Day 1 of 5

4:00: Grandparents leaves for Vegas!

7:00: Vincent wakes up screaming because grandma is not in sight.  He pees on Rob because he's angry.

8:00: We tell Vincent that grandma went out to make money.  He understands that people need to work in order to buy Paw Patrol for Hom.

8:30: Morning tea time.  

9:52: Vincent puts a tub of lotion on Dylan's head and Dylan likes it.

10:30: It ONLY took us 2 hours to get ready.  Vincent circles in front of the bathroom.  Rob screams, "Potty?  Potty?!  Potty!" and I dash to Vincent.  Vincent says wet 地地 (floor) because he has no confidence in us to get this right.  He thinks we will make him pee all over the floor.  We come out dry and high fives!

11:30: Picnic with Rob's colleagues. 

Things I've learned-

A. Vincent is a bee whisperer.  He's not scared of them possibly because of the Bee Movie.

B. Vincent will try to step on a dog's tail.

C. Dylan doesn't want his lips to be licked by a dog.

14:00: THUNDER!  Nope, it's just Vincent screaming about going home!

14:30: They fall asleep in the car.  We prolong our drive so they don't wake up.  

15:45: It is possibly our only chance to eat in peace.  We have early dinner in the car while the kids are asleep.

16:15: I turn to Rob, "Roll out of the car while I drive so you can shower."  Who are we kidding?  

16:45: Peace and quiet's over.

18:30: I'm on my 4th caffeinated drink, 4th vacuum, 7th floor mop, 12th hand wash.

19:00: Dinner wasn't working out on the playpen so we plot them down on their high chairs and they continue to throw more noodles on the floor.

19:30: Vincent picks up a glass, and I shout, NOOOO!  Oops, he was bringing dishes for me to wash.  

20:00: I guiltily turn on tv. Vincent and I have full conversations about Hurricane Irma.  That makes watching TV okay.  Ha!

20:30: 5th caffeinated drink and counting.

Vincent is sleeping by himself for the first time today.  #bigboy

Yesterday, Vincent told us that he didn't want to wear the sweatshirt and pointed to another coat.  #fashiondiva

Last week, Vincent stood on a footprinted mat in Walgreens to stand in line.

Yesterday was the first time we took care of Dylan and Vincent for the entire day while my parents were out at casino until 11 pm.

Vincent points to stars and moon.

Dylan says ah goo for the first time this week.  Looks intently at object.  Likes to be worn.

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Vinny the toddler

We came home with Dylan and Vincent gets an instant upgrade to big brother.  He felt heavier, he looked bigger, and everything he does seems to have matured.

Vincent grabbed a tissue to clean after his father's water drops from hand wash on the floor.

He negotiated with his father.  His father handed something for him to trade so we can retrieve whatever he had.  He stuck his hand out as if to tell him you first.

Rob would tell Vincent to allow him to kiss him good night.  He'll nod for the first two times and say bye by the third.

He's intrigued by Dylan and often wants to touch him.  He would gently pat on his head or body.  

He will motion to tell us to change Dylan on the changing table.  He is as still as a rock if Dylan is watching him while he changes his diapers and clothes as if he's setting an example.

He will feed vitamins to the both of us and understands that he only gets one.

He went from banging on the door to gently knocking on the door.  

Blessed

Throughout life, I find myself very lucky.  I'm very lucky that I was raised by loving parents.  They may be uneducated, but they wanted nothing but a good opportunity by moving to the states.  Their love is truly unconditional.  As an only child, I was often catered to from breakfast to dinner!

As I grew up, I've been blessed with good health.  My medical history is almost non-existent.  Now, I've been blessed with 2 healthy pregnancies and 2 healthy babies.

Up until now, my blessing has really been luck.  The fact that I was born into this family.  I didn't do anything different to contribute to my health.  I ate whatever, whenever I wanted.

One thing that's controlled by outside factor is my husband.  His love for me.  He wasn't born into this relationship like my sons are to us.  Yet, he chose to love me, and continued to love me unconditionally.  Well, that's luck too I guess - the fact that we met.  How lucky are we to find our other halves at such young age..  The major deciding factor is him though.  Rob has been spoiling me by showering me with gifts very early on in the stage -  Starbucks trips in college, dinner when we dated, planners from Taiwan, promise rings, purses when I matured, and now, a handheld massager as a mom.  How interesting has my presents evolved!

Dylan

We've been so blessed with a second healthy pregnancy and birth.  Everything was so different the second time around.  I insist that there is nothing natural about everything - breastfeeding, the effectiveness of epidural, how I'd get cramps while breastfeeding the second child, etc.

The name Dylan and as a draw of luck.  Rob made a list of names by days and Dylan was Sunday's listing.  Colton was decided in a split second when a clerk asked us for birth certificate information.  Granted, we had an ongoing list for over 2 years and we did narrow it down to maybe 15.  Both names wer spoken of in recent days but coming up with Dylan's name was quite difficult.