Happy Halloween!

We had a very nice Halloween trick-or-treating in Old Town with both sets of grandparents! We couldn't have done that in Boulder! And the weather was gorgeous! Maybe 70 degrees! Shirts and short sleeves! We went around to different stores in Old Town that were organized to give out treats. The boys had no idea why they were asking for and getting candy but Jac was into eating it! Especially the chocolate! A boy after my and his Grandfather's heart!

They were dressed as made men - mafioso! They looked really cute! We tried to spike their hair up but it didn't last for long! I have been talking about spiking Jac's hair up since last Halloween! I wanted to make it a cool color but I couldn't find the spray to do it with so I just used gel to make it stand up! Maybe next year!

After trick or treating we went to Buca di Beppo for dinner. Nicie loved! the tomatoes!

Kids playing at Amy's Place in South Pasadena

We have found a new place to play! It is an indoor play gym in South Pasadena called Amy's Place. It is quite large and has a ton of different things to play with. It feels like a really! well stocked pre-school with parents and nannies taking care of the kids rather than teachers.

The kids had a great time!

Jac was working on his path planning with all of the cars and carts to push around!


Nic was working on his walking and getting on and off of things!

Stringing words together

Jac has started to string words together!
"want that", "other one", "owie that"

It has felt like he should have been doing this a while ago but here it is! There is no going back now! As if there ever was! I can feel the discussions starting! He already treats us to a discussion in the car, on the train, walking around about what he is seeing and we are doing as we go along! Amazing! To have him communicate feels truly amazing! I know I am going to forget this wonder at his communication but I am going to try to hold on to it as long as I can!

Right now it is really exciting when he tells us to "hold" his bottle, or says "other one" or "this" to tell us which YouTube video he wants to watch on the TiVo! Or "fix" to fix the tracks on his train! He is clearly communicating what he wants and needs (at least some of the time!) and it is amazing! He is definitely not my baby anymore!

The leg

IMG_2516, originally uploaded by Taj and Joseph Chiu.

I love how Nic's suit is hiked up on his leg. Too cute!

One week later

I can hardly believe that Nic has only been walking for one week! He is walking all around the apartment - making turns - and following the magical left arm wherever it leads him! He can get up anywhere he wants to and go. He is hardly crawling at all now, except when he really wants something. He doesn't get anywhere quickly but he gets there! He has also walked backwards three times now! Joseph saw it once, I saw it once, and we saw it together tonight. When he walked backward for me, he looked me straight in the eye and then took two steps backward, very deliberately! Amazing! We have been looking for walking things to praise Jac for as we praise Nicie for walking, so Jac has been getting a lot of praise for sideways and backward walking, and crouch walking - so we are wondering if Nic caught on to that and decided to try it!

We are also pretty sure that Nic has started to use a few words. "Wa Wa" - water - used at the fountain. "Da Da" - Joseph. "Ne Ne" - breast milk. "Up" - I want to be picked up or I am standing up.

So many developments!

I don't have babies any more!

The boys were having a lot of fun in the lobby tonight walking, talking and eating "Out Out" - frozen yogurt!

Our little walker!

Nic has become such a walker so quickly! It hardly seems possible that it is Thursday and he has only been really walking since Monday! He can go where he wants to go, make turns, avoid obstacles, walk on objects and keep on walking, carry things while walking! Amazing!

The part I find the most amazing is how I can have a child that doesn't walk one day and walks the next and have both of those things seem completely normal when they are happening. The brain is an amazing thing!





Nic is so proud and happy to be walking. He gets this look of pure joy on his face as he makes his way across the floor. He can make it all the way across my parents' living room and kitchen in one foul swoop! After 3 days!

He had a great time this evening playing a give and take the toy and put it on your head game with Grandma.

Pee Pee in the Potty

Jac went pee pee in the potty for the first time today! We just brought a potty from Grandma's house home two days ago. He has been telling us sometimes when he pees or poops so we had a feeling he was starting to be ready to try a potty.

Today before his bath he asked to go on the potty so we put him there. He thought about it but didn't go. Then he asked to get in the bath so we put him in there. Then he repeatedly said something and he pointed to the potty so we put him on the potty. And he peed!

Wow! That was fast!

Tonight he peed once with Daddy and once with me in his potty! I guess he's ready!

Fun in the mud!

Today at the park the boys went into the sand pit for the first time. Jac had noticed a little girl playing in it the other day but I wouldn't let him play in it because it was too cold. It was nice and warm today though and in they went!



At first Jac was not sure he wanted to play in the sand and the water, but he really wanted to play with the water! Once he got used to the sand on his feet he was totally into it and was splashing around and making a real mess! Nic was also totally into it, doing some walking, and crawling through the mud and just generally slopping around in the sand! Fun was had by all!

They were so filthy we took their suits and diapers off and carried them home and straight into the bath!

Sleeping stuff!

IMG_2382.JPG, originally uploaded by Taj and Joseph Chiu.

Why can't he always sleep like this!

Daddy's shoulders!

IMG_2378.JPG, originally uploaded by Taj and Joseph Chiu.

Nic seems to like to ride on Daddy's shoulders!

Walking stuff

I think Nic officially became a walker today! He walked about 20 steps in one go! He did it all while Bonnie was here! I was working at my desk and I heard Bonnie exclaim, "walking stuff!" and I turned around and he had walked all the way across the play area to come and get the blocks she had pulled out!

We then gave him some more challenges to go and get the camera across the room (pretty much the same way we motivated Jac!) and he did a bunch of 10 step runs and then fall downs!

Push Push

Jac loves to push anything - especially the Stokke stroller, and especially when his brother is in it! He is actually quite good at pushing it and can turn it and navigate fairly well. He can make it from our apartment to the elevator without hitting anything! People absolutely stop in their tracks when they see him pushing it!

"Foot"

Yesterday in the car, on the way to Cerritos, Jac was having a long chat, and Nic was eating snacks and not crying!

During his chat Jac brought up the word foot. I was talking to him about it and what do I see but Nic grabbing his foot!! He was so excited! I waited a little bit and then said, "Nicie, foot" and he grabbed his foot again! Oh man! He understands!

Together

Jac and Nic do everything together! Well - they sort of have to! but they always want to be together anyway! - at least they always want to do what the other is doing!



Coloring at Kids Space - Nic has started to be able to scribble with crayons!



Pretend driving in Korea Town

Cyproheptadine

Dr. H prescribed Jac Cyproheptadine. It is an antihistamine that has the side effect of increasing appetite. For the first week he is supposed to take it just before dinner and then we slowly build up to twice a a day and increase the dosage.

Oh man does it increase appetite! It would be really bad if you were on a diet! It definitely increases his appetite after he takes it, and the effect seems to last - it seems like his appetite is improved, even the next day!

It has been pretty exciting to see him asking for food at times when he never would have asked for food before! Grow Jac grow!

Bonnie, our new Mother's Helper, taught Jac the word appetite, and so Jac calls it "tite" if you ask him if he has an "appetite."

Running

Jac has started running in the last two weeks. He is getting pretty fast now and swinging his arms when he does it! When he gets going really fast he forgets to pick up his feet enough and trips - which really surprises him since he hardly trips when he is walking anymore!

He really likes to run, and he tells you "running" when he is running - or when he wants to run! Super cute!

He has discovered that he can run at the park after he gets off the slide to go back around and do it again. The discovery that he can do all of this by himself, and do the slide again and again is new and very exciting for him! Watching him do the slide on his tummy (feet first and head first!) is very exciting, as he is blossoming in terms of his independence!

Wa Wa

Nic and Jac were sitting in their high chairs in the kitchen this evening. Jac asked for "Wa Wa", which is his word for water. Nic repeated the request and said "Wa Wa". It has been hard to identify Nic's first word as I have heard him say Momma and Dadda but they have never seemed to be related to any one thing - but tonight it was quite clear to me that he was repeating the "Wa Wa" request. This might be his first word!

Socks

Jac has Thomas the Train socks that go all the way up to his knees. Joseph says he looks "cute but dorky" when we put them on him with his shortalls. I say more cute than dorky!

Mommy

Jac has always called me Momma but in the last week or so he has started calling me Mommy. It is so sweet! It melts my heart when he says Mommy! I still only calls Joseph Dadda - not Daddy yet! I will try to get a video of it but I never know when he is going to say it!

Update: 10/19/09 I got the video!

Go NIc go!

Nic took a bunch more steps last night! Ama, Akon, Ima, Auntie Charmy and Uncle Wayne were here to visit last night. Akon keot on encouraging Nic to take steps by holding him away from him and giving him his cell phone to hold. It worked! Nic took 4 or 5 steps a bunch of times! He even took two steps towards me! He also was able to turn around while standing to go between the DVD player and the couch!

He is really starting to get it I think! Two little boys running! Oh man!

It is really fun to see him learning and the look of joy on his face! I think he is having even more trouble sleeping with all of these developmental changes. Daddy pointed out to me last night that Jac had a lot of trouble going to sleep when he was learning to walk.

Happy 27 month birthday

Watching trains with Daddy - while Daddy tries to nap!



Reading a train newspaper in the car!

Our little Jacie is 27 months! Another month, another astonished moment for Momma - or Mommy as Jac calls me sometimes!

Out little boy is growing up so fast! He is now obsessed - I think that is the only word - with watching train videos on YouTube. He watches on our TiVo and on my iPhone! He likes any video that has a train in it, model or real, Rokenbok, and the shapes video - which he refers to as shapes!



He is walking and talking up a storm - he is starting to try to jump - and he likes to take steps up and down small steps with no hands. He loves to push the stroller, and his push push. He likes to ride around on his fire engine. He loves to dance. He likes to give kisses and hugs. He likes to help clean his brother. He likes to wash his hands.

He now knows how to clean himself when he is in the bathtub. If you ask him to wash his head he will put water on it and scrub!

He can push the correct buttons in the elevator. If you ask him to push "3" for our floor he will do it, and "P1" for parking or "1" to go out to the street. When we get off the elevator he knows which direction to go to go "home."

Cooking Nic

Making himself comfortable

The other night, we took the boys by train to Top's for dinner, and then a quick shopping trip at the 99 Cent Only store... As the evening progressed, Jac's jeans and his diaper started to slide down some, and I kept pulling them back up. I guess the waist band must have loosened over time, because by the time we were walking the aisles at the store, I had to keep pulling his pants back up every few minutes.



Then, in the middle of the aisle between the school supplies and household hardware, Jac decided he had enough with the pants. To our surprise, and to that of the other 99-cent shoppers, he yelled his frustraton, yanked his diaper and pants all the way down to his ankles, flopped down on to the linoleum, and then wildly kicked his legs around in an attempt to free them.


I scooped him up and, in the midst of chuckles from the other shoppers, re-did his diapers, and put his pants back on.

Nic's first birthday party

We had a nice birthday party for Nicie at my parents' house today. It was great to see friends and hang out by the pool. It was a gorgeous day! Low-80s and clear - the view from my parents' backyard was beautiful!

Nic and Jac had a great time eating Nic's Costoco birthday cake! Oh man, did they have fun! Cake all over everything and all over them! Jac even took a knife with icing on it and applied it to Nic's head! He then got a napkin and "cleaned" him!

Head first!

We have been spending a lot of time at Kidspace and at the park near our house (almost out the front door!). At Kidspace there is a very small slide and Jac has discovered that he can safely slide down that feet first, on his tummy feet first - and on his tummy head first! Very exciting! This from a little boy that didn't slide by himself at all two weeks ago! Now he loves sliding!

Today we went to Kidspace in the morning where he played on the slide and then to the park in the afternoon. At the park Jac went right up to the top of the big slide and slid down head first on his tummy! I was shocked! The first time he did it he didn't slide off the end of the slide - so he turned around and asked for help to walk back up to the top. I helped him and then he got right back on his tummy and slid down again! - head first! This time he went a little faster and went partially off the end of the slide - and had to hold himself up with his arms. I helped him back up and he slid down again! A few times he nearly face planted - or sort of did - but fairly gently. I was so proud of him because he kept on going up and down - even when he got dirtier and dirtier! Go Jac!

It is so nice to have Kidspace so close - we decided to buy a membership - and it is already paying off. The membership is $160 a year and it is $30 otherwise each time we visit! I think we have already paid for the membership! They really encourage membership with that kind of pricing! The play area is so much like Kangaroo Kingdom that we went to in Boulder - great for the boys for motor development and socialization!

Happy 1st birthday Mr. Nicie

Our little Mr. Nicie is one year old! I can hardly believe that a year has passed since he was born! What a year!

It is so wonderful to be back in LA close to most of our family. We had a birthday dinner for Nicie at Cheesecake Factory in Old Town with all of our LA family! It was so wonderful to get in the elevator in our building with all of them - both sets of grandparents (alive and married!), and Joseph's siblings! Wow! So many people that really love our kids! It is going to be so wonderful to have them all so close by as the boys get older! They already know their family though! That is quite clear from the way they are able to be passed around from family member to family member without complaint! This is a good portion of the reason why we moved back and it is wonderful to see!



Nic and I went to Kidspace in Pasadena today. He had a great time. He is getting so mobile and his motor and path planning and getting pretty good. He decided that he would stand up and climb the stairs and then climb back up the slide. He is not walking but he is getting so close! He takes a step every once in a while but three is the most we have seen together and that was about a week ago. His ability to plan where he wants to go and get there is improving really quickly though!



He is also babbling up a storm! He has been saying "DaDaDaDaDa" for a while now and sometimes "DaDa" but yesterday I got "MaMa!" They are not words to him yet - sort of - but they are not attached to anything! But his other sounds and increasing all of the time also! I will try to get a recording of him but when I try he takes my recording device away!

He is my sweet little teething boy! He is about to get his fourth upper tooth (he has had the other three for more than a month!) He has not been sleeping very well - I will get him down to sleep and then he will wake up again an hour or so later - wide awake!

We are trying to get the boys on something approximating a schedule - up at 8:30 am and asleep by 9:30 or 10 pm! It is sort of going - we have been at it for about a week - so hopefully in a couple weeks they will have settled into it and we can all get some more sleep! Nic has been up so late! Jac has been going to sleep at somewhat reasonable times but missing his daytime nap. Nic has been napping during the day but then staying up too late! Tonight they were both asleep by 10 pm - after an exciting birthday dinner and visit from family to our apartment.

Happy Birthday Mr. Nicie!

Poop!

Jac has been telling us when he is going to poop! A minute or so before he goes he tells us! Very exciting! We are in no hurry to potty train but this is a definitely a step in the right direction! I am sure Jac is going to kill me for writing about this someday but it is an important developmental milestone!

Teeth!

Jac now asks to brush his teeth. We have been very slow to brush his teeth because we didn't want to cause any oral issues by forcing it on him - but he decided he wanted to do it on his own after watching us!

He now asks - forcefully - to brush his teeth! He likes to run the water and spit and brush his teeth with his Nuk brush (he didn't like the little kids brush much but the Nuk works). He is very serious about it. We need to find him a better stool now so that he can reach the sink himself.

He can also soap himself if you give him the soap and tell him where to soap! He can also dry himself (sort of) and wipe his own hands! Most of this is because Daddy asks him to do it! I still think he is my little baby and forget to ask him to do these things! Fortunately Daddy realizes that he can do these things and asks him and teaches him to do them!