Tristin and Isabella: October 2009

One of the best things about maternity leave has been spending time with Tristin. Funny how the leave should be all about Bella but the truth is, the focus is really on T. Every morning, the two of us have our time together -- be it participating in music/dance classes, going to the little gym and climbing ladders, exploring new parks, playing in at the Discovery Museum or the Academy of Sciences -- the world in the Bay area has become our little oyster to explore and indulge.

Additionally, where I can, I am back to reconnecting with some great moms who are either off or are taking are of their kiddies full-time, and as a result, Tristin has been busily forced to participate in endless playdates. In many ways, its a GREAT thing because at age 2 (and given that he doesn't attend daycare), he is not keen on sharing and playing with others and this is my opportunity to get him exposed to the newfound concept. It hasn't been easy -- at the first sight of a guitar or a moving car or a snack he wants (which tends to be any snack any other toddler is consuming), he needs to have it or he will kick and scream. So much so that sometimes I need to pack a huge variety of snacks (and keep my fingers crossed that the one kid that decides to eat in front of him isn't sporting a snack I don't have!) and an extra guitar.

Classes/things he's loved to do:

Dance/music class -- he loves loves loves. The teacher thinks he's musically inclined (or maybe she just said to me so I would sign up for the class) and while others are shy about moving, Tristin has no qualms getting into the center of circle and following the teacher in addition to adding a couple of his own moves and singing. It's quite funny and cute. Will have to see if the trend continues.
Discovery museum - If ever in SF with a toddler, this is the place to go. It's amazing. Every exhibit is full of activities to do and things to learn. I can't say enough good things about it and we've been there twice and have yet to discover all of it. I guess that's why its called the "discoverrrry" museum.
Little Gym -- Initially, thought this was going to be a bomb since Tristin refused to move from the one spot in the gym right next to the balance beam and kept telling me that the balance beam was his "piano, mommy!!". But then....he emerged from his cocoon of shyness and started exploring all the little activities and equipment and voila, he couldn't get enough. His favorite -- playing basketball with the little hoop (he loves playing with his ball) and jumping (he can't get enough of jumping). If you like Gymboree, you'll love Little Gym (its Gymboree but better!)

I have to say -- it's been a blast to hang with T. He makes the difficult, long nights (when I feel like a zombie feeding and calming Bella) so worthwhile and the mornings so much fun and entertaining. I feel blessed to have this time with him and don't want to even begin to imagine how I'll feel when I have to give them up to go back to work. Enough sad thoughts, now onto happy moments....

Scarf dance

Playing with the cash register

Can i pump you some gas?

I love this ball machine

Mommy, come deliver these plates to my kitchen!

Here's some pie

A little cute girl at Peekaboo giving Tristin a bunch of kitchen tools

Doing the scarf dance

Following the teacher

Playing the drums

With Grandma

Am done with these kids

Playing piano on the balance beam

My favorite thing to do - JUMP!

Climbing away

Throwing the basketball into the hoop

Which crab should I eat? (at the Discovery museum)

Driving my boat

Jamie looking at his crab

Jamie by the boat

Mom, come see this!

Playing trains

Jamie and the trains

Learning to play with others

Piling on some gravel while the girls chat

Maybe if I move these logs, I can have more space

Do you need more gravel?

Mommy, I'm helping Jamie deliver more gravel

Exploring the waves exhibit

Wow. Interesting!

Two words: "Not easy" :-)

C and I are barely managing these days. Even with the village of help we have - my mom full-time and my sister in the evenings (and the two of us), the two little kiddies can sometimes wear out 4 adults all in a matter of an hour.

I have to say -- life with #2 is easier in some ways (diaper changing, bathing, feeding, etc. are all easier) and sooooo much more challenging in so many other ways (the juggling, the balancing, etc.)

So many things fall to the wayside (notice how Isabella gets less air time on this blog than Tristin and there's far less birthday celebrations for her than what T received). Not to mention, my new discovery: momma S is ridden with endless amounts of guilt. Guilt because I don't feel like I'm being a good mommy to Bella (even with everyone warning me that this would be the case), guilt because I sometimes lose my patience with my own wonderful mom who is only here to help, guilt because I find myself raising my voice with Tristin more often than not.... I thought the second time around would be easier but for some reason, either I have forgotten how hard the first time was or the stories of second-time moms are all untrue. If I were to set the record straight from my old novice and naive point of view, this is what I would say: Its JUST as hard. Hard in a different way but, don't be fooled, equally and as frantically challenging!

Alright, enuff about me. I forget that this blog isn't about me. More about the little kiddies (Isabella to start with):

Isabella has turned one month! Hooray!!! She's more fussy than Tristin as a baby and tends to cry quite a bit but the few moments she's quiet and content, she's adorable with a capital A.
At her 1-month appointment, she's now 8 pounds, 15 ounces (50th percentile) in weight and 21 inches in height (50th percentile). Eating about 4 ounces every 3 hours and like clock-work waking up every 3 hours.
She's more alert these days so will stay up for about an hour at a time and sometimes longer later in the day.....often crying and eating in between
We try to not let her cry for too long because Ms. Choi tends to turns the color of Barney (purple) when she cries. I can tell she's going to be quite a handful as I have never seen a baby cry as hard and as frantic as she does. The screams are quite piercing and she takes Tristin's redface to the next level. C and I are scared of what's to come...
She's also flipped her head from one side to another while on her tumy at 4 weeks. We sometimes lay on her tummy when she's napping or playing (hopefully, no pediatricians are reading this entry..)
I have to admit (guilty confessions) that when we can, we try to outsource her to my mom. She's actually become my mom's baby since Chris and I tend to have our hands full with little T.

A little bit more of an update on Tristie (will be short since I talked about him in the last entry)

He's our little shortie -- 50th percentile in weight and 10th percentile in height
He tends to throw things quite a bit when he loses his temper -- which has now become the basis of our time outs. We've started doing time outs and are hoping he gets it. Sometimes I think he does (since he sits still and doesn't get out of his spot) and other times I don't (the times when I ask him if he understands and he blurts out "mommy, Barney!!"..."Mommy, bear!!!")
Loves to do what daddy and mommy does. His favorite thing to do these days is to take mommy or daddy's glasses and wear them. Throws a temper tantrum when we try to take it away
LOVES his guitar (but you knew that already). Everytime he watches Barney and Wiggles, he has to have it and he pretends like he's on the show - playing the guitar and singing. He's also into his piano...took him to a little toddler gym one day (took me an hour to find it) and instead of jumping on the bars, he told me he wanted to "play the piano" on the bars (gee..great Tristin. We come all the way to the gym so you can play piano on the bars! what the #$#%!!) :-)
LOVES noodles (just like his daddy's pasta passion). Whenever I give him noodles, he enthusiastically squeals "noooonles!!!" and gorges
Has to be one of the funniest boys I know -- from his facial expressions, to the funny conversations he has with us....he just cracks us up non-stop!

When I get my act together, I will post some cute videos we have of T dancing, blowing out candles, playing (of which you may have already seen on facebook) but I warn you - it may be a while until I officially get my act together.

Now, for the pics...(need to learn how to do all the fancy things I've seen others do on their blogs)