We’re Back!

Someone pointed out that I haven’t published an entry on this blog in a long time! When I checked the date of my last post, I was shocked! I was gone thatlong?

Anyway, Daniel turned two last month and we celebrated it with my husband’s relatives. As opposed to the grand celebration that we had during Daniel’s first birthday, we had a simple one this time. The birthday boy blew his candles without help (well with some coaching from daddy) and clapped his hands while our relatives looked over.

Daniel’s is a big boy now. He’s also very smart and knows words such as ‘infinity’ and ’scrumptious’, can count in seven languages, can memorize his alphabet and numbers up to 50, can identify the things around him, knows the president and the secretary of state, and is a big fan of American Idol! He’s also semi-retired from watching Brainy Baby and Baby Einstein– his favorite shows now are Dora the Explorer, Blues Clues and Go Diego, Go!

We often check out some kid-friendly locations in the Bay Area for our active toddler. Here’s a recent photo taken at SadieDey cafe in Oakland.

Thank God for Brainy Baby!

I can almost hear all moms (those who bought them, anyway) reply in a resounding chorus, “I know what you mean!” their eyes widen with certainty. They say it as if I just brilliantly articulated what exactly they have in mind.

If you’re a mom who thoughtfully or impulsively bought these DVD sets, you can totally relate: Brainy Baby [and Baby Einstein] videos are absolutely the best when it comes to soothing tantrums and keeping toddlers entertained. These miracle disks that often go in colorful cases are little savers for me. I mean, seriously, what will I do if the geniuses behind these amazing videos hadn’t thought of them in the first place? But, isn’t why I called them geniuses in the first place, because they actually thought of them?

I don’t know. I haven’t figured what I’ll do, really. I’ll probably spend the entire day playing Itsy Bitsy Spider with Daniel or singing Old McDonald Had a Farm, Ee I Ee I Ooo, while trying to think of what to feed him or trying to cook up a trip somewhere that will allow him to explore and appreciate his surroundings, or thinking which playgroup I should join next week. I would have been too enervated and tired to think of going to Betty’s nail salon for a quick pedi with salt scrub. Oh no, I’m going to miss Betty and her girly salon with pastel and glittery O.P.I. nail polish collection—one of the best nail salons in the Bay Area, I must say. If I can’t go to Betty’s, I’m going to have ingrown in all of my toenails they’d hurt so bad I won’t be able to walk! Then if I see her again, she’d be horrified and say, “Oohhh I teenk you need to go to the hospitaaal. You need an operayshun. Dis is really baaad” Then she’ll have this ‘I’m Scared For You’ look on her face that will eventually melt into ‘Gosh, What a Poor Girl’ look. And then, of course, the procedure will cause and arm and a leg (literally) because the insurance policy doesn’t cover it. Then I’ll spend days and nights at the hospital because it was that bad and I won’t be able to work. Then we’ll lose all our clients because they will become impatient and antsy. Then we won’t have any money to buy anything, we’ll be so poor we’ll collect leftover food and dollar change along downtown San Francisco, or maybe pretend to strum a guitar or play an accordion and wait for people to give us coins while battling the cold. But then I won’t be able to travel that far to San Francisco. My feet hurt, remember? Read more

Inspirational Video | Encouragement

This video ad is based on a true story. A Facebook friend posted a link to this on his wall. This video shows that even the most embarrassing situations can be turned into something that will teach everybody a lesson.

Encouragement is one of the best gifts a parent can give to his or her child: it can be done anytime and it’s free.

Hope you’ll enjoy the video after the jump Read more

Video: Daniel Playing “Clap Clap Hands” with Mommy

Daniel loves it when Mommy and Daddy plays “clap clap hands” with him. For some reasons, he finds it funny when I hold and clap his hands for him. He’s such a joy and hearing him laugh is priceless. These days, he no longer wants me to clap his hands for him. Instead, he grabs both of my hands, claps them for me, and giggles in excitement.