Somersaults

I am just learning how to do somersaults. I like to have my legs go first.

Beijing Recap

Dad asked me what I liked best about our trip to Beijing. My
summary:

"Eating food. Seeing DaYiMa, DaYiFu, and Annie JieJie. And LaoLao, LaoYe."

And the tower cranes.

Goodbye Dinner (video added)

Quan Jia Fu


With Annie Jiejie, Laolao, and Laoye

Here is some
video
of Esmond eating with the family.

Soccer final (video too)

Mommy and daddy are getting ready to go to the soccer final at the Bird's nest. Mommy asked me if it is ok for me to stay at home with Da Yima, Lao Lao, and Lao Ye since it is going to be too hot at the stadium (12:00 pm), I told her "I'd like to stay with Da Yima at home".

I think I'd make a good choice, I had pizza for lunch, and played with my cars. I tried very hard to stay awake, I felt to sleep while I was sitting on couch, I even fell to sleep while I was pushing my stroller, but I still tried to stay awake, can't fall to sleep without mommy and daddy around, finally, I lost consciousness on the little couch in the computer room for over 2 hour and 30 minutes. The good thing is, when I wake up, mommy and daddy are home.

Here is some video from the game.

I had a lot fun playing with Da Yima and Laolao

Mommy and Daddy finally came back from water polo game. Mommy told me to "thank Da Yima" for taking care of me, I thanked both Da Yima and Laolao for taking care of me because I think Laolao also spent time taking care and playing with me.

When Daddy put me to sleep, I told him "I had a lot of fun playing with Da Yima and Laolao".

Water Polo (video added)

Mom and dad went to water polo games, I stayed at home with Da Yima, Laolao, and Laoye. I ate very well when Da Yima fed me, two buns, veggies, and other veggie soup. I played with my cars, dump truck, and bulldozer. Da Yima showed me the videos of all the construction trucks, I also watched Laolao playing video games, especially when the balls get to the holes, it is so exciting...

I got tired and went to bed and thinking I can just fall to sleep, but then I figured I'd better "wait for mommy and daddy", who knows what is going to happen without thier protection. I am sure they will be back soon....

BTW, out of the 3 games they saw, US won the game, and they are going to play with another winner of today's game, Hungary, at the finals.

Here is mom standing outside the Yidong Swimming Arena


Drummers perform at half time

You can also see the drummers and portions of the water polo contests in this
video.

Hello?

Mom gave me a call on the cell phone. I answered "Wei?" (hello?) but frankly I seem to hear
my mom better without the phone. I even put the antenna directly in my ear but it didn't seem to help much.

Trucks

I know the names of a lot of trucks. And check out my collection of truck stickers!

Hand gone

Today dad asked if I liked the water fountain at the TUS Park and I told him "That was pretty cool."

Dad has been holding me in Beijing in the taxis because there are no child car seats. He told me he needs to protect me. Tonight in bed I said "Dad protects Esmond." I also hid my hand behind the headboard and said "hand gone hand gone".

Olympic Wrestling

Went to the men's finals tonight. Mom and dad came too. Had front row seats. Didn't like it. Men seemed to be fighting all the time. Man using loud speaker was speaking loud. Let me out of here.




Dad took me outside for the final half hour. Everybody asking "Please - can I take a picture with the baby?"

Family feuds

Little boy riding a bike ran into me at the playground. That didn't feel good.
After some investigation it turns out the boy's aunt beat up mom when she was in kindergarten.

That's nice

Today I gave dad a kiss and said "That's nice."

Take off your shirt

I've noticed that dad seems to be disappearing after he puts me to sleep. Now I tell him to "Take off your shirt" when he first gets into bed with me to show some commitment. I also tell him where to lie, whether or not it's ok to hold my hand, and whether he should sing or not. I'd like to give him more instructions but I need to improve my vocabulary.

Let me tell you what is in the news?

Beijing Zoo

Went to the Beijing Zoo with dad. He took me to the aquarium and I saw sharks and dolphins. Now whenever dad asks what dolphins do I say "they jump high".

I also saw a seal take a big jump into the water.

Also got to see some lions and tigers.

Speed Cycling - Olympics

One of the Olympic events that I went to was speed cycling. Great Britain set an Olympic record while we were there.

Kang Ling Kang Ling Mu Lai Zai

Grandpa starts to teach me his "Suzou folk/chant" Kang Ling Kang Ling Mu Lai Zai, everybody amazed how fast I can learn, after listening to it few times, I can almost memorize the whole thing.

Beach Volleyball (video added)

I went to beach volleyball today. Mom and dad came with me. Had front row seats. Missed the US game and the China game because we were late. Saw the
"beach babes" perform during timeouts. Dad and I thought that was the highlight.

I really enjoy playing with the sand. It felt very different from any sand I have ever touched.

Mom took off my diaper and I peed. Luckily mom had moved me in front of another person's seat. Also it started to rain moments later so maybe they didn't notice.

Everyone got free ponchos for the rain, but I wouldn't let mom and dad wear them. Makes people look like monkeys. I screamed and screamed. They got wet.

The Beijing volunteers brought us into their booth while it downpoured. They are very protective of babies and gave me toys to try to get me to stop crying. I was
holding out for a bulldozer or train, but mom settled for a fan.

In between the games at Beach Volleyball Game

I took pictures with Mascots Nini or walking outside the stadium when there is no games.

My new playmate (video added)

Annie JieJie played with me and
read some
books with me.

A new world through this window

I climb up and watch the new world thruogh this window everyday when I am in Lao Lao's home. Mommy always asks me what I see, I told her "hao dou hao dou ren, hao dou hao dou che che"...

Beijing Zoo - the first trip (video added)

Beijing is really hot and humid, mom and dad decided to have an early start to visit Beijing Zoo. We got there around 7:45 am,
pandas were eating their bamboo breakfast, elephants were eating their corn leaves, and the rhinoceros, hippos, camels, lions, black tiger, and monkeys were all very active, I like those chickens too....

BTW, have you ever been this close to a giraffe?

And the gorilla in the bushes?

I fell asleep in the zoo and woke up in Moscow [Restaurant] with people dancing and singing songs in weird costumes. I read books with daddy after I woke up, and ate almost two pieces of bread, and the potato pancakes were yummy.

Shopping

Shopping at the Pearl Market is crazy. Why do mom and dad bring me? They don't let me try anything on.

I did teach some Chinese kids how to do some of the Grovercise moves from Sesame Street. International relations ya know.

Peking Duck

I really enjoyed shopping at the "Children's Department Store" at Wang Fu Jing Walking Street. Yes, there are a lot of people like anywhere I have been for the last few days, but there are so many fun toys. I chose to bring "Mater the tow truck" and a wooden constructable bulldozer home. They are so much fun.

We stopped at "Quanjude Roast Duck" for lunch and ate the 1.15 Yi(4) 371356 roated duck. Mom and dad always told me I have trouble swallowing food, not after I ate the roasted duck, the skin, and the liver, yuuuummmmy..., this is the beginning of my eating spree in Beijing.

Annie JieJie

Annie JieJie (cousin) is lots of fun. When she first came over they rang the bell which sounds like the hourly chime on the clock. Now whenever it chimes I say "Annie JieJie lai le". Everyone seemed to like it, so I think I will repeat it every hour from now on.

Here she is:

798

Today, mom and dad took me to the modern art district "798". I am not sure if I liked the art pieces there, most of them are very hard to understand. The good thing is I get to meet with Konnie again, plus Annie Jie Jie is there too, and Da Yima and Da Yifu.



Dance with Konnie

Family dinners

Today at dinner I said "Everybody all eats food." Everyone seemed to like it so I think I will repeat it at each meal from now on.

Tower cranes

I really enjoy the taxi rides around here. I get to see lots of tower cranes. There is a lot of construction going on in this town (but not during the Olympics).

I also like to point out every bus and taxi I see.

Shanghai airport

Mom gave me some water in a funnel-shaped cup. She liked that I called it "ice cream water".

Mom and dad had me on a leash. Really. It was fun. It seems like it would be more fun if they would let me hold it.

Flying to Beijing

Had a delay getting the plane to take off, but had the row to ourselves. Isn't anyone else heading to China?

Leaving for Beijing Olympics

It's last-minute chaos as we prepare to head to the airport. Both suitcases are over the weight limit. Mom is packing some heavy items in my Thomas the Train backpack. "I am nervous".

Dad forgot the stroller.