Green Lake...monster!

Here's my latest update! Mummy, daddy, and I went to take a walk around this place called "Green Lake". The only lake I've ever seen is Mountain Lake in San Francisco where we used to live. That's where Auntie Kristin, Susy and Uncle Yeeli surprised us with such a nice picnic (see previous blog)! Did you know that Mountain Lake is the last natural fresh water lake in all of San Francisco? How about that!

Green Lake is MUCH bigger. We saw all sorts of people walking around. There were other moms with their kids, lots of dogs (very well behaved, might I add), and even a kayaker or two! Did you hear that auntie Kristin? I started to get hungry near the end of our walk so started to say politely, "Mom, I'm kind of famished. When do I eat?" It always comes out as a "waaaaaahhhhhh!!!!". I've got to keep working on my verbalization.

Then daddy had to start work and I was very sad. Mummy was sad too, but daddy kept mumbling about something called health insurance. I guess it's a good thing he started work again. Phew! I still don't quite understand, mummy called the new pediatrician today and asked about something called "shots". Do those hurt? I'll have to ask my friends Lucy and Zoe (umlaut above the "e"). I seem to recall getting shots a couple months ago, but don't remember exactly.

Last night, both mummy and daddy were tired and didn't want to cook, so they tried out a place near U. Washington called "Jack's Tapas Cafe, Mainly Chinese". Really, that's what it was called! I guess the cook is named Jack, and most of the food is chinese, hence, "mainly chinese". Mummy and daddy loved it! It was food from northern china, which isn't always easy to find - they had a pancake stuffed with chives, and "dao xiao" noodles that are shaved off right before cooking. It smelled delectable! I can't wait to start eating solids...daddy teased me with a juicy looking grape (pu tao) today but I just frowned. Shame on him!

Shushu x 2!

Yi-an Shushu came all the way from Boston to hold me. At first I was a little suspicious, but then I warmed up and we had a great time! He even held me at dinner! I only wish Kristin Ayi could have come. Maybe next time?

Andy Shushu lives just across the lake so Mummy and Papa hope to see a lot more of him. My parents are taking suggestions on how to decorate their long living room space. Andy Shushu thinks a pool table would go well there. Mummy is not sure this will work, but thought it was a unique suggestion.

For dinner we had a delicious spaghetti and meatballs. O wait, I mean they did. Look how satiated they are!

Here's Mummy's recipe for fabulous meatballs:
1 lb of ground turkey
6oz diced pancetta
4 hot italian sausages (uncooked and remove from casing)
1/2 cup of grated parmesan
1 egg
3T finely chopped parsley
2-3 cloves of garlic minced
2/3 cup panko bread crumbs
3T milk

Mix the above in a big bowl and roll into small 1-1.5 inch balls. Bake on parchment paper or foil-lined pan for 30 min at 375.
Papa is usually caught eating them right out of the oven and burning his mouth or you can plop them in marinara on top of spaghetti. They are great snacks or as cold leftovers. They have great texture and are well-seasoned with minimal work since the pancetta and sausage meat are in there.
Oh so divine!

Feed me!

My parents have some issues with transitioning to a new city. Me on the other hand.. my needs are simplified. I thought I was giving my parents very clear signals... I just love to eat. Plus, I have a lot of body to upkeep. I mean look at my folds! Feed me!!!

So I had backed down to sleeping only 6 hours a night, waking up hungry again. It burns a lot of energy to hold up this head! My parents thought it was because we were in a new location. WRONG! Then they got the right idea to feed me 4-5 ounces/feed instead of just 2-3 or both sides from mama, not just 1.

Yup.. now life is good again and I'm sleeping 8-9 hours again. Ahh.. so rested and happy again! I'm moving so fast, my cameraman couldn't keep up and this pic is blurry.

Contented with life, I hung out with Uncle JT. Then I noticed on the table a delicious tikka masala. Hmm... When do I get to eat solids?

Helloo Seattle!

O hello! It's been a hectic week so I have lots to report. The big news is that we're in Seattle! I had a pretty good time on the plane. I timed it so that I had the largest poop my Mummy has ever seen about 30 minutes before getting on the plane. Both Mummy and Papa thought it was good that Uncle Dan and Aunty Linda had warned them of this possible occurrence.

Our stuff and our cars arrived all on the same truck in a very timely fashion. Again, I decided to commemorate this occasion with another "blow-out." This time all the way up the back. Mummy couldn't help but take a picture this time for pure comic relief.

Now every day is filled with lots of box-opening and Mummy and Papa always asking each other "where are the scissors?" Every day is like seeing new familiar friends. Helloo green friends...

Oof... guess there's still a lot of work to do. I'll do my best to distract my parents while they deal with this. :)

When you can't say goodbye, say see you soon...

We had a really hard time saying goodbye to all of our good friends in San Francisco. I tried to cheer up Mummy and Papa with lots of coy looks like this one:

Then I had the better idea to take everyone out to dinner! We got to spend some time with many of our friends, and we got to eat lots of good food. (Well, Mummy and Papa ate while I slept, but they told me it was delicious.)
I did stay awake long enough to hang with my pals, Lucy and Zoë.

Even Aunty Eunice and Uncle Jim came! It was so great to see them. Next time we meet, I hope Oliver and I get to play together.

All in all, it was just as I anticipated... good friends, good food, and a good "see you soon"

Laughing out loud!

While our stuff takes its time to get up there, we are enjoying our stay at Lucy jiejie's place. She has so many cool toys... I had no idea what I was missing!!
Here I am in a bumbo learning how to sit up:

Mama was afraid I might get stuck in it since my thighs are a little on the large side. She got me out OK though.
I also got to sit in this very stimulating saucer of toys. Mama has told me that the more colors something is, the tastier it is. She said she was talking about salads and sandwiches, but I thought I would try it with this saucer. Here I am trying to taste it, but my tongue couldn't quite reach.

Just as well. I was pretty full anyway on delicious milk. Can you appreciate my cheeks?

Heee hee... I love being funny. Laughing out loud is my newest thing! My vocab thus far includes "eeee" (squealing in delight), "ah-gu", "hehe", and "aka"

Moving Day!

The move is finally upon us. All of our stuff got packed into boxes. Papa made sure I didn't get packed, phew!

It got driven away in this huge truck. Whoa, we have a lot of stuff...

Guess it's time to say good night..
Good night California Street!

Good night 44 bus!

And good night all the stores on Clement Street!

We'll miss you inner Richmond! Hope we come back to see you soon!

Labor Day weekend with my grandparents!

I got to play with Nainai and Yeye all weekend! Meanwhile, Mummy and Papa snuck off to see a movie, eat a tremendous meal at Quince, went to a movie, and to Aunty Demo's wedding. Wait a minute, do you think they had a lot of fun without me?? Papa is still talking all about this pinot noir from Oregon. Well, in the meantime, I got exactly what I wanted from Nainai and Yeye, especially if I looked like this:

We went for a walk in the Presidio together so I could take a nap in the fresh air. Look how beautiful the view is!

They fed and bathed me. Hey, is this milk enough? I do like to eat. (a dominant inherited trait)

I was pretty much held all the time... just the way I like it. Here I am being held by Tainai! What could be better?

Tainai even gave Mummy and Papa a wonderfully simple fish recipe that Mummy finally got right last night. Try it if you like.
Frozen fillets of orange roughy (another costco treat)
(Mums has tried this with fresh rock cod and butterfish fillets without much success)
garlic
ginger
chinese cooking rice wine
soy sauce
sugar
scallions

Saute 2-3 sliced cloves of garlic and a few slices of peeled ginger in oil until soft (2 minutes or so) at med-high heat
Add the thawed fillets and saute for about 3 minute on each side.
Add a 1 1/2 teaspoons of cooking wine. Mummy added this first because she wanted the alcohol to burn off.
Add about a line or small sploosh of soy sauce per fillet (probably a 1/2 tsp or so per fillet) and about a tablespoon a sugar.
Sprinkle on the sliced scallions to wilt just a bit and the sauce should be divine and the fish just tender and delicious.
It should taste a lot like chilean sea bass without the expense or environmental endangerment.

As Jacques (Pepin) would say.. "Happy Cooking!
Thanks to my awesome grandparents for such a great weekend!!!

Goodbye BBQ

Hello! We've been busy preparing for the big move so I'll post the highlights from the last couple of weeks in a cluster...

Aunties Kristin and Susy and Uncle Yeeli organized an awesome good bye BBQ in my favorite Mountain Lake park. O wait, I think it's the only park I've been to. Well, there was such an enormous spread with this fantastic tri-tip marinated by Costco and grilled by Uncle Rich. We were all stuffed silly, or so people told me since I slept most of the time.

Here's a pic of the delicious cake that Aunty Susy surprised Mummy and Papa with. It had all the same flavors as their wedding cake!

We got to see lots of our good friends. It was so sweet for everyone to come. Mummy thinks she ate too much since there was such great food.

I even to got to meet my near-twin Kavya again! We haven't seen each other since we were born just 2 days apart. Look at us when we were so wee...

Check us out now at a whopping 2 1/2 months!

Thanks to everyone who came to share the day with us. I can't believe we're leaving so soon. Don't worry Lucy Jiejie, your Mama only held me for 30 seconds in this photo. :)

We will miss you!!!