First Pool Experience

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Day 193

So this afternoon we went to Fairfield for our friends’ housewarming party. Along the way, we stopped for Taiwanese brunch at 168 Restaurant in Richmond. Simon waiting patiently for our food.

It’s been years since we’ve come this way and were pleasantly surprised by the food. They had some new brunch menu items but we were totally sad when we realized we forgot to order the stinky tofu! Oh well, next time, since I think we’ll be back again.

They have sweet soy bean milk. This is the hot version. They also have the savory type on their menu..

Ba wan. The bamboo shoots in this were cut a little too big for my taste but Ron says this is the traditional way. I just don’t like how it can get stuck in your teeth with the large pieces.

Rice roll with pork sung, fried dough stick, and preserved vegetables.

Dried noodles with ground pork and a boiled egg.

Green onion crepe with egg. This was made well. The egg was perfect and the green onion crepe thin and a bit crispy.

After brunch, we headed out to Fairfield to see our friends’ house and enjoy their BBQ and outdoor space. They have a pool and jacuzzi and also had this inflatable pool for Simon! Ron had to blow it up and they filled it with water from the big pool. We borrowed a waterproof diaper and let Simon sit in the pool and splash the water and play with some of the pool toys.

He didn’t know quite what to make of the whole situation at first so was a little cranky.

But then he started to really enjoy it. I took him out when his feet started to get prune-y and when the weather started to cool down.

Thanks to Linda, Daniel, and Ariana for having us over! Now Simon will be more prepared when we go to Hawaii next month. I need to find him some swimming trunks!

A note to our blog followers:
It’s been a busy summer so I apologize for the inconsistency of the updates on our blog. Thank you for being patient and always coming to visit! Ron has been doing a great job of taking photos and videos everyday (thanks honey!) but it just takes me some time to upload them and write about Simon’s day. Summer is winding down so I hope we’ll be less busy. Thank you all again for reading!

Outgrown Puppy Pal

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Day 192

Simon has outgrown his puppy pal sleepmat (see him here on Day 46). He can’t sleep on top of it anymore since his feet hang off the edge so instead he hugs it to fall asleep like a stuffed animal.

Simon knows when he’s on camera and gives a big smile.

Whee!

Grandma Tam got Simon this little monster toy that “talks” when you squeeze it. Simon was having a conversation with him and seemed to get upset when the monster didn’t respond. He’d be babbling along then pause… and if Ron didn’t squeeze it to make more sounds, Simon would get cranky.

Simon also has this other little Winnie the Pooh to sleep with and his pillow from our friends in Singapore for comfort.

Poor Simon still has a runny nose so after he wakes up from a nap, his nose is usually all crusty with dried mucous.

Ron used the bulb syringe to help Simon clear out his nose and for some reason, Simon seemed to find it funny.

He hasn’t been sleeping very well the last few nights because of his cold, his teething, and after his recent round of vaccinations. The other night, he woke up crying and a bit warm (not really feverish), seemed very thirsty as he downed 4 oz (120ml) of milk in less than 10 minutes. After he drank his fill, he didn’t want to lie down in his crib by himself so I just held him for a while and patted his back until he fell asleep. I know the books say this can lead to bad habits and that he’ll always need to be held to fall asleep… but I felt so bad for him because he was uncomfortable and there wasn’t that much I could do about it other than comfort him. I hope since I only do this once in a while that he won’t get too used to it.

Last photo of the day, Simon seems annoyed in this picture, like “gosh, can you stop taking my picture already…”

When he’s a teenager and doesn’t need us anymore, I’m sure this is the expression that he’ll give us. I’m glad that is many years away!

Fascination with light

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Day 191

Simon checking himself out in the mirror. I hope he’s not getting vain.

Among his friends.

My parents came to visit us so we went to dinner at Akiko’s Sushi Bar near our apartment. The restaurant is small but very accommodating. Well, at least the other customers were accommodating since a couple moved to the bar so that we could sit at the table. I ordered the chirashi which was pretty delicious. The rice and salad were well seasoned and the tuna and salmon were very fresh. The yellow tail had a weird texture which I couldn’t figure out but it tasted fine, just kind of mushy or something. Overall the food was good but the service was pretty slow and disjointed. My mom got her hot chicken donburi first then there was a large gap of time before we got our sushi and sashimi dishes, maybe 20-30 minutes. It’s probably best not to go here in big groups.

Simon in the spotlight!

Actually, Simon is fascinated with my LED book light. Either he wants to eat it…. or “phone home”…

6 Month Well Baby Visit

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Day 190

Who wouldn’t love this messy little face?

Or the silly baby gnawing on his blanket because he is teething?

Then relax with him after his tummy time?

And feel bad for him when he goes to the doctor’s office to get his shots during his 6 month check up?

Simon’s official numbers:

Weight = 18 lbs 13 oz (8.533kg, 71st percentile)

Height = 26 3/4 inches (0.679m, 59th percentile)

Head circumference = 18.1 inches (46cm, 95th percentile)

So he’s got a really big head but is kind of short… at least that is what it seems like. But Simon’s doctor says to not worry about the height percentile since this is the least accurate of the measurements since it depends on how well the medical assistants can stretch the baby on the measuring board. It seems though Simon does have a really big head, he’s already grown out of one of his hats. His weight is okay and is also not going up as fast but he is still gaining weight, my arms can really tell.

He also has a little cold! He’s had a runny nose all day. His first cold. The doctor says this is normal as well since around six months is when the baby has lost most of the maternal antibodies from birth and although breastfeeding helps, we should expect that he has a cold at least once a month which will last for 1-2 weeks each. Poor little guy. But at least he stays home with daddy so doesn’t get exposed to too many germs all the time.

His doctor asked us if Simon was talking and we told her not much anymore. She said this was normal and he probably was in his “observation” mode. Then Simon surprised me and started talking and babbling again this evening. The video is kind of dark because it was from my phone and there’s not much light in the bedroom.

So he survived another round of shots. He’ll need to get the flu shot next month then at his 9 month visit, he won’t need to get anymore shots. He actually needs two shots this year for the flu since it is his first time getting it. Seeing those needles go into his little thighs always makes me cringe.

Leaning to stand

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Day 189

Simon usually wakes up early but then will go back to take another nap in the morning. After he wakes up, he is usually refreshed and very happy and smiley.

For some reason, I really like the expression in his eyes and lips in this photo. Either very joyful or very mischievous.

Simon is learning new ways of keeping himself standing without our assistance. If we are sitting on the ground with him, he can lean on on us or lean on our knees if he is standing between our legs with our knees up… or Ron tested his strength to stand against the playpen rails.

Simon is basically locking his knees and leaning his arms against the edge to keep himself up.

It will be interesting (and possibly dangerous) when he learns to pull himself up into this position.

For now he has to be propped up this way and can’t stand up by himself… whew!