Splishing and a Splashing Weekend

This past weekend was a very nice and relaxing one with our baby group friends up in the Sierra Foothills area!

On Saturday, we bolted out the door for an early morning tour of the nearby zoo (we became members so it was free entrance for the remainder of the year! YAY!). Erik toured some of his favorite animals including monkeys, parrots, tigers, jaguars, and of course his ultimate favorite giraffes! It was a quick 40 minute tour just for Erik to say hi to all his animal buddies!

Then we enjoyed some local dim sum brunch along with Grandpa Tom and Grandma Katy. Erik ate lots of good yummy Chinese food and behaved very well in the restaurant. We were pretty lucky in timing his toddler schedule with the meals now. So whew!

After that, we rushed home so Erik could get a nice afternoon nap before the Toddler Pool Party get started in the late afternoon! While Erik slept, Grandma Katy and Daddy were frantically making a "Bobby Flay" version of home made Buffalo Wings! Mummy made some yummy vegetarian rice pilaf to take to the potluck party as well! At the party, Mummy and Daddy had a lot more fun than Erik, or at least it seemed like it. We took advantage of grandparents being here and taking care of Erik so we were splishing and splashing with the water guns all over the place! We may have scared a few ...okay more than a few...parents away :o) hee hee. Can't help it, its not like we always have opportunities to behave like little kiddies! The toddlers were laughing away when Mummy and Daddy were being silly.


Grandpa Tom and Grandma Katy enjoying the chaotic scenery of toddlers running!



Matching Shirts: Daddy & Erik

Erik was busy splashing in the toddler pool but was a bit hesitant in staying in since the water was up to his shoulders and he wasn't comfortable that Daddy wasn't really in the pool holding him like the big swimming pool. However, he loved running around the backyard and playing with plastic water pipes (also served as water guns) as if he was a little "Survivor" in his swim diapers! hahahaha! Just too cute! Not long after, he absolutely crashed and went down for a long nap in Grandma Katy's arms! Daddy and Mummy actually got to eat this time around, which was awesome! LOL!


Survivor Erik!



Erik is so proud of his plastic "spear"


A Happy Family

Grrrrrrrrrrr

You knew it was just a matter of time – something like this happened. Erik got bitten at school today. We do not know the culprit (school policy) – but dang it how am I to react as a parent. Anyways I have decided to enroll Erik to X-Men school and model him after Wolverine – so toddlers watch your six.
I guess Daddy’s got to give some pep talk on self defense tonight. Our poor baby got bit… Man this sucks.

Splash!

Thanks Mommy for the awesome Father's Day

Warm Wishes on Father's Day

For all our blog readers who are also father's, here is a little toast to you all:

May you all enjoy the sweet kisses

each of your child showers you throughout today!
May you all remember the loving hugs received

and the memories will never fade away!
May you all have a wonderful and Happy Father's Day!

In our little household today, it is a light celebration where everybody appreciates Daddy and showers him with love and attention!! Daddy received a card with a poem and Erik's little handprint, which just shows how much our son has grown in just over 14 months! The first words that Erik says almost every morning when he wakes up is "Ba Ba", which means Daddy in Cantonese, and this just shows how much Erik really loves his Daddy! :o)....that or he's telling "Daddy wake up!!" LOL! That day will come too, we're sure!

Then there's also Grandpa Tom who's not to be left out, so early in the morning, Mummy made little handprint cut outs of Erik and (yes), even Daddy too to give to Grandpa as his Father's Day card plus some extra kisses and hugs! The sweet smile that Grandpa gave to Erik and the loving caress on his face showed how much Grandpa loved the attention from his son and grandson too!

For our dinner at home celebration, it was a nice event with Erik's maternal Grandparents join in too! Grandpa Tik and Grandma Wai came and visited their little grandson! Daddy made his very awesome BBQ ribs that Grandpa Tik just raved over and over during dinner, which made Daddy so happy to hear a compliment from his father-in-law! Trust us, compliments are very rare if not antiquated when it comes to traditional Chinese fathers of that generation (like when pig flies or once in a blue moon or whatever sayings you may have heard). So Daddy was extremely pleased with his cooking! Mummy made garlic mashed potatoes and some blanched green beans tossed with various herbs. So it was a nice summer BBQ for Father's Day and Erik got to celebrate it with his Daddy and his 2 Grandpas!! Yay!!

Happy Father's Day

“Walk a little slower Daddy,” said a child so small.
“I’m following in your footsteps and I don’t want to fall.

Sometimes your steps are very fast,
Sometimes they’re hard to see:
So walk a little slower, Daddy,
For you are leading me.

Someday when I’m all grown up,
You’re what I want to be;
Then I will have a little child
Who’ll want to follow me.

And I would want to lead just right,
And know that I was true;
So, walk a little slower, Daddy,
For I must follow you.”

For Dad – Love Erik

I know these words weren’t written by my son – probably something his teacher put together – but I must say that it made me a weepy sap this morning and I had to rush out of school (make mental note: to give a lot of extra kisses and hugs to my little guy). I will put up the picture of the cool Frisbee my son gave me.

Erik Update

Happy Father's Day to You Know who you are (and Mr Brad Pitt) You Guys Rock (AJ you suck)

It’s almost Father’s Day again – seriously do we really need a day for Daddy. After all aren’t we the lazy SOBs. You betchya sweet ass we need a Daddy’s day too. I am not here to start a Mom Daddy flame war – I totally believe you Mom’s need many Mommies days in a year after all you guys go through. But sometimes we daddies need a little appreciation day too.

You have feminist and soccer moms – well watch out ‘cuz here comes Soccer Dad. Well there is no point to this rant – nor do I really rant on my son’s blog. He is cute as heck* (see Mommy said no cursing) and he really makes everything worth it. If you have been in my play group and reading this blog for a while – you may know that Chhimi (aka Grumpy Asian Dad) has been researching a lot about male lactation. Well as I was surfing the net – shopping I came across this cute onesie that put a smile on my face. Enjoy!

Going Back 2 School

Well, this entry isn't so much about Erik's latest and great achievements or any funny store. It's just an entry of reflection from Mummy (not like its any different from all the other entries, right?).

Tonight was the first night for my return to school to continue my MBA program at the local university, which I've been absent for over 3 semesters already. The class is held twice a week in the evenings which means that Mummy will most likely miss all my nightly rituals with Erik 2 times a week. WAH!!! Mummy usually gets to dry Erik off from his nightly bath with Daddy (and sometimes its with Mummy instead if Daddy has to run errands or work late, etc), then we do some evening readings and go through about 4 books before we go night night. Sounds simple but I truly enjoyed every moment with Erik, even though some nights are tough when he's super cranky or teething.

Still, its Mummy's time with Erik. So tonight, I couldn't help but think of my little boy while in class! I even turned on my laptop and TEXT messaged my darling hubby to tell him to give my Erik lots of kisses and hugs (and also remind him that its milk time)! Both Daddy and Mummy get quite sad at times when we're away from our little guy...can't help it if we're doting parents! SIGH! But the thing is Mummy survived (at least for the first session)...so maybe it won't be so bad after all?!!!

Saying BYE-BYE to my Great Aunties

These last two weeks have been fun and hectic and our dear son grew up even more. (in terms of personality, mischief and in general a fun loving guy) We think it was all the love and attention he has been receiving from his grandparents and grand aunts who were visiting from Bhutan. Now they have left and gone back home to Bhutan -- it's going to be quiet and I am sure he will wonder -- where his great aunties have gone.

Comment from Mummy
Our dearest little Erik truly enjoyed all the attention he got from his Grand Aunty Mary and Ellie. Our family of 7 has now dwindled down to just 5 (including Grandma Katy and Grandpa Tom) in the house and its a bit quieter. Erik knew what was going on as we all have prepared him by telling him that "GrandAunties go Bye-Bye" and "GrandAunties sit on airplane" a couple days before. So at the local airport, he was busy waving bye-bye to them all the time, despite the 2 hour wait :o) hahahhaa

When Erik returned home, Grandma Katy asked "where's Grand aunties" and he'd look around and he'd want to go upstairs where they stayed. SIGH! Our little guy is definitely missing family!

It was wonderful to have them visiting us, exhausting most of the times, but it was still nice! We literally just saw them less than 2 months ago in Bhutan but Daddy says that its just surreal to have his Aunty Mary and Aunty Ellie visiting and staying in his home :o). All in all, we had a good time because of good company and it makes us realize family is wonderful, even though it can be tiring ;o). Hope to see them all soon again!

If You're Happy and You Know It...

Mummy usually does pick up Erik at school in the late afternoon and stays a bit with Erik to see him interact and play, sometimes with other kids in the play structures outside but sometimes he also explores alone. Well, on Monday, the discovery was a good one!

The music was going on in the classroom. It was right after their 5pm cheerio snack and all the kids rushed over to the common area to do a little afternoon boogie and shake their bottoms! Erik was still finishing his snack; he likes to take his time and really enjoy the cuisine ;o) hahaha. However, once he heard "If You're Happy and You know it..." he was all smiles! They have a part where the CD sings, "stomp your feet, if you're happy and you know it, stomp your feet". Erik slides his chair all the way back away from the table and got up to stomp his feet!! So adorable!!

So mummy and daddy have been singing that song like crazy. Erik loves to clap his hands, stomp his feet, and shout horray to show that he's really really happy :o) LOL! That's our little happy boy!

Knowing Your Face

With Erik staying home for a couple days a week for the past 2-3 weeks, Grandma Katy and Grandpa Tom along with GrandAunty Mary and GrandAunty Ellie, they were able to make their mark in Erik. Our little boy knows that his grandparents will spoil him no matter what and are most indulgent so he's loving all the extra attention.

Well, for the past few months, Mommy has been trying to teach Erik where his Eyes, Nose, Ears, Mouth are, in Cantonese of course. He knew nose pretty well but with Grandma and Grandpa repeating it constantly, now, if you ask Erik where's his head, he'll tap on his head :o) hee hee. Too Cute!

The only thing is, Mommy is trying to translate the song "Head Shoulders Knees & Toes" into Cantonese...and well, that's a little tough! Doesn't sound as well as the english version but I guess it will have to do LOL!

Milestone Update: Approximately 14 months old

Words Erik Can Say

Mommy was reading one of the baby books that was purchased way before Erik even arrived. Anyways, for the last couple of nights, Mommy was reading on how the child brain develops in the 0-5 years old. It's a pretty interesting and very in depth book where it talks about how a child's brain's connectors are developed and behaves independently and then connect with each other as they mature.

Well, in one passage on language development, it mentioned that a child by one-year old, he/she can speak a median of 5 words verbally. Thus Mummy had to do some counting, and here's a list of words that Mummy came up with that Erik can say:

Bubble - in English

Dog - in English

Bye-Bye - in English

Duck - in English

Book - in English

Ball - in English

Mommy - in English or Cantonese because they sound the same

Daddy - in Chinese

Horse - in Chinese

Grandma (Dad's mom) - in Chinese

Milk - in Chinese

Fork- in Chinese

P.S. Mommy only wishes that Daddy would introduce Hindi volcabularies to Erik!!

under the sea