Rafe – 41 Months

The boy is now 41 months old! Almost 3 and a half! [[image:2015-adik41month-07.jpg:Happy roti canai-filled Adik:center:0]] That is the face he made after eating his fill of roti canai at the Straits of Malacca. * Mouse over the pictures for captions May was a very busy month, bookended by trips to Florida. Even though I’ve been two months late writing the last few entries, I’m actually not ridiculously late writing this entry! Whee! Food status: same as last month. We have learned that when Adik says he wants to go to Straits of Malacca to eat roti canai, and we take him, he will eat like a champ. He’s been known to eat almost a whole piece of roti canai all by himself! And this from a grazer who prefers eating little bites of this and that and snacking throughout the day rather than sitting and eating a proper meal. […]

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Rafe – 39 Months

And now Adik is 39 months old! [[image:2015-adik39month-10.jpg:Happy little boy, up close:center:0]] * Mouse over the pictures for captions Somehow I am getting more and more delinquent – it is mid-May and I am just now writing this March entry. Oh well. Here are the basics for March, Adik’s 39th month: Food status: no change. Still no veggies or fruits other than veggies I sneak into noodles for him. But his palate is still fairly open, as compared to his sister’s. Reading status: still amazing. He seems to be able to read more and more. However he seems to have forgotten how to spell in that when you ask him to spell a word, often he needs help or prompting. He can write his name, but for the most part he likes to draw happy faces on paper or just scribble. Potty training status: Adik refuses to go without his […]

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80 Months

80 months of Yaya! [[image:2015-yaya80month-13.jpg:I was framed, I say!:center:0]] * Mouse over the pictures for captions It is mid-May as I write this and so I will keep the chatter brief. March was another busy month where I had my very first taste of having a “real job”. I had to get in my car and drive to work Monday to Friday for 2 weeks. It was both good since I got to be home every day, but also brutal. I am not sure how people do this every day, to be honest! But we all adjusted and it was interesting. But again, we kept it pretty normal for the kids. Food status: Yaya tried Jonathan apples. Whee! [[image:2015-yaya80month-15.jpg:It was not bad, she said:center:0]] Reading status: good progress! The glasses have been a game changer for her. Yaya seems to enjoy reading. I also make her read the synopsis on […]

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Rafe – 38 Months

Here are Adik’s 38-month photos. [[image:2015-adik38month-05.jpg:My happy little boy:center:0]] Mouse over the picture for captions. So, when I mentioned in last month’s entry that we were moving to the smaller entry, I really meant it. Especially since I am writing this so late it is practically April. So let’s stick with the basics. Food status: still good. However still can’t get him to eat fruits, although I get to sneak vegetables in via fried noodle dishes and spring rolls. Reading status: Adik is even reading words in other languages now. He can attempt to read his Malaysian flash cards (courtesy of Uncle Zarin, thanks, yo!). And he is very interested in languages, asking about words in different languages and whatnot. He still prefers shorter books over the longer ones. Even though he can read the words he doesn’t want to grasp with plot lines and character development yet. He wants […]

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Rafe’s 25 Month Birthday

The boy is twenty-five months old now! [[image:2014_0129_rafe02.jpg:Happy Adik!:center:0]] * Mouse over the pictures for captions Speech status: it is unbelievable how many words the boy can say. He is also formulating his own sentences and is a master of imitation. For instance, when we need to give Yaya a time out, we tell her to be quiet and to go sit on the sofa (her time-out area). Adik might run behind her, saying “be quiet, Yaya. Sit onna sofa!” and laughing. He is starting to talk back when he is being scolded. If we tell him “no, you can’t do [XYZ]”, he responds with “YES I CAN!!!”. In fact, “Yes I can” is his answer to every negative response that he receives, on some days. No Adik, don’t stand on the chair. Yes I can! No Adik, stop running with that stick in your hand. Yes I can! Adik, […]

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Christmas 2013

So this year we decided to participate in the Christmas tradition. Yaya is old enough now to enjoy it and in fact, she asked for it. So here we go! Our first family Christmas. Also, since we have had a lot of work travels in recent months, we decided to forgo our usual end of year trip (someplace warm, usually) and stayed home instead. So bring it on! We start with the obligatory photo with Santa: [[image:2013_christmas31.jpg:Yaya was happy but luckily Adik did not cry (he thinks Santa is an evil overlord):center:0]] * Mouse over the pictures for captions We begin with a build up to the big day. Progression of the Christmas tree (artificial as Yaya was sad that if we had a real tree, it would die), decorations, and presents under the tree in the week leading up to Christmas. We pretty much wrapped a few presents every […]

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64 Months

So we are now at 64 months! [[image:2013-yaya64month-04.jpg:Love this shot!:center:0]] * Mouse over the pictures for captions Food status: Yaya tried one new food this month! Honey. She finger tasted it. I have hopefully convinced her that she should try eating pancakes with honey when I next make it. Let’s see if that actually happens (she has refused maple syrup on many occasions). She did attempt to eat carrots. The first bite went down well. The second bite, well, it came back up and so did everything else. ‘Nuff said. This time it was not on purpose, but it was still disappointing. So no new game or toy for her for the carrot attempt. We had a 2-week (almost) work trip in November, so it was quite a busy (and exhausting) time for us. Also Thanksgiving which fell on Adik’s 23 month birthday. But all in all a good month. […]

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Rafe’s 22 Month Birthday

Only two months until the big second birthday for the boy! 🙂 [[image:2013_1029_rafe18.jpg:Happy Adik!:center:0]] * Mouse over the pictures for captions So another month has passed, and in two short months, the boy will turn two. It is just amazing how quickly time has flown and how busy (and exhausted) we always seem to be! Where does the time go? As always, we are thankful for backdated entries. Alphabets are still big with Adik. He knows all his letters still of course, and is very happy to yell them out when he sees them, sing his songs and whatnot. But he doesn’t seem to be quite as obsessed – meaning he doesn’t play his alphabet songs all day long, just half of the day. He still loves to come into the office to sit in the piles of books that he has repeatedly pulled off the shelves such that Vin […]

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Rafe’s 18 Month Birthday

Here we are at Adik’s 18 month entry! The boy is now 1 and a half years old! [[image:2013_0629_rafe22.jpg:Short break in the action:center:0]] * Mouse over the picture for captions Adik is now fully mobile – walking, running, and climbing. He can now manage to walk down the stage steps face first without falling over (after some practising of course), while carrying something in his hands. He was determined to not be the only one backing down those steps I suppose. He climbs up the stairs when we go up to bed, but we do not allow him to come down the stairs yet as he thinks he is too big to go backwards, feet first. But overall, his coordination is pretty good. He can throw objects with pretty good speed and accuracy, and loves to bounce a ball off the wall and chase after it. He loves to run […]

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Rafe’s 14 Month Birthday

And here it is not even a third of the way through March and Adik’s 14 month entry is here! As always, thanks to the gods of backdated entries! [[image:2013-adik14month-02.jpg:Look at all my teeth!:center:0]] Adik has at least seven teeth, possibly eight (although the eighth is unconfirmed at this point). * Mouse over the pictures for captions The boy is running now! He falls down quite a bit but it doesn’t keep him down for long. Up he gets and off he goes, to the races! He even tries dangerous stunts like walking with a towel over his head covering his face as he thinks that that is funny. We have to help to steer him so he does not bump into things like furniture and walls. It is amazing how far he’s come with becoming mobile. He used to trip and fall over even the smallest things, but he […]

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Rafe’s 13 Month Birthday

Another month, another very late blog entry! Again, we give thanks to the gods of backdated entries (whee!). [[image:2013_0129_rafe27.jpg:Drooly cutie pie:center:0]] * Mouse over the pictures for captions This month, Adik went from walking a few steps in a row to a pretty consistent walker. He walks all over the house and can easily go from the living room to the office without falling over or resorting to crawling. However, when there is a need for speed, he does go down on all fours to zoom away. He is so funny when he walks though – that toddler walk, hands up in the air for balance and kind of a pirate-like rolling gait. Utterly adorable! Last seen in this house when Yaya was toddling around. Despite its cuteness, it gets the job done. Adik has now found his feet and has gotten fairly confident on them. This means we are […]

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49 Months

And so, another month has passed. Time does not march on, it flies faster than a speeding bullet. Four years and a month old. The darling of our lives, la reina del punto azul, the director of our plays and part-time adorable tot, part-time berserker dictator. [[image:2012-yaya49month-02.jpg:Arrrr mateys!:center:0]] * Mouse over pictures for captions We had yet another eventful month. It does seem like we hibernate and do nothing much for 8 months out of the year and then we pack everything in in the warmer months. This month, we have driven to Florida (pics to come, someday) gone through Ramadan, and celebrated Eid. It’s been another fun and action packed time. However, even though Yaya is now four and despite her promise that she would start eating “grown up food” after she’s four, it has not yet come to pass. Alas, the toastivore can not yet be swayed. But […]

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47 Months

One more month till the big birthday!! Can you believe it? We certainly cannot! [[image:2012-yaya47month-04.jpg:Princess Yaya is almost 4:center:0]] We had another activity filled month – the 5 days Zarin was here were quite busy (more on that later). I know, I still owe entries on Jo’s visit, but I’ll get there! * Mouse over the pictures for captions Yes, there will be a separate entry for the kids’ time with Uncle Zarin (I promise there will be! Just maybe not right away!) so I won’t talk too much about it right now. But suffice it to say, a theme park was involved and everybody except Adik went on rides. 😉 Food status: still no change. Still counting down to her 4th birthday as she still claims that she will be eating real food when she’s 4. I hope she doesn’t back too far away from it. I would be […]

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Rafe’s 4 Month Birthday

Here we are, at the four month mark. He’s just getting so big now! He seems to be just growing up almost too quickly! [[image:2012_0429_rafe14.jpg:I’m droooooling!:center:0]] * Mouse over the pictures for captions He went out to dinner with us and was quite sociable – he was passed around the table and was content to be held by everyone. He just quietly sat there and observed us. He did not cry. We were very pleased. He’s also been to Yaya’s soccer matches and was quite content to stay in the carrier, enjoy the fresh air, and watch all the little kids running around. Again, no tears. He had his first trip to the grocery store – he just slept in his car seat the entire time! So far, so good, still a mellow little fellow! The day after his 4-month birthday (since it fell on a Sunday), we went to […]

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Rafe’s 2 Month Birthday

Despite the date on this entry, it has been a long time since the boy’s 2 month birthday. It’s been a crazy busy time, but definitely a wonderful, and exhausting time for Vin and me. Just look at this entry as a way to show some cute pictures of Rafe 🙂 [[image:2012_0229_rafe07.jpg:Bright eyed and a little drooly:center:0]] The above really shows off his gray-green eyes and is one of my favorites. *Mouse over pictures for captions Rafe is coming along nicely and quite recovered from his bilirubin difficulties. On this leap-day, he had his 2-month checkup. He measured 24 inches long (90th percentile, surprise!) and was at 50th percentile for weight. He recovered from his 3 jabs, heel poking, and oral vaccine in record time, barely crying at all. And then he got to show off his bandages to Kak Yaya (she had band-aid envy). He was a little feverish […]

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42 Months

It has been a milestone month for everyone! Yaya spent her first month as Kak Yaya (big sister Yaya), and we all had to adjust to having Rafe in our lives. And now the girl is officially three and a half years old! Halfway to four! Craziness right? [[image:2012_yaya_42months_01.jpg:Our beautiful Yaya:center:0]] Note: Mouse over the pictures for additional captions. It has certainly been an eventful month leading up to Yaya’s half birthday. The big thing is of course Rafe’s birth and how that has changed all of our lives. Yaya has been awesome – rolling with the punches and still managing to make the best of everything and having fun. She enjoyed the attention of her cousins and of course Becky while they were here, and now she enjoys playing the role of big sister and interacting with her new little brother: [[image:2012_yaya_42months_02.jpg:Yaya and Adik ride the Papa express!:center:0]] [[image:2012_yaya_42months_05.jpg:Yaya […]

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