Great Day at Daycare!

Today was my 6th day of daycare and I ate well and was happy! Maybe it was the new shoes!

21 Months Old Today!

LACMA // 05 May 2012

• MILESTONES:
  • I started daycare!
  • I visited Disneyland for the first time!
• FAVORITE ACTIVITIES:
  • stacking cans of Spam
  • playing with trains and cars
  • playing on Mama’s iPhone
  • activating Netflix on any iPhone or iPad
  • reading and playing my Japanese song book
  • sticking my hands in puddles (Mama hates that!)
  • balancing and walking along the edge of curbs
  • chasing birds
  • watching this Korean cartoon series about talking vehicles (I think it’s called 꼬마버스타요.)
• NEW FAVORITE FOODS/FLAVORS:
  • fried garbanzo beans
  • balsamic vinaigrette
  • Japanese fried chicken
  • giant strawberry Pocky
  • Goldfish crackers (multi-color, pretzels & cheddar)
  • green smoothies (I used to love these, but then I rejected them for a long time.  I’m back to enjoying them!)

This feels like a nice long weekend.  Kicked it off with my first trip to Disneyland yesterday.  We had a blast with Uncle Wahley, Auntie Joanne and Jacob who were visiting from NYC.   It was so good to see them again.  Seemed like no time had passed since our play dates in New York.  I was very comfortable with Uncle Wahley and would grab his hand or ask him to carry me.

Today, we had a fun visit to LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) to check out the Metropolis II exhibit.  The last time I went with Mama and Kuya Issei, it wasn’t running because it was a weekday.  This time, I could see all the cars in trains in action!  Had a great time sharing the experience with the whole family, including Kuya, Ate, Tita Lisa, Funkle Ray, Uncle Wahley, Auntie Joanne and Jacob.

Tomorrow, I imagine we’ll have a nice lazy family day so Mama can maximize her time with us.  On Monday, she starts a new job – her first full-time freelance gig since I was born!  It will be an adjustment for all of us, but we know that it’s important.  She’ll be working on the Belkin website.  I’ll look forward to visiting her at work and I know she’ll be excited to show me off!

My Third Day of Daycare!

My After-School Smile!

I was out sick with a fever, cough, runny nose and nasty fungal diaper rash.  YUCK!  Because my schedule so far is only twice a week, missing one day means one whole week has passed since my last day at school.  Today wasn’t as bad as my first day, but it was a bit of an adjustment and I staged a mini hunger strike, eating only half of my lunch and snacks.  I cried again when I saw Kuya Issei in the yard.  Good thing he didn’t cry, too, this time!

But I didn’t cry ALL day.  I took breaks to play with trains and lay down tracks.  Surprise!  Surprise!

My Second Day of Daycare!

Crazy Hat Day at Bright Horizons, Westwood // 26 April 2012

Despite the fact that I cried immediately when I entered the building, I had a much much better day on my second day of daycare.  This time, no hunger strike!  My teachers realized that I did better when they paid less attention to me and let me explore on my own. They also discovered that transitions were difficult for me.

At the end of the day, I cried because I wanted to take my blankie with me for outside play time, but it was against the rules!  Eventually, I calmed down and played in the playhouses and on the slides.  I found out later that Mama and Papa were spying on me while I was outside!  Can you believe that?!  Then, they had a hard time getting me to go home.  Go figure.

My First Day of Daycare!

“BEFORE” strutting down the hallway to class… (6 hours) “AFTER” tired but playful

What a milestone!  I survived my first day of daycare today!  Luckily Bright Horizons is a very familiar place.  Kuya Issei attends the Pre-K class at the same facility and I often tag along when he gets dropped off and picked up.  Unfortunately, there is a long waiting list for regular spots in my age group plus priority for UCLA-affiliated families, but I scored a drop-in slot for two days this week.

I think I handled the new environment and new experience pretty well (even though I had a hunger strike after Mama left).  I cried on and off during the day and often looked for Mama.  My teachers invited Kuya to come visit me and he tried to cheer me up, but I couldn’t stop crying.  He felt so bad that he started crying, too!  In the end, I managed to take 2 naps and play with some of the other kids and many of the new toys in the classroom.

When Mama picked me up, I was so relieved to see her!  I gulped down the rest of my lunch that I was supposed to eat earlier and had a great time playing and showing her things like the class pet, a fish called Bubbles.  Check out my first “report card” that my teachers put together for me!

PS:  Mama and Papa are fine, too!  Papa is proud and Mama had a good cry. 

20 Months Old Today!

05 April 2012 // Los Angeles, CA

We have returned to LA and have been living with Tita Lisa, Funkle Ray, Ate Nuna and Kuya Issei.  It has been tight, but we’re making it work!  We’re definitely making the most of their last few months in LA before they head back to Ithaca.  In fact, we are actually going to be packing up soon again, too!  Papa got offered a role in “Chinglish” at the Berkeley Rep Theatre!  All of his understudying in Chicago and Broadway paid off!  We’ll be in downtown Berkeley from the end of July until the end of October.  In the meantime, we’re still searching for a sublet here in LA.  All of my fingers and Fred Flinstone toes are crossed!

• MILESTONES:
  • I am no longer breastfeeding!  I have been off the boob for a month now!  It has been a smooth and painless transition.
  • I am officially not bald!  While I look like I already have a receding hairline, I have a full head of curls! The answer to your question is, “It’s from Lola’s side of the family!  Her brothers had curly hair when they were little boys.”
  • A non-relative babysitter successfully put me to bed!  Mama, Papa, Tita Lisa and Funkle Ray went out on a double date for the first time in 7 years without kids!
  • Grandpa taught me to say, “Moooooooo!” when he points to a cow’s picture!  (Grandma and Grandpa spent 2 weeks in LA this past March.  It was great to catch up with them!)  This is a big deal, because I’m still not really talking yet.
• NEW TRICK: When someone says, “Whassup?” I cross my arms like I’m a rapper.
• NEW FAVORITE FOODS:
  • almond butter and jelly sandwiches
  • French toast
  • roasted pine nuts
  • walnut prawns
  • shrimp chips
  • ice cream
  • blueberry muffins
  • polvoron
• ALL-TIME FAVORITES:
  • eggs
  • avocado
  • bananas
  • waffles
  • fries
  • Greek yogurt
  • oatmeal
  • grapes
  • prunes
  • frozen yogurt

MAMA + ME: Even though I see Mama 24/7, I act like I have constant separation anxiety.  I am annoyed by her being on the computer all the time.  I know she’s busy looking for jobs, but I expect her to play with me when I want her to play with me!  I often try to pull her away from her  laptop or open the door to the room where she’s working or climb into her lap while she’s typing.  I know Mama’s trying to train me to be more independent, but I keep trying to convince her that I’m in charge and I want what I want!

Mama recently went to CardioBarre class two days in a row with Tita Ging which means that I tagged along and stayed with the in-house babysitters.  On the first day, I was fine because my old buddy, Annabelle, (the 10-year-old daughter of one the staff members) was there to entertain me.  But on the second day, I was instantly hesitant to walk down the hallway entrance to the studio.  Plus, Annabelle was nowhere in sight.  Not good.  I screamed on and off in the play room during the whole 1-hour class.  Then, I had night terrors for a couple nights after that.  Mama and Papa remember Ate and Kuya going through the same thing when they were younger so I guess this is normal.

I am definitely testing my limits the most with Mama.  We butt heads a lot and she gets frustrated that I laugh in her face or throw an Academy Award-winning tantrum when she lays down the law.  I can tell that she is setting the stage for a new transition in my life.  Mama keeps on warning me that I’m going to start regular daycare soon and I have to get used to being away from her.  I think she thinks her technique will work the same way it did for breastfeeding, but I’m on to her!  She can’t outsmart me this time!  I’m a big boy!

19 Months Old Today!

05 March 2012 // Folsom, CA

• SLEEPING: This whole month while at Lola and Lolo’s big house, I’ve had a whole room to myself! So, I’ve been sleeping for 11 to 12 hours! During the day, I’m down to one 1-2 hr. nap. Hooray!
• TOYS: Yes, it’s true. I am very spoiled by my Lola and Lolo, but I’m getting great use out of all of my toys – both old and new.
  • Cedro-size train ride
  • Drum set
  • Backyardigan guitar
  • Indoor swing: I never get tired of swinging. I even boss Lola and Lolo to push me harder and higher. (It doesn’t look like it in the picture because I’m jet-lagged.)
  • My Personal Park: I still go through all the things in the playground that Lolo built for me. Of course, I’m still loving my sandbox.
  • Vintage Toys: Lola saves everything! I have been enjoying using Mama and Tita Ging’s Tupperware set and pretend that I’m drinking from the mini mugs.
• MANNERISMS: I’m still not talking, but I have a knack for communicating without words.
  • I love to give kisses and hugs (especially when I’m in trouble).
  • When someone comes to get me from my room in the morning, I am usually standing up in the crib and emphatically pointing to my diaper.
  • I’m a very affectionate boy and I’m very sad when Lola leaves to go to work in the mornings. After she changes my diaper, I pat the couch next to me to make her stay a little while longer before she goes. I also like to watch her leave and wait for her to come back at the front window.
  • I know I’m a cute kid.  One day, Mama asked me, “Nasaan si Pogi?” (translation: “Where’s Handsome?)  I immediately pointed to myself.  I guess she didn’t realize that I associate “Pogi” with myself.  Doesn’t she know that she calls me that all the time?  Duh!
  • Today, after my nap, I noticed that my snack container was empty. I looked down and then up at Mama and turned my palms up as if to say, “What’s up? Where’s my food?”
  • Speaking of food, I LOVE to feed myself! I’m really good at using a spoon and fork. I’ve got the shoveling down pat. I don’t think these adults feed me fast enough!
  • The best way to get me to hydrate is to shout, “Kanpai!” (translation: “Cheers!”) I love clinking my sippy cup with the grown-ups. I’m so dramatic when I drink. I knock my head back and take big swigs!
  • I am a very appreciative little boy and I’ve substituted the sign language sign for “Thank You” with a very deep and respectful Japanese bow instead. On a good day, I will do this without any coaching from anyone.  I also bow at the beginning and at the end of meals (although it cracks me up when my family says grace).
  • I love to shrug my shoulders.
  • I love to hide! Mama will usually cover us up with a big throw pillow on our heads or make a tent with a blanket and her arms. I can stay very still for a pretty long time for a toddler and then I scream like crazy when someone shows up!
  • I still love to be chased.
  • I think it’s hysterical when Mama sneezes. It’s allergy season so she’s sneezing a lot which means I’m laughing a lot!
  • Lately, I’ve been squeezing my eyes shut and making noises when I don’t get my way. Today, Lolo trained me to turn this into “Magandang Mata” (translation: “Beautiful Eyes”) where it looks like I’m sort of batting my eyelashes. All anyone has to do is say “Magandang Mata” and I’ll do it… if I feel like it.
• TEETH: I have 12 teeth!
• BREASTFEEDING: Down to 1 session a day especially when someone else puts me down for a nap or bedtime. I’m not happy about Mama’s dwindling milk supply but I know I can deal without it. While breastfeeding, she tells me that I’m a big boy and that I don’t need to breastfeed anymore and I squeeze my eyes shut, shake my head and giggle, trying to ignore her.

This has been such a fun month at Lola and Lolo’s place. What a great transition from NYC to LA. They’ve done so much for us and we appreciate it all!

I know Lola and Lolo are going to miss me, but I’m going to miss them more.

04 March 2012 // Orangevale, CA