Get-A-Way

While Anh and I endured a weekend of chores (basically, a very, very late Spring cleaning), Jax took off for a fun weekend with Aunt Nguyen. They headed South to Cocoa Beach to meet up with one of Aunt Nguyen's best friends, Dada, who was visiting from California.

Jax was happy to escape a boring weekend at home, but even more excited when he discovered there were also kids to hang out with. He met Dada's daughters, Peyton (4) & Seven (10 months), but he was was most interested in hanging with Dada's nephew, Ty (7). I'm not surprised. It's not often that he gets to hang with a cool older guy, aside from Grandfather.Jax was treated to his first ride on a WaveRunner, and I think it's safe to say that it won't be his last. Surprisingly, Jax is not a speed demon. Aunt Nguyen reported that he actually prefers to cruise along at a snail's pace, taking in the sights. I'm sure that won't always be the case! As if the dock and Intercoastal in the backyard weren't enough, the gang also spent a little time on the beach. The kids even managed to catch a wave.

Jax and Peyton are only a few months apart, and Aunt Nguyen has always joked about the possibility of arranging a marriage. Peyton is definitely a cutie. So, I guess I don't have any objections.

At this age, Jax isn't interested in Peyton though. However, he did seem to think Ty was the coolest kid ever. Luckily, Ty seemed to get a kick out of being an idol.

He took Jax under his wing, kind of like a sidekick.

The boys tested their luck with a little night fishing off the dock, but sadly, the fish weren't biting.

The next day, Ty had slightly better luck. He managed to hook a fish that his Uncle Sinh had tossed back into the water. To the boys, the details of the catch didn't matter. The fish was on the hook, end of story!

They celebrated the catch with a round of drinks, fresh coconut milk.

Jax wasn't a fan.

All in all, it was a fantastic weekend. I'm really glad Jax had the experience and hopeful that the kids will have the chance to get together again in the future. Maybe next time, we can get Baylor in on the action. By that point, Seven will be ready to have a play date!

A Little Off The Top, Bottom, & Sides

Today, I hit a milestone, and I just have to share the news. I have dropped 20 pounds! It has taken me 15 weeks. Plus, I've still got a few more pounds that I'd like to part with, but I think 20 pounds is an accomplishment worth sharing!

A Little Off The Top

We finally did it! Some (Aunt Nguyen) argued that he didn't really need it. However, I thought his baby locks were starting to resemble a mullet, and for me, that was enough to warrant a trip to the salon.

The BeforeDuring

He was surprisingly well behaved. I don't think he's ever sat still that long in his life. Of course, his stylist was holding sharp instruments. Maybe he was scared? Confused is probably a better description.His mouth is full of goldfish crackers because Baylor had more hair than we thought, and therefore, the cut took a little longer than we anticipated. Hence, the snack to take his mind off the fact that he was confined to the chair and being forced to sit still.

The After - Enjoying His Lollipop

Baylor really was very patient and well mannered throughout the whole process. Honestly, I'm shocked. I thought we'd have to pin him down, and that he would probably end up with a lopsided haircut. Thank goodness, I was wrong!

Repeat After Me

This week, both of our boys seem eager to learn a new language. While Jax suddenly has an extreme interest in speaking Vietnamese, Baylor is finally starting to show some interest in learning to say something beyond baby babble.

We have always made efforts to expose the boys to both English and Vietnamese. That's part of why I think Baylor isn't really talking. Jax's language was a little delayed too, and the pediatrician said it was because he's being exposed to 2 languages. Actually, for a while there, Jax was pretty much tri-lingual, speaking English, Vietnamese, and Spanish. That was quite impressive! Sadly, Spanish lessons are not a part of the curriculum at Jax's current school, and he's now pretty much back to being bi-lingual.

Although Jax has always understood Vietnamese, he showed very little interest in learning to speak Vietnamese. For example, if Ba Ba or Aunt Nguyen say something to him in Vietnamese, Jax always responds in English. Only if they prompt him, will the response be in Vietnamese.

Now, we're seeing real interest in learning the language. On Sunday, Jax told Anh, "Daddy, I want to learn Vietnamese like you." Since then, Jax has asked Anh to say everything in Vietnamese. Plus, Jax asks Anh how to respond in Vietnamese. I'm pretty sure Jax now knows more Vietnamese than Uncle Al! That's a good thing though. He can be my little interpreter at family dinners. I won't have to rely on Anh to bring me up to speed anymore.

Baylor's progress comes in the form of one word, "two." Up until now, the only words that I've heard Baylor say are: yes and thank you. "Yes!" was shouted one day with Grandma as a witness when I asked Baylor, "Do you want a chicken nugget?" while holding the nugget up in front of his face. "Thank you," was muttered one day when I gave him one of his stuffed babies. We always say thank you when he hands us something. So, obviously that was a learned response.

Yesterday, "two," was spoken simultaneously with me while I was rattling off the "You're in Big Trouble Count to Three." Clearly, I've been counting with Baylor a lot lately! Maybe he'll learn "one" and "three" by the end of the week.

Cancelled

Well, today, I had hoped to blog about Jaxon's first day of swimming lessons, but our day did not play out as planned. Jax woke up bright and early this morning, clearly excited that we were finally going to the classes I have been telling him about for weeks.

We left the house a little early because I had intended to check Baylor into the gym's daycare program during the swim lesson. That way, I could devote all my attention to documenting Jax's performance, even if his performance was sinking to the bottom of the pool. Well, Baylor was not happy about little part of the plan. He threw the biggest tantrum ever when we left him. Even the bottle of milk that we left as a bribe didn't do the trick. So, Baylor was promptly kicked out of daycare for the 2nd time. Yes, he's earning quite the reputation at the clubhouse.

Little did I know, the plan would continue to unravel. As we waited poolside, I was surprised that we were the only ones there. Sure, we were a little early, but I was amazed we were the first ones to arrive. As it turns out, Jax was the only child enrolled in the class! The instructor broke the news to us, and my first thought was, "Great! It will be like having private lessons." Then, the instructor said she was cancelling the class. Ummmmm...What?!

Gee, thanks for the courtesy call last week, giving me a heads up that this might happen. Thanks for letting me build up this activity to my kid all weekend, only to then crush him with disappointment on what would have been the first day of fun! What's that? Oh, I'll be receiving a full refund. Well, I certainly hope so! Thanks for your generosity!

So, if I seem a little annoyed, that's because I am. People really should be more considerate, especially when children are involved.

Smart Boy

It may be time for me to stop ranting & raving that "Obama is stealing all our money!" Jaxon hid his piggy bank yesterday, and his response when I questioned him about it was, "I don't want Obama to take it." I didn't have the heart to tell him that Congress has already tapped into his future. Sorry, Son!

*This is a true story, and yes, I do plan to limit my comments from here on out...at least in front of the kids.

Good-Bye

That's what we said to Daddy today as he drove off into the sunset on a last minute trip to Georgia and North Carolina. It was a spontaneous decision made at the very last minute. Hence, wife and children were left behind. We just aren't that spontaneous anymore, what with school, activities, and well...Baylor's need to sleep in his crib and only in his crib for approximately 16 hours a day.

So, I wish I could blame my lack of blog posts on Daddy's departure, but that would be misplaced blame. The real culprit is my brand-spankin' new iPhone. It has pretty much dominated my life since it was first placed in my hand Monday afternoon. I have to admit, it must be THE invention of the century. Sadly, I can tell that I will need a 12-step program should I ever have to return to the dark ages. What a sad life that would be? What ever would I do with all that free time?