Happy New Year 2008

We have been busy cleaning up the house and finally make room for our Christmas tree this year.  Zachary loves to dance around the tree since Chris bought a musical light show component this year.   After the first 2 weeks, Zachary has stopped pulling ornaments off the tree.  Zachary has been getting gifts throughout the whole month of December and loves to tear the wrapping paper off.  Chris sometimes re-wraps them again for another unwrapping for Zachary. 

We spent Christmas in LA this year and visited Jeff and Curtis.  The drive down was really bad so we will try to have Jeff and Curtis come up next Christmas.  While staying at Jeff and Curtis’s, Zachary started copying us with “meow meow” sounds to get the cat to come out.  Since then, he has been saying “ma ma” too.  Finally, he calls me “ma ma”.  We have the holiday photos on flickr.

Zachary sings with Daddy during holiday work party.

Zachary plays piano in the Kim house.

Zachary’s new skills in November

Zachary is still growing very fast.  At his 15-month doctor’s checkup, he weighs 26 pounds and 33.5 inches tall, ranking 96% in height.  He can now reach the door handles and tries to stick Daddy’s keys into the door knob.  He has shown less interest in singing and more interest in house cleaning. 

Cleaning service that Zachary can perform for you for a reasonable price :

dusting

Swifter mopping – the open floor, floor underneath the rug, floor underneath sofa, your Face (best if your face first before the other surfaces)

vaccuum with Dirt Devil handheld mini

washing your toilet by hand (he will throw it in for free since he seems to love to do it anyway)

Taking away the bottle – Zachary has been really irritable since we took his bottle away and try to replace it with all sorts of sippy cups.  He is upset at us and is boycotting milk from any non-nippled source.  With less milk and more moving activities that burns his calories, Zachary is looking quite skinny now.  But his chunky thick feet has not thinned out yet. 

Zachary also throws tantrums when he can’t have what he wants.  He does this by laying on the floor with both hands banging on the floor hard to make noise and banging his head lightly for show.  We have learned to ignore him when he does this and he will usually stop shortly.

Zachary’s latest news in October

Zachary is working hard on his singing lessons to get ready for the American Idol tryouts when they come to SF.  He has also incorporated his own dancing moves. 

Now that Zachary is walking better, he loves to play at the mall.  It worries us that someone might knock him over because he/she may not see our little guy.  Hershey is still adjusting to the fact that Zachary can chase after her.  Good girl Hershey.

Greatgrandma’s new home

Chris’s grandmother was recently moved into an elderly care home.  It’s a relatively clean (well not to my standards, but good enough for normal people) place to stay.  There are 3 other house mates living with Greatgrandma.  One of them is a little crazy and keeps turning the lights on/off just like Zachary does in his room.  Another lady holds a soft doll while watching TV in the living room.  I hope their company will make the transition better for Greatgrandma there.

Here are some video clips of Greatgrandma’s new home.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aShyRL4bPQs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZjzvbh53r8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mw2LdLcPMAA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFW_G-mcU3w

Photos, Blog, and now …

our youtube.com videos.  Mommy just uploaded our first few videos to share with everyone.  Checkout the latest on Zachary’s walking experience.

Zachary walk 1

Zachary’s first steps

Zachary’s first karaoke

Zachary The evening Explorer

Every night for the past week, we have been hearing door banging noises upstairs when Zachary is suppose to fall asleep with Pau Pau.  Zachary now has a new before-bed-time routine.  Every night Zachary has to open, explore, and close every closet or bedroom door before he gets tired out and eventually gets drowsy on my mom’s shoulder.  It’s annoying to Chris when he is watching his favorite TV shows and then all this noise coming from the ceiling.  It’s almost like living in an apartment with people coming in and out constantly.  Hope this phase will pass soon.

Ah, relief

I made it back alive from my first chiropractor visit today.  My neck and shoulder pains have worsen that massage therapy doesn’t seem to help anymore.  So I was brave and let Dr. Azarow perform some adjustments on my hip bones, sacrum (tailbone), shoulders, and the occipital bone (connecting head and spinal cord).  She used a drop table which holds some body parts in position while letting another body part drop with her pressure.  Dr. Azarow said that I must soak in Epsom salt to relieve soreness tonight.  The alignment of my bones is only part of the correction.  I must begin an exercise routine to strengthen my back muscles and add pillows for better support for sleeping.  Well, I do feel soar and less stiff as I turn my head.  I will have to see her 2-3 times a week for the first 2 months to stabilize my alignment. Then maybe my problem will be under control.

The Classic Wagon

I have always pictured little boys growing up with a nice classic red wagon.  Now thanks to Curtis and Jeff (and Cindy and Cliff for putting it together), Zachary is going to enjoy this wagon, sharing fun rides with his little friends.  With the sophisticated all-terrain wheels, Zachary can take it almost anywhere.

First Cheese Experience

We went to the new bowling place in Cupertino called Strike on Sunday with Chris’s work social group.  Zachary kept pointing to the bowling balls and saying “ba bal” indicating that he wants a ball.  He does not realize that it’s a very heavy ball and even though he is strong, he can’t hold a bowling ball yet.  He was not very happy about that so we had to turn his attention to the food.  The group ordered light snacks and there was fried mozzarella cheese that Zachary could try.  He Loved it.  “Maw Maw”, he would say and I give him another small piece.   I guess he did not get the “I hate Cheese” gene from Chris.  Mommy will buy more cheese this week.

Uncle Curtis and Jeff visit Zachary

Uncle Curtis and Jeff came to visit Zachary on Labor Day weekend.  Zachary drives them around town in Uncle Will’s newest toy.  Here is a photo of Uncle Jeff introducing Zachary to the strawberry ice cream bar.