making mom look good:

The other evening at Lucas' group therapy class, I thought I stepped into a dream.  Lucas made me look like a great parent (by societal standards).  I'm glad I was there to witness it.  I sit in on the class, but parents usually don't participate or interject unless asked to do so.

One of his classmates was sneezing, and Lucas kindly reminded him to sneeze into the crook of his elbow rather than his hands, "because if you touch things or people, your germs will get on them."  (Attaboy, Lucas).

And then on to a discussion about Thanksgiving.  I left out the other students' remarks to keep it shorter.

Therapist:  So what do like about Thanksgiving?

Lucas:  Apple cider. [He means sparkling]

Therapist:  I like watching the parade on TV.

Lucas:  My family doesn't watch TV.  We have dinner with candles.  I used to see Grandma and Grandpa.

Therapist:  Well, I watch TV.

[She showed the kids the part of Charlie Brown Thanksgiving where Peppermint Patty complains about Snoopy not making a traditional Thanksgiving dinner and asks them if she's being thankful.]

Therapist:  What are you thankful for?

Lucas:  I'm thankful today is my dad's birthday.

Therapist:  Well, say happy birthday from us.

Lucas:  Happy birthday.  [He thought she was telling him to say it since she's one of his speech therapists as well]

Therapist:  What about Thanksgiving are you thankful for?

Lucas:  Food.  Some of the food gives us muscles.

Therapist:  Oh, you mean like protein?

Lucas:  Yes.  God gives us the food we have.  We have to work and go to the store, but He's the one who gives it to us.  [You go, Lucas]

Therapist:  That's true.  What is your favorite food?

Lucas:  Green beans.

Therapist:  Really?  I thought you would say chocolate cake or something.  [Green beans are actually one of his favorite foods.]

So, Lucas essentially said he is mindful of germs, doesn't watch TV, loves his family, loves green beans more than sweets, understands nutrition, and is thankful to God for the bounty we have at Thanksgiving.  Wow, and there I was that very morning feeling like a failure of a mom and that I didn't know what to do with him anymore.  Thank you, Father God, for giving me some heart encouragement when I really needed it.  I guess this is much better than the time he went to class and told everyone that I was mean to him for no reason.  He's doing well in his group class, and it's been eye-opening for me seeing other children with completely different personalities behaving the same way he does, which reminds me that he his conditions aren't uncommon and can be improved with effort and without medication.
 

isaac, 2.5 years old:

A little late, but just wanted to write this down before I forget any more details and milestones for Isaac.  I'm sorry if any of this stuff is a repeat from another post.  I can't keep track anymore.

The thing I find most interesting about Isaac is how he picks up on nuances.  I can't quite explain it, but it's as if he not only remembers things I've told him down to the smallest detail, but he also understands the situation in which it occurred and can read between the lines sometimes.

Isaac likes to sing very loudly and repetitively, both in public and at home.  If he's not singing, then he's talking nonstop, sometimes to himself, sometimes to an imaginary audience, and most often anyone who crosses his path.  This makes it difficult for any of us to concentrate, especially Lucas during school, so either Lucas has to leave or we have to go to another room.  Most of the time we try to get a lot done before Isaac gets up.  Lately, I've been able to keep him quiet for a little while with YouTube videos.

He doesn't watch much TV or movies, but he does like slow-paced YouTube videos involving balloons, crafts, cooking, candy, Playdoh, dominoes, surprise eggs, and Orbeez toys.  He discovered them through the YouTube Kids app.  He watches vehicle videos on occasion, but definitely isn't as into things like Thomas and Cars as Lucas was as a toddler and preschooler.  He sometimes asks for a Kinder surprise eggs, but they are banned in the U.S.  Naomi is probably going to make one for him.

He is also into Spiderman and Captain America at the moment.  I didn't push that on him; I think he likes the concept and colors of the characters.  While we were trick-or-treating, a father next to us had on a Captain America hoodie, and Isaac told him, "You have the most awesome shirt ever!"  He doesn't say that in broken sentences--many people tell me he talks like a five-year-old.  His grammar's not perfect; it's just pretty good for a 2 1/2-year-old.  Naomi was an early talker, and Lucas was such a late talker, it almost doesn't matter to me anymore when Isaac started talking.  I'm sure having older siblings is a big factor in his verbosity, but he picks up on meaning pretty well.  The other day he found a scratch on his arm and remarked, "Oh, I didn't realize I had a boo-boo there," and I was just surprised he knew what realize meant.  

Sometimes he doesn't pick up my meaning so well, and it comes out cute.  Like I said to Naomi that Isaac made me get something for him, and he said, "I didn't make you!  God made you!"  He makes us laugh all the time with his quick responses to Manny's quips.

He is a pretty steady climber, although it still makes me nervous.  He is pretty mellow on his own, but once with other kids, and especially with Lucas, he starts running around in circles and acting up. Generally, if he's happy, he's really happy, but when he's mad, he's really mad.  He lashes out at people who try to comfort him when he's upset.

The biggest challenge for me right now, aside from his sleep issues, is still his picky eating.  He does try the foods, and initially might say yum, but then something causes him to spit it out.  Many foods, especially proteins, seem to have an unfavorable texture or flavor to him.  It is frustrating to have to make something separate for him.  I try not to do that, but then he starts skipping meals, because he'd rather starve than eat meat.  So the only significant calories he gets are from mac n' cheese, grilled cheese, buttered bagels, cheese pizza, or pasta with olive oil (occasionally he'll eat it with marinara sauce), which aren't very nutritious and are foods the rest of us rarely eat.  He will occasionally eat certain chicken nuggets and fish sticks, but absolutely no other meat, not even hot dogs or meatballs.  He likes nuts and tofu, but not every day, and he's been refusing peanut butter lately.  The only vegetables he'll eat are still cucumbers, carrots, corn, and celery.  I have tried to "hide" meat and vegetables in his food and made pureed sauces, but it doesn't work.  He detects it immediately.  Plus, I've always enjoyed being honest with the kids about what they're eating and why they should eat it.  I've tried cutting out sugar and starches for a week, and all that did was make him basically go on a hunger strike and lose weight.  However, I won't give up on introducing foods until perhaps his tastes mature.  Lucas wouldn't touch hamburgers until he was four, and now they're one of his favorite foods.  Not that that's something to rave about, but he didn't like meat early on either.

The smallest size Manny found of this hoodie, but he loves wearing it when it actually gets cool.  It's been quite warm for October.

He likes Naomi to tuck him in.

He loves to climb without my help.

This is a little merry-go-round at the mall that the older two rode at his age, but it was removed for a while.  So glad to see it back, so he can enjoy it as well.

isaac's similes:

I cannot download any photos from Lucas' birthday party because Win 10 is not reading certain DLSR cards.  On the Microsoft answers site, they said, "This is a known issue, and we are rapidly working on a fix."  So until then, I'll post something else.  I generally have a problem with posting about events out of chronological order, so I won't post on other events before I post about his party.

Isaac is a very talkative child.  Often he keeps repeating himself or what someone else says, but sometimes he'll come up with something on his own that will delight and amuse us.  Here are three I happened to write down.  Too bad I'm so bad about writing everything down these days.

Manny:  You sure have a lot to say (or something like that).
Isaac:  I talk like a machine gun, like I shoot you!

Isaac eating some corn:  Mmmm!  It tastes like a rainbow!

Isaac eating some organic gummies:  I'm pulling them out like a monster!

Just for the record, I've never talked about machine guns or monsters with him, so not sure what he has pictured in his mind.

He also likes to pretend he's Manny at work, saying he's typing, or the other day he said, "Please stop talking.  I'm trying to go to work, but you keep talking to me!"
Manny has actually said something like that, although not in front of Isaac as far as I recall.

isaac, 23 months:

Isaac is maturing in leaps and bounds.  He's speaking mostly in broken sentences now.  He prefers to walk over being carried or put in a stroller.  He loves to run and to run off.  He, like the two before him, does not like me to coddle him when he gets hurt.  He even gets upset if Naomi shows him sympathy.  He does like positive attention, though, and tries to entertain us, sometimes asking for applause.  He is also very affectionate, and the only one of our kids who gets sad because Manny's at work or because he didn't get his nightly hug from his big sister.  He tries to be friendly with other kids, and can get pretty upset if it isn't reciprocated (this he gets from me).  He can name all the other kids in the church nursery, and it's impressive given that they have unusual names that aren't so easy to say.  Sometimes we FaceTime Grandma and Grandpa, and he likes to see them.  He also tells me to take a picture of him sometimes.  Just call him ham.

He is eating a little more now, though still not much and definitely not enough protein.  But in the last two or three weeks, he's had some peanut butter and ground beef, so that's a start.  He's also willing to eat tomato sauce, finally.  

He is really into screws and screwdrivers at the moment.  He won't play with the toy ones, just real ones.  He also likes the toy drill his grandparents got him for Christmas.  He likes playing catch, playing or watching musical instruments, dancing, singing, books, "doing homework," and drawing "bees."  He found a picture of a flower in a coloring book one day and instead of coloring it, he drew these little bug-looking scribbles on and around it and said they were bees.  He also likes stars and looking for the moon.  I may finally have the child who likes stargazing as much as I do!

He still switches between his hands when he writes.  He won't say much in Mandarin anymore.  Even if I say a word to him in Mandarin, he'll say it back in English.  He does repeat everything else I say, though, down to telling me, "You messed it up" and "You're mean."  :/  I'm sure there's a lot more I'm missing; hopefully I'll catch it in the two-year milestone update.

Some funny moments:

Naomi:  Isaac, do you love Nay-na?  (what he usually calls her, although he can say Naomi)

Isaac:  Yes.

Naomi:  Do you love Mommy?  

Isaac: Yes

[repeats the same question/answer for Papi and Lucas]

Naomi:  Who is your favorite?

Isaac [pauses to think]:  Doughnut

Me:  Time to change your diaper, Isaac.

I:  No.

Me:  But you have a poopy diaper.

I:  No, no poop.  Poop is gone.

Me:  It's gone?  Where did it go?

I:  Go bye-bye far away.

Still playing ball.

Still looking up at trees.

Devising his own game at the dentist's office.

The Elmo chair Cecille gave us has survived three kids.

Singing about his cantaloupe.

Oops cut it out of the photo, but here he is finally eating peanut butter and bread (but only Naomi's special apple and peanut butter sandwiches).

The 90s are back.

naomi's riddles:

Thought I'd share these as well.  She's a pretty funny girl, that Naomi.  Maybe she should have dressed up as The Riddler instead.

What is one sport where you don't have to move?
Channel surfing.

What is the one food that allows you to spend time with your loved ones?
A date.

What is something that is up but never comes down?
A cloud.

naomi quotes / jokes:

Yes, they're back!  But only a snippet.

I asked Naomi the other day if she ever wished we lived in a different house or had a backyard, to which she replied, "No.  I know there may be things that are better than what I have, but what I have is the best for me."  One of the wonderful things about her is how she doesn't just recite what she hears and is pretty self-aware.

To balance that out, here are some of her jokes:
N:  Knock, knock.
Me:  Who's there?
N:  Candy wrapper.
Me:  Candy wrapper who?
N:  Eminem (she doesn't even know who he is; she just heard us talking about him)

N:  What do you get when an apple and a banana get in a fight?
Me:  What?
N:  A fruit punch.

Me (singing in a weird voice)
N:  Mom, stop it!
Me:  Why, my singing is fabulous!  (It's not, and I was being goofy on purpose)
N:  You mean fabu-less.

another good week of summer / quotes:

This week was another busy one, but it was just stellar.  Naomi has been pretty helpful and kind, and I only had one instance of a Lucas meltdown.  We had a couple of sleepless nights with the heat, but aside from my eyes feeling like they were stuffed with breadcrumbs, we just kept going with life.

Naomi had her first four swim lessons of the summer (introduction to backstroke, breaststroke, dolphin).  She passed her test and is being promoted to the next level next week.  We missed having the free lessons with a couple ladies from church this year.  Their first week was Manny's week off, so that wouldn't have worked out.  After swim, Manny's aunt and uncle came by to take our toddler bed, toys, and books, and treated the kids and me to some In-N-Out.  The kids decided they wanted to bring a banana since In-N-Out doesn't offer fruits and vegetables apart from what's in the burger.  Haha.  

We had a friend from church over on Wednesday who might be able to babysit the kids once in a while, at least during the day and in a pinch.  I think we still trust L the most.  The kids enjoyed hanging out with her.  Manny got home earlier than usual, and we took a family walk to a nearby field.  I wish I brought the camera.  The kids ran through an obstacle course and one time around the track before the sun started setting.  It's a rare treat to be able to take a walk with their father on a weeknight.

Thursday after swim, we went to the dentist.  No cavities!  Not only that, but the dentist was very impressed with Naomi's brushing technique for her age.  All her damaged and rotten teeth from her vomiting days have fallen out, and she's taken great care of the new ones.  No more constant reminders of those horrible years or dealing with people's disapproving looks or comments (I know, who cares what people say?  But I couldn't help it).  We've cut back on their sugar intake, and this past Valentine's and Easter, Naomi got pickier with candy and therefore ate less of it.  The dentist actually buys back extra candy, so I'm glad to have that option.  Naomi has a lot of crowding in her bottom teeth, so they suggested an orthodontic appliance, but we don't think she'll do well with it right now.

We played outside, and visited a neighbor before we headed out to the free Zumba class (with free childcare woot) at our church, which I love even though I was the only non-Mexican there and had to think hard a few times when others were speaking in Spanish.  All I know is that one of the students said to bring $5 next week for the class, but I couldn't understand exactly what is was for.  :)  Naomi did well in the Kids Club, but Lucas got run over a couple times, which frustrated me, because the bigger kids didn't look out for the little ones.  There are three volunteer adults, but with that many children, I don't expect them to see everything.  I know Naomi would rather play with kids her age, but I want her to love her brother first and look after him.  I was disappointed about that and lost my temper, which I've been keeping under check but comes out when I'm really tired.

Today, Naomi got her hair cut.  After a year of not wanting it cut, she went for a drastic chance with a bob and side bangs.  She loves it, and she is pretty happy not to have to endure the pain of having the knots brushed out of her hair anymore.  She also said she feels more mature and responsible.  The teacher's aide at her public speaking class told her she liked it, and that made her day.  After her class, I took the kids to the park.  The rest of the day I cooked and cleaned...and cleaned and cleaned.  It feels like Sisyphus rolling the boulder up the hill only to watch it roll back down, but at least for a moment, I'm almost at the top.  

I didn't do school with Naomi this week, although I really wanted to, and a number of my Chinese (Tiger Mom) friends are all about the summer school.  I know there are other ways to learn than just sitting down with an assignment, so I've tried to incorporate learning here and there.  However, when it comes down to it, kids have to learn how to sit down and work through something and take tests.  I'm pretty excited about our fall curriculum, which will focus on exploring many countries and cultures.  Lucas will be doing preschool at home, although I plan to enroll him in preschool-level classes as well if I can find a suitable one.  A regular preschool just isn't in our budget.  It's all in your personal perspective.  The co-op preschools that people tell me are cheap are still $300+/mo around here, which means almost $3000 over the course of the year that we don't want to spend.  And the ones I might really like are way out of our budget.  There are some other options I'm looking into.

A cat costume Naomi made for herself.  She even made the nose rubbery and the whiskers hard (from plastic).  Kids will be resourceful if you don't buy too much ready-made stuff for them.

Naomi's first swim lesson.  It's a 1:2 or 1:3 ratio, and she loves having female instructors.

Naomi ready for In&Out with her banana.

Lucas and Uncle Gerard are great buddies.

D playing with the kids.

Lucas looking on as Naomi gets her teeth cleaned.

Ready for Zumba!

Lucas likes Naomi's new do.  "Naomi, you look like different!  Let's hug!"

The kids say all kinds of funny things everyday now, and I pretty much take it for granted.  Sometimes others will point out what they say so I can remember to write it down.

Naomi to great aunt:  I call him Papi because he's Mexican.

Naomi to cousin:  I like to close my eyes during rides, because it feels like unlimited time.

Lucas to great uncle:  Do you like to play lots of games on the TV?  I play lots of games and then I get tired and sleepy.

Naomi (poking herself in the eye):  Ouch!  A steak would make it better.
Me:  Oh, I think that's for black eyes.
Naomi:  No, I mean in my mouth.

Lucas:  Naomi's [Chinese word for male genitalia] broke off?

mom's birthday:

A friend took me out on a belated birthday date today, which was so sweet.  It was actually my mom's birthday.  I have always liked sharing a birthday month with her.  Yesterday I called to wish her a happy birthday in advance, but her F.acebook account had been hacked, so she was a little preoccupied.  It spammed the family with ads for checking out an adult dating site.  We had to change her password and delete the postings.  Maybe due to the abnormal activity from her account, no one posted a birthday message on her "Wall" this year.  Maybe they could have at least called or emailed.  There is always a deep sadness when I think about how close my cousins and the rest of the extended family are to each other, and my brother and I are pretty much strangers to most of them.

I was talking to her and Lucas kept saying, "Mike-a-Mike!" (what he calls Mike-and-Ike candy).  We wondered what made him think of that.  He told me, "When you talk Puo-Puo, you say a LOT of Mike-a-Mike."  I said, "What do you mean?"  He got in my face and said, "Mike-a-Mike-a-Mike-a-Mike-a."  Haha!  At that moment I figured out he meant "nuh-guh" which means "that" in Mandarin, which we use almost like the word "um."  Sometimes we'll say it repeatedly while thinking.  That's much better than him saying something else, because in all honestly it does sound a little like a racial epithet.

There's still the language barrier, so I don't force the kids on the phone.  I want to teach Naomi some more Chinese to say to her.  Teaching the kids anything other than English has been an uphill battle, but I haven't given up.  Naomi did try to say a couple things in Mandarin to my mom once, which she didn't really catch, but it gave me a glimmer of hope.  :)  My mom speaks English, but she has a hard time understanding it.  She went on to remind me about J.eremy Lin, and how he's fluent and can read and write even though he was born here, and how he went to Harvard first and did all his homework but put basketball second to honor his parents.  She hesitated a little on his faith, but then she mentioned that as well.  I'm thankful now on a personal level for his testimony.  It's even reached my mom to an extent.  I often pray that her heart could be opened completely, and not just in a passing moment.

naomi 5 1/2 years:

Naomi is 5 1/2 and growing up so quickly.  She told me that things are so much easier now that she can read.  She values her independence greatly, maybe too greatly sometimes.  She's enjoying school, both at home and in her enrichment classes.  She is still as strong-willed as ever, but she is starting to channel that in positive ways.  She's more of a girly-girl now, into fashion and playing house and all that.  She's still a bit rough and adventurous like the boys, but she also has her very sweet side, constantly wanting to do something for others.  She definitely loves being a big sister and takes good care of Lucas.  She also speaks her mind to me, whether she feels I am being mean or need to smile more.  I appreciate the open communication we have in our family, and there are always lots of hugs and kisses.

She currently wants to be a chef when she grows up.  She draws these elaborate menus and plays "restaurant" in some way, shape, or form almost every day.  She comes up with recipes for food that actually make sense.  She dreams of making breakfast for us someday, because she's not currently allowed to use any appliances.  Her other aspiration is to be a singer, and that's not unusual for girls her age.  She's always liked performing, and put on a show for her grandparents, with colored lights and all.

Despite being a bit stubborn, remembering too many details, and having meltdown moments, I see Naomi as generally being very gracious and thoughtful for her age.  I've seen a lot of adults completely misread her intentions, perhaps because they don't expect more from a five-year-old.  I get exhausted by her energy level, but I also love being around her.    She can act like a teenager, and I pray I'd be more careful about what I say, not driving her away.

Her feet, hair, and nails--wow, do they grow quickly!  Every 3-6 months, we have to buy shoes in the next size up.  She's currently a size 12 toddler shoe, and it's getting tight on one foot.  But Target doesn't sell half sizes anymore, so I try to wait a little since one of her feet is bigger than the other.  She's still super skinny, back to not drinking much milk again, but she does get calcium from other sources.

If Naomi had a motto, it might be, "The more the merrier."  She is social as always and isn't easily deterred, even when people have flat-out told her they don't want to play with her.  She's hurt, but she doesn't get angry or snub them back.  She tells me she feels afraid of being rejected, but wants to try anyway.  And wow does she keep trying.  They often come around in the end.  I don't see it as her wanting to get her way, because she's not like this about material things, but she just wants everyone to be friends.  It reminds me a lot of myself, although the world sometimes hurts me and I want to lash back.  This is why my success rate has been much lower.  :)  In the end, the harsh reality is that when an acquaintance is not interested in being your true friend, there's only so much you can do.  But Naomi does all she can.

Interests:  Having people over, playing restaurant/school/house, Hello Kitty, Tinkerbell, PBS older kids' shows (Cyberchase, Electric Company, Anne of Green Gables), making up her own songs, art, science, reading/writing, performing to music, making friends, helping, being in her classes, experiencing new things.

These are just a couple quotes I had recorded.  I can't keep up with all the funny things she says anymore.

N:  Mom, how old are you again?
Me:  34.
N:  Ok, that's 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6...whew, I think I'll just skip to 30!  30, 31, 32...

N recounting something from when she was 3 (which she does often)
Me:  What, is your brain like a tape recorder or something?
N:  No, Mom, like a computer!  We don't use tape recorders!
(We have a tape recorder, so she knows what they are)

day 3, moms and open house:

This year we had said we weren't going to take any vacations so we could save up for a big trip, but we ended up going out of town six times.  At the end of August, we went to ride the train, and it was only in the 50s.  Now at the end of September, when I thought there might be rain, the temperature was 114 degrees.  One of the downsides of being a non-procrastinator is that I had to unpack and repack everything.

We went to my mom's on Monday, and then off to lunch.  I miss the abundance of good, authentic, and relatively inexpensive Chinese restaurants in SoCal.  Business is bad, though, and one can sense the owners/workers' frustration at times.  Over the years, the place we went to has reduced its menu drastically, having only one dim sum cart available and resorting to major lunch specials.  We were there to partake of that, and the owner seemed a bit indignant toward my mom for turning down the fresh fish out of the tank or other normal celebratory foods (lunch specials are typically for the Westerners).  But we had a lot of our favorites.  Lucas didn't have much to say, but he ate well.  Naomi told my mom, "He doesn't speak English.  He speaks nonsense."

We drove out to another plaza to get Naomi's egg tart, which is a tradition she started for when she visits Puo-Puo.  The lady at the bakery was so taken by Naomi's good attitude when I told her she couldn't have something, that she gave it to Naomi for free.  Too bad we forgot the goodies at Grandma's, but at least she had her egg tart.  My mom actually accidentally smashed it all up, and I actually got more bothered than Naomi.  She just said, "It's okay.  I only care about it being yummy."  I may be the one training her, but she often convicts me.  

My dad felt dizzy and stayed behind, probably from the heat.  When we returned, the electricity blew out, and I suggested that they go to a nearby mall or library to keep cool.  We left for my mother-in-law's house after that.  It was like Christmas in September there--we were showered with clothes and gifts.  We then headed to J's for an open house/dinner for D&A, friends of ours who are missionaries living in Africa, specifically Senegal.  A remarked how it was much cooler in their city than in SoCal.

Naomi really took a liking to J's son.  Their huge dog really took a liking to Lucas.  So much that he licked Lucas right off the slide, causing him to fall and get a scrape, probably furthering his fear of dogs.  He really likes dogs; he just doesn't like getting knocked down.  Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised to see some other old friends at J's.  All the men are doctors/dentists, I think.  I didn't get a group photo.  It's a real challenge nowadays handling the camera and the kids.  

Dinner was delicious--a variety of barbecued meats, pasta salad and other sides, and lots of dessert.  D&A showed us some photos of their friends and life in Senegal and discussed the culture and their ministry.  We all had to keep quieting the kids during the presentation.  I always wonder how people without kids feel about that.  As we were leaving, we got bags full of hand-me-downs for Lucas (all nice and clean--score!) and some goodies from Africa.  Naomi picked out a glow-in-the-dark necklace and woven fan.  We got back to my in-laws' very late, and I stayed up till 12:30 a.m. packing for Disneyland and then woke up around 5.  I don't usually get much sleep on vacations anyway, and I just like doing things in peace.  I know more sleep would help me, though, but I'm just a light sleeper and everything wakes me up, especially Manny's snoring.  :)

Lucas always looks more Chinese with food in front of him.

Naomi and Grandma holding hands and window-shopping.

The kids playing baseball with Dr. Y.

Lucas enjoyed the slide, and he kept calling his sister to join him, but she wanted to be with her friend (this is a common occurrence lately, and it makes me a little sad).

The kids' table--3 are J's, 2 are ours, and the blond one belongs to D&A.

Us with D&A, friends and missionaries to Africa.

lucas, 2 years, 2 months:

Lucas pretending to sleep in his toddler bed.  Naomi put that "nightcap" on him.

Lucas is finally saying a lot more, although only at home and he seems to say some words backwards (the initial sound at the end and vice versa).  He can jump with both feet, runs a lot, and sometimes power walks (where you strut while twisting).  He can do a couple small puzzles on his own.  He can't say his ABCs or count much yet.  He can identify some colors--red, yellow, green, blue, black, and pink.  He wants to sleep in his sister's room, but he keeps her up (yes, someone actually keeps Naomi up).  He doesn't say his own name.  He just refers to himself as "me" or "baby."  He is pretty good at sharing and putting away toys for his age, I think.  He points to many face and body parts and says them.

Lucas still loves cars and trains without end.  His favorite videos to watch are railroad crossings.  And he gets upset at the ones where a train never shows up--he calls it bad, and turns his back to it.  lol  He knows to cover his eyes when I first launch YouTube.  They always have to show some horror movie or violent video game right on the main page, don't they?

He likes to give toy animals or people rides.  He also likes to pretend to feed stuffed animals, much like Naomi did.  He really likes books--I hope that sticks.  He is kind of a clown, and things that shouldn't be funny are so funny to him.  He likes to explain things that happened and act them out, often telling on himself (like how he hit Naomi and made her cry).  He seldom hits her now, though.  The two of them have been hugging and kissing all day.  He really likes to throw.  So now my bruises aren't from his bites anymore.  I have a friend whose son was like that at this age--throwing things everywhere--so I wasn't caught off guard.   When I ask Lucas where something is that I can't find, his answer is almost always, "throw bye bye."  Naomi says, "Mom, look at the bright side.  At least he's learning to throw.  That can help him someday."

Lucas is afraid of bugs.  I think a spider ran over his foot and he's been scared since (and my obvious fear of bugs doesn't help either).   He dislikes being wet or dirty with a passion.  He likes me to constantly clean the table, his hands and face, his utensils, and clothes while he eats (habit?).  And if I try to give him a bib, the second something lands on it, he "needs" a new one.  He's super clingy at times, but very independent at others (usually whenever I would desire the opposite from him).  Potty training--I don't think he's fully ready yet, plus there are many changes in his life right now.

His terrible twos haven't been that bad.  I only have Naomi to compare him to, and it's so much easier with the two of them at five and two years of age than it was with just her at two years.  He has that furrowed brow often, but his laugh isn't usually too far behind.  Cute kid.

little joys:

Naomi decided to start keeping a journal.  The first entry says, "I like to play Little Big Planet.  I like my mom.  I love her."  :)

Manny's coworker heard that we liked the golden melon they served, so he went to Costco and bought us one!  Honeydews and cantaloupe haven't been too sweet lately, and this was the perfect answer.  So generous of him.

Naomi recalled today how a teacher really liked a flag she made, and said, "Why do I get all the luck?" and then corrected herself and said, "I mean, why do I get all the grace?"  I didn't teach her that, and it was a good reminder to me.

doubt:

So Naomi asked me about the Tooth Fairy, and I told her it would really be me or Manny taking the tooth and giving her something in exchange.  She asked me to dress up in case she woke up, and I jokingly said I could wear wings.  Then she asked me why there is a Tooth Fairy, and I told her that sometimes there are stories parents tell their kids just for fun.  So she asked why kids believe the Tooth Fairy's real, and I said because their parents just let them believe it until they're old enough to figure it out.  I wasn't sure what this was about, but she's always inquisitive.  Later that evening, Naomi said to me, "Okay, Mom.  I have a question.  Is God real?"  I told her that He is, and even if no one believed in Him, He still exists.  So then she said, "Well, sometimes I feel like God is like the Tooth Fairy to me."  She quickly changed the subject, as is her habit, but I brought it back.  I realized what she was saying--God is just something parents tell kids to believe in for whatever purpose until they realize He's not real.  And frankly, this is what some parents do.

I talked to her about the bible, how He's seen in creation, in our love for others, and in the order of the universe.  I also said it is good she thinks about it, because I don't want her believing just because we do.  So then she started thinking--"Well, God doesn't make the dirt.  Worms do."  I told her God does--He makes the worms and makes them work the way they do.  She said a couple other things about His level of control, so I had to mention free will, and then she changed the subject again.  I know this is doubt.  I believe she's changing the subject because she doesn't want me to get worked up and talk too much.

I haven't really recorded her quotes lately, but she often talks like a teenager these days.  It's not TV or being around teens--it's just who she is.  I'm glad she's asking now and that she can even express how she feels.  It also hits me with the reality that she's not just going to accept what I teach her.  Like any child, there's always the possibility she'll walk away.  That in turn reminds me that I'm not in control of her thoughts, although I am in charge of them.  I can only share with her like I do anyone else, and I can't presume she'll just take what I say as truth.  It also reminds me that helping her know God is important to understanding why she would need/desire to be reconciled to Him.  The gospel won't mean as much to her otherwise.  I stumble everyday, but I also grow in my faith, hope, and love everyday--this is what I want her to see about Christ.  This is a big turning point or perhaps milestone for me, the beginning of such conversations and discussions where she's not just accepting what I say.  I'm acknowledging that she is her own person and has to have her own experience of the grace of God.  I pray that she will have it in abundance, and I am thankful and hopeful that she won't just be just going through the motions.

naomi is five!/new quotes:

Happy 5th birthday to our little Naomi! She's growing up too fast for me! I happened upon this Japanese music video. It makes me cry, especially the first part.  I can really relate. The song is in Japanese, and the lyrics don't really have much to do with the video, but it's an emotional video.  Even if you don't have kids, it'll make you appreciate your parents/guardians.

Video from YT was removed.  Here's another link to the video.

Naomi is really a big girl now. She's very independent, talkative, perceptive, self-aware, loving, and empathetic. She likes to lead, but still lets others go first. She's been incredibly patient and forgiving with Lucas, who has left her with lots of bite marks and bruises. She's been patient with us, too.  She is also still very energetic but uses more caution and self-control. She's still a free spirit in many ways, but likes to have and know boundaries and rules. She makes friends wherever she goes, and some kids become quite attached to her.

She's still oversensitive to a lot of stimuli--things are too loud, smell too strong, are too bright, etc. I've heard that never leaves a lot of post-colic children. She is so tough, however, when it comes to physical pain. It only really bothers her on an emotional level if someone hurts her and there's no compassion or remorse shown.  She's getting a little better, though, about telling me when she has a boo-boo.

Her favorite colors are red, pink, and green. She likes Hello Kitty and a few other Sanrio characters. Her favorite animals are dogs, cats, and bunnies.  Her favorite shows are Kipper, DragonTales, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, and Hello Kitty.  She really enjoys her Awana and Sunday School classes, too.  She is pretty bored of ballet now, but loves gymnastics and soccer.  I told her to persevere and stick out ballet to the end of this session, and to leave having done her best.  She's not really a tomboy, as she loves frilly dresses and pretty flowers, but she's not that girly either. 

She is imaginative but pretty logical. She likes doing the same things as before--creative expression, taking pictures, going out, making friends, books, science, and playing computer games. She is an audio learner, meaning she seems to learn better through just listening than hands-on activities, illustrations, or repetition. She remembers so much of what she hears (unfortunately--she remembers a lot of the hurtful things), but not so much when it's set to music, which is unusual. She also learns well through experimentation or trial-and-error, but I can't always let her do that. :) She's a great little helper and a doting big sister.  She's also quite an actress.  She could do skits/plays all day.

Her quotes display her level of understanding pretty well, but I lose track of a lot of them these days.

Me:  Did you bring a jacket?
Manny (joking):  I don't need a jacket.  I'm a man!
N:  What, all men want to be cold?

N:  Papi, what do you think Lucas will be when he grows up?
Manny:  I don't know.  What do you think?
N:  Well, I think he will be a doctor, because he likes to look at things and make sure they're okay.

N:  Papi, when Mami comes downstairs, tell her that you love her and thank her for working so hard to clean the house.  And that even when the house is not clean you still love her.

Me:  I'm sorry, Naomi.  I'll work on being nicer.
N:  Mami, I think if you just believe in yourself more, you'll be nicer to us.

Me:  That needs my approval.
N:  You mean like your x-ray vision?  I mean, super-vision?  Why do they call it supervision if you're not a superhero?  [I'm not?  I guess I'm not.  :)]

Her party is this coming Saturday.  This year there were no declines, so we're stuffing 25 adults and 17 children in our clubhouse, and that's just friends.  Due to Manny's lack of vacation time, we won't be able to do a family party at Grandma's this year.  Maybe we might make it down for Lucas, I don't know.  We don't plan on throwing him a party this year.

For some reason, Lucas loves to look at this picture of her, so here it is.  She says she doesn't put her hands on her hips to be mean, but like a superhero.  :)  But I know it's really because I do it a lot.  :(

love your neighbor:

After we returned from the amusement park, we had our neighbor's daughter over again while Lucas was napping.  Naomi poured her a drink and offered her saltine crackers (what she could get to).  I thought that was sweet.  I also gave the girls some cantaloupe balls.  We sent her home with an invitation to Naomi's party.

Today I accidentally knocked over a stack of Naomi's book blocks (blocks that are actually square-shaped board books).  She just came over and put them back saying, "It's okay, Mom.  It's not about books.  It's about loving people."  She still has her share of moments, especially when she feels like no one's listening to her, but it's quite a joy to watch her mature.

Another random note--in ballet class today, these two girls sort of fought over who would stand by Naomi, and another girl asked if Naomi was there and called out to her excitedly.  It's very sweet--she may not have a lot of friends she sees regularly, but I like how her friendliness towards them stands out in their minds.  They say quirky girls have quite a following.  I wouldn't say everyone likes her (a lot of kids can be turned off by her asserrtiveness), but she does love greatly and often without reservation.  It's nice to see it reciprocated or appreciated every so often.

family night:

We went to Outback Steakhouse Sunday afternoon with another giftcard. Yummy yummy. Forgot the photo. Lucas only ate some french fries and broccoli at the restaurant, but then came home and had four egg whites, two whole oranges, and almost two granola bars.  After dinner, I chopped four inches off Naomi's hair. Long overdue. Naomi got to have some ice cream, too.  Then, Manny, Naomi, I, and sometimes Lucas played a demo of this PS3 game called "Little Big Planet." Afterward, Naomi wanted to pray to thank God for our wonderful family night. :)  We also called Grandma--Manny has called his mom almost every week since I've known him.  She is doing well now, recovering from knee surgery. It was nice to have quality time together.

Random photo:  Lucas and I get some 1-on-1 time at the park when Naomi's in her gymnastics class.  He didn't want me to hold his hand after the first time across the bridge.  He ran back and forth across it for many iterations.  One thing about him--he's a lot more into repetition than Naomi.

Our hearts still go out to those suffering in Haiti. This story really hit me in the gut.  We went with World Vision, also an established organization.

naomi's contraptions:

Naomi likes to draw.  I think I posted one of her first drawings, of a toilet flushing.  She draws people most of the time, and lately she's been on a kick of making drawings of her little inventions.

I can't remember what all these amusement park rides were, but on the bottom left is a tube that shoots you up (don't have to climb a big ladder) and then when you splash down into the water, there are trampoulines, "just in case," so you don't drown.

This is a cake factory, with people working on the conveyer belt.  In the middle is a knife, which she said is the part where the cake is cut for you so you don't have to do it yourself.

This she says are houses that can be grown by the sun.  That blue and red thing she said was a shield that activates (yes, she said "activates") to block out the sun when the houses are done.  This one was of course less realistic than the previous two.

the depth of little ones:

While Naomi was sitting on my lap doing her reading yesterday, out of nowhere she said, "Mami, it would be better if I died first." Taken aback, I asked why. She said, "Because if I die first, then I don't have to see you die and go to heaven." (That's stuff I can't put on FB, so it's partly why I still have a blog)

Naomi can be a very happy kid, but I realize more and more it's because she chooses it, not simply because she is ignorant. Since starting this book, Manny and I have been contemplating putting more focus on honor in our home. I guess that could be sort of a 2010 resolution.

chinese christmas / naomi's favorite part:

Each year after opening our presents on Christmas morning at Grandma's, we head over to Puo-Puo's (my mom's) to have Chinese food, either at home or at a restaurant.  I only see my parents and brother once or twice a year. It seems like we've all aged so much in recent years.  I've mentioned that my parents sold their little take-out place because of my mother's heart problems.  Unfortunately her heart condition doesn't qualify her for disability benefits and she isn't old enough for social security.  It's been a tough year for them.

The first thing my mom said to me was that she was impressed by how well I was raising the kids, considering no one ever taught me and they didn't really raise me either.  I was taken aback by this statement.  A lot came to mind, like cooking dinner for my brother on the stepstool when I was nine, the pain from shoes that were too small, or how the teachers tried to get my parents to take me to doctors or dentists.  As I've said, my life is so far removed from that now, but I'm sure it's a big part of who I am.  It is a large learning curve, becoming a "normal" wife and mom, but I do enjoy it.  It's all God's grace.

We ate standard Chinese dishes and also dim sum.  People are often surprised by how well our kids eat, probably because they're so thin. They're just really active and don't sleep enough...like their mom, I guess. Naomi asked for "dan ta" (egg tarts) at the end, but they didn't bring that particular cart around to us before the dim sum time was over.  I'm surprised she remembers them.  Anyway, we got her and Lucas a piece of mango cake from a neighboring bakery, but discovered it had gone bad at home.  She said, "You mean all that money was for nothing?"  She really was okay with it, though.  My parents ended up going all over town anyway and found some egg tarts for her.  Ah, grandparents.  :)   

Lucas enjoying the dim sum.

Peking duck, chow fun, pork chops, chicken chow mein, various dim sum.  My parents try to get food they think Manny will like.  It's kind of funny, and a far cry from when my mom made him drink a bell pepper/onion/apple smoothie.  :P

Naomi putting on a show.  I just noticed A Christmas Story in the back.  Oh, the irony (referring to the Chinese restaurant scene, which I don't care for).  Yeah, my family has a fridge in the living room.  Their place is very small.  My brother sleeps in the dining room.  Reminds me of old times.  And people in Japan.

Lucas usually has a project going.  This one involved passing the necklaces back and forth, one by one, with Puo-Puo for about 20 minutes.

Me and my brother.  It's hard to tell now, but we used to look exactly alike.

Manny:  So what was your favorite part of Christmas?  The presents?  The food?

Naomi:  No, my favorite part was coloring with my Papi.

christmas/birthday tea and thank you, manny:

Naomi went to M's birthday/Christmas tea again this year.  She's a couple years or more younger than the other girls, so she told me she felt left out but still had a great time.  One of the moms prayed for me on the spot when I told her I was feeling a bit worn out, and I felt very refreshed and restored by it. 

I got home and found that Manny had vacuumed and shampooed the carpets.  The household chores are usually all done by yours truly, but this was such a nice surprise.  As a matter of fact, Manny sent me an e-card today to encourage me, and I told Naomi I was going to thank him for it, so she says, "Mami.  We should thank him because he cleaned the whole day for nothing.  I'll tell you what to write.
'Dear Papi,

Thanks for cleaning. I know that was hard work for you. And thank you for cleaning the house.
Love,
Mami'"

 

The girls doing a craft.

Lucas was super clingy until he saw these.  lol

Getting ready for tea and finger foods.  Naomi and Lucas loved the chicken salad tea sandwiches.

Cupcakes for the 7-year-old.

M opening her birthday presents under the tree.  :)