Ollin and Kai.com

Okay, they’re not mine - but Ollin and Kai’s.  But here are a few of the items that the kids thought were the “greatest thing ever” at one time or another before moving onto something else:

Ollin: 

• Month 2 - 4: Fisher-Price Aquarium Swing (if you have a newborn and aren’t using a swing, you are really missing out!). 
• Month 4 - 6: Mom’s Cell Phone (until he broke it).
• Month 6 - 8: Television Remote Control (and not any old remote control, but the one that actually works).
• Month 8 - 12: The bauble that holds the fireplace gas valve in place.
• Year 1 - 1 1/2:  The steering wheel on any of our cars.
• Year 1 1/2 to 2: Drums, or anything resembling drums (includes pots and pans, coasters, the trash can, daddy’s head).  Drumsticks are often improvised chopsticks or other household devices. 
• Year 2 - 2 1/2:  Youtube and/or Windows Media Player.  I mean the kid will sit on my desk and sort through videos on Youtube and/or his favorite music.  Did I mention he does this without the help of mom or dad?  Scary.  (Here’s an example of one of his favorite clips).
• Year 2 1/2 through 3: Video Games!  The bane of every good parent’s existence.  The “entry drug” was Rock Band, soon to be followed by Wii Play, Wii Music, and a few others.  Luckily, Ollin seems just as entertained with some good old-fashioned sports like basketball and baseball.  Now if we could just keep him from trying to play these in the house!

Kai:

• Month 2 - 4:  Fisher-Price Aquarium Swing.  (Seriously, this thing is Godsend).
• Month 4 - 6:  Television Remote Control.  Oh, he’s advanced! 
• Month 6 - 8:  Balls of all sorts.  Especially if they are rolling.  (To be clear, there was absolutely no question when it came time to perform the Korean Life Destiny Game that he was going to pick the ball.   It doesn’t even matter what kind of ball it is, so long as he can pick it up above his head and spike it).
• Month 8 - 12:  The bauble that holds the fireplace gas valve in place.  (This thing is like crack for kids or something.  What gives?)  In second place:  eating utensils of all sorts.   Not to eat with, but just to play with.   By the way, a bendy straw in the hands of a one year old can be very dangerous!

I’ve been in photographic arrears for awhile now, but this edition of our photographic journey memorializes some important milestones - including:

• Kai’s first birthday!
• Ollin’s third birthday!
• The kids first journey to Disneyland.
• Valentine’s playdate.

For pictures from February, click here:

 For pictures from March, click here:

Also for the record:

• For the traditional Korean first birthday “choose your destiny” ceremony, Kai chose the “ball”.  Twice.
• The kids’ first ride at Disneyland was the “Jungle Cruise”.
• The kids’ birthday themes were “Blues Clues” (Kai), and “Curious George” (Ollin).  ”Rock Band” was not available.

I think every dad thinks about the day when their son will be able to beat them at a sport “on the natural” (meaning, fair and square).  There’s something about coming to grips with the fact that you will never turn pro, and pass that that expectation on to your son.  (Or at least that’s what I took away from that Cosby Show episode where Theo breaks the Coz’s ankles on the way to a game winning layup in the driveway basketball court).

It may not be exactly the same, but I fear that day is closing in on me with Ollin - and he’s just two!  Tonight, during our evening session on the Wii, Ollin came just a few points shy of beating me on Wii Sports Bowling (146 - 140).  What was even more disturbing is that he was beating me most of the game and I had to pull out a couple of strikes in the final frame to keep ahead.

Now, 146 is a pretty bad game for me, but I am not a gaming novice.  I was weened on Pong, had a grammer school education on Atari and Intellivision, and spent my fair share of quarters at the local 7-11 playing Street Fighter 2. 

I can feel it coming, any day now.  At least if he takes the professional gamer thing seriously, I won’t have to pay for college!

Looks like someone out there has finally managed to try to capitalize on the Korean-Mexican trend - by way of a Korean-themed Taco Truck called “Kogi“.  I won’t say that we were first, but we have been eating Korean-style meat on tortillas with Mexican dressings for awhile now, if only to satisfy two household cravings at once.  I am sure we can have some of our past dinner guests attest to this.

Now, I can only wonder how much they will offer to have the kids serve as official spokespeople!

It’s been a few months since we’ve visited the development of Ollin’s musical taste (you can find the last edition here).   In this edition, you’ll notice the kiddie music is virtually gone, and video game fanatics will notice most of these songs can be found on the Rock Band playlist.  So a quick update of his favorite tunes (in order of preference):

1. Sex Type Thing - Stone Temple Pilots:  He still loves STP.  Interstate Love Song was a previous favorite.
2. Call Me - Blondie:  Some vintage post-Punk!  This is a welcome development in our household.
3. Living on a Prayer - Bon Jovi:  Ugh!  I’m not sure what side of the family he gets this from.  (We have no relatives in New Jersey) 
4. It’s My Life - No Doubt:  Yes, we know it’s not the original, but I think he prefers this groovier version.
5. Tell Me Baby - Red Hot Chili Peppers:  Finally something that Dad enjoys! 

For those curious, yes, most of these songs drive Mom crazy.  Kai, however, seems to enjoy them almost as much as Ollin (if clapping is any indication).

See?  We promised there would be more soon and here we are. 

December was a momentous month.  Not only was it Kai’s first Christmas, but the kids also participated in their first wedding, and they received visitors from both Mom and Dad’s side of the family.  (I’ll let you guess who’s who in the gallery).

Yes . . . one New Year’s Resolution blown already (make regular updates).  But you will forget that transgression after you see how cute this photo album from November proves to be!

More coming very soon!

It’s been a few months, but the updates have fallen short for good reason(s).  The kids have been really busy learning, growing, and travelling.  So, let’s do a quick review.

In August, September, October, and November:

• The kids travelled to Korea for the first time!
• They endured a 13 and 11 hour plane ride (and managed well).
• Kai learned to roll over and sit up (unassisted) and cut his first tooth.
• Kai had his first professional photo shoot. 
• Ollin entered into the world of potty-training.  (So far, so good).
• The kids started to share clothes and diapers (YIKES!)
• Ollin started going to pre-school on his own.
• The 2008-9 NBA Basketball Season started (okay, more for Dad).

 Photos to be posted with descriptions shortly.  But in the meantime, you can preview the galleries here:

August - Photos from the End of Summer

September - Professional Photos of the Kids taken in September.

October - The Kids in Korea!

Plenty of milestones reached in the past few weeks, with a few notable ones this weekend:

1) Ollin’s First Sentence: “Read the Book!” (Shortly followed by “I want water”, and a few more) - 8/3/08

2) Ollin and Kai’s First Earthquake! 7/29/08 in Chino Hills. Kids were in San Marino at the time and did not react at all. They probably didn’t even feel it.

3) Kai rolls over (front to back). 8/10/08. What was notable about this is that he did it so quickly and easily. He’s probably been able to do this for a long while but we haven’t done enough “tummy time” lately to find out. Then, of course, we made him do it about 10 more times to be sure.

4) Kai eats solid food. 8/9/08. Rice cereal with baby formula. He did not like it. The next day, we gave him watermelon, which he liked slightly better.

Also, sometime in the last month, Ollin used the potty for the first time. Damned if we didn’t record the day! Now, I only wish that he used it consistently! But it’s a start.

Ollin and Kai just returned from the beautiful town of Seattle, where they got the opportunity to meet their first cousin, Cecilia.  The kids all hit it off very well and had a great time around town.  (So did the parents).  Here’s the photographic proof:

In addition to meeting Cecilia, there were quite a few milestones reached on this month -

• Kai’s first time on a plane (we gave him an A+ for behavior)
• Kai’s first meeting of his aunt and uncle.
• Most importantly, this month marked the first time where both Ollin and Kai slept through the (same) night!

Also, let us know how you like the new slideshow!