Oh Mama!

I was watching the first prime-time presidential address one night (I tivo'ed it) and I decided to teach John about presidents. I pointed to the TV and I said, "John, do you know who that is?" and he said 'its OH Mama". I said, that's our new president, President Obama. and John said "President Omama" Now he says it whenever he sees Obama on TV.

saying "eeeeeee"

John was excited tonight when Daddy came home from work. He has been getting more anxious about us going to work/school lately, I guess because we are working 5 days a week again. I stayed home with John and Charles went to work.
When Charles came back, John started running around the house. He was running back and forth across the length of the living room yelling "eeeeeeh! eeeeeeh!"
It was getting annoying so I stopped John and said "What are you doing? (angry tone of voice)"
and John replied " saying "eeee." Then he went upstairs.
Charles said to me well, ask a stupid question...

#2's first photos!

We went in for our first gynecological checkup Monday. The blood work I took two weeks ago came out normal, including some screening tests for genetic problems. They took an ultrasound in the office, so its not that clear. I'll post the image when I get it scanned. The nurse measured the length of the embryo and it appears younger than my last menstrual period would predict by about one week. So, I must have conceived toward the end of my cycle, rather than the middle. The new due date is then August 23, 2009.

My next appointment is in 6 weeks, and they will test my blood again, this time for downs syndrome and neural tube problems in the fetus. I will also be tested for blood sugar.

March 29th, a Sunday, is my next ultrasound. This is the detailed one done with a special machine, and will hopefully show the gender.

Croup? Like for Chickens?

For the past week John has been sick. He has had a sore throat, very nasty thick nasal drip and a deep barking cough. The cold seems stuck in his larynx, giving John a deep raspy voice. The internet tells me this is croup. He's getting better now, but I had to cancel a playdate with Lily last Saturday, which disappointed John (and Lily). The cough was especially bad at night. For the first two night, it would scare him and he'd cry and then his cough would get even worse. Now he says Go away cough! Go away snots! He can blow his own nose now, but he doesn't like it.

Free day at the Academy of Sciences (is not worth the money)

This last Wednesday, we tried to get up early and go to the new California Academy of Science, which has been under construction for the past 5 years and just recently opened up. Its a new eco building, with a green roof, as you can see. Admission is $25 and $12 for children so we thought we would go on the once a month free day. It seems everyone in the Bay Area also wanted to not pay $25, as there was a line around the building and down the park, out of golden gate and down the road. We never did find the end of the line. It was literally the worst line I've ever seen.
We had already bundled ourselves and John up and drove down, paying bridge and parking, so we went the the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park instead. John ran around a lot and made friends with a girl his age. They tore around together and climbed inside the Zen Rock Garden exhibit, throwing rocks. That got John a time out and he had a temper tantrum (dad's note: the girl's mom and I watched them walk up a flight of stairs, and we started following them. When we got to the top of the steps they were GONE! We couldn't believe how fast they were! Finally after about 2-3 mins. we found them behind the barrier, as mom noted)
.

John liked climbing this bridge. He climbed it 3 times, with only minimal help from dad (mostly spotting to make sure he didn't fall).
After a few hours, it was time to go home. John had a nap to take and Charles and I had to go to work.
Next time I decide to go to the Academy, I'll plan to pay!

Winter Fairyland

We went to the special winter Fairyland. They decorated the place for Christmas, and were open until 7pm. They had Santa and a dwarf elf there to see for free (well, for the price of admission). It was waaayy better than some sleazy mall Santa visit. There was plenty to play and climb on, plus some large slides, tame baby rides, and animals to look at.

John remembered this dragon from our visit on Halloween and ran to it saying hi dragon! he has a long serpentine body with bumps to sit on and climb on.

This guy blows bubbles and the babies like to stand under him and catch bubbles. He's toward the entrance, near the long dragon.

We looked at all the pretty lights and ran around and rode some rides, but John wouldn't even enter the chapel where Santa was posted. He's sick of churches. when we made him go in, he cried No Santa, and drooped to the floor and crawled backward out the door, I guess so he wouldn't attract attention from "the Claus"


(I stole this photo off the internet, the dragonhead and bubble guy on mushroom too.)


He eventually had a long fit (missed his nap) and it was very very cold out (48 degrees or so). John finally calmed down and we saw one of the famous puppet shows. He like it, but at the end tried to run up and catch the "dolls."

We stuck it out to the end and John danced with some of the "animals"(people in costume) but refused to get too close or shake their hand. He wouldn't get near Santa. Oh well, next year.


Proud tradition of scary Santa...

more fairyland

these dark pictures are inside the little Children's Chapel, which was decorated for Christmas. Santa was sitting in here on the right of the fireplace, but John wouldn't go near him. I took these photos after the Red Demon left and the chapel was left empty.

There were giant paper flowers hanging from the ceiling.

They had an Indian Diwali festival room too, as well as a Hanukkah display. the Diwali room was beautiful and smelled like exotic spices. The Hanukkah display was kinda lame. Wish I got a picture of them as well, but it was hard keeping up with John

inside Meistro the Whale's mouth. There is a fish aquarium down there.

here is John in the big sandbox they have