tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41400944461234758492024-03-14T00:56:50.288-05:00She's Havin' a BabyLeah Amira Imran
Born February 7, 2008 at 4:41 p.m.
AND
William "Will" Zain Imran
Born May 6, 2010 at 11:59 a.m.Elissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366340755138040637noreply@blogger.comBlogger232125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140094446123475849.post-63252230466738739832012-03-04T23:49:00.002-05:002012-03-05T00:29:22.254-05:0018 months...in Hong Kong that is!Once again it has been 2 months since my last post. I suppose that is a sure sign that I am busy! Leah turned 4 almost a month ago. Will will be 22 months tomorrow. And the end of March will be our 18 month anniversary of moving to Hong Kong. There is no doubt that we are fully settled in at this point. I know my way around, where to shop for most of what I need/want, good restaurants to go to.<br /><br />We have made friends, although part of the expat life is also the revolving door. Our good friends the Korns left to return to Chicago a couple weeks ago. Kristin and I saw each other regularly and our kids were the same age. Leah definitely misses Finley, one of her best friends. Although Will probably doesn't miss Nolan much...they fought constantly when together!<br /><br />Our helper Nilda had a birthday last month too - the big 40! We are so lucky to have found such a great helper. She makes my life so much easier - helping with the kids, grocery shopping, cooking almost all of our meals (deliciously!), keeping the apartment clean and keeping up with the laundry. I have not used my washer/dryer once since moving into this apartment!<br /><br />Shafi and I have been getting out on the town quite a lot lately. We have had some great meals - Yardbird, TBLS, Din Tai Fung, Zuma, Saigon, Sijie Szechuan Dishes, American Peking, Heirloom, Wagyu, Le Souk. We have also been to two black tie charity balls in the last couple of weeks. It's always fun to play dress up and go drinking and dancing with friends.<br /><br />Leah was incredibly excited to turn 4. She and Finley had an excellent joint birthday party with about 35 kids, a great magician, and a Rapunzel birthday cake (homemade!). She got lots of great birthday presents, including art kits, books, and a Barbie house, jet and car. She still loves school and is doing really well with learning to read. She has over 20 sight words that she knows well now, and she can write almost all of her letters and numbers.<br /><br />Will has been talking more and more, putting several words together. It is just amazing how quickly his vocabulary is expanding. He also walks around singing quite a bit. He is every bit as outgoing as Leah - talking to strangers on the street, as well as always saying hello and goodbye to everyone he knows. He's gotten very good at being polite - almost always saying please, thank you, and excuse me, as appropriate. He still loves soccer and playing outside. He has gotten to really like school, as well. He still does Mother Goose playgroup with me or Nilda 2 days a week, but I think he may move up to the drop-off class when he turns 2. Will has 15 teeth now - one more incisor is still working its way in and no sign of the 2 year molars yet. He hasn't been weighed or measured lately but he's definitely been growing - and eating and sleeping a lot - a sure sign that next doctor's visit will show a lot of growth!<br /><br />The dragon boat season has started back up. The Globe Paddlers are looking pretty good! Unfortunately I broke a rib (10th rib on the back right) a couple weeks ago and am off the boat for about 6 weeks. I will return to physio next week in hopes of gradually working my way back up to paddling. Not only has it been quite painful, but it's a real disappointment to be missing so much of the season. Hopefully I can get back in shape by the time we start racing in late May.Elissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366340755138040637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140094446123475849.post-87832379795292660652012-01-06T22:04:00.002-05:002012-01-06T22:43:53.528-05:0020 Months!Since my last post was 2 months ago...I'm not even sure where to begin to catch up. Will turned 20 months yesterday. He got his top canine teeth right around 19 months. We've just finished winter break and an almost 2 week visit from my parents.<br /><br />Otherwise, life has been fairly busy but uneventful. Will's vocabulary is rapidly growing. He says many foods, body parts, toys, animals, people's names...as well as important verbs like walk, eat, and jump. He's definitely getting pretty good at making his wishes known. Although we have had some amusing miscommunications.<br /><br />I made the kids peanut butter & jelly sandwiches for a light dinner one day last week (we had been out to a posh "brunch" at 1:30 and they didn't need much). I told Will I was getting peanut butter & jelly for Leah and asked if he wanted some. He said, "Some. Some. Some." So I made him a sandwich too. When they sat at the table he had a fit - crying, pushing the plate away, batting at my hands when I tried to feed it to him. And he kept yelling "Some. Some. Some." Yesterday the kids had a mix of cut grapes and strawberries after dinner. I asked Will whether he preferred the grapes or strawberries. And he said, "some." I asked him if he could says strawberries..."no." After discussing with him that those were strawberries and some could be some grapes or some clothes or some milk...he finally said "strawberries" (really more "stawbies"). Mystery solved!<br /><br />And a similar one...he's been asking for cereal in the morning. He really pronounces it quite well. But then he doesn't want cereal when you serve it to him. He'll gladly eat yogurt, oatmeal, eggs, pancakes, etc. Not so interested in cereal. Pretty sure he thinks cereal means breakfast...we'll have to work on that one.<br /><br />I'm sure his number of words is over 100 now. And I'm often amazed when he blurts out a word that I didn't expect him to know. Although I'm not sure why, as I can tell he understands the majority of what we say to him. And not to be the bragging mom...but I do think he's a bit advanced in a lot of things verbal...not as advanced as Leah was...but pretty darn good for a 20 month old boy. He's been correcting pronunciation on things...now calling me "Mommy" instead of "Mama," "Needa" has replaced "Da" for Nilda, "Puppy" has replaced "Puhpuh." And he is very good at understanding categories of things. If you ask him what fruit he had for dessert, he will list fruits (although not necessarily answering which one he had) - apple, oranges, grapes, kiwi, mango. My Uncle Howard asked him on the phone the other day whether he was going to play soccer that afternoon. Will said, "Yes. Ball." He's also getting very good at answering yes and no - rather than the way he previously would say no but nod yes.<br /><br />He's also gaining some new skills. He has gotten pretty good at feeding himself with a spoon. And he's looking like he could be my soccer star - loves kicking the ball and is getting pretty good at it. We had our first class of the new term yesterday and he's now one of the older ones - several of the moms of the newbies commented on how good he is - much like I felt watching the older kids back in September.<br /><br />Leah is making strides in her reading from school. She has 12 sight words now - those are common words that you should know by sight in order to be able to read. She struggles a little bit between <span style="font-style:italic;">of</span> and <span style="font-style:italic;">to</span>, as well as <span style="font-style:italic;">in</span>, <span style="font-style:italic;">is</span> and <span style="font-style:italic;">it</span>. But she gets the others most of the time - <span style="font-style:italic;">said</span> is still a bit of a struggle - but I can't really blame her there. She does know all her letters now - and can write most of them both in upper and lower case. She proudly drew pictures for Grandma and Grandpa and labeled them with their names.<br /><br />I've been having her help make cards for birthdays and such...but she only writes her name (and sometime's Will's also). But I think now I can start having her write the whole card.<br /><br />We did some fun sightseeing with my parents. We visited the Chi Lin Nunnery and Nan Lian Gardens, which we all loved. It is beautiful and serene even though it's in the center of Diamond Hill in Kowloon. We also went up to Shatin in the New Territories to the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery and then headed out to Sai Kung for a seafood lunch on the waterfront.<br /><br />We also had a nice Hanukkah. I bought way too much for the kids...so we have a house full of new toys and books. I admit that it's as much for me as for them. I get tired of the same old toys too. Leah has lots of new Barbies and My Little Ponies - time to start a Barbie / Pony Village. And Will is loving his many new cars and the big garage to play with them on.<br /><br />Check out my Picasa site for hundreds of pictures of our holiday concerts, performances, toys, sightseeing, etc.Elissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366340755138040637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140094446123475849.post-84860754855044230142011-11-07T00:15:00.002-05:002011-11-07T00:35:17.362-05:0018 Months!Will turned 18 months old yesterday! As they say, time sure flies...feels like only yesterday I was moving to Hong Kong with a 4 month old.<br /><br />He is really becoming quite the little person. He got his top 2 molars a couple weeks ago - so now he has 12 teeth and is getting increasingly capable of chewing. He still eats like a champ...although he's gotten a little pickier now that he can communicate a bit better.<br /><br />His vocabulary has really taken off. He definitely understands most of what we tell him. And he's adding new words daily. He says quite a few useful things - water, yogurt, fruit, pasta, up, down, carry you (which really means carry me), stroller, cars, ball. And he's added lots of other miscellaneous words - moon, head, toes, chair, shoes, dance. There are definitely many more, but he's adding them at such a rate that it is hard for me to keep up. Of course he doesn't pronounce or enunciate all that well yet - so I often understand him mostly by context and familiarity.<br /><br />Will had his 18 month check-up this morning. He got 2 injections - one in each arm - and he was a champ - started to scream, I stuck a lollipop in his mouth and all was forgotten. He's grown a bit in the month since he was at the doctor last - now 13.8 kg (30.4 lbs) and 86 cm (almost 34 in). The doc said he looks all healthy - nothing to worry about.<br /><br />Leah is also doing well - working on numbers and letters at school and just starting their reading program. This week we are meant to be working on the "sight words" and, a, I, the - and Leah seems to already know them a bit. She now brings home a book a week. This week's book is just pictures - and we are supposed to use it to tell a story. Gradually we'll get into the books with simple words and sentences. She's definitely very excited to learn to read. We've also started talking about addition, as they are doing that a bit at school. I taught her how to put the fingers from one hand and the other together to help add small numbers and she's very excited to show off her new skills.<br /><br />We all enjoyed Halloween. Leah was Sleeping Beauty and Will was Winnie the Pooh. They got a ton of candy that I will be gradually parceling out to them over the next few months.Elissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366340755138040637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140094446123475849.post-88937614924672901892011-10-09T23:07:00.003-05:002011-10-09T23:39:56.053-05:002 Molars, Updated Measurements, Hand Foot & Mouth, and a Stomach Virus - Whew!Good news first - Will got his first molar (bottom left) last weekend and the next one (bottom right) this past weekend. He didn't do too badly with the teething...but we did supply some Tylenol a couple times.<div><br /></div><div>The kids have both been to the doctor recently, so we have updated measurements. Leah is now 17.2 kg (~38 lb) and 108 cm (~42.5 in). Will is now 13.4 kg (~29.5 lb) 85 cm (~33.5 in).</div><div><br /></div><div>And the doctor visits...they did both get flu vaccines. But Leah had hand foot and mouth virus a couple weeks ago. She missed an entire week of school and had large ulcers in her mouth, with one especially bad one on her tongue. She was fairly miserable. And this past weekend Will had his first stomach virus. I have never seen him so unhappy. He slept most of Saturday, waking frequently and then falling back to sleep in the arms of whomever would hold him. Luckily it seems to have been fairly mild with only a couple days of diarrhea and only one vomiting incident...and today he has some appetite back and seems quite a bit happier, although not back to his usual boisterous self.</div><div><br /></div><div>Other than that, we have now officially been in Hong Kong for a year. And we are settled in and living life here. My Uncle Howard was here to visit for a few days this past week. The kids really enjoyed seeing him, and I enjoyed showing off my home and my town. We had some good meals and did a little sightseeing.</div><div><br /></div><div>I am starting back to dragon boat, with my first practice tomorrow. Looking forward to the workout, the social team and being back out on the water.</div>Elissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366340755138040637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140094446123475849.post-53097654891352216962011-09-12T23:38:00.004-05:002011-09-13T00:08:08.250-05:00The Summer...I realized I have not posted since late June...so it's time for a little catch-up. We left July 9 for 6 weeks in the US. The kids and I spent 3 weeks in NYC, followed by a week in DC, a week at a beach house in Dewey Beach (Delaware), and then our final week half in DC and half in NYC before flying back home. Shafi was able to join for a week in NY and for our week at the beach. It was really great to see friends and family and visit some of our old haunts in Brooklyn Heights and vicinity. We had a great time at the beach with my whole family - GG (my grandmother), Uncle Gorilla (Howard - my uncle) and Uncle Charlie, Uncle Alan (my brother) and Aunt Rachel, and Grandma and Grandpa (my parents).<div><br /></div><div>There are really too many stories, pictures, etc. to share here, but you can check out our antics on Picasa. The flights both directions were not fun at all! I had both kids for 16+ hours on my own. Will did not much like staying seated and Leah got airsick during descent (both ways). But a relatively brief amount of pain in order to take such a long trip was not so bad. The jetlag was about a week on both ends...not too terrible.</div><div><br /></div><div>We are now back in Hong Kong and I guess the summer is over...although it's still very hot & humid here...so it doesn't feel like fall except that school is back in session. Leah is back at Sunshine House - this year in the Cloudview Room. And Will has started there in Mother Goose (think mommy & me) 2 days a week. We've also gotten into full swing of extracurriculars with Leah in ballet, gymnastics and swimming and Will in gym for tots and socatots (soccer).</div><div><br /></div><div>We've been spending lots of time at the pool and when the weather cools down a bit we may start hitting the beach a bit more also. Last night was the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival - a harvest moon festival. We hung out down at Stanley Main Beach with hundreds of other expats and a few locals, celebrating with picnics, drinking and thousands of glow-sticks. It was a fun evening for all.</div><div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DDBx4hqIyjI/Tm7jPIZUwXI/AAAAAAABX88/gzMDBUv0L9U/s400/IMG_0057.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5651704431487795570" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mIsF0XCUEMo/Tm7jPbO55bI/AAAAAAABX9E/nT8t6_a-LFY/s1600/IMG_0075.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mIsF0XCUEMo/Tm7jPbO55bI/AAAAAAABX9E/nT8t6_a-LFY/s400/IMG_0075.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5651704436544366002" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div>We have been reconnecting with friends here in HK and reaching out to those who were more recent acquaintances to cultivate new friendships. We're filling the social calendar and realizing how far we've come...we arrived in HK on the day after the Mid-Autumn Festival last year (a public holiday)...so while it's 2 more weeks on the Western calendar, it's been a year on the Chinese calendar.</div><div><br /></div><div>I haven't kept up so well with Will's milestones here...but he's definitely very steady on his feet these days. He's running around and trying to jump (he puts his arms in the air, bends his knees, stretches up high, but doesn't quite get off the ground). He loves to play with balls - throwing and kicking. And he's starting to show a bit of interest in cars and animals. He's got quite a few words now - hello, bye, no, uh-oh, ball, up, mama, baba, lala (Leah), nada (Nilda), bath, vroom (car sound), beep (horn sound), woof woof, meow, ooh ahh (monkey sound), puh puh (puppy - his lovey), yes, whoa, yay. He's getting better at imitating sounds and words, but he still frequently prefers the screaming/whining method of getting attention and getting what he wants.</div><div><br /></div>Elissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366340755138040637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140094446123475849.post-20810415752678232452011-06-23T19:50:00.003-05:002011-06-23T20:21:15.326-05:00Walking ManWell, walking 13 1/2 month old anyway. Will has been taking a few steps here and there since mid-April. But all of a sudden in the last few days he has started to up the distance. Yesterday he got up and walked around quite a few times without prompting. He's a bit of a control freak...doesn't like to perform on command.<div><br /></div><div>At the American Club yesterday afternoon he walked the length of the Eagle's Nest (which is actually pretty big). He was definitely very proud of his accomplishment. And at home last night he walked all over the living room. He still gets down to crawl quite a bit, but I would say there is no doubt that Will is now officially walking. It's a month earlier than his sister did it...but I can't say that I'm disappointed that he ended up not being an early walker!</div><div><br /></div><div>Unfortunately he is also quite the climber now. He can get onto the couch (which has meant several falls off of the couch...luckily onto the carpet and usually not hitting his head). He can get onto various chairs and from there onto tables - the ones in the arts & crafts corner at the Eagle's Nest are a particular favorite. And at the playgrounds at The Manhattan and Pacific View (2 large apartment buildings nearby) he has been climbing ladders and slides...no doubt he will be keeping me quite busy at the playgrounds of New York City in a couple of weeks!</div><div><br /></div><div>No other major events or milestones to report lately. We've been quite busy on the birthday party circuit - both 1st and 3rd/4th birthdays lately. Good thing my kids are normally good eaters, as they have had more than their fair share of cake and other sweets, not to mention chicken nuggets and french fries, lately.</div><div><br /></div><div>Leah's gymnastics and ballet classes have ended for the term, and both kids will have their last swim classes next week. Leah's last day of school for the term is the 30th, so we will then have a week of playing and packing before we head out for our 6 week trip to the US on July 9. July 1 is a holiday here - HK SAR Establishment Day. And since Shafi is not joining us for the US trip, he may take a couple days off the following week to get some extra quality time with the kids before we go.</div><div><br /></div><div>We did have our first experience of a T3 signal this week. The typhoon warning system here is T1, T3, T8. At T8 everything shuts down and everyone is supposed to go straight home and stay indoors. At T3 most things remain open but there are bouts of high winds (60km/hr) and squally rain. And as a precaution since T3 means that it's possible that the T8 signal will be hoisted, the preschools are closed. Unfortunately that meant that Leah did not have school the last 2 days. We didn't have too much trouble keeping busy, but she does love school and was none too happy about it being canceled. As an aside, I looked up typhoons yesterday in order to better understand what the fuss was all about...they are basically the same as a hurricane...they just call them typhoons in the Eastern hemisphere. They are particularly common from May to November and require a combination of warm surface temperatures and various other atmospheric conditions, which the South China Sea provides. But luckily for us, Hong Kong is fairly protected by other chains of islands, like the Philippines, so we rarely get a direct hit. This last storm moved past us to the south and west and never got closer than about 200km.</div><div><br /></div><div>Leah demonstrating her "big arms" at swim class:</div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Srqeg9jfc2I/TgPlc-ipQwI/AAAAAAABUoI/KKOF8gc8SQs/s1600/IMG_7042.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Srqeg9jfc2I/TgPlc-ipQwI/AAAAAAABUoI/KKOF8gc8SQs/s400/IMG_7042.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621589045875917570" /></a>Blowing kisses to Mommy during a neighbor's birthday party:<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zyEZ71UBdQ8/TgPlcTGO9QI/AAAAAAABUn8/eLsga2M_7YQ/s1600/IMG_7061.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zyEZ71UBdQ8/TgPlcTGO9QI/AAAAAAABUn8/eLsga2M_7YQ/s400/IMG_7061.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621589034214028546" /></a>Elizabeth came over to play yesterday morning:<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a7BRvew9I_c/TgPlb4t-d1I/AAAAAAABUn0/GiKx9JmLDZk/s1600/IMG_7145.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a7BRvew9I_c/TgPlb4t-d1I/AAAAAAABUn0/GiKx9JmLDZk/s400/IMG_7145.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621589027132962642" /></a>The girls made flower necklaces...Leah did it 95% by herself and was very proud:<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FMODksXTx2w/TgPlbu9Gi6I/AAAAAAABUno/ndj2x1OMNuU/s1600/IMG_7140.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FMODksXTx2w/TgPlbu9Gi6I/AAAAAAABUno/ndj2x1OMNuU/s400/IMG_7140.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621589024512052130" /></a>Walking and waving...Will is becoming a multi-tasker:<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rnKiBHY76As/TgPlbbjIJ3I/AAAAAAABUng/APMj-ddbZ7E/s1600/IMG_7160.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rnKiBHY76As/TgPlbbjIJ3I/AAAAAAABUng/APMj-ddbZ7E/s400/IMG_7160.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621589019302831986" /></a>Elissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366340755138040637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140094446123475849.post-58706897297676335512011-06-12T00:59:00.003-05:002011-06-12T01:47:17.832-05:00AWA Globe Paddlers - Dragon Boat Champions!I have been very lax in posting lately...but it's because I've been very busy. The 2011 dragon boat season has just ended (for my team anyway). I joined the American Women's Association (AWA) Globe Paddlers. We participated in 4 race events. We started practicing in the off-season (October/November 2010) and got serious beginning January with an hour on the water on Tuesdays and 2 hours on the water on Saturdays. After a grueling 5 months of serious workouts, muscle pain, exhaustion, and lots of fun - we reaped our rewards. We started with the 500m races in Deep Water Bay in early May. We came in 2nd in our first 2 heats, qualifying us for the ladies cup finals - but we ended in 5th overall (out of 10 teams). Then a few days later we competed in the 250m Stanley Warm-Up Races, where we came in 1st in all 3 of our races (out of 6 teams). And just a few days after that we went out to Lamma Island for the 500m races there, where we again placed 2nd in our first 2 heats and qualified for the ladies cup finals - but we ended in 4th overall (out of 8 teams).<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; ">This past Monday was Dragon Boat Festival (a public holiday here in <st1:place st="on">Hong Kong</st1:place>). We participated in the 270m Stanley International Dragon Boat Championship. There were 8 ladies teams, including 1 who came in from <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Australia</st1:place></st1:country-region></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; "> to compete. We won all 3 of our races by about one and a half seconds. And we are officially the Stanley International Dragon Boat Ladies Champions!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; ">For now I think it will be nice to have my Tuesday and Saturday mornings back...but I am looking forward to getting back in the boat in October!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; ">There's really not much else new. Leah is in school until the end of June - and then the kids and I will be spending 6 weeks in the US this summer (July 9 - August 20).</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span">Will just had a little check-up at 13 months, in order to get his MMR vaccination. He now weighs 12.2 kg (26.9 lbs) and measures 83.5 cm (32.9 in). Still topping the growth charts...but happy and healthy and no concerns from the doctor.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span">We're spending lots of time at the pool since the weather has been quite hot and humid. But the kids have become great swimmers. Leah was moved up from the Guppies 1 class to Guppies 2 (most kids are ages 4-5). She is pretty capable of getting around the pool - jumping in, swimming around (a rudimentary front crawl and also a doggie paddle), and even a little combo of floating and treading water that allows her to get her head up out of the water. Will loves the pool and is pretty self sufficient in the baby pool with floaties (arm bands) on - hasn't quite figured out how to locomote in water too deep to stand in though.</span></p>Our Winnie the Pooh at a friend's birthday party:<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C81G4mYfrAw/TfRcx-3YxLI/AAAAAAABUFs/s2NIQyKCfd8/s1600/IMG_6823.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C81G4mYfrAw/TfRcx-3YxLI/AAAAAAABUFs/s2NIQyKCfd8/s400/IMG_6823.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617216648996504754" /></a>Along with Sleeping Beauty:<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NPhoub6fwKo/TfRcxVyW0RI/AAAAAAABUFk/3D7eNSDqIv8/s1600/IMG_6822.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NPhoub6fwKo/TfRcxVyW0RI/AAAAAAABUFk/3D7eNSDqIv8/s400/IMG_6822.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617216637969551634" /></a>Swim time:<div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DHq_EKut6Y0/TfRcw_V4l4I/AAAAAAABUFc/gPy8_DxEKeQ/s1600/IMG_6784.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DHq_EKut6Y0/TfRcw_V4l4I/AAAAAAABUFc/gPy8_DxEKeQ/s400/IMG_6784.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617216631944550274" /></a>Stanley International Dragon Boat Races - I'm 3rd from the back on the near side:<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ycKtfNTrNxc/TfRcwnU-ahI/AAAAAAABUFU/Cq0vl3msAPU/s1600/DSC_5700.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ycKtfNTrNxc/TfRcwnU-ahI/AAAAAAABUFU/Cq0vl3msAPU/s400/DSC_5700.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617216625498286610" /></a>My team celebrating after our big victory:<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ayBKuQfdtX4/TfRcwLne6uI/AAAAAAABUFM/Sq48jhciV0o/s1600/IMG_6697.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ayBKuQfdtX4/TfRcwLne6uI/AAAAAAABUFM/Sq48jhciV0o/s400/IMG_6697.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617216618059721442" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Georgia; color:black"></span></span></p></div>Elissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366340755138040637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140094446123475849.post-43012228337902431462011-05-17T07:28:00.006-05:002011-05-17T08:00:29.633-05:00I now have a 1 year old and a 3 year oldBoy do I feel old! And busy! And tired!<div><br /></div><div>But the kids are really starting to be able to play together. It is very cute to watch. They're not always nice to each other, of course. But I think they both appreciate having a playmate sometimes.</div><div><br /></div><div>Will's birthday went well. We had 12 babies ranging from about 10 months to 18 months, not including Will. Leah helped me make Winnie the Pooh cupcakes, which were well received by all and especially loved by Will - his first cake!<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JiKobqC48Gk/TdJq4hX46tI/AAAAAAABS_o/s-8vIj6Y9aE/s1600/IMG_5913.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JiKobqC48Gk/TdJq4hX46tI/AAAAAAABS_o/s-8vIj6Y9aE/s400/IMG_5913.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607662005293476562" /></a>We also served a nice spread of homemade banana bread and blueberry muffins, fresh fruit, OJ, coffee and tea. There were blowers, party hats, and balloons - just to set the festive mood.</div><div><br /></div><div>Later in the day we went to Archie's birthday party - which both Leah and Will had a great time at.</div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LO0uSZj-Qt8/TdJr2VGLlJI/AAAAAAABS_4/dk4utrKdO8M/s1600/IMG_5978.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LO0uSZj-Qt8/TdJr2VGLlJI/AAAAAAABS_4/dk4utrKdO8M/s400/IMG_5978.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607663067149866130" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J3wN9lVqCYo/TdJr2RFoSMI/AAAAAAABS_w/C_2gy_-nKhU/s1600/IMG_5976.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J3wN9lVqCYo/TdJr2RFoSMI/AAAAAAABS_w/C_2gy_-nKhU/s400/IMG_5976.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607663066073811138" /></a><br /></div><div>Will has definitely been enjoying his birthday presents - a Little Tikes car, a driving toy, and a beanbag chair - plus some other little gifts from friends.</div><div><br /></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ooKlQMok7l8/TdJtGCdnjiI/AAAAAAABTAQ/tS-y03sliwo/s1600/IMG_5849.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ooKlQMok7l8/TdJtGCdnjiI/AAAAAAABTAQ/tS-y03sliwo/s400/IMG_5849.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607664436537429538" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x6krOAam_-U/TdJtF9giebI/AAAAAAABTAI/2miqbvLcQrw/s1600/IMG_5875.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x6krOAam_-U/TdJtF9giebI/AAAAAAABTAI/2miqbvLcQrw/s400/IMG_5875.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607664435207502258" /></a><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m6Ble6W74s4/TdJtFryHNKI/AAAAAAABTAA/ke7h8ZhUvEQ/s1600/IMG_5986.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m6Ble6W74s4/TdJtFryHNKI/AAAAAAABTAA/ke7h8ZhUvEQ/s400/IMG_5986.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607664430449374370" /></a></div><div>Since the big birthday the kids have been doing some swimming. Leah loves practicing swimming and is getting pretty good. Will has figured out that if he holds a swim noodle in front of him he can walk across the baby pool - he loves it - but of course I have to follow close behind in case he falls over.</div><div><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xlmbyqj0Z0U/TdJwn2usX-I/AAAAAAABTAw/VsCMmjVNgAw/s400/IMG_5998.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607668316038258658" /><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0mP519EQ4io/TdJwodkb2wI/AAAAAAABTBA/HP7wRI1N9yg/s400/IMG_6188.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607668326464215810" /></div><div>I've had 3 days of dragon boat races. The AWA Globe Paddlers came in 5th in Deep Water Bay, 1st (winning all 3 of our races) in Stanley Warm Up, and 4th in Lamma. We're feeling pretty good. Leah came out for the first 2 race days and had a great time. Now I'm getting ready for the big Stanley International on June 6. Hopefully both kids can pop down and watch some races that day.</div><div><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ev33jmJiCcc/TdJwoOsW8SI/AAAAAAABTA4/coy3bMbNarI/s400/IMG_6070.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607668322470916386" /></div><div>Will got another tooth a yesterday (May 16). He's up to 7 now, but he's still chewing on his hand and drooling quite a bit so I am sure there are others coming soon. This one is the on the bottom to the left of his center teeth.</div>Elissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366340755138040637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140094446123475849.post-25012491618563085962011-05-04T22:29:00.002-05:002011-05-04T22:56:06.766-05:00My big boy turns 1 tomorrow!I took Will for his 1 year check-up today. He had his Hep A and Chicken Pox vaccines. (We will go back in a month for MMR.) He weighed in at 11.43 kg (25.2 lbs). And he is now 81 cm (almost 32 in). His head is 48 cm (18.9 in). That puts him over the 97th percentile for height, the 91st percentile for weight, and the 95th percentile for head circumference.<div><br /></div><div>He's a happy healthy boy and the doctor had no concerns. We'll keep doing what we're doing!</div><div><br /></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XJ-MhDNJZFk/TcIftmmzLhI/AAAAAAABSC8/16q4jxrXfOU/s1600/IMG_5809.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XJ-MhDNJZFk/TcIftmmzLhI/AAAAAAABSC8/16q4jxrXfOU/s400/IMG_5809.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603075754720177682" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bJQTUJdDSsU/TcIftfbVAyI/AAAAAAABSCw/mDUrSG2rqTc/s1600/IMG_5800.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bJQTUJdDSsU/TcIftfbVAyI/AAAAAAABSCw/mDUrSG2rqTc/s400/IMG_5800.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603075752793015074" /></a>Elissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366340755138040637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140094446123475849.post-13293693178592200452011-04-26T08:26:00.004-05:002011-04-26T08:51:17.622-05:00Bali!We finally took a trip! Part of coming to Asia is seeing Asia - but with 2 small kids, high expenses, etc. - it took awhile to get in some travel. We spent 9 days in Bali. Thanks to a nice hook-up from my Uncle Howard, we stayed in a fabulous villa at the Karma Kandara, located in Ungasan on the Bukit Peninsula - on the southern tip of Bali.<div><br /></div><div>The resort and villa were great - nice pool, beach, restaurants, kids club. We had a 3 bedroom villa, so we had a room, Leah had a room and Will shared with Nilda. It was really great to have Nilda with us - meant for a much more relaxing trip than we otherwise could have had with an 11 month old and 3 year old. The kids club at the resort was also incredibly useful as the kids spent most mornings there with Nilda playing with toys, doing arts and crafts, getting nails painted, etc.</div><div><br /></div><div>We took Leah along to the Ulu Watu Temple one evening for the Kecak Dance. We ate at a few good restaurants. We went to Waterbom, a very nice little water park. Other than that we lounged, relaxed, swam, and just enjoyed being on vacation!</div><div><br /></div><div>Bali is beautiful. The people are friendly. The fruits are delicious (our villa included a fruit plate that was restocked daily). We would definitely love to go back some day and see other parts of the island - we did not make it further north than Seminyak.</div><div><br /></div><div>We had some good milestones on the trip too. On April 15, actually in the car on the way from the airport to the resort, Will started clapping. He is now an excellent clapper and will do it on request when he is in the mood to play along. And on April 20 at Waterbom, Will took his first steps. He took just a couple steps from me to Nilda while standing in just a couple inches of water. Then later that day I was able to coax him to take a few steps by forcibly letting go of his hand and encouraging him to walk to me. Since then he's done similar little bits a few times - but he does not seem to be all that confident in his abilities on his feet. He has been letting go and standing solo more and more but still only for a few seconds at a time.</div><div><br /></div><div>He also seems to be adding some words. He seems to say "hi" appropriately. And since there were monkeys on the grounds of the resort (wild monkeys that inhabit the area - long tailed macaques) we worked on what a monkey says, "ahh ahh ahh ahh."</div><div><br /></div><div>Leah had a great time on the trip too. She practiced her swimming and she can now swim solo - scooping and kicking - for about 10 feet. Both kids have gotten increasingly comfortable in the water - a good thing - but may make for a very tiring summer at the pool for me.</div><div><br /></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r7yxdHkCm-8/TbbNWhssXmI/AAAAAAABRxY/RQpScJvy-NU/s1600/IMG_5540.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r7yxdHkCm-8/TbbNWhssXmI/AAAAAAABRxY/RQpScJvy-NU/s400/IMG_5540.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599888973568433762" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g9qa6up6nGM/TbbNWfGbt2I/AAAAAAABRxQ/5EK39q4tjuY/s1600/IMG_5497.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g9qa6up6nGM/TbbNWfGbt2I/AAAAAAABRxQ/5EK39q4tjuY/s400/IMG_5497.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599888972871087970" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dWauBXTvalw/TbbNV6VMXyI/AAAAAAABRxI/dNsOLdCF9ZE/s1600/IMG_5421.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dWauBXTvalw/TbbNV6VMXyI/AAAAAAABRxI/dNsOLdCF9ZE/s400/IMG_5421.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599888963000885026" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dTLE7BUClQM/TbbNVi2XZXI/AAAAAAABRxA/15BLq04V_r4/s1600/IMG_5373.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dTLE7BUClQM/TbbNVi2XZXI/AAAAAAABRxA/15BLq04V_r4/s400/IMG_5373.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599888956697568626" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FfEc8SwJGas/TbbNVGs4XOI/AAAAAAABRw4/Gtea0w8LHLk/s1600/IMG_5279.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FfEc8SwJGas/TbbNVGs4XOI/AAAAAAABRw4/Gtea0w8LHLk/s400/IMG_5279.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599888949141593314" /></a>Elissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366340755138040637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140094446123475849.post-66243441862638135172011-04-08T08:56:00.008-05:002011-04-08T09:43:33.939-05:00Ball, Haircut, Swimming Pool, FieldtripLooking back at the two weeks or so since I last posted, I realize that we have been having fun! The weather is warming up. We've been getting together with friends. School and activities have been going well.<div><br /></div><div>In my last post I was debating whether Will was saying more words. I've decided he definitely has "no" down. He doesn't say it all that regularly. But when I wash his face he tends to mutter "nananana" and other "na" and "no" utterances pop up here and there. And today he added a new one - "ball." Definitely his favorite toys - at home, at a friend's, at the Eagle's Nest, in the pool - he loves to play with balls - and now he can talk about it. He must be an athlete in the making!<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NmlxCOBulfM/TZ8XkBJ8BiI/AAAAAAABQuo/sZy3Ia2mZFc/s1600/IMG_5093.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NmlxCOBulfM/TZ8XkBJ8BiI/AAAAAAABQuo/sZy3Ia2mZFc/s400/IMG_5093.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593215169770292770" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aMnWhL8ZYXo/TZ8XkIFfr8I/AAAAAAABQug/lwJKzn_tN5U/s1600/IMG_5056.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aMnWhL8ZYXo/TZ8XkIFfr8I/AAAAAAABQug/lwJKzn_tN5U/s400/IMG_5056.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593215171630706626" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l6OOktP6xB8/TZ8Xj9jHzNI/AAAAAAABQuY/rjsghdrv224/s1600/IMG_4993.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l6OOktP6xB8/TZ8Xj9jHzNI/AAAAAAABQuY/rjsghdrv224/s400/IMG_4993.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593215168802180306" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JypVGiziwmk/TZ8W8CaCxhI/AAAAAAABQuQ/RT10vGLVHmo/s1600/IMG_4991.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JypVGiziwmk/TZ8W8CaCxhI/AAAAAAABQuQ/RT10vGLVHmo/s400/IMG_4991.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593214482911512082" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fBOt_s0ffiU/TZ8W8Ezf5cI/AAAAAAABQuI/9v7sI0mjBAk/s1600/IMG_4955.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fBOt_s0ffiU/TZ8W8Ezf5cI/AAAAAAABQuI/9v7sI0mjBAk/s400/IMG_4955.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593214483555149250" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d_Xfw633gXQ/TZ8W7gEcETI/AAAAAAABQuA/jvVICpCqz7w/s1600/IMG_4949.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d_Xfw633gXQ/TZ8W7gEcETI/AAAAAAABQuA/jvVICpCqz7w/s400/IMG_4949.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593214473694089522" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MT4Korbgmwg/TZ8W7USP_UI/AAAAAAABQt4/aTPv6U7F8ew/s1600/IMG_4905.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MT4Korbgmwg/TZ8W7USP_UI/AAAAAAABQt4/aTPv6U7F8ew/s400/IMG_4905.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593214470530792770" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9MFGwqOu0CI/TZ8W7JHnMjI/AAAAAAABQtw/8jwcpd-8fbc/s1600/IMG_4792.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9MFGwqOu0CI/TZ8W7JHnMjI/AAAAAAABQtw/8jwcpd-8fbc/s400/IMG_4792.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593214467533386290" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>In other exciting news, Will had a haircut today. I took him to Spur, which had been recommended by several people. The guy there was great. Started with the top, then did the sides/back, and ended with the front (which is the most disturbing for a young child). Will sat pretty well for it - a combination of watching cartoons and looking in the mirror helped - and of course he was sitting on my lap. He only cried at the very end, when the front was being cut and I had to hold his hands to keep him from grabbing at the scissors. It looks cute...although the front isn't quite even...hard to cut hair well when the head keeps moving.</div><div><br /></div><div>Yesterday was the big day of the week though. Leah had a school fieldtrip in the morning. I chaperoned, along with 4 teachers and 7 other mothers. We took 2 classes of 2.5-3.5 year olds - about 25 kids - to Hong Kong Park. We stopped at the pond first to see the pond life. Then we walked through the aviary. And we ended at the playground, where the kids ate their snacks and then played for awhile. Overall it was fun - although maybe not all that educational.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vAw2B0yNlv8/TZ8eu9AYb8I/AAAAAAABQwI/WW0_jYv4ySI/s1600/IMG_4997.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vAw2B0yNlv8/TZ8eu9AYb8I/AAAAAAABQwI/WW0_jYv4ySI/s400/IMG_4997.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593223054216425410" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JndxnLKGdPw/TZ8euXdkyuI/AAAAAAABQwA/ylTt9UPF6BY/s1600/IMG_5036.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JndxnLKGdPw/TZ8euXdkyuI/AAAAAAABQwA/ylTt9UPF6BY/s400/IMG_5036.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593223044138322658" /></a><br />And yesterday afternoon it was sunny and warm - and I finally took Will into the pool. He loved it! We spent the afternoon there again today. I'm definitely going to enjoy this perk of living in a tropical climate. We actually spent last weekend hanging at the pool too - Leah enjoyed it - I thought it was a bit cold and didn't go in - hence Will did not either.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8tl7MX7-bBY/TZ8dExj7_oI/AAAAAAABQv0/USzj-rGotts/s1600/IMG_4954.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8tl7MX7-bBY/TZ8dExj7_oI/AAAAAAABQv0/USzj-rGotts/s400/IMG_4954.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593221230078197378" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8_sh3oY193c/TZ8dEgq5m6I/AAAAAAABQvs/t7f9h_tfV9I/s1600/IMG_4945.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8_sh3oY193c/TZ8dEgq5m6I/AAAAAAABQvs/t7f9h_tfV9I/s400/IMG_4945.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593221225543998370" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uiMKMUya7QE/TZ8bmBj6oNI/AAAAAAABQvY/EwjGyHLm8g4/s1600/IMG_5096.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uiMKMUya7QE/TZ8bmBj6oNI/AAAAAAABQvY/EwjGyHLm8g4/s400/IMG_5096.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593219602285502674" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xyHJjlHcKfQ/TZ8bmLeuWsI/AAAAAAABQvQ/KrfcVqQ92XA/s1600/IMG_5064.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xyHJjlHcKfQ/TZ8bmLeuWsI/AAAAAAABQvQ/KrfcVqQ92XA/s400/IMG_5064.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593219604948081346" /></a><br /></div>Elissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366340755138040637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140094446123475849.post-58682826487555025082011-03-23T07:37:00.003-05:002011-03-23T08:03:21.169-05:00More teeth and more words?Will definitely got his 6th tooth - on the 21st - no question there. But we're not quite sure if he's got more words. When anyone says "no" - including me, Leah, a random stranger nearby talking to her own child - Will says "na." He sort of spits the word out - a rapid emphatic usually loud quick burst - NAH! When I tell him no - because he's doing something naughty or going somewhere he shouldn't, he does respond - so I know he understands - but I can't tell if he is just repeating or if he is saying the word.<div><br /></div><div>Ma and Ba are also commonly heard from Will - sometimes in multiples - mama, mamamama... But we have yet to decide whether he's using them to call us - or just babbling. On a related note, he started clucking a couple days ago - that click click sound you can make by popping your tongue down from the roof of your mouth. And he has rediscovered blowing raspberries. And he loves to let out random shouts - often at a high pitch - but not always. So our lives are a bit loud these days...but we're enjoying watching Will find his voice (although not always enjoying the listening).</div><div><br /></div><div>Luckily Will's little virus passed in a couple days and he's back to his normal self. Leah had a dentist appointment today. The dentist, hygienist, and office staff were all great. Her teeth look good - they said to "keep doing what you're doing." But one thing I was not too surprised to learn - she did chip some teeth in her fall. I had thought that what Leah was describing as sand in her mouth after the fall might be bits of teeth - but I was fairly confident it wasn't front teeth - and nothing seemed to be continuing to hurt her after the injury healed. Turns out that she actually chipped 6 of her back teeth - 1 top and the others bottom. Luckily while the dentist described them as fractures, they are just on the tops of the teeth - no cracks and nothing that looks deep enough to bother the nerves. The dentist said that on a slightly older child she might try to put something on top of them to help seal them a bit - but that at Leah's age it would be a bit traumatic and she'd rather just keep an eye on them. But given all that, unless she's having pain, we don't need to see the dentist again for a year - plus go back in 6 months for a cleaning with the hygienist. And Leah was excellently behaved for the appointment - and happy to get a sugar free blue lollipop at the end.</div><div><br /></div><div>Will's first ride in the Little Tikes car - loving it:</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8v3RdHEyH6U/TYnvLK7MZoI/AAAAAAABQE4/ZYm_sz_8hNQ/s1600/IMG_4769.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8v3RdHEyH6U/TYnvLK7MZoI/AAAAAAABQE4/ZYm_sz_8hNQ/s400/IMG_4769.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587259787920041602" /></a>Tiger tiger burning bright:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jLBMnWoVS84/TYnvKlu3ciI/AAAAAAABQEs/BuV98JDlWWI/s1600/IMG_4745.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jLBMnWoVS84/TYnvKlu3ciI/AAAAAAABQEs/BuV98JDlWWI/s400/IMG_4745.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587259777936224802" /></a>Leah at the UJC Purim Carnival:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U9mrXEXYGlI/TYnvKXEQgOI/AAAAAAABQEk/RW8XFW-I3G0/s1600/IMG_4719.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U9mrXEXYGlI/TYnvKXEQgOI/AAAAAAABQEk/RW8XFW-I3G0/s400/IMG_4719.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587259773999415522" /></a>Leah dancing to entertain Will:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NuwR36v3JqY/TYnvKGGA_tI/AAAAAAABQEc/sq7n6i0hkIM/s1600/IMG_4704.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NuwR36v3JqY/TYnvKGGA_tI/AAAAAAABQEc/sq7n6i0hkIM/s400/IMG_4704.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587259769443385042" /></a>Elissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366340755138040637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140094446123475849.post-7324278760350961312011-03-18T06:39:00.003-05:002011-03-18T07:45:30.994-05:00Uh oh!Today Will began to speak! He's been babbling away for months now...but today while we were at a playdate with friends he said "uh oh." He said it more than once actually. Someone asked me when he started doing that...and I said "now." I was a bit unsure whether he was actually intending it or if it just sounded like he was saying uh oh. But this afternoon he dropped (maybe threw) a book and said uh oh.<div><br /></div><div>Unfortunately Will also came down with a high fever today. Poor guy just wilted mid-morning. Wanted to be held - fell asleep in my lap - hardly ate lunch. After his nap his temperature was 102.6. He's been pulling at his ears a bit all week, so I was a bit concerned about that. I've been assuming it was teething related - but now with a fever I decided he ought to see the doctor.</div><div><br /></div><div>Motrin brought the fever down a bit but not all the way. He was pretty miserable all afternoon. The doctor said his ears and throat were a bit red and inflamed, but not infected - so some sort of virus. She did a flu test and luckily it was negative. So we'll probably just be riding out the virus and trying to keep him comfortable for the next couple days.</div><div><br /></div><div>Leah enjoying the warming weather:</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H1AxdVIXQp0/TYNTL3NnwlI/AAAAAAABP74/wVqqxHN2yzE/s1600/IMG_4595.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H1AxdVIXQp0/TYNTL3NnwlI/AAAAAAABP74/wVqqxHN2yzE/s400/IMG_4595.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585399426134295122" /></a>A duet at home:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Co_vlVQ5NLQ/TYNTLtBz3AI/AAAAAAABP7w/ls7fRiLdrTY/s1600/IMG_4635.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Co_vlVQ5NLQ/TYNTLtBz3AI/AAAAAAABP7w/ls7fRiLdrTY/s400/IMG_4635.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585399423400401922" /></a>Happily roaming the apartment - crawling, pulling up, cruising - and loving it:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-arUeoIUELVA/TYNTLeiH6_I/AAAAAAABP7o/4ET-o_fRvdo/s1600/IMG_4645.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-arUeoIUELVA/TYNTLeiH6_I/AAAAAAABP7o/4ET-o_fRvdo/s400/IMG_4645.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585399419509402610" /></a>Exploring the playground:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ldLILEfLdrI/TYNTLIvJlwI/AAAAAAABP7g/5CPLSKCwwMU/s1600/IMG_4654.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ldLILEfLdrI/TYNTLIvJlwI/AAAAAAABP7g/5CPLSKCwwMU/s400/IMG_4654.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585399413658457858" /></a>Drumming with Raghav:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D2OFduoDlao/TYNTK0LAglI/AAAAAAABP7Y/Q38p620-tco/s1600/IMG_4695.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D2OFduoDlao/TYNTK0LAglI/AAAAAAABP7Y/Q38p620-tco/s400/IMG_4695.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585399408138158674" /></a>Elissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366340755138040637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140094446123475849.post-64290290140393665752011-03-12T05:18:00.003-05:002011-03-12T05:24:40.756-05:00Tooth #5Will's 5th tooth has broken through - it is on top to the right of the middle 2 (which he already has). The left side is quite close...should be any day now.<div><br /></div><div>Not a whole lot else to report. I got on the scale with him yesterday and he weighed in around 23.5 pounds...definitely a big boy. He's starting to eat more and more real solid food. He likes scrambled eggs. We've given him bits of whatever we're eating - hamburger, chicken, pork. Today he ate a small slice of Leah's pizza at lunch - which I tore into very small pieces for him.</div><div><br /></div><div>He still drinks his formula like a champ - almost always finishing 3 6-ounce bottles a day. And he's started to be a bit better about drinking water from a sippy cup. In the next month or so we will move him gradually from formula to whole milk and from bottle to sippy cup.</div><div><br /></div><div>Leah is fully potty trained now - but still has some accidents on occasion.</div><div><br /></div><div>Both kids are sleeping pretty well - more or less through the night - although it's rare that one of them isn't up at some point.</div><div><br /></div><div>More updates and pictures to come soon.</div>Elissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366340755138040637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140094446123475849.post-64321629983647460872011-02-22T05:48:00.004-05:002011-02-22T06:52:17.175-05:00Will can wave!Life in Hong Kong has become status quo by now. We know our way around fairly decently. We have met more people. Leah consistently goes to school. Shafi consistently goes to work. Will sleeps & naps well. I am doing dragon boat with the Globe Paddlers, the American Women's Association team, as well as getting to the gym a couple times a week. We fill in afternoons with some classes and play time at the American Club, occasional trips to Ocean Park, various playdates, and sometimes just playing at home or popping down to the beach at the end of our block.<div><br /></div><div>Today at just about 9.5 months, Will waved! We've been working on it - but while he had flapped his arms a few times at the right moment - he flaps his arms often in excitement, so we really weren't sure it meant anything. Tonight after getting him ready for bed and giving him his bottle, I told Leah and Nilda to say good night to Will. And I say "bye bye" and waved at them - he also waved his right hand at them and then got a big smile and little giggle - obviously quite proud of himself. We practiced it a few more times, and he consistently joined right in.</div><div><br /></div><div>He's also getting around faster and faster - doing a cute sort of crab crawl - using his 2 hands and one foot to propel himself forward, sort of dragging his other knee and then sitting back down onto his bum. But when he has a target in mind - he can scoot all the way across the room in seconds. I think crawling may be soon - he seems to be getting the idea. And I thought he might walk first - but while he is cruising the furniture and finger walking - he is too timid to let go and stand on his own.</div><div><br /></div><div>Will not quite crawling:</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_ttTMOHID8k/TWOgu5GGwOI/AAAAAAABPB0/ZwUYb9nQI4o/s1600/IMG_4382.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_ttTMOHID8k/TWOgu5GGwOI/AAAAAAABPB0/ZwUYb9nQI4o/s400/IMG_4382.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576477491075662050" /></a></div>Will finger walking with Baba:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XqX4zaIAkOk/TWOgvuyiOCI/AAAAAAABPCE/10dlpUDEI-o/s1600/IMG_4448.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XqX4zaIAkOk/TWOgvuyiOCI/AAAAAAABPCE/10dlpUDEI-o/s400/IMG_4448.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576477505489090594" /></a>Will stealing a rice cake from his friend Isabella:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-87nTY9atmHw/TWOgwS6aF4I/AAAAAAABPCU/0e1uQKqU5kw/s1600/IMG_4476.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-87nTY9atmHw/TWOgwS6aF4I/AAAAAAABPCU/0e1uQKqU5kw/s400/IMG_4476.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576477515185788802" /></a>Leah playing with her new Play-Doh ice cream set:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ndiAhMVeM7A/TWOgwKhqciI/AAAAAAABPCM/0eObkWX0v5w/s1600/IMG_4453.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ndiAhMVeM7A/TWOgwKhqciI/AAAAAAABPCM/0eObkWX0v5w/s400/IMG_4453.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576477512934519330" /></a>Will trying out a ride-on car:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xZlibHx0vr4/TWOgvSyFmZI/AAAAAAABPB8/QK7wTlv_3qs/s1600/IMG_4398.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xZlibHx0vr4/TWOgvSyFmZI/AAAAAAABPB8/QK7wTlv_3qs/s400/IMG_4398.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576477497971022226" /></a>Elissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366340755138040637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140094446123475849.post-4801930036145328522011-02-14T07:31:00.005-05:002011-02-14T09:10:42.297-05:004 Teeth and a Birthday PartyWill officially got his 4th tooth today. The top front right tooth has been pushing the gums out for a few days and has now broken through.<div><br /></div><div>Will is also starting to move around more and more. He goes from sitting to a hands and knees position - but he doesn't quite put the left leg all the way back - the foots sort of stays trapped in front of his right knee. I'm pretty sure he does it on purpose so that he can more easily get back into a sitting position. When he does occasionally get over that leg he ends up sliding down onto his belly - where he whines until someone helps him up. But his bending and leaning and sitting and reaching does somehow enable him to move around a fair bit - not quite across a room but certainly around an area - so he is able to get to toys that were out of reach.</div><div><br /></div><div>He's also starting to pull up a bit more. He's not quite good at it yet, but he manages to get up on to his knees and then up to standing on occasion.</div><div><br /></div><div>Yesterday we had Leah's 3rd birthday party. We booked the Beach Club, a little restaurant on Stanley Main Beach. They were very nice and kept things nice and simple. It was raining, so the party was inside, but there was plenty of space to hang out and play. We had chips and cookies and pizza to eat and beer, soda, water, and juice to drink. We had some balloons to play with and some markers and drawing pages (Disney princesses and Toy Story) to color. There were a dozen 3 year-olds along with their siblings and parents - for about 40 people total. And the Cinderella cake (bought, not homemade) was both beautiful and delicious.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's been a week of birthday fun for Leah. On Monday we went shopping and opened presents. Posing with one of the dresses she got from family in the US:</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_B8qphEp4VU/TVk1anKxuLI/AAAAAAABOsI/cEUtsijU5cc/s1600/IMG_4096.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_B8qphEp4VU/TVk1anKxuLI/AAAAAAABOsI/cEUtsijU5cc/s400/IMG_4096.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573544745154754738" /></a>Showing off her Snow White outfit - which she picked out on our shopping trip:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w7Wf1Z0wqWk/TVk1ae8_DYI/AAAAAAABOsA/XIvZSo7oYzU/s1600/IMG_4115.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w7Wf1Z0wqWk/TVk1ae8_DYI/AAAAAAABOsA/XIvZSo7oYzU/s400/IMG_4115.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573544742949424514" /></a>Showing off 2 Barbies and a Ken - also purchased on our shopping trip:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-co7jjBMPv9Q/TVk0UjmadTI/AAAAAAABOr4/5vbI866lGFk/s1600/IMG_4162.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-co7jjBMPv9Q/TVk0UjmadTI/AAAAAAABOr4/5vbI866lGFk/s400/IMG_4162.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573543541606085938" /></a>Wednesday I brought cupcakes to Leah's class at school - chocolate on chocolate, as per Leah's request:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OaUbo9pvO8M/TVk1a4Z3AMI/AAAAAAABOsQ/-Lz1yX9khos/s1600/IMG_4199.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OaUbo9pvO8M/TVk1a4Z3AMI/AAAAAAABOsQ/-Lz1yX9khos/s400/IMG_4199.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573544749781418178" /></a>Riding her new bike - her birthday gift from Mommy and Baba:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VcNovvYamx4/TVk0T-2C1nI/AAAAAAABOro/rhUkzcGN9HI/s1600/IMG_4246.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VcNovvYamx4/TVk0T-2C1nI/AAAAAAABOro/rhUkzcGN9HI/s400/IMG_4246.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573543531739534962" /></a>Ready for her party to begin:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sIVLAYD_RXo/TVk0SmDMIJI/AAAAAAABOrY/MaESFwSgyIg/s1600/IMG_4287.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sIVLAYD_RXo/TVk0SmDMIJI/AAAAAAABOrY/MaESFwSgyIg/s400/IMG_4287.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573543507903914130" /></a>The adorable Cinderella cake:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1Tru5tvjXwk/TVk0TAUsVCI/AAAAAAABOrg/LFohGVsI_J4/s1600/IMG_4282.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1Tru5tvjXwk/TVk0TAUsVCI/AAAAAAABOrg/LFohGVsI_J4/s400/IMG_4282.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573543514956649506" /></a>Brushing Bride Barbie's hair - a birthday gift from the birthday party:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-40W-ci8jSFM/TVk0UPLMLAI/AAAAAAABOrw/c-LCARrEB7E/s1600/IMG_4359.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-40W-ci8jSFM/TVk0UPLMLAI/AAAAAAABOrw/c-LCARrEB7E/s400/IMG_4359.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573543536123194370" /></a>Elissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366340755138040637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140094446123475849.post-54807640686453411602011-02-07T08:57:00.002-05:002011-02-07T09:12:24.187-05:00Leah is 3! Will is 9 months!Just a short update for today...will post more, including pictures, when I have a bit more time. Will turned 9 months yesterday - and got his 3rd tooth today (top front left). And Leah turned 3 years today. We had some friends over for dinner last night and they brought a little birthday cake for her.<div><br /></div><div>And today I took her shopping. Since the shipping is so expensive from the US, she did receive a few small things (4 dresses, some stickers, a couple books and toys) but several family members gave us money to take her shopping with. All in she had quite a nice sum to spend - and it was no trouble dropping it all in one place. First we looked for a bicycle (Shafi and my gift to her) but decided to check out some other shops before buying. Then we went to Toys Club in Horizon Plaza - and she went to town! She picked out a Barbie bedroom/bathroom set that folds up into its own carrying case and comes with a Barbie, 2 other Barbies, 1 Ken, a Dora "laptop", a Snow White costume, and a few other trinkets. She was one very happy girl!</div><div><br /></div><div>She had ballet class this afternoon, which she loved as always. And then we played at the American Club for a bit. After dinner I let her play with her new toys a bit...she was thrilled! In fact, while she usually drops everything when Shafi gets home, she could barely even look up to say hello. She was just completely entranced by all her Barbie goodies. I'm a bit afraid of what's to come!</div><div><br /></div><div>Will is starting to get a little more mobile...but certainly not crawling yet. At least he seems to be getting the idea to move and to pull up - even if he hasn't actually mastered the skills yet. And he continues to be a very happy boy - so no complaints from this mommy - especially since he's been sleeping 12+ hours at night these days!</div>Elissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366340755138040637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140094446123475849.post-68245152677133097522011-01-30T06:48:00.005-05:002011-01-30T07:29:04.206-05:00January...Visitors...Nothing so eventful as the last couple of posts here. Leah's chin healed up pretty well. We managed to keep the bandage dry enough for a full week and the plastic surgeon removed the bandage and stitches. It looked pretty decent even upon first removal. Leah did cry when he took the bandage off, but she admitted it didn't really hurt but "I was just a little bit scared." She calmed down after he removed the first stitch and showed her that it was out and painless...and then she calmed down as he removed the rest. At his suggestion, we kept tape on it, changing the tape daily for a week - just for some extra protection. And now 2 weeks after injury it is a fairly small pink line under her chin, pretty much along the jawbone - around an inch or so long but v shaped. We're going to leave it alone and see what happens, but even if it does scar, it is in a very hidden spot. And more importantly...Leah is back on her scooter...and promises to use her hands to break her falls...not her chin.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZaUgh3ewwD0/TUVVX97CZLI/AAAAAAABN08/vegcavQWWs8/s1600/IMG_0061.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZaUgh3ewwD0/TUVVX97CZLI/AAAAAAABN08/vegcavQWWs8/s400/IMG_0061.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567950384561022130" /></a>Leah still loves school and gymnastics and ballet classes. Will still thinks Leah is the most interesting and funniest thing on the planet. He's getting a bit more mobile. He can go from sitting to lying on his belly fairly gracefully now...although this usually happens while reaching for a toy and once he has said toy he does not actually want to be on his belly. He occasionally rolls from front to back...but it still hasn't quite clicked that this is the fastest way to get off of his belly. He has also managed to get from lying to sitting, but that may have been a fluke occurrence and even with some assisted practice he has not realized that he is capable of doing that regularly. Mostly once he is on his belly he scoots...backwards...by pushing with his hands. He is also quite good at turning in a circle, both while sitting and while lying on his belly. But he continues to do his pathetic performance frequently...lying his head down and crying until someone helps him up. It's awfully cute. And we're confident that eventually he will figure out how to sit, crawl, stand, walk, etc.<div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZaUgh3ewwD0/TUVW34peRuI/AAAAAAABN1E/cjO5g8wYA9o/s1600/IMG_3834.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZaUgh3ewwD0/TUVW34peRuI/AAAAAAABN1E/cjO5g8wYA9o/s400/IMG_3834.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567952032412616418" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZaUgh3ewwD0/TUVXpINwgzI/AAAAAAABN1M/VD292b_zgq4/s1600/IMG_3859.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZaUgh3ewwD0/TUVXpINwgzI/AAAAAAABN1M/VD292b_zgq4/s400/IMG_3859.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567952878404928306" /></a><div><div>My friends <a href="http://worldwidewilleys.blogspot.com/">Jess & Jason Willey</a> came for a visit this week. They have left London, where they have been living for 2.5 years, and are headed back to the US this summer. In the meantime, they are traveling the world for a few months. We were a 3 day stop on their itinerary between South Africa and Vietnam. I think they enjoyed sightseeing in HK a bit, but they also enjoyed sleeping in Leah's room (while she slept in Will's room), having some home cooked meals with us, and having their laundry done here. It was nice to see them. Will definitely took a liking to Jess and her patience for walking him around the apartment. But Jess better watch out, as Leah is moving in on her man. Leah loved playing with Jason. Every time we went out with them, she walked right up and held his hand. He was a very good sport about it. And they both read Leah a Madeline book before bed...sealing them as well-loved visitors.</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZaUgh3ewwD0/TUVXqBPwgdI/AAAAAAABN1c/OVLi9Jsq510/s1600/IMG_3888.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZaUgh3ewwD0/TUVXqBPwgdI/AAAAAAABN1c/OVLi9Jsq510/s400/IMG_3888.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567952893714137554" /></a></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZaUgh3ewwD0/TUVXpkA06EI/AAAAAAABN1U/oGuYOF5ASio/s1600/IMG_3874.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZaUgh3ewwD0/TUVXpkA06EI/AAAAAAABN1U/oGuYOF5ASio/s400/IMG_3874.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567952885866883138" /></a><div>That's about all the news at the moment. We are car shopping (a task I am happily leaving to Shafi). It will be nice to get a car for running errands, getting to and from the American Club, friends' apartments, etc. Chinese New Year is this coming Thursday. We're not quite sure what to expect but if nothing else it will be nice for Shafi to have a 4 day weekend. Will is turning 9 months on Sunday (a week from today)...and Leah is turning 3 years on Monday. Since many people will be away for the Chinese New Year holiday, we are having her party on the 13th. Looks like we'll have about a dozen 3-4 year olds along with their siblings and parents. It should be a casual get together at the little cafe by the beach just a block from home - with a princess theme, some pizza and drinks, and maybe some simple arts & crafts to entertain the kids.</div></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZaUgh3ewwD0/TUVXqLOqtjI/AAAAAAABN1k/RGzbiNxoa98/s1600/Leah%2527s%2B3rd%2BBirthday%2BParty%2BInvitation.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 306px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZaUgh3ewwD0/TUVXqLOqtjI/AAAAAAABN1k/RGzbiNxoa98/s400/Leah%2527s%2B3rd%2BBirthday%2BParty%2BInvitation.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567952896393918002" /></a>Elissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366340755138040637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140094446123475849.post-26204564520844867782011-01-13T23:44:00.002-05:002011-01-14T00:16:07.310-05:00Our first visit to the ER...The morning started off great in the Imran household. Will started sleeping through the night a few days ago. And last night was the first time both kids slept through the night. Will went to bed about 6:30 p.m. and I didn't hear a peep from him until 6:45 this morning. Leah went to bed about 6:45 p.m. and slept until after 7 a.m. Everyone got dressed easily and ate breakfast well.<div><br /></div><div>At about 8:15 I took the kids out so that Leah could ride her scooter for a bit in the carpark before her school bus arrived around 8:30. After a few minutes of riding, she fell forward and landed on her chin. The gash looked pretty big and it was bleeding a fair amount. Luckily one of the neighbor's helpers was nearby and I was able to leave Will with her while I brought Leah up to the apartment. I got her a bit cleaned up and changed her clothes. I called her pediatrician's cell phone and she answered right away - she agreed that I should take Leah to the ER at Adventist Hospital.</div><div><br /></div><div>So Leah and I headed down to get in a taxi. There was one fueling up at the petrol station across the street from us, so we got him to take us to Adventist. Leah was pretty upset on the ride there, but I calmed her down by singing a stream of ABCs, Twinkle Twinkle, and Row Your Boat for the 20 minute ride there...with a break to tell Shafi what was going on.</div><div><br /></div><div>Shafi met us at the ER; it was very comforting for Leah to have us both there. The bleeding had mostly stopped by then, but they still took us right away. I gave them her insurance card and they took us right into the urgent care room. A nurse cleaned the outside of the wound just a bit and then the doctor came in after only a couple of minutes. Dr. Lam was very nice and sweet with Leah. He asked her if her head or neck hurt - asked me a few questions - "did she black out?", etc. He told me we had 3 options - leave it alone and it would heal on its own, use glue to close it, or use sutures to close it. I can't imagine just leaving it alone - it's a pretty big cut and fairly deep. He said the sutures would probably mean the scarring would be the least - and I said I'd like to do that but have a plastic surgeon do it. Dr. Lam told Leah she was going to get magic strings to help her chin heal.</div><div><br /></div><div>They called a plastic surgeon, also named Dr. Lam, and he said he was able to be there in about 30-45 minutes. We 0pted to wait for him. It ended up being about an hour wait (apparently traffic) was bad. We were able to wait in a nice waiting area in a corridor with a television with some English language options. Leah was pretty calm sitting on Shafi's lap while we waited.</div><div><br /></div><div>When Dr. Lam arrived they brought us back into the urgent care room. They put Leah on a table and wrapped a sheet around her - in effect immobilizing her arms. I stood by her legs to hold them if necessary and Shafi stood by her chest to hold her down if necessary. There were 2 nurses there assisting Dr. Lam. He was very thorough - irrigating the wound, using tweezers to get out some dirt that was lodged, and then giving her some numbing injections in and around the wound. Leah was pretty upset during most of it - crying some but also being fairly good about staying still. She got 9 stitches. Dr. Lam then put some tape and gauze on it and a clear bandage over it to keep it clean and dry.</div><div><br /></div><div>We are supposed to just leave it alone - not allow the bandage to get too wet - and we go back in a week to have the stitches out. If the bandage does seem to be coming off or anything gets under it then we need to go back to Adventist to have it changed.</div><div><br /></div><div>Leah was pretty exhausted after the whole thing and napped for a little over an hour when we got home. She is doing okay now. We'll have to see how long it is before she's ready to get back on the scooter.</div><div><br /></div><div>The whole experience at the hospital was pretty good. And it sounds like the insurance will cover it - HK$735 for the attending Dr. Lam and HK $9866 for the plastic surgeon Dr. Lam. Hopefully the bills won't get rejected!</div><div><br /></div><div>That's about all the excitement for now. Hopefully it won't bother Leah too much later today and the rest of the week. She says her chin doesn't hurt at the moment. She isn't in the happiest of moods but she's getting ice cream for lunch...so hopefully she'll be feeling better soon.</div>Elissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366340755138040637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140094446123475849.post-56529280188338009102011-01-10T07:56:00.007-05:002011-01-10T09:02:11.648-05:00Sightseeing & recent milestonesMy parents were here from the night of December 23 through the morning of January 5. That gave us a chance to do some of the local sightseeing that we hadn't gotten to yet. We spent the first day showing them around in Stanley and popping into the American Club. And they got to open the Hanukkah presents from my parents. They got quite a few clothes and toys...and Leah especially loved her princess costume.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZaUgh3ewwD0/TSsDHqAFg0I/AAAAAAABNV8/3nRsgY7EgMk/s1600/IMG_3469.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZaUgh3ewwD0/TSsDHqAFg0I/AAAAAAABNV8/3nRsgY7EgMk/s400/IMG_3469.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560541594987627330" /></a>On Christmas day, we spent some time exploring Wan Chai and Causeway Bay and ate some good dim sum there. The next day we took the Star Ferry to Kowloon and explored TST a bit, including catching a dragon show and playing in the playground in Kownloon Park. A few days later we went to the Big Buddha in Lantau. It was fun to see it - and the 25 minute cable car ride up and back was nice. We showed my parents around Ocean Park. We spent most of a day there and got a chance to see a couple shows, check out the animals, and ride the kiddie rides.<div><br /></div><div>We had New Years Eve dinner at a French private kitchen in Wan Chai called Le Blanc - it was a nice meal but no major NYE festivities. Then on New Years Day we did a self guided walking tour in the Western District (Sheung Wan). It was fun to see some of the dried seafood shops, the Man Mo Temple, and the Central-Midlevels Escalator. We had several other good meals during their visit - mostly Chinese food. And we went for a drink at the Intercontinental in TST to watch the light show in Central.</div><div><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZaUgh3ewwD0/TSsQ3oIXNuI/AAAAAAABNaA/CwEkAa00Yjg/s400/IMG_3620.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560556712770352866" /><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZaUgh3ewwD0/TSsQ388JhhI/AAAAAAABNaI/_fCX_rrrOzg/s400/IMG_3598.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560556718356268562" /><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZaUgh3ewwD0/TSsQ4ADBTzI/AAAAAAABNaQ/VEm7URkX5yg/s400/IMG_3593.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560556719190396722" />After 2 weeks of winter break, Leah was glad to go back to school. We also signed up for gymnastics and ballet at the American Club...both are big hits.</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZaUgh3ewwD0/TSsHEouW0JI/AAAAAAABNZE/2KNzt3dknfA/s1600/IMG_0051.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZaUgh3ewwD0/TSsHEouW0JI/AAAAAAABNZE/2KNzt3dknfA/s400/IMG_0051.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560545941151731858" /></a></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZaUgh3ewwD0/TSsHEBd2imI/AAAAAAABNY8/kw-lfYHLzCU/s1600/IMG_3666.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZaUgh3ewwD0/TSsHEBd2imI/AAAAAAABNY8/kw-lfYHLzCU/s400/IMG_3666.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560545930613525090" /></a><div>In other news, Will is getting very good at standing - even standing alone for a couple seconds at a time. He still shows no interest in tummy time or crawling but wants to be on his feet all the time. He loves to take steps while holding someone's fingers and can now walk quite a distance that way. He has starting feeding himself finger food - loves Gerber puffs. And we've been beefing up his diet with more protein - including congee with broccoli and fish - which he likes - although still seems to be getting used to the texture of a non-pureed food.</div><div><br /></div><div>I took him for his flu shot on December 30 and he got weighed and measured at the doctor's office. He's now 9.55 kg (21 lbs), 76 cm (30 in) tall, and 46 cm (18 in) head circumference. That puts him above the 95th percentile in height, around the 75th percentile in weight, and also around the 75th percentile in head. He's definitely filling out again - he had been slimming down for a bit - but now he's got a cute belly, nice chubby arms and legs and a full face. The boy does love to eat! And along with that - he's sleeping better. He does wake up a few times a night and make a bit of noise, talking or fussing, but he puts himself back to sleep. Last night he officially went 6:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. Let's hope that continues!</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZaUgh3ewwD0/TSsNaaOnXfI/AAAAAAABNZ4/b8Q_Aq6Ri6k/s1600/IMG_3692.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZaUgh3ewwD0/TSsNaaOnXfI/AAAAAAABNZ4/b8Q_Aq6Ri6k/s400/IMG_3692.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560552912287391218" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZaUgh3ewwD0/TSsNaMnyvqI/AAAAAAABNZw/WpZ6MLcQtDk/s1600/IMG_3678.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZaUgh3ewwD0/TSsNaMnyvqI/AAAAAAABNZw/WpZ6MLcQtDk/s400/IMG_3678.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560552908634898082" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZaUgh3ewwD0/TSsNZ9AHhgI/AAAAAAABNZo/SfOYrTD2dAI/s1600/IMG_3653.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZaUgh3ewwD0/TSsNZ9AHhgI/AAAAAAABNZo/SfOYrTD2dAI/s400/IMG_3653.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560552904441955842" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZaUgh3ewwD0/TSsNZuBRzWI/AAAAAAABNZg/aL_Os-R66_w/s1600/IMG_3641.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZaUgh3ewwD0/TSsNZuBRzWI/AAAAAAABNZg/aL_Os-R66_w/s400/IMG_3641.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560552900420291938" /></a></div>Elissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366340755138040637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140094446123475849.post-55261920697556850502010-12-22T07:39:00.002-05:002010-12-22T07:59:03.317-05:00Our first visitors arrive in about 24 hoursMy parents are coming for the holidays. Christmas is slow time for the Rabbi, so this is a good time for them to get away - and spend 2 weeks with us. We've been talking up to Leah that she will get to sleep in the bed in Will's room - in his brand new sheets - very exciting. And we've been putting final touches on getting Will to sleep through the night. He goes to bed between 6:30 and 7. He has been waking up between 4 and 5:30, having a bottle, babbling for a few minutes, and going back to sleep. That's not going to fly with Leah in his room. So this morning when he woke up at 5, we didn't go in. He talked and fussed and talked and fussed - and around 5:30 started to scream - and at 5:50 he finally fell back to sleep. It was a long 50 minutes for Shafi and I...but then he slept until 6:30...and we're hopeful that tomorrow he'll just sleep straight through. And if not, then starting Friday we will be bringing him into our room for his morning bottle and hoping that whatever commotion in the process doesn't wake Leah - or at least that she goes back to sleep.<div><br /></div><div>Meanwhile, I've been doing a bit of re-reading the tour books we have on Hong Kong. It's a whole different read now that I'm somewhat familiar with the city. I've copied some info on walking tours of Central, Western, and Kowloon. I've made mental notes of other things we'd like to do - Peak Tram, Star Ferry, Ocean Park. No doubt we'll spend some time exploring Stanley. I'm sure we could spend some extra time wandering in Wan Chai, maybe take an extra trip to Kowloon to check out the night market and also to catch the view of the light show in Central. My mother and I are going to Shenzhen on the Tuesday after Christmas. We probably will do a day trip to Lantau to see Ngong Ping 360, the Big Buddha, and the Po Lin Monastery. I had thought this was going to make it a busy trip, but now that I look at the list, I think we can still find some time to relax, check out some restaurants, and whatever else my parents want to see.</div><div><br /></div><div>There's really not much else to report from the last couple of weeks. No major milestones for the kids. We've hit the beach, Ocean Park, playdates with neighbors, a little shopping. Leah is on winter break this week and next...she misses school...but I think we're managing to keep busy enough. Will is a very solid sitter but still rejecting tummy time. He really just wants to stand all the time - but thankfully he is not yet pulling up, as his balance isn't so good on his feet.</div><div><br /></div><div>Tomorrow Shafi is taking the day off and we're taking a family trip to Macau. We thought it would be fun to take the ferry (about an hour each way) and explore some of the sights. It's got a Portuguese history. Should be some interesting architecture, museums, and restaurants.</div>Elissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366340755138040637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140094446123475849.post-47303784180470882152010-12-10T03:27:00.003-05:002010-12-10T04:56:46.028-05:00Lots to catch up on...I've been so busy with the move into our new apartment and getting settled in that I have not had a chance to write about it...and everything else that's been going on for the last 6 weeks or so.<div><br /></div><div>Leah continues to love school. She is still working on potty training - usually pooping on the potty and sometimes peeing on the potty. She comes home with dry pull-ups after school but is not quite as diligent about getting to the potty the rest of the time. Will is growing fast and doing more every day. He's been sitting stably for several weeks now, and he plays with toys with both hands. He also continues to love solids. He eats at least an 8 ounce bowl full of pureed fruits and vegetables at each meal - breakfast, lunch and dinner - and often 2 bowls full. He certainly prefers fruit but willingly eats almost everything we've given him. He also gets protein at most meals now - lentils, avocados, yogurt.</div><div><br /></div><div>To catch up since my last post:</div><div><br /></div><div>End of October:</div><div>We had a nice Halloween. Leah had a costume party at school the Friday before, we went to a costume party at The American Club the night before, and we went to a party in The Repulse Bay on Halloween. Leah definitely enjoyed some brief trick or treating.</div><div><br /></div><div>Early November - the move to Stanley:</div><div>Our shipment was delivered to our new apartment on November 1. I was there to watch them open the container. Everything arrived...only minor damage done...our 2 large speakers have some cracks to the wood and 2 framed prints had cracked glass. The moving company already took care of replacing the glass and it looks like we'll be getting a check for the replacement value of the speakers.</div><div><br /></div><div>Everything fit into our new apartment. I would say that the living room is not quite how I would have designed it - but it works. We filled in a few pieces with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Ikea</span> furniture - twin beds in the kids' rooms, a desk and bookshelves in the study, and an entertainment center. And I've done a bit of shopping for other odds and ends, electronics (voltage difference between the US and Asia meant that we had to leave behind lamps, kitchen electrics, etc.), and other decor items.</div><div><br /></div><div>Leah was very happy to have her bedding and toys. And Will didn't necessarily miss his things while they were gone, but I think he was glad to be back in his crib. And I was certainly glad to have toys for him to play with. The kids love playing together. No one is more interesting to Will than Leah and she loves to entertain him...if not always to see him play with her old toys.</div><div><br /></div><div>We have met some very nice people in our apartment complex, Ho's Villa. There is an American family above us with a daughter about 9 months older than Leah, Scarlett. There is a French family in House 2 with a daughter a year older than Leah, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Macha</span>. There is a German family next to the American family with a 4 year old son, Finn. There is an English family with a 3 year old son who goes to the same school as Leah, Oscar. Oscar and Leah ride the school bus together and more recently have started to sit together on the bus - very cute. There is a half-French, half-English family with a son a few months older than Leah who is in Leah's class at school, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Auri</span>. We have also socialized with some of the other parents in Ho's Villa and are definitely happy with where we have chosen to live.</div><div><br /></div><div>Mid-November - settling in:</div><div>We celebrated <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Shafi's</span> 39<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">th</span> birthday on the 12<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">th</span>. We were actually invited to a dinner party at a neighbor's that night, so that became our celebration - I brought a small cake. And I got him an <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">iPad</span> - something he had really been wanting but probably would not have splurged on himself. He's enjoying having that for the bus ride to and from work - which can be anywhere from 20 minutes to over an hour, depending on traffic.</div><div><br /></div><div>We have tried some of the local restaurants in Stanley, including a dim sum place near Stanley Market that we think is pretty good. There is also a pretty good authentic Chinese restaurant in the market that we had a nice dinner at. There are several restaurants with mostly European cuisine along the waterfront - but we've found that generally they have better location than food.</div><div>We took Will for his first haircut in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Hong</span> Kong to a little place in Stanley Market. It was only <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">HK</span>$40 (about US$5) but they did not speak any English - luckily I'm not too picky and just asking them to cut his hair turned out just fine.</div><div><br /></div><div>We have really been enjoying living so close to the beach - just 1 block away from Stanley Main Beach. When the weather is warm, Leah and I often go down to the beach with others from Ho's Villa in the afternoon. Will also likes to sit in the sand and watch - but Leah loves to play in the water and in the sand. We're putting our many sand toys to good use. We also often play in the driveway / <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">carpark</span> area of Ho's Villa in the afternoons. Usually other kids are out with their mothers or helpers. It is really great for the kids to have a convenient area to play, ride their scooters and bikes, and run around.</div><div><br /></div><div>We have paid a few more visits to Ocean Park and are definitely glad that we got annual passes. But more momentous than that - we visited <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Hong</span> Kong Disneyland on the 21st. Leah definitely enjoyed seeing Mickey Mouse and the other characters, riding rides including Winnie the Pooh and Dumbo, and watching the parade.</div><div><br /></div><div>Our new helper, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Nilda</span>, started on the 1st of November. She and Anna May really helped us getting settled in the new apartment. We actually had 5 days overlap between the Stanley apartment and the serviced apartment in Repulse Bay, which was really helpful in easing the transition. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Nilda</span> has been a great help. She is good with both kids and manages to balance helping with them, grocery shopping, cooking, and keeping the apartment nice and clean. She has only worked for Chinese families in the past, so she only makes Asian food. We have been enjoying that, but soon I will need to spend some time with her to teach her some basics of Western cooking (like using an oven) so that we can have a bit more variety.</div><div><br /></div><div>Late-November / early-December - life in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Hong</span> Kong:</div><div><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Shafi</span> and I went on a night out with the American Women's Association to the horse races in Happy Valley. We were in a private box with its own betting counter, bar, and a nice buffet dinner. We met some nice people there and enjoyed watching the races. We also got to go down to the track to watch one race up close, which was lots of fun.</div><div><br /></div><div>We went on a junk trip that was organized by some neighbors. A junk is a type of boat here, and renting one out for a junk trip is a popular activity. It was a Friday night - boat left from Stanley's Blake Pier at 7:30 for the hour or so ride out to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Lamma</span> Island, where we had a good seafood dinner before getting back on the junk and riding back to Stanley. We enjoyed the evening and getting to know some neighbors better.</div><div><br /></div><div>Leah has definitely been a bit upset by not getting to see <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Shafi</span> much during the week. One Friday after school I took her into Central on the bus to meet him for lunch. She was really excited to have lunch with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Baba</span> and see his office. And then I took her to the Botanical Garden and Zoo, which was fairly nearby. It's not much of a zoo - small cages and not all that many animals. We spent some time watching various monkeys before heading home. We'll have to go again to see the rest of the gardens and animals, but I don't think it will become a favorite destination.</div><div><br /></div><div>With the start of December came the start of Hanukkah. I managed to get to Toys R Us the week before to get gifts for the kids. We enjoyed lighting the menorah and opening presents each night. We even invited some friends and neighbors over to join us some nights. Leah also had her first game of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">dreidel</span>, which she enjoyed even without quite understanding the game. We went to the family Hanukkah party at the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">UJC</span> - the reform synagogue on Sunday. It was mostly arts and crafts type stations for the young kids. Leah had a good time, but we felt like they didn't do much to create any community or socializing, so we did not really meet anyone while there.</div><div><br /></div><div>I went in to Leah's school one day during Hanukkah and told her class the story of Hanukkah, lit the menorah, and made candy <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">dreidels</span> with them. It was fun for Leah and I, and I think the rest of the class also enjoyed it. I also sent them all home with a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">dreidel</span> and bag of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">gelt</span>.</div><div><br /></div><div>I took my first trip to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Shenzhen</span> last week - the first stop in mainland China. I went with other from Will's baby group (sans babies, of course). We drove to the border and took the train across. It takes about an hour and a half each way. We spent several hours there shopping. I actually really loved it. You can get clothes tailor-made (which I'm not ready for until I finish losing the baby weight and getting in shape) and buy all sorts of knock-off and inexpensive items. I got quite a few handbags and DVDs. I'm definitely looking forward to future trips - I'd like to look at shoes, watches, sunglasses, and jewelry, as well as jeans for myself and clothes for the kids.</div><div><br /></div><div>In the meantime, I have been exploring Stanley Market a bit more. There are lots of hidden gems in there, but it would be nice to go with someone who knows the shops a bit more - I'll have to work on that. There are lots of options for kids clothes - something which I will definitely have to start looking for soon, as both kids are growing like weeds. I've also come across lots of fun gift items - from silk outfits to jewelry to carved wood to T-shirts. And soon I'll be going to buy clothes / gear for dragon boating. I joined the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">AWA</span> Dragon Boat Team. It's very challenging but a fun team sport. After 3 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">pre</span>-season practices, I'm working on getting in better shape before the season starts in January. Practice will be Tuesdays from 9:30-11:30 a.m. and Saturdays from 8:30-11:30 a.m. The commitment is a bit daunting, but I know it will be good for my physique and social life. In fact, I went a couple weeks ago to lunch and for foot massages with several women from the team.</div><div><br /></div><div>Leah had her class Christmas concert on the 8<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">th</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">Shafi</span> and I both went. The kids were very cute, with the boys dressed as <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">santas</span> and the girls as angels. Leah was not the most boisterous singer/performer, but we could see her lips moving and knew she was singing.</div><div><br /></div><div>We have been regularly attending Will's baby group, which gets together one morning a week. And I have been regularly attending the weekly lunches, which are mommies-only. I've also been trying to get a playgroup started for Leah. There are 7 people on the list from the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">AWA</span>, but only 4 of us have actually participated so far. We've met twice. Hopefully we can gain some traction there in the new year.</div><div><br /></div><div>The kids had check-ups at the pediatrician a few weeks ago (November 12 actually). Will needed his 6 month check-up and immunizations and Leah needed a form filled out for school. Will was a trooper, hardly fussing from the check-up or the shots. He is 28 inches – grew an inch in 2 months. And 17 lbs 14 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">ozs</span> – gained almost 1.5 pounds. That puts him around the 50<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">th</span> percentile for weight and 90<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">th</span> for height. L<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">eah</span> is 33.5 pounds - she gained 1.5 pounds in 2 months - and 39 inches - so she grew about 1/2 an inch. That puts her off the chart in height and around 80<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">th</span> percentile in weight. She's still tall and thin.</div><div><br /></div><div>I think that is about all there is to update at the moment. I will try to post more often. You can see pics on Picasa - <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/elissa.imran">http://picasaweb.google.com/elissa.imran</a></div><div><br /></div><span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p></o:p></span></span>Elissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366340755138040637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140094446123475849.post-26898612871082678102010-11-28T20:59:00.002-05:002010-11-28T21:02:52.635-05:00A tooth!I have been neglecting this blog terribly...just been too busy. But I promise to get to it sometime this week with updates on the last couple weeks.<br /><br />In the meantime, I need to note an important milestone - Will has his first tooth!<br /><br />Yesterday he was a bit fussy - didn't eat all that well, definitely did not nurse well. And when I looked I could actually see the top of the front 2 bottom teeth - but with a thin layer of flesh still covering them. And when I touched it - he yelped. But as of this morning, one of them has officially broken through the gums - the right one. I don't think the left has joined it quite yet, but it's obviously on the verge - so in a few more days I may be able to get a picture of his first pearly whites.<br /><br />Now I just have to hope he doesn't bite me!Elissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366340755138040637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140094446123475849.post-48633860195976429732010-10-26T08:14:00.001-05:002010-10-26T08:15:56.987-05:00School glorious school<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Georgia; color:black">Leah had her first day of preschool yesterday! And she loved it!</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Georgia; color:black"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; ">I took her to school in a taxi and figured I would see after that whether we want to try the school bus or the public bus or what. We arrived a few minutes early so that I could meet her teachers - Miss Ruby and Miss Alifya. They were all ready for Leah. Her name was on a hook in the hallway for her to hang her backpack and on a laminated leaf cutout in the classroom for her to stick on the back of the door when she arrives in the morning.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; "></span>She pretty much walked in like she owned the place.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And the school director told me there was no need for me to stay because Leah seemed comfortable.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I watched through the window of the classroom for a few minutes and saw that she was fine.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And I came back and picked her up at the end…she was happy to see me but had nothing but positive things to say about school.</p><p class="MsoNormal">So this morning I took her on the school bus.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Parents / caregivers are allowed to ride along.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We got on the bus about 8:20.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It picked up several more kids on the way and pulled up to school about 5 minutes to 9:00.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I tried to hang back a bit to let Leah follow along and make sure she’d be able to handle it on her own.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>She was fine.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The “bus mother” Miss Polly helps the kids get on and off the bus, puts their seatbelts on and their backpacks hanging on the seat in front of them.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>When the bus gets to school it pulls into the parking garage underneath.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The kids all get out and walk to the elevator and go up together and Miss Polly helps them to their classrooms where the teachers take over getting them settled.</p><p class="MsoNormal">At the end of the day the bus mother comes around and puts the kids backpacks in the rooms – they hang in the hallway during school.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Then she comes back around to collect them and they walk down the hallway holding a rope so that they stay together – with another assistant from the school at the rear to make sure they all hold the rope.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The bus driver helps them all up onto the bus and Miss Polly helps them all into seats and seatbelts.</p><p class="MsoNormal">When the bus comes for pick up they call if you’re not there – rather than just driving off without you – although I’m sure they won’t wait too long.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And when it comes for drop off, the kids can’t get off the bus unless there’s an appropriate person there to collect them.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Leah loves riding the bus.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>She sat with Lily, who she knows from the building.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And she told me that tomorrow she doesn’t need me there – she will do it by herself.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>So I am free from about 8:20 a.m. until 12:15 p.m.!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>When we move to <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Stanley</st1:place></st1:city> she will get picked up around 8:35 and dropped off around 12:05 – and there is another kid on the bus in our building, so it’s already a scheduled stop for the bus.</p><p class="MsoNormal">We’re all so happy that this is working out so well.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Leah loves school and is thrilled that she gets to go every day.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Hopefully she won’t be too disappointed when the weekend arrives!</p><p class="MsoNormal">Pictures to come soon…we’ve only got 1 home computer at the moment – and my time is up.</p>Elissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366340755138040637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140094446123475849.post-52955387294048958902010-10-19T07:08:00.005-05:002010-10-19T08:02:19.530-05:00Home alone...Well, not quite - the kids are asleep - so it just feels that way. Shafi has been working pretty long hours, so once I get the kids in bed, I more or less have the place to myself. Anna May leaves as soon as she's done cleaning up from dinner, so she's gone by the time I'm done with Leah. Then I can sit in peace and quiet and check email, pay bills, upload pictures, blog, etc. In some ways I am enjoying actually having the time to myself...and in some ways it's lonely night after night. And now for the next few days I'll have even more of it. Shafi is off on his first business trip since we got here. He's going to be in Delhi for 2 nights and Mumbai for 1. Sounds like he won't really have time to see the sights, as he'll be working a lot, but I'm sure he'll at least get some good curry.<div><br /></div><div>The kids and I are keeping very busy though. Sunday the whole family went to the Pumpkin Festival at the Hong Kong International School (HKIS - which is the American curriculum school here on HK Island). We had a good time - saw some people we'd met before and met some new people. There were games and such for Leah and it was nice to see that there's a real community surrounding the school - which we could be part of in a couple years - potentially.</div><div><br /></div><div>Yesterday morning Leah had a playdate with Caden and Vera, which I took Will to baby group. Caden and Vera both have younger siblings in the group - so it worked out well for everyone. Then Leah had swim class in the afternoon. She has made huge strides in just a week. She wasn't clinging to me for dear life like she had been last week. She was able to really let herself enjoy the class this time. She can now do the "monkey walk" - hands on the edge of the wall and feet against it and walk along it - very quickly - keeping up with the rest of the class. And when we did the passing back and forth from me to the teacher, she was willing to go under the water some of the time - and she figured out how to close her mouth and hold her breath so she didn't come up spluttering when she did. She was incredibly proud of herself afterwards and has been telling everyone that she "goed under the water." We've only got 1 more swimming class before we move, but I definitely need to see about putting her in another one soon. The timing on this one isn't so great once she is in school, so I'll need to see if there's another option with an indoor pool nearby. And maybe I'll be able to find one for Will too.</div><div><br /></div><div>In other exciting news, Leah has been continuing to work on potty training. Yesterday she pooped on the potty - this was her 10th one - so she finally got up to 10 stars on the chart and earned herself a prize. We went to Ocean Park this morning, so I let her pick her prize there. She chose a mechanical stuffed animal seal that scoots and turns and barks and flaps - it's very cute.</div><div><br /></div><div>We had a nice time at Ocean Park. We took the bus there - took only 10 minutes and cost less than US$1. We got there right around opening - 10 a.m. - and stayed until just after 1 p.m. - 3 hours is just about the right amount of time - and that included lunch. It would have been fine to leave at noon and come home for lunch too - might do that next time. Today we took the cable car over to the other side of the park. We rode a couple of rides and saw the acquarium. The aquarium was very cool - as were the nearby seals and sea lions. The highlight might have been the "raging river" - what I would call the log flume. We got a little splashed - not too bad - but Leah thought that was very cool. The ride was nice and she giggled - until we got to the big drop at the end. The picture they snapped when we were about to go over the edge showed some sort of amused terror on Leah's face. And when we came to a stop at the end I could not tell if she was laughing or crying. I asked her and she said, "both." As we were walking away I asked if she wanted to do it again and she said, "Maybe next time, I think." So cute.</div><div><br /></div><div>Will has really taken to Anna May now. She can easily feed him and put him to bed and play with him - the whole package. I feel very confident leaving him with her for several hours like I did this morning. And when we got home he was sitting playing with a toy and smiling happily. He also took 2 2-hour naps today - so it seems that she's doing something right!</div><div><br /></div><div>Will is continuing to prove to be a great eater. Last night he ate about 90% of a jar of stage 1 pears. And tonight he finished that one and ate at least 3/4 of another. And they seem to have done him good, as last night he had an enormous poop after a full week of not pooping. I'm hoping a couple more days of pears will be good for him! If so, I may mix in some rice cereal next.</div><div><br /></div><div>He is also getting really good at holding on to toys - and playing with them - or at least chewing on them. It's definitely amazing to see how much he has changed in the 3 weeks we have been in Hong Kong.</div><div><br /></div>Leah and Caden have become fast friends:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZaUgh3ewwD0/TL2PbC1apPI/AAAAAAABKmk/maPLkg1Pd7A/s1600/IMG_2138.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZaUgh3ewwD0/TL2PbC1apPI/AAAAAAABKmk/maPLkg1Pd7A/s400/IMG_2138.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529733612260992242" /></a>A special treat - Leah got her nails painted at the HKIS Pumpkin Festival:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZaUgh3ewwD0/TL2PcsMzEAI/AAAAAAABKm0/xKmy3-THhFQ/s1600/IMG_2154.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZaUgh3ewwD0/TL2PcsMzEAI/AAAAAAABKm0/xKmy3-THhFQ/s400/IMG_2154.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529733640544784386" /></a>An open-topped bounce house provided lots of fun - and good photos:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZaUgh3ewwD0/TL2PbnsxJzI/AAAAAAABKms/iUCn5JIhmbM/s1600/IMG_2140.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZaUgh3ewwD0/TL2PbnsxJzI/AAAAAAABKms/iUCn5JIhmbM/s400/IMG_2140.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529733622156830514" /></a>Mmm - tasty clown toy - and you can see Will multi-tasking - chewing on a toy while watching Leah play:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZaUgh3ewwD0/TL2PdbsUraI/AAAAAAABKnE/aWSx04J0DQQ/s1600/IMG_2170.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZaUgh3ewwD0/TL2PdbsUraI/AAAAAAABKnE/aWSx04J0DQQ/s400/IMG_2170.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529733653293477282" /></a>Will enjoyed his 2nd solid meal:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZaUgh3ewwD0/TL2PdKXHiJI/AAAAAAABKm8/9iAcFTT52y8/s1600/IMG_2160.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZaUgh3ewwD0/TL2PdKXHiJI/AAAAAAABKm8/9iAcFTT52y8/s400/IMG_2160.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529733648641132690" /></a>Watching the real Nemo at Ocean Park:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZaUgh3ewwD0/TL2VUiXuvoI/AAAAAAABKnM/S2SEdPZ323U/s1600/IMG_2193.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZaUgh3ewwD0/TL2VUiXuvoI/AAAAAAABKnM/S2SEdPZ323U/s400/IMG_2193.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529740097537097346" /></a><br />Aww - a hug from a friendly shark at Ocean Park:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZaUgh3ewwD0/TL2VU1M2OBI/AAAAAAABKnU/1Ft-vzFI-FM/s1600/IMG_2208.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZaUgh3ewwD0/TL2VU1M2OBI/AAAAAAABKnU/1Ft-vzFI-FM/s400/IMG_2208.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529740102591723538" /></a>Elissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366340755138040637noreply@blogger.com0