Covered in bandaids

Currently you are covered in bandaids. I guess it has to do with the fact that you are a boy and boys play pretty rough. Every time you come home you have a scrape somewhere on your body. I hate it because you already have so many scars from before. You have scars on both sides of your face by your eyes where some kid from daycare bit you. I don't want any more scars to be on your body.

You love having bandaids on because they have different graphics on them. These happen
to be Transformers ones.

More on your legs. I have some Toy Story bandaids on here. 

18-month shot

Dear Aidan,

You got your vaccination shot today. You couldn't get it 2 weeks ago because you were too sick, but this time around you were ok. Instead of getting your shots in the thigh like your other vaccination shots you got it in the arm this time. Both arms actually. Since mommy went by herself the doctor had to call the receptionist in to help hold you down. I'm glad she did because you were trying to fight the needle off when the doctor stuck the needle in. I had to cover your eyes both times so as not to freak you out. The good news is you got Transformers band aids on both arms and this is the last vaccination shot until you reach 4 years old. Hurray!

The doctor also checked out your ears. She knew you were off your antibiotics for the ear infection so she wanted to check that your ears cleared up. Your right ear was ok, but she said your left ear still had a lot of wax. She offered to clean it out, but warned me that you were not going to like it. I knew it had to be done so I told her to go ahead with it. She took out this cool ear contraption that looked like those dentist picks, but it was made out of LED. It was pretty cool. I had to hold your head really tightly and she went in and took out this HUGE piece of wax. It was gross! You were crying at first, but only for a sec. We have to go back in a month because she wants to make sure the left ear is all healed. If not, you have to go back on antibiotics.

It was really hard for mommy to take you alone because I had to carry you while carrying a huge backpack with all your stuff- your diapers, wipes, milk, snacks, etc. etc. It's not an easy job! When I first got to the doctors office for your 11am appointment the doctor was running a little late in her appointments so she asked that I walk around and come back in half an hour. I decided to take you the library in the children's section because we all know how much you love books. You were in a cranky mood because I think you knew you were going to get your shots today, but once we played in the library and read some books you became in a better mood.

Look at you playing with all the blocks. While all the kids were running around making a mess you were putting all the blocks away into the bin. You are so like daddy- a clean freak!

When you saw the computer stations you went to it and started moving the mouse back and forth. You are just like mommy- a computer nerd!

The funny thing was there was also a Korean kid in the library around your age and he was wearing the same pants that you were wearing.

After your appointment I carried you to the parking lot. You are about 25lbs now so it's not easy carrying you. I get really tired easily. I was about to belt you up, but I noticed one of your shoe was missing. I had to unbelt you and retrace my steps to look for the lost pair of shoes. By that time I was a sweat ball. When I was walking back to the building a woman who was walking towards me asked, "Are you missing a shoe? There's one back there." I thanked her and rushed to where she said she saw it. The funny thing was there was a young Asian couple that were walking ahead of me and the guy spotted your shoe on the ground. He stopped because he was wearing the same pair in a grown up version. Him and his girlfriend were chuckling over the shoe while comparing it to his. I got to your shoe and when I reached down to grab it you started giggling. It's like you knew that it was missing and it was a joke to you. Not funny!

When we got home Auntie Sara came over a short while later because she wanted to play with you. You and her had a bonding time while watching one of your Treehouse show.

Auntie Sara called me over while I was working (I was working from home today) because she wanted to show me your posture. You were sitting on her lap, but you were sitting so upright and so intently at the TV.

Look how you have your legs draped over her legs to the side.

And the way you were twiddling your fingers. I just want to bite you!

BTW, last night we booked our tickets to go to Vancouver in April. Your Vancouver grandparents are over the moon about you coming to Vancouver.

Allergy test results

Dear Aidan,

So you are allergy to peanuts and eggs. Your peanut allergy is more severe than your egg allergy, but by no means is it a severe case. However, the allergy doctor still wanted me to get an epipen for you. I had to get one for us and one for the daycare. I'm not supposed to give you any peanuts until you take your next allergy test in a year. I can give you eggs, but only when it has been cooked/baked for a long time- i.e., baked goods, casseroles, etc. I can't give you fried eggs, scrambled eggs, and any raw eggs. However, the doctors did say that most kids grow out of their egg allergies. We will see.

I was very nervous to take you to the allergy doctor today because I've seen how you've been at your family doctor's office (BTW, I'm taking you there on Friday to get your belated 18-month shots). You basically freak out once they start touching you. I totally expected that today, but it was not that bad. You cried when the nurse pricked your skin with a needle (see the 6 red dots in the pictures above where she pricked you) when she put the allergy drops on your forearm, but that was expected. I'm so proud of you and I hope that you will be the same way when you get your shots on Friday.

Here's the scary-looking epipen in the plastic container. I hope I never have to use it...

So when I asked the pharmacist how much 2 epipens cost (because I was planning on buying 3 just in case) she told me it cost 217. I asked, “Two dollars and seventeen cents?” She replied, “No. Two hundred and seventeen dollars.” Holy crap.

After the appointment I decided to drop by my parents' cafe because the doctors office was right there. Plus, they hadn't seen you in a while. They were so surprised and happy to see you. Can't you tell how enamoured your grandpa is with you?

Your Toronto grandpa acts like a little kid in love when he's with you. He plays these silly games with you and can't stop kissing you. I've never seen him like that... well, with Auntie Sara, I guess... I guess this is what grandparents become once they have a grandchild...

You were shy at first, but once you got comfortable you were running around talking jibberish. You even went to a few stranger's tables and just stared at them. Awkward!

Your Toronto grandma gave you some banana bread that she baked this morning and you gobbled it down like a little pig. I think you had 2 slices!

It was a tiring day for mommy on her day off, but it was a good day for you. You looked like you really enjoyed spending time with me. Tomorrow, you head back to daycare. But don't worry, mommy will be working home on Friday.

The boy with a more clothes than a girl...

Dear Aidan,

Boy, I noticed that you have A LOT of clothes. I'm pretty sure you have more clothes than daddy and you aren't even 2 yet! Today, you got even more clothes in the mail. Auntie Jane sent you 2 new winter jackets. Yesterday you got a button-down shirt, a vest, and a sweater from your Toronto grandparents. Sheesh, can I get some of that???

The jacket is huge on you because it's a size 3. You looked so small in that jacket.

We tried putting you in the 2nd jacket, but you were not having it. I think you have entered your Terrible Two stage right now. You tend to throw fits now and then when you aren't happy about something. In this case- putting on a winter jacket.

Look at that bad temper!

You landed smack on your forehead on the hardwood. That's your fault! Usually, though, you snap your head backwards. It's scary because I'm always afraid you are going to get hurt.

Wah, wah. Life is so hard when you're Aidan Kim...

Both jackets were from Gap. I guess Auntie Jane ordered it online and sent it directly to us. The invoice had a note from her- "To my handsome nephew Aidan. Merry Christmas!!! Love Auntie Jane & Coco".

You were more interested in playing with the invoice papers than your gifts.

Uh oh, looks like someone's hungry.

Munch munch.

It's not as tasty as your bbong twi gi (rice rusks), is it?

You look disgusted.

You just threw the paper away in disgust.

How can I say no to a face like that???

Bad day

Dear Aidan,

It's really hard for me to write this right now because I am beyond upset. I'm upset because you are so sick and I can't do what a mother should do and take care of you. The daycare called me around noon to tell me that you had a fever of 101 and that I needed to pick you up ASAP. When I told the daycare teacher that the earliest I could get there would be in an hour she was like, "You better hurry, he's really sick." Unfortunately I couldn't leave work because I am currently in production. I had to call daddy and tell him that he had to go pick you up. This is the 3rd time that daddy has picked you up. I'm so thankful that daddy could do this, but I'm also upset that I can't do it. I was so depressed that I almost cried at work. It was hard. Knowing that you were sick, but I couldn't do anything about it... Sigh.

Then when daddy picked you up he found out that you had a scratch on your face- again. He sent me this photo by text.

When I look at this photo I'm just so angry. Who would do this to you??? Especially when you are sick!

I took a screen capture of what daddy and I were texting when he sent me this photo:

Apparently you got in a fight with another kid in class and you tried to bite him. It's hard to believe because you are so not like that. I'm not trying to be like the blind mother that refuses to see their son the way that they are, but I've never seen you to be aggressive to anyone. Not even Rosco!

Tonight I had dinner plans with my high school friends, but I had to cancel because I wanted to rush home to see you. However, work was insane and I ended up leaving work at 8pm. By the time I got home you were already sleeping. I'm just so frustrated.

I'm sorry that I said yesterday how I was looking forward to Monday. I didn't mean it...

Daddy took tomorrow off (again) to take care of you. Hopefully you will break your fever.

Third eye

Dear Aidan,

Yesterday was an utter nightmare. I guess you could tell from my rant in my last post. Daddy thinks you are traumatized by my method of trying to put you to sleep that's why you can't sleep anymore. I don't think that's true because you slept fine today. I don't know what's up with you. I really hope that you will learn how to sleep on your own. You are not getting any lighter, that's for sure.

So I came home from work to find out that you had a big bump on your forehead between your eyes. I'm not sure what had happened- if a kid hit you on the head or you ran into something. The daycare won't tell us anything because they don't want us to get upset at anyone if it indeed was another kid. They daycare said you didn't cry (I'm not sure if I believe them) when you got the bump. You cried when they put an ice pack on your forehead. I guess the coldness shocked you.

I think you can see the bump the best in the 3rd photo. It's much more apparent in person. Oh boy. You're not crying because it hurts in these photos, although it sure seems like it. You were upset that mommy put you in your crib to take photos of your forehead. I think you got flashbacks of what happened yesterday.

I'm not going to lie, it's a struggle taking care of you now. You get so restless easily and you want to touch everything. Daddy and I have to keep a watchful eye on you at all times. Plus, you are getting louder and louder each passing day. When we don't pay attention to you you start calling out, 'Daddy, daddy, daddy!' I'm upset about that too. You won't say mommy or 'um-ma' to me. That just goes to show you that daddy is around you more. Sigh.

Hellish day

Dear Aidan,

Mommy had a rough day. Everything went wrong today. It started off with me injuring my foot yesterday while trying to catch the bus on the way home. I was running so hard that my shoes fell off and they flew in every direction. It was so embarrassing because it happened at one of the busiest areas- the bus terminal. When my shoes fell off I slammed my bare foot on the concrete pavement and I've been limping since. Every step I take has been very painful. When I got to work this morning my boss asked me to get the cover finished ASAP. She always does this to me. It would help if she gave me a reasonable time, but she always asks me to have something for her within the hour. It's really frustrating. Plus, she was pretty moody today. She snapped at me a few times because I wasn't agreeing with what she was saying. I hate when she tries to play Art Director when she isn't one. She tells me what size to make a font or add design elements which are tacky. She kept saying there was a layout that she doesn't remember seeing before it went to the printer, but I have proof that she signed off on it. She was basically bitching that she didn't see it and how did this happen. Blah blah blah. Ugh. I was so busy I didn't even have time to go outside for lunch. Then I got an email from daddy saying that the daycare called him to pick you up because you broke out in red spots all over your body. They said we should take you to the doctor. However, I couldn't leave work so daddy had to go get you. I was so stressed out the whole afternoon because I was so upset that I couldn't be with you.

Daddy asked me to go pick up a lotion that you use today so I went out around 6pm to go get it at the store close to my work. Unfortunately it was pouring out and I didn't have an umbrella. I got soaked top to bottom. I felt so bad that I couldn't be with you so while I was out getting your body lotion I stopped by Pottery Barn Kids and picked you up a Halloween fabric basket. I figured you needed it when you went Trick-Or-Treating on Halloween. That's my way of dealing with guilt- buying you stuff. Sigh. But it doesn't stop there. I had to go back to work because I was still not done work (!!!!). I stayed at work until 8:20pm. By that time you were being put down to bed by daddy. So when I got home around 9:30pm you were already sleeping. Double sigh. I can't wait until I take a few days off from work. I feel so burnt out and so depressed.

The photo above was the photo daddy took of you while you guys were going to your family doctor to get your spots checked out. I think it was your eczema flaring up again. Hopefully it'll go down by tomorrow...

Who did that to my son?!

Dear Aidan,

Sigh. I came home at 9pm today. Your Toronto grandparents dropped by after their work to visit you. That was nice. They brought over some food for us and they stayed with you and daddy until I came home. When I pulled into the driveway (I drove today) your Toronto grandma and you were waiting outside for me. I noticed your face right away. You had this half circle red mark on your left cheek. Apparently some kid at daycare scratched you today. I guess you were going for the same toy and they lashed out at you. I'm so upset! It looks so painful. I feel guilty as it is coming home so late, but now I have to deal with this. Ugh. I feel terrible. And it's only going to get worse because I'm busy at work until next Thursday. I played with you for an hour before I put you to bed, but while you were playing in your playroom I suddenly got all teary-eyed. You were playing so well by yourself and I felt so guilty inside.