Cool Relatives

While in Taipei, C-bao got to hang out with her musician Aunt and Uncle, The Lighters, quite a bit. Xiao Goo-Goo and Shu-Shu distinguish themselves by being quite a bit cooler than her parents.

Here she is trying to keep up with Aunt Catherine and sister K-bao's yoga moves.

Here she is feeling alternatively sassy and safe in her auntie's arms.

As for Uncle James, several years ago in Taipei it was a victory for her uncle even to have the little one consent to being held.

My, how the tables have turned. Now it is C-bao seeking out her uncle's attention at every turn.

Dancing on Water

C-bao grooves to her Aunt Catherine & Uncle James' iconic song Running on Water.

All moves self-taught (including the floor sprawl).

The "elbow freeze" is particularly inspired.

HB to Uncle James

The first order of business on this Asia trip was, of course, to wish Shu-Shu a.k.a. Uncle James a very Happy Birthday.

Both K-bao and C-bao are big fans of Shu-Shu. "Is Shu-Shu going to be there?" is usually the first one or two questions the girls ask when told of an impending family gathering.

So it was no surprise that they elbowed each other out of the way in their eagerness to serenade their uncle. C-bao in particular was aggressive about singing alone to make sure her voice was heard.

Slow Twirl

Here is C-bao enjoying a little music that her Aunt Catherine and Uncle James recorded, as posted previously here.

She's heard the song enough times now to chime in on the last word of each line.

When asked to dance these days C-bao generally breaks into her patented 2-Way Slow Twirl  (where she spins first counter-clockwise and then clockwise), as can be seen beginning at 0:55. Of course, she then gets dizzy enough to need to be held afterwards.

To 四個乖小孩

C-bao's talented Aunt and Uncle (Shu-Shu and Xiao Goo-Goo) penned, sang and recorded a brief piece of music for their 4 nieces (including C-bao's cousins Elizabeth and Grace as well as C-bao and her sister K-bao) one recent afternoon.

Music: To 四個乖小孩

Lyrics:

寶貝妳要做個乖小孩

Watch the tone when you are asking why

做個討神喜悅乖女孩

Our love will always be with you

永不分開

寶貝乖乖跌倒不用怕

It hurts a bit but you will grow a lot

別因妳可愛就不用聽話

Learn to love and trust in God

Your life will be

Right where it should be

記得永遠守護妳的心

A message C-bao's parents hope she internalizes early in life!

Demure

C-bao was similarly demure with her Xiao Goo-Goo (Aunt Catherine) and Shu-Shu (Uncle James) in the early stages of this Taipei visit, forgetting entirely how her Uncle James had once mesmerized her with a guitar solo, or how she had once cuddled with XGG.

Within a day or so, however, she had warmed up to XGG - charmed by her aunt's warm dimpled smile and smooth voice.

Shu-Shu, on the other hand, had to truly work his way into her good graces. At one point on day 3 or 4, he thought he had arrived at last: C-bao leaned forward and tapped him on the shoulders.

However, when he reached out to hold her, she whirled around with an impish grin and refused to let go of C-Pop. A few seconds later, of course, she turned around and tapped him again - only to repeat the tease. This nonsense carried on for many minutes. Eventually, Shu-Shu broke through, once again, via his musical talents - by offering to teach little C-bao the piano (i.e. let her bang randomly on the keys). After that point, slowly but surely, S2 made his way onto the Hit List, as shown by the tangible evidence below.

Path of Grace

C-bao gets a frontrow seat with the talented Shu-Shu (aka Uncle James). Mesmerized by Uncle James' silky voice and the excellent praise music ("Path of Grace" - written by our dear friend Grace Tseng of Streams of Praise), the little one nonetheless could only stay focused for thirty or so seconds before being distracted by her blue bumbo. Luckily, like the army captain he is, Shu-Shu would have none of it and called her attention back to where it belonged.

(Too) Much Love

The C-Grandfolks and Uncle James ("Shu-Shu") were here visiting from Taiwan over the last week.  Little C-bao took full advantage, soaking up the love like an ultra-absorbent diaper.

Every little smile elicited coos, fawning gazes and delighted chuckles. Every whimper or sneeze brought a concerned grandma or uncle to her side, tissue and baby blanket in hand, ready to comfort, wipe or hug, on demand. Camera phones were working on overdrive.

Let it be shown for the record that the additional attention from all these parties did indeed have an impact on the little one's behavior. A highly deleterious impact indeed.