T's biggest fan: Auntie N

Besides recording the life of T for memory-deficient mommy, one of the greatest perks of having a blog is meeting new people who have similar interest with you: T. Auntie N is a perfect example. She's T's auntie's (mommy's sister, S') co-worker at the Asia Foundation and she is one of the most ardent and passionate loyal fans of T. She's on the blog more often that T's real aunt and will often find new entries before they even get officially published/shared via email. It's so much fun to know that pictures of T can turn her day around and one look at his videos can make her laugh/smile so much. T does that for C and I but to know that he does that for others out there fills us with so much joy. So much so that we love opening our home to anyone who professes the same love and excitement we share for little T.


So, this past weekend, Auntie N decided to make a stop at our place before heading down to Palo Alto to see T in action. My sister was in charge of babysitting T while daddy and I got haircuts and N took advantage of that time to meet Tristin in person. It was great to have her over -- T enjoyed bouncing on her, hanging out in her arms and hearing her baby speak. He was actually so excited, he peed in her lap. Needless to say, Auntie N got more than she bargained for and left our place with a "wet" memory of little T. Hopefully, we haven't turned her off for good =0)

PS -- Just in case you're scared of holding T the next time you see him, he doesn't usually pee on guests. His diaper just happened to be loose and I guess, with all the excitement of jumping up and down on different laps and with all the milk he consumed that morning/early afternoon, he couldn't contain the fountain of joy!

PPS -- During the few hours N was at our place, T couldn't stop sticking out his tongue. No idea why. Hence, the pics with his tongue hanging. For a minute, I thought it was a new development but after N left, he never did it again. I guess it was a good thing we captured it on camera.

Who are you? Where are we? What am I?

T sticking out his tongue. Tickle, tickle, tickle!

Sticking his tongue out and smiling (multitasking!!)

Playing in front of T's favorite mirror

T in Auntie N's arms (getting ready to let down)

Little does she know I'm about to release myself (Hmm, wonder if she'll still love me once she's wet?!?)

Shhh, my plan to pee is our little secret, ok?

Going for it now...hee hee...

Adrian is back!

Yayyy! Adrian, T's best friend, is back! We've missed him soo much. If you've been reading the blog from the early days, A was one of T's first playmates and since birth, his closest friend. A and T were not only a week apart in birth, but A's mom and I also went through a similar birthing process. Both A's mom and I were told that our babies were too small, underwent weekly visits to the hospital to obtain non-stress testing and were then induced at 37 weeks. A actually turned out to be a good-sized infant (he was over 6 pounds) while T was teeny (5 pounds, 2 ounces). Lucky for A's mom and I, both boys were born healthy and normal.

Anyhoooo, A has been gone for the last two months to Korea to celebrate the holidays and he returned less than a week ago. Needless to say, absence makes the heart grow fonder and T, C and I were excited to see him again. I was especially happy to see J, A's mom, since she's been my mommy-in-crime when it comes to feeling our way through infant motherhood. Welcome back Adrian, J and D!!

So in celebration of A's return and because we wanted to see T's other good friend, Eva, C and I had Adrian and Eva's family over (notice how these days, it's all about inviting the baby and then, if we must, the peripheral beings, a.k.a mom and dad, that come attached to the baby). C bbq-ed while I prepared my favorite sides and we had a fun dinner talking about OBGYNs, Pediatricians and sleeping/feeding/diaper changes/infant development (are you yawning yet?). It's amazing how different the topic of our conversations are these days. Long gone are the days when we talk about exotic travel, fashionable bags/shoes or business/politics.....oh wait, we did talk about Google millionaires and infidelity so I guess that does count?

Adrian is my best friend! I missed you A!!

Huh? Whad'you say?

Holding hands

A, what's over there?

We are best buddies

A, look over there...

A, yo dawg, I love you and all but you can't have my teddy...

A and teddy

Mommy, A won't give me back my teddy

Eva, T and A (and of course, Teddy) -- Tristie, you're diaper is sticking out!

Eva stretching after her nap

Tummy time together

Mommy hogging the babies

Eva is my friend, too

Mommy, is it ok if I hold her hand?

Eva unsure if she wants T to hold her hand (Eva's daddy is around so she's understandably nervous about the "big" move)

Oh no!!! Oops, maybe I shouldn't have tried to hold her hand!! Oh oh...

Riding Elmo. I'm king of the world!

Welcome back, A! We missed you!

Video -- A short clip of the three little cuties

Getting outside

In the last 4 months I have to say, I've been very bad about taking T out for walks, drives, visits to the mall, etc. Unlike other infants who love their car seats and enjoy being out, T is actually the opposite. He's an angel at home - sleeps, eats and plays well. Out -- he's less than an angel. Unless the car is moving, he starts to cry and about less than an hour into our time out, he usually starts to fuss. I don't know if its the external stimulation or the movement but in the hours that he's out, he does not sleep a wink -- he'll keep his eyes wide open until he's so exhausted, he's uncontrollably unhappy. When he was younger, C and I would resort to a pacifier to last us through a fast lunch or a quick visit to the mall. These days, C and I have resorted to keeping him at home. Prioritizing T's naps, C and I would take turns watching him.

A few weeks ago, I made a belated new year's resolution to take T out more often -- for walks, visits to the park, car rides, etc. Mommy has to learn to shed her fears and insecurities of taking T out and T has to learn to behave better -- less crying and more sleeping. So, last weekend when the weather was sunny and beautiful, C and I decided to take T out for a walk to the park. It wasn't a long walk but it was a beautiful one. And it wasn't by myself (I cheated) but it was nevertheless -- out. T behaved pretty well and on a whole, it wasn't too bad. T hardly cried and mommy and daddy were so happy we finally got him out. I can't say it was easy but it went much better than I expected. And by the end, T was exhausted from the sun, the stimulation. Baby steps. A 20-minute walk outside today....a 2-hour visit to the mall tomorrow...by myself? Hmmm. Perhaps wishful thinking..

Here are some shots of little T out and about.

Am I cute or am I cute?

King of the sea

Hanging out with daddy

Mommy, you're squeezing me too tight...

HA HA (drooling away..)

New kid on the "blocks" (these pics are of him indoors)

These things are in my way

Daddy and me outside

Cutest couple

T eating his hand (his favorite thing to do these days!)

The park outside our complex

The Choi family (mom's attempt at being artistic)

Mom at it again. No further comment.

This is soo yummy!

Mommy, you're annoying me...

Daddy: the wind beneath my wings

Standing with daddy

On the swing

Pooped out after our walk

Close shot

Ashwika's 1-year birthday party

Blowing out candles