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Jake, dad, park, jungle-gym (hate that word for some reason), little league baseball, mom, Dalkkalbi-jip, Lina, spice, chicken butt, noodles, play, fun, soju (no), water (yes), goodbye, sleep.

Song of the Day: Camper van Beethoven: All Her Favorite Fruit

Reelin in the Eve

Yep, almost lost it today. More mayhem at home today than in the past 2 weeks; and yes, it's been 2 weeks since they started. There was just so much dust and crap everywhere and of course (no fault of his own) Jake was all over everything that was dirty. On the bright side, I put the shower curtain up and took a nice shower. It is nice and I hope the rest of the work makes us feel as good.

Aside from playing in the dust, Jake was in high spirits today. He had fun just playing at home and he really seems to be getting super attached to us. We both love it. We really do. Nana gets love too and Jake obviously can't live without her. We had dinner at different times and cleaned/watched the telly. All's good in Jake World tonight.

Song of the Day: The Descendents: I Don't Want to Grow Up

Test Failed

Last night I tried to post from my phone. I signed up for the SMS tool to post from a cell, but it didn't work for some reason. Bummer cause it took me a while to type it out on that little keyboard. Here's what I wrote aside from the info I provided above:

"Good day. Mom made kimchi chigye for dins. Jake just went to bed. It literally took him 2 minutes to sleep. He was in a good mood all day. LOVE that he's back to his old self."

There you have it. I should add that mom and I did take him to the park which he loved...until he had to leave. He met two new friends who were 4 and wanted to play hide and seek with him. They actually said it was "his turn to count."

Song of the Day: Radiohead: The Bends

The Many Faces of Baseball

Busy, busy day.

The AM seemed quite tame, but things ramped up in the afternoon. Jake woke at 6:00. I was on the couch because he got up sometime in the middle of the night and wanted to sleep with mom. I figure it was the weekend, so it wouldn't matter. When he woke he came into the living room to wake me up. I was so intent on sleeping more. Oh well, such is life with the Jakers.

Tooled around from 6-11. I made grilled cheese for Jake and mom; we read some, cleaned some; had a shower. It was a wonderful morning. At about 11 we went to Costco for mom's work stuff. Afters, we planned to go to the baseball game.

Wasn't quite sure how the baseball game was going to work out considering Jake is a wanderer. It was fine, but he was restless at times. The 'Bows won, so a good time was had by all at Jake's second ever baseball game.

We then went to Peter's work to work out bathroom stuff, Home Depot to pick out appliances, and dinner at Shillawon (kalbi) with Lina and her grandparents. Fabulous Sunday. Couldn't be better.

New notice today: Jake's facial expressions. Today he frowned a lot. Yeah, frowned. It was funny. He looked so deliberate in wanting to let us know he didn't like something. Funny because it was obviously fake. He was doing it purposefully, like he was trying out a new thing he just learned. He took it to the next level a couple of times and cried when it wasn't called for, like when mom ran into the house for a sec (he's never done this). He's obviously testing his own emotions.

He also expanded his vocab. On the way in at the end of the day I grabbed the apples from costco, which I carried into the house with Jake on the other arm. I said once, "Jake, what's this? SA-GWA," which is "apple" in Korean. By the time we reached the building he was saying "ah-pul!" repeatedly. I have no idea where he heard apple before, but he said it over and over, "Ah-pul!!" Blew me away, as he usually does.

Song of the Day: The Faces: Ooh La La

Sandy Starjakeski

Friday. The good day.

Actually it was a good day. Took the Jakes to Kap'iolani. It's been my thought that he has been sleeping well because I've been taking him to the park, zoo, somewhere everyday. He gets tired out, sleeps better. Don't know if it's true, but he has been sleeping better.


Noticed today that he's getting a better grasp of words. He repeats a lot of what I say, or at least tries to. It's fascinating. He's definitely trying to communicate more. Oe of the things I love is his hand gestures. At dinner he'll yell "Omma/Appa/or Nana!" When we say "What?!" He gestures toward our seats and says "Uh!" as in "Sit there!" It's great. I'm sure when he's 25 and still doing it we may feel different.



Song of the Day: The Cure: Friday, I'm in Love (to obvious?)

Jakey the Greek

A type of day that I don't like. I had a meeting at 4 that lasted until 6. I couldn't pick up the Jakers and only spent about an hour with him b/c I got home at 7. Mom and nana got him some Greek food for dins. The whole day was out of whack. I pick him up, I take him to mom's or home, we have a routine.

In the afternoon I stopped by his new pre-school to drop off his enrollment packet. It made me so excited to think about him starting school. He'll meet new friends and will grow intellectually. He's already starting to express feelings and emotions at new level lately and I think these things will expand rapidly once he's in an environment that strongly encourages it.

I value every single day with Jake.

Song of the Day: Orbital: I Wish I had Duck Feet

Beach Bum

Feeling a lot better this PM after a long weekend. Weird how you're supposed to be refreshed, but I was more tired than ever. Still am to be honest. Jake was too. He went right to sleep just now. No fuss, just right into bed. A dream lately, a real dream.

Today was a typical Monday. Picked him up, went to mom's office, waited for about 45 mins before she finished, then came home. Cleaned, ate, read, sleep. Mundane? Only the cleaning part.

The camping, like I mentioned yesterday, was great. Jake had a wonderful time being the center of attention all weekend. I think he liked being outdoors as well. He slept so well and seemed genuinely happy to be discovering new things and wandering around the campsite. He wore us out more than once as he tends to not care if we're with him as he wanders; he'll just take off and assume we're behind him, in spite of the fact that we're yelling at him to come back.

Friday we had fun setting up the new tent, eating outside, and sleeping next to the ocean. I think we all loved the sound of the waves and the roar of the wind as it hit the sand on the beach. A tad cool for all, but a nice change. Saturday was an early rise followed by a day on the North Shore. The weather could have been better, but we still had fun. Lunch at Haleiwa beach park (kiawe grilled chix, kimchi, rice and a large Foster's for me and mom). Afternoon walking to Waimea Falls. This was challenging to be quite honest. We forgot the stroller, so Jake had to walk most of the way. Trouble is, he wanders, he doesn't walk. It took 2 hours; should have taken 20 mins. All a part of life's rich pageant. Dinner with all the aunties an uncles in the eve (got to fly a kite with Jon and Edward too) and a quick bedtime again. Sunday early wake, car pack, lunch at Killer Tacos and home. Dinner with nana, sleep.

Song of the Day: Coldplay: Yellow (of course)

100

Wow, hundredth post. Doesn't feel like it; suppose that's a good thing.

Again going to let the pictures speak for themselves today. It's late and I'm thinking about tomorrow's camping trip. I may not be able to post for the next 2 days as we'll be on the North Shore, sleeping next to the ocean. I'll post as to what the activities were whenst we return.

Today I went to the UH baseball game. As such, I picked up Jake early so we could spend some time together at the park before I went. We went to mom's work where we actually spent an hour before she finished. I went to the game and they went home. The park was great; we played and I took him for a walk on my shoulders around the natatorium. I have a cold and had to spit; he tried mimicking me making spitting noises in my ear. Loved it. Towards the end he kept whispering in my ear "Omma." Don't know why, but I loved it.

Song of the Day: Eddie Vedder: Hard Sun

Ducky Jake

Picked up Jake a little late today b/c I went jogging and didn't realize how late it was. It all worked out though as it was a perfect time to pick up mom. We came home and almost immediately went out to eat at Kona Brewing Company. It was all good. Mom fell asleep in the car on the way home so she hit the sack as soon as we got in; the medicine is making her really sleepy. Jake and I read some books and went to sleep on a dime at 8.

The walk to the restaurant was fun. We sometimes park far away so Jake can walk. Today a duck was following him as he walked. It was cute. Jake also brought along his peace necklace, all on his own. Yeah, he's cute.

Song of the Day: The Doors: Peace Frog

Journey

Wow. Today has been one long marathon after another.

Jake and I met mom at her new office for the first time (as in a post-work 4:30-ish kinda thing) and, well, of course she wasn't ready at 4:30. We waited until 5:30. I wanted to watch the Bows' baseball game and mom wanted to meet Sunhee. That's the way it ended up.

But that's not the way it ended up. At the park I followed the UConn-Syracuse game, which was an epic. Around the 4th inning I saw that UConn lost. No worries; the UH game was going well. I left the game when it was 5-2 in the 7th, figuring they were in for a win. By the time I was exiting the parking structure, it was 5-5. At home listened (on the computer) all the way until now, the bottom of the 11th, when UH won.

Sounds simple, but I had to restart the comp for the 4th time today in order to get where I am right now. Drove me friggin' nuts today (the comp). Seriously. I felt like throwing the thing out the window. It took FOREVER to download a new iTunes, which happened to coincide with what seemed like the 10th Windows update in the past 3 days (which forces a restart of the comp). AnyWAY, felt like I was waiting the entire day.

I was waiting the entire day; but, if it concerns Jake, I'll wait forever. Come to think of it...I didn't wait for him at all today (except at mom's office I guess).

This whole post feels discombobulated. Thanks Windows Updates, iTunes updates, slow computer, mom, and endless restarts.

Whatever. Sleep.

Song of the Day: The Feelies: Slipping (into something)

New Deal

Been noticing some changes in the Jakers lately. He's getting mature pretty quick. Words are coming; he's starting develop a distinct personality. He also looks a little older. It's cute and I love seeing the little developments in him. He makes my heart warm.

Nothing particularly special today. Picked up mom, came home, ate chicken for dinner. Not special, but it was, as always, great just hanging with Jake, watching him eat, watching him play.

Song of the Day: Daft Punk: Around the World

Less Than Fussy

1. Wake up, be cute and less than fussy, put on cute bear pullover and play with stuff on counter.

2. Spend day at babysitters playing with buds Ji-min, Lina, and Ben.

3. Get picked up by appa at 3:30. Appa happy you just woke from a nappers.

4. Go to see Dr Yamashiroya for ear infection check. Crap da pants as soon as you get there. Get a yellow light from the Doc on yr ear, be a good boy whilst there (accept two stickers from med assistants who are surprised you are so easy to weigh).

5. Palama supermarket where you pull a stick of Lady Speed Stick off the shelf and decide to apply to your stomach (????)

6. Samgyup sal with mom and dad followed by a walk in the downright nippy wind-filled evening where you konk about 3/4 of the way through the jaunt at about 8:34pm.

7. Sleepers.

Song of the Day: Buffalo Tom: I'm Allowed

Slumdog Jakeaday

No post yesterday b/c mom and I went to stay for one night t the Kahala. It was great, very ritzy and we had fun. We both, however, missed Jake a ton, and it was only one day. I honestly couldn't wait to see him. It was weird today, there were a couple of times where I would look at him and feel this unbelievable deep love for him, like a new level of love. I think there are stages in our relationship with him and today I reached a new one.

In the afternoon we took him to the babysitters and mom, nana and I went to see Slumdog Millionaire. Mom and nana left b/c they thought it was too graphic. Great movie though (I stayed). Afters we got nana's new refrigerator and had take out Thai. He went to sleep very quickly today.

Song of the Day: MIA: Paper Planes

Kitchen Klear

As per all Sundays, Jake had Ohana Music this AM. Last week he made us proud by sharing with the other kids in the class. This week he did the same and we couldn't have been prouder again. During the instrument play-along-with-the-song segment, rather than play with instruments, he picked up everything around him and handed them to one of the moms. He must have given her 10 things throughout the duration of the song. After the class he offered hugs to the teacher and a couple of friends. One of the moms said "He squeezes!" when Jake hugged her.

As I write this I'm thinking that you, the reader, are rolling your eyes, thinking to yourself that I'm gushing about something that most kids do. True, but I've never felt this kind of pride for a child, someone who is, I guess, a reflection of oneself. It's really nuts. Yes, he fusses, and yes, he's stubborn sometimes, but he never makes me lose my temper or get mad. He seems to know something. Gushing or not, it feels good.

In the afternoon the fam spent several hours clearing out the kitchen making room for the new one that will be built this week, hopefully.

Song of the Day: Stretch and Vern: I'm Alive

Blackout

Fully intended on blogging last night, but it happened that we had no power. Indeed, it was the "Great 18 Hour Post-Christmas Blackout of 2008," leaving all of Oahu w/o power for, well, hours. Honestly, it would have been all about Jake's parents considering it was their 9th anniversary. We spent only the late afternoon and late evening with the Jakester as we were out celebrating the day. Happy Anniversary mom.

Song of the Day: Replacements: Within Your Reach


Today was all Jake. Still no power in the AM so we decided to venture into town. Whole Foods was open (and insanely crowded) so we decided to visit Nana and have some...whole foods. Jake was in a particularly good mood all day. Did get a little tired of me taking pix of him, but he was mostly giggles. Went to Ala Moana AGAIN to do some gift exchange etc. Back at home we had a swim and he was in heaven. Absolutely loves the water. I can't explain the joy of seeing him giggle and laugh in the pool.

Great day and very thankful that we survived the "Great 18 Hour Post-Christmas Blackout of 2008" in one piece.

Song of the Day: Electric Six: Danger! High Voltage!