Window joy, big and small

Lately, Natalie loves sitting on a step-stool looking out the window in our bedroom. There are lots of pedestrians, cars, buses, and even birds outside the window that she finds interesting. And, using the cars and buses, she has learned to differentiate (we think) between big and small by saying cars and taxis are "moahl" (small) and buses and trucks are "bheeeg!" (big). Watch her in Video 180.

Natalie pointing out birds and cars as they pass by the window.


You can (kind of) see all the activity happening outside.


The other day, Clark ran outside and stood under the window where Natalie could see him. I pointed him out to Natalie and he waved and jumped up and down. We put him on the speaker phone with Natalie. She was totally, utterly, mouth-hanging-openly amazed.

Natalie at the Chen Den

Yesterday, we took the MTR aaallll the way over to Tai Kok Tsui (ok, it's not that far away) to visit The Chen Den in their new place. While the parents played badminton, the kiddies hung out in the play room. Later, after finger lickin' good KFC, we hung out and played some competitive street fighter. It was great! Very chill. And best of all, Natalie had a chance to spend quality time with her little cousin Nicholas.

Natalie holding a real baby for the very first time (with Clark's help). Doesn't she look so grown up and mature in this pic?


Here they are again with both facing the camera. Natalie seemed very calm and curious holding little Nichy.


Nicholas seems to enjoy all the kisses he got from his cousin Natalie.

Teeth Again

We can't seem to get enough of this... it's so funny! It gets more and more extreme...

Cry and complain

Watch Video 179 of Natalie crying and complaining. She loves to "been-jur" (stick her lower lip out) when she doesn't get her way. She also wipes away tears that aren't there.

Natalie likes going out

Natalie loves to go out. Whenever we say "chut-gai-gai" (go out in Cantonese), Natalie gets all excited and goes to sit down in front of her shoes so we can help her put them on. Here are some pics from when we went for a stroll and to run some errands with her yesterday.

Natalie happy in the elevator.


Posing with daddy in the big christmas tree in maxi mall right below our apartment. We bought some nice new socks (with rubber bottoms) for Natalie to wear around the house since it's getting colder now!


Natalie happy and (almost) running once we're back outside on the sidewalk on our way to the park.


Natalie walking with me. She's becoming more and more independent and will sometimes push my hand away.


Natalie taking a break because we make her walk the whole way.

Finally we arrive at the park. Natalie goes right away to climb up the equipment.

She made it all by herself to the top!

She slides down the slide by herself, too.

Uh oh... this time she fell at the bottom of the slide and hit her lip. Here she is being comforted by her daddy.

Soon (30 seconds later) she is happy and climbing back up to the slide again.

Later, she also went to ride the plastic horse on springs and swing on the swings.

She also spent some good quality time with auntie Marian who took her on the slide and climbing.

Slide, jump, kiss and football with Daddy

Watch Video 176 of Natalie playing in the big ball "pit" at the newly renovated jumpin' gym. It is a two-storey enclosed compound where she can play for 15 minutes for 1 coupon + 6 tokens. It's funny when she leans down to kiss her daddy and her face gets squashed up against the rope.

Also watch Video 177 of Natalie in the ball pit going down the slide by herself and jumping (she still gets zero air).

Earlier today, Clark watched a very exciting game of football and was explaining the basics of the game to Natalie. Watch Natalie say "first down" and "touch down" in Video 178.

Look at my beautiful teeth!

Natalie loves to do this now. I think she thinks "show me your teeth" is the equivalent to "smile!" because that's (kinda) what she does all the time for the camera now.



We think it's super cute and funny :)



Clark took these photos while helping me snap pictures of fruit, herbs, and soups for a new project I'm currently working on with Lisa. Check it out at http://www.thechinesesouplady.com.

Watch in Video 174 what happens when we pretend to ignore Natalie while she's sitting trapped in her highchair (she loves her IKEA highchair by the way). At first Natalie and I will chat together and I'll be interested in her, but 30 seconds into the video, I pretend to turn away and be busy with something else. She will play with the objects nearby, pretend to drink water, and then attempt to start conversations with us. It's pretty funny and really hard not to look at her and laugh when she chatters a string of syllables (can't make sense of what she's saying at all).

Also, see Natalie in Video 175 as she calls herself "Nat-lee" and points out her shirt is dirty (from lunch). She is super cheerful and playful with her daddy Clark.

Hair hair hair!

Poor Natalie has been plagued with no hair. It probably pains me more (she doesn't seem to mind) especially since I've been waiting to put in ponytails and barrettes and ribbons and other girly stuff so other people will stop saying "What a cute little boy!" on the streets. And now... her hair is finally, noticeably growing in! Check out the pics below.

Also, see the cutie talking and proudly showing us the food in her mouth in Video 173.

Natalie pointing and laughing at something funny. I think it was Clark drinking water, making a very satisfied "Ahhh..." sound and saying "Mmm... re-freshing!".


Look at the hair at the back of Natalie's head. It looks wispy. It's long enough to look wispy!


We may have to trim it to even it out to make it look less like a mullet. Natalie loves pressing buttons, like the ones found on mobile phones and even calculators.


The hair near the front of her head needs to catch up a little though.

Natalie and her new Elmo

Natalie received a wonderful new gift from Serena and Vivian this Christmas. It's an interactive Elmo who can talk and asks for her to help him with certain things like zipping his jacket, checking his pockets, and tying his shoelace!

Since we were away, she only got to open it the morning we got back on the 28th. She was super excited to have a gift to open and when Clark punched a small opening for her to start unwrapping, she got down to it right away.

When it was finally opened, see how impatient Natalie is for Clark to take her new Elmo out of the box and install new batteries. Video 172.

Natalie gasps when she first peeks under the wrapping paper. She says "Eh-mo!"


See her hands and arms are a blur of motion as she tries to help Elmo out from behind his hiding place.


I call her name over and over but she never looks up. She's too busy.


She tries playing with him in the box. She even tried to give him a hug while he was still in the box. After a while, she started to make eh-oh-eh-oh sounds while trying to pull him out.


NOW she wants mommy and daddy to help her new Elmo out of the box. She loves her new toy and now she has two Elmos!

Sanya

We just returned from a 4-day trip to Sanya, Hainan in China. It's a beachy resort destination and we stayed at the Pullman Hotel which is fabulous (big, shiny and new!). We had a great time golfing and eating and relaxing. Natalie also had a great time and got to know her uncles and auntie Marian, Gerald and Carey better. More pics can be found at our flickr account here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/thewanggang/sets/72157611766230024/

This giant Christmas tree in the main foyer. It was our first xmas not at home.


Natalie makes this face whenever we ask her to "show me your teeth".


While hanging out at the driving range (golf), Natalie enjoyed munching cookies and leaving crumbs all over her face. She can ask for cookies now by saying "cook-kee".


More teeth-showing with her daddy Clark outside our hotel room.

Natalie enjoying a pear with me. It was a beautiful resort.

Our family heading to dinner. Natalie really enjoys sitting on Clark's shoulders. And, whenever she wants to be picked up, she will clap her hands together and say "Puw-puw".

Natalie enjoying the view and looking around while we walk.

Whenever we got lazy, we asked the hotel staff to drive us around in these. Natalie calls them "che-che" (the word "car" in Cantonese).

Natalie also enjoyed opening and closing drawers and cupboards in our hotel room. She found all sorts of interesting things to play with.


Here's the packet of condoms she found.

Here is Natalie's new bag-of-stuff (diapers, snacks, etc...). We bought it in Shenzhen, China and when I asked for the price, they said "$350 HKD" and I eventually bought it for $90. It's a steal! It's great, very light and tons of pockets. Even Natalie now knows how to get snacks or her pacifier whenever she wants. As a bonus, it comes with a Kipling monkey toy on the side. Or, as Natalie would say, "uhb-kee".

Natalie posing with her new bag at the front door of our bedroom.

Merry Christmas!

Here is Natalie giving the best, biggest and brightest smile she can to all our family and friends. Have a wonderful Christmas and all the best in 2009!

Natalie the christmas ogre. This is the face she gives us when we ask her to "show me your teeth!"

These boots are made for walkin'

Our friend Katie came by the house the other day and took off her warm, fuzzy and comfortable suede boots. Natalie stumbled upon them and wanted to put them on. So we helped her into them. They were "low" boots on Katie (under the knee) but covered Natalie's entire legs. She stomped around the house in them for a while and refused to take them off.

See how happy Natalie is with "her" new boots.


Whoa, they're a little hard to walk in.


Natalie reaches a hand up to hold Katie's hand for support.


Here she is walking around with Katie. The boots are almost half her height. You can barely see her jeans any more.


Natalie posing with Katie and her boots. She was very cheerful and happy. Katie was awesome with her.

When we took the boots off, Natalie started crying and demanded we put them back on. We also gave her the pacifier and she kept playing in her new boots.

Pretty Flower Girl

This week, Natalie was a very pretty flower girl at Marian and Gerald's wedding. She wore a beautiful cream satin dress with a little cape and a crown of flowers. Below are some photos, with more to come (once we see the professional pics).

Our helper Suparti with Natalie. See how girly Natalie looks now? Also, Suparti is wonderful with Natalie and we couldn't have wished for someone better.


Auntie Elaine with Natalie on the steps of the church.