Little man full of might - today you are FOUR!

Adlai at the park

This past year was full of so many great moments. You made lots of friends, you traveled to interesting places, and you did more on your own than ever before. You've accomplished so much. Here is some of that year in review...

Celebrating Simon's first day of second grade

You started swimming lessons immediately after turning three and, over the year, slowly overcame your fears of floating alone on a flotation ring and jumping into the water. You now insist that you can swim but we insist that we hold on - just in case. You learned how to ride a bike with training wheels. You know a lot of your letters and can even write a few of them like A, X, O, E and T. You can count to twenty, hop on one foot, and you say that you can read ALL BY YOURSELF (but you still prefer being read to). The only time you really relax is when someone starts to read a book. Reading transforms you. You become silent and attentive. You'll even sit for a full meal if someone reads and, if I threaten not to read the next page, you'll take a bite.

In Hawaii

Adlai "Glamping"at Coastanoa

On the train at Lemos Farm, Half Moon Bay

Coming in from the rain

We've also learned a lot this year. We know what frustrates you: imperfection in anything, not being able to read or write or draw like an adult, and not being in complete control of your surroundings. You know what frustrates us: calling us names, doing the absolute opposite of what we ask just to see what will happen, or being mean to your friends and family. We're trying to help you learn your way out of this - one tantrum at a time.

Adlai's Jack-O-Lantern

Adlai and Simon and the 2011 Valentine Cookie

Eating popcorn at the car wash

You're still an interesting eater. You love savory foods like Korean BBQ and miso soup, egg whites, and fish and leek dumplings. You like pasta with kale, caesar salad, sea weed, berries, and carrots. But if you are served something you don't want, which pretty much means anything on a children's menu or a lot of the things Simon likes, you'll just skip eating altogether and stay hungry. Hunger leads to cranky and NO ONE wants you to be cranky. You, my dear, have a bad temper and we've spent a lot of this year trying to work around anything that will make you angry without sacrificing our sanity or Simon's life experiences.

Making lunch on the Feefadders' deck

Tea time at Lisa's Tea Treasures

Slushies at Target

You still love playing with, reading about, or watching trains and train tracks and "ding dings" (railroad crossing signals). You've moved from wooden trains to plastic snap together tracks to Lego trains, but when you get bored of one type, you'll easily move back to another. What you REALLY want is official metal Lionel tracks and trains, and you insist that you're ready. "I won't break them!" you shout right before you run off to find a heavy and breakable object and fling it across the room.

Train show in Los Altos

On the Nut Tree train

On the Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad

I kept all of the clothes Simon wore, but it turns out that hand-me-downs are useless. While Simon wanted to blend in to his surroundings, you want to stand out. You love brightly colored pants and shirts with trains and fun holiday underwear and socks. Sometimes you look at me, roll your eyes, groan and storm away because I've brought you the "wrong clothes." I care about fashion but you have rules about dressing and accessorizing that I don't fully comprehend. Maybe, one day, we'll browse fashion magazines together and then go shopping.

Adlai finally finds a hat that he will wear

Tidepooling at Moss Beach

You moved to the three to four-year-old room at preschool in the Fall, and according to your teachers, you are a social butterfly. You have complex relationships with your many little friends: you get into arguments, you make up, you even have the beginnings of a crush on a girl named "Jazzie." You do your best to be the ringleader; sometimes that goes well, sometimes it doesn't.

Plotting world domination

Party in the backyard with friends

Fancy cabin living in Coastanoa

You love humor. The funniest joke is always any object placed before the words "ON YOUR HEAD!" You love to listen to Junie B. Jones stories in the car to the point that you won't let anyone listen to anything else. Junie B. is about your age and usually means well but often finds herself in some humorous type of trouble. A silly troublemaker with the middle initial of "B"; that hits close to home.

Decorating for Halloween

"What color is my tongue?"

Hard at work in preschool

You've been on a number of trips this year: to Seattle in winter, Cape Cod in summer, and Hawaii in the fall. You're a good traveler these days, you love planes and busses and boats, but sometimes find yourself homesick and missing our very set routine. We went camping for Simon's birthday and you fell madly in love with everything about that adventure - including stories of the mice that ran around in the night while you slept. We went "glamping" (glamorous camping) in the fall which was also nice but not as fun as living in dirt for a night.

Mini-golf in Cape Cod

Sledding near Seattle

Wet in Hawaii

Camping in Big Basin

One of the more surprising events of the past year is your warm relationship with our cats. I always imagined Simon would chase them down and smother them with affection but, it turns out, that role has fallen to you. And smother them you do - literally - and, for reasons I don't understand, they can't get enough. Your favorite cat is Lily. Hana tried to sleep on your bed the other night and you woke up screaming "THERE IS A CAT!!!!!!" but if she had been Lily, you'd have no problem sharing your space.

Giving "love" to Hanalei

Exploring in Big Basin with Simon

Adlai won the cake walk at Simon's school

You are very shy around strangers and slow to warm up in new situations. You were scared and cried at Jazzie's gymnastics party a couple of weeks back but, 20 minutes later, you couldn't get enough of the complex gymnastic routines and decided you wanted to have the same party and take classes. It is strange how you have such trouble telling a stranger your name or saying "Hello." However, if you see someone doing something that you don't like you have no trouble marching up and telling them that they are bad or mean or WRONG. Indignation makes you brave. You'll make a great leader some day.

At the park

At the San Jose Children's Discovery Museum

In Hawaii

You fluctuate between being Mama's boy and Daddy's boy. It really depends on who snuggled up to you in the middle of the night when you were scared or who read the last book or managed to brush your teeth without tears. You haven't been a great sleeper this past year. You would much prefer someone be by your side at night. We tried giving that role to Simon, but he wasn't interested after finding out that you snore. You love and admire your brother more than any other person. I'm happy to report that you've finally figured out that hitting him, yelling at him, and taking his favorite toys does not make Simon want to play with you. This is a HUGE step and one which has led to hours of happy play over the last couple of months. Daddy and I spent an entire Saturday indoors recently because you two were playing so well and we didn't want to interrupt.

Frozen yogurt with Daddy

In Hawaii

Bike riding

Decorating eggs

Usually we're pretty active. You love to go places - especially if you are alone with one of your parents. I'm pretty sure we've been to visit every train (miniature to full size) in a 100 mile radius of our home as well as in Seattle and Hawaii. You have a freakishly good memory and can point out details of each of these trips with a "Remember when...." You also are very fond of libraries and museums. You love learning and are fascinated by science - particularly human biology. You want to know how everything in your body is connected and how it works. You made daddy show you pictures of teeth with cavities before you agreed to start using toothpaste on a regular basis. Daddy also explained how the sun will one day explode and you are thrilled by that idea. When I was showing you how there were only a few more weeks in the calendar you cheerfully pointed out that "there is this week and next week, and then the sun will explode and we will all die!"

We hope being clairvoyant isn't one of your talents.

Playing in Coastanoa

In Downtown Mountain View

You are a frustratingly stubborn, silly, smart, perfectionist, adorable and full of zest, and exhausting in your non-conformity. I am proud of you.

At the park

I love you and I wish you a very happy birthday.

Love,

Mama (Daddy, and Simon too!)

More?
Adlai turns three
Adlai turns two
Adlai turns one
Adlai is born

Even more?
Simon turns seven
Simon turns six
Simon turns five
Simon turns four
Simon turns three
Simon turns two
Simon turns one
Simon is born

Finally! Today you are three.

I'm sure you are wondering, is three old enough to rule the world? Or maybe that is four and three is when you are just in control of your family and a small country somewhere. We really need to find you that country. I'm hoping it is an island nation inhabited by people who have developed a keen sense of humor. They are going to need it.

Adlai, you are incredible and adorable and, well, let's just say… passionate. Little has changed about your personality this year. You are (not) large and definitely (not) in charge and, if we just would give in to your every desire, everything would be fine. OH MY GOODNESS, WHY WON'T WE GIVE IN?! It must be terribly frustrating.

I'm certain this bullish personality of yours is going to benefit you someday. At least no one is going to push you around. You started preschool in August three mornings a week and you are delighted to be old enough to be in school. Daddy took you there on the first day fully expecting to hang out for a while but you wouldn't have any of it. Daddy figured this out and said "OK, I'm going to leave now" and you said "OK, I'm going to stay." Your teachers describe you as silly and sweet and playful and kind. They tell me you play well with others and rarely get into trouble. They did, however mention that you can be incredibly stubborn. You are so nice to people outside your immediate family: you share, you give in, you eat what is in front of you without complaint, you even nap!

We've had kind of a rough time this year figuring out how to prevent the tears, anger, and frustration you are experiencing. For a long time, I brought home candy from work. For a while this prevented you from bursting into tears at the sight of me, shouting at me, and running from the room to slam the nearest door. Lately I've been attempting to spend fifteen or twenty minutes giving you individual attention as soon as I arrive. That sets you off on a good path - at least until dinner when the meal is, inevitably, placed in the incorrect location on the incorrect plate over the incorrect place mat sitting next to the incorrect cup, utensils, and beverage, all next to the incorrect sibling. There has been a lot of food squishing this year and I can't think of a single meal that ended with the utensils, napkins, and place mats all still on the table.

We brought home two cats in June. What is worse than food squishing or high pitched screaming or even drawing on floors and walls, is that you immediately started taking your frustrations out on them. On the positive side, they are getting exercise! When ever you enter a room, they head for the nearest crawl space. Simon somehow managed to completely overlook your hitting, biting, pinching, and yelling until just a couple of months ago when he had finally had enough. I think it was having you yell "Stupid!" or "I hate you!" or "Go away, Sie-min!" (while in his room) that finally did the trick. I wish he had never taught you those words. Daddy is thankful that we don't curse. You love and admire your brother so very much. You always want to know where he is and what he is doing and if you can do it too? I'm looking forward to being able to reason with you enough that you stop shooting yourself in the foot.

Contrary to what this sounds like, you are not in a perpetually bad mood. You can be so incredibly fun to be with - especially when you are alone with one of the three of us. You love to talk, you are curious, and you have great explanations. You use big words and complex sentences and hearing them come out of your tiny little mouth is overwhelmingly adorable which often leads me to lean in for a... "NO KISSING, MOMMY!" You love long baths and swings and moving trains around train tracks - around and around and around again. You never grow tired of trains but your true love is railroad crossing signals. You also love lighthouses and bell buoys, but they are harder to find. You love music (except when you "Hate music!") and pretend play and crafts. I'm positive that we have enough of your preschool art to paper an entire room and the year isn't even half over yet. You often ask for us to have a "dance party!" You run around in circles and jump and ask to be picked up so that we can swing you until you are dizzy.

You like to make silly faces and use words like "stinky!" and "fart!" and "poo poo!" Even when we get you up to use the bathroom in the middle of the night and you are half asleep, you still have the presence of mind and comic timing to blame passing gas on who ever is around. You love to help. You expect nothing less than to be a full participant in the preparation and dolling out of meals. You prefer to carry things three times your weight and size, especially liquids and objects that are breakable, and insist that you can do it "All by myself!" A few times this year we went to theme parks and you were absolutely thrilled to be able to go on a rides all by yourself. You went around and around and around for as many times as the attendants would allow. You enjoy reading and movie nights with friends and big kid Legos. You talk about friends you've made at school. "Logan" is currently your best little buddy. We're going to meet Logan at your birthday party! I'm excited to watch you play with the first friend you have made entirely on your own.

You've had a fairly busy travel year. You've been to Houston, Southern California, Hawaii, New York, and Cape Cod. You were mostly good - easily entertained with train stickers, cartoons, snacks, and numerous binkies. It was only when you grew over-tired that you started your high pitched screams and threw binkies at fellow passengers.

I took a Friday off in July just after you turned two-and-a-half and, over the long weekend, we potty trained you to the point that we haven't used a single diaper or pull-up since. I was amazed at how quickly you understood what I was asking you to do. I was amazed that you did it. Since we successfully potty trained, we figured the next step was the big-boy-bed which we bought you in September. You were thrilled to have the new bed in your room! One of these days, we are going to figure out how to make you sleep in it. We really miss being able to put you to bed and expect that you won't wake up until morning. In November, over the Thanksgiving holiday, we planned to wean you from the binkies. You may love binkies even more than trains but when I started to cut the tips off of the binkies in preparation for their departure, you jumped the gun and decided that broken binkies were totally yucky. We took you to the Build-a-Bear workshop and you chose a "bear" to build, chose a binky to put inside, and we gave the rest of the binkies to the cashier as payment (along with a credit card). Now the stuffed animal reminds you of what you don't have and that makes you angry.

Last weekend we went out to breakfast at Starbucks, just the two of us, and you went off by yourself to find a table while I ordered. When you couldn't find one available, you waited patiently until a family left and then we sat together so politely, sipping our drinks, dabbing our mouths with our napkins. You had a tantrum when I tried to hand you your scone. It wasn't good anymore because I had attempted to assist you in getting it off of the high counter. I threatened to take you home for acting up and, finally, you relented. That is until you saw that the barrista had written your name on your cup of warm milk. "NO DRAWING ON MY CUP!" you yelled and then you took off toward the barrista and told her "NO DRAWING ON CUPS!" before bouncing back to your seat with a big smile, so proud of yourself for telling an adult how things should be.

That is so you: my Jekyll and Hyde, outspoken and shy, sweet and salty, little big boy. I love you.

Happy Birthday, Adlai!

Love,

Mama, (Daddy, Simon, Lily, and Hana too)

More?
Adlai turns two
Adlai turns one
Adlai is born

Even more?
Simon turns six
Simon turns five
Simon turns four
Simon turns three
Simon turns two
Simon turns one
Simon is born

At his 2.5 year old check up, Adlai weighed in at 28 pounds and was 36.5 inches tall putting him firmly in the super thin and super light category. He is above average in height but not extremely so and he is very healthy and very verbal. He can also be very cranky and very very loud.

The weekend after the 4th of July I decided to give "3 day potty training" a try and, to our astonishment, it worked. It has been a month and a half and he hasn't had a single poop accident and hasn't worn a diaper or pull up! (He occasionally still has to be reminded to take a break to pee and we have to wake him up in the middle of the night for him to make it until morning.)

Once Adlai was potty trained, he started to insist he be treated like a big boy. No more sippy cups. No being treated differently from Simon. (Of course, this doesn't apply to pacifiers which he still loves.) His "Baby Elmo" doll is no longer offered love and affection. The big boy bed is on order and should arrive next month (all of the train themed bedding is already here). He seems excited for the change. Adlai starts preschool this Friday and insists he is going to send Daddy home (even though Matthew is more than willing to stay to help him adjust).

So it looks like we've lost our baby. It's just a shame he didn't take the screaming fits with him.
Here are some photos from the summer:

Cape Cod

Adlai on the train - Day Out With Thomas

Simon on the train - Day Out With Thomas

Adlai in his new bike seat directing Matthew

Simon on his new bike

Here he is yesterday playing with me in the backyard with some Moon Sand:

(He falls at the end of the video but was not hurt and, in fact, insisted on watching the video over and over while laughing at himself.)

He has a real independent streak. Last week he went on a ride by himself at Great America and I only managed to get him off after he rode ten times in a row:

After exiting, he yelled, "I DID IT!"

It's a good thing he's cute.

THREE jelly beans proud!

For a few nights in a row, they've been enjoying singing together and putting on a little show for Matthew and I. First, here is Simon "singing" the Star Spangled Banner:

Then Adlai wanted a turn with his favorite song "Lollipop" ("His kiss is sweeter than an APPLE PIE!"):

And, if you watched, now you know why we aren't betting on their future as opera stars but they sure are cute.

Passover was spent in San Francisco with the Feefadders.

Simon and I dyed the eggs earlier in the day (during Adlai's nap).

We later cracked the eggs on our foreheads.

Simon asked the four questions by READING them (!) out of his book.

Adlai felt all grown up with a glass plate and cup and preppy outfit.

Simon volunteered to try the pickled herring and liked it!

Grandfather lost the afikomen!

The boys found the afikomen and exchanged it for gifts!

All around everyone was in good spirits and had a great time.

So we started thinking, what should we be doing with the extra space? It feels bad just to let it sit and we can always use extra money to help with the mortgage. Of course renting it out wouldn't really work since we still use part of the space for storage and laundry. We began to consider if there was a way to rent the space without charging much and while benefiting our entire family.

Enter the Barres. We met some friends who had recently worked with a relief organization after the earthquake in Haiti. While there, they met a really nice family who had lost their home and were interested in starting over in the United States. They lived in a small apartment before and don't mind that we have limited (and shared) space. He is trained as a software engineer, she is a domestic goddess and their nine kids are delightful.

The kids

So we're going to try something new. Michelle will take care of all of the children when they are not in school leaving Matthew time for more contracting gigs. She'll make the kids meals and prepare dinner on most nights. Beaudoin will be looking for work in the area once his visa clears. Their kids will attend our local public school starting in the Fall.

We're all really excited about this new adventure!

We've been to the Monterey Bay Aquarium...

And this past weekend we stayed closer to home but still gave they boys a thrill by taking them on a 20 minute train ride, a stop for dinner, a 7-11 slurpee, and a 20 minute return trip home...

The boys love going new places. In fact, staying in for more than a few hours at a time seems to drive them nuts. Since daylight savings time began, we've spent nearly every evening riding bikes around the neighborhood and visiting parks in the evenings and on weekends. Last Saturday, we spent the morning at Shoreline Park and the evening at our local neighborhood park. Adlai has no problem walking to and from the park even though it is a half-mile or so away. In fact, we've pretty much stopped taking a stroller with us on our trips anywhere since Adlai doesn't need the assistance and he naps and sleeps better at night if he is completely worn out.

It should be mentioned that over the past few weeks Adlai has been pretty darn great. Two weeks ago he started playing with Simon instead of constantly scolding him for whatever reason. He has been more willing to snuggle and less apt to scream and throw and hit. He has also learned to bargain. "Jelly bean?" he asks. When we say no he replies: "ONE jelly bean?" When we say no he replies: "Pop corn? White bar? ONE white bar?" Tonight I thought he was a budding genius when I wrote "STOP" on his "homework" and he said "Stop sign!" So Matthew wrote "Yield" and asked him what it said and he said "Stop sign!" and then he wrote "Adlai" and asked Adlai what it said and Adlai repeated "Stop sign!" Oh well.

He loves to count objects and point out that he wants "10 binkies!" He keeps us aware of any "Stop sign!" we pass as well as any "Ding ding!" (crossing sign or lights or any striped wooden arm). Tomorrow he will attend his first preschool class (with Matthew) as a test of his readiness. We're hoping he is found as ready as a two year old and not a three year old. The school would like to place him in the three year old class because he was born in 2007 but the two year old class (births starting two weeks later), will be entering kindergarten with him and we would prefer to not have to send him to an expensive "Young fives" full time class prior to entering part time kindergarten.

Simon made a valentine for every child in his class (per modern day requirements). Here he is once all of them were complete...

As is our tradition, we celebrated the holiday by making and decorating a giant chocolate chip cookie...

When it cooled, we stored half of it in the freezer and packed half of it up for our trip across the Pacific.

We dread taking Adlai on planes these days. He is just not all that pleasant when he can't have what he wants when he wants it and sitting still buckled up for five hours is definitely not his idea of a good time. A few screaming and hitting fits later, we managed to make it to Hawaii in relatively good condition. And except for a few restaurant induced anger episodes, Adlai was in rare form through the entire trip. He loved running in circles with the other boys around the living areas. He found Bradley particularly funny and interesting - especially when Bradley let Adlai pinch his nose over and over and over again. And Jeff taught him that, if he was pushed, Adlai was so strong Jeff would immediately fall to the ground. WHAT FUN!

Adlai loved the beach but found the sand (and sand toys) much more interesting than the water (probably because it was a bit cool). Simon, of course, wanted to be in the water every moment of every day - even when his lips had turned a very unfortunate color of blue. While Simon took turns sleeping next to his cousins, Adlai slept between Matthew and I each night listening to the tide below. He and Simon fell in love with fresh pineapple.

We spent an afternoon at the Dole Pineapple Plantation where Adlai was overjoyed to find himself on a train with all the Kagle boys looking at fields of bananas, pineapple, and other tropical fruits. There was even a "ding ding!" which we passed (!!) both ways (!!). Another afternoon took us to a macadamia nut farm where we were treated to a fire dance, a boat ride, and instruction on proper coconut opening. The leader called all the children to the front and Adlai was the very first boy to run forward. They were each given woven crowns with flowers. Adlai was so excited, he jumped and danced for the crowd and became the darling of the tour. Take a look at his face in this photo after receiving his crown...

Here are some more shots of the adventure...

On the return flight Adlai passed out for nearly three hours on my lap. I couldn't have asked for more - except maybe the few times he woke up confused and very very angry. But I didn't feel like selling him at the end of the flight which I take to be the sign of a good flight (and a pleasant vacation).

I should also mention that Adlai has been going through a few developmental changes. We noticed a few weeks ago that his second molars are on their way in. And, while we were in Texas, Adlai proved that he is big enough and smart enough to get out of a portable crib (dang it). Finally, just this week, he has started to hide when he needs to poop. I'm taking this as a great sign. He knows he needs to go BEFORE HE GOES. Celebrate with me now.

Also this week, Grandma Whee came into town and she was brought to our home every day with the Feefadders! We all know that Grandma Whee means toys, right? Adlai chose another train crossing signal - one that goes with his Thomas the Train set. He is thrilled - maybe too thrilled. For the past three nights (due to excitement?) Adlai has been staying up VERY late and not napping long and it isn't like he is sleeping in to make up for the sleep loss. Last night, Adlai was up until 1 am. He talks, he sings, he plays in his crib, and then he starts to shout "Mama! Mama! Mama! Mama! Daddy! Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!" We went in to his room every 45 minutes or so to redo the bedtime routine. We brought him into our room. We fed him. Nothing worked. We went to sleep at midnight last night leaving him to party in his crib. At 12:30 am I heard him calling so I went in to his room to give him a snack only to find him in his crib completely naked.

Uhg.

Let's look at four generations of Kagles, shall we?

At least he is cute.

A week or so after the appointment we hopped on a plane with Grandmother and took off for a weekend in Houston. Adlai, in his usual form, switched from terrible to terrific and back to terrible again at the drop of a hat. Also, he isn't at all shy about throwing a long screaming and throwing and hitting fit in front of an audience of strangers. Joy. Despite the fact that Adlai didn't like the long flight (sorry, fellow passengers) or sleeping in a hotel (so he just didn't), we had a wonderful time. Here are four generations...

Now things are always a bit crazy around these parts but the past couple of weeks have been exhausting. Adlai is quicly frustrated by being two and let's us know of his displeasure every chance he gets. We signed Adlai up for a couple of days of preschool in the fall in the 3's class and then decided the 2's class was the better option - making the last minute update. I felt the need to look for a new job and had been interviewing up a storm, we visitied Texas, felt the need to go without a regular sitter for a while, and then Grandpa Ewing (age 94) fell sick and passed away withing a matter of days.

So much for 2010 being less eventful.

But we are also feeling pretty lucky. Simon is doing very well in school. Adlai, in his determination to be just as able as Simon, is doing a good job of talking, using the toilet, and undressing himself - he even wants homework to complete at the end of the day. I made a better career decision that should lead to our lives feeling less uncertain. Matthew has a semester off from teaching and can spend more time developing his game ideas. And we're getting double pane windows! We're all looking forward to being warmer and having more light.

I've uploaded over 300 photos from my phone taken between June 2009 and February 2010. We take most of our photos with our mobile devices these days.

Enjoy!

Hava

First off, Adlai turned two! The Feefadders came along as we celebrated by taking Adlai out for steak. Mmmmm... steak. Know many two year olds who would want steak for their birthday? He was delighted with the dinner and dessert and made sure everyone in the restaurant knew that it was his birthday as he shouted: "HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ADLAI!"

We went home and celebrated the final night of Hanukkah and the Feefadders went home and welcomed the Seattle Kagles for a visit.

Saturday we welcomed the Seattle Kagles to California with a trip to our local little-kid theme park. Each boy drove a car, they saw fireworks, and Adlai was overjoyed to watch a railroad crossing signal in action. Seriously. I've never seen him happier. I thought he might burst with excitement.

Sunday was Adlai's birthday party. We decided to have it at a local indoor bouncy house place to avoid weather problems and small-house-induced claustrophobia. Matthew made a train cake which Simon and I helped to decorate. Adlai had a wonderful time. He bounced, he drove a plastic car, he climed the stairs to the big slide and went down all by himself. He even sat in the big birthday chair and sang along to the Happy Birthday song and clapped for himself after he blew out the candles.

The next morning, Adlai woke up early and opened his presents before spending the rest of Monday and Tuesday bouncing around the Bay Area with the five bouncing Kagle boys. Lots of fun was had. I started to itch. Luckily, the hives didn't overwhelm me until Wednesday. Simon escorted me to the doctor to make sure it was safe for me to continue with our plans to visit Sacramento for Christmas. Assured that I most likely wasn't going to lose my ability to breathe, Simon and I went home and I tried not to leave the house so I wouldn't scare strangers.

Here is a little video:

Thursday morning, Adlai and Simon and I drove to Sacramento to celebrate Christmas with Grandparents' Rubenson. Simon helped to decorate the tree and put out cookies for Santa (he admited earlier in the week that he doesn't believe in Santa but he felt it important to play along). Both boys also ate a lot of cookies and went to hear cousin Sarah sing a solo and when it was time to go to sleep, they slept on the bed, with me in between them, almost without trouble.

Christmas morning we waited for Aunt Tonya, Uncle Art, Amanda and Sarah to arrive and then the true fun began. Adlai, fresh off of Hanukkah and his birthday, was ready and willing to open every gift in sight. And there were so many to open!

Once we had more than we could reasonably fit into the car, the boys and I packed up our things and I drove home in time for dinner with Daddy.

But guess what? The fun wasn't over. Uncle Richard was in town and met us, along with the Feefadders, at the most fun restaurant (for kids) ever, Benihana. Watching the chef prepare the food was laugh-out-loud funny for both boys (and we all liked the food as well).

I went back to work on Monday but the boys continued their vacation by visiting the bouncy house place, the Palo Alto Junior Museum, the Tech Museum of San Jose, etc., etc. On New Years Eve we celebrated by making a chocolate bombe cake, eating out at an Italian place, and counting down to the new year (complete with noise makers and crackers) sometime between 7 and 7:30 pm, Pacific.

Happy new year to all and to all a good night!

I ask: "How old are you now?" And you enthusiastically shout: "TWO!"

And two you are. To be honest, I feel like you're older than two. It may have everything to do with the fact that you started behaving as if you were two shortly after you turned one. Following is your second year in review...

You were already saying a few words by your first birthday and, over the year, your vocabulary grew exponentially. Daddy enrolled you in a language study at Stanford and you had such a good time repeating words associated with pictures! They'd show a cat and a voice would say "Cat" and you would repeat "Cat!" and add a "Meow!" They showed you a picture of a foot and you repeated "FOOT!" and kicked your feet up to the screen.

Most of the time, we take for granted that you talk back to us and that what you say makes sense but, let me assure you, it is so very wonderful and helpful and fun. You say just about everything - repeating our words when we ask you a question. At the beginning of your second year we would ask, "Would you like ice cream?" and you would repeat, "I ceam!" And no one really expected you knew what you were saying. About half way through your second year we noticed that you DID understand - a drive by an ice cream store would result in a shout from the back seat "I ceam, Mama! Yum!" And now, you demand ice cream out of the blue. "What would you like for dinner?" we ask. You reply "Ice Cream! I wun i cream!"

These days a lot of your words are being combined into short sentences but you still occasionally can't find the words to express your needs. "Wun nush!" you often shout (nush has always been your word for milk). We give you your cup of milk and you burst into tears as if it is the WORST MOMENT EVER. Now we know that your frustration is receiving your milk in a sippy cup instead of a regular big-kid cup, without a lid, but it took us a while to figure that out. We deeply offend you like this on a regular basis. You ask for something. We give you what you want. You burst into tears. We take it away. You scream that it is leaving. We give it back. You burst into tears. Repeat ad nauseum.

Sometimes, even though we do understand what you want or what is irritating you, it still doesn't make any sense. You hate it when Simon doesn't sit properly at dinner or when he swings his feet. You will find a way to look under any table at any restaurant to make sure you can see if Simon is swinging his feet before you issue your scathing rebuke: "STOP IT, SIE!" or "SIT UP SIE!" It is adorable (kind of) that you care so deeply about Simon's posture at the dinner table but, really, even though this is your birthday letter, we need to give Simon some credit and point out that IT DOESN'T BOTHER HIM. He constantly hugs you, he kisses you, he tells you that he loves you all the time. Lately, instead of saying "Stop it, SIE", you've been more welcoming of the affection. "Where is Si-min?" you ask each morning, often followed by a disappointed "Si-min's seeping."

You're also opinionated and stubborn. Getting you dressed in the morning is almost always a chore. It isn't that you don't want to get dressed, it is that you care so deeply about what you are wearing. Elmo, Wall-E, trains and planes are good, all the other shirts we have (most of them) are bad. Taking off one of the "good" shirts or pajama tops is equally difficult. "Nooooo! Chooo choooo!" you shout as you burst into tears. Luckily, you like water and Simon enough that I can usually distract you from clothing removal pain by offering a chance to spray Simon in the shower. And there you two will stay - laughing and squealing as you pour cups of water on yourselves, the walls, and each other.

And I can't forget to mention that you love to accessorize: boots and a helmet into the grocery store, goggles for the bathtub. You are very particular about which jacket gets worn when. Some are worn all day.

Once something has your interest, you are intensely focused and inquisitive. You can move trains back and forth along the tracks in your room for a half hour *alone* before you get lonely and ask for help because the bridge came apart or a train jumped the tracks. You like books - even some lengthy ones, as long as they have enough pictures. Green Eggs and Ham is a current favorite although you are not all that picky. You are completely obsessed with what we call "ding dings" (train crossing signals) and, given the option of watching anything, you will always ask to see a train crossing signal go off - the train itself carrying very little interest. It isn't just trains that hold your interest, you also love planes and cars and pretending to drive the car for hours on end.

You are very physically active and love to be outside but you are equally fond of spending time indoors coloring, making a mess of PlayDoh, and pretending to prepare food. When it comes to real food, you prefer food that has flavor - especially meat. And, even though you love to point out every "Cheeseburger!" you run across, you really are not terribly fond of such childish fare. No, you prefer marinated fillet mignon and cabbage slaw and green beans sauteed in garlic and lemon. When we are cooking, you stand at the kitchen gate attempting with all your might to break it down yelling "Me see? Me see?" - until we show you what is in each pot, the blender, and the bowls. And there is always commentary when you do get to see, something along the lines of "Coffee, hot!" or "Oooooh, spicey."

When you are happily surrounded by family, you relish being the center of attention. You swagger into rooms, bobbing your head from side to side with a big grin and making silly sounds. You fall to the ground in dramatic displays claiming you have an "Ouchy bum" that needs a kiss or a finger that has been smooshed and needs someone to blow on it to make it better. You love to run in circles and make yourself dizzy and ride on my back and fall across Daddy's chest with your arms around his neck. You like to play in sand and investigate things you find in the grass and woodchips below the playset. You close your fists and growl and squinch your nose and pretend you are frustrated so that we will copy you so that you can copy us and laugh. You like to chase Simon and find yourself copying his imaginary fight moves. You love to dance (although, mostly, your dancing is comprised of jumping) and are very fond of music with a good beat. You often sing the Star Spangled Banner and another mandarin song - songs you have learned from Simon and his school assemblies.

You love your stuffed animal friends, especially "Baby Elmo", and you are such a good care giver. You give Elmo binkies, you feed him, wrap him in his favorite blanket, and snuggle and talk to him. If you are angry or holding a grudge, the way to your heart is through Baby Elmo. If I do something nice for Elmo, you will usually forgive me for what ever slight I have caused you.

You are incredibly polite, always saying "Thank you, Daddy" or "Thank you, Mama" when we hand you something. You are still obsessed with binkies (what you call "bee-dees" and simon calls "pinkies"). You have a perpetual rash around your mouth which is irritated by binky use so we're always attempting to limit your exposure. You, on the other hand, are always attempting to increase your exposure - instigating binky hunts under your crib or in places you've hidden them throughout the house.

Besides the occasional wake-up before we go to bed, you are an excellent sleeper. What impresses us most is that you WANT to sleep. Occasionally you have even asked to have a binky and go to sleep. This is probably normal behavior for your age but, I want you to know that, of all the great and wonderful and fabulous things about you, making it easy to put you to bed is really high up on the list of things we enjoy. Putting you to bed after two or three stories and a goodnight kiss - no crying, no fussing - feels like a little reward...

EVERY...

SINGLE...

NIGHT.

You had a friend this year, Ben, and he had to move far away and, since that time, you really haven't played consistently with anyone your age. We worry about that from time to time. That is something we'll fix over the next year. You don't really seem to be suffering for the lack of friends your age. When in groups of Simon's friends you enjoy yourself. You are engaged if slightly weary of other kids taking things away. You aren't bossy with others the way you are with Simon. I suspect you know that the other kids might not be as tolerant as your brother.

Adlai, It has't been a great week for you. You've had a cold, an ear infection, and a bad case of conjunctivits in both eyes. You had your first trip to the emergency room when, late at night, we couldn't ease your excrutiating eye pain. But even in the emergency room, even with two eyes swollen shut, you were inqusitive and loving and goofy as all get out. You "made the night" of the emergency room doctors who went through each test with your Baby Elmo as you giggled at the thought of someone shinning a light in Elmo's ears (he doesn't even have any!). You took the Bob the Builder sticker they awarded you and you laughed as you covered it - up to Bob's face - with your Thomas the Train blanket saying "Good night, Bob!" You asked about every medical device, repeating the name we gave you as a question - letting us know you wanted more information. When it was time to go, you repeadedly shouted "BYE BYE! THANK YOU!" to all of your care givers.

The next night, still sick, you went to Simon's school holiday performance. No one was more excited to see Simon singing on stage than you. You waved over and over shouting "Si-min!" And Simon, just as enthusiastically, waved back. When Simon went off stage you completely lost interest in the show, preferring to hunt for your brother than listen to the third and fourth graders. "Where Si-min go?" That is, until you saw Ally - your neighborhood friend and a girl a few weeks younger. Once you saw Ally you wanted nothing more than to stare and smile and giggle and play. She is really cute but you weren't allowed to play - not while sick.

So, by most accounts, your last week as a one-year-old has been just plain bad. But, instead of being miserable and sad and cranky, you have made us laugh and smile and be eternally grateful that we decided to give this parenthood thing a second go. Just a year ago you wouldn't have managed well under unfamiliar circumstances which makes me think, you still have a few surprises up your Thomas-the-Train t-shirt sleeves - I, for one, can't wait to find out what they are.

Happy Birthday Adali!

Much love,

Mama (and Daddy and Simon too)