"Thank you so much"

As I have mentioned before, we never really teaches Yoshi English at home. We figure out it's more important to teach him Cantonese & Japanese while he's little. And eventually he will learn English at school very soon. With TV cartoons, songs....Yoshi has taught himself some basic English, including the A-Z song. As he's approaching 3 years old, he has recently much eager to speak and absorb different languages.

The other day when Nori took him out to a store, that follow afternoon, I heard Yoshi saying few times "Can I help you?" ........."Can I help you?".... at first, I was wondering what he was saying, then I realized he must have heard that from the store staff...

Today after meeting few of our neighbours at the park, this afternoon, I heard Yoshi saying "Thank you so much"......"Thank you so much"....he must have heard that from our conversation.

Everytime when Yoshi says those English phrases, he would give me a funny look. I am sure he know it's not Cantonese or Japanese, but I wonder if he knows what those mean yet??? his language journey has just began...can't wait to see how he will be after preschool starts in September.

Another gathering

Another gathering at our house (ladies' lunch), another fun & exhausting day....let's get some rest tonight.

Chef Yoshi

According to the weather forecast, we were suppose to have really bad weather today. So we decided to stay in the house. While waiting for the rain, Nori cut his grass, I baked bread with Yoshi, made gyoza dumpling with Nori's help, cook many meals, gave Kiharu a bath...... and still no signs of any rain till dinner time. Oh well, I guess at least we had a productive day at the house and much quality family time.

Here is Chef Yoshi's bakery demonstration-----

Position cut

2 weeks ago, I have posted a hiring opportunity blog. But with the budget cut, position is no longer available....^_^ Actually, things have been much better to deal with here at home. Kiharu no longer scream on top of her lung before bed. After talking with my friends, I finally figured out perhaps the reason why she was so fuzzy before bedtime was because she's over tired. So I have moved her bedtime much earlier. Since then, I only need to hold her for a short time, then she would fall asleep by herself in the crib. This has made a huge difference in my daily routine. And while I am getting Kiharu ready for bed, I would make Yoshi go to his room and read books or play quietly. He's actually very good, he would "try" to keep quiet. He would also cruise/ dance back and forth the hallway. Life with 2 kids are becoming more managable. Nori has been making huge efforts in helping out when he could. But for those who are looking for a job, don't worry, the hiring sign will sure be back...I'm sure!! ^_^

Multi languages

I have noticed in the recent playdates, Yoshi was enjoying so much with the other kids. Unlike in the past, when he would prefer to play with the toys, he's now following other kids, playing "together". I think perhaps because he has learnt so much more Cantonese and Japanese, maybe he's able to understand what others were saying...(?!)

At home, me and Nori speak our own languages to Yoshi. We don't talk to Yoshi in English, figure out he will learn in preschool eventually (in coming September). But Yoshi manages to pick up some English from TV, toys, songs, and few other friends. He's just like a little sponge. Funny thing is, he is able to "switch" channel anytime. As soon as Nori comes home at night, it's in Japanese channel. Because he doesn't know much English yet, so when he knows it's not Japanese or Cantonese, he would somehow speak an "alien" langauge, I wouldn't understand, almost sound like "bi li ba la... gu lu gu lu...."

Video #1- Yesterday, I told him it's Kiharu's (100th day) birthday, so I told him to sing birthday song to her....(but perhaps he remembered Uncle Henry's birthday was last week and forgot to sing birthday song to him instead)....

Video #2- Today, I caught Yoshi playing with his toy phone (which he just found in his toy drawer). There was a lady talking on the phone in English. And suprisingly, Yoshi knew it's not Japanese or cantonese, so he responds "Yeah.....yeah....yeah....ok....ok....ok" (I think he's trying to use his limited English volcabulary to build up a conversation.....^_^)........ then later tonight, he was playing with the SAME phone again, pretended calling Nori. So he spoke in Japanese this time..."Hai hai.....hai hai....matanei" (yes yes...talk later)....andd right after he hung up the phone, he told me in Cantonese that he was talking to Nori.....

百日の祝い (Happy 100 day)

Today is Kiharu's 100th day celebration according to Japanese culture. I have decided to take some photos of the kids, just casually hanging out in the house. Unlike when there was only Yoshi in the house, I would be carrying the camera everywhere, snapping photos of every moment. But with the addition of Kiharu, photos seem harder to come by. So I have decided to make an effort to capture more precious moments...

Don't they look like those elderly people in the park.....?!

Yoshi (playing with his toy phone) "wei wei?? grandpa?"

Kiharu: "come on brother....mom is taking photo..."

Yoshi: "oh....wrong phone number"

Nori came home early tonight and had a mini celebration dinner with us. According to the tradition, I had prepared grilled Red Snapper fish & red bean rice (+ other small dishes). No, Kiharu didn't eat those, she was just pretending. She was wearing a small piece of the traditional Japanese outfit (Obaa-chan, Ojii-chan, arigato for Kiharu's pretty outfit)

Here is the 100th day for Yoshi, check out his hair.... http://kambayashifamily.blogspot.com/2007/09/happy-100-day.html

no nap

2 years ago (at the dinner time)..........................

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2 years later, same dinner time, same high chair....................

Yesterday, Yoshi didn't take a nap, he was just in his room, reading, walking around, doing everything except napping.....I finally gave up. And guess what, he fell asleep on the highchair after eating dinner.

Today, the nap situation was the same. We did went out in the morning, but perhaps with the 12 hrs sleep last night, he wasn't sleepy this afternoon. Having been thru yesterday, I was determined to have him take a nap before we went out to a birthday party in the evening. But the 2 hours following was like a struggle. Luckily Kiharu was napping well in our bedroom. I was back and forth between Yoshi's room and kitchen trying to prepare dinner. Huh

During the struggle, I even used my "shut door" strategy, which usually got Yoshi panic enough to stay in bed and fell asleep eventually. But today, the panic only produce temporiary effect...long story short, no nap today again!! However, while I had his bedroom door shut, he was crying:
"Mama.....wee wee wee......"
"Mama...koko" (Japanese- means 'here'.... he was telling me he's inside the room)
"Mama...Yoshi 喊呀" (Cantonese- means 'crying'...he was telling me he's crying, hoping I would go in)

Well, I guess the panic effect is still there (in multi languages), just not strong enough to make him stay in bed.

Good night Yoshi, sleep well.....................Zzzzzzzzz

Pure innocence

Today Yoshi had a fun park outing with his buddies- Andrew & Sarah (+ all of their little sisters). On the way home, I asked Yoshi in the car if he had fun, he said YES.....that made all the effort of taking 2 kids to park worthwhile. I still enjoy taking photos, but it's not as easy as before- either I have to push the stroller with the other hand, or I had Kiharu in the baby carrier on my stomach....but being able to capture the right moment in photos, love it.

Toy sharing

The other day while I was cooking in the kitchen, I told Yoshi to share his train toys with Kiharu, and he did....funny part was, his meaning of sharing meant running the trains around her...^_^

And guess who is sucking her fingers? Yoshi did that too back when he was around the same age.

Yesterday, we went to visit my friend Heather. Finally got to meet her little girl- Ella (a month older than Kiharu). And her son, Jack is 7 months younger than Yoshi. so funny to see 2 little ones lying around....

Easter egg hunting part II

Now that weather is warmer, we are starting to meet our friends again like the old days. Last Friday, we met up with the Japanese playgroup friends and Yoshi got to enjoy the 2nd egg hunting, so much fun.

Hiring....anyone interest?

Looking for (before) bedtime (baby) sitter with extraordinary tolerence on (crying) noise level. 7 days a week, from 8:15p.m. till baby falls alseep. Multi task ability also require to handle sudden interruption from baby's sibling. Position available IMMEDIATELY!!

Kiharu is 3 months old now. She is doing well. In the day time, she is good, smile a lot, enjoys looking at her big brother dancing and singing. But when it comes to night time, it's a bit challenging. Recently, I put her to bed around 8:15p.m after the last feeding. But EVERYTIME when I put her onto the crib, she starts crying....then change to screaming. I used to hold her to sleep (my record was 3 hrs holding), but I really want to have her starts sleeping on her own (I'm already exhausted after a long day).

I remember Yoshi used to enjoy those lullaby music soother, he would just fall asleep after few minutes. But Kiharu seems to find those music annoying, neither is my singing..... so the only solution (at least temporiary), is to let her cry. I even tried holding her after 10 mins crying, and put her down again, then the cycle just goes round and round. It's very exhausting, and emotional drainage. I know if I hold her to sleep or give her a pacificer, it will probably be so much easier. But I really don't want to develope those habbits, which eventually would be much harder on me. I'm determined to keep trying, hope she will be able to sleep on her own soon (or at least enjoy my lullaby....)

Time is out of my control

Weather gets warmer, we are going out more often now. But leaving the house on time requires lots of effort and planning ahead. I usually give ourselves 2 hrs in the morning for preparation, that includes breakfast, dressing up, feeding, bathroom (don't forget, Yoshi is still under potty train..). Even though there is something call- "5 mins make up", "1 min oatmeal (cooking)"..... but there is nothing call "2 mins potty" or "5 mins meal time".......

Today we had a fun gathering at my friend, Susannah's house. It's been at least 6 months since the kids got together, everyone has grown up so much. Very soon Kiharu will be able to run around with them also. (Thanks Nolan, Oliver and Brooklyn for sharing your toys with Yoshi...)

"自己"... "jibun" (myself)

Yoshi will be 3 years old in less than 2 months. Since Kiharu was born, I felt like Yoshi has grown up a lot overnight. Recently, there are many times he insists on doing things on his own:

(if he wants to do it on his own, he would start his sentence by saying "Yoshi 自己 / jibun..."
-.......climb up to the toilet seat
-.......button his shirt
-.......wear pants
-.......wear shoes
-.......climb up the car seat
-.......paddling his tricycle (but not going too far)
-.......going to bed (this is what we are encouraging him)
......................many many more.......

Isn't it a mix feeling? Proud of his ability to do things on his own, but very soon will miss him being a little baby as well......