Laxitatiousness

Just realized it's Jake's "birthday." He's 20 months old, in his 21rst. Crazy. Jake, you're growing up fast, you really are.

Don't know if it's the holiday or that I feel a little sick (stomach feels sour), but I have no energy; no desire to do much of anything. Didn't really affect our day with the Jakers, but did affect my posting last night, which didn't happen. I apologize Jake. Went to the (final) baseball game. I think that had something to do with it. Always seems like I don't post on baseball days. Yesterday Jakers had Ohana Music in the AM. It was just me and him as omma felt kinda sick. Laters we went to meet Odin's new brother, Keagan. Whilst there he played with Odin for quite a while. We had dins together.

Today we had french toast for breaky (thanks omma), then did something that Jake enjoyed immensely: bought a new vacuum cleaner. He loved spending time in the VC area of Sears...loved it. Our old model was there and he kept saying "Appa!" whilst pointing at the vacuum. He was laughing too. Loved it.

Afters we ate lunch and went home for a whole family nap. Swam after the nap. He was on cloud nine for sures.

Interesting fact about Jake these days: Every time we drive by a bus, a Chevron station, the playground Jake and I sometimes play at before picking up omma (in Kahala/Kaimuki), or the smoothie place on Monserrat, Jake points and says "APPA!!" as in, "Appa, there' a place we go together a lot!" or, "You taught me what that is, a bus!" It's amazing to me and blows my mind that he knows/recognizes these things/places. Crazy.

Song of the Day: Cold War Kids: Hang Me Up to Dry

The Sundays

Early rise, omma sleep, Jake eat. Shopping. Lunch, Hooters??!! Me, baseball, omma and Jake, Odin and Leah. Home, nana, dinner. Sleep. Good.

Song of the Day: David Kilgour: Rolling

Pre-Birth

Whew. Juts got back from omma's birthday outing at Bucca di Beppo's. The company (Leah, Odin, Leah's dad, Matt, Kate, Cyndy, Eric, Sunhee and Lina) was great, but overall it was rough. One of those dinners that just was weird from the beginning. The waiter wasn't around, he didn't organize the birthday song, and Jake was not having the sitting down stuff. Can't blame him, sometimes he'll just be bored sitting there. I took him out several times. Once I just spoke to him like he was older, like he should understand why he has to sit nicely. It was interesting, I gave my talk, he listened and answered "yes" to every one of my questions. I asked if he was ready to sit and eat. He said yes, and he did. He ate, very well, and then wanted to get up again. Overall it was more the restaurant's fault than his.

Song of the Day: Peter Tosh: Get Up, Stand Up

The Long and Winding Weekend

Not only did I not post on Friday, I didn't even take a picture! My apologies Jakey. It was a long day and I didn't get home until late. Jake went with omma and nana to eat dinner while I went to the baseball game. Apparently it didn't go well. He was fussy the whole time. They left early actually. Jake wasn't feeling well and we thought he was getting sick. He woke up Saturday OK, although he does have a cold.

Saturday was long and fun. Ohana Music in the AM. Jake was pretty active this week and behaved well. I love watching him interact with the other kids. There are too many though, they shouldn't have such a large group. Afters we met nana, went to Target and had lunch in Kapolei, where we went to a store for organizing stuff. In the afternoon we went to the AMST picnic for a short time. Omma wanted to meet Sunhee, so I went to the baseball game. Afters I went over to their place. It was 9:00 and Jake was still awake. He was obviously tired, but kept playing. He eventually went into Lina's room and laid in her bed (she was sleeping in the living room). Jake asked me to lay next to him and I sang while he fell asleep. It is and will be one of the greatest memories I have with him. Incredible.

Today was Leah's baby shower. Jake got to play with a lot of friends so he was happy. He was also pretty fussy too though. He threw a couple of tantrums, mostly for not getting what he wanted. Worries me when that happens. Don't like to see him so emotional. Seems like it was just a today thing though. I hope that's the case.

Song of the Weekend: The Verve: Lucky Man

Somebody Told Me

Typical busy Sunday. I went surfing early this AM with Matt. (It was an absolutely amazing Hawaii day with puffy white clouds and bright blue sky dominating the entire morning, afternoon, and evening.) Mom and Jake slept in then went to the Won Buddhism temple for Buddha's b-day.

We met up around 1:00 at home and cleaned til Odin and Jin-young (sp?) came over for play time. They all had a blast as usual and to boot the house is back to normal (I cleaned the last vestiges of messiness whilst the kiddies swam).

Song of the Day: James: Laid

It's Ovah!

Finally, yes, they finished. It looks good, but it was hell and there's a lot of cleaning to do. Ovah!Running out of battery, gotta make this quick. Dinner in the park with Odin. They had a great time together for sures. Laughing running, playing; it's great to see them play together.Song of the Day: Soul Asylum: Cartoon

Just a Little Bit Longer

We were told today that the work is going to take until at least WEDNESDAY. Crazy. I think though that I'm getting used to it??? No, I'm definitely not.
Posting at mom's work. Jake's with nana; me and mom are going to the baseball game. Yesterday Jake had a fantabulous day after we picked him up. We met Odin and Leah in the park where we ate dinner and they got to run and play. It was just perfect. They both looked like they were having a great time. I ran around with them and they played so well together. They like to hug, or at least like to when we prompt them to. It was a lot of fun, really was.

We're sad not to be with Jakey tonight, but it'll be good to be alone for a while. We'll give him big hugs when we get home.

Song of the Day: The Smiths: Bigmouth Strikes Again

East of Ewa

First time since I started this thing that I didn't blog for two consecutive days. Couldn't help it, the house is still all messed. Did take the pix though and will post them here.

Saturday he felt better for sure. Started his Music Together back up (switched to Saturday), then we did some shopping and such. He was definitely more fussy, perhaps it was the post-sickness mood. We got a new washer and dryer at Sears in the late morning. Admittedly it was perhaps one of the most trying times I've had with him. He wanted to wander and pull stuff off shelves and such. I lost my patience because I realized he has very few limitations. He does what he wants and when he doesn't get it he screams. I decided then that we have to start being more stern with him in terms of not getting everything he wants. I don't know, maybe he's too young, but he's in the beginning stages of being spoiled, and I don't think that's a good way to be. He slept several hours during the day, which at the time was great, but Saturday night was perhaps his worst night ever in terms of sleep. The first time he woke was about 12, then he never really slept for more than 20 minutes after that. It was bad. He had no fever, so we thought maybe it was just that he wasn't tired, perhaps hungry (he didn't eat a big dinner), or just not feeling well.

Sunday was Easter, and his fever was completely gone. Had brunch at Duke's in the AM. He was still fussy though and made Lina cry several times by taking stuff away from her while they were playing at Odin's house. We went there for egg coloring and dinner. It was fun, but his fussiness is worrying us a little.

Song of the Day: Sea Wolf: Middle Distance Runner

Swim With the (plastic) Octopi

Saturday; tired. Gonna make it short. Jake had swim lessons in the AM and went with mom to Odin's place to hang out and play. Lina was there too. Dins with nana (pizza).Song of the Day: Mudhoney: Into the Drink

The Museum by the Zoo(/Aquarium)

Whereas I would have usually spent the whole day with Jakey (and Mommy), I in fact spent it at HiSAM as a docent for their 2nd Saturday festivities. I was a tour guide for a downtown historic buildings tour. It was a rainy day so there were very few people interested in walking around downtown. Fun nonetheless.

Whilst I did this Jake had swims, lunch with Sunhee and Lina, and a play date at the zoo. Due to the rainy-ness, it got changed to the aquarium. After my tours, I met mom and Jake there, but I arrived a little too late to justify paying $6, so I waited outside. From the looks of it, he had a grand time as he usually does with his buds and budettes. Sorry I missed it but glad Jake looked so happy when I met him.

Dinner with me and Mommy at home followed by deep sleeps.

Photo credit to Mommy for what I think is a pretty incredible pic.

Song of the Day: The Jesus and Mary Chain: Dirty Water

The Challenge

What should have been a fantastic day was a bit tough. It was all me, but I had a stressful day with the Jakers. It wasn't that there was anything out of the ordinary, he was his usual self until about 5 when he reached his maximum tiredness due to lack of sleep.

The day started out well; we went to Ohana Music, he was great. He did this amazing thing, he grabbed some other father's shoes and took them over to him. We were all shocked. Only THAT GUY and Jake knew they were his shoes. It was totally amazing. Rather than sharing in the class though, he was taking stuff from other kids. Not maliciously, but he was.

We were to meet Jen and Brian for brunch at 10:30. Long story short, we actually ate at about 12:15. It was really difficult with Jake. He was in no mood to hang out and wait. He definitely wanted to wander. It was challenging.

He should have slept a lot after all that action, but he only did for about 20 mins in the car on the way home. He woke when we got home and think this was a very bad thing. I realize now he really needs his sleep. Odin came over to swim and they had a blast as usual, but at one point Odin wanted to use Jake's shopping cart, but Jake was in no mood to share. We kinda forced him to and he wailed. He was extremely cranky, but it wasn't his fault. The challenge continued.

We finished by eating dinner at Brant and Erica's. It was nice except Jake was in the mood to, well, not stay still again. He needed rest and we basically made him to play all day. By the time we got home we were all ready for a rest.

Today was one of the more challenging days as a parent for me.

Song of the Day: The New Pornographers: Challengers

Odin and the Jakers

Watching the Oscars. Although Jake wasn't interested in them, he stayed awake for quite a while regardless. I took him for a walk around the grounds; he slept for about 5 minutes, then woke up when we got in the elevator. I thought it was going to be a tough sleep time, but when I got in I took him out of the walker and into the crib. He went right to sleep.

Today he spent most of the day at home again trying to get rid of the ear infection. Odin came over for play and for dins. As usual, they had a great time together. I cooked my first meal on the new stove. Not sure if I like the ability it has to stain itself.

I wonder why Korea never wins "Best Foreign Film?" Without a doubt they have the most robust film industry in Asia (far beyond the Japanese, who won as I wrote this) and are widely recognized as having a superior output of quality films. I think the answer is fairly simple: the US and Europe see Japan as "Asia"? Why? See post-War reconstruction and 60 years of ignorance about the rest of the continent. I'll stop here.

Song of the Day: The Clientele: I Can't Seem to Make You Mine

Buffanblues

Full day for the Jakers.

Started with some aggressive AM play at home. Among other things, he got himself into the rice dispenser, which holds about 2 large bags of rice. There's a lever that releases 1 serving of rice into a drawer. Jake is fascinated with the thing. While I was washing up, he decided to press the lever several times, without the drawer in place. Rice everywhere.

After a breakfast of chungguk jang, we headed to the Punahou carnival with Nana. Tons of people, hot, but fun. Jake doesn't like cotton candy or merry-go-rounds, but he does like malasadas, cheeseburgers, and chili and rice. Oh, and water, he loves water.

Finished up with 2 hours of dancing with Odin at the Baby Loves Disco party at the O Lounge. Dude is already hitting the clubs.

Song of the Day: Fatboy Slim: I'm a Disco Dancer

Super Bore Day

This AM was our favorite part of the week: Ohana Music. Jake was a little rusty after a week off, but by the end of the class he was moving. It was a great class. "Free Dance" was The Song of the Day!

In the afternoon Odin came over for a play date. They were awesome together. They seemed to be communicating well and the giggled and laughed all day. I was proud of both of them for being so nice to each other. They share and never get fussy or possessive. They even hugged when Odin left.

Oh, the Super Bowl. Watched it, exciting game, but blah.

Song of the Day: The Smiths: Ask

Super Sunday Plus

Typical busy Sunday for the Jakers. Ohana music in the AM, then he went to Leah and Odin's for a little play time. I didn't go with, but mom sad he had a blast. I spent some fun time with him in the afternoon while mom was sleeping. We played the peek-a-boo game that he likes so much these days. He hides behind the couch and pops his head up. Giggles uncontrollably. Got to see nana at dinner time. I know that most kids amaze their parents, but Jake truly does amaze me. Seriously. This morning I couldn't find my glasses so I went into the kitchen and said simply, "Jake, where are Daddy's glasses?" He took me--without hesitation--strait to the bathroom sink where I usually keep them, and pointed. This blew me away b/c I thought he only understood Korean, but apparently not.

Song of the Day: Liz Phair: Whip-Smart

Zoot Suiters

Didn't blog last night b/c people stayed until 11. I was tired. Jake had a big day/evening. Aunties Val and Mo as well as Uncles Jon, Ed, and Sean came over for a BBQ. He enjoyed every second of it. He loved the attention and ate it up. He went to sleep immediately after being put in his crib. Great evening.Today was great too. Met Odin and Leah as well as Liam, Sean, and Charlotte at the zoo. Everyone had a fantastic time playing on the jungle gym and looking at the animals.
Afters we went to Best Buy to do yet another exchange. Jake then got a haircut (the picture I took didn't come out) and went home for a shower. All this activity has made his mood much better these past couple of days.

Song of the Day: Husker Du: 8 Miles High

Museum Studies

In spite of the heavy rain (again), Jake had a superb day out. He went to the Bishop Museum where he met his pal Odin. They learned about "the biggest shark that ever lived," the Megaladon, and played with some cool lava machines. They topped it off with some running around the great lawn and puddle jumping. Judging from the amount of giggles, we're guessing they liked the puddle jumping best.

Song of the Day: The Beta Band: Dry the Rain

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