Cleaning

I got the vacuum out from the closet all by myself. It is important to keep the play area clean.

Resume

Ok, in case you need a status update:

Favorite night-time song: "EIEIO" (Old McDonald Had a Farm)
Favorite day-time songs: "Hello Song", 小白菜 找朋友
Able to walk: No, just running
Able to say ABC's: Yes, unless the video camera is recording
Can count to... 11
Favorite playmates: Emma, John, and Eman
Favorite snacks: raisins, chestnuts, carrots (not big on swallowing them though)
Favorite TV show/videos: Baby Einstein videos, ElmosWorld on the computer
Talks on the phone? Not interested.
Sports: Hitting baseball in the backyard, throwing basketball
Sleep schedule: Up at 6:00 (my early summer schedule), nap at 1:00, bedtime at 7:30.
Favorite phrase: "Read book"
Toughest words I am saying now: triceratops, hippopotamus, bulldozer, octopus

Singing Competition

Today I decided to start a singing competition with dad. He's been singing to me for almost two years now. I decided to show him what I've learned. First I pleaded for "big bed sleeping" so that I would have room to operate. Instead of listening to dad as he put me to sleep, I started singing and proceeded to sing for the next hour. I focused on "Hello Song" ('Hello Esmond How are You'), "Skip to My Lou", "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star", "Frere Jacques", and "I'm a Bell". I did one or two Chinese songs too, but I don't think dad knew them. I also counted 1-11 to the tune of "Twinkle Twinkle". I think dad was pretty impressed.

Bedtime

Mom got back from her Mexico cruise today. Dad seemed to want to spend time with her instead of me, so I tormented him by giving him an extra challenge when he tried to sing songs to put me to sleep. So let's see... I rejected the regulars "There Was an Old Lady", "My Darling Clementine", "Puff the Magic Dragon", "She'll be Coming 'Round the Mountain", "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and "Dashing through the Snow" (year-round songs), and "Take Me out to the Ballgame" as well as the less common "Row Row Row Your Boat", "Frere Jacques", "Rock a Bye Baby", "God Bless America", "The Bear Went Over the Mountain", and "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star". A simple "no" gets my point across to dad.

I let him do "EIEIO" (Old McDonald Had A Farm) only because we never miss a night of "EIEIO" and I participate extensively, and today I permitted "Farmer in the Dell" and "Skip to My Lou" only because I wanted to show dad that I know most of the words.

I finally let him put me to sleep after his new rendition of "She'll be Coming 'Round the Mountain" in which the first half of each verse is sung ten times slower than normal and the second half of each verse is sung ten times faster. I felt he needed a bit of reward for his efforts.

Rise and Shine

Mom left on her cruise, so it's just me and dad.
Hey dad, time to get up. It's 6:00. What do you have planned for today?

Sleep like a baby

After playing in Y's playground and swimming, I just felt exchausted and couldn't stay awake for the next 3 hours. Do I tell you I can swim by myself now (of course, mom always have me wear the floater)? I got to sleep in the big bed too, it is so awesome!

Maintenance check

You have to constantly check out the performance of the car, sometimes, it involves using whatever you have to suspense the rear wheels. Whether or not the car can go backward in a straight line is also an important criteria.

A walk at the Dish

Mom and Dad brought me for a walk at the "Dish" after my nap. I like the Saturdays and Sundays the best since I get to do fun things with mom and dad all day long. It's a little windy today, but let me tell you, it is a beautiful walk!

It's a beautiful walk!

Do you see the "Straw man" (Makin' Hay by artist Tom Otterness) far back there, and the "Hoover tower"? We also see a cool bird called red-ring black, very pretty.

Running

Here I am running along with "Straw Man" in the background.

How are You

Woke up this morning and practiced responding to greetings:

"How are you, Esmond?"
"Good"
"How are you, Esmond?"
"Good"
"How are you, Esmond?"
"Good"

Ok, I think I am ready now.

Lego and my new hat

In a hot "April" day, I am hiding in the cool corner of the house, playing with my Lego (from Konnie), and testing out my shape "hat".

Ambulance

This ambulance is my first Christmas gift from Dad, one of my favorate vehicle. I became very good at driving it, even with just two wheels on the ground, the key is: you need to lean your body the same way with the car.

Bookshelf

Hmm, what should I read today? Socrates? Aristotle? It's great to be able to reach all the shelves now.

Slippers

Here I am learning how to wear mom's slippers.

Zebra

I was told to give different expressions for the camera.

Waking up from a nap

Here I am waking up from my nap. I had fun playing all morning with mom and dad. We went to a duck pond and playground. Dad had our diaper bag stolen; it's a cruel world out there.

Stickers

Today mom taught me how to pick out stickers to put on my hands. I had to walk very carefully with my hands still to ensure that the stickers didn't fall off.