Happy Holidays

Dear Elizabeth,

Today is Valentine’s Day, and it’s the last day of this year’s long Chinese/Lunar New Year break, which was a whopping nine days this year. It ended up being 10 for me, though, as Friday is my usual day off—meaning we got to start a day earlier than most.

I had plans to get a lot done over the break, including this letter, yet here I am at the very end still playing catch-up. This is the life of a parent—busy, busy, busy; however, I wouldn’t want it any other way. So this is going to be a long read and will include tons of photos taken over the past several weeks.

The new-year break was great. We got a lot of sleep, played a lot, ate really well. Overall, it was 10 days of mostly laid-back family time, with a couple trips into Taipei to see friends, and one day of you and Selina hanging out with her big family—getting to see all of those great-aunts and -uncles who adore you so much; all the cousins, and even getting to meet a few new ones—and a lot of fine dining out.

We ended up celebrating Valentine’s a day early due to a last-minute change of plans with some friends who were planning on visiting. That was my getting up early to make a yummy breakfast of cheddar scrambled eggs and homemade berry muffins. I also surprised your mother with a Swarovski necklace. It’s so hard to believe how fast time is passing. Only a year ago we celebrated our first V’Day together.

So to recap what has gone on lately…

Shortly before the holiday break, we stopped over to visit and have dinner with Little Uncle (小舅) and his family. Here you are with Selina’s youngest cousin, who according to Google is your first cousin once removed. We so far have kept it simple, teaching you to call him 哥哥—Chinese for “elder brother.” (This is one of your more recent and favorite words to say, and you use it with nearly everyone, but have shown that you know who it really applies to.)

We also had another play date with Yo-yo and his parents, this time going to Bear’s World in Taipei, which so far has proven to be the coolest play place around. There’s so much to do there that you two little ones were pretty much on your own to play, run around, and us four big people got to relax a bit, chat, and just enjoy watching you do what you do best.

You really enjoyed the sand box, so much that we couldn’t get you to budge even when there was singing and dancing going on just outside the room.

Afterward, we walked to Voodoo Doughnut for a good ol’ American-style sugar fix.

Remember that cold spell that I mentioned in the last letter? Well, it was something very worthy of mention. In fact, at least here in the north, almost everywhere saw snow. It didn’t stick except in the higher places, but even in the city we saw flakes dropping. For a subtropical/tropical island, that sort of thing turns a nationwide fiesta. At home, though, it meant having the heaters cranked most of the time, and venturing out very little. But we did a little use of our dusty winter wear.

Back to more recent days…

We often go play at the tiny park just across from our apartment complex. Your two favorite things to do there are zoom down the slide, usually face-first, and pick up fallen leaves. You have shown to be fascinated with most everything around you, but leaves seem to be a particular object that you’ve taken to. Here you are proudly toting them around the playground.

Watermelon still seems to be one of your favorite foods. Well, at least when we go out for hot pot. That’s one thing you seem to not be able to get enough of.

And a few days ago I gave you a whole egg—you’ve been rather assertive in establishing independence at eating time. Look how much you enjoyed that!

Our final trip out for this CNY holiday was nearby to Goat World, a small farm in Zhongli. Considering your fascination with animals, it’s fair to say you had a lot of fun, and you didn’t mind the smells one bit. One of your most enjoyable experiences was clearly feeding the goats.

A few more small updates on developmental milestones: You have continued progressing in becoming more and more vocal, adding a whole sort of new sounds. You’ve picked the aforementioned 哥哥, and use it quite liberally, and “mama” has become more and more pronounced. Following our constant correcting of calling other little girls 姐姐 (translation: elder sister), you’ve managed to spit that out a few times. You’ve learned to point to yourself and say 寶寶 (Chinese for “baby”), and do the same when we say “baby,” as well as your names, Elizabeth and 懿君. You have also added a few signs to your baby-signing repertoire: those for “diaper,” “change diaper,” “stop” and “no more.”

I don’t know where you stand in terms of the average for your age, but you’re already wearing 2T clothes, so we’re going to be investing in a lot of new clothes this coming spring and summer. And you have the appetite to show for it.

So, to close, it’s been far too long, and I’m sorry I haven’t been able to keep in touch as often as I’d like. The truth is we’ve been having way too much fun. And you’re growing so, so fast. (Your mother, on the other hand, continues to get younger.)

I have to take advantage of every moment I can to be there beside you, being a part of the adorable little girl you’re all too quickly blossoming into.

I’m blessed, beyond words, with the sweetest two valentines a man could ask for, and I couldn’t be any happier with what life has handed me.

Love,

Dad

Baby Steps

My dearest Elizabeth,

You’ve shown for several weeks already that you have what it takes to walk, but you’ve gotten so good at crawling that you just haven’t bothered to give walking much of a try. That is, until just these past few days. Yesterday, while we were playing together at Isabella’s House, you stood up, unassisted, far from anything to hold onto, and took four or five steps forward. They were slow, measured steps, for sure, but undeniably the beginning of a paradigm shift in your development, and the first I’ve personally witnessed of you actually making a true attempt at going two-legged.

It’s the first of November, which means cooler weather and no more prancing around naked for you. This is also fun for your mother and me as we get to dress you up and make sheep’s eyes at how adorable you are in all your little outfits. This also means that we’re just days from your first birthday.

It also means more of one of my favorite foods in Taiwan–hot pot. Even you have enjoyed the times we’ve taken you there. The last time, just last week, you filled up on watermelon.

There was no swimming class this Friday, and luckily we managed to fit in an extra class on Monday, to make up for two that we lost in the summer due to typhoons. While we were waiting for Mom to get changed, you and I took a few selfies.

Yesterday you and Selina rode into Taipei with me since I had only one class, and we made a day of it. We made a stop at work to show you off, and you spent a few minutes getting all sorts of love from my student, Meggy.

While I was in class, you and Mom checked out and played at Isabella’s House.

Then we headed to the ICRT Tianmu Halloween Party at the Tianmu Sports Park. That was crazy–people everywhere. The weather pretty much sucked, but it was still a lot of fun seeing all those costumes. This had to be the most baby-/kid-populated event in Taiwan ever.

While we were there, we we approached by a woman who asked to shoot pictures of you. And what a treat these are! Here are a few of them–our favorites.

 

She also asked Selina if we would like to have her shoot more photos of you. Apparently, you wooed her. So we will likely get in touch the next time we all go into Taipei together and have some free time.

Tomorrow we are going to check out a new place close to home, in Zhongli. It’s another kid-themed place, supposedly filled with all sorts of games and playstuff, including slides, a ball room, and more. I’m sure you’ll see a lot of pictures from that soon.

Love,

Dad