Feliz Navidad

At grandma's house, playing "meimei-is-going-to-sleep-ghe-ghe-cover-me-with-blanket-game".



One day I'll play the flute for you...

是shiao 公主, 不是 魔鬼

Kari: Kayla 是 shiao 公主。。。
Mommy: 那妹妹是什麼？
Kari: 妹妹是可愛的魔鬼阿。。。

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Mommy: 妹妹你在mong 什麼阿？
Kari: Mommy, Mei mei is busy...

Mommy: Oh Kari, stop waving your fork around when you eat, you're making the bread crumbs fly all over the place.
Kari, pensive: But Mommy, Kari cannot fly..." （可是媽蜜，妹妹不會飛阿...)

Two weeks ago I showed kari a couple of signs that says "Sit down please" and "Shhh...be quiet". She doesn't read yet, at least nobody has attempted to teach her just yet. But she picked out the sign that says "Sit down please" and she correctly read it. Then she picked out the sign "Shhhh...be quiet" and she said just that quietly, "Shhhh...be quiet." I think she has some amazing memory, probably even better than most adults!

She made a phone with her magnets stacked up, and went to the corner of the room.
“維維，阿媽在嗎？阿媽你在作什麼阿？ 你在see pong pong嗎？你在外mieng 嗎？“

Mommy FU

Mommy roll call, "KARI FU!"
Kari, "YO!"

a minute later...

Kari, "Mommy Fu!!!"
Mommy and daddy shocked. Yes... Mommy Fu alright...


FAVEORITE SONG OF THE MOMENT: Jingle Bell.

LEAST FAVORITE: Christmas Carols people. She'd baby-cuss them out.

CUTEST PHRASE OF THE MONTH: you want purple? yes? no?....you want blue? yes? no?....

FAVORTIE GAME TO PLAY WITH SISTER: Mei Mei wants to sleep now... Ghe Ghe help cover Mei Mei with blanket...

CHEAP TOY DADDY BUILT: a blanket slide for the girls by the wall...off the couch....

Oh so much fun

My favorite Juice

AHHH..... Orange juice, anyone?

Just the two of us

Baby said one day, "Mommy, Mei Mei is Mommy's heart and treasure (心肝寶貝)."
Mommy cupped baby's face and lovingly replied, "Oh Kari, I love you..."

The next day, Baby cupped Mommy's face and said, "Kari is Mommy's I-Love-U..."
Then she showered Mommy with hugs and kisses...

Hula-baby

Dancing away with mommy's hula hoop...
My smile can light up the whole universe,
Oh what a wonderful world!

Dining with Papa

How do I look?!

New Table Slide...

She looked like a little snowboarder... Kari discovered a new fun activity when Kayla wasn't around!

Since daycare began, Kari has stopped crying when I drop her off at grandparents'. It seems now she's quite pleased if she could stay with A-ma and A-gon, as opposed to school.

Each night I ask her, "Kari, where would you like to go tomorrow?"
She'd reply, "to grandmother's, or to mommy's house, not to school..."
Each morning I pick her up, she'd state, "Mei-mei is going to A-ma's house, not to school!"

Perhaps one day she'll learn to like it...
I hope.

Mommy, "Bao Bae... Mommy needs to clean up the table first before dinner can be served. Wait a minute, okay?"
Kari, "Okay, Mommy. 妹妹也要幫忙！（I want to help too!)“

Another day...
Mommy, "? Mei-mei, Mommy needs to do dishes,okay? So...go away..."
Kari, "Mei-mei yao bu yao si wan?"
Mommy, "honey when you grow up..."
Kari, walking away, "ok..."

Yet another day....
Kari came home from grandma's and saw a pile of messy post-it papers left by Kayla.
"uh-oh...shay non de? Shi mei mei non de ma?" Kari thinking.
Mommy, "mei-mei hurry up and clean up!"

Kari proceeded to clean the mess as Mommy watched with arms folded across her chest.

Mei-mei all of a sudden turned around and looked at Me, "Mommy hurry come help ba!"

I can't wait for you to grow up, baby pie...

Giving orders

At Cousin Kenneth's three year birthday, little Kari saw everyone hurrying in for the cake cutting ceremony as Grandpa still sat comfortably at the outdoor swing chair. Quickly she gave her orders, "Grandpa chi lai! (get up) ...to go inside and cut the cake!" Reminds me of how she always shouts for her daddy to come out to get her when she arrives at the door, "爸爸出來！ 出來帶妹妹！” Or that time when she shook me awake and shoved me right out of the bed, muttering, "媽咪出去！“ little kari is always clear on what she wants to do and what she wants everyone around her to do. We asked her if she would like tho go to school for the day. She replied, with agitation, "mei mei Bu yao chi suay siao, mei mei yao chi Ama jia!!" Then she proceeded to pull Ama off the couch to take her to Ama house. When w. grandma didn't Get up right away, there she was again with her funny angry pose...

A new angry pose

The other day when we talked about school with Kari, she sported a new pose. With her belly protruding and her head down tucked into her neck, her little pout stuck out...showcasing the newest winter look. She looked like a pregnant little lady. We laughed hard and shed a few tears. Then the stomach protruded even more, and the head got tucked even deeper. Finally Grandma figured out that it's an anger display. I quite prefer this angry look over hysterical cry.

Taking a little break...

One for you and One for me...

Little Kari demands of running away Kayla, "one for you and one for me...We're good friends!"

In all seriousness..

Do Re Mi Fa So

Not quite two yet.

She sang it today! "Do Re Mi Fa So"...

While the young-at-heart Daddy swinging away on the bar, Kari said, "爸爸shao shin la, ni huay diaw shia la oh...(Daddy be careful, you might fall down oh). She scolded kayla the same the other day.

Favorite phrase: "IT'S MINE!!!!!" completed with her arms wrapped around her toy to hide it from sight, and quickly running away.

Favoirte activity: Learning to hop and bounce around to music, with occasional success... Oh, and let's not forget "BICYCLES" and "lio hua ti (slide)".

The toy that always makes her cry: Lego building blocks... she does get very frustrated..

Before she leaves her Ama & Agon's house, she always politely says, "Good-bye, Ama Agon. Mei-Mei 要徊家了 (going home). Will come see you again next time."
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She picked up a teddy bear yesterday and said to it, "bear bear be good, don't cry, or Mommy DA DA!"

I took over the bear, shocked. I comforted the bear with my correction, "bear bear be good, don't cry, because Mommy loves you."

Kari looked at me with her eyes wide open, then a frown. Further correction from Kari as she took the bear from me, "Mommy 關廁所!!!!（Time out in the bathroom)" she insisted.

Truly, madly, deeply, I do love you little Kari pie.
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Terrible Twos, terrible twos.... comes early like everything else for her!

Our Conversations

Kari: Want Lollipop! Give me Candy!
Kari's mom: Candy? So sorry...I don't have any money. Therefore, I did not buy any candy for you!
Kari: "Mommy...go to work then!
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Kari in bed cuddling with Mommy who's still trying to wake up in the morning--

Kari: Mommy your mouth smelly...
Kari's mom embarrassed, defends: Well, I just woke up and haven't had a chance to...
Kari pushing Mommy off the bed: Mommy hurry up and go brush your teeth!"

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Today I asked her what her name was. She replied, "Kari!"
Then I asked her what her sister's name was. She answered, "Kayla!"
Curiously I asked her what her dad's name was. She said out loud, "Justin!!!!"
Then she wanted to know everyone's name, Auntie Jen, Uncle Anthony, Grandma, and Grandpa...

Later she asked, "what is 樹's name"
"Tree", I replied. What do you want from me?!

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Kayla took kari's toy today. They both started crying hysterically. Kari's face turned red from anger. Pointing at kayla she exclaimed, "你不要哭哭， 你關bathroom!"

Then Mommy proceeded to put Kayla in the baby room. Time Out. Kari cried even harder, "美美也要關bathroom!"
Both of them then enjoyed their time out in the baby room full of toys for about half an hour...

They stopped crying. It worked!

WHO AM I?

Kari picked up her little cell phone today and answered, "hello, 我是 啥?“ （WHo am I?)

She asked for candy and Lollipops. I said Mommy has no money and didn't buy candy nor lollipops. Little A-Ri said, "go to work Mommy..."

A little confused as to who the mommy is...

22 months

...and terrible twos...

she gave me this beautiful smile the first thing in the morning,
when she opened her eyes and saw my face....

My mug shot

Our all time favorite expression so far...

Quiet moment

Few and rare you'll find her in these moments,
before she jumps and hops and bounces off again.

Kari and her little bears

If I can't hug my dear Mommy, I still have my little bear friends...

Mouth full

Hand full of rice puffs...then mouth full of it... still cute as a button...

Nessi from Auntie Dora

Auntie Dora is finally back...and brought back Nessi from Netherland. Here's Kari's attempt to ride Nessi...

1.Let's try to ride it like a horse... 2. Dirty look from Kari when she fell off from the back. 3. Get up again for another attempt.

4. Down we go...down we go... 5. Oh man..you fooled me once, and fooled me again!!! 6. Kari decided to have a moment with Nessi, as she called it a turtle, then a frog.. "NOT A HORSE, " she declared.

Lost it...

Today Kari helped me wipe Kayla's butt during a diaper change...

Today Kari said, "Ghe ghe zo kai, mei mei yao liuo hua ti la! (sister go away, Kari will go down the slide now)"

She asked herself as she played, "One more time?" She responded to herself, "hao ba!" (okay)

Today Kari hid the blue cereal bowl inside the DVD shelf. When Mommy later inquired on its whereabouts, she started digging through the DVD shelf. I thought she was confused, but then she took out the blue cereal bowl... her head is as clear as the sky!

Today Mommy needed some serious anger management... lost it.

love that little pout

A very hot day, Kari said, "Tai ra la! Too hot!"

at the table

Kari's Artwork

no...she didn't write that, in case you're wondering... she drew all the explosions, however....

Destination

Kari running through the neighborhood streets looking for her favorite park...






Kari said, "Mommy...cold!"

Water water everywhere

Upon returning home from their favorite slide in the park, we had to wait for the sprinkler water to stop prior to entering. Daddy decided to make a run for it with Kayla. Kari thought she should as well. She dashed through the sprinkling water half way down the walkway, then she walked back towards me getting double dose of water.

Kari called out to the little American older boy in the park "brother" in Chinese. Ignored. She watched him swing on the balance beam carelessly. His feet kicked her face a couple of times. I rescued her away, and she kept touching her face and said, "ghe ghe doing the swing and his feet kicked mei mei's face..." Long sentence, poor baby.

The meaning of Sharing... part II

Mommy gave Kari a pen and paper to draw on the way home. Kari scribbled away happily for a while until sister Kayla asked to draw as well. "give sister!" she exclaimed. Mommy tried to get Kari to take turns with Kayla. Kari refused. Mommy forcefully took away pen and paper and gave to Kayla. Kari cried angrily and would not stop until it was her turn again.

Giving the pen and paper back to Kari, Mommy angrily and loudly asked,
"DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO SHARE, KARI?"

In tears, with pen and paper in her hands, Kari replied,
"Is to draw picture together with sister..."

whoa....my baby is growing up fast!

The meaning of Sharing...

I told little Kari yesterday, with a aweful cringe,
that my foot hurt... (jammed it into the wall last week)
She looked at my toe and frowned for a while.
She showed a look of pain and shared it with me.

Today she walked over to me
bent down to inspect my toe
looking concerned again,
she said, "Mommy's foot hurts..."

I thank you for your genuine concern and for remembering...
Many don't care and don't even remember.
You are close to my heart, and I know you will be always.

Can I go home now?

Think Kari had a long day... Usually she always chooses to stay out. Tonight I asked her if she'd like to go out, and she said, "no....bu yiao xu chi ya..." I asked her if she'd like to go inside. She nodded, "hao..." Mommy wanted to go out, but the baby finally got tired.

In the middle of the night, mei mei wakes and asks for milk. Her wish unfulfilled, she cries and cries until her tears run dry. Then suddenly she stops, looks up, and declares seriously, "Mommy didn't buy milk ah.... No milk ah....no pacifier ah... Mommy buy when mr.sun comes up in the morning. Mommy buy lots and lots of milk...and lots and lots of pacifiers... for sister...for mei mei...and for Ama...and for Agon....and for Ayi.. and for Gu Gu...."

Mei mei goes on and on... so serious but so cute, so annoying cuz I wanna sleep but she is still so adorable. XOXO...

Victoria Garden

Sweet pic with Baba... Baba finally is done with the arduous stretch of night shifts, and can take mei mei out for a walk!

"Motorcycle, Mommy! hao do car oh..."
I like mei mei's eyes in this pic...Her new right double eyelid makes her look like a doll!

My baby Kari is resembling me more and more. She's a light sleeper like me. She nags and nags until she gets her way. She's a bit afraid of anything new. She's loves the slide yet she's scared to death of it. She's quite a sweet talker, and she very clingy to the ones she loves...She loves our quality time together. My daughter alright.

Kari taking her puppy for a walk, but her recent fears for any flying thing or any speck of dust has her in tears...

Sister Love

Oh gosh how I love this picture... and these cute baby girls...xoxo..xo

Happy baby & her happy Mommy

Kari's responses to my requesting the removal of her pacifier... She avoided direct eye contact for a minute, and hoped I would get that thought out of my head by the time she opened her eyes.

She makes me laugh...

I think little Kari loves me very much since day one...


Kari wakes up at 3AM in the morning and asks, "where's Daddy?"
I reply, "Daddy is at work."

She asks again, "where's Ama?"
I reply, "Ama is sleeping."

She asks persistently, "where's Agon?"
I patiently reply, "Agon is sleeping!!!!" I take a deep breath.

"yue liang po po?" (old lady moon)

"...Sleeping...." Sigh...

"Tai yong gong gong" (old mr. sun)

Reply refused.

Comes again, "where's Chau hu? (cartoon tiger)"....
Shouts I, "SLEEEEPING!!! SHUT UP!" Urghh.....

She asks once more, "where's Daddy?"
Realizing that she's confused by Daddy's current status, since it's dark, in the middle of the night, and everyone is sleeping...
I lie, "Daddy is sleeping, now you can go back to sleep too. SHUT YOUR EYES!"

I start to pray to God.

She looks at me and concludes, "Kayla is working." (ghe ghe chi shun ban)

Inappropriate Title

This is Kari laughing out of control after singing the "My Butt" song. Wo-de-pi-gu-zi-zi-zhon-zhon-de-...zizi zhong zhong de.... hehehehe...you have to be there to appreciate it. That's the song "chiao hu" sings before going to the bathroom!

I would've titled this post "My Butt Song"...
censored.

In the Park with Ama & A-gon

My favorite time is..

BATH TIME!! Look how much fun I can have even with a 102.5 degrees fever!!



I know how to brush my teeth. I ask Mommy for the delicious toothpaste on brush every morning. I make sure I eat it all, then ask for more.

Little pianist

I think how one plays a piano quite reflects his/her personality, don't you?

Don't mess with me...

Do I look like grandpa?


My gangster look.

Happy time at Ama and A-gon's

"I love the peaches I get at Ama's. I eat it on the drive home and Mommi can't do nothing about it..."

A-gon and Mommy walked ahead towards the gate faster than Kari could catch up. Loud and clear she said, "walk slowly! Walk slowly!!! (man mang zuo)" She said Brownie had not been good... "bu guay" becasue it bit mei mei...

She cried for Mommy when she saw kayla down with a fever on the floor. She knew something was wrong. I like how keen she is to situations.

She asked for "shuey (water)", and grandma didn't get it right away. Then she said, "water, please". She thought grandma couldn't understand Chinese...hahaha.

She kisses Mommy all the time, with love. My baby Kari always.

Sweet Dream

Next to Mommy

another piggy face...

amongst all her different faces...

Her new phrases:

"Ghe-ghe (sister) got milk!"
"after a bath, it is so comfortable-oh!" (si pon pon wan hao su fu oh...)
"ghe-ghe bu gian la..."

Kari noticed the mess on the living room floor and said "uh-oh..." The mess she co-created yesterday with Kayla with all the baby books scattered everywhere. She said, "fun hui chi (put it back)," and proceeded to stack up all the books the way I always organize it. That's my girl... I love love love love very very much!

The end result... not bad for a 19-month-old, eh?

ballet baby

Kari practicing ballet in the backyard next to A-ma and A-gon as they cook.



The truth is, I cannot stop looking at this picture...
It makes me smile in the morning when I awake,
During the day as I work,
On my way back from home,
On a rainy or cloudy day
It makes me understand the joy of being a proud parent...
Is seeing you grow up
You amaze me every day. With love.