Austin Goes Out of Town

Austin will be going out of town with his mommy and daddy for a few days. See ya later!

The Grove, Beverly Hills

The Grove is a fairly new (3 yr old) trendy outdoor shopping center in Berverly Hills. Its main attractions are its singing fountain and a two storey trolley which carries people back and forth along the shopping center. Austin likes to go there just for the trolley ride. There's also a very big Barnes & Noble bookstore where Austin likes to read.

But when mommy took Austin and daddy there for the trolley ride, it was out of order. Everybody was very disappointed! Since there's no trolley, mommy found a picture from last summer to post.




This is a picture from the beginning of this summer. Coincidently, mommy's hairstyle and Austin's outfit were the same as last year! Spooky!



Anyway, Austin wasn't as disappointed as we expected, he enjoyed playing with his toy cars along the table rim. It looks like he can sit there for a while so mommy and daddy had a light lunch.




Here's the singing fountain. Austin doesn't care for the fountain, or anything related to water. He just wants to go to the bookstore!



Austin finally arrived the bookstore and read with daddy. Even if daddy's not there, he can sit by himself and read for hours!



Walking next to daddy, Austin looks so small, even though he's already 3 year old. Austin dare not walking off by himself; he always asks someone to hold his hand. So we never have to worry about him running off and getting lost!

Garbage Dreams!

Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings, Austin gets up bright and early to see the garbage truck and the garbage men at work! Mommy didn't think it's something to be proud of but he gets very excited and he gets the garbage men excited too because he waves at them like they're his heros! So now they wave at each other like best friends every time they see each other!

When grandma asks him what kind of car he wants to drive when he grows up, he says "garbage truck"! He even says "garbage truck" when he sleep talks!

The Promenade at Howard Hughes Center

This is a little shopping center around our place, with mainly restaurants, a movie theater, and just a few stores. It's main attraction is a fountain which lights up after dark and Austin likes it! There are also seats around the fountain where people can enjoy their food. But Austin doesn't seem to be interested because there were a two fire engines parked outside and he was distracted. There were no fire, just a few hungry fire fighters stopping by for food!

After looking at the fire engines for a while, mommy took Austin to the bookstore there. He sat and read by himself for nearly an hour. For a second, mommy couldn't find him because it looks like he was buried in books!

The Boy Who Likes to Be Alone

Austin sits infront of the condo, playing by himself (with leaves on the ground). Mommy asks if he wants to do anything, and he just sits and says that he wants to sit and play by himself. Most parents would be thrilled if their kids sit quietly and play by themselves. But I'd rather have a kid who plays in the mud, runs around like crazy, and who's not afraid to be adventurous!

Bedtime Ritual

Austin watches Teletubbies before going to bed every night. He can sit and watch by himself for hours but mommy only let him watch for an hour max. Mommy bought quite a few different Teletubbies tapes but he only watches one tape over and over again. When mommy plays the other tapes, he will ask mommy to change it until mommy gets it right!

This is the time of the day when mommy takes out her ibook and do her stuff!

Daddy's in Town

Austin's daddy is in town for the weekend, passing by on his way to Las Vegas for a Furniture Trade Show.

Austin and daddy at Marina Del Rey for Saturday brunch.


Reading with daddy.....


Playing with McDonald's toy while daddy feeds Austin.


Daddy will pass by LA again next weekend before going back to Taiwan!

Another Mommy-and-Me Class

Austin went to another day of mommy-and-me class. He still won't sit and eat at lunch time and doesn't want to sing and dance. He is only good playing by himself, with other crazy monkeys running around. While other kids are constantly moving from toy to toy, he can focus and play with only one or two toys for the entire free play hour. Is that's good or bad?! Sometimes, mommy likes to see him running around too but he just sit quietly and play or watch other kids play.


There is no outside playtime because the playground is under construction. But it's okay because Austin watched the forklift and the bulldozer at work and he's very excited! Mommy took a picture of him with a forklift at rest!

2nd Soccer Class

Austin didn't improve much in his second soccer class. First, he didn't want to get out of the car. Then he wanted mommy to hold him. When he finally got down on his feet, he looked for airplanes, play with the orange cones, watch other children play in the park (not kids in soccer class)...... When will he start kicking the ball?

Chocolate Milk

Austin doesn't drink cow milk; he only drinks mama's milk. But when grandma bought him a chocolate, it looks like he has never tasted anything so good! Yummmmmmy!

Cool Shades!

Austin doesn't like to wear his shades. One sunny day, mommy put these on him and took a picture quickly before he had time to take them off!

"Who Gets to Push Austin?"

Whenever Austin goes out with his cousins, they all want to push the stroller and they always fight about it! But who ever wins, mommy's glad that someone gets to push him instead of mommy!

Austin loves to ride his stroller so much that he never wants to walk anymore. But who wants to walk if they can sit and be pushed around?!

Let's All Get In Bed!

It should be "Let's All Jump Up and Down on Uncle Max's Super California King Size Mega Bouncy Bed!" But since they can only do that when Uncle Max's not there, they have to settle for rolling around the bed for now.

Fun in the Tub!

Austin loves to take baths and play in his little bathtub in Taiwan. But there's no little bathtub in LA, he's afraid of the big tub, and he cries when he takes showers. So grandma got him a storage box as his new tub. Now, he's back to his normal self and spends a long time playing in the tub again!

Samantha & Austin

Samantha likes to scare Austin by booing him whenever he runs around uncle Max's house. When Sam says "boo!", instead of crying, Austin hugs Sam. Sometimes he hugs her so hard that they roll around the floor. It's very fun watching them play this game. It's like watching a mild baby wrestling match!

Build-A-Bear Store

There is a store called "Build-A-Bear" in the mall which attracted Austin's attention. First, there're two big bears in the display windows waving at him, one on either sides of the entrance. Inside, you pick your own stuff animal "unstuffed", and there's a big transparant machine which will stuff your animal for you. It's similar to a popcorn machine at the movie theater but with cotton filling inside floating around, sort of like a big cotton candy machine. Austin loves to watch the machine in action.

After they stuff your animal, they ask you to put a heart in your stuffed animal and make you say all sorts of magic spells and do all kinds of silly moves, like rubbing it on your tummy and jump around....so your animal will become real! Then they sew it up!

The store also sells all kinds of outfits and accessories for your stuffed animal. You name it, they have it! There are shoes, backpacks, even school supplies for your animals so you will not leave the store with just a new pet, and you will always come back for more things that your pet NEEDS!

Thank god Austin's not interested in any of those things. He just likes to watch the machine and see the silly kids jump around and do funny things! We couldn't take any pictures inside because it's not allowed!

Kick Back, Relax, & Enjoy the Ride!

Austin loves to ride with mommy in our borrowed SUV from uncle Max. He just kick back, relax, have a drink, listen to his favorite Barney CD, and he will stay quiet for a very long time (so far, about an hour is the longest we've driven).

When he was a baby, he used to cry ALL the time in his carseat. He hated it, until he turned two! Now, he even asks mommy to drive him around so he can just sit back and watch cars drive by! And the only conversation we have in the car is about cars.

Let's go Shopping!

Austin always asks if he can go shopping with mama, then a bus ride and cruise in the "little red car". So every Saturday, mama takes Austin to the nearest mall by bus. Not many people ride the bus on weekend so he can take his own seat.

But we got to the mall too late this week and all the "little red car" strollers were out, so we got a "fire engine" (a two seater). Austin was very excited because it's very big and long (and heavy), and he's never rode in one before. He kept on turning back and looking at the back seat, then smiles at mom.

Mama can never shop because Austin doesn't let mama enter a store, unless it's a toy store. So mama can only push Austin and walk the mall back and forth and back and forth..... Mama can only take a break when he enjoys lunch at his favorite restaurant, McDonald's.

On the way out, we pass by a hat stand in a department store. There were some nice looking cowboy hats which mama tried on. But Austin didn't want to try on the cowboy hats; he picked out a beautiful, feathered, sequinned red hat to try on. Guess it looks nice with his skirt!

First Dental Check-Up

Mommy's under so much pressure lately because Austin crys all the time. And out of all days, mommy believes that this will be the which Austin will cry the hardest.....

After mommy-and-me class, Austin had his first dental visit to the pediatric dentist with his cousins. As expected, he cried on the way there, when he realize he's not going home. The night before, grandma mentioned that he's going to get his teeth looked at the next day before he can eat chocolate again and he said okay. But I guess it's totally different when the time comes.

He stopped crying when we mommy drove through a tunnel, a tunnel near the airport. He loves to look for airplanes in the sky. He started crying again when he saw no airplane, but stopped again when we spotted a gabage truck (that's what he wants to drive when he grows up). But when we made a turn, drove into a parking garage, and lost the garbage truck, more crying! Then stopped when we got out of the garage and he saw some cool cars parked on the street walking to the dental office. It was walking distance to Manhatten Beach and there were some funky looking cars!

There were books and toys at the waiting area so he was calm. He even toured the waiting area because it's really cool! The waiting area has a jungle theme, with animal mural on the wall. Even the waiting chairs has animal prints. There is also a game room next to the waiting room, divided by a fish tank wall. In the game room, there're 5-6 flat screen monitors with different video games set up. Austin was too small to play but looked around for a while!


He started crying again when it was his turn and mommy carried him into the examining room where there are big dental chairs for him to sit on. Naturally, he refused to sit and mommy had to hold him and walked around before the dentist came to him. The crying became louder when he had to sit on the chair, so mommy sat on the chair and he sat on mommy. Mommy had to force him down while the dentist looked into his mouth, for about 30 second. The dentist said that he has no cavities but needed to brush more.

The dentist also started him on floride toothpaste instead of baby toothpaste. Austin's dentist, Dr. Janelle Holden, invented some cool flavored toothpaste for kids, like chocolate ice cream, and vanilla, available at: http://www.tannerstastypaste.com. Mommy got some for Austin and it tastes very nice. Just hope Austin doesn't eat it!

The crying finally stopped when he walked back into the waiting room, and received a prize! Thank god it's only once a year and hope that he'll be better next year!

Mommy-and-Me Class Improvements

Austin had his 2nd mommy-and-me class and he wasn't as scared as he was last week. But he's still not perfect... he refused to eat his lunch and refuse to sing & dance. At least he doesn't cry anymore when other kids are around, and mommy steps away for a second!





During outside playing time, he still walks back and forth the low bridge. But he's willing to come down the low slide by himself! Yeah!

Popsicles

Austin enjoys a popsicle all by himself. Mommy and daddy shared popsicles with him before, but never has he eaten one all by himself! YUMMY!

Too Old to Play With?

Noah and Nicholas doesn't play with the same toys that Austin play anymore, so they pose no threat to him. They treat Austin like big brothers to a little baby. Noah likes to hold Austin all the time, and Nicholas lets Austin do whatever he wants with him, like throwing Cheerios down his mouth.

Even though Samantha still sometime play with the same stuff that Austin does because they're only 1.5 years apart, whenever Austin wants something she has, she will let him have it. She even tells other kids to give Austin whatever he wants before he crys. What a great big sister!

Pee Pee in the Toilet

Lately, Austin's been peepeeing in the toilet by himself, stanging up, twice a day. Once in the morning right after he wakes up, before mommy washes and changes him. Also before he takes a shower in the evening when mommy takes his diaper off. But during the day, Austin still refuse to use the toilet. And he hides when he poops, so no luck there!

No one has really taught him to pee in the toilet standing up. We've always taught him to sit and pee. Even the pictures in the books shows little boy use the toilet sitting down. Wonder where he learned?

Bubble Gun

Grandpa didn't want Austin to drool all over the floor when he tries to blow bubbles, so he bought him a bubble gun! Austin's very happy that the gun will blow big bubbles for him, and his face and shirt stays dry!

Soccer Class

Austin went to his soccer class and didn't cry. Yeah! But he hardly participated. He sat on mommy, on the grass, watching other kids play most of the time.

It's a mommy-and-me soccer class for 3-5 yr. olds. Austin looks like the smallest. There's a boy a head taller than him, and other smaller kids were there with their older brothers. There were 7 kids in the class and none needed their parents, besides Austin. When the teacher kicked the ball back and forth with the kids, Austin's still okay. But when the kids had to run around the field and kick by themselves, he didn't want to run. At the end of the class when the kids played a real game, he just sat and watched.

Mommy probably will drop this soccer class and the ceramic class. It's just too much for Austin!

Parent & Me Ceramics Class

Another day, another class, and Austin cried some more! Poor boy, this time, he cried the hardest and the longest.

The class is 45 minutes, in a small, dark, crowded, and rustic room, or a hut! Austin first refused to enter, then went inside and sat down for a few minutes to "draw" with mommy (filling in personal information on a piece of paper). After that, he cried some more because he wants to get out! Mommy grabbed the crying boy, ran out the door, and walked the crying boy for almost 10 minutes because he won't stop crying.

Then mommy told Austin that we have to go back inside because we have to tell the teacher we're going home. Otherwise, she will worry and wonder where we went. Austin finally stopped crying and went back with mommy before the project started.

There were only 5 three years olds in the class (with their parent) and the teacher showed everyone how to pinch a bowl using red clay. Austin touched the clay with one finger and started crying again because his finger got dirty, so mommy had to go wash it off! Then Austin sat and watched mommy and all the other kids do the project for the remaining 10 minutes of class.

He fell asleep right after he got home, even though it's way before his nap time! Too tired from crying! Of course no pictures were taken because mommy's too busy wiping off tears!

Taking Interest in Other Toys

Everyone thought besides cars, books about cars, and puzzles of cars, Austin wouldn't give anything else a second look. But when Austin saw his cousins playing with robots violently, and started to play with robots too, knocking them down!




Also, when mommy took Austin to a toys store in the mall, Austin started playing with a very big doll house, almost as big as him, and started putting furnitures inside the house, bed, chairs, and even dolls!

Sing, Dance & Play Class

Mommy is under so much stress lately, worrying about Austin crying, because he doesn't want to go to class. Mommy even had him practice dancing with Samantha the day before going to his Sing, Dance and Play class so he doesn't get scared.

Well, in the morning, when mommy asked Austin if he wants to go to school, he said yes. But when we got there, he started crying as we enter the building, and cried even harder when we walked into the classroom. Mommy had to drag him out so he doesn't disturb the class. Mommy told him if he doesn't stop crying, mommy will take him home and lock him in the bathroom. But if he stops crying, goes inside and listen to the teacher sing, mommy will buy him chocolat after class. So finally, Austin agreed to go back inside the classroom with mommy!

The class is 45 minutes of singing, dancing, and playing for 0-4 year olds. There were less than 10 kids with their mommies sitting in a circle on the exercise mat on the floor. While the teacher is singing, all babies are either crawling around or running around. Only Austin sits on mommy and paid full attention to the teacher. We sang and danced while sitting, standing, and then played some concussion instruments. It's a very fun class and Austin told mommy after class that he liked it. But who knows if he'll cry again?

Didn't have time to take any pictures in class because everyone's busy singing, dancing, and playing! Here's a picture of Samantha and Austin practicing.

Little Chicken Boy!

This summer, Austin refuse to get in the pool! He's satisfied with just sitting by the pool, sticking his hands and feet inside it! He starts to cry as soon as mommy starts to change him into his swim diaper. Wonder what happened?!



Last year, when he was 2, he was already swimming by himself (with a lifesaver, of course). Mommy included a picture of him last summer, before he became the Little Chicken Boy!

Little Park

There's a little playground at our complex. Austin likes to play there because no one's ever around.

Mommy-and-Me Class

Austin went to his first mommy-and-me class this summer (2-3 yr.old). He went last summer too (1-2yr. old). He cried at home because he didn't want to go to school! But when he got there, he was okay. The first hour was free play; the kids just play with the school toys or read books. There are about 12-15 toddlers in the class, with their mommies. Most kids were running around, rolling on the floor, destroying toys..... and Austin just sat quietly and watched.

The first 15 minutes of the second hour, it's snack time. Austin sat quietly and ate his snack while the other kids are still running around. And then the next 15 minutes is singing and story telling time where the kids sing and dance with the teacher, then the teacher tells a short story. The other kids ran around and rolled on the floor some more. Austin just sat and watched some more.

The last 30 minutes is outside time. The kids are free to play on the playground outside. All the kids climbed up and down, Austin just walked back and forth for the entire 30 minutes. This is the only time it's safe to take out mommy's camera. Mommy was going to take some pictures inside but the kids were playing with mommy's watch and other mom's cel phone and whatever they see. So mommy was afraid to take her camera out! Maybe next time!

Bad, Bad, Austin!

Mommy took Austin to the park with his cousins. We went in the late morning so there were a lot of kids playing. Austin decided that he wants the rides all to himself and wants other kids to leave, then started crying. So mommy grabbed screaming Austin and left the park.

After Austin calmed down, mommy took the kids to Buger King for lunch and ordered kids meal (with toys) for everyone. Austin decided that he wants all the toys, and when mommy said "no", he started crying again. So mommy grabbed screaming Austin again and went home. He screamed and kicked all the way home!

After we got home, mommy threw Austin in the bathroom (with night-light on) and shut the door. It's the first time Austin ever gets punished in his entire life time. Austin screamed and cried and kicked in the bathroom for almost 30 minutes. Mommy wouldn't let him out because he wouldn't calm down and keeps on screaming that he wants ALL the toys. Mommy finally went inside after he stopped crying and nursed him and told him that he needs to SHARE.

The conclusion is: Austin is good playing by himself, and bad around a crowd of kids. So when he starts school, there will be a lot of crying and screaming!!

Play at Jack's

Austin went to Jack's birthday party with his cousins. Jack's a little boy who just turned 3, five days younger than Austin. Jack's mom invited Austin's cousins for a birthday party and Austin tagged along.

Most of the time, the little kids played on their own while the big kids played outside. But there were a few moments where Samantha, Jack, and Austin played in harmony, thank God! Then Sam & Jack left to play outside too. Austin didn't want to leave Jack's room because Jack had a ton of toy cars and books with cars which Austin LOVES! It turns out that Austin and Jack have the same interests, Thomas, Bob the Builder, and cars, cars, cars!!!

On the way home, Austin asked if he can play at Jack's again!

Lunch at Marina Del Rey

Mommy took grandma, grandpa, and Austin to grandma's favorite restaurant, Souplantation, at Marina Del Rey. Austin was a very good boy and sat and played the entire 1.5 hours. He had croutons, crackers, crunchy noddles, fruit punch, and ice cream for lunch. But who cares as long as he sits still!

After everyone's finished, he played with ice cubes for another 30 minutes until they all melted, he started crying, and then we left!

Happy 4th of July!

On July, 4th, Austin went to see the Westchester Parade, near Uncle Max's house, at LMU (Loyola Marymount University). Uncle Max, Noah, and Nicholas were in the parade too; they're the Indian Guides. Austin saw fire engines, motocycles, race car, boat, trucks, dancing horses, marching band, clowns doing tricks, people singing and dancing, and lots more..... He was very excited! But he refuse to sit on the grass or the blanket like everyone else, so he sat on mommy's lap throughout the entire parade (for about 1.5 hours). Mommy's camera's battery died so mommy just sat and enjoyed the parade. Hopefully, grandpa and Auntie May will share the pictures they took at the parade.







In the evening, grandma, grandpa, and mommy took Austin to see the firework show. Because there were no tall buildings around, we were able to see and hear it right outside our condo even though it was far away. But the popping sound was so loud that Austin got scared and wanted to go home, so we missed the firework!

Singing for Peanuts

Grandparent's friends, Mr./Mrs. Chen and Kuo-Ching came for a visit. Everyone was eating peanuts and Austin wanted some too! But we didn't want him to have too much. So for every song he sang, he gets ONE peanut. He must have sang more than 10 songs. It's the first time he had to work for his food!

Austin & Grandparents

Trying to take a decent picture of Austin and grandparents... but it's just too hard! Austin just keeps on moving!

Potty Training

Austin is already 3 and still insists on peepeeing and poopooing in his diaper. So mommy decided to trick him to sit on the toilet by showing him a toy catalog. But when Austin saw the wonderful toys inside and wanted mommy to buy this and that, and mommy said "no!", Austin started to cry!

Later on, he peepee and poopoo in his diaper again!

Austin Turns 3!

Austin turns 3 year old! Mommy invited his cousins over and threw a little party! The first thing Austin wanted to do after the guests arrived is to open the presents! And his entire day was spent next to his new Thomas & Friends! The only time he left his Thomas & Friends was to blow out the candle on his car shaped ice cream cake that mommy has made him, and then to take a nap!

Mommy didn't get a chance to take a candle blowing picture. It's in grandpa's camera!