Baby's First Flu

Never have I felt so helpless as a mother. To see your baby suffering so and all you can do is cuddle, comfort, and try to nourish (even though he doesn't want to eat or drink). Poor baby, coughing, mokos, fever, all attempts for body to rid of virus through various bodily fluids. Yea, Ick. So do we get the flu shot now??? That is the question. Yes ? No ? Autism?? The fear is that Gabe and I have also been infected and will then keep passing it around to each other. Stay tuned ... for hopefully happier times and can't wait for Niko to get back to his normal, cheerful, playing, and silly self.

More Darth Vader Photos

Halloween 2007

I'm sad that I bought his Darth Vader costume one size too small because it is soooo cute and bad ass, and not many got to enjoy it (plus he wouldn't wear the helmet!), but it won't last until next year. We didn't venture trick-or-treating but we went to the park and played ball and ran into other packs of trick-or-treaters. Fun day for pictures.

Niko reads to himself

Day in Wicker Park

Niko enjoying what will probably be the last "warm" day of 2007

Niko, my little philanthropist!

On Sunday, October 14 we participated in a 5K walk for JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation), as part of Gabe's company team, Primera. Despite the drizzling rain, it was a fun walk along Montrose Beach, unexplored territory for us. Suffice to say, we did not win the race, but were happy to cross the finish line. There were no hi-fives but sandwiches and granola bars were awarded generously. Glad we could do our part. Thank you Niko for finally falling asleep in his stroller the last 1/2 mile. And, no he didn't walk any of the way.

Girls day out w. Niko at County Line Apple Orchard

It was a hot day for apple picking in October. We drove out to County Line Orchard in Hobart, IN. What a difference driving another 20 miles into Indiana makes! Great produce markets everywhere, fresh from the farm. It was a beautifully planned girls day outing, with Niko in mind, a day out with the Aunties. Unfortunately he did not nap enough before hand, so after eating lunch and playing ball with other toddlers in the picnic ground, he was real cranky once we got into the orchards. He was helpful, at first, picking up apples to collect in our bag, but, once he tripped over some apples laying on the ground, it was over! I carried him most way through the rows of Fiji and Shizoku apples, and many other types of apples I had never heard of but had run out of energy to pick, with the sun beating down and draining us. Fun day though and will definitely do it again... the right way... with a cozy scarf and hat so we can sip hot spiced cider afterwards!

niko san and papa san

Summertime with Niko

I am lamenting the end of summer (even though it is October and still 85 degrees in Chicago), and am reflecting upon a wonderful summer full of activity, family fun, and Niko's amazing development. He is 21 months old now (i think we still count in months until he turns 2?), and was a blast this whole summer - making me laugh several times daily doing the cutest things like mimicking me (monkey see, monkey do), saying new words, and understanding so much more. He now says about 10+ words including:

"A-wa" (for agua / water)
"Hot!"
"Up"
"Off"
"Mama" (that's me!)
"bye bye"
"vrooom!" (for car)
"wow-wow" (for a dog, or any animal for that matter)
"Uh-oh!" (we hear this one the most!)
"Apple"
"a-ba!" (for Ball)
"Aaaaa" (for letter A)
"Mmmmm" (for letter M and for yummy!)

He understands soooo much, and you can tell he tries to say what he understands, it comes out as the cutest babble. He understands all his face parts in Thai and English, different animals, foods, the word "NO", give a hug and a kiss, sit down, stand up, poo poo, go mimi (go to sleep).

The best of the summer? Every time he sees cookie monster he brings his hands to his mouth and growls like he's shoving lots of cookies in his mouth (he got that from me, not TV).

We took him so many places this summer... outdoor concerts, merry-go-rounds, train rides, playgrounds (he learned to slide by himself in September!), the aquarium, the zoo, music festivals, and i just enrolled him in a "fine arts for tots" class. Now is the time to start testing his social skills!

He's the sweetest boy ever, with just the occasional flicker of mischievous look in his eyes, especially when we ask him to do something he doesn't want to. He always waits his turn at the playground, is very careful (no crazy superman accidents yet), and loves to share toys.

Here are recent photos...

New Words this week + Happy Birthday Mama!

I really need to keep up with this blog...as these toddler moments are so fleeting! I have to be very conscious about making entries the day that these events happen otherwise days, weeks and months will go by without them being documented. I've already missed out on documenting so many moments: rolling over, sitting up, crawling, first foods, first steps, first words...As I'm writing this it makes me sad!

So here now, I am officially reporting that on...
Wednesday, July 18: Niko looked at my picture, pointed, and said "mama" for the first time. He had learned to say "mama" months before, but never designated ME for that word. I was at work at that time. He has yet to look into my eyes with endearment and call me "mama". I am waiting for that day...
Sunday, July 22: Niko is in the bathtub and as the water from his tub is draining, Gabe is saying "A-wah Bye Bye!" and Niko replies "ba ba!" Very cute and different from the way he sings "pa paaaaa!"
Wednesday, July 25: Mommy's Birthday :) Gabe bought me a big and beautiful bouquet of flowers on this very rare occasion. I let Niko smell them, and so he puts his nose to the rose and reacts "mmmmmmm!" the same way he senses that his food tastes delicious.

Every day is something new and I will do my best to keep on top of reporting the Niko news of La Vida Niko...

Niko's 1st July 4th @ Navy Pier Chicago

we took niko to see his first fireworks and for his first merry-go-round ride. he loved both. he held tightly on to the pole as the horse moved up and down and round and round. about to fall asleep when the fireworks came on his eyes lit up with the first burst. "uh oh" was his delayed reaction to the blasts with fingers pointing up in all directions wowed at all the simultaneous flowers exploding in the night sky.