The Mystery of the Shrinking Chair

Today Kari asked me, "mommy why is my chair getting smaller? Why is it so small?"

I looked at her curiously, "because it's made for babies like you!"

Agitated, she clarified, "no Mommy, I mean it was bigger before, really big!  Now it's so small!! What happened?!?!"

I laughed out loud, "it's you that's growing bigger, not the chair getting smaller.. baby."

She laughed with me, a little embarrassed, and crawled straight into my arms happily.

Conversation with Kari

 ...Regarding sharing, charitable acts, and good deeds.


Kayla found kari's new crayon pack and started to try to open it while Kari was struggling to put on her shoes.  On the floor Kari, with raised teary voice, demanded it back, became agitated and started to cry.  I asked her, "aren't you two sisters, and shouldn't you share anyway, be kind and caring to each other?"  She replied, nodding her head as tears dripped down her cheeks, "Yes, we are sisters, and YES we should share, but that is MINE, and *I* will share with her!!"  I got the point, the emphatic "I", loud and clear, made sense to me somehow.   She got her crayon back, but was angry that Kayla had tore it slightly trying to open it.  She said regrettably,  "see you tore it. Now I have to go buy me a new one!"

Hilarious figure drawings

By Kari Fu @age 4 - Her supposedly strange looking families.  She usually include her cousins, even the ones that live oversea, in her "MY FAMILY" drawings.  I want to hug my baby to sleep...  Her daddy asked her if she liked US or Taiwan.  She said she didn't like Taiwan because it's smelly. I then asked her the same thing, and she told me that she liked US because she missed me.  Miss you too, baby.

The Negotiator

Snuggling in bed before bedtime, which is getting later and later for these two toddlers, Kari gently and sweetly whispers in Mommy's ear, "I love you SOOOOO MUCH, Mommy..."

Feeling overwhelmed and overcome with joy, Mommy replies, "Awww....thank you...you are soooo sweet!!"

Just as kind , loving, and sweet, she whispered again in Mommy's ear, "You're welcome..... (pausing 5 seconds) ....so can you take me to disneyland again next time?"

That's my girl.

Perfect Imperfection.

Today I mentioned to Kari, "hey, show me your dimple baby..."
Kari replied, "I don't want that dimple anymore, can you take it away?  Why is there a little hole on my cheek?!?!"  I think she's always been a little upset about that perfectly adorable imperfection-in-her-eyes that she takes after her father.

I adore her. 

The perfect little angel that sprinkles happiness in my path.

Liar Liar Pants on Fire, Hangin' on a telephone wire

Mommy: Buckle up everyone! Are you all safely buckled?
Kari (lightning fast reply): Yes Mommy ready to go!
Kayla: No no...not yet, I am not...

Mommy did a final check before take off.  Kari sat there not buckled and not even trying. Kayla still struggling. Too young to be a little liar?

A few days later...

Kari hit Kayla, when Kayla just awoke from her nap in her bedroom.
Crying hysterically, Kayla issued a imminent threat to tell Mommy.
Poised and sly, Kari urged, "go ahead Kayla. Go tell Mommy! She is downstairs!  REMEMBER, she is DOWNSTAIRS! GO ON..."

Just a few minutes before that Kari had conversed with me in the office upstairs while Kayla was still sleeping..
Way too young to deceive...


For you, Little Miss Kari---

“Liar, liar, pants on fire. Hangin’ on a telephone wire!”
paraphrased version of the 1810 poem “The Liar” by William Blake.

Deceiver, dissembler
Your trousers are alight
From what pole or gallows
Shall they dangle in the night?

When I asked of your career
Why did you have to kick my rear
With that stinking lie of thine
Proclaiming that you owned a mine?

When you asked to borrow my stallion
To visit a nearby-moored galleon
How could I ever know that you
Intended only to turn him into glue?

What red devil of mendacity
Grips your soul with such tenacity?
Will one you cruelly shower with lies
Put a pistol ball between your eyes?

What infernal serpent
Has lent you his forked tongue?
From what pit of foul deceit
Are all these whoppers sprung?

Deceiver, dissembler
Your trousers are alight
From what pole or gallows
Do they dangle in the night?

Little Miss Demanding

Kari & Kayla: Mommy...I want milk...we want milk...M-I-L-K... Mommy: So sorry sweetie, Mommy forgot to buy milk.. maybe tomorrow! Kari: 我教妳 媽媽！妳可以買水阿! (Let me teach you Mommy, you can buy water ok?!)

Bunch of us adults gathered together standing in the garage and chatting up the storm. Suddenly came a little body and two little hands waving and shoving people aside, "EXCUSE ME EVERYBODY! LISTEN TO ME!!!" She's got to something to say...

You can sue my head

Mommy: Oh! Kari...you hit my head with your head. Ouch, I am going to sue you. Can I sue you?
Kari: No, Mommy. You can sue my head.

Mommy Happy!

She loves to say that to me nowadays, "Mommy Happy!" She smiles at me and points to herself, she means she's happy to be with Mommy... Awwww... Love you too!

You are my Sunshine

After little Kari awoke from her nap today, she cuddled up next to me.

"Who am I, Kari" Mommy asked, just for fun.

Looking sweet, Kari replied, "you are my sunshine..."

Awww... melted again.

Retro princess

Ba ba black sheep

Sweetness

No other word for it.
I love you.

Vampire

The Bug scare passed, and the Police deal was getting old...

Mommy, sticking up two finders on head pretending to be: If you're not good, Kari, the VAMPIRE （吸血鬼) will come to eat you and suck your blood...

Kari frightened: Mommy.... 你是豬血嗎？ (are you pork blood...)
Mommy: 我不是 (no)

Kari more frightened: Mommy.... 那你是吸血狗嗎？ (are you a blood-sucking dog...)
Mommy: 也不是 (no)

???

Kari concluded, after some soul searching: Mommy...你是豬血鬼！(you're a pig blood-sucking zombie!)

Mommy in tears... Time to go to bed...

Make her dirty as well!

Kari, stripped to just diapers after soiling her pretty pink dress: Mommy, I'd like to wear the same dress as Kayla..." Looking at Kayla longingly.

Mommy: That is not possible since You dirtied your dress. You must wear nothing to school tomorrow.

Kari with a smirk on her face: Sure it's possible, Mommy. You can soil Kayla's dress as well, and we'd be the same!

Pretty little

I love her smile...so pretty and sweet. It's rare to catch her not making silly faces. She has grown so big and witty. She asked me where my rental car went. I said, "It disappeared". She frowned at the reply, "No, Mommy, you gave it back to the man..." She remembers lyrics better than me, and she even remembers the Hello Kitty cupcake given to her 8 months ago by our neighbors! Still mischievous, still playful, but she is sweeter and sweeter everyday!

She still says to me when I ask her "who am I"....

"You are my Sunshine!!!"
Love my baby!

Pinch me

Grandpa commented in Taiwanese, "Shouldn't let that little one pinch you back when you pinch her..." thinking that she wouldn't understand.

Before you know it, Mommy's feeling that little pinch, multiple pinches, on her arm as kari looked up smiling mischievously...

We hardly ever talk to her in Taiwanese, yet she understands!

The reason I cried...

Back from Las Vagas, a two and a half day trip, Kari snuggled next to me. She put her face next to mine and said, "I missed you..."

"Oh really?!" Mommy said, surprised and so happy to hear.

Kari, "yes really. Mei mei kept crying at the restaurant. It's because I missed Mommy..."

Awwww.... you melt my heart.

A smoothie...PLEASE...

Today on the way home from Sumi grandma's house, Kari asked for her usual. Oatmeal and smoothie. Kayla said she didn't want any. After placing the order at the drive-through, Kayla changed her mind and wanted a smoothie. Unwilling to share, Kari decided to take matter into her own hand. As Mommy was paying at the window, Kari screamed through her backseat window at the cashier.

"A strawberry smoothie for Kayla, please! A STRAWBERRY SMOOTHIE FOR KAYLA!!!!!!! STRAWBERRY SMOOTHIE..."

She was loud and clear and determined with her order. Thank goodness the window was closed and Mommy sped away!

A glimpse

of this quirky little playful and mischievous whatshamacallit...


As she left Akio grandpa, she shouted from her car seat, "Grandpa don't cry! 不要哭喔！妹妹會再佪來喔！“

Then she walked into Kimberly grandma's arms, she asked, "阿媽, 你想我嗎?"

The only way to describe her...heart and treasure of everyone.
Where she goes, a whole world of sunshine and happiness follows...
My baby.

Talk with Teddy

心愛的 熊熊 乖乖 睡覺 不要哭哭喔。。。
妹妹會幫你還尿布哦。。。

你不乖 警察伯伯會來喔。。。 .

Your Highness

The usual roam about the backyard, but with a little bit of royal treatment today!

Gate to Paradise

Today was a good day. Sunny and hot, and the girls had a great time playing outside on their tricycles. I opened the back gate to the paradise outside of the house while doing chores. As soon as I turned around, the two had raced forward and came to a sudden halt in front of the open gate. Kayla paused looking curiously outside. She had no plans of proceeding forward. Kari looked out, and looked at Kayla.

"GO ON!" she said, "go right out, Kayla"
"NO no no no.... Don't," said Mommy, blocking the exit to Paradise, "媽米說不可以！(MOMMY SAID NO)"

Pause.

Insisted Kari, "但是妹妹說可以呀！（But KARI SAID YES)"
Go on Kayla...

Kayla remained frozen in space. To go ...or not to go....
Wow, there seem to be two commanders of the house as of now.

A mini grown up baby

Two and half. Almost.

When her father's battery ran dead the other day, I made my first phone call.
She curiously asked, "Mommy! who are you calling?"
Calling your daddy, I said.

The I got on a roll!

My third phone call, she walked over to me looking solemn, "媽密不要打了啦！“ (Don't call any more..)
Mommy, "不要打什麼？“ confused. (Don't call what?!)
kari, "不要打給爸爸了啦！“ She said patiently. (Don't call Daddy anymore..)
Mommy, "為什麼不要打個爸爸呢？“(Why not?)
Explained Kari, ”你刚才 以經打了啊。。。大一次就好了啦！“ (You just called, one time is enough..)

Mommy hung up the phone...and Daddy came home.

That ma suc

Watching a show, Daddy commented: "Awww....That must suck!"

Tilting her head looking inquisitively at Daddy, Kari asked, "That ma suc?!"
Then she bursted out laughing!

What a funny baby..

A very hot day

We went swimming with Daddy!



Little Ri Ri couldn't stop singing in the water. She was obviously in a very good mood. Some people whistle when they are in the spirit. My baby just sings... out loud...VERY VERY loud!!

I heard her count the days of the week. "Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday..." She did it so clearly and shockingly in straight order. Lately she's no longer the diva she used to be. It's easy to reason with her, and she seems to have outgrown her terrible twos.

I love how she says "you're welcome honey" after I tell her "thank you". I love how Kayla says "thank you" after a kiss from Kari, and the way kari replies "you're welcome!!"

You are my sunshine

Kari's new favorite song-- "You are my sunshine ..."

LIttle drama diva she always is before bedtime. A quick time-out ordered had her lying on her back wavingi her feet and legs simultaneously while storming tears and screaming, "媽米抱抱！我以後不會再這様子了!!"

乖 ...媽米sho sho...

My heart and my soul

My baby...

She understands me so much more than most people I know...

My flying girl

This flying girl insisted on sleeping with her swim ring last night. She held onto it ALL night...Must have wanted to dream about swimming!!

Miss "Whatchamacallit"

Sweet as a candy bar here...
But how do I describe her?
Smart, witty, mischievous, temperamental, fearful, scared, endearing, outspoken, strong-willed, and fun-loving, sticky?
She is a "Whatchamacallit"!

Next to Mommy

Here she's literally glued to the side of me... A little squirrel ran up the tree and disappeared into the wilderness.

Park Time with Dear Daddy

A day without rain... Daddy took us to the park! Kari yelled ecstatically, "The slide is dry!!! We can slide!!! Com'on, Kayla!!" Round and round they went until she was actually ready to go home, for the first time.

Today before leaving, Kari hugged Kimberly Ama and said in English, "Don't cry, Grandma." My sweet little baby growing up too fast. For a long time, she waited by the door for us to take her home.

A day with little pink piggy

A big tender hug...

after the piggy bath, （si yi si ）
AND cooking the pink piggy pork...(煮一煮）

Little pink piggy deserved a big tender hug.

One happy afternoon

Thanks, Auntie D, for my fav pic of the little mischievous and me...

A rare occasion -playing outside

Oh Mommy's been so busy working more, working late, working at a place far far away. Feels like I haven't seen you, or spent time with you at all... Time is flying right by me.

Kari woke today and asked where Daddy went.
Mommy: Daddy went to work, honey.
Kari: Where did baba go to work?
Mommy: At the hospital.
Kari: Mei Mei wants to go to the hospital to check it out （看看）
Mei Mei wants to go to work at the hospital too...
Mommy: okay....on a different day, Mommy will take you okay?
Kari: Okay...next time to the hospital. This time to Ama's house! Okay?

Poor baby ended up being dropped off at school against her will this day. Kayla was dropped off earlier and was sitting properly amongst the others. Mommy showed up and she didn't even flinch... My other brave and independent baby girl!

Sunny day out

No school today!!!!

Don't bother

Kayla woke up early on a Sunday morning. She played for a while and found it boring without baby Kari. She made her way up the stairs and tried to wake up the little sleeping beauty lying in the arms of her beloved Daddy. Kari, with her eyes half closed still, sat up abruptly and scolded Kayla, "je je 不要吵！妹妹還在睡覺! (Sister don't bother, little sis is still sleeping!) Daddy was amused.

Buy me one?

Kari: Mommy you have a belly button!!... (kari digging into it as she speaks)
Mommy: Yes Kari... (Mommy styling her hair not paying attention)
Kari: Mei mei doesn't have one... Ask Baba to buy one for mei mei, 好不好？ （kari says longingly...)

I know how to spell

Baby Kari held up a sign "July" to A-ma and said, "Ama, July!!!"

She also recognizes "May", "January" and "Winter"...

Last week she spelled out "Milk" for us!!!

"Mommy! M-I-L-K.....Milk!"

My baby genius!

New Years

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。。。

＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿

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."
___________________________________________________________________

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.
____________________________________________________________________
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!
________________________________________________

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!"

_____________________________________________________

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?!

______________________________________________________

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....