particular, I just needed a place to walk around. After about 3 minutes into the store, I realized that I wouldn't be able to just walk around a toy store with Bear in the future. Everywhere I looked, kids were throwing fits and tantrums, crying out things like, "I want that toy" or "I want a bigger bike" and even "You are a mean mommy!" Granted it was about 4:00pm which is that time of day when kids start losing their sense of reason (and moms lose sanity). I saw a couple of mothers dragging their screaming children out of aisles or bribing their kids with things like popsicles to get them out of the store. I just patted Bear on the head, and said, "if you and I ever act like that, that's when I know we can't come to the toy store anymore, okay?" She responded, "kay."

Being Hit on by Boys

For being 19 months old, Bear does quite well when we go out. Even when she's tired, she's still easily distracted by food, water and toys (especially stickers!). She's my little trooper these days, especially since I've been trying to buy craft items for VBS. We've been all over looking for just the right items.

At one store I was pushing Bear around in a cart. I wanted to go through this one aisle, but another cart with a toddler was in the way. The mom was a few feet away discussing something with a friend so I didn't think she would be moving her cart anytime soon. I looked and I figured I could squeeze past the cart and toddler, but as we were passing by the little boy grabbed onto our cart and managed to maneuver his cart adjacent to ours. And then before I could do anything, he reached out his hand and hit Bear in the face!

I was stunned! And what was even weirder, the boy started crying...not Bear. The mom saw what happened and ran over apologizing furiously. She kept saying, "I'm so sorry...he's just tired." Bear just looked at the crying boy and the apologetic mother and then looked at me as if to say "what just happened?"

So I assured the mother she was okay, and quickly fled the scene. When I got away, I asked Bear is she was okay. Bear just simply replied, "Be'er(Better)" and nodded.

*Sigh* I guess unnecessary violence will happen. I just hope most of it can be shaken off with a nod.

Toddler-ese

If you know anything about me, you know that I'm really bad with languages other than English. I just have a mental block when it comes to learning other languages (I can form the sentences in my head, but they don't come out of my mouth). On the other hand, my mother speaks about 3 languages fluently, and can get by in a couple more. It's quite bizarre that my polyglot of a mother sired three monolinguistic children. Perhaps, it is true that immersion is the best way to learn a language.

I have been immersed. Everyday, I'm learning to speak a foreign language, one that I have come to call "Toddler-ese." Apparently, I'm getting quite good at the language because people are now asking me what Bear is trying to say...and sometimes I can tell them what she is trying to say. I am her interpreter.

But I do have to say that context truly does dictate much of what she is saying. I think if I closed my eyes and tried to figure out what she was saying without so much as a clue what she was doing, I'd fail miserably in my translation efforts.

Some of the more interesting things she's been saying lately:

pih-ee = "pretty" when she refers to jewelry and other shiny objects, future boyfriends beware.

boose = "juice" Although now that I look at it, it reminds me of "booze" and sometimes to my child she guzzles down that juice as if it were booze.

doh = "toe" Whenever her toe slips out of her sandals, she sits wherever she is and yells "DOH!" until I fix her shoe. She did that in the middle of a street once. Perhaps I should teach her about oncoming traffic.

chees = "trees" Uh, if my daughter ever emphatically points out a tree to you, it's because we pretend that trees are the most interesting things ever...which helps especially in a long car ride and you need a distraction. We just yell, "Look, it's a tree!" and she will stare in wonder.

booduh = "booger" Sometimes when I get frustrated with Bear I start to call her a "Booger." Naturally, she often repeats the word back to me.

beh = "bed" Ah, yes, one of our favorite words lately. She doesn't seem to mind naps and bedtime...and even when we try to keep her up (like at the retreat last weekend), if she is truly tired, she will forsake book reading time and just start yelling, "BEH BEH!"

Ah, Toddler-ese.

Catch Up

I haven't really posted much about what we've been doing these days. It's been more stories rather than events...so here's a little catch up on our summer.

1) Weddings - ah yes...wedding...we had some good friends of ours tie the knot this summer and it's been great celebrating with them. Here's Bear picking flowers at one of the weddings...



Congratulations to our dear friends, M & B and D & C!

2) 4th of July fun - We hung out with some of our family, ate lots of food, watched Bear down a bowl full of tomatoes and played fun games like B0ggle. Later on we went to watch the fireworks, where Bear and her friend S were running around sharing Cheet0s. Once the fireworks started, Bear started to cry a little, but soon calmed once Sonja came near.

3) Retreats - went on a church retreat this past weekend and we tried to introduce Bear to the swimming pool. We thought that she would like it, especially since she loves the bath so much. Instead she cried the whole 20 minutes in the pool and Daddy tried his hardest to entertain her. Here she is all dry and happy away from the scary pool.





Perhaps we'll have to try the pool again another time.

Well, now you're caught up with us...we hope you're all enjoying yourselves as well!

Speaking of which...

I was sorting through our pictures the other day, and I happened to find something rather disturbing...



I had to confront the guilty party at once (ahem...Dad) and ask him why there were pictures of Bear playing St@rcraft.

He said he needed to get her started early.

Busy...busy...summer

I know most people look forward to the summer. I don't. I think I tend to look forward to the wintertime. Summertime has always been just too busy for me. Even when I was teaching, although I had my summers off, it just felt busier. Isn't that weird?

This summer is no exception. I'm not sure what it is. I'm not complaining though...just making a casual observation.

A Lesson in Manners

Bear: Ma ma! Muuuuhhhh! (Bear comes running into the livingroom from the kitchen with a bag of uncooked macaroni)

Me: No, Bear. It's not cooked, you can't eat it.

Bear: Muh?

Me: No. Go put the pasta back.

Bear: Path-da (Pasta).

Me: Yes, put the pasta back on the shelf.

Bear: Bahk? (Back?)

Me: Yes, put the pasta back in the kitchen, on the shelf.

Bear: (Looks mom squarely in the eyes and says...) PEEZ!

Me: You want me to say "please"?

Bear: (nods) Peez.

Me: Okay, you're right. Will you please put the pasta back?

Bear: (Scurries away to the kitchen to put the pasta away)

Perhaps she's getting me back for all the times that I've been having her "ask nicely" for things lately.

Bear Speaks

Lately, Bear has been extra verbal...we don't always understand what she's telling us, but she's trying to tell us something. If we don't get it, she waves her arms around and yells louder. That still doesn't help us. Nor does it help with her impending frustration.

She has always been fairly expressive vocally. Her voice raises an octave when she talks to Sonja or smaller babies. When she's angry, she yells. When she is really hungry and yelling for "muuuuuhhhhh!"(more) she will roar like a tyrannosaurus rex. Seriously.

She just started stringing words together. Yesterday in the car, I heard, "ma ma, peez bhup" (Mommy, please cup). Today she told me, "boo boo pah-ee" as she was sitting on her potty. This morning she said, "sid chae beow" (sit chair bear) when she found her pooh bear sitting in her booster seat or "boon bap" (spoon rice) when she was shoveling rice at lunch.

I just need to learn to be patient to listen to what Bear is trying to tell me...or I need to hire a translator. Anyone out there speak Baby?

Things I'd love to learn...

1. ...how to take proper photos
2. ...how to organize my home
3. ...how to play the drums
4. ...how to do brush calligraphy
5. ...how to cook better Korean food
6. ...how to sing jazz
7. ...how to start my own business
8. ...how to cover a couch
9. ...how to drive a manual transmission car
10. ...how to decorate a cake

Physical Therapist Daddy

Yesterday, we had this conversation:

Bear: "Sduhk!" (Stuck!)

Daddy: "Um, Bear is trying to lift a 5 pound bag of potatoes."

Mommy: "What? That's like a fifth of her weight!"

Bear: "SDUHK!"

Daddy: "Bear! Lift with your legs, not your back!"

How in the World?

These past couple of days have been kind of a nightmare cramming for potty training. I wasn't planning on potty training for a while, but somehow...and Matt and I are just so confused about the whole thing...somehow Bear decided to start potty training herself. Seriously. No joke. Not even exaggeration for effect.

A couple of days ago, as I was changing Bear's diaper, she told me she needed to go. I was taken aback. After a couple of seconds I snapped back to sense and ran her to the potty. After a minute or two, she happily held out her hands and said, "aw dun" (which means "all done"). And sure enough her potty was full...(number 1 if you must know).

I was stunned...and totally UNPREPARED! I was trying to decide what to do next. So I firmly told Bear to stay seated and ran to get a diaper and wipes. Of course, when I returned 5 seconds later, I found Bear standing up with one foot in her potty (ew!).

Okay, so she's not fully potty trained or anything, but this wasn't a one-time-only performance and number 1 hasn't been the only thing I've found these past couple of days. And in the meantime, Matt and I are just watching with astonishment...mostly because we're not sure what to do next...or how she learned about using the potty in the first place.

So if you catch us in the next couple of days and we have these befuddled looks upon our faces, you'll know why.

In the News today... "My life for Aiur" (by Padawanlee)

I very rarely post or blog, Momma Bear seems to have this blogging all under control. I guess I'm not much of a blogger unless something random catches my attention...like a story about an unlucky nectarine or what inhabits the freezer. Today as I was getting my daily fix of news I came across this article that invokes memories from my college days...well, what I can remember of them. I shared this article with Momma Bear and all she had to say was "I guess I won't see you for a while". Now why on earth would she say that?

Well anyone who knows about or is a fan of (or shudders) at zergling rushes or remembers the declaration of a "Nuclear Launch Detected" will eventally hear about the announcement of the unveiling of St@rcraft 2. Until it actually does come out (who knows when), Momma Bear and all the other significant others who lost their loved ones to the original game, can rest assured that they will still be able to see us as much as they want...at least for the time being.

Parallel Universe

My sister and I used to ask each other what we thought our life would be like if we were in a parallel universe. I used to joke with her that I would have been a rock star or a songwriter or something of that sort. She would then tell me what she would have been in a parallel universe (I won't tell you what that was...you can ask her yourself).

The other day I was thinking about this question again, and you know what I came up with this time? A paper sculptor. I know! You're thinking, "what in the world!?! (or possibly, "what a dork!")", right? But I realize that I really like paper. It's just a piece of paper, but it can become all sorts of things...cards, sculptures, books, origami, etc...Paper can be quilled, folded, ripped, dyed, shredded...Paper is just so much fun! Hee hee...but yeah, keep in mind I'm still talking about a parallel universe here. :)

So how about you? What would you be doing in a parallel universe?

Mother's Day Weekend

This past weekend we flew to visit all the grandparents. Remember how worried I was about Bear's first plane trip? Well, here she is after getting off the plane.



No sign of unhappiness at all. The only problem was that her mommy got a little queasy on the flight home. Bear Cub got compliments all around from nearby passengers on how "good" she was. Figures. I worry over things that needn't be worried about.

On to Mother's Day weekend...

My sister (with the help of her sous-chefs) made a wonderful brunch...very fancy shmancy...Bear practically ate half of the baked brie on her own. Pictured here are the yummy apricot tarts.



Bear spent her whole weekend traveling up the stairs at her grandma and grandpa's house.



When she wasn't traveling upstairs, she was following her grandpa around saying "pa-pa" or opening and closing the door saying "doh!"

The funny thing was that I forgot that I was a mother, too. Whenever someone wished me a "Happy Mother's Day" I thought they were talking to someone else at first. Ha ha. I guess even after 2 Mother's Days, I still haven't quite gotten used to being "mommy."

Hope all of you out there had wonderful Mother's Days, too.

Fear of Flying

The title should read "Fear of Flying with a Toddler."

We haven't taken Bear on a plane ride yet. This Friday will be the first time. We're a little wary. Of course, I shouldn't worry too much seeing how most of my fears in the past were abated because of our worry-free, happy-go-lucky child...but nevertheless, I worry.

I don't do well on planes. Never have. My mom tells me horror stories of my plane rides. I remember living some of those horror stories. I must have had terribly bad inner ears, because I could not stand the pressure change going up and down on the plane. Add on top how easily I succumb to motion sickness, and plane rides were never easy.

But so far, Bear has proven that although she may look a lot like me, she doesn't act a whole lot like me (and we're still trying to figure out who she does act like). I am an introvert. She is a total extrovert. She loves pink, fluffy things. I don't really enjoy pink & fluffy too much. She loves putting on jewelry and socks and carrying purses. I just don't have that knack for accesorizing.

So perhaps she'll be just fine on the plane...she'll eat snacks, drink some juice, make friends with the rows of people around her, and arrive at our destination happily...and I'll have worried for nothing.

Toddler Strategy

Matt and I have been more and more tired these days. Raising a toddler sometimes feels like you are raising a herd of wild animals. But not just any wild animals...wild animals who strategize and game plan. We've come to familiarize ourselves with some of Bear's tactics.

The Bait & Switch: Once bathtime is over, we have a toddler who does not want to come out of the tub. Her tactic, when we reach in, she quickly pulls the switcheroo by grabbing our hands and pushing a rubber ducky in instead.

Misdirection: Bear knows which household items she shouldn't play with (namely: the bathroom cabinets). Her strategy is to point us towards her room as if she wants to play there. Once we enter, she asks us to retrieve an item. Once our back is turned, she makes a beeline for the bathroom cabinets. Tricky.

Misinformation: This is similar to misdirection, except it involves the phone. Bear hands me the phone, cries out "Da Dee" (yes, she finally started calling daddy something other than his first name). After asking about 10 times, I call Matt, but by the time Matt answers, Bear is halfway across the apartment making mischief. And I feel like a sucker.

Emotional Manipulation: I don't know how she does it, but this kid can get about anything she wants. She seems to know the right emotion to "act" for each person she comes in contact with. With "Da Dee" she gives him the "oh-so-cute" smile and giggles, races up to the door to greet him when he comes home, and promptly will ask him for something that I just told her "no" to about 5 minutes ago. With Auntie R, she is utterly persistent. She will repeat herself over and over again, until Auntie finally gives in. With Granny, she gives the hugs and kisses - and somehow Granny always seems to show up with little gifts for her. With Grandma & Grandpa, she does the "fake cry" whereupon Grandma & Grandpa will instantly swipe her out of our hands to comfort her and give her whatever she wants. Even with the general public, she pretends to be shy and gives this mischievous smile, shows them Sonja, and says, "Doh Dya"...and I always hear how "she's such an angel"...And somehow she works her charm and by the time we leave a restaurant, all the surrounding tables are waving and saying goodbye to Bear (seriously! It happens all the time!).

So beware, take heed and don't fall for her "evil genius" strategies. And if you are one of those out there who have been victimized by Bear's charisma and charm, we sympathize with you for being duped by our toddler...If you haven't yet...uh, don't say we didn't warn you.

Boo!

I haven't posted much in the past couple of days because our family has been under the weather. Baby Bear, who got the bug first and therefore is recovering first, has been running around our apartment as she pleases (sometimes you lose the will to parent when your head feels like it's going to implode). I was sofa-bound. Sitting or standing was dizzying for a couple of days there. I've been feeling better, but sometimes I still have to sit down for a spell.

Today she meandered over to the kitchen, played with some of the plasticware and returned to where I was sitting, pointed to her diaper and said, "Boo!"

I thought Nah, she couldn't be telling me...

So I changed her diaper, and sure enough she had "Boo."

I told my mom what happened. She replied, "That means it's time to start thinking about potty training."

What?! Oh "Boo."

Yogurt

I admit it. I let Bear feed herself most of the time. I realize that it usually means there will be a horrible mess to clean up, but I figure that she's going to have to learn sometime. Although I guess it might have gotten a little out of hand today.



I gave her a bowl of yogurt, a spoon, and a couple of graham crackers. This is what resulted. I'm guessing the yogurt exploded.

Turmoil...

I had to turn off the television. Every news channel has this story plastered all over. It's weird because the other day when Matt and I were watching The @pprentice I was commenting on how Asians were starting to appear more mainstream on television. I guess that has to include the bad news, too.

So I turned off the television because I couldn't watch anymore. And I heard yelling outside our door and our window. Van man has been asked to leave quite a few times. Our building manager has come to talk to him. His ex has come over and yelled at him a few times (of which he responded with a few expletives). His sister came over and yelled at him (of which he responded with a few expletives). A guy friend of his ex has come and had discussions with him. Seriously, I'm not eavesdropping...they're just that loud. I try to ignore it, but when they're yelling right outside your doors and windows, it's hard to tune out. At present, he is yelling at someone...I don't know who.

So I turned the television back on. Maybe I'll find some old Cosby show reruns.

Tidbits...

I realize that I haven't been posting as much as I would like to. For those of you faithful readers out there, I'm sure that you're bored seeing the same thing on our site day after day. I just don't like writing any old thing...I strive to have purpose and thoughtfulness in my writings. Unfortunately, today is not one of those days. Here are some tidbits...

CRAFTSY

Lately I've been finding myself being "craftsy." In some ways it's a release for me. After running after a toddler all day, I find I have this need to create...so lately, I've been knitting, sewing, papercrafting, cooking, etc. I probably would be playing my guitar as well if it wouldn't wake up Baby Bear. I know it's not that out of character for me (for those of you who do know me), but seriously I actually recovered a chair. I crocheted a small hammock so I could hang up all of Bear's stuffed toys. I knit a dress for Baby Bear, and I'm considering creating a wall hanging for Bear's room. Perhaps I've finally gone insane.

NOT SO BABY BEAR

Baby Bear is no longer a "Baby." I'll probably have to start referring to her as "Bear Cub" or just plain "Bear." She's toddling around, talking up a storm (of which we understand a quarter of it), and asserting her independence here and there. I catch Matt every so often looking at Bear and saying, "She's not a baby anymore," with a sad look in his eye. *Sigh*

TODDLER TRAUMA

Last week Bear had a traumatic experience. We were in a parking lot when Bear lost her grip on Sonia. Sonia fell flat on her back into a mud puddle. Bear just looked at her muddy Sonia and started crying. Matt took the doll inside to wash her off, but as she was still dirty, we couldn't return Sonia to Bear. So the whole car ride home she cried, intermittently shouting out, "Doh-Dya!, Doh-Dya!" Poor kid. So needless to say we did some laundry that afternoon, and by bedtime Sonia was back into Bear's waiting little arms...

Neighbors...

I have these faint memories of the couple who lived next door to us as I was growing up. They were nice, helpful, and hospitable. I remember their little fluffy dog named Muffin. I also remember their garden, of which my sister and I would water when they were away.

Ah, how I miss them...

We've had interesting neighbors come and go from our complex. There were the twenty-something musician types who changed their apartment number from "6" to three 6s. There was the guy above us who was an in-home tattoo artist who had visitors at all hours of the night, plus two large dogs. We have the family across the way who barbecues and invite extended family to eat with them on cardtables in the driveway (wouldn't be a problem if the smoke wasn't flooding into our apartment). But I think our most recent addition is by far the oddest.

Currently I'm having an allergic reaction to incense. This neighbor apparently received a large package of incense, and although it's put away, our whole complex smells like sandalwood. Yuck. Our livingroom smells like aromatherapy gone wrong. Even with our windows and doors closed, the aroma has wafted it's way into our home seeping into everything we own.

This same neighbor is also living in his van in the garage. We suspect that "he's in the doghouse." I haven't seen hide nor hair of his pregnant girlfriend or 3 year old son in the past few days.

A couple of nights ago, there were these strange noises coming from the direction of his van. It sounded like a loud radio being turned on every once in while. We found out that he's putting together a studio in his van (although I'm not sure what that means). He has a cable line running into the van from upstairs as well as a power cable running out of the van.

Our other neighbors have called the police on him twice. We only know this because the "van man" asked Matt if he was the one to call the police.

Every time we leave our apartment he's out there, hanging by his van, eating his meals by the dumpster, pacing up and down our driveway, yelling at the handyman who is fixing the 2 empty apartments...

At this rate, there will be 3 empty apartments.

Snow Day

This past weekend we took a little family outing to the snow. I was so excited to take Baby Bear to play in the snow...It wasn't too cold outside, so we made sure to put on some mittens and a jacket. When we placed her down to walk in the snow, she promptly started crying. Then she tried to take a step, but ended up falling. When she had pulled herself up again, her mittens were covered with snow. When she cries she tends to rub her face...so poor kid got another surprise when she felt that cold snow against her face. Needless to say, she wasn't too happy with the snow.

So we let her carry Sonja...and she seemed a little bit happier. She wouldn't walk around though, she just stood in one spot.



Perhaps she'll have more fun next season.