Push push push

What's the difference between this upcoming summer and last year's?

Answer: Two hands are not enough if I want to keep my photographer job....at least not until Yoshi learns to paddle his own tricycle.

Conservative v.s. liberal

In our house, we don't really have any parenting books. we mostly discuss our issues with family & friends, to get some advice. But besides that, we just learn things along the way. Now that we have two kids, there are many times when me and Nori have to deal with them separately, unlike everything used to be a joint adventure.

I'm more of a "conservative" mom & Nori is more of a "liberal" dad. (not sure if Nori would agree when he reads this)

Me:----
- "Yoshi, u have to eat this and that...."
- "Yoshi, eat with your spoon, don't play with your chopsticks"
- "Yoshi, when u pee, u need to face forward and sit on the potty seat"
- "Yoshi, hurry up, let's wear your pant now..."
- "Yoshi, it's dirty, don't touch this and that"

Nori:----
- "he should try some other kind of food too..."
- "it's ok, let him practice with the chopsticks"
- "it's ok, he can face either way when he pee..."
- "it's ok, no rush, let him try to button his shirt and wear the pant on his own..."
- "it's ok, we will just clean him up afterwards, don't worry"

I have to say, though there are parenting conflicts in many ways, and many times I question myself if I'm being too strict...but it's a pretty good balance at the end of the day. I have to give a lot more credits to Nori for teaching all the "survive skills" to Yoshi- brushing teeth on his own; eating with chopsticks; drinking water from the cups; wearing his own pants and shoes; climbing onto the carseat by himself..... no wonder Yoshi loves having daddy around.

Yoshi's first show

5 months ago, I bought tickets for Nori and Yoshi to see Disney Live show. Yoshi loves singing and dancing, this would be a perfect first event for him to see in stadium. I wished I could join them, sharing his big deput, but someone got to stay home with Kiharu..... and I think this would be a great father and son bonding experience.

Last Friday, Nori took a half day off just for this, which was very rare and Yoshi for sure enjoyed having daddy around in the afternoon. (Thanks Otousan for making such great effort....)
After being away for 4 hours, Yoshi came back home with a big smile (& a paper cup with half bitten straw, just like coming back from a movie theatre...). Nori's comment of Yoshi: "he was just staring at the performance the entire time...." No singing?? no dancing??? just "staring"?? Well....after seeing photos and videos, Nori's comment was right.

Otousan, Arigato!!!

Weekend= Mr. Yes & Mrs. No

(on Saturday/ Sunday early morning, before breakfast)
Yoshi: "Mama, shinkansen (video) 好唔好?" (Yoshi was asking me to play his favorite train video)
Mama: "No Yoshi, it's too early for video"
Yoshi: "Otousan, shinkansen (video) iino?" (same question to Nori, just in Japanese)
Otousan: "hm.....ok"
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(very late at night, right before bedtime)
Yoshi: "one more story"
Mama: "No, it's too late, time to sleep"
Yoshi: "one more story"
Otousan: "ok ok...saigo (last one)"
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(in a store while shopping)
Yoshi: "Otousan, kataguruma" (Yoshi wanted piggy back ride on Nori's shoulder)
Mama:"No, Otousan is tired"
Otousan: "It's ok...."
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These are just very few of our daily encounters. No wonder Yoshi loves having Nori around in the weekend....but unfortunately, when Monday comes, there is only 1 answer to the above questions.

Siblings

Tonight, we were listening to music, Yoshi was singing and playing with his shake shake instruments. I was taping his performance, and he's able to see himself at the same time from the screen (that's why he's looking into the camera).....here is the video (pay attention to Kiharu's reaction as well)

While talking to grandma on the phone....................

Someone is in good mood

This afternoon, suprisingly Yoshi went to nap without any struggle. After saying goodnight (good afternoon), the house was so peaceful for the next 90 mins. No wonder Kiharu was in such great mood, I think she was happy that the noise machine wasn't around (as much she loves seeing Yoshi most of the time, she can't take her eyes off from him)

This afternoon, with Yoshi taking a good nap and Kiharu in great mood, I took the advantage in baking bread as well (what a special day)....

When Yoshi woke up, he was baking his imaginative bread in his oven as well.... except he used the wrong tool......

Just as I ...............

Just as I...... was in needed to visit the bathroom sanctuary.......it was interrupted by another crying noise....

Just as I...... was taking my 2nd bite of ice-cream while both kids were napping (thinking how lucky and rare I could get such as special treat all to myself)......Yoshi woke up crying from his 20 mins nap.....and Kiharu followed hearing the noise.......ice-cream melted & the rest of the afternoon was not worth to mention.......

Just as I...... had turned on the computer, thinking to update the blog after both kids went to bed (a long night...).....Kiharu wanted to be held to sleep again in total darkness........


Just as I...... fell into deep sleep after that same long night, Yoshi woke me up to go to bathroom (he didn't say it, but I went with him anyway). And just as I hope to continue my dream, it's time to feed Kiharu......and...and.... just as I finished part II of my dream afterwards, I got a kung fu kick on my forehead by the same little guy who refused to leave the bedroom and slept right next to me......

Just as I...... thought/ hope today would be a better day during nap........after 2 hrs of singing on his bed & wandering along the hallway, I gave up.... (hoping he will sleep well tonight perhaps)

Just as I...... got exhausted after a long day, but seeing both of their smiles, made me looking forward to the next day.

Thank you 公公婆婆

The word "grandparents" probably make you think of "wise", "kind", or even "white hair" ^_^, but very seldom---- "Energetic"....

Thank you for sharing (& cooking) all the good food...

Thank you for spending "quality" time with us outside the house....

Thank you for spending "quality" time inside the house as well...

(imaginative choo choo train....)

Thank you for spending "quality" (& smelly) time inside the bathroom.....

Thank you for teaching Yoshi all the Cantonese words, songs....

Thank you for ironing, cleaning, organizing, and finding all the past due date cans in my pantry...^_^

Thank you for educating the topic on "recycling".....

...........we are so lucky to have grandpa and grandma here with us, I think u have more energy than any of us......hope u are now finally getting enough sleep, no more early morning call by little Yoshi... will see you again soon this summer.

公公婆婆 doko?? (where?)

Day 1

Well, as I'm able to write this blog, meaning I (we) have survived our first day since grandparents leaving. We started out early morning to the airport. Then I came back with the kids. The house was much MUCH quiet today. Dining table is back to just me and Yoshi again, no more clapping hands and group games to encourage eating ; Car ride is back to just me and Yoshi singing ABC songs (& those newly learnt chinese nursery rhymes)......

Actually the day went by much better than I expected. Perhaps because Yoshi said goodbye to grandparents at the airport, so he wasn't really suprise not having them in the house when we were back. But surely he missed having grandparents around playing with him. Kiharu was napping very well, and she smiled everytime when Yoshi was around. The best part of the day- no wet diaper accident with Yoshi under my high supervision...^_^ (yes, grandma, he asked for raisins after bathroom visit....^_^)

公公婆婆, THANK YOU for coming, mama couldn't have handle this new transition smoothly without having you around. We miss you. See you soon at Skype.

(this afternoon just 3 of us, home alone........Yoshi was using his toy camera pretending to take photo of his sister)

"What?"

Kiharu: "What??"

Yoshi:"Yes....grandparents are leaving tomorrow back to Hong Kong......"

Kiharu: ........................

Chinese characters

We knew Yoshi recognizes some of those Japanese Hiragana characters. I have always wanted to teach him some Chinese, but never know where to begin, especially Cantonese. My friend recommended a collection of books which teaches the basic 500 chinese characters for kids. About a month ago, grandpa has been teaching Yoshi this everynight before bed time. To our suprise, Yoshi is like a little sponge, remembering every characters very well, which is very fun to watch. Hope I can keep up grandpa's patience after they leave...... ( thx Wendy & Iris for recommending this book ^_^)

Mug shot

Kiharu is 2 months old already. She is doing well, especially in the morning and after mid night. In between, she would take naps or wanted to be held (most of the time). Sometimes, her nap is shorter than my phone call, I should say more of resting her eye lids perhaps.... Kiharu is now having more facial expression. She is more alert with her surroundings, she will give u smile and 'ee' 'aa' sound too. Her neck and legs are pretty strong as well.

She is now 10 LB in weight. Compare to her, Yoshi is really heavy, I found myself having a hard time holding him for a period of time now, don't know how Nori can handle having Yoshi sitting on his shoulders...

Below is the passport photos I took at home. Check out Yoshi's as well, both of them were taken around 2 months in age. Yoshi definitely had so much hair back then.....

Spring is here .....finally.