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Saturday, August 22
Sharing a Good Laugh with Por-por
By this time I have begun to feel really comfortable with Por-por. I still go to school during the weekdays but after I get home I can relax with her while Mommy & Daddy do other work.
Por-por lets me play with the cordless phone. The lights and sounds that come after hitting a few buttons really gives me a jolt of entertainment and laughter.
Friday, August 21
Moving Toward Book Independence
In the corner of our family room lies a wicker basket full of books. In the old tradition, if it was time to read a book, the reader of the books would choose the book for me. I love books, but there were times when my folks would read "The Little Hungry Caterpillar" while I wished for "Barnyard Dance." But now, I have started a new tradition, which is more like this: I crawl to the basket, choose the book, and the reader reads to me. Now, if I feel like reading about cows, I choose a book about cows! Of course, book independence doesn't stop there - there's always a next step. Coming up: learning my A-B-Cs.
I am now able to choose my own books, which starts at the book basket. Today, I just felt like reading about cows and other farm animals, so I picked up Moo, Baa, La La La! by Sandra Boynton, dragged it to the couch, and opened it so Mommy could read to me!
Wednesday, August 19
Por-por is Here! Por-por is Here! 婆婆來了! 婆婆來了!
Typically I wake up before Mommy does each day. But yesterday morning Mommy woke me up very early so that we could pick up Por-por (grandmother Lai) from the airport, who flew a red-eye flight from Los Angeles. She traveled all the way from Malaysia and was pretty jet-lagged but it was all worth it for her. Although Por-por reads my blog faithfully, I guess nothing beats seeing me in person! Last time I visited Por-por was three months ago in Malaysia, and that was only for about a week; this visit she will spend six weeks with us! Por-por is here. Yay!
Top: Tropical storm Fay is blowing outside our home, so Por-por takes me on a indoor walk with the stroller, where I can help push! Below: Before Por-por's arrival, my parents prepared her room, painting the walls and decorating it with simple Asian-style furnishings.
Thursday, August 14
Rendezvous with the Tuba
This summer, Daddy was able to borrow home the tuba that he plays with his brass group, the Advent Brass. I had several opportunities to get up close and personal with that very large instrument. It's back now at Forest Lake Academy, the high school where it belongs so others can learn how to play as well, but I'll always remember those "hallowed" moments with the king of brass instruments.
Top: "if I can just reach far enough, maybe there'll be a rubber ducky inside." Bottom: "Wow, Mr. Tuba what big ears you have!"
Wednesday, August 13
DoJo Scared of Aggressive Older Women
Excuse me, but I take issue with the title of this blog, which was remarked by DoJo's grandfather. Especially when "aggressive older women" refers to me! Yes, I am older than DoJo but aggressive? Hardly. My reaching out to him is my friendly way of saying "hi, and let's be friends." I'm sure DoJo understands. It's too bad his grandfather doesn't. However, our family does thank him for inviting us to such a nice dinner that evening.
With DoJo at the Indonesian restaurant Asia Bagus. He is younger, but definitely heavier and taller than me. After all, I'm a petite Asian female.
Monday, August 11
Help! Helmet . . . Too Big . . . Can't See . . .
This weekend was the first time I rode in my trailer being pulled by a bicycle instead of being used as a jogger. As a passenger in a bike trailer, I am required to wear a helmet as directed by Florida statute. It's a good safety practice. When I first tried my helmet about two months ago, it was way too big, though Daddy got the smallest one he could find. It just barely fits now, once some extra padding was added but it still looks big and when I'm riding it tends to fall forward so that I can't see. This visual obstacle will cease to be an issue once my head size increases. But Daddy wants me to get used to riding with a helmet, which will allow me to have more fun and go to more places than I have ever been before!
Helmets are cool: in my Burley trailer wearing a Specialized "Small Fry" bicycle helmet, ready to go on my first bike ride with Daddy & Mommy.
Sunday, August 10
In the Olympic Spirit
Beijing 2008 started off with a most incredible opening ceremony, as I am told by my parents. Although I am not planning to watch much of the competition on television, I am full of the Olympic spirit, especially since the games are taking place in the country of my ancestry. One thing I could do to show my support is to dress up in traditional Chinese clothing and pretend that I am in Beijing. Let the Games Begin!
The Olympics are in full swing, and now is a good time to show off my cheong sam that Aunty Rachel Phoon gave to me.
Friday, August 8
Completed! Labor of Love Project
Aunt Vannee sent us her last installment of her labor of love project, consisting of cushion covers to accompany our window seat cushions. The project is now complete, giving our den a very warm and comfy feel. As a surprise, a heart-shaped custom pillow with my name was part of the package. Aunt Vannee, thank you so much for thinking of me as part of your family.
Top: Our den window seat, with new cushions and now complete with complementary pillows and bolsters. Bottom: I'm proud and showing off my new personalized Emi pillow.
Wednesday, August 6
Emi's Fun Pic #3: Sorting Out the News
Here, Papa, I think you'll find this article of interest!
Monday, August 4
August Means Two Years to Me
You're thinking that the title can't be right - August should mean that I'm turning one year old this month, and that's true. But, did you know that I actually have two birthdays this month: I'll be one year old on the 29th, but I'll be two years old on the 17th? Not making sense? This is because there are two different calendars to celebrate the date of my birth, the western Gregorian and the Chinese lunar calendar. The date of my birth August 29, 2007 corresponds to the 17th day of the 7th month in the Chinese calendar. In 2008, that same date corresponds to August 17. (You can review my blog of February 1 this year for more background information.) Furthermore, according to Chinese tradition, I was already one year old at the time of my birth, and thus this year I will be turning two!
Having two birthdays doesn't mean I'm getting two parties or two sets of gifts from my folks. Everyone choose the one calendar that is most familiar to them to celebrate birthdays. For example, my great-grandfather celebrates his birthday using the Chinese calendar of the 1st day of the 11th month. Year after year, his birthday hops around different dates on the Western calendar, although he was born on December 22, 1919. This year it falls on November 28. For me, I'll be celebrating mine on August 29. But just knowing that I have two birthdays this month is double the fun!
Mirror, mirror on the wall . . . I've got two birthdays, after all!
Sharing a Good Laugh with Por-por
By this time I have begun to feel really comfortable with Por-por. I still go to school during the weekdays but after I get home I can relax with her while Mommy & Daddy do other work.
Por-por lets me play with the cordless phone. The lights and sounds that come after hitting a few buttons really gives me a jolt of entertainment and laughter.
Friday, August 21
Moving Toward Book Independence
In the corner of our family room lies a wicker basket full of books. In the old tradition, if it was time to read a book, the reader of the books would choose the book for me. I love books, but there were times when my folks would read "The Little Hungry Caterpillar" while I wished for "Barnyard Dance." But now, I have started a new tradition, which is more like this: I crawl to the basket, choose the book, and the reader reads to me. Now, if I feel like reading about cows, I choose a book about cows! Of course, book independence doesn't stop there - there's always a next step. Coming up: learning my A-B-Cs.
I am now able to choose my own books, which starts at the book basket. Today, I just felt like reading about cows and other farm animals, so I picked up Moo, Baa, La La La! by Sandra Boynton, dragged it to the couch, and opened it so Mommy could read to me!
Wednesday, August 19
Por-por is Here! Por-por is Here! 婆婆來了! 婆婆來了!
Typically I wake up before Mommy does each day. But yesterday morning Mommy woke me up very early so that we could pick up Por-por (grandmother Lai) from the airport, who flew a red-eye flight from Los Angeles. She traveled all the way from Malaysia and was pretty jet-lagged but it was all worth it for her. Although Por-por reads my blog faithfully, I guess nothing beats seeing me in person! Last time I visited Por-por was three months ago in Malaysia, and that was only for about a week; this visit she will spend six weeks with us! Por-por is here. Yay!
Top: Tropical storm Fay is blowing outside our home, so Por-por takes me on a indoor walk with the stroller, where I can help push! Below: Before Por-por's arrival, my parents prepared her room, painting the walls and decorating it with simple Asian-style furnishings.
Thursday, August 14
Rendezvous with the Tuba
This summer, Daddy was able to borrow home the tuba that he plays with his brass group, the Advent Brass. I had several opportunities to get up close and personal with that very large instrument. It's back now at Forest Lake Academy, the high school where it belongs so others can learn how to play as well, but I'll always remember those "hallowed" moments with the king of brass instruments.
Top: "if I can just reach far enough, maybe there'll be a rubber ducky inside." Bottom: "Wow, Mr. Tuba what big ears you have!"
Wednesday, August 13
DoJo Scared of Aggressive Older Women
Excuse me, but I take issue with the title of this blog, which was remarked by DoJo's grandfather. Especially when "aggressive older women" refers to me! Yes, I am older than DoJo but aggressive? Hardly. My reaching out to him is my friendly way of saying "hi, and let's be friends." I'm sure DoJo understands. It's too bad his grandfather doesn't. However, our family does thank him for inviting us to such a nice dinner that evening.
With DoJo at the Indonesian restaurant Asia Bagus. He is younger, but definitely heavier and taller than me. After all, I'm a petite Asian female.
Monday, August 11
Help! Helmet . . . Too Big . . . Can't See . . .
This weekend was the first time I rode in my trailer being pulled by a bicycle instead of being used as a jogger. As a passenger in a bike trailer, I am required to wear a helmet as directed by Florida statute. It's a good safety practice. When I first tried my helmet about two months ago, it was way too big, though Daddy got the smallest one he could find. It just barely fits now, once some extra padding was added but it still looks big and when I'm riding it tends to fall forward so that I can't see. This visual obstacle will cease to be an issue once my head size increases. But Daddy wants me to get used to riding with a helmet, which will allow me to have more fun and go to more places than I have ever been before!
Helmets are cool: in my Burley trailer wearing a Specialized "Small Fry" bicycle helmet, ready to go on my first bike ride with Daddy & Mommy.
Sunday, August 10
In the Olympic Spirit
Beijing 2008 started off with a most incredible opening ceremony, as I am told by my parents. Although I am not planning to watch much of the competition on television, I am full of the Olympic spirit, especially since the games are taking place in the country of my ancestry. One thing I could do to show my support is to dress up in traditional Chinese clothing and pretend that I am in Beijing. Let the Games Begin!
The Olympics are in full swing, and now is a good time to show off my cheong sam that Aunty Rachel Phoon gave to me.
Friday, August 8
Completed! Labor of Love Project
Aunt Vannee sent us her last installment of her labor of love project, consisting of cushion covers to accompany our window seat cushions. The project is now complete, giving our den a very warm and comfy feel. As a surprise, a heart-shaped custom pillow with my name was part of the package. Aunt Vannee, thank you so much for thinking of me as part of your family.
Top: Our den window seat, with new cushions and now complete with complementary pillows and bolsters. Bottom: I'm proud and showing off my new personalized Emi pillow.
Wednesday, August 6
Emi's Fun Pic #3: Sorting Out the News
Here, Papa, I think you'll find this article of interest!
Monday, August 4
August Means Two Years to Me
You're thinking that the title can't be right - August should mean that I'm turning one year old this month, and that's true. But, did you know that I actually have two birthdays this month: I'll be one year old on the 29th, but I'll be two years old on the 17th? Not making sense? This is because there are two different calendars to celebrate the date of my birth, the western Gregorian and the Chinese lunar calendar. The date of my birth August 29, 2007 corresponds to the 17th day of the 7th month in the Chinese calendar. In 2008, that same date corresponds to August 17. (You can review my blog of February 1 this year for more background information.) Furthermore, according to Chinese tradition, I was already one year old at the time of my birth, and thus this year I will be turning two!
Having two birthdays doesn't mean I'm getting two parties or two sets of gifts from my folks. Everyone choose the one calendar that is most familiar to them to celebrate birthdays. For example, my great-grandfather celebrates his birthday using the Chinese calendar of the 1st day of the 11th month. Year after year, his birthday hops around different dates on the Western calendar, although he was born on December 22, 1919. This year it falls on November 28. For me, I'll be celebrating mine on August 29. But just knowing that I have two birthdays this month is double the fun!
Mirror, mirror on the wall . . . I've got two birthdays, after all!
(c) 2007-2008 Vincent Hsu
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- Dec 2002 Always on the road
- July 2002 Honeymoon
- May 2002 In Atlanta (pdf)
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- Dec 2001 V&G wedding
- Mar 2001 Introducing Shawn
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