Charlie bit my finger - again !

This is such a cute video!!

Snowing in London

In the 4 months I've been in London, I've experienced some strange weather. August was the 'gloomiest' (defined as fewest hours of sunlight) in the past 40+ years in London. Then things turned completely around and we had a very nice and warm September.

One October evening after my Investments final, it snowed! It hadn't snowed in London in October in 40+ years (I'm not making up this 40+ thing). Then yesterday it snowed again.

Jackie said it only snowed once or twice in the 4 years she lived in London. So I guess I have been lucky or unlucky (depending on your point of view). I was walking both times when it snowed but I enjoyed it because it is a lot better than walking in the rain (which I have experienced numerous times over the last 4 months).

I'll be back in sunny California in 27 days!!!

Chimpanzee rides Segway-

I was laughing so hard at the video, because Di-di is just as mischievous and fearless as this chimpanzee!!


Chimpanzee rides Segway @ Yahoo! Video

Diwali

Diwali, also known as the 'Festival of Lights', is the biggest celebration in India. During the 5 days of celebration people light fireworks, share gifts, and eat sweets. I was told it is somewhat similar to what Christmas is in the U.S. and Europe.

The India club hosted a Diwali celebration this past Friday night. We had excellent Indian food, and Bollywood dancing. It was so much fun. Here are some pics.

New Nickname

I took my first final last week. The subject was Investments and I did very well on the midterm so I studied hard hoping to get an A+ in the class. The exam went smoothly except for one question and I felt pretty good when I walked out of the exam. But after discussing the questions with my classmates I don't think I did well enough to get an A+. Right now I will be very satisfied with an A.

On a related topic, one of my classmates called out to me after the exam..."Hey A+ come over here". I guess I'll enjoy the reputation until my grade comes out and my classmates realize I didn't get one.

Girls Rule!!

I have mentioned that baby girl Ra is already bilingual at 18 months young while Di-di is still babbling at 2 1/2.
Here's another girl that kicks Di-di's butt. Di-di is so SCARED of hair wash that my cousin had to FedEx shower hats from Taiwan for him. Now look at my cousin's Mei-mei (19 months young)... she is getting her hair washed in style with a big smile on her face! :)

Day Trip to San Francisco

Ok.. I am really behind on my blog duty!! On Oct 23, we took a day trip to San Francisco to meet Ri, H and their baby girl Ra. Ra was also referred to Ri and H by the same hospital who delivered Di-di, so both Ra and Di-di were born in Tainan County. The family flew out here to visit us from Boston.

We had lunch at the Rain Forest Cafe, the food was great and the kids loved the fish tanks, the waterfall and animal-themed decoration. After lunch, we walked around Fisherman's Wharf, and Pier 39. Di-di and Ra were mesmerized by the sea lions at Pier 39 and spent a lot time just staring at them. At 18 months old, Ra is very smart and bilingual already!! We were sad to say good bye to Ri, H and Ra by 3:30PM to beat the traffic out of SF. However, we were so happy to see them in SF and hope to visit them in Boston soon!!

(Ra teaching Di-di how to read..:)

H is the most patient mother I have EVER met. I picked up some good parenting tips from her. I noticed that she always talked Ra about what she was doing and Ra seemed to understand her. I don't remember the exact words that H said to Ra, but it seemed that Ra didn't throw any temper tantrums and was always calm. I have been practicing this on Di-di and was amazed by the results. For example, a couple of times when Di-di was very upset over not getting his way, I just took extra time to whisper into his ear and kept talking to him calmly and "explaining" things. I am sure Di-di probably didn't understand a word I said, but it worked to calm him down!! Thank you H!!!

Baby gears from Taiwan

I have bought many baby "gears" from Taiwan. Some I never got to use at all (but I did give to my friends.:)

I love the following items:

1. This Nasal Aspirator was the best buy and got plenty of use with Di-di's multiple colds and flues!
2. This ice pack stays as soft as a pillow, even though it's frozen in the freezer for months. It's great when Di-di has a fever, because he would sleep on it just like a regular pillow.
3. This special shaped pillow helped keeping the back of Di-di's head from becoming flat.
4. Special-made pillows and mattress with breathing "holes" so that Di-di wouldn't suffocate by accident if his nose is pressed against the pillow or mattress by accident.

Now, my newest purchase- baby shower hats!! Thanks to cousin T for FedEx these hats to the U.S.
Di-di hates getting his hair washed!! It's been getting harder to keep him steady so that the water and shampoo doesn't get into his eyes and ears. It's still not easy to wash his hair with this hat, but at least I am not worried about water getting into his ears!

(Testing his new shower hat)

Why I envy my baby

My last posting of a Chinese poem by an Emperor must seem odd to those who don't read Chinese.:)~ I am not religious, but sometimes I do need Buddhist teaching to keep me grounded and calm in a time like this!! The sudden meltdown of the stock market since September and the prospect of a global recession did make me feel anxious for a couple of days. This particular poem sums up so well the "impermanence" of life, even for a powerful Emperor. The only certainty in life is the uncertainty that we face every second.

I haven't blogged much, because I have been focusing more on studying the market and spending more time with Di-di. Even though my aunt is here to dote on Di-di, he just wants to be glued to mommy when he is home! My poor baby probably misses his daddy so much that he is feeling some insecurity.

I will give you more Di-di updates later, but here are some of my favorite pictures of him sleeping. I am so envious of him, because he sleeps like a baby without a worry in the world~~ (wait, he is still a "baby"!:)

(Yes, I let Di-di has his pacifier again. He started sucking his thumb, so I chose the pacifier..for now.:(

順治皇帝醒世碑記

天下叢林飯似山。砵盂到處任君餐。黃金白玉非為貴。惟有袈裟披最難。
朕為大地山河主。憂國憂民自轉煩。百年三萬六千日。不及僧家半日閒。
來時糊塗去時悲。空在人閒走這回。未曾生我誰是我。生我之時我是誰。
長大成人方是我。合眼矇矓又是誰。不如不來也不去。來是歡喜去是悲。
悲歡離合多勞思。何日清閒誰得知。世閒難比出家人。無牽無罣得安宜。
口中喫得清和味。身上常穿百衲衣。五湖四海為上客。皆因屢世種菩提。
雖然不是真羅漢。也搭如來三尺衣。兔走烏飛東復西。為人切莫用心機。
百年世事三更夢。萬里江山一局棋。禹開九州湯放桀。秦吞六國漢登基。
古來多少英雄輩。南北山頭臥土泥。黃袍換卻紫袈裟。只為當年一念差。
我本西方一衲子。為何落在帝皇家。十八年來不自由。南征北討幾時休。
如今撒手西方去。不管千秋與萬秋。

(P.S. This poem was written by Q'ing Dynasty's first Emperor. Q'ing Emperors were Manchu, not Han Chinese. Most of them were known for their hard work. I am simply amazed by their ability to master the Chinese language.)

Kitchen Remodel is Completed!!

Update #1:
Well, the kitchen remodel has been completed since last Monday, but I haven't gotten around to post on the blog. There were some more issues with the plumbing that caused some more delay, but it went well at the end. The counter top has really grown on me. I think S made the right choice with beige sand color after all!
My aunt has been such a great help. I lost eight pounds during the three week when I was alone with Di-di. My aunt is working hard to feed us and I must have gained at least five pounds back already. I am fat, happy AND lazy again! :)

Update #2
Di-di has started his fall music classes again at Kinder Music. He is looking forward to his one-hour class every Saturday morning.

Updated #3
Di-di LOVES watching Mei-mei's video. Mei-mei is my cousin's adoptive daughter and they did spend some time living and playing together in Taiwan, but I had no idea that Di-di is so addicted to watching her video!! Every time I turned off her video, he would throw one of those now rare tantrums~~ Sorry, Baba.. Di-di was not as upset when I turned off your video this morning! :)