Look. I'm combing my hair.
Gotta straighten the back now.
Oh..forget it. I think I look better with a hat!
Baby Darrell and me...looking at...penguins, I think.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Singapore Hot Shots
Look. I'm combing my hair.
Gotta straighten the back now.
Oh..forget it. I think I look better with a hat!
Baby Darrell and me...looking at...penguins, I think.
Doctor Who
We thought we were going in for a simple, standard, nothing-out-of-the-ordinary recommended-for-toddlers TB test, only to realize she was due for two more shots.
Owwwieeee, she cried, and bravely took it in her stride. (Am I rhyming again?!) But I have to say Kayla was very well-behaved at the doctor's today. She no longer cries when taking her weight (below average at 25 percentile again) and height (slightly below average), and even managed a "Hi" and "Bye" to the nurse that poked her in her thigh and pricked the skin on her arm with a needle. She did well with the doctor who was surprised to hear her say "Doctor". And this time, to my chagrin, Mikey didn't defend Kayla when the doc asked how many words she could say now. "5 to 15?" Yea, was Mikey's weak reply. I guess it really doesn't matter, but she probably knows more than 200 words now. And she started to coin phrases and sentences together just last week.
"Hi Grandma" was the first. "Diaper change" came next...and today she sang the first line of "Weng Weng Weng Xiao Mi Feng" ( a song she picked up in Singapore. It's my nephew's lullabye).
Will keep it short since I'm down with a nasty stomach flu. I'm hoping to take Kayla to the park tomorrow for more swing, slide and action in the sand.
Owwwieeee, she cried, and bravely took it in her stride. (Am I rhyming again?!) But I have to say Kayla was very well-behaved at the doctor's today. She no longer cries when taking her weight (below average at 25 percentile again) and height (slightly below average), and even managed a "Hi" and "Bye" to the nurse that poked her in her thigh and pricked the skin on her arm with a needle. She did well with the doctor who was surprised to hear her say "Doctor". And this time, to my chagrin, Mikey didn't defend Kayla when the doc asked how many words she could say now. "5 to 15?" Yea, was Mikey's weak reply. I guess it really doesn't matter, but she probably knows more than 200 words now. And she started to coin phrases and sentences together just last week.
"Hi Grandma" was the first. "Diaper change" came next...and today she sang the first line of "Weng Weng Weng Xiao Mi Feng" ( a song she picked up in Singapore. It's my nephew's lullabye).
Will keep it short since I'm down with a nasty stomach flu. I'm hoping to take Kayla to the park tomorrow for more swing, slide and action in the sand.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Play Mates
Kayla made two playground pals today.. a three-year-old who goes by Makayla and an 11-month-old who's beautifully named Ella. She shared her sand toys (yes I finally remembered to bring them with me), did her "Hi" thing and even showed little Ella how to go down the slide. She's still no social butterfly but I can tell she's starting to warm up faster to strangers and new situations. She's learning that the world isn't such a scary place afterall -- at least for now.
And this is what I love about life in Gilroy. I haven't met anyone who hasn't said hi or smiled when we head to the playground or go on walks. Everyone's really friendly, always has time to chat and just relaxed.
Hopefully, it'll be the same at Easter Egg hunt tomorrow. To make her first egg hunt just a wee bit special, we bought her a pair of bunny ears. :)
And this is what I love about life in Gilroy. I haven't met anyone who hasn't said hi or smiled when we head to the playground or go on walks. Everyone's really friendly, always has time to chat and just relaxed.
Hopefully, it'll be the same at Easter Egg hunt tomorrow. To make her first egg hunt just a wee bit special, we bought her a pair of bunny ears. :)
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Playing Up a Storm
A sand storm to be precise. Now that spring has arrived, we've been taking advantage of the cool breeze, clear skies, and fuzzy warm sunshine. If work doesn't get in the way, we usually head to park mid-afternoon when the sun isn't too fierce. And it's nice that we've three really nice, and toddler-friendly parks in the neighborhood - two within walking distance and another not quite(though Mikey duped me into thinking it wasn't more than half an hour's walk once...and boy, was he wrong!).
For the longest time, I've resisted putting Kayla in the sandbox. Well, most of the time, it's cos it's been raining and the sand really didn't look that inviting. But the past few times we've been to the park, I've allowed her to play in the sand to her heart's content (yes, it rhymes..) Not sure if it's a good thing cos she flings it all over, grabs whatever she can in her tiny palms and throws it in the air. Inevitably, sand slips into her sleeves, sneaks into her shoes and socks, and worst of all, finds its way to her lips. And yes, she's tried to eat it, along with stones and bark she has been picking off the playground. Ughh. Whatever makes her happy. :)
She's also become an expert on the slide and can pretty much do everything by herself now. Climb up the structure, make her way to the slide, turn around and weee..she slides down on her tummy. And it's all thanks to a playgroup mom who told me they like it this way. So now, I don't have to go running to her aid each time she tries to go on the slide. Yes, my little munchkin is officially a slide pro.
Other playground updates: She's been really friendly with other kids - saying Hi and mimicking whatever they do or say.
Backyard update: We finally found a contractor we could trust. So it's half paver patio, half fake grass. Can't wait. :)
For the longest time, I've resisted putting Kayla in the sandbox. Well, most of the time, it's cos it's been raining and the sand really didn't look that inviting. But the past few times we've been to the park, I've allowed her to play in the sand to her heart's content (yes, it rhymes..) Not sure if it's a good thing cos she flings it all over, grabs whatever she can in her tiny palms and throws it in the air. Inevitably, sand slips into her sleeves, sneaks into her shoes and socks, and worst of all, finds its way to her lips. And yes, she's tried to eat it, along with stones and bark she has been picking off the playground. Ughh. Whatever makes her happy. :)
She's also become an expert on the slide and can pretty much do everything by herself now. Climb up the structure, make her way to the slide, turn around and weee..she slides down on her tummy. And it's all thanks to a playgroup mom who told me they like it this way. So now, I don't have to go running to her aid each time she tries to go on the slide. Yes, my little munchkin is officially a slide pro.
Other playground updates: She's been really friendly with other kids - saying Hi and mimicking whatever they do or say.
Backyard update: We finally found a contractor we could trust. So it's half paver patio, half fake grass. Can't wait. :)
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Fishy Fun
The deadlines might kill you, but sometimes being part of the media has its perks. The Monterey Bay Aquarium recently revamped already fun Splash Zone and sent out invites for a media sneak peek. Even though we've been there twice (the most recent being Oct 2007), we thought Kayla might enjoy it more this time round - now that she can walk, talk and say "B-ish." And had fun she did.
She went down the slide repeatedly in the kiddie zone, got her top all wet playing with fake fishes in the infant/toddler area. She gawked at penguins and stared at schools of fishes. And pretty much spent the entire afternoon going "B-ish." She was also extremely friendly today. Instead of shying away from strangers (like she normally does), she said "Hi," smiled and walked towards them. Something tells me it's that sugar rush from her peanut butter jelly sandwich.
She went down the slide repeatedly in the kiddie zone, got her top all wet playing with fake fishes in the infant/toddler area. She gawked at penguins and stared at schools of fishes. And pretty much spent the entire afternoon going "B-ish." She was also extremely friendly today. Instead of shying away from strangers (like she normally does), she said "Hi," smiled and walked towards them. Something tells me it's that sugar rush from her peanut butter jelly sandwich.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Sleepy Daze
We haven't done anything really exciting the past couple of days. Kayla had a slight flu..more teeth are coming out...we're not getting enough sleep... and you know the rest. It's been the story of our lives for the past year and a half. I'm battling really tight deadlines so I'll keep this short and sweet. Here are Kayla's most recent milestones:
1. She can walk backwards. Yipee...not sure what that's good for but she obviously thinks it's important and practices all day.
2. She's trying very hard to jump, but can't figure out how to lift both feet off the ground. But it's fun watching her try her hardest.
3. She loves repeating every word anyone says, "crap" included.
4. She can sit on the potty by herself for a long time, until she pees or poops. Sometimes, she even asks for water.
5. She is amused by words that end with "ft" and "ff" like "left" and "stuff."
6. She calls the gaint in Jack and the Beanstalk "fatty" and she calls "Little Red Riding Hood" "The Hood."
7. When you ask her if she's busy, she starts walking from corner to corner at double her normal speed, trying to act busy.
8. She still can't read but she remembers portions of her fav books by heart. She can fill in missing words when you pretend you forgot.
9. Fav song: Still "Ten Little Indians"
10. She got her first Time Out the other day, and learned how to say sorry.
1. She can walk backwards. Yipee...not sure what that's good for but she obviously thinks it's important and practices all day.
2. She's trying very hard to jump, but can't figure out how to lift both feet off the ground. But it's fun watching her try her hardest.
3. She loves repeating every word anyone says, "crap" included.
4. She can sit on the potty by herself for a long time, until she pees or poops. Sometimes, she even asks for water.
5. She is amused by words that end with "ft" and "ff" like "left" and "stuff."
6. She calls the gaint in Jack and the Beanstalk "fatty" and she calls "Little Red Riding Hood" "The Hood."
7. When you ask her if she's busy, she starts walking from corner to corner at double her normal speed, trying to act busy.
8. She still can't read but she remembers portions of her fav books by heart. She can fill in missing words when you pretend you forgot.
9. Fav song: Still "Ten Little Indians"
10. She got her first Time Out the other day, and learned how to say sorry.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
On the Preschool Prowl
It isn't anything like the horror stories I've heard from friends in Singapore who are trying to get their kids into the top schools, but finding a preschool for Kayla in this end of the valley has been quite a....challenge.
For starters, there aren't that many options, which really isn't that big of a problem--I subscribe to "the more choices you have, the bigger the headache" theory.
It has been easy rounding up and whittling the list down to a manageable few; the problem we're facing is that the schools we like don't offer preschool, only Jr.K.
Preschool starts at 3..and Jr. K at 4. I was hoping to put her in a 2/3-day preschool program so she can socialize, learn to be civil in a classroom setting, get some healthy detachment from Mommy and Daddy, plus it gives a couple of hours off to catch up on work and stuff.
We found one school that we liked that offers preschool and we're most likely going to send her there--but it also means we'll probably have to switch schools when she goes to Kindergarten at 5. (We'd like her to attend the Christian academy just 5 min from our place, but they only offer a K-8th program). We'll see.
We had shortlisted another school initially. It sounded perfect- small class sizes, up in the mountains, lots of fresh air, green space and interaction with nature. But it was a good thing we decided to check out the open house. Situated next to the preschool campus was a temple dedicated to a silent monk. I'm all for religious tolerance, but I thought the school brochure should have reflected its affliations instead of touting itself as a "non-religious" school when clearly it wasn't. So that's that.
Another major problem is Kayla's birthdate. A lot of the private schools are switching to a Sep 1 deadline. (ie unless you're born Sep 1 and earlier, you'll have to wait another school year before starting). I'd rather she start earlier than later (yes those pockets of free time are sorely needed) so that's yet another limitation.
Sigh...why can't school be easier?
For starters, there aren't that many options, which really isn't that big of a problem--I subscribe to "the more choices you have, the bigger the headache" theory.
It has been easy rounding up and whittling the list down to a manageable few; the problem we're facing is that the schools we like don't offer preschool, only Jr.K.
Preschool starts at 3..and Jr. K at 4. I was hoping to put her in a 2/3-day preschool program so she can socialize, learn to be civil in a classroom setting, get some healthy detachment from Mommy and Daddy, plus it gives a couple of hours off to catch up on work and stuff.
We found one school that we liked that offers preschool and we're most likely going to send her there--but it also means we'll probably have to switch schools when she goes to Kindergarten at 5. (We'd like her to attend the Christian academy just 5 min from our place, but they only offer a K-8th program). We'll see.
We had shortlisted another school initially. It sounded perfect- small class sizes, up in the mountains, lots of fresh air, green space and interaction with nature. But it was a good thing we decided to check out the open house. Situated next to the preschool campus was a temple dedicated to a silent monk. I'm all for religious tolerance, but I thought the school brochure should have reflected its affliations instead of touting itself as a "non-religious" school when clearly it wasn't. So that's that.
Another major problem is Kayla's birthdate. A lot of the private schools are switching to a Sep 1 deadline. (ie unless you're born Sep 1 and earlier, you'll have to wait another school year before starting). I'd rather she start earlier than later (yes those pockets of free time are sorely needed) so that's yet another limitation.
Sigh...why can't school be easier?
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