Getting dressed
Today, Oma had to run to the pharmacy super-quick to pick up a prescription. She left a naked baby at home with Ama. When she returned, the little man was fully dressed! According to Ama-ama, he climbed up onto a chair and picked out his clothes: underwear, pants and shirt. He even managed to put on the underwear and pants by himself, and asked Ama-ama to help him put on the shirt!
Swimming Lessons
Todd's first successful swimming lesson today. Private, one-on-one, 30-minute instruction at a pool in Chatsworth. Unlike when he is with Oma or Mommy or Daddy, he didn't refuse to listen and did everything he was instructed to do! Learned to use the kickboard and noodle to stay afloat on his tummy and back, learned to kick, to walk around the pool, and even dunked his head into the water! Great strides in getting him used to, and unafraid of, the water!
Ventura County Fair
We didn't make it to the Ventura County Fair last weekend, so we went this weekend. It's about 40 miles south of Santa Barbara, so it made for a nice little day-long excursion. We started off with lunch at the mall in Ventura, where we could park for free and catch the free shuttle to the fair, rather than having to battle traffic and pay for parking AT the fairgrounds itself. The shuttles? Big yellow school buses, just like the kind Allan and I used to take when we were younger. Boy, did that bring back memories, and I tell ya-- the interior of the buses seemed a lot smaller than I remember :-P
Here are the two boys, one riding sky-high (literally!) as we make our way to the shuttle pickup point:
We didn't end up going on any rides or playing any games in the carnival section of the fair, but we did end up seeing all kinds of interesting exhibits, such as the art exhibit done by schoolchildren in the local area (some very impressive oil paintings from middle-school kids!), a show where we were regaled with a folk tale while a blacksmith churned out horseshoes to give away to 5 lucky audience members, and of course, a variety of animals, mostly farm animals. Todd got to see cows, pigs, sheep, chickens, turkeys, rabbits and goats, all up close and personal. Great way to personify all those animals he sings about in "Old McDonald" :-) Our favorite animal exhibit? Why, the turtles, of course! Todd really enjoyed seeing real turtles, some larger and some smaller than the stuffed turtle he carries around with him everywhere.
The last exhibit we visited was the fish aquarium, where Todd immediately spotted the clownfish in the tank near the entrance, and exclaimed: "Nemo!!"
We also stood by the sidelines as a group of Clydesdale horses came by on parade, pulling an old firetruck wagon. The wagon was complete with fireman and a Dalmation, very old-fashioned ;-) And it was the first time I'd ever seen Clydesdales up close, I knew they were big horses but didn't realize HOW large they were until I was standing about a dozen feet away from them!
For a break, we sat in the shade and enjoyed the strumming and singing of a bluegrass band called the Iron Mountain Boys. They had some CDs for sale, and also perform for hire at events, so we grabbed one of their fliers, as we enjoyed listening to them immensely.
And of course, what county fair would be complete without its share of vendors? We wandered through the showrooms, chock-full of all kinds of vendors, some demonstrating their products to interested onlookers. One of my favorites was the vendor who sold hand-made porch signs with creative designs and ways to display family names, such as "Barrett's Bar" or "Olsen's Outback". I thought something like "The Knight Castle" would be especially appropriate for when we get our own home in the future. But when I took a closer look at the already-made signs on display, I found that we already had a ready-made one on display:
Wonder if he would've given us a discount for buying the sign off the display rack instead of having to carve one out for us right then and there ;-)
We stopped off back at the mall for dinner at Red Robin before heading home, and enjoyed a lovely sunset (Todd remarked: "what's that red thing?", not realizing it was the sun in beautiful red and orange colors as it got ready to dip below the horizon and go to sleep) along the way.
All in all, a very fun family day :-)
Here are the two boys, one riding sky-high (literally!) as we make our way to the shuttle pickup point:
We didn't end up going on any rides or playing any games in the carnival section of the fair, but we did end up seeing all kinds of interesting exhibits, such as the art exhibit done by schoolchildren in the local area (some very impressive oil paintings from middle-school kids!), a show where we were regaled with a folk tale while a blacksmith churned out horseshoes to give away to 5 lucky audience members, and of course, a variety of animals, mostly farm animals. Todd got to see cows, pigs, sheep, chickens, turkeys, rabbits and goats, all up close and personal. Great way to personify all those animals he sings about in "Old McDonald" :-) Our favorite animal exhibit? Why, the turtles, of course! Todd really enjoyed seeing real turtles, some larger and some smaller than the stuffed turtle he carries around with him everywhere.
The last exhibit we visited was the fish aquarium, where Todd immediately spotted the clownfish in the tank near the entrance, and exclaimed: "Nemo!!"
We also stood by the sidelines as a group of Clydesdale horses came by on parade, pulling an old firetruck wagon. The wagon was complete with fireman and a Dalmation, very old-fashioned ;-) And it was the first time I'd ever seen Clydesdales up close, I knew they were big horses but didn't realize HOW large they were until I was standing about a dozen feet away from them!
For a break, we sat in the shade and enjoyed the strumming and singing of a bluegrass band called the Iron Mountain Boys. They had some CDs for sale, and also perform for hire at events, so we grabbed one of their fliers, as we enjoyed listening to them immensely.
And of course, what county fair would be complete without its share of vendors? We wandered through the showrooms, chock-full of all kinds of vendors, some demonstrating their products to interested onlookers. One of my favorites was the vendor who sold hand-made porch signs with creative designs and ways to display family names, such as "Barrett's Bar" or "Olsen's Outback". I thought something like "The Knight Castle" would be especially appropriate for when we get our own home in the future. But when I took a closer look at the already-made signs on display, I found that we already had a ready-made one on display:
Wonder if he would've given us a discount for buying the sign off the display rack instead of having to carve one out for us right then and there ;-)
We stopped off back at the mall for dinner at Red Robin before heading home, and enjoyed a lovely sunset (Todd remarked: "what's that red thing?", not realizing it was the sun in beautiful red and orange colors as it got ready to dip below the horizon and go to sleep) along the way.
All in all, a very fun family day :-)
Todd-lers
I got an immense kick out of the above cartoon, taken from this week's "One Big Happy" comic strip.
Hey-- we have a bona fide Todd-ler!
:-D
Tail-less doggies
While watching a man walk his boxer (which, true to its breed, has a short tail), Todd wondered:
"Why is the doggie's tail so short?"
I hesitated, pondering how to tell him that the dog's tail had actually been CUT OFF by us ruthless humans. But before I could say anything, Todd figured it out:
"He's a small doggie. When he gets bigger, his tail will be long."
Can't do anything but agree with that kinder assessment! :-D
"Why is the doggie's tail so short?"
I hesitated, pondering how to tell him that the dog's tail had actually been CUT OFF by us ruthless humans. But before I could say anything, Todd figured it out:
"He's a small doggie. When he gets bigger, his tail will be long."
Can't do anything but agree with that kinder assessment! :-D
Who's the mature one?
This afternoon Todd and Daddy played baseball in the backyard while Mommy was cleaning up in the kitchen. She soon joined the boys and next thing we knew, it was Mommy and Daddy playing baseball while Todd got distracted by toys on the back patio. Bored, he decided to climb onto a chair and sit comfortably while watching his parents play.
And the look on his face! It read: "What are these kids doing? I'm waaaayyyy too mature for games like this. I'm just gonna sit her and keep an eye on them, make sure they stay out of trouble!"
And the look on his face! It read: "What are these kids doing? I'm waaaayyyy too mature for games like this. I'm just gonna sit her and keep an eye on them, make sure they stay out of trouble!"
Bonding in SB
Yesterday Todd and I enjoyed some good, quality mommy-son time together, letting Daddy work peacefully at home. We went shopping for swim trunks, hit Trader Joe's for groceries, ate lunch together at a Pick-Up-Stix, browsed the toy store next door, and stopped off at Border's before making our way back home to grab a bag and head for the wading pool at Oak Park.
It was a beautiful sunny day, and we enjoyed splashing around in the foot-deep pool and playing in the playground afterward.
Been a while since we've had a whole day all to ourselves, and what fun it was! :-)
Today was family day-- Todd helped Daddy wash his ash (from the nearby Zaca fire that's been burning this past few weeks), bird poop and tree tar covered car, and then the entire family trooped down to the pool. It was decidedly cooler, as clouds kept covering the sun, so our swim time was short-lived, but playground play wasn't :-D
It was a beautiful sunny day, and we enjoyed splashing around in the foot-deep pool and playing in the playground afterward.
Been a while since we've had a whole day all to ourselves, and what fun it was! :-)
Today was family day-- Todd helped Daddy wash his ash (from the nearby Zaca fire that's been burning this past few weeks), bird poop and tree tar covered car, and then the entire family trooped down to the pool. It was decidedly cooler, as clouds kept covering the sun, so our swim time was short-lived, but playground play wasn't :-D
Weekend Fun
Whew! Been remiss in updating this thing, but I guess I wasn't around much for many updates, anyway.
Last week I spent the majority of the nights in Santa Barbara, after work. Our former next-door neighbor was in town for several days and stayed at my parents' house. This meant they would occupy the room that Toddy and I sleep in, and Todd had to sleep in my mom's bed. Fortunately he stayed quiet and relatively immobile during the night.
The visit was also good for getting Todd acquainted with Mason, their 4-year-old son, and after some initially timidness, Todd soon grew bolder and started actively playing, running around the house screaming his head off (with Mason following suit), and generally just bouncing off the walls in hyper excitement. Not unlike his mother when she was that age and playing with her friends :-P
All last week, Oma took him to the local community pool for swimming lessons. And, again, just like Mommy, he was quite afraid of getting his head dunked in, and clung to Oma tighter than a leech. He was quite happy to use the "noodle" (those long styrofoam poles which resemble a giant, straight macaroni noodle) to stay afloat.
This week marked getting back to normal, and with Todd sleeping early and waking up early, it gives us time to cuddle in the morning for a few minutes before I have to get up and get ready for work. With the crib pressed right up against the side of the bed, it is easy enough for me to hold on to the railing, to keep it from moving while Todd climbs out and straight onto the bed. Nice little morning routine, and apparently Todd has gotten accustomed to it, as he holler and fusses and insists on "giving Mommy a kiss!" if I leave for work before he wakes up-- and Oma ends up having to call me so I can blow kisses over the phone. Not quite the same thing, but better than nothing.
Anyway, this morning, Todd noticed my morning breath and talked through his stuffed turtle. He made the turtle hold its nose and exclaim: "Pee-you! It stinks like a skunk!" I laughed and pointed out that it was my bad breath. This must have puzzled Todd, as he next made the turtle say: "No, Pao-pao's nose stinks!" while poking his own nose with the turtle's fin.
Woe to morning breath! And woe to the nose that must smell it! ;-P
Last week I spent the majority of the nights in Santa Barbara, after work. Our former next-door neighbor was in town for several days and stayed at my parents' house. This meant they would occupy the room that Toddy and I sleep in, and Todd had to sleep in my mom's bed. Fortunately he stayed quiet and relatively immobile during the night.
The visit was also good for getting Todd acquainted with Mason, their 4-year-old son, and after some initially timidness, Todd soon grew bolder and started actively playing, running around the house screaming his head off (with Mason following suit), and generally just bouncing off the walls in hyper excitement. Not unlike his mother when she was that age and playing with her friends :-P
All last week, Oma took him to the local community pool for swimming lessons. And, again, just like Mommy, he was quite afraid of getting his head dunked in, and clung to Oma tighter than a leech. He was quite happy to use the "noodle" (those long styrofoam poles which resemble a giant, straight macaroni noodle) to stay afloat.
This week marked getting back to normal, and with Todd sleeping early and waking up early, it gives us time to cuddle in the morning for a few minutes before I have to get up and get ready for work. With the crib pressed right up against the side of the bed, it is easy enough for me to hold on to the railing, to keep it from moving while Todd climbs out and straight onto the bed. Nice little morning routine, and apparently Todd has gotten accustomed to it, as he holler and fusses and insists on "giving Mommy a kiss!" if I leave for work before he wakes up-- and Oma ends up having to call me so I can blow kisses over the phone. Not quite the same thing, but better than nothing.
Anyway, this morning, Todd noticed my morning breath and talked through his stuffed turtle. He made the turtle hold its nose and exclaim: "Pee-you! It stinks like a skunk!" I laughed and pointed out that it was my bad breath. This must have puzzled Todd, as he next made the turtle say: "No, Pao-pao's nose stinks!" while poking his own nose with the turtle's fin.
Woe to morning breath! And woe to the nose that must smell it! ;-P
Simpsons Fun
A bit of silliness from this website. Here's me, Allan and Todd as Simpsons characters:
That's supposed to be a five o'clock shadow on Daddy's face, but it ended up looking too Homer-like. D'oh!! And it was VERY hard to do babies and little kids, because there just wasn't enough variety of features. This was the best I could whip together. No crew cut, no big ears, just the trademark blue hooded sweatshirt.
And, for a bit of fun: Grandma and Grandpa :-D
That's supposed to be a five o'clock shadow on Daddy's face, but it ended up looking too Homer-like. D'oh!! And it was VERY hard to do babies and little kids, because there just wasn't enough variety of features. This was the best I could whip together. No crew cut, no big ears, just the trademark blue hooded sweatshirt.
And, for a bit of fun: Grandma and Grandpa :-D
Summerfest 2007
A year ago this past weekend, Allan and Todd and I were braving record-breaking heat and humidity and enjoying Summerfest '06. This year, with temperatures over 20 degrees cooler, we enjoyed Summerfest '07.
What is Summerfest? It's basically a work-sponsored festival/carnival, right on company grounds . Free food, beer, games, music, shows, and rides. Because of last year's heat wave and the coincidence of Summerfest with the hottest day of the year, it was held in the evening rather than in the early afternoon this year.
We started off the late afternoon with an early dinner-- apparently we arrived just in time to avoid the lines at the cafeteria. There was a bit of a line indoors, but it wasn't too bad, and we got our food within 10 minutes, making our way back outdoors to grab a seat. While sitting there eating, we observed the line get longer and longer. First it started spilling outdoors. Then it started snaking clear around the other side of the building! Considering all we had to contend with was an indoor line and THAT took 10 minutes, I hate to think how long the folks lined up outdoors had to wait until they got their food. 30 minutes? Maybe more? Yikes!
After dinner we enjoyed a magician's show, where the jokes were corny and the tricks old hat, but still entertaining nevertheless. We then made our way to the Midway, where we took in the sights of all the rides, almost all of which had lines a mile long, even the little kiddie rides. We ended up going on the Merry-Go-Round, and even managed to secure the same dragon that Todd and I rode on last year!
Here we are LAST year, can you see us sweltering in the heat?
And here we are THIS year, same dragon, Todd a bit bigger (and yes, I'm wearing the same shirt. Don't worry, I've washed it a few times since last year :-P)
Afterward, we made our way back to the stage area, where none other than Little Texas (one of my favorite country bands!) was playing. They played one of my favorites "My Love", but unfortunately we didn't stick around long enough for me to get to hear them break out their famous tune "God Blessed Texas" :-) I tried to get up close and capture a shot, this is my attempt at getting a pic of Little Texas on stage:
I was hoping to get Todd's face painted but alas, the lines for that were just as long as the lines for anything else. So we settled for temporary tattoos. Todd got a happy face sporting a football helmet, and I got a rose. He picked mine out for me :-) Here we are showing off our leg artwork:
We grabbed another quick bite to eat (some fruit, shrimp salad and nachos) before making our way back home. All in all, a very fun day. It helped loads that not only was this event in the evening, but it was nowhere near as hot as it was last year (as you can see by the pic of me and Todd, both clad in our sweaters, brrr!). No potential sunburn or heat exhaustion to contend with. Another memorable summer day! :-)
What is Summerfest? It's basically a work-sponsored festival/carnival, right on company grounds . Free food, beer, games, music, shows, and rides. Because of last year's heat wave and the coincidence of Summerfest with the hottest day of the year, it was held in the evening rather than in the early afternoon this year.
We started off the late afternoon with an early dinner-- apparently we arrived just in time to avoid the lines at the cafeteria. There was a bit of a line indoors, but it wasn't too bad, and we got our food within 10 minutes, making our way back outdoors to grab a seat. While sitting there eating, we observed the line get longer and longer. First it started spilling outdoors. Then it started snaking clear around the other side of the building! Considering all we had to contend with was an indoor line and THAT took 10 minutes, I hate to think how long the folks lined up outdoors had to wait until they got their food. 30 minutes? Maybe more? Yikes!
After dinner we enjoyed a magician's show, where the jokes were corny and the tricks old hat, but still entertaining nevertheless. We then made our way to the Midway, where we took in the sights of all the rides, almost all of which had lines a mile long, even the little kiddie rides. We ended up going on the Merry-Go-Round, and even managed to secure the same dragon that Todd and I rode on last year!
Here we are LAST year, can you see us sweltering in the heat?
And here we are THIS year, same dragon, Todd a bit bigger (and yes, I'm wearing the same shirt. Don't worry, I've washed it a few times since last year :-P)
Afterward, we made our way back to the stage area, where none other than Little Texas (one of my favorite country bands!) was playing. They played one of my favorites "My Love", but unfortunately we didn't stick around long enough for me to get to hear them break out their famous tune "God Blessed Texas" :-) I tried to get up close and capture a shot, this is my attempt at getting a pic of Little Texas on stage:
I was hoping to get Todd's face painted but alas, the lines for that were just as long as the lines for anything else. So we settled for temporary tattoos. Todd got a happy face sporting a football helmet, and I got a rose. He picked mine out for me :-) Here we are showing off our leg artwork:
We grabbed another quick bite to eat (some fruit, shrimp salad and nachos) before making our way back home. All in all, a very fun day. It helped loads that not only was this event in the evening, but it was nowhere near as hot as it was last year (as you can see by the pic of me and Todd, both clad in our sweaters, brrr!). No potential sunburn or heat exhaustion to contend with. Another memorable summer day! :-)
Don't Kiss Me!
Yesterday Oma was smothering Todd with kisses, as grandmothers are prone to do :-) Todd apparently found this bothersome and complained for her to stop.
"But you're my grandson!" Oma pointed out.
"No!" declared Todd, loudly and forcefully. And then he continued: "I'm Opa's grandson, and Ama-ama's grandson. And Mommy and Daddy's son."
"What about Oma?" asked my mom.
"No!" Todd repeated.
Thinking he was being his usual contrary self, my mom nevertheless inquired further: "Why not?"
"So you won't kiss me!"
Hey-- a logical extension to her assertion that she's kissing him because he's her grandson, right? :-D
"But you're my grandson!" Oma pointed out.
"No!" declared Todd, loudly and forcefully. And then he continued: "I'm Opa's grandson, and Ama-ama's grandson. And Mommy and Daddy's son."
"What about Oma?" asked my mom.
"No!" Todd repeated.
Thinking he was being his usual contrary self, my mom nevertheless inquired further: "Why not?"
"So you won't kiss me!"
Hey-- a logical extension to her assertion that she's kissing him because he's her grandson, right? :-D
Broken Glass
The above picture was taken this past Saturday, and shows the glass sliding door connecting the dining room to the sunroom/backyard. No, your eyes aren't fooling you-- the glass is completely shattered.
Todd was being exceptionally naughty on Saturday morning, so Oma put him outside and shut the sliding door. In frustration, the little man picked up a small magnetic bead and threw it at the glass door. This thing was smaller than a pea, so you wouldn't think something that small could cause that much damage, but apparently the force of it was enough to break the glass. Especially since it was a lot of energy all concentrated on a small surface area. The bead sailed through the glass (if you click on the photo to view it in full size, you can see the hole where it all starts) and caused a ripple effect, cracking the entire pane.
Luckily the door is double-paned, and it was just the outside pane that Todd broke. A few days later it finally all came tumbling to the floor, and my Dad spent the evening picking out the remaining attached glass shards, and sweeping and vacuuming all the tiny pieces up.
What an expensive way to learn a lesson about throwing things, especially at glass windows/doors!
Multilingualism
It's no secret that kids are amazingly adept at picking up languages. In the spirit of that, we're trying to raise Todd with more than one language. So far, he's got 3 of them downpat-- English, Chinese and a Chinese dialect my grandmother speaks. We're attempting to throw German into the mix but everyone is so rusty at it, we keep forgetting and lapsing into our own native tongues. Anyway, Todd speaks solely English with Mommy and Daddy, solely Chinese with Opa, solely Chinese dialect with Ama-ama, and a mix of English and Chinese with Oma.
But it's not just different languages. My parents, having immigrated to the United States when they were in their late 30s, speak English with a noticeable accent. Daddy and I, however, do not. Todd has picked up on the subtle differences in our accents, and speaks in a slightly different accent to Oma than he does to me or Daddy. A good example is the middle "t" in words-- something Americans pronounce as a hard "d": turtle = tur-DLE; water = wa-DER, etc... but my folks pronounce as a soft "t", very much like the British pronunciation.
I can understand firsthand why its natural for him to do so-- I do the same. I use the same accent with my parents that they speak in, but adopt a 100% American accent when speaking to anyone else outside the family. It just seems so unnatural for me to speak with an American accent to my parents, and vice versa. I cannot bring myself to adopt one universal accent for use with everyone.
And now Todd has picked up this same habit. To my mom he'll clamor "I want wa-TER", but to me he'll ask for "wa-DER". It kind of reinforces the notion that my own dual-accent is not a conscious decision.
Fascinating what kids pick up, isn't it!
But it's not just different languages. My parents, having immigrated to the United States when they were in their late 30s, speak English with a noticeable accent. Daddy and I, however, do not. Todd has picked up on the subtle differences in our accents, and speaks in a slightly different accent to Oma than he does to me or Daddy. A good example is the middle "t" in words-- something Americans pronounce as a hard "d": turtle = tur-DLE; water = wa-DER, etc... but my folks pronounce as a soft "t", very much like the British pronunciation.
I can understand firsthand why its natural for him to do so-- I do the same. I use the same accent with my parents that they speak in, but adopt a 100% American accent when speaking to anyone else outside the family. It just seems so unnatural for me to speak with an American accent to my parents, and vice versa. I cannot bring myself to adopt one universal accent for use with everyone.
And now Todd has picked up this same habit. To my mom he'll clamor "I want wa-TER", but to me he'll ask for "wa-DER". It kind of reinforces the notion that my own dual-accent is not a conscious decision.
Fascinating what kids pick up, isn't it!
Sea Turtles and Hitting your head
Todd has recently taken to qualifying the name of his turtle as not just a "turtle" but a "sea turtle". Then one day he extended it to me, and called me "Sea Mommy!"
So naturally I asked: "Does that mean you're Sea Pao-pao?"
"No. I'm just Pao-pao"
:-P
A few weeks ago, while going out to dinner to bid our friends Steve and Sara farewell as they graduated and moved out of the Geekhouse, Allan parked in one of those low-hanging parking structures in downtown Santa Barbara. At one point he had to hastily duck as the top of his hair grazed a low beam. Todd observed all this and then declared: "I don't want to be tall like Daddy. If I'm tall, I'll hit my head!!"
Smart boy ;-) Luckily the pediatrician assures us he'll cap out at 6'1" or 6'2"
Yesterday evening I came home to find Todd helping Oma wash the car. He had on a long-sleeved shirt over his T-shirt. When we went inside, I asked for my usual hug and kiss that he gives me when I come home. But this time he refused: "My shirt is wet!"
After helping him out of his wet shirt, I again asked for a hug, and this time he complied, explaining: "I took my shirt off, now I can hug you."
When I asked him why he couldn't hug me before, with his shirt still on, he pointed out: "Because you'll get wet!"
So naturally I asked: "Does that mean you're Sea Pao-pao?"
"No. I'm just Pao-pao"
:-P
A few weeks ago, while going out to dinner to bid our friends Steve and Sara farewell as they graduated and moved out of the Geekhouse, Allan parked in one of those low-hanging parking structures in downtown Santa Barbara. At one point he had to hastily duck as the top of his hair grazed a low beam. Todd observed all this and then declared: "I don't want to be tall like Daddy. If I'm tall, I'll hit my head!!"
Smart boy ;-) Luckily the pediatrician assures us he'll cap out at 6'1" or 6'2"
Yesterday evening I came home to find Todd helping Oma wash the car. He had on a long-sleeved shirt over his T-shirt. When we went inside, I asked for my usual hug and kiss that he gives me when I come home. But this time he refused: "My shirt is wet!"
After helping him out of his wet shirt, I again asked for a hug, and this time he complied, explaining: "I took my shirt off, now I can hug you."
When I asked him why he couldn't hug me before, with his shirt still on, he pointed out: "Because you'll get wet!"
Toddisms in droves
Todd started taking to smacking Daddy around during the trip. His reason? "Because you're so funny!" So Daddy decided to turn the tables on him and smacked his butt for the same reason. To which Todd replied: "No! If I'm funny you don't hit me, you laugh at me!" ... double standards, anyone?
On the way to LAX on the Airbus, Todd learned what air brakes were, as they made noises everytime the driver hit them. At one point we stopped at a traffic light and he observed, much to the driver's amusement: "When you have a red light, you use the air brakes!"
Meeting Molly provide some cute big-brotherisms. I have a clip of video that shows one of them coughing (not clear who exactly), at which point Todd says in his most grownup, authoritative voice: "If you cough you have to cover your mouth with your hand, okay?"
And when her Daddy admonished her to hold her cup with 2 hands to avoid spilling it, he listened intently, then turned to me and repeated: "You have to hold the cup with 2 hands. If you use one hand, the milk will spill!"
Speaking of spillage, when the waitress at the Lockstop Cafe in Ballard, WA spilled soup onto our table as she served it, we all refrained from saying anything... until Todd piped up with the very obvious observation: "She spilled it!"
Last night Oma was telling Todd stories about how she used to style Mommy's hair when Mommy was Todd's age, and how all the pulling caused Mommy to cry. Todd immediately chided Oma: "Don't do that anymore!" and pointed his finger at her, wagging it. He then added: "If you do it again, I am angry! I put you outside and close the door and you cannot get in!" LOL
Finally, he enjoyed a piece of candy after dinner yesterday, but not before Oma pointed out that all that sugar was not good for his teeth. Todd's reply? "But it's good for the tongue!" True enough!
On the way to LAX on the Airbus, Todd learned what air brakes were, as they made noises everytime the driver hit them. At one point we stopped at a traffic light and he observed, much to the driver's amusement: "When you have a red light, you use the air brakes!"
Meeting Molly provide some cute big-brotherisms. I have a clip of video that shows one of them coughing (not clear who exactly), at which point Todd says in his most grownup, authoritative voice: "If you cough you have to cover your mouth with your hand, okay?"
And when her Daddy admonished her to hold her cup with 2 hands to avoid spilling it, he listened intently, then turned to me and repeated: "You have to hold the cup with 2 hands. If you use one hand, the milk will spill!"
Speaking of spillage, when the waitress at the Lockstop Cafe in Ballard, WA spilled soup onto our table as she served it, we all refrained from saying anything... until Todd piped up with the very obvious observation: "She spilled it!"
Last night Oma was telling Todd stories about how she used to style Mommy's hair when Mommy was Todd's age, and how all the pulling caused Mommy to cry. Todd immediately chided Oma: "Don't do that anymore!" and pointed his finger at her, wagging it. He then added: "If you do it again, I am angry! I put you outside and close the door and you cannot get in!" LOL
Finally, he enjoyed a piece of candy after dinner yesterday, but not before Oma pointed out that all that sugar was not good for his teeth. Todd's reply? "But it's good for the tongue!" True enough!
Off on vacation
We're headed out on our 2-week long vacation in less than 12 hours :-)
I'll have sporadic internet access throughout, and will blog about our trip (with pictures!) as often as I can-- hopefully every night, or maybe every other night.
However, to keep things simple, I'm going to limit my entries to just one single blog, my Grab blog: http://blogs.grab.com/hellykwee
So be sure to check back on that page often. See you when we get back! :-)
Love,
Helly, Allan and Todd
I'll have sporadic internet access throughout, and will blog about our trip (with pictures!) as often as I can-- hopefully every night, or maybe every other night.
However, to keep things simple, I'm going to limit my entries to just one single blog, my Grab blog: http://blogs.grab.com/hellykwee
So be sure to check back on that page often. See you when we get back! :-)
Love,
Helly, Allan and Todd
Daddy gets smaller
As I am typing this, Todd is in the kitchen helping Daddy put toppings on a frozen pizza for lunch. Daddy was using a knife to cut olives and Todd was watching, observing that "When I'm bigger, I can use that."
I pointed out: "When you're bigger you can help Daddy make dinner."
Todd agreed, and offered his own spin: "When Daddy gets smaller he can make dinner with me!"
Hmmm... well, one way or another, whether Todd gets bigger or Daddy gets smaller, they'll be closer in size than they currently are, and Todd will definitely be in a position to help Daddy in the kitchen :-D
I pointed out: "When you're bigger you can help Daddy make dinner."
Todd agreed, and offered his own spin: "When Daddy gets smaller he can make dinner with me!"
Hmmm... well, one way or another, whether Todd gets bigger or Daddy gets smaller, they'll be closer in size than they currently are, and Todd will definitely be in a position to help Daddy in the kitchen :-D
Dental checkup
Had a very successful trip to the dentist this morning. Both Mommy and Todd were due for their six-month checkup. Mommy went first so she could demonstrate to Todd how easy and painless it was while the dentist scaled and polished her teeth. At first Todd was very wary and looked as if he were about to cry at the notion of being left alone in a seat in the corner while Mommy took her turn in the dentist's chair. But he slowly warmed to it, seeing the dentist banter with Mommy, and listened intently as the dentist explained what he was doing and even let him move the chair for a closer look.
When it was Todd's turn he was pretty brave. He clamored for Mommy to hold his hand, but he obeyed the dentist nicely when it came to opening wide and turning his head. He even got to hold a mirror so he could see what was going on in his mouth.
After Todd's turn was over, he looked at me and said "dentist cleaned my teeth". He had received the head of the rotating rubber brush used to polish his teeth, and held it up in his hand as he said, "with this!" He loved the balloon that the dentist blew up and decorated with a face, made from a latex glove. And of course, he got a brand new little toothbrush :-)
All in all, it was a good visit, and hopefully, when we go again in 6 months, Todd will remember how easy and worry-free it was :-)
When it was Todd's turn he was pretty brave. He clamored for Mommy to hold his hand, but he obeyed the dentist nicely when it came to opening wide and turning his head. He even got to hold a mirror so he could see what was going on in his mouth.
After Todd's turn was over, he looked at me and said "dentist cleaned my teeth". He had received the head of the rotating rubber brush used to polish his teeth, and held it up in his hand as he said, "with this!" He loved the balloon that the dentist blew up and decorated with a face, made from a latex glove. And of course, he got a brand new little toothbrush :-)
All in all, it was a good visit, and hopefully, when we go again in 6 months, Todd will remember how easy and worry-free it was :-)
Clean turtle!
This morning Todd was doing what all little boys do-- being mischievous and running and hiding from Oma as she attempted, in vain, to dress him.
He crept under the coffee table and refused to budge. Why? Because "I'm a turtle!"
So Oma tried to turn the tables (haha) on him and pointed out that since turtles are dirty, they need to be put outside, not allowed to scamper inside the house.
Todd thought about this for a moment, and then piped up with: "I'm a clean turtle!"
That boy will be a lawyer yet! :-D
He crept under the coffee table and refused to budge. Why? Because "I'm a turtle!"
So Oma tried to turn the tables (haha) on him and pointed out that since turtles are dirty, they need to be put outside, not allowed to scamper inside the house.
Todd thought about this for a moment, and then piped up with: "I'm a clean turtle!"
That boy will be a lawyer yet! :-D
Fixing car store
Last night, as I tucked Todd into bed, I gave him his pillow and then searched the whole house for his stuffed turtle. I couldn't find it, but promised him we'd look for it the next day. When I came home from work tonight, I found Todd happily playing with his stuffed turtle. I exclaimed, "Oh, you found it!" and asked him where it was. That's when he explained about how he found the turtle in my parents' new car, when they drove to the mechanic to pick up my Neon:
"It was in the new car. We go to get Mommy's car from the... from the... fixing car store!"
Rather apt description for a car mechanic's shop :-D
"It was in the new car. We go to get Mommy's car from the... from the... fixing car store!"
Rather apt description for a car mechanic's shop :-D
Morning hugs
This morning, as I was rushing about, getting ready for work, I dashed out the door so I could start my car's engine and let it run, warming up, for a few minutes while I went back in the house and finished getting ready.
Todd was drinking his morning milk on the couch when I ran out the door to do so, and he thought I was leaving for the day. He looked at me and said through his bottle: "Wait for me! I want a hug!"
I quickly pointed out that I was only starting the car and would be right back to give him a hug and kiss and bid him a proper goodbye before leaving for work :-)
Todd was drinking his morning milk on the couch when I ran out the door to do so, and he thought I was leaving for the day. He looked at me and said through his bottle: "Wait for me! I want a hug!"
I quickly pointed out that I was only starting the car and would be right back to give him a hug and kiss and bid him a proper goodbye before leaving for work :-)
Charlie Chaplin
Yesterday Todd woke up with a strange sort of wound above his lip, we're not sure exactly what it is, my mom suspects some sort of fungus. We're still a bit mystified as to the source. Next day (today) it got worse, darker: red and black instead of the light brown from Monday. But it's slowly getting better. Here's Todd, looking like he's wearing a Charlie Chaplin mustache:
Circles and Triangles
Todd has become adept at identifying the difference between men's and women's restrooms, with the universal shapes of triangles for the men's room and circles for the ladies' room:
When I took him to a public restroom the other day, he announced: "When I go with Mommy, I go to circle. When I go with Daddy, I go to triangle".
When I took him to a public restroom the other day, he announced: "When I go with Mommy, I go to circle. When I go with Daddy, I go to triangle".
Another fun weekend
... in Santa Barbara.
Friday Toddy went shopping at the grocery store, mall and K-Mart with Daddy, where he enjoyed playing in the toy section, esp with the colorful water guns. They tried to get a pizza for dinner but it was closed by the time they got there, so it was off to McDonald's instead.
Next day, Todd and Mommy enjoyed a trip to the Goleta Library while Daddy worked on campus. We had fun playing with the toys and picking out a few books to take home to read. He was eager to read them as soon as we got home, and I read one to him while he drank his afternoon milk before his nap.
Earlier that morning, Todd and Daddy went to the playground in the apartment complex, where Todd spied a tree with a hole in it, and asked Daddy what it was. When they arrived home, Todd regaled Mommy with an explanation of what they saw: "We went to squirrel house, and Daddy knock on the door, but squirrel wasn't home!"
Sunday morning, Todd awoke at 7am and crawled over Daddy, snuggling in the crook of his arm on the other side of him, and promptly falling back asleep :-) When Mommy entered the room at 7:30 to visit the bathroom, she squinted because she couldn't find the little boy anywhere-- until Daddy rolled over and pointed at the little man sleeping cozily in his arms.
Sunday afternoon Daddy and Todd visited K-Mart again and attempted yet again to grab a pizza for lunch-- to no avail, the pizza machine was broken, so it was yet another trip to McDonald's for food. Foiled again!
Todd enjoyed watching some of the videos we'd taken of him and uploaded to Mommy's computer-- both older and recent videos. Including the frog-head-butting video. Later that evening, he demonstrated the contents of the video to his stuffed turtle and tiger, and mimicked the words spoken in the video: "why are you bumping the frog?" "because it's so hard!" :-D
Friday Toddy went shopping at the grocery store, mall and K-Mart with Daddy, where he enjoyed playing in the toy section, esp with the colorful water guns. They tried to get a pizza for dinner but it was closed by the time they got there, so it was off to McDonald's instead.
Next day, Todd and Mommy enjoyed a trip to the Goleta Library while Daddy worked on campus. We had fun playing with the toys and picking out a few books to take home to read. He was eager to read them as soon as we got home, and I read one to him while he drank his afternoon milk before his nap.
Earlier that morning, Todd and Daddy went to the playground in the apartment complex, where Todd spied a tree with a hole in it, and asked Daddy what it was. When they arrived home, Todd regaled Mommy with an explanation of what they saw: "We went to squirrel house, and Daddy knock on the door, but squirrel wasn't home!"
Sunday morning, Todd awoke at 7am and crawled over Daddy, snuggling in the crook of his arm on the other side of him, and promptly falling back asleep :-) When Mommy entered the room at 7:30 to visit the bathroom, she squinted because she couldn't find the little boy anywhere-- until Daddy rolled over and pointed at the little man sleeping cozily in his arms.
Sunday afternoon Daddy and Todd visited K-Mart again and attempted yet again to grab a pizza for lunch-- to no avail, the pizza machine was broken, so it was yet another trip to McDonald's for food. Foiled again!
Todd enjoyed watching some of the videos we'd taken of him and uploaded to Mommy's computer-- both older and recent videos. Including the frog-head-butting video. Later that evening, he demonstrated the contents of the video to his stuffed turtle and tiger, and mimicked the words spoken in the video: "why are you bumping the frog?" "because it's so hard!" :-D
