Mummy took off for HK Tues and won't be back until Sat. So, it's a two men Thanksgiving this year. We were exhausted from the party yesterday so we went to bed early last night. It was a nice long restful sleep. JJ's cold had got a lot better so he wasn't coughing or making too much nasal noise like he used to 2 weeks ago. Daddy still had a some lingering cough. Not too bad. We were both sound sleepers.
Woke up and JJ was in a great mood. We wished each other "Happy Thanksgiving" and thanked each other for doing so. A good start. He wanted honey toast, egg custard and kiwi with raspberries and yogurt. He ate them all up. What an appetite! Off to kids' club before heading down to Chinatown for dim sum at Empress. JJ had his favourite Bo Law Bao and daddy had his fix of the standard fare. Satisfied and hopped back on the freeway heading for the chinese supermarket (99) so daddy could get his chinese cough syrup (Be Pa Go). Next stop Japanese video stop in Van Nuys. Once we got there, JJ had to take a dump first before choosing his fav movie - An Pan Man. Once we got home, JJ went for a bike ride before dinner.
We played tic tac toe after dinner. Probably a little too early for this game. We gave it a shot anyway. He was gradually getting it . Not quite there yet. Then we practised writing a few alphabets before bedtime.
All in all. Not a bad day. We missed mummy and her turkey terribly. We managed ok w/nattou and miso soup. A far cry from mummy's cooking but light and healthy nonetheless.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
A great helper at school's Thanksgiving Feast
JJ's preschool had a Thxgiving party in their classroom yesterday. I was responsible for drinks and arrived early to set things up. JJ jumped right in and helped me take put the drinks into the ice box. Then he started placing a pack of juice on the dinning table for everyone of his classmates. He even put out a couple of waters for the adults just in case. He did it all on his own without prompting whatsoever. His teachers and I were pleasantly surprised. What a great little helper he was! Needless to say, he insisted on helping me carry the big ice box back to the car afterwards.
During the party, he sat there and ate his dinner quietly. He was enjoying his dinner until one of his classmate's little 2 year old sister started to take interest in him and kept poking him in the back. He was a bit annoyed but kept his cool nonetheless. Daddy was busy running around taking video and pictures so mummy gets to check out what she had missed.
During the party, he sat there and ate his dinner quietly. He was enjoying his dinner until one of his classmate's little 2 year old sister started to take interest in him and kept poking him in the back. He was a bit annoyed but kept his cool nonetheless. Daddy was busy running around taking video and pictures so mummy gets to check out what she had missed.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Discipline
JJ, like any 3 yr old, pushes our buttons. My buttons are just simpler to get pushed than mummy's. Today, when we came home, he insisted that we'd go ride his bike right away. I wanted us to go into the house for a little break and drink before heading out to the park to play. He kept refusing to come in so I just went into the house knowing full well that he'd folllow me. Well, he did. But not without the usual busting out in big tears episode. He is gradually learning to become a 1st time listener but he needs to be reminded once in a while.
He normally behaves well when only 2 of us are around. Even when he fusses around, he will quickly come around once I issue my warnings. The whole thing changes when mummy is home. JJ takes full advantage of mum's presence and fights to the end no matter what. He swithces from an almost perfect kid to an irritating brat in no time. It's amazing to see how well he uses mum to buffer dad so effectively.
Mum keeps saying that it's ok for him to de-stress since he is under more stress when mum is not around. Not sure if this is indeed the case but I guess it's ok to let loose as long as he stays within bounds, which mum does a good job enforcing. It's just that dad's bounds tend to be much tighter.
The important thing is that JJ seems to have adjusted to our new life (mummy being away for work several nights a month) pretty well.
He normally behaves well when only 2 of us are around. Even when he fusses around, he will quickly come around once I issue my warnings. The whole thing changes when mummy is home. JJ takes full advantage of mum's presence and fights to the end no matter what. He swithces from an almost perfect kid to an irritating brat in no time. It's amazing to see how well he uses mum to buffer dad so effectively.
Mum keeps saying that it's ok for him to de-stress since he is under more stress when mum is not around. Not sure if this is indeed the case but I guess it's ok to let loose as long as he stays within bounds, which mum does a good job enforcing. It's just that dad's bounds tend to be much tighter.
The important thing is that JJ seems to have adjusted to our new life (mummy being away for work several nights a month) pretty well.
Surprising thoughtfulness
Been such a long time since my last blog. Can't believe I snooze on this one.
JJ is a good balance of kindness, rebellion, maturity and playfulness. His occasional moments of surprising thoughtfulness remind that the we just might be doing an Ok job as parents. These small signs were of course big things in the eyes of parents.
It was one of the evenings where JJ was falling asleep during dinner (no PM nap) and needed to go to bed before I could finish dinner. I put him to bed. As he was resting his head on the pillow in my bed, he looked at me and said "Daddy, please go and eat more dinner then come to bed". He was thinking about my half finished dinner all along.
Tonight was a similar evening but at least I finished my dinner. As you was about to lie down on our bed, he reminded that the TV was still on downstairs. I guess we have a budding environmentalist.
JJ is a good balance of kindness, rebellion, maturity and playfulness. His occasional moments of surprising thoughtfulness remind that the we just might be doing an Ok job as parents. These small signs were of course big things in the eyes of parents.
It was one of the evenings where JJ was falling asleep during dinner (no PM nap) and needed to go to bed before I could finish dinner. I put him to bed. As he was resting his head on the pillow in my bed, he looked at me and said "Daddy, please go and eat more dinner then come to bed". He was thinking about my half finished dinner all along.
Tonight was a similar evening but at least I finished my dinner. As you was about to lie down on our bed, he reminded that the TV was still on downstairs. I guess we have a budding environmentalist.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Mum leaves for HK - 6 wk training
3 of us slept together last night. JJ knew mum was leaving tomorow. Got up early and took mum to the airport. JJ was excited about the trip to the beach afterwards. He was very good. May be he didn't get how long mum was going to be gone. Nor we were eager to explain this element anyway.
Mum was a litty misty as we kissed good-bye on the curb. Noriko - be strong. We'll be alright. You'll do great. Only 6 weeks. No big deal, I said. Couldn't help but feel the suddent emptiness. I knew I was incomplete without her. And, it struck me pretty hard to face the fact that I actually have to experience it for this long.
Rio (our live in nanny), JJ and I went to Santa Monica Beach. Picked a spot right next to the Pier where there was a fun fair. JJ was funny. He was so anxious to hit the beach but when we got there, he got scared of the water and wanted to go home. We eventually got him into the water by writing his name in the sand. He was happy to see that and started to get bolder and bolder. He got so bold that he kep dragging daddy to the deeper water. He was having so much fun jumping in the waves, and he insisted that I let him do it on his own even though he occasionally felt right into water. It was great to see him quick transition. Just a little encouragement and fun.
We then went on the Ferris Wheel. Nice view. JJ did great. Not scared at all. Just enjoyed the ride. Rio then took us to the organic vegan restaurant on Santa Monica Blvd just east of 5th Ave. Amazing food. Great curry flavor and just the right portin. Very satisfying. Some of the more tasty vegetarian food I had ever tasted. The waitress named Bunny was one of the best. Very attentive and had a great time with JJ, who seemed to have fallen in love with her. Bunny had been to HK attending her friend's Miss HK Pagaent (his friend was "Miss Leg" of 1998 or something like that).
JJ fell asleep on our way back. We are hoping to get him to get by 9pm tonight to set his clock back to where it belongs.
Mum was a litty misty as we kissed good-bye on the curb. Noriko - be strong. We'll be alright. You'll do great. Only 6 weeks. No big deal, I said. Couldn't help but feel the suddent emptiness. I knew I was incomplete without her. And, it struck me pretty hard to face the fact that I actually have to experience it for this long.
Rio (our live in nanny), JJ and I went to Santa Monica Beach. Picked a spot right next to the Pier where there was a fun fair. JJ was funny. He was so anxious to hit the beach but when we got there, he got scared of the water and wanted to go home. We eventually got him into the water by writing his name in the sand. He was happy to see that and started to get bolder and bolder. He got so bold that he kep dragging daddy to the deeper water. He was having so much fun jumping in the waves, and he insisted that I let him do it on his own even though he occasionally felt right into water. It was great to see him quick transition. Just a little encouragement and fun.
We then went on the Ferris Wheel. Nice view. JJ did great. Not scared at all. Just enjoyed the ride. Rio then took us to the organic vegan restaurant on Santa Monica Blvd just east of 5th Ave. Amazing food. Great curry flavor and just the right portin. Very satisfying. Some of the more tasty vegetarian food I had ever tasted. The waitress named Bunny was one of the best. Very attentive and had a great time with JJ, who seemed to have fallen in love with her. Bunny had been to HK attending her friend's Miss HK Pagaent (his friend was "Miss Leg" of 1998 or something like that).
JJ fell asleep on our way back. We are hoping to get him to get by 9pm tonight to set his clock back to where it belongs.
Monday, June 16, 2008
I want to buy my friend's house!
JJ went to his friend's place to play. According to Mummy, his friend's toy collection was about 20x of Jay's. Well, either we have been stiffing JJ or his friend's a toy junkie. Daddy quicky proposed a "toy surge" to counter the imbalance. Mummy said that it'd be unnecessary. Less toys more imagination opportunities.
A week or so later, while we were having lunch, JJ said:
"My friend has a lot of toys. When I grow up, I want to buy his house! I will pay money for it"
Mum and Dad were amused. Not quite the kind of response we were expecting from a 3 yr old. Guess, parental influence played a part here since we had been talking about investment properties lately.
A week or so later, while we were having lunch, JJ said:
"My friend has a lot of toys. When I grow up, I want to buy his house! I will pay money for it"
Mum and Dad were amused. Not quite the kind of response we were expecting from a 3 yr old. Guess, parental influence played a part here since we had been talking about investment properties lately.
Saturday, May 3, 2008
A sharing violinist???
Ran into Adam, JJ's buddy at Kids' Club. Handsome little boy. Every time he sees me, he wants to have me organize a race for him and JJ. The race is about 2 of them pushing little trucks around the room. As usual, I happily obliged. It was a great race. Then, there was this third boy called Tyler. He started barging in trying to join the race by taking one of the trucks away. So, we talked to JJ about letting Tyler have a go. At first, there wasn't much reaction from JJ. After a few more seconds, JJ gracefully agreed to let Tyler have the truck. The room applauded (3 attendents plus Nori and me). Can't describe how proud I was of him! We have a gentleman in training! Way to go, mate!
JJ woke up from his nap. We did our Shostakivich Jazz Suite Waltz II (one of JJ's fav activities). He was in a great mode. So, we started watching Youtube. He first requested Village People's Macho Macho Man. Then. I started to steer him to something more classical. We watched our Waltz and Have Nagila played by Andre Rieu and his orchestra. A lot of violinists there. JJ was completely engrossed because firstly it was 2 of his fav's. and the violin action was rather enchanting. Now, he wants to play violin so he can play them too! Let's tell mummy that!!
JJ woke up from his nap. We did our Shostakivich Jazz Suite Waltz II (one of JJ's fav activities). He was in a great mode. So, we started watching Youtube. He first requested Village People's Macho Macho Man. Then. I started to steer him to something more classical. We watched our Waltz and Have Nagila played by Andre Rieu and his orchestra. A lot of violinists there. JJ was completely engrossed because firstly it was 2 of his fav's. and the violin action was rather enchanting. Now, he wants to play violin so he can play them too! Let's tell mummy that!!
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Been too long
Can't believe I haven't posted anything for over 4 months. Me bad bad bad ...
JJ has changed so much that I don't know where to begin. How about what we did today.
We let JJ sleep until almost 10:30am today to see how far he could push it. Noriko thought that he might be transitioning over to no PM nap mode. Or, he might have been too exhausted from yesterday. Anyhow, we all felt taking it easy so we just woke up whenever.
Finally, JJ got up by himself. After the initial wake up ritual of inseparable attachment to mum and a quick bite of porridge (yesterday's leftover but still very good!). We headed off to VIP Seafood in WLA for a dim sum fix. Noriko and I were both longing for one.
JJ, as usual, went for the baked barbecue pork buns. There were superb! No wonder he couldnt' stop eating them. I did the chinese eating thing where I kept shoving stuff in with minimal conversational pauses while Noriko took time to feed JJ. Boy, was I a lucky dude!
Noriko had quite recovered from her cold and she only ate a little. Nonetheless, it was a rather satisfying $46 tab for 2.5!
On our way to the beach, we stopped by a few open houses. JJ was making comments about the properties like " Hey, this is big", "Oh, I want to see other rooms", "Nice bathroom". His expressions were more interesting than the houses.
JJ's talk has progressed so much that he's conversing in full sentences (to be expected for an almost 3, I suppose) Still, as parents, we are constantly amazed by what comes out of his mouth.
He is switching between E and J pretty effortlessly. Hopefully, this skill will stay. I am sensing the taking over of E because of his interaction with his E speaking play buddies. Good thing is that he's interested in songs so I have been teaching him Cantonese songs like "It's a Small World", which he seems to like a lot. Not singing it yet. But, potential there. Or, may be all parents think about their kids that way.
Anyway, back to today's saga. After the open houses in SM, we headed to one of our fav places for JJ to run away - Pepperdine campus. The school was on break so everything was closed and the place was deserted. We hung out by the water fountain near the student center. JJ was climbing up and down the permiter and ventured into the center of the fountain occasionally.
Noriko and I took turns to nap in the lovely shade by the ocean. Boy, the air was sooo good. I kept thinking about buying a house in Ventura.
JJ kept wanting to go to the beach. We obliged. He had his first taste of the ocean when he slipped and fell into the water while wading. He was all soaked so he had to go topless for a while. He seemed to like the ocean a lot and was gaining courage to test the waves. All in one, it was a fun fun time just watching him wade with Noriko.
He felt asleep on our way back so Noriko jumped off and did some shopping at Nijiya. We got him "sasa" so he was happy to wake up to a nice cream puff when we got home.
JJ has changed so much that I don't know where to begin. How about what we did today.
We let JJ sleep until almost 10:30am today to see how far he could push it. Noriko thought that he might be transitioning over to no PM nap mode. Or, he might have been too exhausted from yesterday. Anyhow, we all felt taking it easy so we just woke up whenever.
Finally, JJ got up by himself. After the initial wake up ritual of inseparable attachment to mum and a quick bite of porridge (yesterday's leftover but still very good!). We headed off to VIP Seafood in WLA for a dim sum fix. Noriko and I were both longing for one.
JJ, as usual, went for the baked barbecue pork buns. There were superb! No wonder he couldnt' stop eating them. I did the chinese eating thing where I kept shoving stuff in with minimal conversational pauses while Noriko took time to feed JJ. Boy, was I a lucky dude!
Noriko had quite recovered from her cold and she only ate a little. Nonetheless, it was a rather satisfying $46 tab for 2.5!
On our way to the beach, we stopped by a few open houses. JJ was making comments about the properties like " Hey, this is big", "Oh, I want to see other rooms", "Nice bathroom". His expressions were more interesting than the houses.
JJ's talk has progressed so much that he's conversing in full sentences (to be expected for an almost 3, I suppose) Still, as parents, we are constantly amazed by what comes out of his mouth.
He is switching between E and J pretty effortlessly. Hopefully, this skill will stay. I am sensing the taking over of E because of his interaction with his E speaking play buddies. Good thing is that he's interested in songs so I have been teaching him Cantonese songs like "It's a Small World", which he seems to like a lot. Not singing it yet. But, potential there. Or, may be all parents think about their kids that way.
Anyway, back to today's saga. After the open houses in SM, we headed to one of our fav places for JJ to run away - Pepperdine campus. The school was on break so everything was closed and the place was deserted. We hung out by the water fountain near the student center. JJ was climbing up and down the permiter and ventured into the center of the fountain occasionally.
Noriko and I took turns to nap in the lovely shade by the ocean. Boy, the air was sooo good. I kept thinking about buying a house in Ventura.
JJ kept wanting to go to the beach. We obliged. He had his first taste of the ocean when he slipped and fell into the water while wading. He was all soaked so he had to go topless for a while. He seemed to like the ocean a lot and was gaining courage to test the waves. All in one, it was a fun fun time just watching him wade with Noriko.
He felt asleep on our way back so Noriko jumped off and did some shopping at Nijiya. We got him "sasa" so he was happy to wake up to a nice cream puff when we got home.
Friday, January 4, 2008
Still going to bed late
JJ has been going to bed around 11pm. He can't fall asleep earlier than that. He used to go to bed around 930. His pattern was upset by the trip to Japan back in Oct. We still have not been able to push it back to normal.
He was running a lot in Japan so he may not be getting enough exercise back at home He goes to kids' club almost every day but the running there may be enough. We need to find more time to take him running. It used to be a lot easier before winter. Now, it's dark and cold.
Our evening exercise spot is now the mall where he can run around and plays to his heart content at Playtown when there aren't too many kids around.
He was running a lot in Japan so he may not be getting enough exercise back at home He goes to kids' club almost every day but the running there may be enough. We need to find more time to take him running. It used to be a lot easier before winter. Now, it's dark and cold.
Our evening exercise spot is now the mall where he can run around and plays to his heart content at Playtown when there aren't too many kids around.
JJ's way of saying NO
He has developed a new way of refusal.
Mummy says " Do you want to go the park?"
Parks are one of his fav places. But, sometimes, he just doesn't feel like going
JJ replies " What if I fell and hit my head? or "What if sand got into my shoes"? "What if bugs bit me?"
Is this a sign???
Mummy says " Do you want to go the park?"
Parks are one of his fav places. But, sometimes, he just doesn't feel like going
JJ replies " What if I fell and hit my head? or "What if sand got into my shoes"? "What if bugs bit me?"
Is this a sign???
Just when we thought ...
An amazing event took place this morning. JJ woke up quietly, went down to the toilet downstair where his private toilet was located and took care of business. Gone was his signature wake up wailing and fuss. Man, we were impressed. Our boy had finally made it to the big league.
Then, as the day went on, our excitement waned and disappointment set in as he had 3 potty accidents. Our guess was that he did it deliberately because we were giving him enough attention. Daddy and Mummy were watching their fav. Japanese drama in spite of his strong protest. He kept proclaiming how uninteresting the drama was, telling us how scary some of the characters were (it was a trendy comedy), how unattractive the actresses were, yelling as the TV to tell the characters to go somewhere else, and demanding the TV be switched off.
I guess we were somewhat guilty and his behaviour ( if our guess was right) would put him in the feline category!
Then, as the day went on, our excitement waned and disappointment set in as he had 3 potty accidents. Our guess was that he did it deliberately because we were giving him enough attention. Daddy and Mummy were watching their fav. Japanese drama in spite of his strong protest. He kept proclaiming how uninteresting the drama was, telling us how scary some of the characters were (it was a trendy comedy), how unattractive the actresses were, yelling as the TV to tell the characters to go somewhere else, and demanding the TV be switched off.
I guess we were somewhat guilty and his behaviour ( if our guess was right) would put him in the feline category!
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