Watermelon Time!

Where oh where are they all coming from? Fruit stands are bursting at the seams with massive quantities of these summer fruit. Trucks are loaded down and vendors all over have halved these bowling ball sized treats to make colorful displays of red and yellow. I'm only used to the red insides so the yellow always throws me for a loop.

Over the past weekend, Xian was able to taste watermelon for the first time. We did a few size comparisons first.

First Mother's Day (and an amazing one you are)

For me, the last seven months were a wonderful experience. I have often chuckled at the comment that one of my trips were the "trip of a lifetime". How many trips of a lifetime does one get anyways? If there is to be one major trip, I'm now on it.  As with any great adventure, it's not just the places one visits but the companions along the way. For the trip that I am steadily cruising along on, I could not have dreamed of a better partner; Krista is simply an amazing mom. Each day I smile as she talks with the girls, makes one giggle while she soothes the other, dances across the room to make Xian flap her arms in enjoyment and Sage watch in awe, or laughs a beautiful, joyous laugh as one of the girls tries something new.

We are both extremely lucky to have Xian and Sage in our lives but I think that they are also lucky to have such a wonderful mom. On her first official Mother's Day, we all want to say, "Thanks for being such a wonderful mom. We love you!"

 Frank, Xian & Sage

Food Festival

This weekend is the Compass Magazine Food Festival in Taichung. We missed it last year but grabbed the girls and headed out to see what it was all about. It takes place on a few city blocks along the Art Museum Greenway. We have visited that area countless times and found a parking space to only begin searching for the festival. Where were the people? The booths of food? The bands? We were generally in the right area but needed a 15 minute walk to get to the actual festival. Our school had a booth and we stopped by as we arrived. Xian was on hand to counsel those interested in education.

The atmosphere was great - lots of people, music and food, food, food. The girls packed their own goat milk and as we took a bottle break, a Taiwanese couple walked by. We noticed them looking at the girls and a few moments later they returned asking if they could take a photo with Xian. We agreed - it was just too funny. Did they want a photo of the American baby? By capturing Xian's upset face? (She is beginning to enter the stranger-danger phase!)

The girls later got their faces painted for the first time. We started small this time...

Xian received a small heart

The girls were great! They seemed to love being outside and we kept them well away from the loud music. They listened from a distance while hanging out in the backpack carriers. After a few hours, they were tired and ready to head home. Oh yeah, the car was parked a short walk away. Sage, after gumming the backpack for most of the afternoon,

was passed out by the time we reached the Freeca.

to the pool, to the pool, to the pool we go!

On May 1, the swimming pool in our housing area was magically filled with water and posted signs shouted, "Game on!" The pool was finally open. Our first walk of the past weekend left us quite warm and our eyes gravitated towards the blue glow the pool. Xian was the saltwater guinea pig so we decided to give Sage first dibs this time.

Sage appeared curious and we planned to return later on for a full session.

Dad has lots to learn about taking the girls swimming. The first step is the swim suit trial.

Then, we have to spend some time on the side of the pool posing for photos.

Sage reaches out to Xian to tell her not to worry. She's tested the waters and all is good. Finally, the girls get into the water.

All in all, it was a good first experience. Sage seemed quite content getting in the water and enjoyed being dipped in. Xian was barely OK but leaning towards the positive side. The water was still a bit cool so a few more days of warm weather should heat it up.

Another sign that summer is around the corner

It's starting to get hot. Our air conditioners are becoming well used as both temperatures and humidity increase. At school, kids are getting anxious and conversations often revolve around summer plans and plane tickets.

This year, regular down pours are helping to bring in the season and the creeks rapidly fill with water.

Audrey also heralds the change in season by shedding at an uncontrollable rate. Even after vacuuming, her hairs collect in the middle of rooms. Our two little ones are keeping us sufficiently busy so we have been unable to find the time to shave her as  in the past. Well, Krista has not found the time and I am not allowed to bring the clippers near darling Audrey. I'm sure that my job would at least be adequate...With Audrey's shedded hair multiplying and beginning to develop personality, we finally took her to a doggie groomer near our local grocery store. A few hours later, a somewhat distressed Audrey was returned to us minus several pounds of hair.

Dogs are seen around with intricate patterns carved into their fur but we went for a simple look. Audrey now sports a mane as the hair from her neck to her nose remained untouched. She also has a duster for a tail.

Bites & Bumps heading into month #8

The last week around here was a wacky one for Xian as she put a final stamp on her 7th month. First, there was First Blood and then we arrived at Paradise to pick her up from school with a huge surprise. Huge in that her hand had puffed up past the point of her rubber band wrists being cute. Swollen and red, as if burned with scalding water, her teachers and the principal gathered round to show us. Xian was a trooper as she was poked and prodded. A random parent even stepped in to offer her 50 cents (in Chinese). The general consensus was that the egg monster had pulled Xian into allergy land and she was in the midst of a reaction.

Fortunately, the emergency room is on the way home so we raced to the hospital, which happened to be quite empty. Their curiosity piqued, security guards and other staff wandered over to let us know what was wrong. This time the consensus was that we must have poured boiling water over her hands! Seriously...

A nurse quickly checked us in and soon Xian was being seen by a doctor. Xian was awesome! Glowing smiles instantly won over the nurses and she giggled throughout the doctor's check-up.

sorry for the poor photo quality

Close inspection and the doctor's keen eye saw through Xian's swollen hand to the final culprit - mosquitoes. As it turns out, Xian is quite allergic to the blood suckers and had not, in fact, been doused with scalding water. She also did not have a reaction to eating egg - she only eats the yolk which is not reported to carry the allergens in the egg whites. 

Otherwise, all is great. Xian joined her sister for the monthly check-up and laughed as Sage received her latest immunization. She's grown a bit, putting on one pound (up to 17 lbs) and getting close to 25".

From the end of February to the beginning of May - still enjoying the window seat!

Lil' miss spit-up is 4 months old

Silence was followed by a red and contorted face. Her open mouth screamed of a shriek that waited and waited before filling the doctor's office. Tonight was shot night!

The doctor continues to be a little concerned about Sage's love of vomit. She literally gushes after most feedings. She's downing Gripe Water (Xian's miracle cure) by the teaspoon full without much effect. The doctor has recommended stomach rubs which help a bit. Tonight, Sage was prodded and poked as a full "gut-exam" was given. In the end, she was somewhat cleared. No permanent blockages were found and we left with the common refrain that she will eventually grow out of this period.

Milk on the chin

Current Stats:
5.4 kg (12 lbs)
58 cm (22 in)

When she is not spitting up or eating (Sage rarely sleeps during the day), Sage continues to be a motion machine. She tumbles here, rolls there and constantly makes noise. At times, it seems as if she is in a race to be the house's first crawler.

And of course, Sage spends a lot of time loving her mommy.

Eggs, Blueberries & Crackers

Xian's explorations of food continue...

Her current ranking of foods:

1. Banana - still seems to be holding strong though blueberries almost gave 'em a bounce

2. Blueberries

3. Sweet Potatoes

4. Eggs

5. Avocado (a rediscovery may move avocado up the list)

6. Oats 

Egg on the face

The blueberry monster

Eating crackers - she loves to feed herself. This is one of the first time as she slowly figures out the cracker (watch only if a true Xian fan...)

First Blood

“Krista, quick, I’m going to need you in here. . .fast!” Confusion set in, but I jumped up and ran into the living room where Frank was playing with the girls just moments before. As my foot hit the first stair, the wailing began. Xian was hurt. Into my arms she was placed as I pulled her back to try and figure out what was wrong, blood was already seeping (I say seep, Frank says I’m being way too dramatic--Okay FINE, but there was blood and it was her first injury!)  from a cut across the bridge of her nose. First blood had  been drawn and Xian was not too happy about it.

For the past few weeks, Xian has become more and more mobile, no more can I refer to her as my little sloth. She turns and rotates her body around, lunges for toys, and even hops up onto her knees before face planting as she attempts to move forward. 

This instance, XO was sitting playing with her new favorite toy, a collection of nesting cups. She was so excited that she lunged forward, clocking herself square in the nose on a pile of the colorful cups. 

The crying quickly ceased and XO was all smiles again.

This morning as we were dropping XO off at school, Frank commented on how she had gotten bit on her eye by a mosquito. Upon closer inspection, the bite turned out to be swelling with a nice blue patch forming. Her other eye had a thin blue stripe all the way across-80’s make up throw back? Nope, another bruise. . .

So, it’s official, we have our first injury on our hands and although it appears to be a small one, time stood still and afterwards, XO was smothered in hugs and kisses.

Sage's Sneak Attack

This is truly an instant where I wish that I could wind back time for a better viewing of the show. Krista and I spend a lot of time juggling. Babies, that is. We currently joke that together, we do quite a lot of things separately. So even though we were both sitting on our couch, I entertained Xian as Krista played elevator with Sage. In the elevator, Sage is slowly raised up by Krista. At the top of Krista's arm length, she pauses so that Sage can admire the world map puzzle on the wall. Then the elevator comes racing back down. Sage loves it!

The elevator must have been at its apex when I hear Krista's scream. Quickly turning, I see that our spit-up queen had struck. The top of the ride was the perfect place for Sage to let loose a stomach full of curdled goat's milk on to Krista's head!

Who me? I didn't do anything.

"Help me! Help me!" 

Yesterday, Sage had tired me out with the constant flow of vomit so I thought the situation painfully funny. As if racing on tiny goat legs, the curdled milk quickly spread all over. By this time, Krista was shaking and I got a bit worried. Was she laughing uncontrollably or was she really upset?

I grabbed Sage out of her hands. 

Krista was paralyzed in place though still shaking. "Clean it up!"

"No way, go hop into the shower," I replied. The burp cloth that could clean her hair after that performance has not yet been invented.