Monkey around

April feeding River

Nanny's last day

This is my first time hiring a nanny. Due to urgency, I didn't do in-depth research, and we didn't take referrals. There was one lady who we interviewed was referred by the parents' mailing list I am on. She was an experienced candidate though she bargained with us on salary and job requirement. Many others called also had similar tones, except this one, who without me telling her what the job requirement is, she said she want the job, period. It was a tough call between her and another lady whom my mom knows well and had just stopped serving one of our neighbors. I decided on her by instinct.

5.5 months past, I'm grateful that I chose her. We panicked in the first month when we started to learn more about her. She had rather unusual background ;) After day and day interaction, the way she carried herself, the fact that she was always early and anticipate our need and our inquiry, the way she interact with River, numerous tricks she taught River, we grew quite fond of her. Not to mention, the dumpling, Chinese pancake she made for us and the fresh noodle she made for River. Making dough from flour was never an easy task to me, but it's almost like boiling water for someone who came from northern China, or maybe just her.

We enjoyed listening to her shopping adventure and amazed at all the discount she could remember from Great Mall. The gossip between her housemates, her observation on the train (everyday she took 1 hour train ride, with transit, and walked 45 mins to our house) and many other stories of her, it feels like I read another novel! But the most I will miss is her daily report on River's progress. Her keen observation of River's every little movement, expression and gesture combined with her northern slang, made her narration quite pleasing to my ears. I am quite sure she will miss River if not a lot, when she's back to China.

Grandma and everyone in the household will have a tougher job this coming month. We won't know until past mid December whether the Chinese home daycare nearby will take River, fingers crossed.

要靓唔要命

最近没谈到April，还是老样子吧！妈妈最有印象的是她老毛病又犯，大冷天要穿裙子。早上时间紧迫(我们老是迟到)，还要跟我争穿那一件衣服，1、2天是这样子就把我气的恨恨地骂她一顿。爱美不是罪，但不要离谱。伤风感冒了，大家都痛苦。我们不住Hawaii, 那有365天的夏天?其实最好把她送回香港，所有学校都有校服。多好呀！不愁买衣服，又可避免不必要的争吵。

光头姐姐 vs. 光头妹妹

不顾一切往前走

会爬，不爱爬
要走，非走不可
腰疼，还是要走
大人，苦阿！

Tonight, we find out she could cruise


We want her to learn how to crawl stairs like her sister, but her majesty insist walking

吃，进步了

River 虽然嘴巴也挑(不吃babyfood)，但没有April离谱。我们有给过她的蔬菜水果都爱吃。来数一数River吃过的蔬菜:
茄子 - River最爱，April到现在都不肯吃
花菜
油菜心
芹菜
青岗菜
大白菜
小白菜
冬瓜
胡萝卜
黄瓜 - 附上River用她两小牙啃黄瓜的片段
菠菜
萝卜
芥菜
西南花(broccoli)

睡，退步了

最近这个月River晚上都要醒来2-3次，以前的7小时不多了，搞得妈妈和奶奶抓头阿！好像总是热凉饱饿调节不好，天气热热冷冷不定，River吃的也在调整期似的。

October feast

Pumpkin patch!


Which one should I pick?


Gathering with classmates before the parade


Hugging scary fox at Mommy's company halloween party


Jack O'Lantern meeting Supermom


Kimono princess and super girl


Daddy crafted this Jack O'Lantern, using the pumpkin April got from her pumpkin patch. April and Mommy watched Daddy work on it while preventing River from eating it. We lighted it for a few night before throwing it away.