No more potty

We started training Isabel 6 months ago to pee in her little toddler potty.  She was a pretty fast learner and got the hang of it after 2 months or so.   It's not without mishap.  We had many pees in the pants, pees on the floor, poop in bed, poop on the couch, but now she pretty much knows to tell us when she needs to go pee or poop.  Yeepy.

So we graduated her to the toilet seat cushion (see pictures) that sits on top of a regular toilet.  No more toddler potty for her and she doesn't seem to mind at all.  Night time is still an issue.  She still wears diaper as it's hard to figure out when to wake her up to pee.  Even with diaper, she has overflowed quite a few times.

Night time training is next.  wish us luck.

- Lei

Little piggy in Chinese

Since Isabel started watching Tiger, she started repeating Chinese words a lot. Here she keeps saying "xiao zhu; xiao zhu" which means little piggy and Bito is saying oink oink in the background



Lei

Her favorite game - flash cards

We are not trying to turn Isabel into an "egg head" but she seems to gravitate towards that way.  She loves puzzles, reading and her latest favorite is the flash card game.  She got these from Agnes for Xmas and she actually chases after me to play it with her.  They are basically alphabet card that is displayed as a picture.  For example, a picture of an apple to illustrate A for Apple.   She literally plays with it every day and loves it.

Here is her doing it now.  She almost knows all of them now.


- Lei

Miami Remembered

Jaime and I spent 5 wonderful sunny days in Miami. We booked a condo on the beach and it was Jaime's first time there. We ate, we partied, and we ate some more. Besides gaining 3 pounds in a week, it was a blast. We mostly partied with my friend Vic, who was a self-appointed host, for us every night. I had no idea how hooked up he was with the scene and restaurants. He and Jaime got along super well.

First the food highlights
- Smith and Wollenskey was delicious. Vic apparently knows everyone there. We sat outside at the bar, got free drinks and ate rib eye, mac and cheese, creamed spinach, split pea soup. Their portions were huge
- De Rodriguez ocean - a little on the quiet side but food was yummy. WE had the ceviche platter, grilled octopus, 10 grilled marlin tacos, and bacalao dip. There was so much food that we had enough left over for late night snack
- taco joint name T-Mex on 14th between washington and collins. We went there twice at around 3 or 4 am. Chicken tacos were great at that hour. There is also a sandwich place next door that is supposed to be good. We never made it.
- Vita restaurant - I went here with the girls during my last trip and wanted to take Jaime here. It's a gorgeous setting in the back gardens. Very European feel. We had the hand-made Gnocchi and the seafood risotto. Both really delicious.
- La Moon restaurant - downtown. Vic took us here on Sat after visiting a new club downtown. It was a columbia hot dog place. They put sausage and bacon and 3 different sauces in their hot dog on top of the hot dog itself (a basic heart attack on a plate) Delicious but way too heavy. WE also had the burger with the cornmeal bun (like having pupusa as your bun for a burger). Again super heavy. now you see why we gained weight.
- Latin Cafe - also downtown near Vic's condo. We went there on our last night on Tuesday. The portion were HUGE (see photos). Vic had the whole snapper, I had Grouper sauteed with olive oil, tomatoes and onion and Jaime had the Oxtail. all really big plates and flavorful. Making me hungry just thinking about it.

Partying highlights.
- Our best time was at Cozy near 1 Washington Ave. The Gypsy Kings showed up randomly and did a set. We were literally about 5 feet way from there. It was unreal.
- Smith and Wollensky. We stayed there for about 5 hours. met a sales person who works and travels with Tony robbins and a couple who moved to Miami from SF. People at the bar there were just super friendly
- Prime 112 bar had bacon snacks to accompany your drinks instead of nuts. It tasted great. Again contributing to our weight gain
- Love Hate was this little bar with some heavy hip hop. Sunday night it was so packed we just stayed for 10 min.
- Clevelander - I partied a lot there on my last trip. This time, we just got the tour from Vic as it was a bit cold to be outside. I had no idea they have a rooftop club and another club on the 3rd floor. Good thing we didn't come in the spring or we would have never slept
- Mango cafe - wow can they entertain! We saw many beautiful girls with serious buttie dancing merengue and salsa. They had a Michael Jackson dance show and all the time a live band. I also didn't know but Mango cafe has two other clubs upstairs. They were not open since we went on a Monday but the downstairs were rocking
- Best part of all, we never paid cover or stood in line anywhere. Vic only took us to places where he knew people so we were VIP all the way. Thanks Vic

Other Highlights.
- Weather was pretty good the whole time - last day I laid out for 3 hours and the temperature was a perfect 78 degrees. got a nice tan
- after some mishap initially with one condo, we ended up moving to a condo right on ocean drive. everything was walking distance.

I think Jaime and I just found our new Hawaii - Miami has both the weather and the nightlife and we were able to fly there for $290 each direct. All in all a great trip!

Lei

A sound visit to tita

When we were in Miami, Agnes took Isabel to stay at Bita's (grandma Lapena) for two nights. Apparently Isabel slept very well. see for yourself.



- Lei

Dancing and Singing in front of Mirror

Isabel loves to sing and dance now and like her mama - loves doing it in front of the mirror. Here she is singing and dancing one of her favorite songs from the Tiger Chinese DVD.  Enjoy!



Lei

Funny things Isabel says

About a month ago, Isabel just all of sudden started speaking in full sentences.  It's so cute.  Here are some funny things she has been saying lately

• i think about it - she learned this one from Agnes as well.
• don't tease the baby (she sounds Jamaican here).  she learned this one becoz Jaime likes to tease her and Agnes will say don't tease the baby.
• can I borrow this?
• are you okay?

Lei

Xmas presents from Auntie Han Wei in China

My cousin knows how much Isabel is liking "chiao hu" which means tiger in Chinese.  Isabel watches the chinese Tiger DVD at least an hour a day and loves it.  So my cousin bought her the "chiao hu" animal + some really cute hair clips for Isabel.  My dad brought it back for her and then mail it to us.  That Tiger traveled a long way.



- Lei

Xmas Presents from Lao Lao and Lao Ye

Since my parents couldn't spend xmas with Isabel, I wanted to share with them the videos of Isabel opening their presents. She was so excited to get all the stuff from Lao Lao and Lao Ye. She has definitely got the hang of opening presents. She especially loves her new Pumas and wears them everyday!.

Isabel says thank you Lao Lao and Lao Ye.