Tag Archive for 'Ether'

The Last Few Months: Ether

Amazingly, Ether barely coughed for a day or two this past winter/spring. He was able to stay healthy for the most part. I guess, for him, work is just not as stressful as school.

Continue reading ‘The Last Few Months: Ether’

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everybody! Here’s our 2008 Christmas photo & newsletter. Click on the thumbnails below to see it in full size!

Continue reading ‘Merry Christmas!’

Halloween Pix

This past Halloween was Kaitlyn’s 2nd Halloween. Last year, she was a hot dog & she hated the outfit. Not because it’s a hot dog, but because it has no pant legs. Yes, she was only 9 months old but she was already standing up & starting to walk.

This year, she’s a cat. Although this one has legs, she didn’t really like wearing it either, but for the most part she was OK with it. It might be because she got to wear it once at a church Halloween party, a few days before Halloween. This year, we took her to Queens to her grandparents’ house & trick-o’-treated there.

Here are some pix from the party & Halloween night: Continue reading ‘Halloween Pix’

Happy Surprise

If you haven’t heard, Melanie threw me a surprise party for my big 30th birthday a few weeks ago. She really surprised me this time, since she doesn’t really do things like that. But, thanks hun, it was fun!

So this is what happened. Continue reading ‘Happy Surprise’

Again: We’re still alive!

From looking at our last post, we realized that we haven’t updated this thing for almost 2 months now! Our daily readership has probably gone all the way down from the 40s to 2 a day by now; one loyal “reader” being my parents’ computer, since its web browser’s home page is set to our blog, and the other would be my sister.

Since school started 2 months ago, Kaitlyn has had the cold 3 times, Mel got sick once for a week or so, and I got sick once for a day (weird). So, that’s why we have been kind of unavailable to put up new posts.

But today, since I’m home again with Kaitlyn because she has a cold, I decided to finally write something during her afternoon nap. As a bonus, here’s a video of her during her first couple of weeks at school. Enjoy! Continue reading ‘Again: We’re still alive!’

Summer Trip ‘08: Before & After

These are the “before & after” of Kaitlyn getting spoiled by her grandparents & aunts.
Can you see the difference? ;-)

Second Day of School

It’s been two days now & Kaitlyn’s been doing pretty well at school—at least from what I’ve been told. The only times that she cried, kicked, & screamed during the day were whenever she saw Melanie pass by or when a “visit” was over & Melanie had to leave. Other than that, the teachers said that she plays well both with other kids & by herself, she feeds herself, and she lies down without a fight when it’s nap time. My favorite thing is that two days of school has helped her master picking up & putting away toys! Tonight at home, I witnessed her putting away more than just three toys before she wandered off!!

It’s either the toys, the teachers, the other kids, or a combination of things that she likes about the place. As I dropped her off on both mornings, although looking nervous & hesitant, she also had this curious & excited look on her face. May be that’s why a big hug & a kiss was good enough, and that she didn’t cry when it was time for me to leave.

So, there here you go. That’s the update on how she did on her first & second day of school. Now, it’s time for me to go to bed, or I’ll have a hard time staying awake at work again. ;-)

First Day of School

Today Kaitlyn turned 19 months old & started Pre-K “pre-Pre-K”! It was both hers & Melanie’s first day of school. To those of you who didn’t know, Melanie is going back to work & that Kaitlyn is attending the same school that Melanie teaches at (but a different class).

We were still very tired from the red-eye flight that we all left the house @ 7:30 this morning, a little later than we were supposed to. The trains were packed and everyone was sweating as usual. As we transferred from the N to the 6 Train at the 14th Street station, we got separated.

Continue reading ‘First Day of School’

Fast, good, or cheap. Pick two.

I once had a discussion with my dad about starting a graphic design shop here in New York someday, designing for the Chinese market.

I now realize that if I want to stick with the Chinese market, it will probably have to be another city — just not New York. Continue reading ‘Fast, good, or cheap. Pick two.’

Ling Family Visit #2

FINALLY… after 2 months, the conclusion to the Ling Family Visit in May.

Our trip to the city (Top of the Rock @ Rockefeller Center, NBA Store, & Central Park)

Our little family on the roof of Rockefeller CenterKaitlyn being cranky and not wanting to take another picture.Peter and momAmy & EtherKaitlyn wanting to run aroundGrandpa trying to hold wormy KaitlynEther & momWeather guy (w/ a very shiny face!) from Channel 4 newsDad & EtherGrandpa and Kaitlyn were very tired.Us at Central ParkThe Lings at Central Park (minus Jing Yi, Mel and Kaitlyn)Peter pushing the stroller and Grandpa checking to make sure Kaitlyn is okay.Da Ling BroddasDad & Yao MingPeter, the giant, and dad

Taking turns to take pictures with the princess (we charge $100 per picture. haha):

Peter & KaitlynKaitlyn & GrandpaAmy & Kaitlyn (we were trying really hard to get her to smile)Grandma & Kaitlyn

Their final day in NY:

Wake up, Uncle Peter/\"Sook sook\"Oooh can I have your glasses, grandpa?Kaitlyn loves to play with \"non-toys\"I look cool holding Auntie Amy\'s camera bag on my armOkay let me readjust it a bitMmmm the strap tastes yummy!Kaitlyn and Grandma againI love my grandma!Uncle Peter trying to bribe me with goldfish!Grandpa putting Kaitlyn to sleep with his humming.Family PicFamily Photo of the Lings and Engs

We miss you guys! Can’t wait to see you next month!

Ling Family Visit #1

Okay so we’re REALLY behind when it comes to posts and pictures.. (our bad!).. so Ether’s family came for a visit last month and Kaitlyn had a blast. She really enjoyed the attention and good company. Unfortunately she caught a fever the day that they arrived and it lasted for 4 whole days. So we really didn’t get to go anywhere until after her fever passed. We were able to go to Downtown Philly and the Amish country for a day. Here are some photos from our trip. Just click on the thumbnail photos to see the bigger versions; click on the right-half of the large photos to see the next one.

Which photo do you like the most?

– while in the car:

Funny name of a street in Jersey?Mel & Ether (w/ some extra light)Ether offering Kaitlyn some cornAmy looks annoyed at Kaitlyn.. heheAbout to put the head pillow on Kaitlyn before she strains her neck.The neck pillow in place.Auntie Amy and Grandma posing with sleeping beauty.2 Sleeping Beauties.Kaitlyn with her half-crying/half-smiling look.Kaitlyn laughing at.. I don\'t know what.\Kaitlyn eating a whole banana by herself.Still laughing.Auntie Amy and Grandma ready for the picture but Kaitlyn too preoccupied with her banana.

– Downtown Philly:

Walkin down the streetKaitlyn bundled up in her stroller.Family pic on Liberty Square (i think that\'s what it\'s called)Some building (forgot what it\'s called)The building again, from afarStatue of WashingtonThe Liberty Bell from outside. (the line to go inside was WAY too long.)Constitution CenterUncle Peter and Kaitlyn posing with a cow.Ether\'s face on a 5-dollar billMel\'s face on a 5-dollar billMom\'s face on a 5-dollar billDad\'s face on a 5-dollar billPeter\'s face on a 5-dollar bill

Messing around in the gift shop:

Putting a bonnet on Kaitlyn\'s head (she didn\'t like it.)Kaitlyn holding a stuffed eagle, posing with Grandma2 human eagles..Mel shooting a rifle.. yikes!Dad wearing some old school glasses.

– Amish Country (Pennsylvania):

An Amish farmCows!!!Interesting signs #1 (Intercourse was the name of the town)Interesting signs #2 (Intercourse was the name of the town)Our dads sitting in the BeamerPicture of some Amish guy (?) on an old school bikeThe Amish wheelsThe Amish wheels in actionDad posing with an Amish buggie

Happy Father’s Day!

Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers out there! Kaitlyn sure loves her daddy!

Last year:

Father\'s Day \'07

This year:

Daddy & Kaitlyn after bath

Stuck in a moment you can’t get out of… Literally.

One day (over a month ago) Kaitlyn was playing by herself in the living room while Ether was working on the computer and I was in the kitchen washing dishes. I guess Kaitlyn was either trying to reach for something under the futon or her legs somehow slid underneath it, and got stuck. Ether looked up to see what the squealing was all about and couldn’t help but take a few snapshots of it. (*Those of you worry-worts, she WASN’T hurt and it has never happened again.*)

Stuck under the futonHelp me!!Help!! This isn\'t funny!!

Some random old pictures

We have tons of old pictures that I’ve wanted to post but never got the chance to. April and May were really busy months that Ether needed to use the Mac for his homework. So here they are..

Cute summer outfit..Dirty mouthSleeping like an angel..FountainheadShe loves those shoes!!Sly grin..

Dim-Sum Day w/ the Posse (5-1-08):

Helen & KaitlynPeace out!

Group Pic 1Group Pic 2

She loves to look at books, but we have to be careful when we give them to her because she still bites on them and chews off parts of it. So we usually give her a pacifier and watch her as well when we give her books to look at.

A bookworm already?Lost in the book

“Can-Do” List

I know it’s not easy, but I’m glad that Mel can be home to take care of Kaitlyn. One reason is that Kaitlyn benefits a lot from it, at least that’s what it seems to me. I mean, the fact that she learned to walk at 10 months probably has nothing to do with us. But with other things, like holding her own bottle at 4 or 5 months old, that is something that someone has to spend time teaching & challenging her.

Here’s a list of what she can or would do right now, and she learned a lot of it in the past 2 months.

  • - say “ma-ma” & “ba-ba”
  • - say both “maah-MA” & “paw-paw” (refer to “grandma” on both sides)
  • - say “be-Be” (when she sees herself or babies)
  • - say “hi” & wave (when she’s been told to or when she sees a friendly face)
  • - say “yay” & clap (when she hears people say “yay” or clap, whether in person or on TV)
  • - say “bye” & wave (when she sees people putting on coats & jackets)
  • - say “nigh-nigh” (means milk)
  • - say “ba-bao” (means bread; which should be pronounced “bao-bao”, but she says this basically whenever she sees any kind of food)
  • - say “ba-bo” (means she want you to pick her up; which should be pronounced “po-po”)
  • - say “mum-mum” (when she wants food in general)
  • - say “Dees” (means “George”, but she just can’t say it; whenever she sees “Curious George”, monkeys, or any brown stuffed animals)
  • - say “rau-rau-sh” (when she sees dogs or just animals that walk on all fours)
  • - say “Ahh-ma, ma, ma, ma…” (means “Amen”)
  • - say “tick-ku, tick-ku, tick-ku” (means “tickle”)
  • - do a “raspberry”
  • - blow kisses weirdly, upon command (using the back of her hand)
  • - give people a wet, open-mouthed kiss on the cheek
  • - dance (shake her head and/or hip side to side violently & stomp her feet; when she hears music or anything with a beat, even to the beat of trains running over a loose track in the subway station)
  • - drink from a sippy cup, a straw, or just a regular cup instead of a bottle
  • - play “peek-a-boo” with you
  • - play “deem-chong-chong”
  • - say “yai-yai” (means “naughty”)
  • - say “nah-nah, nah-nah…” (which should be “no, no”; when we tell her no & she doesn’t like it)
  • - pretend to give you her finger food & then take it back and then laugh at you
  • - point to her nose (when you ask her where her “bei-bei”/nose is)
  • - cover her ear & say “hi” (that’s her version of talking on the phone)
  • - say “bees” softly with a smile (which should be “please”; when she wants something from you)
  • - pat her belly (when you ask her where her “tou-dum”/belly is)
  • - lie down on the changing pad when we say to her “fun-dai”/lie down (it’s still a work-in-progress; she usually ended up lying next to the pad; I have more success than Mel does at this point)

So you see, I think it’s quite a list of accomplishment for a 14-month old, and you really can’t say having a full-time mom with her has nothing to do with it!

To further prove my point, here’s a video clip taken by Melanie, with Kaitlyn showing off some of what she can do. She pretty much did whatever Mel wanted, because she just wanted to be picked up. :-)