What can I say about today?

I can say that it was not great.

I can also say there was a long list of crimes committed by a boy.

This boy?


Yes, this boy.


Hand vacuum contents all over new couch. Marker on the carpet. Purposeful splattering of yogurt on self, table, chairs, and floor. Purposeful spilling of water on basement couch. Not to mention three potty accidents, but I realize that I should not get upset at a three-year old for such things because they are, after all, just accidents.

When it comes down to it, I know it was all my fault. I was not engaged and attentive the way I usually am. I was distracted and determined to do all the laundry, put clean sheets on beds, clean the whole house, and sand railing spindles. Laundry and cleaning can't always be neglected, but spindles? Get with the program, Ie Li.

After Steve got home and we sat down at the table together, Mei Li asked me why I looked sad. I told her that I was tired. Mei Li and Stephen then proceeded to make silly faces and asked if that made me feel better. It did make me feel better. I especially loved the face where Stephen smooshed his cheeks in to make a fish face.

It reminded instantly of his huge baby cheeks. Sometimes I miss that baby. I also knew that I would miss this energetic, loud, funny, trouble-maker three-year-old someday.

Stephen and I made up by the end of the day. While Steve and Mei were on their daddy-daughter date, we snuggled and I gave him a lullaby concert. I sang him song after song after song. He requested the song "Baptism" three times. We talked about baptism after the third time singing about it and I asked him:

"Do you know who's going to baptize you, Stephen?"

Then Stephen's eyes got wide and he whispered intensely, "John" (as in John the Baptist).

I laughed and said, "no, you silly, Dad's going to baptize you. When you're eight."

"Oh." Then he laughed and smiled and sucked his fingers (some things haven't changed).

There were happy notes from today:

Stephen and Mei Li painted pictures for their art gallery.

Stephen put on a really funny dancing show for us.

While Mi Na and Stephen napped, Mei Li and I read books together and she practiced reading words herself.

We tickled and snuggled with Mi Na.

Mei went on her first daddy-daughter date with ice cream AND hot chocolate and she came home grinning and twirly. She's so big now. I couldn't help but scoop her up and hold her for a little while.


Stephen got out of his bed when they got home. So Steve read to them and it was cute.


Here's to an engaged and attentive tomorrow!

A conversation with Aunt Annee

Saturday morning, Steve took Stephen to the barber shop for haircuts. Stephen refused to get one. Later that day, he had a funny conversation with Aunt Annee, who later told all of us about it.

He walked down the stairs with Steve. Steve walked into the kitchen, but Stephen sat down on the bottom step.

Annee: Hi Stephen.

Stephen: Hi. (pause) Did you hear? I wouldn't take a hair cut.

Annee: Yeah I heard that. It's too bad, a hair cut isn't so bad.

Stephen: It's just I thought it was terrible. It's just terrible.

Annee laughed and he kept going on about how haircuts were terrible. She tried to convince him otherwise, but there was no changing his mind. Stephen's cute.

Saturday was our second failed attempt at a haircut with Stephen. He refused last month too. Hopefully we can convince him that haircuts aren't terrible before Rachel's wedding!

Doodling

How cute is this?

My kids talk a lot.

A couple of days ago, Mei Li said, "Mom, you have to go potty again? That's amazing!" Yes, these days I'm visiting the potty A LOT. Just one of the many perks of being pregnant.

Stephen uses the word "berry" in place of "very" or "better." For example, "I berry (better) go get it" or "I berry (very) want that."

"Or somethin'" is something we here a lot these days from both kids, but especially Stephen. I hear the following conversation every morning after Stephen wakes up.

Stephen: I want to go downstairs.
Steve: What do you want to do downstairs?
Stephen: Oh, play with toys or somethin'.

Stephen: I want some eat.
Me: What do you want to eat?
Stephen: Yogurt or somethin'.

I love the funny things they say and I am going to miss this stage when it's gone.

Oh it hurts!

My parents came to town to visit Ie Mei and I. Tonight, they borrowed Ie Mei's van to go grocery shopping. After their shopping trip was over, they got in the car and couldn't get it started.

Dad called Ie Mei to ask her if there was any special trick for getting the key to turn. Ie Mei stayed on the phone with Dad, while I prayed that they would be able to start the car. After all, they were supposed to bring home some root beer and vanilla ice cream to make root beer floats!

After my second prayer, Ie Mei started cracking up. It turns out that the trunk started to open and a man said, "You're in my car! Why are you in my car?!" And then we laughed until it hurt.