project sid

Knock knock...

2012-02-02T13:54:00.003-05:00

Mommy: Who's there?
Sidney: Who...
Mommy: Who who?
Sidney: Are you an Owl?

Sidney: What Do Pirates Use for their Place Mats?
Mommy: Hm, I don't know...
Sidney: A PlaceMap!

The Start of a Stand-Up Comic Career.... my daughter and her original jokes.

Is Santa Real?

2012-01-30T09:52:00.000-05:00

It's been a while now - that intermittently, and out of the blue, while you are riding in a car or sitting at the dining table while I am cleaning up, that you have evoked the question in one form or another. This has been happening right before Christmas of 2011.

The question of whether Santa is real, or not. Or flat out stating that you don't think Santa is real. I thought perhaps the kids at school are bursting this bubble early but when questioned, you often have reasons I don't blame you for. Americans are lousy at making things up. (Can't say any better for the Chinese... the rabbit in the moon with Chang'Er was really hard for you to believe at 3.)

It all started with the damn reindeers. The reindeers just didn't seem real. First of all, you've never heard them in the sky, plus only birds and things with wings can fly... how can reindeers possibly fly? And Rudolph just didn't seem real at all... and sometimes you don't see Rudolph depicted in Reindeer shots. So we had to at least concur. Rudolph is a made-up character for kids.

And yet despite the momentary disbelief, at 6.59AM on Christmas Day, you woke up and not missing a beat, jumped right out of bed to see if Santa did come. Apparently he did, bringing you Baby Alive. You were ecstatic and all lingering disbelief vanished.

And then the other day out of the blue you asked, "Mommy, do you think Santa really makes his own toys or do you think he gets it from the store?"

"I don't know... what do you think?"
"I think he might get toys from the store... the presents I get have the same boxes, like those from the store." (Note to parents with young children... get rid of store packaging before wrapping)
"Yeh, I think you are right.... there are so many kids I am sure he has to go get them from the stores... especially if you ask for toys that companies make."

You were satisfied with the answer. Perhaps we can move on.

Then last week in the car on the way home, you started, "I don't think Santa is real," in a sad sort of way.

"Why is that?"
"What about the poor kids, the kids who have no homes?"

Hello Kindergarten

2011-09-10T23:17:00.003-04:00

Perfectly Logical

2011-09-07T02:43:00.002-04:00

Arrrr! Happy Birthday Matey!

2011-08-20T23:54:00.006-04:00

See Album Here.

It wasn't easy - trying to figure out if we were going to be blessed with rain or shine - the weather reports won't make up their minds and I got no real help from the cards - and Mommy's failed attempts at checking with psychics didn't help either. But in the end, we thought we'd take a gamble and commit to the original August 20 date - in Grandma Flo's backyard.

And boy did we have a ball. Daddy was an awesome Captain - shooting water at unfrozen freeze dancers and disobedient Captain listeners... and Battleship Balloon was an encore.

Digging for treasure was fun too and the jello, PBB, chips, Oatmeal choc chip cookies and of course the triple layer chocolate cake with vanilla whip cream and buttercream frosting. And not forgetting girl skull pinata.

Happy Birthday Sidney. You've been a great girl all year and you deserve a little celebration. (Now mommy and daddy are just exhausted! And by the way - all day, Mommy could hear her grandmother saying, "The gods must love and adore you to bless you with a beautiful day.")

Gong Gong

2011-07-12T22:16:00.004-04:00

On the morning of July 4th, while Sid and I were in the kitchen making breakfast, she tells me, "Oh mommy, I dreamt of Gong Gong last night."

"Oh, that's interesting, what did he say or what was he doing?" I asked.

"Nothing. It was like he was there, like his spirit came back and then he was gone."

I was intrigued. "How did you know it was his spirit?"

"He just came, like a ghost and then he disappeared," she replied matter of factly.

I was taken aback. That didn't sound like "just a dream." In fact, I know those "dreams" - they have a vivid feel in a realm that is almost real, but not really. Viscereally, it felt like he actually came to visit her. But why would he? There's usually an occasion, an event, something. I racked my brains but couldn't figure it out.

Later on, as I was mindlessly drying some plates, it hit me like a snowball. My god, how could I have forgotten (oh my father knows me so well), that in a week's time on July 11th, is his 3rd death anniversary.

That was affectionate, to have chosen his grand daughter as the last person who should see him.

On July 10, we visited the Chuang Yen Monastery and were joined by our dear friend Papa Ozskie. For a day of rememberance, meditation, reflection and simply, time out.

Summer Pet

2011-07-12T01:25:00.002-04:00

At Aunt Dawn's July 4th BBQ - a green little grasshopper jumped on Sidney and will not leave her, like it was her little pet. Of course she loved every minute of it. It was kindred and almost strange, for a grasshopper to be so affectionate with a little girl.

And they said...

2011-07-03T00:31:00.003-04:00

Jesus

2011-06-29T05:27:00.002-04:00

"Mommy, do you believe in Jesus?" she asks.

"Yes, I replied. "He was a real man."

I was drawn back to the time when her teacher at school asked us for some help. She wanted us to explain to Sidney how God made her. Apparently the teacher was challenged in class, "God didn't make us Ms. ______. My mommy and daddy did."

She continued on, "But mommy, how can a regular guy make all those stuff happen?" I couldn't give her a simple answer because I wanted to talk about peoples' beliefs in miracles, dramatization of stories for inspirational purposes, and you know, a re-writing of history that became fact to some. Later on in the night, she said, and it became apparent she was trying to find an answer to the conundrum, "I know.... all Jesus did was put a pair of glasses on the blind man so he could see!"

I can't tell if you are my daughter Sidney... the fact that you find magic hard to believe (you know your mommy believes in fairies) or that you won't stop asking challenging questions. Love you.

Moving Up

2011-06-23T22:20:00.002-04:00

And here is the link to the album.

Nice Design Says Dad

2011-06-21T00:07:00.001-04:00

The Bird's Nest

2011-05-26T15:04:00.000-04:00

We're birds mommy. Colette and me laid these eggs.

Pre-K Field Trip

2011-05-25T15:02:00.001-04:00

Nature Center Guide: Does anyone know the word for animals who wake at night?

Sidney: Nocturnal.
Nature Center Guide: Very good!
Sidney: But why isn't it sleeping?
Nature Center Guide: Very good question. Cos we woke it up.

Learning About Bugs

2011-05-25T12:32:00.001-04:00

Dear Sid - I hate that you have mean friends. Hopefully they won't grow to become mean adults and bug you. We are lucky you are sweet and kind because Siddharta would have approved. Love, Mommy.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: GCA PREK <gcaprek@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, May 25, 2011 at 11:59 AM
Subject: Pre-K update

Dear Parents,

This week we conclude our Bug Unit. We learned letter Ll for Ladybug, worked on our Ll letter sheets and made our own beautiful Ladybugs. In Library Class the children are working on caterpillars and butterflies. In Art Class, Ms. Ruth did some finger painting with them. In Music Class we are practicing our Graduation songs.

We asked the children what bug they would like to be and why and here are their responses....

Isabella C..., A bumblebee because I like to fly...

Sophia... A stinkbug because I want to stink all the bugs that are mean to me...

Malcolm,,,. A dragonfly because I love to fly....

Colette.... A butterfly because I love beautiful wings and like to fly

Myles.... A dragonfly because I like to fly....

Noah... A butterfly because I can have beautiful wings....

Phillip.... A fly because I want to eat different foods....

Michael... A praying mantis because I like to bite everyone

Mia... A bee because I want to sting everyone

Kelly....A bumblebee because I like to fly

George...A grasshopper because I like to hop.

Anderson...A bedbug because I like to bite people

Sidney...A stinkbug because I want to spray all my mean friends so they run away.

Lilianne...A butterfly because I love colorful wings....

Devin....A stinkbug so I can spray all the other stinkbugs that are not my friends

Isabelle Fino....A ladybug because I love to crawl

Kevin....A click- beetle because when I am on my back I will flip four times

Nia...A firefly because I like to communicate with light

Aria...A butterfly because I like to fly...

Amoy...An ant because I love to stay in the desert....

Ms. Nita...A walking stick because I love to be skinny with long legs....

Mama Gina...A water strider so I can walk on water

Baby Gina...A butterfly because I love to fly

Mr. Christhian...A cricket because I love jumping high....

A couple of reminders. If you have not yet RSVP'd for the June 10th coffee, please do so soon.

Also, now that the weather is getting warmer and we spend more time in the playground, it is very important that the children wear closed shoes so they don't hurt themselves on their toes.

I'm not sure if you remember, but Pre-K had participated in a "Going Green" logo competition with the rest of our school and the high school. It was announced in the morning program that we received an Honorable Mention for our logo. These logos are posted all around our school and the high school.

Next few weeks of school will be spent reviewing letters, numbers and various concepts like ordinal numbers, classification, categorizing, sorting, completing patterns and more. The fours are going to work on Kindergarten readiness skills while the threes are going to review and solidify letter recognition, phonemics, and number recognition.

Remember, no school on Friday or Monday.

The next star of the week is Devin, followed by Nia and Colette.

One last request. Please reiterate at home the importance of using inside voices in the classroom.

Have a wonderful weekend....Ms. Nita and Ms. Ginas

--
"No one has yet fully realized the wealth of sympathy, kindness and generosity hidden in the soul of a child. The effort of every true educator should be to uncover that treasure." - Emma Goldman

Sid's First Dentist Visit - March 25

2011-03-28T11:20:00.002-04:00

Perfect teeth, no cavities. Good job Sid (Mommy & Daddy) for brushing well! Dentist said her two bottom adult teeth are visible in the X-Ray now. Tooth fairy, we look forward to your visit.

Die Antwoord

2011-01-20T13:29:00.002-05:00

Rock and Roll

2011-01-16T08:56:00.002-05:00

Sissy turns 21, Mommy misses Thanksgiving

2010-12-01T00:16:00.002-05:00

From Dad

2010-11-30T21:59:00.000-05:00

Sid told me that she had a dream last night of a Bee. She thought it would sting her but then she noticed it was just made out of paper. I clicked on the Etsy link and I see that they are selling a paper bee. Strange.

I am "The Futune Teller in Pajamas" she says...

2010-11-19T21:37:00.001-05:00

Mommy's Favourite Doodle

2010-11-14T23:13:00.002-05:00

October Doodles

2010-11-14T23:11:00.001-05:00

We got this in the mail last week

2010-11-14T22:55:00.002-05:00

My personal favorites are the menacing clouds and monkey bars. And of course the girls.

A Crafty Fall Fest

2010-11-14T22:50:00.002-05:00

Check out the apple at the bottom.

Sidney on a Sun Day - Aug 10, 2010

2010-08-10T00:48:00.007-04:00

I needed to record this day down. I've no more energy to write well - so I am purely recording this for you, dear Sid. Yesterday was a remarkably beautiful day spent with you. We woke up in the morning and I thought I'd make you pancakes, because it was special and it's been a while (please remind me to get pancake mix next time we are in the store) and it turned out we didn't have enough milk to make pancakes from scratch.

"Mommy, why don't we eat pancakes outside, you know when we do not have pancakes in the house?"

"You mean, you want to go out for breakfast?"

"Yes Mommy."

Brilliant idea I thought. You and me both, let's go get some pancakes while daddy sleeps. Love it. So we zoomed to IHOP and enjoyed each other's company over pancakes, sunnyside-ups, toast, coffee and juice.

When we came home, we wrapped Isabella's gift, you made a beautiful card with a picture of a profiled hippo in front, got dressed in your Hello Kitty t-shirt and pink pants. We all got in the car, dropped Daddy off at Uncle John's house for recording and we left for Jumpin' Jeepers in Mahopac. You had fun with your friends from Ann & Andy's, and for the first time, I saw how you play with your friends. You were Cinderella and Madison was telling you to sweep the floor. Before we left the party, you asked to use your last two tokens on the Claw. And I tried to explain to you that really, nobody ever wins those games but you insisted and they were your tokens so I figured I'll be a good mommy and give it my best shot. And we won. Proven wrong, a virgin claw winner and proud owner of a pink Abby Cadaby ball. Wow.

When we got home, Mommy remembered she promised Daddy to water the plants in the backyard. They were quite scorched. So we found you a watering can and you helped to water the plants while I hosed down the yard. And when you got bored you came to me and asked me to water you. I thought you were kidding but later realized how you really wanted to get wet. So throwing all Chinese caution of catching a chill to the imagined wind, I began to make pretend it's raining. We eventually got you very very wet. You had so much fun, squealing and laughing. For the first time, I witnessed first hand childhood joy. I don't understand it but I had a ball seeing you have so much fun.

We then came into the house and we sat you in the tub with warm water. You were OK to have a water bath. We were out of bubble bath - I forgot to order a new bottle. But you were content playing with the ponies, the cowboy, the frog, the boat and the xylophone in the tub. While you played, I cleaned the house.

When you were done, I thought I'd take advantage of being a fortunate Mommy with a beautiful doll and dressed you with green plaid shorts and one of your favorite white t-shirts with a picture of a little red head girl sitting in a car. You said the girl was you. I tidied your curls with matching barettes. You are indeed very pretty. We then headed to the kitchen and I persuaded you to practise your B's in the activity book while I cooked us dinner. You were reluctant but complied after I let on that you will get to watch TV if you finished the B pages. You did and got to watch an episode of the Wonder Pets. And when I said it's time to shut off, you said, "OK Mummy" -- you had no problems. I was very proud of you.

Dinner was gratifying. You ate the brocoli stems like a kid on lollipop, asked to try the shrimp, proceeding to eat 2 whole shrimp on your own. You didn't even fight when I clipped some bok choy leaves in your bowl. You kept exclaiming how much you love rice. I told you about Jasmine rice. You had seconds. I love you.

Because you were so good, I figured I'd close the night extra special. I asked if you'd like to go to the store and you said yes, "how about school shopping mommy?" - what a great idea, let's be productive and have fun. It was 7PM and Toys R Us closes at 8PM. Yes, we can do this! So off we go, zipping in the car and headed to downtown White Plains again.

And we go into Toys R Us and you were really quite taken aback by the array of backpacks - you wanted the Starwberry Shortcake one. And later you fell in love with their Calico Critters - they are soooo cuuute! you said. And then you couldn't stop looking at the pretend food. And the princess dolls. And the princess bath toys. And each time I said no. That you had a birthday coming. And you had to wait. And you were very, very good about it. (I was relieved I had a child who listened.)

We went to K-Mart and you saw the Dora tent. And I started to open my mouth and you interrupted: "And don't say my birthday, please?" - I had to remind myself you were still 3. And I felt bad but had to tell you, you just had to wait. And you were sad but accepted.

It was a really nice day Sidney. Thank you for being such a good girl. Thank you.

Horses

2010-08-10T00:47:00.001-04:00

Sunday at Aunt Janice's, Sidney was sitting on the ranch fence with Grandma admiring the horses.

"Where are the cowboys?" she asks.

I miss-ded you.

2010-07-13T08:21:00.002-04:00

Hello babydoll.
Hello mammy.

What are you doing?
Eating brek-fas.

What are you eating?
Granola... and yoghurt.

Oooh, i had that for breakfast too. I miss you baby.
I miss-ded you too mammy. Last night, I couldn't stop thinking about you.

Me too baby.

Sidney Says... (June 2010)

2010-06-03T23:24:00.003-04:00

Back and Forest = Back & Forth
Prinzels = Pretzels
I brung = I brought
Gratulations = Congratulations
Tie-red = Tired
Watermelont = Watermelon
"Her says that I couldn't go... Her was not nice to me."
"SHE says that I could
"Why do you want to put makeup on?"
"To be dis-ting-guished."

Balloons

2010-06-02T01:46:00.002-04:00

Last summer, Sidney received a balloon from the Asian American Pacific Heritage fair at the Kensico Dam. It was probably akin to whipped cream and cherry atop a bowl of ice cream. We left the fair to go to Uncle Pat & Auntie Teri's house. As we were about to enter the house, "Oops" we heard. Lifting our heads to the sky, we saw the blue balloon fly away, beyond reach.

Sourpussy-faced, she pouted, "I didn't want it anyway." She looked away, with a frown and knit of the eyebrows and stayed quiet. We were impressed, surprised, amazed. Such strength. Such indignance. How adult. Secretly, I was pleased.

Two minutes later - WAAAAAAH! came the realization of loss. And the pain so strong t overcame all sense of dignity. And realizing so, I breathed a sigh of relief. Ok - she's normal.

Today daddy brought her to McDonald's and she got another blue balloon from the magician. As they were leaving and going into the parking lot, suddenly a cry. The balloon had slipped from her fingers and was slowly making its way into the sky. There was no consoling her. She tried to string her defense; something about trying to get a better grip and the string slipping.

"Sid, sid. It's OK. Let's just watch the balloon until we can't see it anymore, OK?"

It was a novel, but sound concept. The idea of letting go, but cherishing the last seconds. She became quiet, and together with daddy, indulged in a sight caught in a moment so priceless, it will become a pensive childhood memory.

Let it Snow!

2010-01-02T06:42:00.001-05:00

The last day of 2009. It snowed. She played. Glorious snow!

Sidney at the Water Park - Summer 2009

2009-12-31T01:49:00.002-05:00

Taxpayer dollars yeh! Our little village, we are so proud of, opened up a nifty little water park a stone's throw away from our house. This is late, but better than never. She loves playing in the water. Taken at Jacob's birthday party - Aug 15, 2009.

Aye aye, Cap'tain!

2009-12-31T01:30:00.003-05:00

So here I am hanging out with Robert and I am quoting verbatim:

'Sid's imagination is really kicking in gear now. All she wants to do is to play pirates and the Beatles. When we play pirates, the bed is the ship, and we yell commands at each other (she always says, "Shiver me Timbers!") and she'll tell me to set the sail. The thing I want to make clear is I am NOT leading this. She is the one making the bed the ship and she is the captain. In fact we had to tape the changing mat to the ceiling to make the sail -- that was her idea. She uses her mat as a "map" and another as a 'skeletope'."

Oh and did you hear? She got a pirate outfit from Aunt Laurane this Christmas past. And she has a box of booty. I'l tell you about the Beatles next time.

Remembering Gong Gong

2009-07-10T22:34:00.003-04:00

We were getting in position to sleep when we started talking. "My nail, mum. I want to clip my nail."

"Let's do it tomorrow baby. I'll clip them tomorrow... mmmm when I was a little girl, Ah Ma used to clip my nails."

"Me too!" she chimed in.

"And when I was little, she used to clean my ears and give me baths."

"Me too yeh!"

"I miss Ah ma..." I said sadly. "Me too... I miss Ah ma too..." she said softly. "And Gong gong, he dead."

"What?" I asked, alarmed by her use of the word 'dead' and the sudden proclaimation.

"Gong gong... he go away," she explained. I thought then maybe I heard wrong. She couldn't possibly know the word 'dead.' But if we ever had to explain the ending of life to her, it was always an euphemistic 'no more' or 'gone away.'

She paused for a thoughtful moment and then continued, "Gong gong dead. He dead."

"What!? Who told you that Sidney?" I know I heard right this time. And I have never and neither would her father, ever tell her that Gong gong is 'dead.' All she's ever been told is, he has gone 'bye bye' or 'away.'

"I told myself."

"Does Gong gong ever come to see you?"

"No."

At that, she laid her head down on the pillow and shortly after, fell into a sound slumber. I was perturbed. When I looked at the clock, it was 9.47 pm in New York, on July 10. The timing was uncanny, because I said goodbye to my dad over the phone while he was phasing out from a cardiac arrest exactly a year ago.

Coming to See Ah Ma!

2009-06-22T21:51:00.007-04:00

(Ah Ma and Sidney - Feb 15, 2009 @ KLCC)

So it's been a debate that had gone on for a month too long. Do I bring Sidney with me to Singapore for all of a week to see the family? Or to stay in New York and enjoy summer camp?

She's been insisting she'd rather go to Singapore than stay with Daddy - big surprise truly. So I thought if she could convince me, she gets to burn my wallet a little.

"So Sid... if Mommy were to take you to Singapore, you won't be able to see Daddy. Are you going to be OK with that?"

"Yes, I want to come to Singapore."

"Ok, but when you want to see Daddy, there is nothing Mommy can do. Daddy will be very far away and I know you are going to miss him. And cry. What will we do?"

"That's Ok. I will just talk to Daddy on the phone..." -- throwing in a worried-my-conviction-is-not-strong-enough look.

"OK, why do you want to go to Singapore?"

"To see Ah Ma and Gong Gong."

"But there is nothing to do in Singapore! What will you do in Singapore?"

"I want to play in Singapore. I want to play in the red tent."

Though simple, her reasoning was sound, and the fundamental aspect of the trip, the importance of fun, memories and her grandmother, were conviction enough that I will have to deal with her yo-yo jet lag for 2 weeks now. Ah, the life of a continental straddling nomad.

(Sidney in her red tent - feb 2009 - photo courtesy of Kar Mun)

Naked Man in the Bathroom

2009-06-08T02:33:00.005-04:00

Today, in the bathroom downstairs behind the kitchen.

"Daddy, why is the man in the picture naked?"

"...."

"I don't want to see a fat man naked. I want to see a pretty man naked."

"..."

"Actually, it's interesting. I like it."

Lost in A&P

2009-03-31T01:32:00.003-04:00

Robert tells me:
Last Monday, we were at A&P and were looking at potatoes. I walked around to the other side. meanwhile she was talking and talking. because she was so small, i could not see her but knew she was there because she couldn't stop talking. Then there was silence and then I heard, "I am lost." A lady stopped to say, "No you are not lost. your daddy is over there," and pointed in my direction. I said, "Sid I am here, I can hear you."

She walked around the vegetable stand that was between us and said, "The lady said you're not lost. your daddy's right there. Why did she say that?"

Lobster on My Head

2009-03-31T01:26:00.003-04:00

Last week, it must have been a weekday, Sidney woke up in the late night crying.

"I don't want it. I don't want it."
"What don't you want?"
"I don't want it on my head."
"What don't you want on your head?"
"rtttyd-ster" (moaning sort of fake cry)
"What?"
"rtttyd-ster" (half of fake cry)
"What?"
"On my head..." (more moaning fake sort of cry)
"Animal..." (moaning half fake cry)
"What kind of animal?"
"rtttyd-ster!!!"
"Lobster?"
"Lobster... lobster on my head...."
"Who put it there?"
"Daddy."

It hurt so much tonight

2009-03-11T01:09:00.003-04:00

Dear Sidney,

It hurt so much tonight when daddy was out, and you woke up from you sleep asking for him. When you realize he wasn't going to be coming, you cried and thrashed about, in such an evil fit I became alarmed. It was very painful to see that you didn't want me.

I suppose I can see why. I miss you. Since I started work two weeks ago, I have rushed home from the train station and cook with daddy, feed you dinner and read and put you to sleep. I can see why suddenly, we are alienated again. These days, when we are together - i.e. me and you time, I do my thing while you do your thing. I'm no longer playing with you because I am so caught up with trying to catch up with my life - family, friends, social obligations, professional obligations, financial obligations, parental obligations... In fact, I do not the remember the last time I visited this blog. This blog I so proudly keep because I think you'll appreciate it some day. But I am doing a miserable job at it. (Your GuGu is the sweetest.)

Somehow, I don't remember why or how my focus has changed. But tonight you reminded me, in your ever so Roxanne-with-a-temper sort of unkind way -- I will pay better attention to you.

I love you. Mom.

Computers at a young age...

2009-02-28T13:11:00.003-05:00

The "It" Girl

2008-11-07T11:46:00.003-05:00

Sidney started at a new daycare this week - about 5 minutes away from home. It's an old school-like compound situated at the top of a slight hill, peppered with towering maple trees colored by the golden hues of fall. There is an old Western town complete with a saloon and jail. And literally four other playgrounds and a mini-golf course.

They call her "Pretty Girl" there. So pretty that this morning when I dropped her off, a little boy in blue came running to hang out with us, wearing a perpetual grin. "Oh Caleb...," called Miss Betty. "You seem to be a little too fascinated with Sidney!" Then another boy in blue came running towards us and thought maybe he'll hang out with Caleb. And Sidney. And Sidney's mommy too.

So this is what it feels like to be the 'it' girl. I live vicariously through my daughter. I looked at her, framed by two little pigtails sitting atop her head.

"Mommy's going to leave now but I will be back this afternoon to get you, OK?"
"But I don't want to go to school..."

Preparing for Halloween?

2008-10-22T04:49:00.005-04:00

I wanna be a USC Trojan, just like my GOO GOO!
It feels so roomy here...

Abracadabra.... now it feels too small!

Now for some rides with my favourite Bananas in Pajamas!

Yawn - I'm tired...
zzzzzzzzzzzzz...

Sidney in the Hong Kong International Airport - July 13th 2008

2008-10-19T10:54:00.001-04:00

Happy Birthday Sidney!

2008-08-31T08:47:00.001-04:00

as with the usual belated style from your loving uncle in the little red dot.

Sonoma Wine Country

2008-04-22T22:36:00.003-04:00

The sun shone in our eyes, the wine caused a little stir and the surrounds of friendship enlarged the heart. We were in the Bay Area just because. Nai was in town for some sort of academic conference and Eunice was simply holidaying. And little Sidney and her parental entourage figured they'll celebrate mommy's birthday by taking a little break.

So here we are at the fabulous Larson Family Vineyard in sweet Sonoma, indulging in a Shiraz, some cheddar and baguettes from La Boulange, while Sid, takes in the new experience of running up and down the Bocce Ball court and terrorizing wine dogs much bigger than her.

Sidney's wild rompings at home!

2008-02-08T12:43:00.000-05:00

Circa January 24th, 2008.
This video was recorded with a Sony Ericsson k550i, by Zhoos Productions.

An Independent Day

2008-02-05T23:46:00.000-05:00

While the rest of America is busy at the ballots, rooting for a civil independence from a lameduck President, little Sidney was busy exercising her new found independence, away from Mommy and Daddy.

Today, Sidney is a little over 17 months and is her first day at a back-up daycare place - a service mommy dearest's employer provides, for which she loves. What's not to love? The parents' handbook says, "...children's play IS the curriculum."

Below an account from Sidney's very handsome father:

"When we first arrived, she was wary and kept holding onto my legs, every now and then hiding behind them. But soon as she caught sight of toys, she went right for it and i was very quickly forgotten. Of course the daycare teachers, like everyone else could not stop gushing how beautiful and adorable she is. There were two other kids there, a boy and girl and they were probably 3 or 4. I hung out with her for a half hour and she didn't even seem to care when I said goodbye. She looked like she was about to embark on a fun journey, and me, I was welling up with tears. My baby, onto a new milestone. When I came to get her in the late afternoon, she was on top of a slide and soon as she saw me, she called out, "Hi!!!!!" and came running towards me and plopped a kiss on my cheek. Then she for some reason, in a moment of affection, kissed the blonde girl who was there too. The teachers gushed this time, not only about how beautiful she is, but how smart she is -- the fact that she knew the word for 'Brocoli.' Actually come to think of it, she is really smart... when i was hanging out with her in the morning, she was able to fit 2 pieces of toys together, like she knew they were suppose to be together - well how did she know?! i was handed a report and it showed that she rejected Cheerios at 11.20 a.m. -- probably because she was well into play -- who cares about Cheerios then! It was also reported she took a nap at 12.45 p.m for about an hour --- apparently she protested the crib (but of course) but they put her in the stroller and next thing you know, she was fast asleep!"

The report:
"She had a blast exploring the center and trying out the big red slide. Sidney loved popping bubbles and rocking the boat. She was such a fun girl! Come back to visit!"

Wish I was there.

Happy 1st Birthday Sid!

2007-08-29T22:56:00.000-04:00

See Party Album>Go

See Sissy Izzy's tribute>Go

It's party time - with pink/white balloons, little cutesy decorative laterns and a yummy-in-my-tummy birthday cake! It was Sunday, August 26 - 3 days before the real day, and weather.com predicted scattered thunderstorm. The thunderstorm didn't quite scatter this way, but the drizzle was enough to force plan B upon us. There were family and friends who all came with a piece of their heart, a little present and a token of time for Sid's time capsule.

There were the cinnamon-raisin challah french toast with maple syrup and Tahiti vanilla apple sauce, a thick pan of hash browns, bagels/muffins/cocktail croissants, Char Siew Pau, Hokkien Mee, crudite, crostinis with a mozarella bruschetta doused with a balsamic vinegar reduction, a cold cuts platter, macaroni-salad, bloody marys, mimosas.

And of course, there was the amazing (and very funny great to work with) Chef Reiss, who after whipping up the lox schmear and mozarella bruschetta and dressing up the spread, proceeded to whip up omelettes (take your pick of filling: shitake-button mushroom medley, scallion-onion concoction, a popeye-sort-of-spinach, and for sure, cheese) on demand.

Chef Reiss and 2 sunnyside-ups!
Engage with him for your next party!
He is THE BEST! rjrollie@aol.com

Dad made his Hokkien Mee from scratch and seemed to be a hit with the LaoWai. Flo came with an absolutely delish macaroni salad only a good Italian woman is capable of making. And the stylist crudite Lee put together with long slender cuts of celery, carrots and cute cherry toms - we were set for a good time.

Then there were the doggy-themed party favors - doggy bookmark, bone-shaped gum, doggy tags, big-head doggy figurine and Pop Rocks. There was also the piñata - pink and in the glory of #1 which became the object of a smashing good time.

Jack-jack, Sid's soon-to-be-four cousin, taking the inaugural swing. Thanks to Pat for rigging it up, and thanks to Max for dealing it the final blow.

Then there was the 3-tiered pink cake with brown polka-dots, trimmed with sugar daisies, topped with a sugar-doggy. The bottom two tiers were layers of yellow sour cream cake sandwiched between a sinful union of bittersweet chocolate ganache and milk chocolate mousse. The top tier, a zesty lemon cake filled with lemon cream and fresh raspberry puree ~ sans lactose of course, for the birthday girl.

"Yummy! In my tummy!" she (and me and other party guests) says.

And then, there were the presents. They were sweet and they were lovely. Sid was curious - tearing up wrappers and digging into bags. Cousin Jack and Sammy were great help. The time capsule was filled with Sunday's New York Times, Rolling Stones and Vogue - a photo from Grandma Flo with her grand children and plenty of other items that will make good intrigue 16 years from now.

"What a good baby," marvelled cousin Elsa.

It's true - Sid socialized pretty all afternoon, ate her cake like a one-year old, ripped up wrapped presents, exclaimed at the pinata, smiled at the camera and played the part of "doll" with the girls. There was no fussing, no crying, no tantrums.

Sid had the best birthday party ever.

And love and thanks to a whole host of people, without whom we woudn't have been able to pull the party off. Marsk and Helen who helped picked up food, the birthday girl and took plenty of videos and pictures. Ed for help with the bloodies. Lee, Flo and Dad for adding to the menu. AJ & Allie for bringing the cake to safety! Dawn for hosting it in her gorgeous home and of course her other half Carlucci, for being around to help with whatever.

And sorry to the friends who couldn't make it but sent their love and well wishes anyway. The friends and family in Dallas, the Philippines, Kuala Lumpur, Chicago and Singapore. We missed you.

Her First Birthday Social

2007-08-15T23:08:00.001-04:00

Last Saturday, little Jada across the street invited Sid to come help smash a piñata and eat some cake. Jada had turned 1. And so, Sid attended her first birthday social. She was for sure, excited by the congregation of tiny people involved in play led by a funny looking woman in a funny looking suit. Sid was content to not have to fight for the last chair in the walk-around-chair-until-music-stops game and was happy to have found a spot on mommy's lap, next to Jada. She was in good company. For being Jada's friend, Sid received a set of soft alphabet blocks and party knick-knacks. She was even offered a Cheetos Puff. Mommy said "no".

Later, Winnie the Pooh made an appearance. Sid was stunned and for the longest time could only stare. When she finally broke out of her spell (perhaps she was re-evaluating her relationship with these plushie furries), she tried to get Winnie's attention by grabbing her arm. To her delight, Winnie turned around and picked her up. She was loving every moment of it.

"How do I take this one home?" she wondered.

Who was up at 5am this morning?

2007-08-10T21:32:00.000-04:00

(click on photo to view larger)

With love, from Santa last Christmas

2007-08-10T21:18:00.000-04:00

Did I ever post the presents Sid received from last Christmas? Here's the lot, the lucky baby.

Little Flirt

2007-08-07T15:06:00.000-04:00

(see the commercial for the talking peewee herman doll)
rmm1313 (2:44:02 PM): sid is flirting big time with the peewee herman doll
roxanneong (2:45:45 PM): how!!
roxanneong (2:45:48 PM): kissing?
roxanneong (2:45:50 PM): ew
rmm1313 (2:46:32 PM): everytime i make it talk, she gigles crawls away abit turns around all shy
rmm1313 (2:46:54 PM): and when it said I love you she gigled and kissed him
roxanneong (2:53:47 PM): she is so adorable.
rmm1313 (2:53:58 PM): she was giggling
rmm1313 (2:54:13 PM): like a fake laugh- it ws so cute!!
roxanneong (2:54:56 PM): wish i was there to see

(Easy Peasy) Tough Love IV

2007-08-06T23:53:00.000-04:00

Tonight, I put her down. She complains a little and headed off to Sandman Land on her own. Easy Peasy.

Tough Love III

2007-08-04T10:41:00.000-04:00

I just put her down for a nap. She wasn't happy but went down on her own, with a little help from an bouncy mattress. I am encouraged.

But we had a rough morning. She woke up a little before 5am and didn't want to go down. More ferberizing and by 6am, she was down for 40 more minutes and demanded to be fed after. Poor baby. (Poor Mommy.)

Tough Love II

2007-08-03T21:24:00.001-04:00

15 minutes tonight. The crying still breaks my heart. When will she stop?

Flora (not to be confused with Flo) Wanted in the Intestines

2007-08-02T21:58:00.001-04:00

So she's been having runny poops, or on good days, mushy poop. Just not poop as it should be at this age. But she hasn't displayed signs of fevers so we thought maybe this is another phase. By the 10th day, it became quite clear the phase was here to stay if we weren't going to medically intervene.

A nurse from Westchester Pediatrics returned my call and suggested bananas and rice. "That should help," she said confidently. But it didn't. By the 14th day, I called asking that Dr. Bomback return my call.

Dr. Bomback is a lovable man who looks like he stepped right out of a Norman Rockwell painting. Short straight clean side-parted silver hair, bushy dark eyebrows and a pair of rigid glasses, he looks almost clinical, except his toothiness with a row of straight teeth makes him a cartoon character. He talks fast, with a staccato rhythm. He acts fast too, to my mother's alarm one time, with no allowance for gentle coaxing. If he wants the kid to open her mouth, he sticks the ice-cream stick right in. But Dr. Bomback is a very good doctor. He knows his stuff and he wastes no time zero-ing on the problem and recommending solutions. In fact, he has been included, year afte year, as best pediatrician in both New York magazine and Westchester magazine.

(Triple-paste, by the way, is your best cream available for a painful case of diaper rash.)

So anyway, 2 minutes of describing symptoms, remedies, precautions, diet, suspicions and dismay, he says, "Temporary lactose-intolerance. It's Ok! If she will let you, put her on soy formula for 10 days. Then go get her some acidophilus. It's only temporary! We need to let her intestines heal! She probably caught a virus in the beginning and now can't handle milk!"

So we hope she'll be Ok soon. Today is day one on soy formula. And the Baby's Jarro-Dophilus better help those tiny intestines heal. Soon.

**Taking acidophilus replenishes our bacterial flora and reduces overgrow of yeast, whih is making her sick.

Busy Sid

2007-08-02T21:23:00.000-04:00

(Photo take July 14, 2007 ~ 10.5 months old)
When she spots the laundry basket within reach, as if there is gold to be mined, she makes for the basket and will begin to dig through the clothes with a single-minded mission to throw them out of the basket.

Tough Love

2007-08-02T21:07:00.000-04:00

They call it "tough love" -- a concept mothers have to accept, learn and get. A rite of passage. A discipline to discipline. The road to independence for a whole new being. On the second night, it took all of 35 mins before she went down for the night, with little hyperventilating. Last night it took all of 14 minutes, some complaining, some crying but when she laid her head down on her bed, she understood she had to do this on her own.

Tonight? She nursed to sleep. By the time I pulled her off, it was too late. Ooops.

Dr. Ferber Visits

2007-07-31T02:08:00.000-04:00

I finally caved in. The Elizabeth Pantley M ethod was just a little difficult to sustain. Tonight, I tried a combination of Ferber/Stay by her side method. We started at 8:40 pm and between complains, wailing, sobbing "mamamamama" and about 5 mins of hysterics at the end, she finally went down, working off the hyperventilating at around 9:19 pm. In between I consoled her 4 times, each time kissing her sweet little head and rubbing her back and playing music on her glow-worm. Poor baby. I feel awful but it's 2:12 am and I haven't heard one peep from her. She's sleeping like a baby. I hope tomorrow will be a better night.

Update - Doing alot

2007-07-29T01:57:00.000-04:00

I've been bad at keeping up with this blog. She's doing so much, so fast I am going to try to do a Cliff Notes here:

Words - All fruits are "nana." (She loves banana and cheese.) She started to utter "baobao" a couple days ago when she wants to be picked up. "Tata" for thank you. "Booboo" for Buddha (she also points to her sister's Bratz dolls as Booboo so maybe she thinks Buddha is a doll). She says "dtoy-ge-dtoy-ge-dtoy" or "dek-ke-dek-ke-dek-ke" and ends with a smile. I think it means something smug. Oh yeh, and she is definitely Chinese - she doesn't mew at the cat anymore... she says "Eh!" when she sees the cat and wants its attention.

Music - she plays in a band with her father. She does a couple of tunes on the recorder or sometimes play rhythm on the maracas. Two nights ago, she did a duet with mommy for 10 minutes! And she dances to the rock-n-roll beat.

Action doll - crawling with the speed of a tornado, especially when she spies the fridge door open, she zips from the living room to the kitchen in 3 seconds flat. She stretches her arms into the sky when you ask: "How big is Sid?" In the last two days, she has been able to stand on her own for a couple of seconds before slowly lowering herself onto the ground. She climbs stairs. She loves trampoli-ning on the bed. "Don't fall down" is a cue for her to throw herself back and giggle hard. She points at everything. And when she points at the moving fan, she swirls her arm about in cohesion with the fan. And she has been giving sweet little kisses for 2 weeks now.

Kisses - a sign of affection. Here's a cute story. Robert has an anatomically correct infant doll in his studio. In order to keep Tornado Sid from destroying his precious old toys collection, or pulling reams of paper from by the printer, he presents her with this real-looking baby doll. She yelped, "bay-bee! bay-bee!" She played with it and he went back to his computer. He then hears a slow series of kissing sounds. When he turns around, the baby's face was soaked. Sid loves the baby doll just a little too much!

Favorite industry - cable communications. (I swear) - so whenever a cable ad comes on TV, she will stop whatever she is doing. In the process, Time Warner introduced a new band she loves to dance to: Future86. She loves the little boy from the Verizon Fios commercial and sings with him.

TV Shows - Curious George. Some Sesame Street. And Judge Judy. (For the record, Mommy doesn't approve of TV watching.)

When in trouble - or when she thinks she is in trouble, she picks up invisible nothings from the floor and innocently gives it to you. She is successful at evading trouble.

(All photos taken on July 4th, 2007 - at 9 months.)

Self-Feeding & Sharing

2007-07-29T01:41:00.000-04:00

Photo taken at 10 months - July 7, 2007
... is an affair of food mobility. 60% of the food ends up on her shirt, on the floor, in her hair and in mommy or in daddy's belly.

Not that we eat from her plate but she has the habit of picking up the pieces of cheerios, pancakes, green beans, green peas, toast in between her index finger and thumb, stretching out her arm and offering it to you. She makes the eye contact, beckoning your receipt of her little present. How could you reject her innate sense of sharing?

My Favourite Things

2007-07-29T01:23:00.000-04:00

Brown paper packages, tied up in strings... well not quite but a parcel for little Sid arrived July 10th with RM$13.70 worth of stamps, from one of her Godmothers. Eunice who lives in Kuala Lumpur recently returned from Vietnam with a pretty dress paired with an old-fashioned pair of bloomers.

Who doesn't love mail, especially when it comes from exotic lands filled with exotic things?

It Must Be Summer

2007-07-06T00:56:00.001-04:00

Last Sunday, the Vizoskies called. "How about Rockyledge?" they asked. Here's Sid with her God-sister Allie. Sid models for us her please-stop-you-are-too-cute pink Strawberry Shortcake swimsuit.

Ouch

2007-07-06T00:46:00.000-04:00

The week must have felt like all the pricks combined from this cacti garden - a shot from outside my room at The Phoenician a week and a half ago. I had taken off away from Sid for the first time in our lives, and was to be gone for a full 4.5 days. I was sorry I had too, and so was Robert.

On the second night, June 26, at 3am, Robert calls my cell and reported a 103F fever - after over 2 weeks of what seemed like tectonic plate movements under the tender gums, her two front teeth were finally rupturing through. The little camper, was all but happy. "Really, where did the boob go?" she asks.

Piece of Work

2007-07-06T00:26:00.000-04:00

I think Sid's sister wouldn't mind if I shared what she put together, about a week before Father's day. It's up on her Deviant Art page - see comments here.

Confession

2007-07-06T00:18:00.000-04:00

From: Linda Ong

Sent: Sunday, June 10, 2007 10:30 PM
To: Ong, Roxanne

Subject: Re: holga

i have a confession to make. The work situation is so bad I have made the Sid on rocking horse pic as my wall paper on my office pc cuz it cheers me up ...

Playground Pretty

2007-06-27T02:58:00.000-04:00

The sun was out and so was Sid. Here she is after a ride down the slide. We also put her on the swing for a short moment but she protested. Yes she did, Sid who loves rough-play, hanging upside down and trampolin-ing on the bed.

More Than Words

2007-06-27T02:03:00.000-04:00

Meow: Kitty cats! Come here kitty cats!
Often said when the spotting of cats occur, also used in an attempt to communicate with the cats. Sometimes said when reading "Good Night Moon" or when coaxed to say "Baby."

Wof!: I hear a dog! Woof!!

Mum-mum: Mama. I want to eat.
We are still trying to figure out if this means "mama" or "i want to eat" or if there is synoymous-ness.

Babay...: Baby...
This is her first real word. Often accompanied by a gleeful smile of achievement. Never on demand.

Water Babies

2007-06-27T01:45:00.000-04:00

It was Father's Day and the sun was out. So dear daddy thought it's the perfect day for the family to spend a day in our cute little yard. The water took some time to warm (it was freezing despite the 90+ weather) as did Sid to the water. 50 SPF, 2 pigtails so short they were really mini-parasols on her head, a swimming diaper, and 10 attempts into the water, there was delight only water in the summer could bring.

Here's sissy Izzy and Sid splashing about like water-babies.

Playtime!

2007-06-06T22:28:00.000-04:00

I thought I'd share pictures of Sid's toy situation. Sid and her peers must keep the battery and plastic industry alive. We have a little area set up in the living room, the floor on her bedroom, the 2nd floor hallway and in Robert's studio. Sid invites you to come play with her - we are sure you will find all her toys fun and joyful. We are just about to set up a kiddie pool area in our backyard - she's got her swimming diapers, inflatable pool and a daddy ready to play. I have a giftcard from KayBee that I am about to spend on water toys. Toys, toys, toys. Mommy can't stop buying Sid toys.

Morning Routine

2007-06-06T22:13:00.000-04:00

Our routine begins at 7:45 a.m. each morning, so that I catch the 8:01 a.m. express train to Grand Central.

Robert puts Sid in her car seat into the car, and off we go on Route 119 towards the White Plains train station. When we get there, I kiss Sid and the husband goodbye, wave "bye-bye", get out of the car, shut the door, run up the stairs and try to position myself in a spot where I can step right through the door when the train arrives, grab a seat and begin my work day on the crackberry.

It's been 3 weeks now since the routine has changed just a little. Since 16th of May to be exact.

As soon as I get out of the car and shut the door, Sid bursts in tears, I feel a sharp pang of pain and god-awful guilt as I strain my neck to see her bawling face pull away sans sound effects, then run much faster up the stairs and try to position myself in a spot where can step right through the door when the train arrives, grab a seat and begin my work day missing Sid.

A 9 Month Old Well Baby

2007-06-02T00:35:00.000-04:00

It feels like summer and smells like summer. Of course Sid wouldn't know that because a summer ago, she was cozy in my belly. At her 9-month well baby visit, Dr. Schweiter pronounced her a perfect little baby, and really quite social. Soon as Dr. Schweitzer stepped in, like an old friend she hadn't seen in ages, lunged towards her as if to ask if the doctor would carry her. She flashes her pretty smile and reaches for her sthetescope. What's not to adore?
Here she is, on the baby scales, weighing in at 17.5 pounds - 50 percentile it seems.
And measuring her cute little head - 44". She is also now 27.5 inches long - although Dr. Schweitzer thinks this is a mistaken record. "How could she possibly have grown only half an inch in 3 months? One of the records is wrong," she grumbles.

Car Rides in the Afternoon

2007-05-22T17:11:00.000-04:00

rmm1313 (5:04:51 PM): sid was so cute this afternoon
roxanneong (5:04:54 PM): why
rmm1313 (5:05:13 PM): i put her in her car seat to go to the bank...
rmm1313 (5:05:35 PM): and as soon as i put her in she said mama
roxanneong (5:05:40 PM): oh my!!!!
roxanneong (5:05:45 PM): to come get me from the train station!!
roxanneong (5:05:47 PM): ??
roxanneong (5:05:49 PM): i miss her!!
rmm1313 (5:06:09 PM): sooo cute!!!!
rmm1313 (5:06:24 PM): i felt bad that we weren't going to get you
roxanneong (5:06:38 PM): :-(
rmm1313 (5:07:04 PM): but she was adored at the bank

Puffs!

2007-05-22T00:37:00.000-04:00

Thanks to Heedan, I bravely ventured into purchasing the Cheerios and Vege Puffs staples. She is really into them now.

Sid's also added spinach, salmon, yoghurt (yo-baby), quinoa, pear, apple (she loooooves these) to her diet.

A Reader

2007-05-22T00:28:00.000-04:00

Sid's amassing a nice little library. Since she started on Sandra Boynton's "Moo, Baa, Lalala" she's acquired 4 others. However, she can't sit through Ian Falconer's Olivia and finds Margaret Wise's "Good Night Moon" lacking in luster.

Mommy points to the pictures and reads to Sid the stories in the best Chinese she can muster. (Can someone tell me how to say 'rhinoceros' in Mandarin? I have been pretending he doesn't exist.) Daddy of course, reads in English. Lately, Sid's taken to grabbing the books and opening them up with her cute little thumbs, then pointing to the little friends in the book, while articulating a string of babble in a soft high-pitched voice.

In fact, Sid thinks that anything shaped in a square/rectangle with substantial width is meant to be pointed and babbled to. Yesterday, she picked up Daddy's Grand Theft Auto game box and opened it up to the "middle page." I must say, she was taken aback by how the only 2 pages were in such a rich shiny black. She stared at it for a while, and then slowly but surely, pointed to the grooved middle that held the CD together and began to tell a little story that only she understood.

Crawling for a Week Now

2007-05-22T00:15:00.000-04:00

Sid's becoming a mobile whippersnapper. She's realizing that you don't have to go backwards in the crawling position and life's just more fun going forward. On Mother's Day, Sid took her first steady series of forward moving steps - her Mother's Day gift to me.

Mamamamama

2007-05-07T04:08:00.000-04:00

Mama. The first time Sid said Mamamama, it was soulfully gratifying. And when I got mad at her because she wouldnt go back to sleep at 4am in the morning, she whimpered mama and my heart broke.
Mobility and a Changed Perspective. She just started in the last two days forward crawling after having successful bouts with backwards crawling. She loves to stand and will hoist herself up at any opportunity.

Happy and Social. As luck would have it. I fall to my knees and say a little prayer of thanks. Apart from teething issues, Sid is one happy baby. She's giggly, loves to play and will entertain her throes of adoring stranger fans with her new found open-close-palm-waving. Her fun-times du jour is when daddy flips her upside down.

Nose. She knows where daddy's nose is, or Gary's mouth is. She also knows where 鼻子 is. I need to work harder at showing her where 嘴巴 is.

Words and singing. For hello is nai-nai with the same inflection and tone. Her word for "no, i dont want it" is mie-mie. And a jabber mouth, she also says bababababa. Last week, Marsk told me Sid was singing all the way from the house to the train station.

More of Sidney!

2007-04-24T15:46:00.001-04:00

My photographer friend Jing saw Sidney and immediately fell in love with her. He took out a piece of paper, attracted Sid's attention, and drew the piece of paper directly into the line of the lens.

"And that's how you make a baby look into the camera."

What can I say? He's a pro! Unfortunately the Polaroid didn't quite focus properly. But still - pictures of Sidney looking straight into the camera is one in a million.

Sid @ Singapore Day

2007-04-24T15:18:00.000-04:00

Singapore Day in New York
Click to view gallery

April 21st - It's Sid's first beautiful Spring day and Sid's first time to Central Park. She meets new friends, danced to music, entertained strangers who crowded around her for a moment of her attention, got excited over monster-size horses, rode on daddy-horsey and played with 2 other babies. And those cheeks, how they glowed in the sun.

The Art of Yum

2007-04-13T01:39:00.000-04:00

When Sid was in Singapore, we thought Grandma would enjoy feeding Sid her first solids. Today, Sid is quite the expert eater of mushy foods. She's eaten butternut squash, carrots, sweet potatoes, peas, green beans, brocoli, avocado and corn. Her first fruit was the pear and since then have tasted the sweetness of apple. She tasted her first banana on Easter Sunday and loves. Here's an especially messy mealtime. Classy. Oh, and the poop and the poot-poot that comes along with. How novel. How different. How indicative of a varied palette!

Pain, growing and Dadadadadada...

2007-04-01T21:53:00.000-04:00

Last week flew - I was eager for the weekend to arrive. The thought of hanging out with Sid in her new exersaucer (we broke down and bought one), new nursery (we finally put the Vizoskie's crib together!) and new vocabulary (On Wednesday - March 28 - Robert calls me all excited. "Sid's saying dadadadadadada.... i win!" - sure enough, she's babbling sounds I've never heard) kept me going. I was planning to have a blast!

Saturday arrived with a rude cry at 6am. By 10am, her cheeks were pink and her forehead burning. She had a 102.7 F fever. Would you document "First Fever"? Poor baby.

When Sunday came, her temperature had dropped considerably. But Sunday was more painful - crankier than yesterday, she was inconsolable, did not want to go to sleep on her own, bouncing did not good, nursing didn't help, and was just such an unhappy child. As she bawled, i caught from the corner of my eye, 2 bulging pockets of teeth in her lower gum. And that explains it all - the drool, the coughing, the 5-min sleep cycles, the crying.

Sid is finally teething.

Tradition, American Kitsch

2007-03-25T01:49:00.000-04:00

6 Month Old Portrait -
Click above to view album

On March 18, we took Sid to the studios to capture her likeness at 6 month old. She was quite the snob with the camera - the smiles were simply hard to find! Yet, while reviewing the dandy work of the photog on the computer screen, she could not stop squealing in excitable delight, as if to say, "There I am~ I look fabulous!" God bless Americana Kitsch. God bless "wallet-size photos" tradition. God bless "portraits-in-20-minutes-photos-while-you-wait" processes. And God bless the parents-in-love who spend this kind of money!

Update & Catch Up

2007-03-14T00:28:00.000-04:00

It's not like Singapore never happened. It did - we went, we came back and boy were we jet lagged. And I have a ton of pictures to show for. But you see, here's the crazy part where I have no idea which photos to post. Quite frankly it will take some time.

Meanwhile - today we took Sid for the 6 month well baby visit. Today, Sid is:
27 inches long
16.1 lbs!

Holy moly.

Happy Birthday Godma Eunice

2007-03-13T23:18:00.000-04:00

This is Godmama Eunice. It was her birthday on the 10th of March and of course my silly mother thought it was today (actually sometimes i think my mother forgets my birthdate). Here is a picture of her plumping a kiss on my head in Singapore. She bought me this cute green dress that I cannot wait for the summer to come so I can wear it. She is my hero and recently premiered her documentary I Love Malaya.

My mother calls her Lau Gin Jeow - or Old Banana as translated. When we were in Tokyo, my mother bought this box of Tokyo Banana in her honor. Gosh how I miss her!! When will I see her again?

On the Set with Lostdog in Loveland

2007-03-13T02:34:00.000-04:00

Hanging out with the crew... Allie and AJ

Taking a break from the photo session in Allie Vizoskie's room, sneaking a kiss.

Casanovette in Singapore

2007-03-05T05:39:00.000-05:00

Siddy-poo arrived at 9 Mugliston Road, Singapore in a baby car seat with a FRAGILE tag, asleep, precious, and adorable. When she woke up and was un-seatbelted out of her Graco encasement, she showed off her new dress from Carter's, a white number laced with little yellow chicks.

Together with her curly curls, cheeky cheeks and chummy charm, she stole Auntie Koh's heart.

Sid's so Big at 5 months+

2007-02-08T21:36:00.000-05:00

This is Sid at 17 weeks, right before the first day of 2007.

I feel like Sid has been in my life forever - and yet it's really only been a short 22 weeks. She's probably 15ish pounds now and fits nicely into 6-9 month clothes. Yes, she's a big girl!

She squeals a pitch that's unheard of to mankind, and thinks that Blue Elephant man her granma Flo bought her is a funny character. Two weeks ago, she discovered kitty-cat existence and would try to engage them - she calls out to them, squeal at them and is utterly fascinated.

She's popping out of her Bumbo and now understands the word "Up" - on the changing table, when you say "up" she literally lifts her chest and head and hoists herself to a standing position with the help of my two index fingers. And yes she sits for a good time unsupported.

We set up her high chair yesterday. Next week, she is going to take her first plane right to Singapore!

The Camera's Returned...

2006-12-19T11:47:00.001-05:00

... but where are the posts?

Alright I've returned the camera to the rightful owner, in hopes that there will be more pictures and nice stuff to see posted online. But of course, that is not happening.

Sid has grown big and strong. I think she's grown temperamental and spoilt. Sorry for saying this, but I believe in tough love. Anyways I love my niece all the same. You're so cute I can just punt you.

Here are some pics that I do have!

Sid's beginning of her modeling career

*Grins*

Milestones: She's Laughing!

2006-12-16T03:29:00.000-05:00

Whew - I started the below 3 weeks after I got back to work - sometime before Christmas and didn't get a chance to publish it. So read the below as if it is still mid-December, with jingles of Christmas tunes in the background.

Laughing
She laughs! Her funny bone is kicking in. She first started laughing on November 19. As it was told to me, Robert was quite the gibberish stand-up comic and he had a captive audience. To his surprise, and for the first time in our lives, she laughed like never before, ending each belly laughter in a high-pitched squeal of delight!

Since then, there has been episodes. Her latest favourite joke is the "G" family - Goo, Ga, Gae will surely belt the adorable laughter and you know you hit a high point when a squeal emerges.

We're having a good time.

Grabbing
The same day, she made a purposeful grab for the blue monkey that hangs from her stroller. And-will-NOT-let-go. Since then, grabbing is more focused affair than a random swat.

A Hiatus...

2006-12-07T14:33:00.000-05:00

In case you're wondering why there are no new posts coming in, that's because Sidney's uncle has the camera in his possession, and Roxanne refuses to blog a further word till the camera is returned.

"I'm in the prime of my youth and I'll only be young once."

2006-11-28T14:32:00.000-05:00

My name is Desiree and I made a great new friend over the weekend.

Our relationship is by default, since I know her parents. It's like joining a new softball team and having to be friends with everyone, except that I've made some of my best friends playing ball, so our friendship was off to a wonderful and auspicious start.

My new friend is named Sid.

Ever since I've known her momma, Roxanne, she's always been one of those super-achievers, a roommate you could bring to a party instead of a 12-pack and still be a hit with everyone. She's been a vice president on the Northwestern student board, single-handedly put together a national conference of Singaporean students studying in the US, orchestrated a Tori Amos concert and Kurt Vonnegut and Gloria Steinem speeches on campus. But she might have now outdone herself -- she's Sid's momma!

Her pops Robbie might have other plans, but when it comes to the National League Central Division, this kid is growing up to be a Cubs fan.

Take your Daughter to Work Day Already!

2006-11-16T23:10:00.000-05:00

Yesterday in New York, the air was mild and it felt like what could possibly be the last of the Indian Summer. The day was anticipatory as I rehearsed for the 56th time, the carefully crafted schedule of events on how the day should unfold - the baby must be fed, the car must encounter no traffic down to Chelsea. There is an hour for socializing before another feeding, diaper change and a northward trek on the West side highway.

Auntie Jo Jo had demanded I read the formal email invitation to the little one.

"Was wondering when you might come to visit? I am thinking that next week would be good," the note said. Hence, the very first unofficial "Take your daughter to work day" - quite out of synch with the national mothers of the world but who cares?

We found the dreft-ready outfit Jason and Kafui gave Sid - a 3-piece number that spelled badass urban emo-rocker from a cute East Village store.

12 weeks into this planet and already amassing a legion of adoring fans from the makers of one of the hippest group of hotels in this world. Sid was a good baby, happy to be passed around and dabbled in conversation with some folks. Thank you great-grandfather/mother Magliari and Ong - oh thank you for not giving us strange genes.

And then there was the Babycenter moment of the day.

"Shhh...," she said. "It's meant to be a surprise but I am so excited I can't wait to show you."

I followed Lauren into the scrubland known as Design where throes of visual inspiration pop from the walls. She opened the door. I fell to tears. Plastered on the wall was a lyrical essay of photographs - Sid's life illustrated. This is the room where they've decided to set me up with those Medela buddies. The collage, Lauren explained, is to assist with let-down. And a little fridge will be forthcoming to store Sid's food supply.

Gratitude is the memory of the heart - and this, memorialized here. Thank you for you.

12 Weeks Old!

2006-11-14T18:25:00.000-05:00

Today, Sid is 12 weeks old. I think back to day 1 when I held her in my arms and asked myself quietly- which part of "amazingly in love" did I not get? I thought she was an extremely cute baby but I was embarrased to admit I was not head over heels in love. Today, I'll do a somersault to Mars if I had to explain to you how I feel about her especially when we converse about nothing, and she giggles and laughs at my nonsense, when i sniff her cute little head or when she looks me in the eye as I nurse her.

Some milestones to note:

2 nights ago, for the first time, she slept through the night!
4 days ago, I laid Sid tummy down on the futon in the loft and she kept her head up. Wobbly but up all the way - this girl is strong!

She has also added new vowels to her vocabulary - when you catch her in a chatterbox mood, you can have a conversation with her for a half hour. Her range is really quite wide including yeeee, O, la, ya, ehhh, ahhhh, hai etc.

And amazingly, she never fails to deliver a toothless smile when she wakes up to you. I'm in love.

Halloween

2006-11-05T15:00:00.000-05:00

"Why are you insisting i do a photo op for this outfit?!" Sid's Halloween outfit she wore to Greg's party, courtesy of the Vizoskies.

And below, Sid's first Halloween card from Aunt Laurane. Too cute!

First Stroll in the Hood

2006-11-05T09:23:00.000-05:00

It was a gorgeous Autumn day. The foliage are bright yellow and red, the air crisp and there are leaves everywhere - well maybe not where this photo was taken! We put Sid in her little stroller and took her out for some fresh air. There was the nap for her and then there was the deli lunch for us at Venuti's on Main. Winter needs to not come.

Pumpkin Picking Oct 14

2006-11-02T11:43:00.000-05:00

We went pumpkin picking up Route 22 near Pawling sometime in mid-October. The infalliable equation of (x)+infant=deep sleep held true... where "moving car"=x. That afternoon, we found we were able to substitute x with "hayrides" and "mother's cradle."

In the larger landscape of orange-bright enormous pumpkins set on an infinite mass of soil and a horizon outlined by the New York mountains, we are humbled as we hold in our arms so dear, a fresh new tiny being, barely 8 weeks old, a pumpkin herself, whose seemingly impending long journey will never be outlived by the journey of this earth.

Thanks to Izzy for the photo... see Izzy's gallery here!

Month 2 - Making Peace

2006-11-01T02:12:00.000-05:00

This is Sid on her way home from the doc's on Oct 31 after her second month's check-up. Dr. Longobardi says she is growing fabulously and marvelled at how well she can sit up.

Today, Sid is:
- 11 pounds, 9 oz (9 pounds a month ago) - this is the 75th percentile (my... what a big girl!)
- 23.5 inches long (22 inches a month ago)
- vaccinated against whooping cough, hep B and the works.

She's a brave one - 4 jabs, 2 in each thigh, some odd liquid and thick gooey Tylenol the nurse offered her. I'd venture to say she tolerated the "pinch" pretty well - i was expecting a protracted scream and an inconsolable spirit. I expected wrong.

This is her, in her car seat on the way home, making peace with the paradise she has come to.

Eating

2006-10-31T02:46:00.000-05:00

Lately, Sid's been eating her fist, or chewing on her sleeves, or mine.... or gnawing on my arm. Oral fixations? Teething?

Please to Meet You.

2006-10-25T00:48:00.000-04:00

How friends come together.

Sid's in her first bed - an bassinet worthy of adoration from dear John and Linda in Singapore. She's accompanied by a chickie from Ken and Melissa from Brooklyn. The chickie's delighted to find a fabulously pink bear friend who came in all the way from K.L.'s uppity Marks & Spencer, from dearest Eunice. And they are all snuggly in a fuzzy Pooh blanket from the Vizoskies.

John, Linda, Ken, Melissa, Eunice, Ed, Lee - say hello.

John and Linda are lawyers for their bread and jam but by weekend, John's looking for another wrist to break in his biking expeditions. Linda's singing herself to another album. Hear Linda here. Eunice is in K.L. provding an alternate perspective. Ken has a phD in art and psychology. It is from Ed that I learned AOL has been in business for more than 14 years now. That's how long he has been with the company. Both their wives, Melissa and Lee are all about the money - insurance and funds respectively.

The Irresponsibility of the Breast Feeding Nazis

2006-10-24T23:41:00.000-04:00

The breastfeeding nazis don't ever tell you this - that there will be at one point, an angry refusal of nipples that aren't attached to dear mom. Sid put up a major fight when we tried to feed her the bottle last Friday.

Was there voodoo? She had taken well to the Avent bottles until the visit at Bright Horizons Child Care. The director had instructed, "And if you are nursing, we ask that you introduce the bottle to the baby before taking her in as some babies will refuse the bottle." Was it the Enfamil Gentlease Lipil that she decided tasted bad after all? Secretly, I jilted Similac to keep the taste of mommy's breast milk competitive. Or did she simply cultivated a preference for the intimate moments when I provided in the most primal way for her? Oh, did I sabotage ourselves?

A frantic search (Halleluah Google) on "baby refuse bottle" served up a few links that we proceeded to act on. $15, tears and screams, the raced broken hearts of 2 well-meaning parents and a serendipitous phone conversation with a pediatrician (she had called on behalf of our pediatrician about Sid being prescribed Tobramycin for her clogged tear ducts) later, I experienced for the first time the light-headedness from a relief shared by the world of parents.

I've been officiated.
Praise the Playtex nurser.
Yaay to Dr. Schweitzer.
Damn the irresponsible La Leche nazis.