New year
Another year, another holiday and reason to dress you up in your traditional dress. Here you are in your gold Chinese qi pao and your pink Vietnamese ao dai. Your yeye is Chinese and your ngoai is half Vietnamese and Chinese so we like to celebrate both sides.
Mama Lou
Elle, this is your MamaLou. She was your dad’s dad’s mom…or your great grand mother on your dad’s side. She passed away on November 30th in her sleep at the ripe age of 93. We are so fortunate that you were able to meet her and at least let her meet you and try to get to know you.
In the short time that your mommy got to know MamaLou, the few things I absolutely know about her is that she LOVED your daddy so much (as well as all your daddy’s brothers and sisters.) Everytime we came to visit, she was so happy to see us. She would always talk about your dad’s proclivity towards numbers and this math game that she would play with him after school. She would watch him when your daddy was young and loved to teach him things. Education was very important to her and she will be happy to know that you love to learn things just like your daddy.
Even though she is gone and you are two at the time, we hope there will be little things from her that you will have…like this memory of her first time meeting you. It was a few days after her 92 birthday and we came to let you two hang out. She loved you and we hope if anything, you know that. Rest in peace MamaLou.
Two Much Fun!
Elle, you turned the grand age of TWO on October 1st, 2012. In order to make sure you had a proper celebration (and probably your last solo adolencent birthday party), we had it a week early since your mom was at 38 weeks preggo with your little brother. We felt that you were old enough to know what a birthday entails and didn’t want you to be without a party in case little bro came early (which he did NOT, btw…but he gave you the early birthday present of TWO birthday celebrations so you can thank him later).
On your party, we had a western theme because you are so into Jesse from Toy Story and horses. We considered it “simple” because we didn’t make crazy types of food. We stuck with chili, chicken, hot dogs, pork BBQ sliders, beans, mac and cheese and then our array of cookies, pies, smore pops, and cake for dessert. Basically your family didn’t make macarons or things that were too complicated…really we need to learn what “simple” is. Regardless, we love you and wanted to make your party from the heart. Your granny CC even brought haybales and a saddle to make the backyard look authentic :) You had a bunch of family and friends come by and you were ELATED about the bounce house. Your party was on a scorching 95 degree afternoon and you sweated your little head off bouncing every chance you got in that bounce house…and loved every second of it.
As for your real birthday, your yeye and ngoai came over in the morning and we took you to the mall to see ducks and turtles. They also bought you an ice cream cone, popcorn and Jesse PJs. You were SO excited. That night, you had pizza and a brownie sundae with your Yeye, Ngoai, Uncle Johnny, Aunt Julia, mommy and daddy at Fireside pies. You played with the little pumpkins and really enjoyed the whole day.
We hope you might remember this birthday and not be too bitter that you’ll probably share all your other birthdays with your little brother. At least know that we cared enough to give you one more last hurrah on your own. Here’s to many more birthdays!
Reading
We’ve read this book OVER and OVER since you’ve had it because it’s about finding mommy. One day you just decided you were going to read it to me. Granted “reading” is overstating what you’re doing, but memorization is the first step to full fledged reading. Here you read the last few pages of the book for me and then tell me you love your Dada, Yeye, Julia, Johnny, Ngoai, and dog. Overall, it’s a sweet moment caught on my phone. I’ll go ahead and pretend that you forgot to say you loved mama too ;)
July in CA
We took our last 3 member family trip in July of 2012. It was to see your Ba Co Ngoai (great grandmother) for her birthday and see the CA cousins before we were going to be travel-free once little bro shows up.
Loss
Elle, there are moments in our lifetime that our resolve and emotions are tested at times of great loss. When we lose someone in our lives that we love, it takes great strength and courage to make it through and recognize the time you have on this Earth is precious. I hope you only have to experience this a few times in your long, fruitful life. Yesterday we lost our family member, our boston terrier Major. Words cannot describe my grief. He was our first “baby.”
Your dad and I got him at a farm in Granbury, TX in 2008. We had been looking for a dog for a while and I remember us finding a sign and driving towards this farm. There were about 20 dachshund and boston terrier puppies running around with their parents. They were are all so adorable. There was this one little guy with one black spot on his head and eye that peered out from his siblings. He was unique, yet friendly and cautious enough for us to take notice amongst all the black and white puppies. He came to us and then scampered under a crate where he watched me with his apple-shaped head. The lady told me that it was unusual to have a boston with those markings and it meant he was smart. I’m sure she was pulling my leg, but she didn’t need to sell him. Eventually he came out to me and played with us…he was our dog. We took him home that day and named him Major. Your dad says it was because of his ranking in the house. I say it was after one of my favorite UT QBs and how his head was shaped like an apple.
We lived in Fort Worth where I worked as a consultant and your dad was getting his MBA at TCU. We rented this quaint little home where we built a dog ramp and door through the living room window so we could train him. We also took him to training school as a family to teach him some basics. Was there any doubt he graduated at the top of his class? He was a smart puppy. He also was very loving, as when I was on the road during the week, he would lay in your dad’s lap while he studied and kept him company. Some nights, he would whine and your dad would have to put his foot in the crate next to the bed, sleeping with one foot off of the bed so Major would not cry. He was your dad’s first experience with a “crying infant at night.”
Elle, I have cried more hours than I have not in the last 12. We came home(actually Julia’s house since we’re in the middle of moving) from breakfast and you fell asleep in the car. As always, Major came out to greet us. You were asleep, so I carried you into the house and was trying to get ready for a conference call for work. In all my haste to get you down to nap and get on my call, I didn’t notice he wasn’t around…until it was too late. It started raining and when I noticed he wasn’t running around and when I went to call for him, I didn’t see his joker-like smile or hear his collar. I went outside to look for him and it was raining. I called for him. I hoped someone took him inside and called your dad whose number was on his collar. I called your dad and he said no one had. Once the rain subsided, I got into the car and as I went to put you in the car, I was horrified to see Major’s back legs sticking out of the backseat. Instead of following us into the house again when we went in, Major slipped into the car. Rigor had already set in. I tried to get him out, but it was too late. Tears started immediately as I checked to see if there was anything I could do. Heatstroke had taken him and he was gone. I sat on the front porch and cried for hours as I waited for your dad and auntie Julia to come home.
I cannot tell you the guilt that hit me at that moment as well as the utter feeling of loss and sadness I had for our puppy. Why didn’t I just double check the car? Why didn’t I think to call him in again? What kind of person am I to accidentally lock my poor puppy in a car in Texas? I then start thinking about how you ask for Major at bed every night and call our “Mabor!” so he can sleep on the floor next to you and how when your dad gets home you ask for his “lees” to go for a walk and you always make sure you have your hat and his ball. Then we leave and put him in his crate at home, how you always want to give him a “teet” for being a good boy. He was a good boy. I am so saddened by the fact you have lost a childhood friend…really a sibling and playmate. He let you do almost anything to him and was patient with you even if it was annoying…like a good older brother should. He never bit you or showed you any aggression even though you “took his place” in the house as top dog at birth. He loved you…and I was careless and now he’s gone.
We buried him in the backyard of your auntie Julia’s house because that’s where we are while we are moving out of our home and looking for a new one. Your yeye, ngoai, aunt Julia, uncle Johnny, mom and dad were there. We put him on his bed, with his favorite toys and you put in a tennis ball. We said our good byes and you said “nigh-night” to our friend as I told you that that was where he was going to sleep from now on. You blew him kisses and as we put dirt over his body, you also put some on top of him too to keep him warm. Afterwards, your ye ye got some incense and we performed a little Buddhist ritual for him…just like we would do with any other family member. Ye ye says it’s so his spirit will be free. I hope that’s so. I apologized profusely to Major and begged him to forgive me for being so absent-minded. I only hope he does…as it will take me time to do so myself. Your dad tells me with being pregnant with your brother, taking care of you, working, and moving that I had a lot on my mind and that people make mistakes everyday, but I’m not quite sure I will recover completely from this one.
I don’t know what to do or say at this point except to tell you how sorry I am Elle. I don’t know if you’ll remember Major when you get older, but at this juncture of your life, he was very much a part of your every day. I know I will never forget this little guy and his joker-smile, endless fervor for fetching, loving personality, and overall greatness as a pet and family member. I have tons of little videos of you and him having a blast. From you CRACKING UP at his kisses from a very young age, to you waking up and saying good morning to him. Just like in this post: http://elleparker.tumblr.com/post/8212714138/major-you-have-a-friend-in-a-three-year-old It makes me so sad to think that won’t happen every morning. I keep hoping to hear his collar or see his smile. I even would tolerate one of his licking fits or throw the ball 100 times for him, but now we have memories…great ones of a fantastic dog.
Like I said at the beginning of this, loss is something we all have to deal with at some point of our lives. Major’s passing was too sudden and early. Those are always the most difficult…especially when guilt is involved. Time will get us through this and his memory will live on. Elle, I hope you and your brother will have a dog just as great as he is. It will probably take a while for your mom to be ready for another dog, but you two will eventually get one and we will tell that one about Major and how he has some big paws to live up to and love that dog as much as Major. Until then, we will watch videos on my phone as you laugh at yourself and I will probably shed a few tears.
Rest in peace, dear friend. Major, I’m so sorry and hope you knew how much we appreciated and loved you. As you would say, Elle “Good dog. Good Mabor. Wuv you. Nigh-Night.”
Haircut- June 6th
You barely had hair your first year of life. You finally got to a point that it required some professional help. Basically we went to trim your bangs and the back so as it grew out, it would do so evenly.
You were NOT impressed. Didn’t cry, but didn’t really enjoy it either. Just sat there and didn’t want to stay still. You didn’t even like the toy part afterward. One of these days you’ll appreciate the salon experience of getting your hair done and not worrying about it the rest of the day :) Although you’ll probably still not like the price…$20 for your trim today. Your mom was not impressed with that part.
BIG SISTER
Elle, we knew you were going to be a big sister in February this year, but didn’t know if you’d have a little sister or brother. We decided that we should make that discovery process fun for you and our friends and family by throwing a little “gender reveal” party for a few friends and family.
We chose June 2nd as the date to do so as it is a special date in your parent’s lives. It was our first date in 2005 as well as the day your dad proposed in 2007. It is full of love and a perfect day to celebrate the newest addition to our family.
We went to doctor earlier that week to get a sonogram, which is a picture of your mom’s uterus where the baby lives. At this stage of your sibling’s development (around 20 weeks), you can tell whether or not they have girl or boy parts. We asked the technician to not show it to us and print out the photos to be put in a sealed envelope. She was happy to oblige. We let you hold on to that secret for a while. We figured the secret was safe with you ;)
Your dad and I made a giant box that said “Lil Phuong or Lil Jack” and made a lid. We took the envelope to the florist and asked them to look in the sealed envelope and put either pink or blue balloons in it; this way even your parents were surprised.
When we were ready to open the box, we gathered everyone outside and unwrapped the giant box to see…BLUE BALLOONS! That meant a little brother. Your mom was super surprised as it’s a rarity in our family to have boys.
So there you have it…we’ll have a little boy joining us around early October. Little brothers are fun, Elle. Your mom has one…your uncle Johnny. I think you’ll agree he’s super fun. I’m sure if you talk to him, he can give you pointers on how a big sister should treat a little brother. We’ll also take your suggestions for names, but as for right now your suggestion is “dog.” I’m thinking he won’t appreciate that as he gets older, but maybe it can be your nickname. Here’s to big sisters and their little brothers.
MAY
This was a busy month for you. You had so much going on.
Firstly, Sophie was styaing with her GA this month while her parents were moving from Colorado to California, so we played with her quite a bit. You went to the mall, had lunches, went swimming and even took your first road trip together to Austin. Your mom had to go for a work event and your cousins accompanied you for the ride. In Austin we stayed in a hotel and watched shows, played games, had slumber parties, we visited friends, went to the park, the kids museum, and ate all sorts of fun stuff…it was glorious.
You also got a power wheel car this month. This is an automated toy car you ride in. You actually got two. Your ye ye was set on getting you one and we found a used one. It is the giant Jeep that has a radio and seatbelts meant for two. You put Maxwell and Zoey in it immediately. Although you can’t push the gas, you love steering and playing with the radio. Ye ye tried to make the pedal longer for you, but it wasn’t happening. So in the meantime, Julia and short taller folks like Sophie can drive you around. Or we push you.
Then there’s the momentous crib escape. It was Memorial Day. Your dad and I woke up to the sounds of your plump little feet running to our room in the morning. We both woke up in surprise that you were standing in our doorway saying “Mama? Dada?” I immediately took you back to your room and put you back in your crib (after checking for any injuries) and asked you to get out. You stood on your pillow, hiked your leg over the rail, and slowly got the rest of your body over while you lowered yourself down with your arms. It was amazing. It was controlled and you were so proud of yourself. This of course was the end of your jail sentence. Your dad took the rail down immediately and we put up the low toddler rail.
So overall, it was a busy month. You are putting more words together and creating a larger vocabulary. You know your letters and have started to count and recognize numbers. You sing songs and play with the ipad. It’s a fun time. I can’t wait to see what you do next month.
13-18 Months
SURPRISE! Your mom actually got your video done DURING your 18th month! It’s amazing what a little planning and prep work will do for a big project. Take note that with a plan, the proper resources, and some time, a project can be accomplished faster than without.
This montage is to “We are Young” because it’s a pretty popular song on the radio and you actually try to sing the chorus while you’re dancing to it. Please don’t mind the smoking, drinking and bad relationship choice references, although I’m sure you know what they’re talking about at some point, I’d rather preface this with telling you I don’t condone that behavior early in your youth…you have plenty of time for drinking later and hopefully NO time for smoking and bad relationships. (I’m starting to second guess this song choice…but at least it has a good beat and fun chorus)
The important message is in the chorus…use your youth to your advantage. Youth is fleeting. It’s the only time you have tons of energy, your whole future ahead of you, and fewer responsibilities than you will as an adult. Use this time wisely. Take advantage of the opportunities to be successful and happy and be careful of activities and choices that will hinder you from attaining your goals and dreams. Things you do at this age can make or break your future and it’s important to have fun, but make sure you don’t ruin your chances at dreams you have or will have.
