This boy takes a beating!

Mommy thought it would be cute to take photos of you holding Kendall. Sounds like a good idea, but you in the process you took a beating from Kendall! She seemed more interested in smacking you, pulling your hair, squeezing your cheeks and poking your eyes. However, you didn't do anything. You just let her do whatever she wanted to you. What a good brother you are. Later, I got you to jump for mommy. You love posing for the cameras so you were all for it.

Just before our mini shoot. Rosco loves giving Kendall kisses. He never did that to you when you
were a baby… I guess Rosco likes Kendall more than you!

Afterwards I decided it was time to go through some of you and Kendall's clothes to give away for donation. I'm still reserving the good clothes for Auntie Jessica and Auntie Sara if they have a little one (BTW, Auntie Jessica is pregnant!). While I was packing some stuff away I came across some of Kendall's newborn clothes. I couldn't believe how small she used to be. Just even talking about it is making me sad. I can't believe how quickly time flies!

This onesie is TINY! I held it up against Kendall and she was a giant next to it.

Auntie Sara ended up coming over in the afternoon to see you guys and we decided to go to the park since it was a pretty nice day.

You are in the red swing in the top, right corner. Auntie Sara is pushing you.

You were having such a good time riding the swing and I think it was soothing for you because
you actually fell asleep for a little bit. Your Toronto grandparents dropped by the park to see
you and you were asleep almost the whole time they were there!

You had such a blast playing in the park. I'm so happy when you're happy!

9-month check-up

Today was your 9-month check-up. Luckily, you didn't get any shots today. You will be getting your next shots after your 1-year birthday.

Here is where you're at:

Weight: 7.75kg or 17.08lbs
Height: 67cm
Head circumference: 43cm

Everything went smoothly. The only thing that we had a concern with was your diaper rash. As soon as I took off your diaper to get you on the scale you were scratching down there uncontrollably. It was quite embarrassing, but I know it must have been painful for you because it was so itchy. The doctor prescribed you something to help you get over your nasty diaper rash. Fingers crossed it works!

I took a quick snapshot before we went out. I'm so in love with you!

Here you are scratching down there. But you were cute anyway!

Bags under her eyes

One of mommy's daily routine at nighttime is to wake you up around midnight to get a feeding in. I usually put you to bed around 7:30pm so I want to make sure you get another feeding before you sleep through the night. I also do that partly to make sure I'm not engorged in the morning. However, since you're pretty much in deep sleep when I wake you up you tend to have bags under your eyes. I was telling daddy about it and he actually came in to witness himself. I was lucky enough that I was able to take a video of your 'bags' today.

Kendall eats

You are getting better at eating!

Lloyd Christmas Part 2

Remember the last time you got a Lloyd Christmas haircut? Well, it has happened again. I asked the stylist to cut your bangs a bit shorter than last time because it grew way too quickly, but it turned out pretty short. I got you to pose today to look like Lloyd Christmas and you got a kick out of it. You kept wanting to see the picture of you and him side-by-side.

We're going to Asher's house!

This morning, Mommy had to go to your new school (junior kindergarten come September) where your new daycare will be to pick up the registration package that they prepared for me. It was our turn to host a play date with Asher and Austin, but I cancelled because of this. However, YJ (Asher's mom) called me this morning to ask us to come over to their house for a play date. She said to just come after we were finished with the school stuff. I didn't tell you until the last minute that we were going to Asher's house because I know sometimes plans can change. Last time Nate cancelled you were so upset that you wouldn't stop crying :-S

After mommy picked up the registration package I took a video of you outside. You were so happy because you were going to Asher's house. 

I decided to get YJ a drink at Tim Horton's, but I didn't realize Tim's was attached to Wendy's.
You are so scared of the Wendy's girl so when I pulled up at the drive-through I heard you screaming
at the back. I didn't know why until I saw you saying, "Girl with the red hair! I'm scared of her…"

The play date was a little bit stressful because Kendall wouldn't sleep and I had to constantly hold her because she wants to crawl everywhere and put everything in her mouth! Plus, you and Austin (Asher's younger brother) fought quite a bit because you wanted the same toys. Because it was such a nice day we decided to go to the park in the afternoon. 

You and Asher play so well together. Even though he speaks Korean and you English you just seem
to know how to play together. YJ was telling me that Asher hates wearing sunglasses, but as soon
as he saw you wearing yours he begged his mom to get his sunglasses. 

You guys even wanted to ride the same rides together. I think this ride was meant for one person…

Month-by-month- Month 9

I accidentally took your month-by-month photo today when you are actually 9-months tomorrow. Oops! I guess it's mommy brain. 

Ack, I just hate that I have 3 months left now before I go back to work. What am I going to do??? It was so hard when I had to go back when Aidan turned 1, but I think it will be harder this time around since you're my baby girl…

Aidan was being my photo assistant by trying to get you to smile for the camera. Being the goofball that he is he kept wanting to put on the bow that you had in your hair. Here is a quick snapshot I took of him after your photoshoot.

He just cracks me up.
Excuse the no pants in the shot. He was in the midst of stripping to go for his bath when I was
doing this photoshoot.

Daddy wanted to get in on the action. He just adores you. 

So here's what's new:

- You are an expert crawler now.
- You can pull yourself up by holding onto an object and you can also sit yourself down from a sitting position.
- I caught you yesterday standing still on your own without holding anything for 3 seconds in your play pen.
- You hardly take naps anymore. You now take 1-2 short naps during the day.
- You sleep at 8pm and wake up around 10am. I usually feed you at midnight to get you to sleep through the night.
- You never sleep when we go out anymore. I think you are too excited by everything that you see.
- The dress you are wearing in this photo is actually for 12 months so I think you're pretty big, but then again, you still look pretty small compared to other 9-month old babies…

On a completely different note, I took a cute video of Aidan spotting the red-haired girl (the Wendy's girl) while we were on the way to his Korean school. He is an absolute scaredy cat and he thinks that the Wendy's girl is scary because she is staring at him. He always screams when he sees her.

Crazy Friday

Mommy did something that I would normally not do- I went out with all of you (+ Rosco) on my own today. You desperately needed a haircut and Rosco had a vet checkup this morning. Actually, let's backtrack… I didn't take all 3 of you out at the same time. What I actually did was I dropped you and Kendall off at your Toronto grandparents' house while I took Rosco to the vet. Then I dropped Rosco off at your grandparents' house while I took you to the hair salon afterwards. Kendall just stayed with your grandmother the whole time. Even then I was exhausted from all the back-and-forth. I had hoped you would behave, but you always get delirious when you don't take your nap in the afternoon. You were acting up and not listening at your grandparents' house– so much so– that I got fed up and took you all home. Let's just say you got yelled at by mommy the whole ride home.

Your hair was getting so long that it was starting to cover your eyes. Since you have Korean school
for most of the day on Saturdays I decided to take you today. They cut it a little too short so you
look kind of like Lloyd Christmas, but it's ok. I'm sure it will grow out soon enough.

Mommy taking photos of you. 

Halbi actually came with us to the salon because he also needed a hair cut. You kept looking over
to him and giggling.

So while I was at the salon, the daycare that I have you on the waiting list for September called me back to say that you got in. Woohoo! I'm thrilled because it's a daycare that is in your new school when you start junior kindergarten in September. Since kindergarten will not be full-time this year I have to find before/after care for you when you are in school as well as part-time care for you on the days that you aren't in school. I was getting so stressed out because if you didn't get in this daycare I don't know who would have done the pick-up/drop-offs on the days that you go to school. School ends around 3pm and both daddy and I can't get home that quickly from work. Since this daycare is attached to your new school the daycare teacher will pick you up when you are finished kindergarten and take you to the daycare facility. I have to go there on Monday to pick up the package and registration forms as well as drop off the deposit cheque.

I wasn't going to post this because it's kind of gross to post somebody having a bowel movement, but I thought it was so cute. You have a hard time having a bowel movement every day and this makes your stool very hard, big and bloody, but lately you've been doing better. You have been having a bowel movement 2 days in a row now. That has never happened ever since we started potty training you since you turned 3. I think the encouraging thing is helping a lot.

Your wish is my demand

Nowadays when you see something that you like you always ask me to buy it for you. Exhibit A- Robo Car Poli Sketchbook (above). You first saw this a couple of weeks ago at Korean school. When I picked you up you were holding a Robo Car Poli Sketchbook in your hand. When I told you to leave it there you asked me to in your sweet innocent voice, "Buy it for me." I've been looking at several stores, but I couldn't find it. I then saw it at my friend, YJ's house, and her son, Asher had it. I asked her where she got it and she said Home and Home had it. I went there today with Kendall right before I picked you up from daycare (daddy worked late today). I gave it to you as soon as you got in the car and you were so excited and happy. I've been teaching you lately that you only get stuff if you listen to mommy and daddy and if you don't listen, then you get nothing. I'm hoping these little incentives will get you to listen to us better. It's a constant battle…

Here's a video of you showing off your sketchbook as soon as we got home.

And here's a video of Kendall playing with her toys during the day right before I picked you up. She loves exploring and touching everything.

Enjoying the sun-filled day

This Spring has been so crappy. It's been raining almost every single day and it's just been so COLD. When I checked the forecast and found out today was going to be warm and sunny (I think it was 17° today?) I knew I had to go out. I took you out in the stroller and also took Rosco out for a walk. We ended up in the park and I put you in the swing and you swung in it for quite a while. It was so nice just to get out! Earlier, I had texted my friend, Jenn, who lives in the neighbourhood if she wanted to go for a walk and she said yes so we ended up going to Starbucks and going back to the park. What a nice way to spend the day :-) I'm really going to miss this when I go back to work.

You look so happy here. Happy baby equals happy mommy :-)

Play date at Asher's house

You've been asking me every day since last Monday (when we had a play date at our house with Asher and Austin) when we were going to go to Asher's house. I think you are now at an age where you want to play with kids your age. Luckily, I saw YJ, Asher's mom, on Sunday and she told us to come over on Monday (yesterday). I decided not to tell you until this morning because I was afraid that plans might change. You got so upset on Saturday when I told you that Nate was coming over for a play date and then Nate's parents changed their mind. You were so sad and upset that you wouldn't stop crying.

I took a video of you when I told you this morning that we were going to Asher's house. I can't believe how excited and happy you are!

The play date started off well. You and Asher played so well together. However, as the day went on you and Austin, Asher's younger brother, started fighting a lot. Austin is wouldn't let you play with his toys so you were getting so upset. There was a Cars truck that you wanted to play with, but Austin said, "Ahn dae!" ('no' in Korean) and you called to me and air hit Austin. It even got to a point where you were trying to bite Austin! I put my hand in between you guys and I got bit by you!

It was also hard because Kendall is so active now. I couldn't leave her on the ground because there are so many little toys in their house that I was afraid she would swallow it. Then, their floors are all hardwood so I was afraid she would fall and hit her head as she is always trying to get up. She also didn't want to nap so I had to keep holding her. It was a very exhausting day for mommy :-S

Food is my passion

Before mommy and daddy had you and Aidan, we ate out at least once a week at a nice restaurant. Friday night was our 'date night.' Little did we know that once you start having kids, eating out would be somewhat of a luxury. Yes, we tried having our 'date nights' when Aidan was first born and it was okay. We even went to a couple of fancy schmancy restaurants with no hiccup, but as Aidan got older and his tantrums got out-of-control we just didn't want to deal with the stress of strangers giving us the evil eye or judging us for being bad parents. Now if we eat out, we always go to family restaurants where there are other families with kids OR we get takeout. Mostly, we just eat in and mommy cooks during the week. It's just easier that way.

However, there was one place that daddy and I have been craving ever since we first heard about it. Now, I'm not a big burger lover or aficionado, but I kept hearing about The Burger's Priest's burgers and we even saw it on the TV show, You Gotta Eat Here! I know it's not a fancy restaurant, but it's so popular that there is always a huge lineup and there is limited seating in the restaurant. I was thinking of driving there a couple of months ago with you, but I think it's the kind of place you have to eat there instead of getting takeout. We live pretty far from the place so I know the burgers will be cold by the time it gets home. Plus, there is no parking around.

Well, daddy suggested we go there this morning after we dropped Aidan off at Korean school. We would still have you with us, but it was worth a shot. It opened at noon and even though it was raining, there was a lineup BEFORE the place even opened (see photo above)! Crazy…

The place was tiny. There were only bar stools and no high chairs. I had you in the Baby Bjorn
while I ate my burger. 

Daddy got the Armageddon. I think this was off their secret menu. It had 2 patties and 2 'Option'
(2 roasted portabello mushrooms stuffed with cheese, breaded then deep fried). It was huge!

I got the Priest Burger- cheeseburger with the 'Option'

While we were eating, a girl beside me had a Butter Avenue shopping bag. I had heard about it
from friends and I wanted to try it. They sell french macarons. 

Turns out the place was 1 block north of The Burger's Priest. We decided to check it out.
I got 6 macarons for $13.50. Pretty pricey…

This one was the strawberry and white chocolate. It was so pretty and delicious~

Hazelnut. Mmmmm!

You were pretty happy too :-)

Brother sister love

It just melts mommy's heart when I see how much you love Kendall and her you.

We were just playing on your bed today and you just kissed Kendall without me telling you to do so. She's also crazy about you. She always tries to touch you. I hope you guys grow to still continue to love each other. That's my prayer.

So this is how daddy tires Kendall out…

Whole Foods and a whole lotta superheroes

Today was so sunny and nice. Although Spring officially began a few weeks ago its still been quite cold here. Because the whole family was so sick I didn't want to take you out when the weather was cold and crappy. All that time spent indoors made me absolutely wonkers so I decided that you and I would go out for some fresh air. What better way than to check out the new Whole Foods near us. I've been to the Whole Foods downtown, but I really wanted to check out the uptown location. 

And here we are!

It was the first time I put you in the shopping buggy, but I thought you would be pretty happy since
you are pretty alert and active now. I knew you would be fascinated looking at your surroundings
and whatnot.
I literally got 5 strangers come up to me to say how cute you were. There was one girl in particular
that came running at us from another aisle just to fawn over you.

Afterwards we went back home and I took you and Rosco out for a walk in you converted stroller (to the seat setting). It was so nice!

When Aidan got home from daycare I got out the new markers and stamps that I bought for him at Ikea the other day.

Here's a page Aidan and I did together with all the stamps he has now.

Pretty stamps that I got Aidan at Ikea. I also got the plastic containers to store all the markers,
crayons and stamps.

Here are the markers.

Aidan made me draw his favourite superheroes- Batman and Spiderman.

Then he made me draw Superman. Not my best…

Here's Aidan's favourite drawing that I did- Optimus Prime :-)