Destruction Begins

This is a photo of what used to be our lamp base.  Grande insisted on pulling down the halogen lamp and sent it crashing into the wall.  This separated the lamp from the base and kaboom!   It's made of cement, he managed to break it.  Great.  Boys.

Grande Gets His Top Teeth...Finally

Grande has been eating his way the past few months on just his 2 bottom teeth. I've been checking every week to see if his top teeth are coming in but -- nothing. Then I came home yesterday and Grandma Chan said they gave him some cake and there was chocolate stuck up there -- his teeth are finally coming in! And I definitely checked the day before and there was nothing.

First steps

Grande, you took two steps on your own just now.  Of course, it was because you were chasing after your sister and the toy she had.  

All the practice on your baby walker is paying off.

Party Animal

Grande attended a party today and loved it!  Played and ate till he could barely keep his eyes open.  

Tool Box

Third woodworking session and Mini churned out a tool box with "hammer head" handles.  This time she used a band saw, coping saw, power drill, clamps, sandpaper, hammer and nails, wood glue, and LOTS of paint. 

Threenager

On the drive back from Tahoe, Mini asks when can she drive.  I said we have to teach her how, she has to test for the license, and then she can drive.  She asks how many years will this take.  I say thirteen more years or when she's sixteen. 

 

Her next question is, "So if I learn to drive and get my license, I can go out by myself?"

 

So this is what's going on in my little one's head?!  She's already planning her getaway from the parents.  Great.

Ski Bunny

Papa took Mini to Alpine Meadow's magic carpet and, after a couple runs, this little one was sliding down the bunny slope on her own.  She really liked it and didn't want to stop. 

It was also a crowded ski trip with five other families.  Mini had a great time on the mountain with her buddies.

Wo Bu Xi Huan Daddy

The day Mini checked out of the hospital, I had to go to Seattle for a business trip for 2 days. When I got back, Mini was pretty much back to her old self, but she no longer wanted to do her bedtime routine with me. She seemed to have bonded with mommy while she was sick, staying home for more than 2 weeks. The first night, she refused and went to bed with mommy. The second night, she still wanted to sleep with mommy but she reluctantly went to bed because we said mommy needs to put Grande to bed. In bed, she told me "Wo bu xi huan Daddy, Wo xi huan Mommy" (I don't like daddy, I like mommy). I asked her why and she said "Just because". The third night, she seemed to get used to the idea of going to sleep with daddy, but in bed once again, she said the same words again. This time, when I asked her, she said "Because you go to work every day". It just breaks your heart. Anyway, I don't know if she really feels this way or if she just came up with this as an excuse. I explained to her why I have to go to work. It's been more than a week now and she still says this from time to time. She says it's because I go to work even though sometimes I know she is mad at me because I just disciplined her. She also still asks mommy to come find her every night after she puts Grande to bed.

Feet Planted, Rise Up

Grande - you stood on your own today.  You maneuvered into a standing position, looked around, and then plopped down on your butt.  But for a second or two, you were standing unassisted.

 

Today, you tagged along to a birthday party for Mini's classmate and I think you had more fun than your sister.  You ate more than her, you bumped heads with more babies than her, and you went into your first bouncy house.  Then came home and slept for two hours by yourself, no holding, no coddling. 

 

At this moment, you are sleeping in the crib on your own.  Can you be that understanding and know that we are trying to sleep train you?  Are you really making it this easy for us????

Changes for Grande

Little man, you have been pushed into life changes and dealt with them spectacularly.  First off, you are on baby formula completely.  Thank you for weaning so easily and without a fight.  You also eat everything we eat, short of it being a choking hazard.  And you love food, always ready to taste, already good with pincher grasp and feeding yourself, you complain when Mini gets food that you don't so we have to prepare two portions, you will crawl like the dickens to get food, and it keeps you busy when we need time.  Plus, you are willing to sit in the booster seat and high chair.  Next, you splash too much and want to jump out when bathing so we can't put you in the kitchen sink.  Your baby tub now goes into the bathtub.  It's hard trying to keep you from drinking from the faucet, grabbing toys which you are strictly forbidden to play with by mandate of your sister, and eating soap.  You also started brushing your two teeth.  Lastly, you are able to sleep through the night now, from 9pm-ish to 7am.  You still have a couple wakeups but go back to sleep quickly.  Given this, tonight is another attempt to sleep train.  Please, please be good about this too!

We trimmed your hair for the first time and got rid of that wicked widow's peak thing.

You are also putting fewer things in your mouth.  It used to be EVERYTHING but now it's only most things.  But you have become a head banger, meaning you like to bang your head on surfaces.  Not sure if it's a tactile thing or you think it's fun.