Bunk stroller

Tonight as we walked to McKelvey Park, she saw a double stroller go by. It was one where the baby seat was in front, and the toddler/older child seat was beneath it in back.  She said "bunk stroller" after it went by.

She is fascinated by bunk beds in picture books, which is where she got this from.

SHE loved the beach

Natural Bridges State Beach

 

Sierra had so much fun. She laughed and wanted to go again and again to wet her feet as the waves came in and daddy swooped her up each time until she drenched her lower body and we changed her clothes. She threw a fit when we left.

 

We asked what her favorite things that she did today were:

First favorite: the beach
Second favorite: Chinese class (at the library park)
Third favorite: picking strawberries

SHE is strawberry picking like Caillou

SHE's playing in the park

SHE does ikebana

SHE is making flowers at Obon Festival

SHE is at the dog show

SHE is in a dress

Never forgets a promise

Lately we have been doing LOTS of bargaining and promising with her in order to avert temper tantrums and to reward her for things like peeing on the potty and pooping.

Examples: giving her a "new toy" (like one new little people) or cookie (TJ's snickerdoodles are a fave). After the event, she immediately asks for the item. If she forgets, she'll always remember later and remind us.

I read somewhere that toddlers do not like surprises. You always have to set expectations. This helps avoid temper tantrums. This is definitely true with S.  If we want her to do something she doesn't want to do, such as change her clothes, we say, ok, first we will read this book, and then we will change your clothes, OK?  She nods and says OK. This works infinitely better then just reading the book and then changing her clothes suddenly.  We always outline what is *going* to happen.

SHE still likes my hair

Sierra still has this thing where she likes running her fingers through my hair to help her fall asleep, either at night or if she wakes up in the middle of the night (dawn).  It's like a pacifier to her.  Sometimes, at night, before she falls asleep, she pulls and I tell her "No pulling. Touching is OK." And she repeats what I said.

She loves stating rules and nodding her head and agreeing to the rule.  It's so cute. I'll have to think of other examples.

SHE is crying

This is after taking away the iphone.  I was letting her play with the iphone while I braided her hair into two front braids, and two side braids (that include the front braids). She'll sit still for any hairdo with the iphone!  She was in a particularly fussy mood this day.

Note that she still closes her eyes to cry, like she did since she was born. And she looks like Daisy when she was a baby when she cried.  Mudder and I realized this when she was born.  I can't believe I have not yet mentioned on this blog.

SHE's helpful

Mama

She started calling me Mama sometimes recently. I think it was after Jaden visited since that's what he calls his mom (Mama is the Chinese word).  I find it endearing. She especially uses it when she is upset a little. When I remind her, she calls me Mommy. It's funny.

Toothpaste

Sierra has refused all toothpaste (toddler ones too) forever. She has been brushing with water. I hear this is OK since toothpaste doesn't have fluoride in it under age 2 anyway, and it's more to learn to brush than to actually brush.
I then noticed my own toothpaste says it's ok to give pea-sized amounts to over age 2. I also noticed 2-3 weeks ago that she learned to gargle water and enjoyed this.
I finally saw her teeth getting yellow and realized I had to think of a way to force her.
How? Bribery, as usual, with this girl.

I happened to obtain a cheap, ginormous set of Little People (people, animals, accessories and structures) from the bagelsandbabies list several weeks ago.  It probably has 50 people/animals/accessories in it. Each night, I tell her I'll give her a "new toy" if she brushes her teeth. (These 2 words alone IMMEDIATELY get her attention.)  But she insisted on using mommy's toothpaste (which is probably better since she needs to use it eventually anyway). I put a tiny amount on her toothbrush and hand it to her each night. Each night, she holds it there and does anything but put it in her mouth. She touches her nose with it and cheeks  etc. Finally, I take it and say Mommy is going to brush. She then resists until I remind her of the new toy. She gingerly opens just the slightest slit in her mouth so I can brush for just a few seconds.

So far, it's been a week and  the routine is the same. I am hoping she gets used to it eventually.

On another note, she is potty trained finally, I think.

Puzzle

I was excited to start buying S some preschool board games last month, which I had blogged about a little already. She was always asking for mommy's board games (and the many little pieces and cards in the german board games we have). We made up organizing and matching tasks for her to do with the parts.  This had made me decide she might be ready for board games.

I posted a request on the neighborhood bagels and babies list (very active) and got Hi-ho cherry-o from one family and Wood animal dominoes from a German family. The German family happened to have some puzzles too that she wanted to sell too. I told her that I thought S was too young for them, but she gave me a cheap price so I bought them to save for later.  I also got Candyland from my work board games library, and Richard scarry's busytown. 

The verdict?  Sierra likes playing with the game pieces just like with my games, but she doesn't get the winning/losing thing.  But Sierra likes the puzzles a lot!  Although I was going to wait until she was older, I pulled one out when she was fussy to give her something to look at. I think that one is still her faves. It's a 36 piece floor puzzle and she's gotten so good at it. It's a farm animal puzzle and I think there is a picture from an earlier blog post that Josh took with his iphone.  She can do the whole thing herself. The funny thing is she doesn't do them the way adults (or at least I) do them--doing the border first and filling the inside. She does them by looking at the pictures on them and matching them. In fact, she doesn't seem to "get" the border/matching the straight edges concept. It's pure picture matching. Funny.

The other day, Josh downloaded a new Chinese game on the iphone, that had Memory on it.  She figured out the point of the game quickly. The way she plays is an iterative search.: She picks 1-1, 1-2, 1-3 etc. until she finds the first match. Then she picks 2-1, 2-2, 2-3 etc. until she finds the 2nd match.  Interesting how she thinks!  I wonder if that's just the natural way to do it if you don't have any prior exposure to it!  Toddler psychology is very interesting.  I'd like to buy a board (physical) version of this game now!

Note the games and puzzles are all 3 and up. The 36 piece puzzle is 3-7.  When gran first saw it, she signed and was mad that I got something age inappropriate bc it meant she would just have to pick up the pieces again and again. Funny looking back at that.

SHE likes goodbye hugs

SHE's playing with Robbie!

Bedrooms aren't all upstairs?

Tonight, she was facetiming with grandma, and made a funny comment. Josh was talking about how Robbie was getting ready for bed. She asked "They don't have upstairs. How could they have bedroom?"  (something like that).

SHE ran down the tunnel

SHE made a new friend

Today, Sierra met Iris at Hakone Gardens. Iris is 3.5 years old. Iris' mom scooted her over so Sierra could stand on the bench next to Iris to look at all the carp in the koi pond.  We had koi food that we shared with Iris.  Sierra then started commenting and asking Iris questions. Like "What does the turtle eat?"  "He eats celery, like Tuck."  "Do you like celery?"  Iris answered, "Yes, sometimes."  "Do you like carrot sticks?"  Iris said, "Yeah, I like carrot sticks."  Sierra said, "Yeah, me too. I also like celery and carrot sticks."  (something like that).  The amazing thing here?  That Iris actually answered!

Sierra does like to go up to other kids her age and start talking, but they almost always ignore her.  A big problem is that they are her age or younger typically, so are not that verbal and still doing parallel play.  Older kids are often in school or with their younger siblings, busy.

Iris was alone and interested in Sierra.  Sierra then said "I want to show you the waterfall!"  "Let me show you the bridge" and off they went.  Iris' mom commented how Iris was being "protective" of Sierra by putting her hand behind Sierra's back while she walked. 

We exchanged email addresses so hopefully we will meet again, though they live in San Jose. Maybe we can meet up at Happy Hollow, they suggested.

Iris is exactly like Sophia, age 3.5.

SHE crossed the bridge

SHE likes Hakone Gardens

SHE's eating breakfast

Here is Sierra in her daily morning routine eating oatmeal (actually oatmeal, quinoa flakes, oat bran, ground flaxseed) with 1 fresh squeezed orange. She insists on sprinkling wheat germ, sunflower seeds, and kale chips on top.  She refuses raisins or anything sweet. Note the small cup on the side. She asked for extra wheat germ to eat by itself. Wheat germ is the yummiest thing to her. Hilarious.

This is actually her 2nd breakfast, which she eats at 9-9:30am. When she first wakes up at what feels like the crack of dawn (6:30-6:45), she get a little cereal with a 6 oz of milk or dou nai nai. 

Yes, the energizer bunny who never sleeps needs lots of fuel!

TMI but funny

Ra ra is fascinated with the fact that sometimes mommy's pee pee is red!  (as in when I have my period, blech.)  She runs up and says she wants to see the red pee pee before I flush.  Today she said when she's "bigger she will also have red pee pee".  She can't wait.

SHE's ready for the park

SHE is out late watching the fireworks ("too loud!")

Tonight, we decided to take S to see fireworks for the first time.  We parked at Costco and walked across the bridge to the baylands along a path. We walked and walked with the crowd and I wondered if it would be worth it. We found a spot that seemed decent. It was confusing bc no one seemed to know where to go. Everyone was just wandering around. 

It was 9:15 and Sierra was very excited. "Where are the fireworks?" "Why aren't they starting?" etc. Finally, at 9:40, they started and they were right in front of us. We had a great view.  But, that also meant it was loud.  Sierra quietly watched while I pointed out all the colors excitedly.  Then Sierra said, "What's that noise for?"  And I tried to explain it's what makes the lights go off. Then she announced "I'm scared. It's too loud. Let's go home."  So we turned around and quickly walked back on the path over the hill as the fireworks noise and lights flashed around us.  Sierra was quiet the whole time. We got back to the car and drove home. Sierra yawned but didn't fall asleep. We got home and I carried her inside. Sierra saw Gran gran and said "The fireworks were too loud." 

The next morning, she told Ayi the fireworks had lots of colors, but were loud (in Chinese).

We should have gone to see them from farther away. Next year!

Sierra's favorites videos and tv shows

Youtube videos:
Wheels on the bus (most of them)
Mother goose club (most of them, especially Farmer in the Dell, Wheels on the bus, Rockabye Baby...)
Baby Einstein Farmer in the Dell (uploaded against copyright)
Goldilocks and the Three Bears (this british version)
Tom and Jerry (especially this Russian version uploaded against copyright)
Ba luo buo (Chinese turnip song)
Xiao tuzi guai guai (Chinese Good little bunny song)
GummiBar (German cartoon song with annoying tune)
I'm sure there are more, I just can't remember.

TV  (for all except Curious George, we buy episodes on Amazon Unbox since we only have basic cable):
Curious George (on PBSkids)
WonderPets
Kailan

She's not that into Sesame Street. Kind of like me as a child. Maybe she will enjoy it more when she's older, who knows.

SHE is listening with Jaden

SHE and Jaden are watching mommy pick fruit

SHE is celebrating 4th with Jaden

Pretending

Tonight while she was brushing her teeth (and I was coaxing her into using toothpaste), she wet her panties.

She said "Ra ra pee peed in her panties."  Mommy said "Oh no. But it's OK. Ra-ra forgot she was wearing panties."
She said "Ra ra was pretending her panties were diapers." and smiled.

New nap routine

This has been going on for 1-2 months now. We discovered she will fall asleep in the car for naps. Ironically, as a baby she did not like the car and couldn't last more than a 10 minute car ride (in a good mood), but once she hit maybe 1-1.5, she was better. And now she actually will fall asleep in the car!  (Yes, most kids are the exact opposite!)

And I think I already blogged that we can actually carry her from the carseat to her bed (knock on wood).

Anyway, she was starting to not fall asleep on mommy nai nai for naps, and we almost thought she was ready to stop napping.  But we started putting her in the car, and now (knock on wood), like clockwork, we get in the car at 3:15pm, and she's asleep by 3:30pm.  Gran discovered this loop - Springer, Foothill, Frontero, and then loop back Foothill, Frontero. Usually she's asleep by the end of Springer, or during loops 1-2. 

The bigger consequence of this is she stopped relying on mommy nai nai for naps!  Wow.  This means I can go out during the afternoon and not rush back.  However, I still give her nai nai after she wakes up if her nap isn't long enough, e.g., 1 hour, which is typical.  (The girl does NOT sleep much!) Then she will sleep another 1/2 hour.

Shampooing

Sierra does not like shampooing, which we do on the bathroom sink. (We have a little shower thingy you can attach to the sink.) She cries during the hair wetting and rinsing part. But is immediately sits happily for the shampooing part. We let her watch youtube videos.

So she has this love/hate relationship with washing her hair. She'll run up and announce that we need to get the computer (for the videos), and gladly get ready, but when it comes to the wetting and rinsing, she bawls.

We only wash her hair once a week for this reason. Also, we are lazy.

On Sunday, for the first time in months, Josh was there to help wash her hair. For the first time, she did not cry!  She *almost* broke down towards the end of the rinsing (Xi hao le ma? (Are we done washing?)) she kept asking, her voice breaking towards the end.  But she made it through. She was very proud that she did not cry for daddy.

Sierra's all-star meal

When you ask Sierra what she wants to eat for dinner (or lunch), she will list a long list of her favorites. For example, just now:
doufu, doufu pi, rice, chicken, miso soup, and vegetable.

It's a mix of chinese and english.

Her favorite these days is tofu skin (doufu pi). She'll just shovel this in her mouth. I also LOVE tofu skin, and so does gran and Daisy. So it must run in the family!

She also loves miso soup (miso tang).  I add miso to a lot of soups.

Peach girl

Sierra's favorite fruit right now is peach. We get these luscious white peaches from the farmers market. Yesterday, she ate 2.5 of them.

She's always asking for them!

She refuses to try apricots though.

Slept until 7:45am today!

Sierra started a cold last Wed.  It is better, but she is still snorty/snoring somewhat, vaguely like the allergenic symptoms she had previously, though better.

Anyway, despite that, she slept in today to 7:45am, which she has not done since she was <1 year old. Whew.