Pooped

Last weekend C-bao went south to hang out at Uncle Calvin's, where she was also joined by Aunt Christina. Predictably the day was filled with zany activities, including trying out Uncle Calvin's home weightlifting system and also spending some time on the basketball court playing 3-on-3 (where she was smacked in the head more than a few times by the ball coming in from unfortunate angles). 

While not normally one to zonk out mid-afternoon, by 5 p.m. our little one was one tired little puppy. Here she is dozing away, though still assuming a feisty boxing position with hands rolled up into fists, ready to take on the next challenger.

"Oh yeah? Well bring it on, I say!...zzz..."

Music Class

One thing C-bao has learned to LOVE is her weekly music class down by the Creativity Museum downtown.

C-Pop got a glimpse over the past weekend when C-bao decided to stop by to check out the Saturday class. While it wasn't her usual weekday routine, and her favorite teacher, "Ms. Mo," wasn't present, she still managed to get a good session out of it - drumming, singing, clapping and throwing colorful handkerchiefs.

While she was at it, she also ran upstairs to show C-Pop the karaoke machine. Along with sister K-bao, she tried out both the Lion King's Be Prepared - which she was totally unprepared to sing - as well as the always popular and entirely overdone Let It Go.

Hop

C-bao prefers not to walk if alternatives like hopping, skipping, jumping and swinging exist.

With a boost from Aunt Carol

Horror Hike

C-bao went on a hike in the Presidio yesterday with C-Pop.

"Tell me a story, Pop," she said while walking. Our little girl has been into fairy tales recently, and generally asks for stories with witches and wolves.

Like a teenager seeking a thrill from a horror movie, C-bao listens to these plot lines - involving either the wicked witch or the hungry wolf, or both - with both fascination and dread, and then generally hops into C-Pop's arms in case any of the fictional characters decide to step into the real world. Yesterday was no exception.

Here she is scanning the dark forest with suspicion. "Is there a wolf behind that tree? What about that one?"

Happy Mother's Day

On this Mother's Day, C-bao stops to give a big Thank You to C-Mum for all of her love, sacrifices and commitment over the last almost-three years. Thank you Mum!

"I'll take my mum over chocolate cake any day!...or at least on Fridays"

Hand Stand

C-bao constantly sees sister K-bao running around the house doing cartwheels and other gymnast moves.

Not one to back down from a challenge, C-bao has been trying out some of the moves herself. C-Pop caught her attempting a handstand the other day against the couch. It took her a little while but eventually she got those little feet above the arm rest.

"Quick Dad! Take a picture!"

Negotiations

In the early days, C-bao's interactions of give-and-take with older sister K-bao were relatively one-sided, particularly given the natural business proclivities of her sister. In general, she typically found herself either sweet-talked or strong-armed into handing over whatever it was that was the subject of discussion.

These days, C-bao is increasingly holding her own. In the difficult negotiations around the coveted Magnatiles, for example, C-Pop observed C-bao using the following lines effectively:

1. "Let me think about it." (this she repeats several times to buy time)
2. "Nope"

Of course, as her sister's teachers have noted, K-bao can be "endlessly persuasive" when it comes to her agenda, and C-bao soon found herself cooperating anyway. Of course, in the end nature won out - C-bao had to drop everything anyway in order to make a quick run to the bathroom!