I Think I Can :>

So I bought Nui Nui 'The Little Engine That Could' this weekend and we've been reading it all week— she loves Thomas and Friends, so this is totally up her alley.



I didn't remember the whole story myself, just that the engine said 'I think I can' and accomplished a feat he didn't think he could by saying that and being encouraged by his cargo.

This version, (because there are versionS), however, tells it that the engine is actually female and before her, there were others who came by but were just not willing to help, adding a moral to the story that it's good to help. [Side note but thought I'd mention that because you know I love that stuff]. Anyway...

So, I read books to Nui Nui in certain ways (voices, tone, etc.) in efforts to animate them and make it memorable and interesting. So the 'I think I can' is especially noteworthy, as is the part about the 'they no help'.

Nui Nui gets really eager about sharing what she learned this week that every time we finish reading, she wants to tell Pau Pau before being tucked in.

I let her go run to Pau Pau, not saying anything, allowing the two to communicate independently (I want to see how clearly Nui Nui speaks and if Pau Pau can understand). The first time when Nui Nui told her 'I think I can', Pau Pau's reaction was, 'You dink a can?' #hilarious!

Tonight, after Nui Nui told her again (and again she heard 'dink a can') and was put to sleep, Mom asked me:

'What is this joke about 'I think I can'? She wants to be able to do everything?'

Mom doesn't know the story and this situation is absolutely hilarious. One, going forward, Nui Nui will be learning new things and sharing them with us, some of which we do not know and will have to teach us. Two, the language development process can be frustrating at times, when we don't understand her though she's trying really hard and is also loads of laughs when one of us do but the other doesn't.

If you have kids, do you understand everything s/he tells you?

Share in the Comments below the things you don't understand. If you don't have kids, share something funny because we love a good laugh! :> xoxo

Melissa and Doug's Stir Fry Slicing Set!

Gingerbread Houses, Fav Holiday Movie, OOTD, New Slippers! - VLOGMAS 15, 2013

What's On TV These Days :>

There's no hiding what we have on the tellie these days... :> :>

We were on the playground today and I noticed a little boy wearing a Jake & The Pirates tee shirt. 'He's branded', I thought. I didn't mention it to Nui Nui but she eventually noticed his shirt anyway.



Honestly, I don't understand how Nui Nui picks and chooses what she likes and doesn't like. TV is an interesting topic. Her favorites are Calliou, Cat In The Hat, Super Why!, Curious George, Thomas...— mostly morning PBS shows— but also Disney's Jake & The Pirates. I didn't even know who Jake was until she told me :>

When I was younger, I watched Married With Children and then Roseanne when I was in high school. I vaguely remember MWC and don't have feelings about it either way really, but still think Roseanne was a great show. My parents disapproved of both. I don't think they ever really watched either, though, for them to really be able to evaluate it justly. And though they disapproved of the shows, I still watched them anyway. It'll be interesting to see what she likes as a teenager and how I'll handle it :>

I don't watch a lot of TV these days— hardly ever, in fact, and, if I do, preferably, it is E News!. Nui Nui knows E News! because of Mom, though, who often watches the afternoon run while they're having snack. If Nui Nui learns anything from me, it'd be YouTubers :>

What do YOU watch these days?

Share in the Comments below, we'd love to hear! :> xoxo

This Is Where We Are According To My 2-Year-Old :>

My 2yo's Current Favorite Thing To Say (Or Ask) :>

What're YOU doing?

Share in the Comments below, we'd love to hear! :> xoxo

Daily Genius - Speech & Photo Requirements Just Like Mom

I was trying to explain to Nui Nui that Mom has finally landed in HK. She can only understand airplane and flying in the sky, so still thinks that's where she is— Mom says the flight was long but I'm trying to explain to Nui Nui that it wasn't that long :> We need a map :>

Mom then sent us this pic from their hotel.



I showed it to Nui Nui and she asked,

Nui Nui: O, Pau Pau there?
Me: Yes, that's where Pau Pau is. In 香港.
Nui Nui: (pause) Where Pau Pau?... It's dark.

I told Mom to take another pic with herself in it and make sure it had better lighting :> #likemotherlikedaughter when it comes to photo requirements :>

And that is not the only way. Nui Nui is getting more and more genius daily.

At bedtime, tonight, she asked each of her animal friends (she has four) if they either needed to pee or have his diaper changed. None of them did.

Nui Nui: Charlie, need to pee? No? Ok good. Elmo, need change diaper? No, sleeping. George go potty? No. Winnie change your diaper? Winnie change diaper? No? That's fine.

She proceeded to mention each of them again, finally not asking but letting me know that they are all sleeping and she is(/should) too :>

The experience is enlightening when you can actually hear yourself when your child starts learning to talk :> Scary and fun! :>

Did you have or hear any fun conversations lately?

Share in the Comments below, we'd love to hear! :> xoxo

21 Month Update! :>

Nui Nui turned 21 today! My gosh, every month she's getting closer and closer to two, it's ridiculous :>

I did this video without Mom because she was busy and it's in a slightly different format, which I hope makes it better. The feature is Nui Nui not behind the camera but in front of it :>

Nui Nui has seriously learned so much this month, the major thing being that we can actually now start to have conversations with her! Mom's reaction one day was: 'I talk to her. I have conversations with her. It's crazy!' :> I think it's really convenient because it helps us better know what she wants/needs. Theoretically, leaving less room for crying (theoretically but not really :>).

I'll be trying to hop back on the bandwagon of video-making because I miss it so, though I still have this major project looming in the background. Hopefully, with Nui Nui sleeping a little easier/quicker, I can add about 1/2 hour into my day, which will help.

Enjoy the singing and thanks for reading/watching! :>



What have you been up to lately? Share your latest developments below, we'd love to hear! :> :>

Better Than Intro To Psychology :>

It's been too long since I last posted— unacceptable and my apologies. As you can see, though, I am in the process of revamping the blog and figuring out a schedule that works. This top-secret project I've been working on, though, has been ever-consuming but one that should produce stellar end results.

Nui Nui has been in rapid development mode. My pics have migrated to Instagram, which would be candy if you can join me there.

We took Nui Nui to the park yesterday and my fear came true— she tumbled down the stairs up to the slide. She has the tendency to climb up and sit too close to the top of the stairs. She had a pretty stunted fall and thankfully walked away shaken but ok. Mom was telling me about her conversation with her today and apparently she hurt her foot. A conversation. Mom commented, 'we can have conversations now'. Nui Nui told Mom 'foot hurt'. Poor baby.

I've been trying to teach her a bunch of things as well and she seems to be making great progress. Today, for example, she took her first shower— sans a single drop of fuss— without the stool inside the tub. She even put her head under the streaming water to rinse her hair. I've been teaching her how to put on lotion, clean with body wash, and even put conditioner in her hair. Our toilet-training efforts, too, I think have improved since we started our pee-poo chart.

We find that Nui Nui picks up words very quickly and is moving on to saying more sophisticated phrases. Papa cramp, she said today, when Grandpa got a cramp. Read the book.

Another interesting thing, which I kind of test her on, is her ability to know emotions/feelings. She knows what happy/smile is, mimics my laughing, and identifies crying, sad, and hurt. One funny thing happened both yesterday and today. I was trying to teach her to not lay/leave her things on the floor. Yesterday it was her shoes. Today it was these toy rings. Both instances, I asked her to pick them up/put them away and each time she didn't want to. So I told her that it was dangerous and that someone can trip over them. I then walked over them and pretended to slip and fall on the ground. She ran to me and then suddenly burst out crying. And you could see she was a mixture of guilty and angry— guilty that she didn't pick up the toys as I had asked (with reason/explanation) and angry?, sad?, or definitely emotional that I had fallen and seemed hurt. Mom says that she really cares about me and doesn't want to see me hurt. I just find it fascinating and curious to know what she is thinking.

This is better than Intro to Psychology... :> lmfao.

Anywho. We've, as always, have been having a blast. Weekends are never long enough and Mondays are the toughest. Mom's scheduled for surgery on her other eye this week so it'll be a tiring one and crossing my fingers this one goes as well as the last.

Time is flying by, which means I must be having crazy fun :> Feels like xmas is just around the corner :> The crazy wind here doesn't make it difficult. :<

Nui Nui at the top of the slide before her fall.


What have you been up to lately? Share below, we'd love to hear! :>

I Love You! :>

...Music to this momma's ears... :> :>

Say it often enough and, out of no where, it'll come :>

Nui Nui has been moving onto three syllables/three word combos and it's exciting to hear! These are by far the sweetest :> She sounds like a cross between a drunk and Scooby Doo, I love it!... almost as much as her :> :>



What exciting thing have you heard lately? Share below, we'd love to hear! :>

Mucky Coffee! :>

Learning never gets old. :> On Monday, I came home very happy and full of energy. Nui Nui finally went back to school after two weeks (missing one week) and came back full of energy, happy, and smarter, making me feel the same (the former two at least :>)

On our way home... well, you'll hear the story in the video. :>

O, the stories :> Beware, I might stop you and share these exciting moments if you give me any time of day.



What are the latest developments in your life? Share below, we'd love to hear! :>

Nui Nui Knows! - A-B-C! :>

As of a couple of days ago, Nui Nui knows how to say A-B-C in sequence! Three syllables! :> :> :> We are very happy, excited, and very proud.

At our last well-child visit (at the one year mark), the doctor told us most kids don't start talking (or much, anyway) until they're two. I'm not an expert in early childhood education and wonder if that's really true. Perhaps in public in front of strangers, their shyness robs them of their language but Nui Nui is well on her way to three-syllables, including A-B-C and even 'lanolin'!

This video was filmed in a spur of omg-what-did-you-say?? moment so you'll find me unintentionally talking over her. Please excuse my excitement! :> Sigh... the things you miss during the workweek... #lovemykid



What are the latest developments and/or exciting news in your life? Comment below, we'd love to hear! :>

Smaks And 'Winnows' :>

This is the exact reason we're here. Because we give out free kisses :>

As I've been saying, Nui Nui has been blurted out words left and right. And the funny thing is, is she realizes her accomplishments. It's amazing to witness. Just like when you think you can see wind, you really can see one's brain develop before your very eyes. I swear, Nui Nui is just trapped. She's a very smart, intelligent girl with a bright brain and strong, capable body. It's only a matter of time she'll be contributing great things in this world. ...as if she's not already :>

'Window'— that was the golden word of Sunday :>

I really enjoyed last Sunday. We came home early and just relaxed. Hung at home, recuperated from the very exhausting week. I need that sometimes. And with a beautiful girl to share giggles with... it's like a little piece of heaven :>

Enjoy and thanks for reading and watching! :>



What makes you laugh? Comment below, we'd love to hear! :>

Talking (Not Crying) Self To Sleep

January 14, 2011