A second flight

Mommy and daddy spent another day putting all of our things into bags. And just like last time, that meant we were going somewhere.

Grandma and grandpa took us on an outing at night. There were lots of lights everywhere. I did not realize the city was so big. Grandma said that the next time I come here I need to get out more and see the world. We went to a big building with lots of other people who had bags and stood in lines. There was a line just for babies (and their parents) that we got into. And people for me to smile at.

There were lots of friends for me to wait with for the first flight. But it was so late I was not interested in playing, just sleeping. Our first stop was at an airport I was in before. It was the airport with the seats so I could wait for mommy in the bathroom. And they had a play area with toys for me to play with. At first I was alone, but then many big friends came. But they were big and fast so I just played in my corner.

We spent a long time in that airplane. Then another one. And we eventually made it back home. I was so tired after spending so much time without a bed. I slept for most of a day. And I'm still tired. *yawn*

Going to the beach

We left the city for a couple days to go somewhere quieter and by a lot of water. Grandpa had to drive for a long time to get there. We even stopped at a place just so everyone could eat. And of course, everyone there liked to look and smile at me.

We stayed very close to a lot of water. The first morning, daddy took me out to walk on the beach. It was very quiet with birds flying around eating their breakfast, and only a few other people doing the same thing we were. I even said hi to a monk who was taking a walk. We also went to the market here. Although we had to drive there, not walk like the city house. But the people here liked to laugh and smile at me just like in Bangkok.

But the real reason we came here was I had lots of cousins coming. From all over the place. And we did puzzles, went swimming, read books, sat around and even went to the beach. This was my first time standing on sand and in the sea. It was a lot of fun. And loud. With so much space and so few people, it is surprising that it could be so loud. But my cousins also are good at making lots of noise.



We only stayed there for a couple of days. And then it was back to the city house.

Pizza place in Hua Hin, Thailand

Pizza place in Hua Hin, Thailand, a photo by LugerLA on Flickr.

We went with Aunt D and Uncle R to eat pizza by the sea. I got to watch them making pizza from scratch. And afterwards, the nice lady who served us wanted to take a picture of me. Daddy thought that tourists are supposed to want to take pictures of things, not the people that work there. But, why not, as long we we got a pictures too.

Yes, I can cry

For some reason, all of my aunties and grand aunties think that I am a very well behaved baby who does not cry. Mommy and daddy have been assuring everyone that I can, but no one believes them. Well, today, mommy and daddy decided to go on an outing, and they left me with grandma.

Grandma wanted me to put me down and sleep. But I was not having any of that so I made her hold me. Then when she tried to change my diaper, I let her know I could cry. I really belted it out. So loud that great grandma made all the aunties and great aunties come over to help. (and a couple of cousins too for some reason. Maybe they were coming to compare notes on crying. After all, I am pretty good at it.)

Grandma gave mommy and daddy a full report when they came back. But they were not impressed so they just laughed. It is not that funny, is it?

Playing with cousins

On my vacation I have been meeting grandpa, many aunties and grand-aunties and a great grandma. But I also met cousins. They are like the other kids at day care, but when I go play with them, mommy and daddy stay to play with us.

A and L live here all the time so I met them first. A is bigger and he likes to talk to the mommies and daddies and aunties. Sometimes he is a bit sneaky because L and I can't talk like he does. L is very happy to see me because now he can call me Nong T, and he does not get to call anyone 'Nong' (younger ___) He likes being bigger than someone. (but he does not look that big to me). L likes to play with me. He taught me how to play with a ball, and we played piano together.

Pe' A is my cousin from Chicago who is also visiting. Khun Chuen (great grandmother) is really happy to see all of the visiting cousins come and play. All four of us went to great-grandma's house to play today. And they taught me how to play with the walking beep-beep.

Playing with my cousins is fun, even if sometimes they are crazy. I want to play with them every day now.

A haircut by grandpa

My hair has been getting a little long, so grandpa decided I needed a haircut. But we don't have scissors. And grandpa had an idea. He will use his razor to cut my hair. I was a little skeptical.

So grandpa put on some soapy stuff on my head and started shaving my hair. And he took out a lot of it. Even more than daddy and other grandpa did. But he left a little in the back.

Now when I go on outings, everyone comments on my haircut. I don't know what they all say, but I still do a good job of making everyone smile :-)

First train ride

Grandpa and Grandma went on a trip today, so mom and dad and I went on an outing. But this outing did not involve a car, we went for a walk. Then we went up the stairs to a train station. I've never been on a train before! It moves like a car, but on its own roads. And it is big. It is so big that mommy and daddy and lots of other people can stand in it.

The first trip there were lots of people. We got in and we stood but the train was moving. There were lots of girls to smile at and they smiled and laughed back at me.

The second trip was going back. But now I am an expert train rider. I just copy daddy and I know how to hang on to the pole when the train is moving also. Daddy says that I will get to ride the train again and I think it is so much fun.

Walking to the market to get breakfast

My first day in Thailand I woke up after 3 hours of sleep. And the sun was up. That means it is time to get up and play (ed note: 6:00 AM after going to bed around 2 AM, and a thunderstorm that set off a crying session at 3 AM). But mommy was sleepy. So daddy decided we should go take a walk. And maybe Grandpa could join us. And who was waiting downstairs? Grandpa!

First we went to the spirit house to say good morning to the local spirit, and letting me sleep in his house. Then we took a walk. This was much louder with more cars and people than when I take a walk at home. And there was so much to look at and people to smile at. And everyone was smiling back at me.

Daddy and grandpa said they had a job to do. Get breakfast. So we went a few blocks and there was a street where many people were selling many things. We had to go visit many people to get breakfast. And I got to look at many people making food. And they all wanted to talk to me. Daddy made me practice putting my hands together and saying sawasdee khrap to everyone on the street. So I did that with the aunties selling food, the grandmas and the girls walking on the street, and the Ajahns who were also getting breakfast. Grandpa said I was doing a good job making everyone happy and smiling.


We were walking around for an hour. And when I met great-grandma later in the day and she asked me what I did, I had so much to tell her. And on our vacation I got to go to the market with daddy and grandpa almost every day. So much fun.

First flight

One day I woke up like I usually do when it was still dark. But mommy and daddy were already awake and walking around the house. And instead of feeding me and putting me back to sleep, they brought me to the car and we went on an outing. But it was dark outside. We never go on outings when it is dark outside. So all the roads looked different.

We went to a place with lots of people and waited in many lines. Then we went inside an airplane. The first trip was about an hour. It was so much fun and there were so many new things to look at. I liked to smile at everyone, especially our seat neighbor, except she was sleeping the whole time. When we got off she said I was a good flyer.

The second trip was much longer. But there were still so many new things. I liked playing with daddy and smiling at all the neighbors and the pretty ladies who came with food for mommy and daddy. And I liked to smiled to the neighbors across the aisle, and behind us when daddy would life me up in the air. We also took walks around the plane so I could find a place to play. I even found a new friend to play with. He taught me a new game to play with cups, moshi-moshi. (ed Note: Kan is from Osaka and was returning from a visit with grandparents in Indiana.) It was so much fun. And everyone was smiling at me when they got off.

Then we had to stay in another airport. They had this big bathroom with a big changing table and a seat that I could use while waiting for mommy. They also had a play area where big kids were playing, but they were too rough for me. And more new things to look at. But I was getting tired. And sleepy. And we had to get on another plane. This time I did not play as much (does everyone expect me to play, play, play all the time, even I sleep sometime)

We finally made it to the fourth airport. This time we did not look for a place to play and sit. But we got all the bags that we left at the first airport. And we went for a walk. Then first grandma was waiting with other new people. And they were so happy to see us (I don't know why). And another trip in the car in the dark, this time with both mommy and daddy in the back with me. A new house and it was time for bed.

Hurricane Earl 2.0

The Red Cross had a practice session (ed note: disaster shelter exercise) and I had a job. My job was to be a baby staying at the shelter. A job that I possess unique qualifications for performing. I started out by having to register just like everyone else. I even got my own name tag.



Next was the all important question: Where was I going to sleep. I was going to get a cot in the gym along with a blanket, and space for daddy too. This was not too bad. I gave the arrangements a test run. Not too bad, even though there were many other people in the loud gym with me who were talking and carrying on. But I took my job seriously. I even woke up to eat (and I wanted mommy's milk, which someone was storing for me)



Daddy had another job while staying with me, which was listening to some people talk on the radio. I think he was doing a good job too. Maybe not as well as I was doing mine, but not everyone can do that :-)

Goodbye Grandma and Grandpa :_(

*sniff* Grandma and grandpa left today. I'm going to miss them so much. They came here just after first grandma left. And just in time for me to get sick for the first time. They listened to me exercise my lungs alot, and danced and sang and marched. And made me practice smiling. Alot. I'm very good at it now.

But they finally had to leave and go home to China. We've been watching "Ni hao Kai-Lan" on TV and it says China is very far away and you have to fly a long time to get there. I hope I can visit them at their house some day.

Dressing up and going out

Getting ready to go to lunch, a photo by LugerLA on Flickr.

Last week was a dress up week. Mommy and daddy and I went for an outing. [ed note: Red Cross volunteer luncheon] But we had to dress up first. I even had to wear a tie! What a useless thing. It is not even big enough to drool on properly.

We went to a nice place where mommy and daddy sat at a round table with a bunch of new people. There was lots of boring talking (I stayed out for that) and everyone got their food at the same time. All of daddy's friends wanted to come by and pinch my cheeks. They are not that big :-( [ed note: yes they are]

But we had fun. All these people wanted to look at me. Daddy took me and walked around the big room and made me say hi to everyone. And everyone was so happy :-). And I had fun with mommy and daddy walking around outside the dining room

A long outing

Very happy baby a photo by LugerLA on Flickr.

We went on a long outing this week. All of us (mommy, daddy, grandma, grandpa and me!) We were in the car for a long time, then we stopped and I said hi to a new friend. And then I pooped over my clothes and daddy's clothes. I was so happy.

We went to a big house with lots of rooms (ed. note: Stonewall Jackson resort in WV) All these other people were around to and I practiced smiling at them when daddy was carrying me. I was practicing my very big smile. Daddy says I look like a cartoon of a chubby, happy baby with a big 'D' smile. Then mommy made me go swimming. I did not like that very much and stopped smiling for a while :-(

We stayed for a long time. We even slept overnight. This is the third place I've spent the night. The next day we went to see glass blowing, and daddy took me on a long walk where we saw ducks and frogs. The frogs were singing real loud. After that, we came back home. I was so happy the whole time because mommy and daddy were with me all day several days in a row. Daddy was wondering if the right baby was with them because I was so happy. When we got home, I let him know that this was the same baby.

Almost 4 month

I am almost four months old. That means I will go to the doctor's office again next week and I hope I don't get poked by the nurse lady like last time, but who knows... But here are some things I have learned in the past a few months outside mommy's tummy.

1. First and foremost, I am big! I didn't realize how big I was until mommy and daddy brought me to a class. Yes, I go to school. Once a week. There everyone is older than me, but all smaller than me. That doesn't make me look very good. Oh well.

2. I am very sensitive to wind, heat, weird food that I don't know what they are, and sound. I don't sleep when there is noise around me. And I break out in rashes when it is too hot, too dry, too windy, and when mommy eats something yummy from the sea.

3. I am not very bright. Or mommy says so. But mommy will make sure that I am the most damn hard working one. And I can do great things if I work really really really hard. Being smart won't get me anywhere. (not to mention that I am not that smart)

4. I love to sing. I sing when mommy sings, grandma sings, and even when grandpa sings.

5. I am really afraid of going outside. I don't like noisy big things, like a car. I really don't like when wind blows my way. I am afraid of big crowd. When the store is empty, I am rather happy to shop with mommy and grandma.

6. I don't like the stroller very much, even the very nice one Daddy got me for running with him. I am much more comfortable going outside when mommy wears me in a wrap.

7. I love school and my friends there. I have video to approve it!

8. Like mommy, I like quietness when I sleep. So no chance for me to zzzzzzzzzzzzzz when there is even tinny tinny bit of noise. Like that day, I was sooooooooo mad when mommy woke me up by turning the light switch.

Piano practice

Mommy and Daddy have been listening to a book on parenting. "Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother" by Amy Chua. And I have been listening too. My favorite part are the descriptions of all the ways to try to get out of practicing piano.

So, a couple of days ago, mommy tried to get me to practice piano for the first time. And I was ready.

1. I pooped (so I needed a clean diaper)


2. I told mommy I wanted to eat


3. I spit up all over my clothes (with the milk I just ate) so grandma and grandpa had to change me.

And then we had people come over. Success! No piano practice.


But I think mommy and daddy got further in the book. Because today, they tried again. And I tried to spit up on my clothes to see if that would get me out of piano practice. And mommy and daddy just laughed at me and said that I had to practice piano first, then change into new clothes. So I had to practice piano today.