The Past 3 Months

Our blog's 3-month hiatus has coincided with the fact that I (Althea) returned to work full-time in March covering the remainder of the school year while my teaching partner is on maternity leave. Between full days with 27 rambunctious 2nd graders, being 23 weeks pregnant, and coming home to actively play with a very active toddler, it's been tough to find the time and energy to process the photos and videos we've had stored on our camera for awhile. Summer break starts in two and a half weeks for Seattle Public Schools, but I didn't want to wait too much longer before posting a few things to highlight what Kian has been doing these days.

In the following series of photos, Kian tries out the big spoon he insisted on taking out of my cereal bowl. We are please to announce that Kian is not allergic to wheat, as was originally reported from his allergy test at 12 months old. This recent finding (through trial and careful observation) opens up a whole new world of foods that we don't have to buy at PCC. His diet remains dairy-free and egg-free, however.


This video shows why it's tough to resist making Kian laugh...



Kian has a blast with the parachute and cool sunglasses from Ava's 3rd birthday party in April...




Kian tries out his new bike (no pedals), given to him by Buh-pa (Matt) and Gramma (Gei)...



Kian loves to ride around the neighborhood up and down small driveway inclines, and he lets us know when he wants to go by saying, "Outside...weee!!?" He always offers neighbors and dogs a friendly, "HI!" when they walk by. Lately, he likes to point out other cars with the Mazda symbol that drive by or are parked in the neighborhood, making the connection by saying, "Mommy car!" since he associates our Mazda5 with me, and our Nissan Cube is called "Daddy car". Kian also remarks, "Buh-pa car!" when seeing other Camry Hybrids like his grandpa drives, even when they are a different color.

Besides riding his bike around outside, one of Kian's favorite activities is rallying Ryan and I to run around the house with him, while pushing one of three toys -- the safari truck, the lawnmower (which he calls a car because I suppose it kind of looks like one...and also, he's never seen us mow the lawn), or the shopping cart from Nana (Joan). Our back pains remind us of how much we love him and don't want to disappoint. We are thinking of ways to create extensions for the handles, but until then, we suffer with a smile.




Taken before Mother's Day brunch...

On our way to REI on Mother's Day, we got video footage of a typical car ride these days, which entails Kian pointing out every truck, bus, or airplane within a quarter mile. On a Sunday, there just weren't as many of them out and about as there are on his way to school, so he seems concerned at times. Nevertheless, he finds something to celebrate and clap for....




This belly photo was taken on May 16th at 20 weeks pregnant. Why do I look big enough to deliver in just a couple months, when I'm really only half way there?! How big IS this baby girl?!! (Yes, if you haven't already heard, Kian is going to have a baby sister in late September!)


Kian still loves school and enjoys naming some of his friends. He has picked up the phrases, "Mommy coming!" and "Daddy coming!" from his peers, who wait by the window for their parents to arrive in the afternoon. Some other new words are apricot, more apple juice, big orange truck, open door, "bye-bye boo boo!" (when he hears a toilet flush), "two buses!" (not sure when he picked up how to use the plural form), "vroom vroom Daddy car" (when he wants to play in the Nissan), and "agua big door hot" (which means REI...for its waterfall, big elevator doors, and indoor fireplace). He's been chatting up a storm, so it's tough to record everything, but these seemed to be a few worth remembering.