Rock on!

Ask and ye shall receive… In your case it was a toy guitar.

Daddy said he saw you (when he picked you up at daycare) with a purple guitar strapped around your shoulder. You were apparently rocking out on it. Nowadays when you see something you like/want you ask us to buy it for you.

Daddy, being the great dad that he is, took you to Toys R Us today to buy a guitar for you. He would spend money on buying you and Kendall toys before buying something for himself. You picked out this Lightning McQueen electric guitar. The first thing you did when you got home was to pretend you were a rockstar. I didn't even teach you to do that!

Artwork by Aidan

I had to pick you up from daycare today because daddy had to work late. When I picked you up you were sitting with your classmates drawing on a colouring paper. You brought it over and when I flipped over the sheet you had a whole bunch of 'A's' that you were writing. You tend to like writing 'A's' because it's the first letter of your name. At home, you've been practicing writing with a crayon/marker so I love that you are using this skill at daycare. 

When I looked in your cubby you also had a handmade Easter card that you had worked on with your teachers. So sweet!

So active

I took a cute video of you playing in your crib today. You are constantly wanting to touch stuff and explore. 

And here's a video of you rolling around everywhere. You can crawl now, but you also like rolling too to get around.

New ride

I converted your stroller that had the bassinet to a seat since you can sit up on your own now. I have yet to take you out on your new ride, but I did put you in the seat to adjust the belt. I can't believe how quickly you are growing up!

So much like your daddy

I didn't know I had a scaredy cat for a son.

You seem to be scared of the silliest things. I guess your fears comes from daddy as he is scared of lots of things- rollercoasters, highways, heights, scary movies, the list goes on and on…

Last night I was reading you this Korean book about going potty. After we finished reading the book
you were looking at the cover and I pointed out the tiny bee. I asked you, "Aidan, do you see the
tiny bee?" As soon as you saw the bee you screamed.

Here is the close-up of the bee. You wouldn't get close to the book because you were so scared!

Another book that you enjoy reading as your bedtime book- Jake and the Neverland Pirates
The Croc Takes the Cake. However, there is one page that you are scared of. Every time we get
to this page you say how scary Captain Hook and Smee looks.

On closer inspection I can see why you are scared- they have googly eyes!
I forgot to point out the crocodile, but he also has the same googly eyes.

Now this is a silly fear- the frame in mommy's office.
Daddy got a frame from work for working at his company for more than 5 years and there is a
picture of a woman in the frame. It's harmless, right? Not according to you. Every time you pass
by mommy's office and see the frame you scream and say, "She's looking at me!"

I seriously don't understand…

Lastly, this is a magnetic drawing board. I always draw things that I see around you and one day
I drew the little old man that is on the logo. When you realized what it was you yelped saying the
'old halbi is scary!' Oh boy… we got a scaredy cat in our hands…

Here is the old man.

Lowered the crib

Yesterday I caught you standing up in your crib with your crib bumpers around you. Somehow you moved the bumper so that it was wrapped around you. It scared the crap out of me because this was right after your nap time and I wasn't in your room to see what you had done to yourself. You could have 1) suffocated or 2) fell out of your crib (because the top of the crib comes up to your armpits when you are standing). I didn't think you could stand up on your own, but I guess you learned to use your upper arm strength to pull yourself up in your crib. I wanted to move the crib mattress down (as your crib is adjustable) so that you wouldn't be able to climb over the crib. I moved the crib to the 2nd lowest setting with the help of Aidan as my assistant.

I put you in the crib after I lowered the mattress to see how you would be in the crib standing up.
The crib now comes up to your chin area. I also removed the crib bumper as you're not really
supposed to be using it anyways. Apparently it's a choking hazard. The only reason why I had it
was because I was afraid that you would bump your head on the wooden rails while sleeping.

Month-by-month- Month 8

How can you possibly be 8 months already??? My little baby girl is growing up way too fast.

It was quite difficult for me to take pictures of you because you kept wanting to eat your booties, lick the chair and eat your bow on your dress. I can't seem to keep you still these days. Other than that I think you look quite pretty in your little, hot pink number.

Look how pretty you are getting.
Your hair has grown a lot from last time. It's still very patchy in places, but I think you look better
now. We might get your sides feathered down today when we go to the hair salon. 

I took a quick video of you while doing your photoshoot, but as you can see you were not being a good subject matter :-/

I couldn't resist taking pictures of you just wearing your pink stockings. You look so cute!

Look at all those delicious rolls.

Another video of you trying to crawl. I swear you did it right before I shot this video, but whenever I try to capture it you end up just rolling around everywhere!

So here's what's new:

- Your top, front tooth started coming out. The one on the right-hand side. I've tried taking photos of it, but you won't let me. 

- You started to crawl today! You've been crawling backgrounds and rolling everywhere a while back, but just today you crawled forward. 

- A few days ago you went from your belly position to a sitting position.

- You are still sick :-(

- It snowed today and yesterday was the first day of Spring :-(

Always trying to strip

I took this photo of you when I checked in on you after your nap. I don't know how you do it, but you always try to take off your clothes! That's why I can't put you in anything except a onesie. Or I have to put you in your sleep sack so I know you can't put the clothes over your head. Such a funny little girl you are…

The most interesting human being I know

I was very tired this morning because Kendall woke up a few times in the middle of the night. Her nose is so stuffed up because of her cold that she is having a hard time breathing :-(

Then after I feed her and put her back in bed I can't fall asleep because daddy is snoring so much! 

You always come into mommy's room in the morning and this morning you came quite early- just before 7am. I was soooo tired that I couldn't get up to take you pee. You just lay beside mommy while talking to yourself. I was so tired and annoyed that several times I yelled at you to be quiet. Then I must have nodded off because the next time I awoke it was close to 10am when I heard you whimpering beside me. I looked and saw that you had your pants off and you had both legs in one leg hole of your underwear. I guess you were whimpering because you were stuck and you couldn't get your legs out. I helped you fix your underwear and put your PJ's back on. That's when I realized that you didn't have your overnight diaper on. I asked you if you went pee on your own and you said yes. You said to me, "I didn't want to wake you because you were tired so I tip toed to the washroom. I also tip toed across the hallway so I wouldn't wake up Kendall." I asked you where you put your diaper and you said in the trash can beside the toilet. I checked and lo and behold it was there. I was so impressed by you and how you were trying to be quiet so you wouldn't wake me that I just grabbed you and kissed you all over. I can't believe my little boy is growing up!

I've also noticed that your tantrums are becoming a little less frequent now. You didn't cry when I dropped you off at Korean school on Saturday and same on Sunday when I dropped you off at Mustard Seed. Today, you even went as far as to say to me, "Mommy, I will listen to you!" when I told you it was time to go for nap time. Previously you would throw a fit and cry, but I was so amazed that you listened to me. 

So sick…

You are so sick right now.

Last night was brutal because you kept waking up. Your nose was so stuffy that you couldn't breathe and you kept coughing. I had to constantly check up on you because I was scared you were going to develop a fever. I tried putting a sweater on you, then I took it off because I thought you were too hot. Then I tried sleeping on the floor with you since you kept crying, but that didn't work. Let's just say I didn't get much sleep…

When you woke up this morning your face was a mess. It was all blotchy and your nose was all crusty. I'm so stressed out because I'm so worried about you. You were just very lethargic the whole day and very whiny and cranky. My poor baby…

I'm not looking forward to tomorrow because your brother will be home with us. It will take a lot of energy taking care of both of you. Sigh…

Constantly trying to crawl

Lately all you've been trying to do is to crawl. I feel like you'll get it soon because you lift up your chest and use your legs to prop yourself up, but you don't know how to use your knees and arms to go forward. You somehow end up going backwards…

We were in Aidan's room most of the morning because I was so tired and sick that I didn't have
the energy to play with Aidan in the basement. You were contently exploring in Aidan's room.

This is how you attempt to crawl, but you get so frustrated.

Look of frustration.

Bursting into tears because you are so frustrated trying to crawl. Aigoo aigoo.

I'm really missing daddy right now. Because I'm so sick it's really tiring for me to do anything. 

"What did he said?"

Your friend Nate called you today to talk on the phone. I would have loved to have a play date with you and Nate, but I'm so sick that I don't think it's a good idea to expose my sickness to other people.

You guys talked on the phone for a long time and it was so amusing that I couldn't resist taking a video of you guys. You couldn't understand anything Nate said and vice versa. It was hilarious!

Buzz & Woody

Because we stayed home all day yesterday I wanted to go out and get some reprieve. Initially I was planning on putting you in daycare today as you looked a bit better than yesterday, but then I noticed your nose was still running quite a bit. Every time you sneezed a huge glob of booger came out. I decided to keep you with me so that I could watch you. Instead, we decided to visit your Toronto grandma/grandpa. I wanted to buy them lunch because they baby sat Kendall a few times- every Tuesday the last 3 weeks (Rosco had a follow-up vet appointment and I also had to meet a co-worker this past Tuesday). Plus, they hadn't seen you in a while. We ended up going to Congee Time for Chinese food. I thought we would just part ways after that, but your Toronto grandpa suggested we go to the mall. I was up for that! I'm always suggesting we go somewhere together, but your Toronto grandma doesn't want to do anything! 

While we were at the mall your grandparents bought you new gear at the Disney store. You got a backpack and rain boots. They also bought you a Lightning McQueen toy (not shown here). Thank you Aidan's grandparents!

You chose the Toy Story backpack between a Mickey Mouse, Spiderman and Lightning McQueen one.
I guess Toy Story is your favourite character du jour.

Your grandma asked me if you would like a Toy Story shirt or rain boots and I immediately said
rain boots. You already have so many t-shirts so I knew this would be a good buy.

Isn't it so cute?

Single mom

So daddy left at 4:00am this morning to go to Las Vegas with his friend James.

They will be gone from Wednesday to Saturday night. Daddy asked me on Monday if he can go to Vegas with James. I know a lot of wives would say no, but I really want daddy to enjoy his life once in a while. Having said that I'm maybe regretting letting him go because I feel horrible right now- I lost my voice, I'm dizzy and my nose is runny. Aidan is sick too so I might have to keep him at home the rest of this week until daddy comes back. Help!

Rough day

I know it doesn't look like it, but it was a rough day today. Mommy is sick with a cold and so are you and Aidan. Aidan's nose has been runny all day and you've also had a bit of a runny nose. Mommy lost her voice and my throat is swollen. I'm just really burnt out these days.

Daddy asked me last night that his friend James asked him to go to Las Vegas with him this week. Daddy asked me if it was ok with me and I said yes. I know that just means more work for me, but I know daddy deserves time alone to enjoy himself. He always tries to make it up to me so I can't get mad. I just hope that Aidan will behave while daddy is gone. Sometimes Aidan drives me crazy!

You were playing on the mat in mommy's office while I was doing stuff on the computer.
Aidan was trying to nap. He takes forever to fall asleep!

Dennis' friend James bought this doll for you. It's almost as big as you!

When Aidan is home with me this is how our day usually goes:

- Aidan wakes up and goes to mommy's room.

- Mommy is usually exhausted so I take Aidan pee and we go back to mommy's bed while Aidan rolls around and talks to himself. I usually don't get any more sleep :-(

- Mommy brushes Aidan's teeth and makes Aidan breakfast- usually waffles or pancakes. Today was pancakes. I put Aidan in his high chair while he watches his morning cartoons.

- Mommy goes upstairs to get dressed and ready. By this time you start waking up. I change your diaper and go downstairs to check up on Aidan. By this time he is finished with his breakfast. 

- Mommy feeds you solids. Today was butternut squashed with rice cereal mixed in (since you refuse to eat rice cereal on its own). After solids it's breast milk.

- After everyone is fed we go downstairs to play. 

- After a while you start getting tired so I put you upstairs for naptime. 

- Around 12:30pm we go back to the main floor so that I can start prepping Aidan's lunch. 

- After lunch mommy puts Aidan down for nap time. He usually takes a looooooong time to fall asleep. 

- You wake up while Aidan is in his bed trying to nap. I feed you breast milk and feed you solids again.

- I try to do some work in the office or watch TV while Aidan naps. You are usually playing on the floor or in your play pen this time.

- When Aidan awakes we play some more in the basement. 

- Mommy puts you down for a nap again.

- Around 4:00pm is when I start prepping dinner. Aidan is watching cartoons again while I prep.

- Around 5:30pm I put on Skype so Aidan can talk to his Vancouver grandparents.

- Daddy usually comes home around 5:50pm or 6:10pm, but today he went to the casino with his friend James.  

- After dinner Aidan plays again in the basement while he has his milk and cheese.

- At 8:00pm that's when I put Aidan to sleep.

- After Aidan sleeps I put you to sleep.

- I wake you up again around 11:00pm to breast feed you so that it will last you the rest of the night.

- That's it! Phew~

Here's a drawing I did while we were playing in the basement. Aidan was so happy. It's of his
socks that he wore today.

I had very ripe bananas so I baked banana muffins today. They were delicious!

So why was it hard today? It's because Aidan doesn't listen! I'm trying not to yell and spank anymore because I've noticed that Aidan has started talking back and even trying to hit and spit on me. I know the easy way to discipline is to yell and spank, but it's only good temporarily. Today I was trying to discipline Aidan by not talking to him in a raised voice and talking positively to him. For example, when he says to me, "I'm going to beat you!" I'll respond by saying, "Aidan, please don't say that to me because it hurts my feelings. Can you not say that?" He will repeat it again and I will repeat what I say back to him and also add, "Aidan, I love you. Do you love me too?" Whereas he will nod. Then I say, "Please don't say that to me again." And he will respond by saying, "I will not do it again!" 

Aidan does do it again, but I guess this is something that I will have to repeat over and over.

I think Aidan was tired today and when he is tired he is very difficult to handle. Even putting him to bed was a feat because he kept coming up with every excuses in the book to not go to bed. He was telling me he wanted another bedtime book, he was too cold, he was too hot, etc. etc. He threw 3 tantrums while I was trying to put him to sleep. I'm beyond exhausted, but I have to feed Kendall now before I go to bed :-(

Being a mom is not easy!