Connor and I flew out on Sunday to see my parents.  Since we were flying out from OAK in the morning, we did not bother transitioning the kids to daylight savings time the night before.  Stuart and Logan drove us to the airport, hung out just a little bit, and both boys had no problems or clinginess while saying goodbyes.  Connor was so excited to see airplanes, kept gesturing and saying “big airplanes”.  He was excited to get inside the plane, and he had fun eating his snack, drawing and watching videos for the first hour.  Then he fell asleep on my lap all the way until the fasten seatbelt sign was turned off upon arrival. 

     My parents came pick us up as soon as we picked up our luggage; Connor was a bit shy seeing them.  While I was trying to secure the car seat in the car, Connor was following my instruction to sit with Gong Gong (grandpa).  I peeked at him a few times; Connor had a slightly frighten look while being held by my dad, but he was sitting very still as instructed.  When the carseat was ready, I moved Connor in it and striped him in, and during that time, poor Connor started to tear quietly and whispered “daddy”.  He finally calmed down when I climbed into the passenger seat next to him and held his hand.  Connor was so obedient, but it was so sad to see that sad face.

    Once we got to the house, Connor warmed up to Gong Gong and Poh Poh (grandma), and the new environment quickly.  He enjoyed walking around the house, and sometimes staying in our room playing with our luggage.  He learned to answer me “Here!” every time when I asked where he was.  During the next day and a half, we spent a lot of times visiting my relatives (great grandma, uncles/aunties) and one of my friends and her mother.  Connor was very good with everyone, smiley to them, repeating all the Chinese words that he was taught to say, giving hugs and blowing kisses.  He was very patient most of the time while I was catching up with everyone.  He liked the porridge and noodles my mom made, and he also ate well the next day during lunch and dinner with people.  Yesterday I also took my dad to his GI doctor appointment that I had made for him.  While we were gone for the two and a half hours, Connor stayed home and spent the time with my mom.  He initially cried when I told him that I was leaving, but according to my mom, Connor was very good the rest of the time, walking on his own with my mom to a park then later hanging out at the house.  The only time he cried briefly was when my mom attempted to check if he needed a diaper change.  I was very proud of how sweet and well behaved Connor was with everyone the entire trip.  My friend’s mother even joked (I hope) that I could leave Connor behind with them.

    Everyday during the trip, Connor asked for Daddy quite often and sometimes even for Goh Goh (Logan).  He asked me a few times to call Daddy to talk with him.  By the second day, Connor had learned to answer his own question “Home” when he asked for their whereabouts.  He was so excited last night when I told him that we were flying home the next morning to see daddy.  Today Connor did even a better job during the flight.  He enjoyed looking out the window while we took off; he then had some fruits, and afterward asked to watch a video.  Before I knew it, he fell asleep on my lap and woke up just 15 minutes before landing.  He was eating some seaweed snack while watching the landing.  At the airport, Connor was so excited when he spotted daddy and ran to him for a big hug.  Connor has been more chatty that Stuart even felt the difference only being apart with him for two and a half day.

    On the other hand, Logan was good with Stuart the past few days.  They attended Hunter’s first birthday party on Sunday at a gymnastic place.  Logan was a bit clingy but did follow the party instruction.  At one point, when he was reminded that I was gone, Logan suddenly had a big expression and questioned aloud “What are we going to do without mommy?”  Later on, when someone asked Logan again what he would do without mommy, Logan actually replied “Stay up all night!”  Haha!  For the rest of the time, Stuart enjoyed some quality time with Logan, playing some bigger boys toys together.  The only worry Stuart had was how to pack lunches for school, the first time he ever had to do it.  Logan did mention a few times that “Mommy and Connor are gone for a LONG time!”.  When he came home from school today, Logan ran inside the house to give me the biggest hug and smile ever.  While Logan and I were hugging, Connor ran over and hugged Logan from the back too.  Connor was missing his brother as well.

    Shortly after our joyful reunion and playing, Logan and Connor had a small head bump.  For a strange reason, Logan started crying and threw a tantrum which was very rare.  He ran into his room and took awhile before he was willing to come back out.  Dinner time was a bit hectic as we had to deal with both kids eating again.  Both Stuart and I agree that it is strange but true that it is tougher when we have two on two vs. one on one. 

   This trip home was definitely a short yet productive one.  I got to accompany my dad to a doctor visit, celebrated my mom’s upcoming birthday, assisted both of my parents in buying a pair of shoes, and educated my mom in healthier eating.  I also enjoyed some bonding time with Connor.  However, it is so nice to be home again today.

    Connor’s talking seems to be advancing slower compared to Logan did at his age, but he is doing a lot of practicing.  He is up to 3 words; some examples are “let me see” or “no, mommy reads!” when I ask him to read on his own, etc.  When we read to him, he will try to read along by making lot of noises throughout the entire book.  Tonight when we were reading “Elmo Loves You”, every time when I read “Elmo loves YOU”, he adds “and Momma, and Daddy, and “Goh Goh” (brother).  While I am singing lullabies to him, he does the same by singing along and humming noises.  I mess around with him sometimes by singing some Chinese ones, and he still keeps humming along.  For a long time, when Connor tried to copy certain words the sounds he made were completely different, which was funny to hear.  Now he finally gets better in copying what we ask him to repeat.  I have been trying to have him practice saying grandpa and grandma in Chinese before we see them, and his pronunciation for grandpa is still a bit off but sort of cute.

    Both Logan and Connor happen to really enjoy watching a TV cartoon called Backyardians lately.  Every morning, Connor asks to watch “Yardians, Yardians” when we come out to the family room.  Connor likes to dance to the theme song and Logan tries to sing along with it too.  Here is a video of Connor dancing this morning, and you may hear Logan attempting some of the lyrics in the background

     Work has been hectic lately due to all the school events.  After being at work for two hours this morning, I took off to Connor’s school for his first conference.  It started very punctual and ended on time as well.  This conference definitely was not as informative as the conferences from the boys’ previous school.  Today the teacher basically just went through a check list of child development, i.e. fine motor, gross motor, social/emotional, self help and language skills.  Connor received “developmentally appropriate” in all areas.  The teacher reported that Connor is happy at school; he likes to play with the “jobs” and with his friends.  He is a good helper; he assists in cleaning up and he likes to help his friends too.  He is very observant; he watches what the teachers do often.  When the teacher pretends not remembering where she puts her thing, Connor often helps her find it.  During the conference, we also talked about his speaking ability; the teachers did not feel that Connor is behind as he is very smart, and they feel that he will be picking that up in no time.  They also informed me that Connor is interested in sitting on the potty, and so we can consider training when we are ready.