Love

Love

11/03/04

Last 2~3 days Lily was watching "Little Mermaid" 3~4 times. Tonight, she was engaged in other things.

When it was time to sleep, she wanted to take her big horse to bed. I granted her wish.

Two minutes into bed, Lily asked me a question out of nowhere:"Mamà, why Mermaid love Prince? Why she no love her father?"
"She loves her father too."
"But if he bring Prince home, Father will be angry!
:-("

Amazing how kids actually think about anything any moment.
Here is another moment that shows that I'm actually dumb.  I don't know how to explain things to a three-year-old. I'm not sure if I could any time soon.  I'd better think about it now and get ready.

Really, fathers often do, even mothers.  They should know, how their Lilyko thinks about this matter even at this age.  Shouldn't it be a comfort?  Shouldn't it make them be more gentle and sensitive to the daughter's feelings, in the future?

3 yr 9m

I Can Hear Her Crying

10/27/04

I Can Hear Her Crying
Running down the staircase into the subway station, I heard a loud crying from a little girl approximately three years old.  Somehow, my heart was aching.  "Oh, Jeeesus!" I can hear myself saying inside.

Her mother was dragging her through the subway turnstile, while the little girl was crying: "Mommy, I want candy!..."  They remind me of Lily and me.  It feels like those out-of-body experience, looking at myself from above.  I took a glance at the mother's face, emotionless, just like mine always was.  Her dragging hand was firm, just like mine always was.  I can believe she feels right doing this, since, I always felt that was the right thing to do.  Yet, at this moment, I feel guilty and pain.  Seeing myself from above, I wish I hadn't done that.  I believe I would be a bit more lenient next time.

Sure I understand the potential danger of spoiling the child when I consider sparing the rod.  But, isn't it also a question just how much 'rod' should mothers use on our children?  Yes, Lily is very stubborn.  Is that really so bad, considering how hard life is going to be for her in the future?  How much of our discipline aimed for our convenience of managing our life, instead of aiming at molding them for a better future?  Isn't there any fraction of our frustration released into discipline our children?  And don't we always find justification for our action?

How hard should I discipline my child?  I really don't know.  May God give me moments of reflection like this, so I can check my action from time to time.

I can hear her crying, my Lily's.  I can hear people passing by and saying:
"Oh, Jeeeeesus!!!" 
    

3 yr 8.5 m

Big Help

10/23/04

Big Help
For 2-3 weeks now, oftentimes Lily would help me clean up the table after dinner. :-)  It was all voluntary, I've never asked her to help.

About two weeks ago, one evening after dinner, I collected some dishes and started to wash.  Lily finished juice and gave her cup to me.  I thanked her with a pleasant voice.  The next thing I knew was her bringing all the dishes to me one after another.  After she fished all dishes, she started to bring me leftover food.  I was afraid that she was going to spill something all over her.  There was one bowl with some soup in it, so I greeted her half way before she fed it to her shirt.  Finally, she went away with a great smile of satisfaction.  Maybe she liked my sweet appraisals, or maybe she is happy that she made me happy, or maybe she felt a great accomplishment doing all that by herself.  I know not.  She often does that ever since.

 

* * * 

Last night, when I stood up after eating, she said:" You go there."  I didn't pay attention to what she was saying, went to the sink and put down the dishes. Then I turned around...

"No!!!" she screamed, "Don't come here!"
I stopped, didn't know what was going on. "What's the matter?"
"You stay there... I bring it to you."

I could do nothing but obey her. Remember I always said I am going to teach cooking when she is five just like my mother did? Seems it is going to start sooner. Haha... 
 
 
  

3 yr 8.5 m

"Why Does the House Make Us Hot?"

9/12/2004

"Why Does the House Make Us Hot?"
One night, as we were laying in the bed, listening to the music, getting ready to sleep, Lily asked me: "Mommy, why the house make us hot?"

I said:" Because it is hot every where, so it is hot in here too."

But, Lily said :"No, no, no. It is cold outside now, why the house make us hot?"

... I really don't know how to explain all this, so I said: "Because the wall and the closed window stopped the wind from blowing, so we don't feel cold."

"But why?!" she kept on ask.

Really, why? How can I explain? Though I studied Physics, I am not able to explain what a three and half year old could ask. I must be very dumb. :-(

Can any one help?

3 yr 7 m

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"Mommy You're Sick!"

08/09/04

"Mommy You're Sick!"
Lily and I both had a cold for a few days now, and I seem to do worse than she does. Over the weekend, we went to NJ as planed, and had a lot fun BBQ, swimming and fishing.

Monday morning I woke up and found that I've lost my voice.

Lily got up and came to me: "Good morning, Mommy."
"Good morning Lily." I tried my best making some noise to that effect.
"Mommy you're sick!"
"Yes." I whispered. "So maybe you should be a good girl, and not to make me scream at you today?" I'm making it a joke and laughing inside. I wouldn't miss a chance teaching her (or never miss a chance to relate a bad thought).
"Ok." She said, sincerely and full of sympathy.

I was dashing in and out trying to get ready for going to work, when Lily suddenly said: "Mommy I don't want you to go to work."

From time to time, she would be in those mood not wanting to go to school.

"Why?" I asked, pretending to be surprised.

"Because you are sick!" she said, almost in tears. "It's not good for you!"


Now, I am really surprised. Even if she is so smart and taking advantage of the situation for her own benefit, she doesn't seem to be aware of it. Eventually, I took her advice and stayed home. We both slept around the clock that day.
 

3.5 yr

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The Big Balloon Pop

07/04/04

The Big Balloon Pop
Sunday night, Lily and I went out trying to see some firework.

As we walk past the playground, we saw a few kids playing with firecrackers. Some popping sound here and there made Lily quite excited. Then, there was a silence.

Since we didn't have enough fun yet, we were wondering and hoping for more. I was trying to see if there could be some colorful firework. Then, we heard this very, very, very loud "Bang!!!", and Lily jumped aside screaming. At the same time, we heard a dog started barking franticly. As I was hugging and comforting her, Lily asked me:      

"Mommy, why is the dog crying?"
"Because he was scared."
"Scared?"
"Yes? It was very loud, you know."

She thought about it for a moment, trying to find words. "But, but... It is just a BIG balloon popped! ..."

 

3 yr 5 m

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Water and the Beautiful Girl

07/01/04

Water and the Beautiful Girl
Lily and I went to the beach after work. On our way home, Lily was a bit cranky... and didn't want to go home. After a little debate, I believe she will not willingly go home anyway. When there was a moment of break of her whining, I offer her to listen to the music from my Tungsten E. She was pleased with the offer, so I played Richard Clayderman's piano for her.

After a little while, she asked me to repeat ONLY the first song (It was Ballade Four Adeline). So I set it the way she wished for.

When we got off the train, as we were walking through the playground near our home, Lily pulled my dress and asked,        

    "Mommy, what's mean? What it does mean?"
    "What does what mean?"
    "What the song mean, Mommy?"
    "You want to know what does the song mean? What story is the music telling?"
    "Yes!" she seem to be happy that her dumb mother could finally understand her.
    "It is about..." I wanted to tell her the title of the music, but how would that be of a help? So I said: "It is about water, and a beautiful girl playing with water."
    "Oh!" Her eyes brighten up, and she seems having no trouble understand that, "Is it about me? Lilyko playing water?"

No wonder she understood! :-)

3 yr 5 m

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Dangerous Eyes

05/22/04

Dangerous Eyes
This morning, I woke up Lily and trying to dress her for the school. As I was walking towards the kitchen, I heard Lily saying: "Mommy, my eyes is dangerous"

    "What's that? Lily?" I didn't quite get what she was saying.

    "My eyes is dangerous." She was rubbing her eyes.

    "Really!? Is your eye going to hurt me?" Since I remember how we explain to her what dangerous means.

    "No. It is going to hurt ME!"

 

3 yr 3.5 m

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Lily had a Bad Dream :-(

03/30/04

Lily had a Bad Dream :-(
This morning, I was wakened up by Lily's sobbing.

"Lily, why are you crying? You had a bad dream?"
"My umbrella is going away! I can't find my umbrella. :-(
woo woo . . .
Raining, and cold . . .
My umbrella flew away!
I go . . . and Inna (her teacher) going away. woo woo. . .
My friends love me. And my umbrella's gone! . . . "
:-(

She's probably feeling cold right now, since she is dreaming of rain. Anyway, no use telling her dream is not real. It makes her feel sad still.

"Lily, do you want to come under Mommy's cover?  We get up soon and go to school to find Inna and friends, ok?  We go find the umbrella, ok?"

What should I say to her?  I don't have any good idea at this moment.  And what should I say when she is hurt by real life in the future?

Why did she have a bad dream?

3 yr 2 m

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03/27/04

"I am Sick."

It is Saturday. Around noon, Lily came to me and said: "Mommy, I am sick."
"Really? Why are you sick?"
"Because, I want yogurt to make me better."
:-)    

3 yr 1.75 m

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Sculpture

Sculpture

03/24/04

Lily has always been a self-content person, though she always welcome a playmate. I try to play with her as much as I could. But I have so much to take care of, that I don't think I would ever play enough with her. So, I try my best to be creative, giving her something new to do from time to time, keeping her busy and happy, at least.

These days I spend a lot of time on computer, trying to finish few projects before the trip to China.

After dinner, I sat down in front of computer again. Few minutes after I stared working, a thought came to me:

She should be happy to do some sculpturing at this age, especially, she have seen enough from the TV ('Art Alive' from Noggin). But how can I give her something to do that? Somehow, I don't like those material from the store. She is too young for that.  

But... Hey, a dough would be good. It cost nothing, and it can be easily cleaned up. The only reason I never thought of that, is because we are so used to treat it as food, and food is not for playing. But I still remember how happy I was, at age of five, anytime when Mom makes dumpling, she would give me a piece of dough to play with (so I won't go mess up her stuff) ;-).

So I got up, and said to Lily: "Come on, let's do some sculpturing." She seems to be excited, and followed me to the kitchen. I am not sure if she knew exactly what we were about to do.
 
I took a spoonful of flour, mixed with some water, and made a dough as big as an egg. When give it to her, she was so excited, opened up her eyes and said: "Oh, Scu..ulp..ture!"

After settling her down (She wanted to sit on the bed) and gave her a tray to play sculpture on, I went back to my computer.

There was half-hour waiting time once in a while, and I would use that to play with Lily or do things around the home.

When I came to play with Lily, I could see her sculpture is going no where. So I said to her: "Lily, let's play together. Mommy show you how to make it." So I took half of the dough, and gave her the other half.

Two seconds later, she reach out and took the dough from my hand and trying to say something. I can see her hesitation, so I asked:

"Lily, you don't want Mommy to help you?"
"... "
"You don't want Mommy to play with you?"
"Mommy..." She was trying very hard. Then she pointed at my desk: "Can you be busy in computer?"

Ha ha...

So I left her alone.

3 yr 1.5 m

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Chocolate

Chocolate

03/22/04

I am not a candy eater, and I could never know how attractive a piece of chocolate could be. Since I don't like the idea for kids to eat much sweet, I always try to let Lily have them as little as possible.

I notice that whenever Lily is hungry, the first thing she would think of is ice-cream, chocolate or candy. So I set a rule with her, that she can only have sweets AFTER meal. Almost always, after dinner, she doesn't care much for sweets any more, and I was never honest enough to remind her of our deal.

Tonight, right before bed time, Lily said that she was hungry.

“I want a BIG chocolate Mommy. And I don't want to eat dinner.”
“Ok, Lilyko, I will give you a little...”
“I want BIG chocolate...”
“Ok, Lily. I will give you a little milk... and a piece of cookie.”
“I want chocolate Mommy.”
“No cookie?”
“No cookie!”
“But you will have just this one. Ok?”
“Ok!”
“No more?”
“No more!”
“Alright then, go to the table and sit down.” I said. So she went.

I usually would put her chocolate in a little container so that she wouldn’t make a mess around (doesn’t always work though). But tonight, as I looked around, I saw her little green bowl was on the table right next to her. So I gave her half cup of milk, handed the chocolate to her, and pushed the green bowl towards her. She doesn’t always “remember” her promise, and on occasion, she could even “forget” twice and keep begging for more.

Sure enough, after much fun and mess, after sucking every single figure of hers, I heard: “Mommy, I want more...”

I turned to her and said: “Lily... :-(” I wasn’t going to give in easily.  She knew what I was going to say next, so she looked away. I went back to what I was doing.

“Mommy, you forgot to put the chocolate in the bowl!”

I was quite surprised and amused. I turned to her and trying to think of something to say.

She picked up the Green Bowl from the table and waved at me. “You forgot to put the chocolate in the bowl. You have to put the chocolate in the bowl, you know.” She said, with a very serious look on her face.

Well, who wants to knowingly break the rule... :-)

*********** ******

Sometimes I really wonder: Are kids really so smart? Or I am just imagining all this?

 

3 yr 1.5 m

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" Mommy in my Eyes! "

" Mommy in my Eyes! "

02/25/04

These days, since my parents are back to China, I have to take Lily to the Daycare every day.
This morning, when it is time to wake her up, I walk from kitchen towards her and calling:
"Lily...... Lily Dumbo... it's time to get up... Good morning Dumbo Girl..." Then I heard: "Good morning Mommy Dumbo..." :-) She loves the cartoon 'Dumbo ' so much, nowadays she wants me to call her Dumbo. And it always puts a smile on her face when she hear me calling her that.

I got to the bed, and kissed Lily. She looked up at me with excitement and a big smile, then she said:

"Hello Mommy Dumbo, I have Mommy in my eyes!"
"What was that?" I was a bit surprised,
"Mommy in my eyes." she used a finger pressed on her right eye, then both eyes.
"Ah... you were dreaming? You see Mommy in your dream?"
"Yes. I was dreaming. I have Mommy in my eyes."
" I see. What was Mommy doing?"

"Mommy changing diaper for Naniko." ...Ha ha ha...

It reminds me of a similar story my Aunt told me about my cousin when he was a baby. I can still see the smile on my Aunt's face while she was telling me that story. Time won't fade these memories as we grow old. I believe we all have these moments, so do our parents. Let's remember these more often.

3 yr 0.75 m

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Nana Found Her B...;-)

02/05/04

Take a look at your silly baby! See the file by alphabet order.
Yan

********
I am so thankful to the camera. There is no way to write about this story. :-)

1 yr 2 m

 

Nana has found her B...,

and it tickles ;-)...

Hug her, Kiss her, and tell her…

2/5/2004

Ever since Lily was born, I always give her few kisses whenever she is in my arm. And very very often, I would tell her “I love you!” at the same time. I was doing this because I believe kids would get more pleasure from it. And it is very important that they clearly feel our love.
Still, I was very surprised one day when this happened. I was working in the kitchen for over 20 minutes, when Lily (one and half year old at the time) came in and walked around me over and over again, trying to get my attention. Then, she stopped behind me, hugged both of my legs, and kissed me, on my legs of cause! This was her first kiss. Sure she got all the attention after that! I just put down my dishes… and went to play with her.

Can you imagine how I feel one day, April 10, 2003 when I was passing by Lily and hear her saying “ I love you! Mommy” … Not surprised, not excited, because I just didn’t believe what I’ve heard. She was only 2 year and 2 month old! Still, I was curious enough to bend down and ask her:

“What did you say?”
“I love you! Mommy.” She said it again.
“Did you say ‘I love you, Mommy’?” I asked.
“Yeah.” She nodded, and smiling at me.

Then, I was surprised, excited, and everything else I could think of doing. But what could I think of doing at this kind of moment? Nothing. Nothing besides hugging her, kissing her, and telling her that I love her.

Nowadays, every so often before Lily goes to sleep, she would ask me to lay next to her for a few minutes. After I lay down, she would ask me to tell her a story or sing a song for her. It was a lullaby before, and recently, after she watched the movie (I got a DVD for her) “Dumbo” she would ask me to sing “Baby Mine” from the movie. I usually would rub her from head to toe when I am singing. And very often I would get a big hug and kiss as my reward, before she tells me: “You go to your pillow now, Mommy.” Every now and then, she would tell me: “I love you, you know?” And some times, she would give me a long list of who she loves: “I love Daddy. I love Nai Nai, … Ye Ye… Naniko… Babua… Bebia… Kevin… Dudu… Carrie… Jiu Jiu… Jiu Ma… Niko…” There are even moments, that a birdie and star would join in the list.

Dear be-mentioned, I am not sure if Lily ever tells you directly, but she loves you. Don’t blame me for loving her too much. I simply do. And I will do the same to Nana too.

And here is what I want to tell you: Hug your baby, Kiss your baby, and tell your baby “I love you”.

If we love our baby (what a surprise!), they deserve to know, and You deserve to know that they know. Often time, we take that for granted.

Enjoy!

3 yr

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Birthday Wish

Birthday Wish

02/02/04

Dear Yan,
 
Bebia Valya wanted to write a message to you herself personally. Naturally she wrote it in Russian and asked us – Inna and me to translate it. We have done the job though it has been rather hard work to do.

We have just known about your having trouble in reading our recent message. Don’t worry, we will repeat everything what was said in that message. Here is Bebia’s letter translated. We – Inna and I join her in everything she is saying.

Dear Yan,
We all – Babua Benito, mamida Inna and I, Bebia Valya, are sending happy birthday congratulations to our lovely Liliko.  

We do wish we could be with you on Liliko’s birthday so that we could celebrate the day together, and make this day a big and merry holiday for her.  

I am very sorry and I suffer that I could not write in English. Then I personally could have been writing more often because I love you all and I want to be in touch with you more than I am able now. So I have to ask Inna or Benito to translate my writings into English. But it is not so easy for them to do so. I cannot blame them.  

I would like to know more about my lovely things, my Liliko and Nana. I want to know how are they, what new things have they learned, how are they getting on in doing so. I think that Naniko can already run about the house. Does she try to oversmart Liliko in something? Kids are generally getting smart fast. I am sure so is Naniko.  

I understand my dear Yan how hard job every day is for you: going to work, taking care of the kids, running the house, and many more problems. It is very difficult for you to spare the time for yourself. I hope that your Mom is some help for you. God bless her for that. Please, remember us to your Mom and Dad. It was a great pleasure for me and Benito to meet them.  

By the way what are your plans about going to China together. Has anything changed? I mean the time when you are leaving for China, the period of your staying there, and when you are going to be back home.  

We are sending a lot of hugs and kisses to you all and especially to Liliko – one whose name-day it is.  

We are also mentally sending her (in our imagination) a very big toy of the kind she would have been glad to have.  

Here are million roses for Lilyko. With love, Valya, Benito, Inna
P.S. To cancel the picture press Esc.

3 yr

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"Baby nay down."

03/17/03

"Baby nay down."
Dinnertime, we were all in the kitchen, Mom, me, Lily and Nana. Nana was sitting in the car seat, looking around.  Lily was wondering in and out, doing her little things.

After a while, Nana got bored and started crying.  So I went to pick her up.  Just then, I heard Lily saying from behind me: “Baby nay (lay) down. Baby nay (lay) down.”

I thought she was not happy that I was holding Nana (Because she does get jealous from time to time, if she thinks that I gave Nana more attention). At the same time, Nana stopped crying.  So I said “Ok.”  And put Nana back into the car-seat.      

But, then I heard a little voice saying: “Mommy hold baby. Mommy hold baby.” And I felt a little push from my legs towards the baby.  I thought Lily changed her mind, so I pick up Nana again.  The moment I got Nana on my chest, Lily went: “Baby nay (lay) down. Baby nay (lay) down.”

I was just going to get annoyed with Lily, when my mother said: “She wants you to put baby on the big chair.”

I turned around, and saw Lily spread out a little square towel on one of the chair in the kitchen, and wanting me to put baby there! She must have seen too often that we spread out a big sheet on the bed and wrap baby up with it :-). So I put baby on her towel. She was so happy and came over to give baby a kiss on the forehead.  Nana was more then happy to get a kiss from Lily and give Lily a big smile and cooing in return.  After I picked up Nana from the chair, Lily picked up her towel and said: “Shank (Thank) you!”

"Mine !"

After dinner, we all went into the bedroom to watch TV.  Nana was laid in the bed.  And Lily sat in the bed playing.  From time to time, Lily would go to play with Nana.  And then whenever Lily went back to her own game, Nana’s eyes would follow her around and waiting for Lily to come back.

There was a time Lily didn’t want to go back, so Nana started to cry. I tried to ask Lily to come back to play with Nana, and I showed her that Nana was crying. But Lily seemed quite involved in her own game. But when, my mother went over to pick up Nana, Lily immediately came over and said: “No, no, no. Don’t touch. Mine!” So Mother had to put Nana down to let Lily took care of her little sister.  The moment Lily saw Nana was back to the bed, she went over and said “Shank (Thank) you!”

… I just sat there laughing...



"Maybe."

Later, Lily brought a brush to the bed, and I wanted her to give it to me. She refused.  I got upset with her because the brush was not very clean.  Lily still didn’t want to give it to me, but she was watching me closely.

Since I couldn’t keep on giving her an useless threat, I changed my voice and asked her if she want some milk.  Looking at me and knowing that “No.” is not going to make me happy, she thought about it very hard.  I saw she hesitated for a while, and then said “Maybe.” – This was the first time I heard her use the word “Maybe”.  And I couldn’t help laughing.  I went out to the kitchen to warm up a cup of milk and came back to the room. Sure enough, when I brought the milk back, she didn’t want it!  She was just trying to stop me from being angry! But she sure gave me a good laugh.

Right before we went to sleep, I thought about telling all these stories to Vakhtang, so I asked Lily if she wanted to call Daddy. She thought about it quickly and said: “Babua.” I was quite surprised, because she never asked to talk to Babua before.  I asked her over and over again who she wanted to call, and it seemed she was quite sure she wanted her Babua today.  But it was really not a good time to call Moscow.  Finally we called Daddy instead. But I am sure we would be calling Babua very soon.

2 yr 1.5 m

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Switch On, Switch Off

Switch On, Switch Off

01/25/03

Two days ago in the evening, for some small reason, Lily got upset and threw herself onto the floor.  Then she started crying.  These days, whatever I try, it doesn’t seem to have much effect to correct this bad habit.  And I am afraid if I try any harder I'd spank her every time.  And that might have other bad effect, since I don’t want her to think that I don’t love her anymore.  It seems I had to spank her more often than before since Nana was born.  So I decided to try something different this time.
It so happened that I was just about to pump some milk for Naniko when Lily started her show.  Knowing how much Lily likes to switch on the pump for me, I called her to come and help me.  She got up from the floor immediately; came to me; pushed my hands away from the switch with the authority of an expert; and switched on the pump.  THEN, she turned around; walked back to her old spot; went down on her knees; and getting ready to cry again.

I was quite surprised at first, since I thought the old show should be over when she stood up.  Knowing there was nothing much I could do to stop her, I switched off the pump, making another attempt to get her attention.  She responded.  She turned around and looked at me with disapproval (I could almost hear her saying “What’s wrong with you?”). Then she stood up again; walked to me; switched on the pump; turned around and walked back to her old spot; getting on her knees again and started crying.  This time, I couldn’t help burst out laughing.  I laughed so hard that Lily got surprised.  She looked at me with puzzled eyes.  I saw her looking at me, so I kept on laughing.  Lily stopped crying, looked at me for a while, and then she started laughing with me.

I stretched out my arms to her with a big smile and said “Come to Mommy, my dear.” And she got up and ran to me with joy. That’s how the show ends.
Ha ha ha…

~ 2 yr

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Pizza!

11/19/02

Dear family,
 
Two stories I just have to tell you...

These few days, Vakho is staying home alone taking care of Lily... And they always have a great time playing with each other.

The night before, we ordered a Pizza for dinner, since we wanted to watch a movie together and didn't want to spend time cooking.

I intended to give Lily some rice that I already made, with some beans and beef.  She always liked that.  So I warmed up her food and got ready to feed her.  At the same time, the Pizza delivery guy came.  Vakho came to the kitchen, took a slice of Pizza and went away... I took out Lily's food, got a spoonful and sending it towards her mouth.  Suddenly, instead of opening her mouth, Lily burst out in tears, looking at me with great sorrow and cried bitterly.  I was quite shocked and didn't know what to do.  I asked her if she wanted to eat rice.  She shook her head still crying... Then I asked her if she wanted to have Pizza.  She nodded and stopped crying.

Sure, she can have Pizza for dinner! (though it is not the best form of food for her.) But I definitely didn’t expect her to react in such a way.  I would expect her reaching out her hand and ask for it.

Well, she is getting sensitive… Ha-Ha!

Diaper

Another funny thing happened yesterday.

Though Vakho is a very fun and loving father, he does get absentminded sometimes, and most of the time, it is no big deal.
 
Monday night when I got home, I noticed that he forgot to change Lily’s diaper for some time.  So I changed the diaper and told him about it.

But on Tuesday, he seems to forget again… And when I called home at noon to talk to him for some other things, he told me that Lily took off her old diaper and handed it to him… Ha ha ha !!!

I just wonder if Lily would come and bite his fingers if he forgets to feed her. :-) !!!

So much for today. Hope you all enjoy it as much as I do writing it.

Yan

1 yr 9.5 m

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Lily’s First Sentence

10/14/02

Dear Benito, Mama and Inna,

How are you all?

Thank you for sharing with us Mama's beautiful dream. :-) It is something very special to us, especially for the unborn baby.  I even consider giving her a name meaning "Dream"-- So far I couldn't find anything nice from the name dictionary ( I got Aisling and Svajone, But I am not crazy about the sound of it).  That's why I asked Benito to tell me how to say "Dream " in Georgian.  "Mtsvane" sounds better, or maybe we can alter it a bit to make it a name.  Anyway, the new baby is doing very well, and being quite active from time to time.  Sometimes, when Lily sits on my lap and playing... the baby would also move and push from inside, trying to be part of the fun.  I am sure, since she is hearing a lot of Lily's voice now, she will connect with Lily very well after she is born.

Lily is doing well these days also.  Two weeks ago, one day when I went to pick her up, the teacher told me Lily scratched 3 kids' faces.  Each time it was because someone trying to take the toy away from her while she was playing. :-(  I felt sorry for those kids, but I don't blame Lily.  After all, she was only acted on her self-defense.  I would be more upset if she was the one trying to take away other children's toy.  The teacher told me that Lily never do that.  Thank God!!!
       
I have known that Lily is able to defend herself since few months ago.  When we went to the playground after work, sometimes some older kids, many months even a year older, would come and try to take things away from her (it might be his toy, which he left on the ground, and Lily was just playing with it.) or even push her aside.  I never run to help her.  Instead, I would watch from a distance and see how she would react.  She always fights back, either holding on to the toy... or push back.  Sometimes, when she cannot win, she might cry and hit the older kid.  It often ends up with the older kid looking for help from his mother, while the mother trying to tell him to let Lily play together.  The teacher said that Lily is a tough kid and that's why all kids like her, because she doesn’t cry for little things.  Also, she is very sympathetic.  She would often go and give her friend a hug or kiss if he/she seems to be upset.

Two weeks ago, when my mother came to visit us for two day, she kept Lily home for one day because it was raining in the morning.  After work, I went to the daycare center to pick up Lily's linen for washing, and the teacher told me that they all missed Lily, and that for the whole day few of her friends were asking for her.  To show me she was telling me the truth, the teacher called one of the boys and told him "Ilan, Lily's mother is here". Guess what happened?  The little boy ran out from the corner... pass by where I was standing... ran to the door and call "Ni-Ni, Ni-Ni...".  And when he couldn't find Lily, he got mad and threw the toy truck he had in his hand to the floor... The teacher had to pick him up and comfort him after that.  I was laughing so hard... Not a bit surprised that "Lily's mother" was simply not as good as "Lily". :-)  And everyday when I take her to daycare, there are often 3-5 kids coming over to greet her, kissing and hugging her as she goes in the class room.

*********** ******
Last Wednesday, 10/9/02, in the morning, we were waiting for Vakho to come and take care of Lily that day, since she had to stay home that day due to mild eye infection.  Lily had her breakfast, and I was just about to change her diaper when Vakho called from the street to tell us that he will arrive in 5 minutes.  Lily heard me talking on the phone, and I told her "Daddy is coming".  She refused to let me change diaper, ran to the door, twisting the door knob and kept saying "Vakho Daddy coming!"  And this is the FIRST time she can make a whole sentence!!!

After that day, if she sees Vakho lying in bed, she would say: "Vakho Daddy sheeping (sleeping)". And if she doesn't see Vakho around, she would, from time to time, say: "Vakho Daddy coming."

Last night, when I was feeding her dinner in the kitchen, Vakho was working on his things in the living room.  After a while, Lily picked up a piece of food, pointing at the kitchen door and said : "Vakho Daddy eat, eat..." Well, it seems, all she does is think about her Daddy all the time.

Nowadays, if I take her to daycare, or leave her with someone, I have to sneak away, or she will get upset and cry "Mommy!!!" if she sees me walking away.  Only when she is with Vakho, I could formally say "Goodbye." and give her a kiss before I go.  She may even wave me a "bye-bye" in return, though she might not be happy to see me going away.  And sometimes when Vakho is leaving, she would wave him a "bye-bye", then she would try to follow him out of the door, or tell me to take her and go together.  Oh, our sweet Lily!!!

Dear Babua and Bebia, hope you enjoy my story.

Love,
Yan

1 yr 8.5 m

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New Shoes

8/9/02

Here are two other stories, I don't know how to make it short.

New Shoes

On Wednesday, Vakho got a pair of new shoes for Lily, dark red, soft leather.  Lily always has special affection about shoes.  But this time, she went a little too far.
 
That night, after dinner, she started playing with her new shoes. She put the shoes on her hands first, clapping a few times, took them off, and started trying to put them on her feet.  She did not have much difficulty with her right foot, but the left foot was giving her real trouble.  I was doing things in the kitchen and did not know all this until I heard some painful crying form the bedroom.  I came in and helped her a bit to put that shoe on.  She was happy and clapping her hands and laughed.  But soon, she took them off, and tried to put them on again.  I was happy something can keep her busy so that I didn't have to be around, so I went back to kitchen.

Twenty minutes later, some painful and desperate crying made me went in the bedroom again. This time she put the right shoe on her left foot, and sat there kicking!  I took it off from her, and tried to tell her she should use the other shoe, or try this shoe on the other foot.  Can you imagine how useless my effort was?  She insisted on trying the right shoe on left foot (and I believe she would insist that it has to be comfortable, too! :-). I had to trick her, pretending to drop both shoes, picked up the left shoe and quickly put it on her left foot...

The whole matter was worse the second night.  After dinner, I put her to bed to sleep.  As she was getting on bed, she saw her new shoes on top of the shelf.  She asked for them, and started to play with them again.  This time she had more success, and did not make much sound at all.  After I finished all the work in the kitchen an hour later, she was still playing.

I came into the bedroom to sleep, so I told her to switch off the light.  She stood up from bed, switched off the light, and lied down to sleep.  I thought she might lay on top of the shoes and it could be uncomfortable.  So I got up and tried to take them away.  It was then I realize that she had them both on her feet!

It was my mistake that I tried to take them off her feet.  The moment I took them off, she got up crying, trying to switch on the light, and started to play with them again! This time, she wouldn't switch off the light, and wouldn't let me switch off the light either.  And she put them on and took them off at least for another twenty times.

I showed her that I was upset.  She came and kissed my leg, turned her head and looked at me..., Mommy was still upset... Kiss me again, turn and look at me... Mom was still upset. So she kissed me for the third time, and looked again.  I couldn't hold back and gave her a smile.  Then she was happy... and went BACK playing with her shoes again!!!

By now, it was pass 11:30 pm.  I just had to give up.  I turned my body facing outside and tried to sleep.  About 10 minutes later, she switched off the light and lied down quietly.  This time I did nothing.  Two minutes later, she got up, took off the shoes, gave them to me, and lied down again.  That's how the evening ended  :-)     

Mommy Coughing

Story number two. 

These days I'm coughing.  Sometimes I would cough for a minute or so.
 
Tuesday night after we went to bed, I coughed a bit.  I felt Lily got up, came to me, and pat me on my back three times.  I was wondering what she was doing, so I turned around.  She went back to sleep.  I didn't think much of it then.

The next day, when we were on the bus, I started coughing again.  She leaned over and kept patting on my back and chest many times.  Now I remember!  Whenever she coughs, I would pat her back or chest to help her feel better!  Amazing how kids understand and learn things!!!

****************     

Some notes for these stories: Though she can put her shoes on and off many times, she still can not buckle them up right.  Though she would not stop playing with her shoes and go to sleep, she would stop playing with them and come to pat my back if I cough.  What a child!  

1 yr 6 m

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Here's my shoes, Mommy

Here's my shoes, Mommy

8/1/02

Dear Benito,    

Thank you for your loving words. :-)
 
I am glad that you all liked my story about Lily.  It gives me great pleasure to share these moments with you, knowing how much pleasure it will give you all. I always imagine how you or Inna read and translate the letter to Mama.  And how you all would laugh so loud.  While writing the letter, I could almost hear your laughs and see how you all say some sweet things about her.

Vakhtang is here with us since Tuesday evening.  That night, I left Lily with him on the bed, and went to do something in the kitchen.  A while later, I heard a little footstep coming through the living room.  I can tell she was barefoot.  The moment she got into the kitchen, I gave her a rather cold look and said: ”Lily, how come you are barefoot? Where are your shoes?” (Though she does not talk much, I always suspect that she knows exactly what I am talking about.  I can usually understand what she is saying.)  At that moment, she immediately turned around and walked out.  A moment later, she came back, still walking like a duck, with two shoes dangling from her fingertips.  I knew she understood me!!!  I was hoping for something like this to happen, though it is the first time she responds so precisely.  She proudly gave me the shoes. I  gave her a hug and a kiss, set her on my laps and put the shoes on her feet.  She seemed to be very happy, clapping her hands and said:” Yeah…”

Oh, she started learning to say “nose, eyes and ears”. When we ask her “where is Lily's nose?” She would use a finger pressing on her nose and say ”Noooo…” She can say and point out “eye” nicely. But if we ask her for ears, she would hold on both of her ears and pulled them pretty hard.  I was afraid that she might pull them off.  Ha ha…

By the way, you don’t have to worry about writing back to me right away.  I don’t usually wait for your response unless I have a question.  So, just sit back and enjoy.  I will keep writing whenever I have a story.  It is my way of making a diary before I forget the details. 

So much for today.     



Love,
Yan
P.S. I will give Vakhtang your short letter. He has a cold and coughing these few days.  He may call you these days, if he is lucky to reach you.

1 yr 6 m

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Self-Service

Self-Service

7/26/02

These few days, Lily is trying to do things for herself... Trying to feed herself with a spoon, and trying to dress herself.  She usually would eat few spoonful from my hand.  Maybe she think that she has learn it all, she would then refuse to eat any more, insisted on taking spoon from my hand. Then she would try to scoop some food, bring it towards her mouth, turn the spoon upside down first, and then put in her mouth... So you see, the food would get on the table or her belly before get into her mouth!  But she would try to improve the skill next time... so she would turn the spoon a bit less, and get a little bit of food left for her mouth. Thank God she would let me put some food in her mouth at the same time using another spoon.

Now can you imagine how she does with drinking from a cup? She would do the same thing, holding the cup with both hands, turn it upside down first, then put it to her mouth... So the first cup was usually on her dress, then she would manage to drink some from the second cup... Somehow, she always like to put her hand into the cup, dip some water, and wipe it on her face and chest.  I have no idea what kind of ritual that is.

Oh, since few months ago, she would try to put all kinds of things over her head: my scarf, Vakhtang's shirt, etc. These few days, she would try to put her pants over her head.  It was not always hard to have some degree of satisfaction. Yet, it is not always easy to figure out where to put her hands. So she usually wore it on her neck for few seconds before taking it off.

What she does with her dress is another story.  She tried to put her legs into her sleeve - both legs in the same sleeve. Then she tried to stand up, only to find out that she was not able to get up or not able to walk.  She would then scream very loud, got mad and tried to rip the dress off her legs. The bad news for her was that it would not come off easily.  Oh, my poor baby!!!  I tried to show her that she should try to put her dress over her head and pants for her legs.  But she insisted in doing things HER way, and never make a mistake of that.  Maybe one day I will take a picture while she is working on her clothing.
:-)

Oh, another thing she found out that she was not quite able to do was to kiss her own belly, no matter how 'Bucky" it was.  But she usually tries her best, and satisfied with a distant kiss.

1 yr 5.5 m

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Bucky!

Bucky!

07/22/02

Hello our dear family,
 
Maybe you remember one of my previous letter about how Lily tryed to share her sense of beauty with me by using " Chi-Chi", " Chi-Ki", "Ki-Ki" until "Puity" came out.  But now, she has finally decided and insists that all things which pleases her should be called "Bucky!".

And after all this time of kindly expending her "Bucky" list, Mom and Dad finally get included into it.  But still it would not be the entire us to be included at the same time.  Sometimes, it would be our cheeks, sometimes it would be our legs or hands or lips.  Anyway, she is the true master of her Bucky list.  No one can interfere with her decision.  I can not even bribe her to put me onto her list.  So you all would understand how flattered we feel when she pointed at some part of us and said "Bucky!"  And that, often followed with a soft kiss at the appointed spot.  Bet you can almost see how those lucky spots would just start glowing.  ;-) 

Yesterday, as she was pointing at me and saying "Bucky", I pointed at her belly and said "Bucky!" To my surprise, she took a hold of my finger, bent it towards me, pressing it on my chest and said "Bucky!!!"  We were doing this back and forth few times until I gave in and accepting my new title. Ha, ha...

One thing good is that she is more generous in giving kisses than naming a "Bucky Spot".  We now could even get a kiss from her when she sees us getting upset and raising our voice.  Sure there would not be any more yelling after that!  God, how she understands the power of a kiss!  Her teacher told me that Lily would give her friend a kiss when a kid was scared and crying.  I often see her friends calling her name when she arrives to the class in the morning.  Too bad Lily doesn't usually reply with even one word.  She still refuses to say "Hello", "Bye, bye." and all that.  Sometimes, some of her friends even come to greet her at the door.  They often would hug each other right there.  And the teacher said no one ever taught them that.

1 yr 5.5 m

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