Rabbit of (Net) Negative Euphoria

Sure we had lots of Hallowe'en costumes ideas*, but James still fitted into the costume I got (*embarrassed face* before he was born) and so, he was a bunny!

* Maybe next year he'll be: Mario, Minion, Harry Potter, Waldo / Wally all mashed up!  

The full body fuzzy costume was perfect a cold trick o' treating night (we threw on jacket too just in case).  But it might be a little too warm for indoors.  It's probably why he's grumpy.  Oh, and being dragged back home for dinner instead of staying out to ring doorbells and visit houses and exploring... I know, I'm such a killjoy.  But hey, we did visit four neighbours and he got to pet 2 dogs.

After dinner, we put him to bed.  Other kids continued to come to our door until 9 PM.  I say "kids", but some were bigger than me.  For the entire night, we got about 20.

Though I didn't have that much time to get it together, I'd dressed up too!  I wanted it to work with James's costume so I considered famous bunnies and their friends and family.  I liked what I came up with (see below-below-below) though there was only a 1 in 5 recognition factor at work.  Their guesses: Mary Poppins, a time traveller...  Really could have used some time to find a teapot with a mouse... I told Olivia, that once again my choices were simply too "cold door" 冷門.  Oh, well.

(Above: "Let me out!")

(Right: "Mad" at work.)

Summer Sunday

Again, with no help what-so-ever from me: blooms!  (Right: African violet)

It's the lazy summer Sunday I've been dreaming of. 

Below: A quick snap of James sleeping in the bouncer, and yes!  A quick nap for me! 

Later, strapped into the car seat, James ventured out to the backyard.  He was ready for his close up :)

We visited Erica and Prab after dinner.  Look, they're using the "bee" napkins :)  Oh, and they make us (me) a rice pudding treat.  Yum.

Tulips! Daffodils? Tiger!

Tulips have made an appearance with the warm weather. 
I'm wondering if any of the daffodils ("James's" daffodils) made it.

Below: Oh-my-it's-a-tiger! James and Paul's tummy (to tummy) time.

Coping

We had an awkward lunch. But Mom and I acted like nothing happened. And, soon, it was like nothing happened.  This is our usual way.  It works sort of.  I mean, it's the "never having to say you're sorry" method of living with family... so healthy?  Probably not.

But I'm sure my sisters heard all about it... and have plenty of comments.

At least James seems unaffected.    

Full Month / Full Moon! James's 滿月

Celina: "Don't gender colours!"
Jack: "What?  Pink is for girls.  Salmon is o.k. for guys."

Except, of course, it's a big Chinese event so pink, red, orange are for everybody!

Angela, Patrick, and Jack came up from Calgary, so with Theresa, Carl, Celina, Kevin, and my parents it was a(n over-)full house!

Egg-cellent party favours (w/ sour soothers and gummy bears)

So much cleaning up this past week, did it pay off?  Well, some of my boxes ended back in the baby room... And I had a good hard time trying to not let the criticism get to me...  But in the end, even if it was a bit of a strange setup,  I think we did o.k.

James protested his bath, but slept soundly through the rest of things.

I bossed people around to move tables and grab chairs and it felt rather good.  They didn't want me to lift things either... yep, that's still probably a good idea.

The meal included traditional items (barbeque pork, chicken, bean noodles/threads), vegetables (for the vitamins), and brown rice.

Oh, the brown rice my Mom worried and stressed about days before.  Guess what?  Kevin and Celina ate it (even asked if they could make some at home). Patrick and Jack ate it.  Everyone ate food and eventually were not hungry!  Granted Dad did have a bit of trouble with it and his teeth.  And, Mom, trying to stay positive for the day conceded it was good at least for slowing down eating :)

(Above: James's new hat is "gansta!")

We'd opted out of some of the other traditions (e.g. first hair cut, and Paul had requested no incense in the house -- my parents burnt offerings outside instead), but there was one that seemed relatively harmless... well, except for the sex / gender bias.

Celina: I'm not going to do it if it's just because I'm the only girl!

So instead, Kevin carried James in the baby sling (for all of 1 minute, for photos).  But this ritual* supposedly means the two of them will be "buddies" for the years to come.  I carried Celina and Kevin -- and that's what Theresa and Mom credits for us being so buddy-buddy :P  

* It doesn't seem quite as well known (and likely practiced?) as the red eggs, hair cutting, naming, coming out to public, and offerings to ancestors  (per Baby Centre Malaysia's "Baby Traditions: Chinese full moon celebration" or Wai Yee Hong's "Chinese baby customs & full moon party").  I like the metaphor though.

There was also a dinner out at a restaurant tonight, but the guest of honour (James and therefore I too) was not allowed to go (my dad is convinced it's a bad idea to take him to such public places)... that's o.k. we managed more than fine.  I was happy to have a relatively quiet house after all the noise (and family).

I ate an orange and after a month of not being allowed to**, it was great.  Not the best texture (out of season?  rather dry), but a lovely taste, not too sweet with a hint of sour, just how I like it.

**Oranges are cooling foods (Ping Ming Health's handy list "Warming and cooling characteristics of common foods")

NIP (Nursing In Progress)

Rem visited yesterday.  I was looking forward to it, but unfortunately, James did not cooperate.  And I was awkward.

Rem probably would have been fine with me feeding James in the same room (and then we'd actually have a chance to talk).  But I wasn't.  By the time James had finally finished eating, it was time for Rem to go.  At least he and Paul managed a little time together...

OK, James.  We'll practice and we'll get this.

Loved? Hated? Imitated.

STEVE HOLT!

From Arrested Development

Will I be a Tiger Mom?

I've yet to read the book. But some of things said about raising kids the "Chinese Way" didn't sound so bad or wrong (if not taken to Amy Chua's extremes)... maybe because Angela was a type of Tiger Mom?  And maybe because there are bits of me that are Chinese...

Either way, I seem to have a tiger baby.

Cute and cuddly one moment...

... ferocious the next.

Rawr!

Skinny Legs and Semi-discriminating Lips

James at 12 days old, cries every time we try to change his diaper... probably because it's cold.

Hm... something seems different...

WAAH! I'm cold! 

His eyes are an undetermined dark colour and look unworldly (Paul thinks it's because they don't focus or track yet).  

Ah! He's sucking my thumb!

He can tell if I'm offering him the bottle (which he prefers).  But I can fool him most of the time by using the breast shield.  I'm annoyed that he seems to prefer Paul's thumb to the breast.  (There's no food in the thumb!)

On his head, one of Mom's homemade flannel hats.