My First Day of School

Today, Nana and Pop had to go somewhere, so they had arranged to drop me off at school with Mommy at 9:30 am. Mommy is still working, but since the last day of the school year is on Monday, she doesn't have kids this week. So it was okay for me to come and hang out with her at school. First, we couldn't find her though (she had forgotten her cell phone at home, so we were walking aimlessly around campus, and I was asking, "Where's office?"). She found us, and I got to go to her classroom and read books. She has hundreds of books in her classroom. Then, I got to color on paper. She also has a lot of crayons!  I noticed a big blue ball on top of a cupboard and reached for it and said, "bounce, bounce", but she told me I couldn't bounce it.  It was for spinning.  She called it a globe.  I thought what a weird ball. 

Mom figured I needed more toys that I could play with.  At recess time, she took me to visit the kindergarten classrooms. The kids were so excited to see me, but I was kind of scared, so I just sat on Mommy's lap. The kids were arguing over who was going to build me a tower with Legos. Some kids asked if I talked. They were so big, that I wasn't really used to all of them. Finally, the kindergarten teacher asked some kids to leave and go run around outside so that they weren't crowding me.  We borrowed a puzzle to take back to Mommy's classroom.

Then, it was lunch time. I got to eat lunch in the cafeteria with all the kindergartners. They were all interested in me again. But I was more interested in climbing in and out of my seat. After lunch, Mommy's part-time teacher, Brenda, said she'd watch me so that Mommy could do work in the class. Brenda had taken me to visit the preschool special ed class earlier, and I had fun meeting those kids because they were more my size. But, this time, when Brenda asked, "Chase, do you want to go see the kindergartners again and play with Legos?" I said "Yes!" and climbed off Mommy's lap and went to Brenda.

For the next hour, I hung out with the kindergartners in Room A6. I got to play with Legos. I got to listen to the teacher talk. After about 20 minutes though, Brenda had to call Mommy to tell her that I was going #2. She came over to change my diaper. Then, I wanted back in the classroom. I said, "Knock, knock!". I just ran into the classroom, and Mommy went back to hers on the other side of campus. When Mommy came back to get me around 12:30 pm, she said she looked in at first and didn't see me. She asked Brenda, "Where's Chase?" Brenda pointed to the tables, and there I was, sitting nicely in a chair with a table of kindergartners. I was sharing Nixon's crayons and drawing on paper while the kids did their seatwork.

Mommy asked me, "Are you having fun?"
"Yes," I said.
"What are you doing?" Mommy asked.
"Coloring," I said very casually.
"Are you ready to go, Chase? It's time to go."
"No," I said. I didn't want to leave. I would get off the chair, then climb back on.

Just then, a kindergartner on the other end of the table said, "Mrs. Mau, I think he's used to us now."

Yup, I'm ready to go to school, Mommy! I didn't even take a nap until 12:30 pm, and all I wanted to do, (after swinging and playing on the jungle gym at Kaimuki Park), when we got home was read books. It was a fun day, and I even slept the whole night for 11 hours, without even stirring when the birds woke up. Of course Mommy forgot her camera today, but I'm sure there will be another opportunity when I can come to school. So, when can I come to school again, Mommy?!

Today, Dad took me up to the park so I could try out  my Strider bike.  It was a lot of fun trying to balance on my own.  Pretty soon I'll be riding the crazy bike trails with Daddy!

I am almost 2 years old!

Hmmm...I know I'm almost 2, but these shoes still look a little big for me.

(Maybe by next year, they'll fit me...and I'll figure out how to put them on the right feet!)

Today, I am 23 months old...which means I'm almost 2!  Lots has happened this month!  I got my 2nd haircut.  I got another lei to play with on May Day.  I got to celebrate Mother's Day with Mommy and Nana (though I was thinking of you too, GlamMa!).  Two of mommy's friends had babies.  I got to spend lots of time eating on the couch and sleeping in with Mommy when Daddy was gone on a trip (Shhh, don't tell Daddy!).   And, I finally got to go swimming in the pool and the beach again since I haven't been sick in a few weeks (Shhh, don't jinx it!).  I've begun putting my face in the water and blowing bubbles...in the ocean, the pool, the bath, and even in a bowl of water on the kitchen floor!  

I'm having a lot of fun these days....I only take one 1 1/2 hour - 2 hour nap each day. I've been getting up with the birds at 5:30 am since it's so light out and noisy outside. I go to sleep by 7 - 7:30 pm. That means, when I'm not taking a nap, I'm jumping and running and climbing (yes, I can now climb and stand on most of the furniture in the house; and I can also climb up all 100 stairs from our front door to our driveway, without holding onto the railing. In fact, if someone tries to help me, I tell them, "No!").

"No" happens to be my favorite word these days. Mommy tried to put my brown crocs on my feet the other day, and I told her "No...Blue shoes." She put them on me anyway, and I told her "take off". I know what I want to wear (even if it doesn't match).

Then there are those times where Mommy asks if I went "poopy" or "doo doo" and if I have to change my diaper. I always tell her, "No," with that high-pitched, innocent tone of mine and no eye contact.

I'm speaking in complete sentences these days. Some of my recent comments include:

* "I want to ring the bell." (as we approach a front door)

* "Please help me Mommy."

* "Mommy, open the door."

* "Where are you?"

* "Oh, right there."

* "What's this?"

* "Who's this?"

* "Oh no!"

Favorite phrases:

* "Read a boot" (translation: "boot" means "book")

* "Watch TV....animals, animals....elepant (elephant)"

* "Take apart" (I like to take blocks or puzzle pieces apart.)

* "Put bat (back) together" (Then I'll show you how I can put them back together.)

* "Doggie barking...Where's Neneena? (Selena)"

* "In the kitchen" (I know where they keep the good food.)

* "What Stewart doing?" (as I notice all the construction happening around our house)

What I'm Really Into These Days:

I still absolutely LOVE animals. I've been really into watching "Horton Hears a Who", although Mommy will only let me watch it 15 minutes at a time, so I don't think either of us have seen the whole thing from beginning to end yet. I love the "Ice Age" short on the DVD and always say the part, "Ghost story".

I can name at least 30 different animals and name the sound or action they do. For example, a "giraffe" has a "long neck", a "rabbit" "hops", and a "horse" goes "neigh". I like reading the National Geographic magazines Nana subscribes for me (they're a kids' version). There are a ton of animals in there. Plus, I can name all the birds around the neighborhood, since we feed them on Nana's lanai all the time. There are "bulbols", "cardinals", "doves", "Kramer' and "Hoppy (Hoppity)" (who are mynah birds). I like to reach into the bucket of bird seed and throw it on the roof or crumble up pieces of crackers and leave them on the railing for the birds.

I like showing "up" and "down", "top" and "bottom", "over" and "under".  It's neat that I finally have the words to explain all these things!  

Mommy and Daddy and Nana are getting more serious about potty training me now since I am talking, know when I go or am going to go, and have the words to name everything. But, so far, I have fun putting toys in my potty and spinning around on the seat. I even put the bucket on my head once (don't worry, I hadn't used it yet). So, this potty training thing should be quite an adventure for all of us.

We know summer is here because the bed comforter has been washed and put away. The A/C in the car and the house is being used more consistently now. And, Mommy dreads going to hot yoga on some days. The ants and geckos have been coming in the house a lot more, because they're thirsty for water, and Mommy gets grossed out constantly cleaning the bathroom and kitchen sinks and counters.  After I go to bed, Mommy and Daddy sit in the dark, waiting for flying termites to go to the TV light, so they can put them in a bowl of water.  

I'm starting to do naughty things, like putting my finger up my nose (or other people's noses), hitting Nana or Mommy when I don't like what they say, standing on furniture, jumping on the bed, and throwing water outside the bathtub.

Most of the times, I listen really well though. I still like to dance and play drums (donning party bed necklaces of course) too.

Water Fun!

This afternoon, it was sooooo hot that Nana got the pool out for me. The neighbor girl Kerza (she's 8 years old) was off from school, so she decided to join me in the little pool.

We had so much fun! Nana said if she knew Kerza would come over 3 times a week, we'd have to buy a much bigger pool. Even though it was cozy, we had fun pouring cupfuls of water on each other's head. She was gentle with me, but sometimes I whacked her in the face on accident. We had fun taking turns filling up the pool with the water hose.

Then, Mommy made the mistake of telling Kerza that she had her swimsuit on. Uh oh!

Kerza starting shooting Mommy with the hose. I thought that was hilarious! Mommy kept running away, and Kerza got her soaking wet! I tried to throw water on her too. It was so much fun!

Memorial Day Beach BBQ

We spent Memorial Day at Kaimana Beach with Uncle Jay and Aunty Shelly and friends.  We were actually right next to the War Memorial, where they had a little ceremony earlier in the morning.  It was a perfect day....right by the beach, lots of good food, and I got to stand on a paddle board and I loved playing in the water with Shelly's parents (you can tell they want Shelly to hurry up and have a little one!).  I ran around and played non-stop until after 6 pm!  Thanks for having a beach BBQ!  

Sea Life Park

Mommy was so tired this morning.  She said it's because I was stirring since 3 am.  I finally woke up at 5:30 am and didn't want to go back to bed.  Since we were up so early and we knew cousin Lauren was leaving for California early, we tried to go visit her upstairs, but the house was empty.  I went though the whole house, going "Lauren, Lauren, where are you"  But they had already left for the airport.  We called and talked to her while she sat at the gate.  We'll miss cousin Lauren.  She gave me a lot of her stuffed animals, including this huge dog that's the size of Mommy and my favorite monkey.  She also gave me a bunch of her old Disney movie videotapes that I'll enjoy watching one day.  Good luck in California, Lauren! 

So, at 6 am, Mommy tried to go back to bed, but I jumped all over her and wanted to play and watch TV.  I guess she must've been too tired because she ended up skipping yoga, but still took me to Nana's and Pop's house so she could take a nap and do laundry.  

She picked me up around lunchtime and we went to Sea Life Park.  I had never been there before.  It's usually $20-30 for admission, but Mommy heard that they were doing a Mother's Day special the month of May.  So, mothers were free.  Plus, I was free because I'm so little.  So, it was worth it for free...although it was really hot, and there is hardly any shade at the park.  Every chance Mommy got to sit under a tree, she did.  I had a blast running from one exhibit to the next.  I got to watch the dolphins show twice.  I also saw the sea turtles.  I even got to pet a little one, but I was a little scared, so I just touched it real quick and then stepped back.  I saw the sea lions having "bathtime", as I called it.  I liked watching the man feed the fish and rays in the aquarium too.  I even got to play in the sandbox.  I had so much fun!

I fell asleep on the way back.  Mommy had to stop at Costco to get another gallon of milk, since I'm almost done with the one she bought on Friday!

We bathed and headed out to dinner with Nana and Pop at Big City Diner.  We ate hamburgers and ice cream brownie sundae for Daddy!

Welcome, Baby Conner!

HAPPY 62nd BIRTHDAY, GRANDPA! 

(adorned by Mommy's favorite & most fragrant flowers, puakenikeni)

After we visited baby Conner, Mommy decided that I needed to burn off some energy, since I was climbing all over the chair and yelling in Aunty Kai's hospital room.  We went to Ala Moana Beach Park 

visit Grandpa's tree.  Today is his birthday.  Last year we came to visit the tree that his Parks & Recreation coworkers planted.  Mommy told me he used to manage this park.  I had fun playing in the sand and the water.  I would throw the sand into the waves.  I tried to get in the ocean, but it was really rocky.  Mommy washed me off in the cold shower and I fell asleep on the way home and woke up close to 7 pm, just in time for dinner (Mommy taught me a new song which made me laugh so hard..."I'm bringing home a baby bumblebee"), and more water fun in the bath ("bathtime" as I like to call it).  

Congratulations to our friends, Kai and Jason, who welcomed Conner Brown Yoshioka (aka CoBY) into this world on Friday, May 22nd at 8 pm.  He was 6 lbs. 15 oz. and 21 inches long.  We're so excited that there's another baby here!

We're also praying and thinking good thoughts for baby Maddie in Seattle (We stayed with Aunty Thuy and Uncle Fernando while we were there).  She just got diagnosed with Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Disease, and we're sending them hugs and strength as they comfort the little one month old at Children's Hospital.