ABCs + First day of swim lesson

Since Aaron turned 2, he has been talking more and more.  It's amazing how much he can understand and speak in both languages, even though English is so dominating that he hardly answers me in Chinese. I blame myself for forgetting to speaking Chinese to him at all times because I have gotten so used to only speaking in English.  I am so proud that Aaron can sing the entire ABCs song by himself today. The little guy simply loves singing and playing with the music instruments. :) I should record his singing so I won't forget how cute he sings!

Aaron started his very first swim lesson today at Waterworks Aquatics in SJ! I have been procrastinating to take him to swim lesson since he was 6 months old as I didn't think I could handle going into the water with him. It's definitely a lot of work to go swimming with all the packing and showering at the swimming pool, but it's 110% worth it after just one lesson. Aaron loves being in the water and isn't afraid at all. He did amazingly well for his first lesson and I am definitely going back with him for more lessons.

Aaron is turning 2!

I don't even know how to describe my feelings that Aaron's turning 2. How did my little baby turn into this 2 year old toddler so quickly? It felt like yesterday that I just found out that I was pregnant. I still remember all the ups and downs of the pregnancy so vividly, and all of a sudden my baby is no longer a baby already. This whole motherhood experience is so real yet feel so surreal at the same time.  I am learning new things about how to raise a child every day. There's no guideline to tell me what's right or wrong. I just have to follow my own instincts and take it one day at a time.

Hello! I am 2 today!

Aaron's 2nd Birthday Party!

Daddy is finally back from NY just in time to help with the last minute tasks for Aaron's birthday party. We are hosting Aaron's birthday party at KidsPark this year and invited all his little friends. I originally planned to book the Steven's Creek location but it was already taken. Fortunately the Oakridge location is still open and it's actually closer to our home.

All the kids we invited showed up and everyone had a blast as they could play and roam freely everywhere. Aaron definitely had a lot of fun running, screaming, and playing with all the toys he has never seen before. Even though he might not remember any of this, I still think it worths all the effort and time. I hope Aaron would look back one day and feel that he had a happy childhood knowing that his mommy and daddy love him.

My silly 2 year old Aaron :D

Birthday Party preparation

I am trying to make some good progress for the birthday party preparations, but it's not easy when daddy is on a trip and I am doing everything from dawn till dusk. I only have a couple hours to work on the party stuff when Aaron is asleep at night. I have quite a bit to finish before the party on Sunday. Things still need to be done -

Water bottle stickers
Party favor bags
Organize party supplies
Pick up balloons
Pick up party food

I hope everything will go smoothly this year as I remember I got everything done pretty late last year and I felt so rush and disorganized. But when do I ever not feel disorganized? Never, right? ;) I don't know how I always live such a chaotic life yet being such a control freak. Oh well...

Aaron's favorite Pororo :D

Single mom days

Daddy went onto the leadership program trip at Cornell and I have been doing everything with Aaron 24/7 like a single mom. It's definitely tiring watching a toddler non-stop all day long. I don't know how single moms do it and I have so much respect for them. You won't know how hard it is until you have to do it yourself. I am lucky that I know daddy is coming home in a few days. I can't imagine taking care of a little one alone without any support.

I have to be honest that taking care of Aaron alone involved some screaming, yelling, crying, and time outs. I don't know how others stay calm when their kids throw a fit and wouldn't listen. I don't know how long can I stay sane taking care of him alone, but I am trying, learning, and listening. I think all SAHMs need a good shrink. =P

time out doesn't seem to work

more screaming and crying

Losing my thoughts

Nowadays I really have to write down my thoughts before I lose them. I am not sure what it is. Is is the lack of rest? Or just being a busy mom? I am forgetting things ALL the time and that's so not me. Or is it? hehe ;)

I have so many things on my mind lately and they are mostly related to preparing for Aaron's 2nd birthday party. I still have quite some tasks to work on before the party. I hope I can get everything done on time and won't be as rushed as last year. Daddy will be going to NY for a week before Aaron's birthday, which means I will have less time to work on things when I have to take care of Aaron solely. I am so not looking forward to daddy going to NY, but what can I say when it's for work? At the end of the day, daddy is working real hard for us and it's unfair for me to whine all the time.

woke up happy seeing his new Pororo toy :D

Feeling defeated

We officially moved into our home for a little over a month now and let me tell you this place is still a mess! I got the kitchen completely unpacked and organized. It's operational and all, but that's pretty much about it. Nothing else in this house is cleaned up yet. I look at the mess everyday and I feel tired already. I don't even know where to start. There are so many boxes laying around and I only have 2 hours tops each day to clean up (given that if I even have the energy after taking care of Aaron, cleaning up the kitchen after each meal, and/or other miscellaneous administrative things). To be honest, I am usually exhausted after putting Aaron down every night. I rarely have the energy to do anything else.

It's so frustrating to see the mess every day though. It definitely doesn't make you feel good waking up seeing boxes everywhere or have to treasure hunt clothes/essentials from a gazillion boxes. This is a vicious cycle that I can never end. I wish I could hire someone to just clean up all the mess for me, but the reality is it WON't ever happen. I better get myself together and start working harder on my own mess. Feeling totally down. :(

What a mess within 2 minutes, literally!