We took Houston all the way to the East River.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Walking in New York
No one walks in LA, but everyone walks in NY. For some reason Astrid just wanted to walk - and walk and walk. You'll see later she never stopped.
We took Houston all the way to the East River.
We took Houston all the way to the East River.
Hamilton Fish Park (New York)
This park looked intriguing. What is a fish park?
Apparently a park with 2 drained pools. Astrid kept thinking they were full because the bottoms were painted blue.
There was a preschool class playing there for recess. When it was time to go, the teacher asked everyone to stand in line, and Astrid lined right up with the class.
Each kid was required to hold onto a loop in a kid's rope, to make sure everyone stayed together.
The one teacher's aide laughed and remarked that her colleague almost gave Astrid one of the loops to hold onto, confusing her with being a student in the class since she was right there in the mix with the others.
I guess it won't be long until Astrid's ready for school. She's already fascinated by "school" because she's seen all the kids playing at the elementary school playground and wants to play with the kids, and go inside. Or as she says, "Go in dare (there)."
Apparently a park with 2 drained pools. Astrid kept thinking they were full because the bottoms were painted blue.There was a preschool class playing there for recess. When it was time to go, the teacher asked everyone to stand in line, and Astrid lined right up with the class.Each kid was required to hold onto a loop in a kid's rope, to make sure everyone stayed together.The one teacher's aide laughed and remarked that her colleague almost gave Astrid one of the loops to hold onto, confusing her with being a student in the class since she was right there in the mix with the others.
I guess it won't be long until Astrid's ready for school. She's already fascinated by "school" because she's seen all the kids playing at the elementary school playground and wants to play with the kids, and go inside. Or as she says, "Go in dare (there)."
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Starting to color within the lines
Here's a pic of one page inside Astrid's coloring book. You can see she's starting to color within the lines. I thought it was impressive for a 2 year old.
She loves to flip to this page. Once she sees the birthday cake she starts singing "Happy Birthday."
Her version goes something like this:
"Happy Birthday to you."
"Happy Birthday Astrid."
"Happy Birthday to you."
One lady heard her and asked, "Is it your birthday today?"
I responded, "No, but she just likes to sing Happy Birthday."
Dinner in New York with Mommy
Astrid and I went to a Cuban restaurant for dinner tonight.
It's funny how some restaurants/waiters/waitresses get the whole kid thing and some don't. Here they definitely didn't. They gave Astrid a really tall, skinny glass of water at first, that was just asking for a disaster. There was no way she could hold it without tipping it over. In the photo you see the smaller glass I requested, that's more suitable for a toddler.
Being a parent, when you dine at a restaurant with your toddler, you have to be prepared to ask for:
1) Another menu for the kid (b/c yes, she does want to look at her own menu)
2) Water for the kid, preferably in a kid friendly cup, or a small glass. (Lots of places completely ignore the kid and just bring 1 glass of water to the table.)
3) A separate set of silverware. (Some places just assume you'll be feeding the kid, so you only need 1 set. But as a toddler, she wants to/and can feed herself with utensils.)
4) Silverware that can fit into the baby's mouth. (Several times when I've asked for a spoon for the baby I've been given gargantuan serving spoons that will not do. Others will give her a plastic spoon and fork without prompting.)
5) A separate small plate for the baby. (Lots of places just assume she'll be eating off my plate. Something which I don't allow.)
6) Extra napkins. (I'm always prepared for the mishap, spill, or mess).
From experience I've learned to ask for all of this upfront so I don't have to wait or have to flag down a lone waitress. And now that Astrid's old enough, she too asks for these things.
Our waitress stared at us and seemed to be in awe when as soon as she brought out my frozen pear mojito - Astrid raised her water glass up to mine to toast and said "Cheers!"
It's funny how some restaurants/waiters/waitresses get the whole kid thing and some don't. Here they definitely didn't. They gave Astrid a really tall, skinny glass of water at first, that was just asking for a disaster. There was no way she could hold it without tipping it over. In the photo you see the smaller glass I requested, that's more suitable for a toddler.Being a parent, when you dine at a restaurant with your toddler, you have to be prepared to ask for:
1) Another menu for the kid (b/c yes, she does want to look at her own menu)
2) Water for the kid, preferably in a kid friendly cup, or a small glass. (Lots of places completely ignore the kid and just bring 1 glass of water to the table.)
3) A separate set of silverware. (Some places just assume you'll be feeding the kid, so you only need 1 set. But as a toddler, she wants to/and can feed herself with utensils.)
4) Silverware that can fit into the baby's mouth. (Several times when I've asked for a spoon for the baby I've been given gargantuan serving spoons that will not do. Others will give her a plastic spoon and fork without prompting.)
5) A separate small plate for the baby. (Lots of places just assume she'll be eating off my plate. Something which I don't allow.)
6) Extra napkins. (I'm always prepared for the mishap, spill, or mess).
From experience I've learned to ask for all of this upfront so I don't have to wait or have to flag down a lone waitress. And now that Astrid's old enough, she too asks for these things.
Our waitress stared at us and seemed to be in awe when as soon as she brought out my frozen pear mojito - Astrid raised her water glass up to mine to toast and said "Cheers!"
First Park (New York)
After Astrid's nap we went to yet another park, this one called First Park on the corner of Houston St. and 1 Ave.
It's across the street from Sara D. Roosevelt Park, and there were lots of kids to play with.
And swings! Astrid's favorite.
It seems we got there right when all the parents take their kids to the park, after work.
Crossing the bridge.
Playing on the drawbridge.
A small slide.
A little boy Astrid's age who also wears Crocs, and wanted to play with her.
Astrid spotted this bicycle in the park and wanted to ride it.
A local parent told me the bike has been sitting in the park for a few weeks and didn't know who it belonged it. So I let Astrid sit on it while I pushed her around.
Is it just me, or is a Barbie doll head on a bike a bit freaky?
Now that she's got the hang of it and conquered her fear, she loves jumping up and down on the drawbridge.
It's across the street from Sara D. Roosevelt Park, and there were lots of kids to play with.And swings! Astrid's favorite.It seems we got there right when all the parents take their kids to the park, after work.Crossing the bridge.Playing on the drawbridge.A small slide.A little boy Astrid's age who also wears Crocs, and wanted to play with her.Astrid spotted this bicycle in the park and wanted to ride it.A local parent told me the bike has been sitting in the park for a few weeks and didn't know who it belonged it. So I let Astrid sit on it while I pushed her around.Is it just me, or is a Barbie doll head on a bike a bit freaky?Now that she's got the hang of it and conquered her fear, she loves jumping up and down on the drawbridge.When we used to go to the park it used to be such a struggle to get her to leave - major tantrums and all. Now it's a whole lot easier since I started giving her little prompts that we would be leaving in 15 minutes, 10 minutes, 5 minutes, etc. Occasionally I still get the "No mom. I want to play!" but it's no where close to the power struggles we used to have.
Sara D. Roosevelt Park (New York)
Walking down Houston St. (pronounced "House-ton", not like the city in Texas) we found yet another park/playground in Soho called Sara D. Roosevelt Park, located on the corner of Houston and Christie.
I guess they call it a park because it has a basketball court, but it also has a very nice playground with 3 different levels for all ages.
The playground also has rubber floor mats.
We purchased this bubble machine gun and solution from a street vendor for $5, and he threw in the batteries for free. How could we resist a guy on a street shooting thousands of bubbles in the air? Astrid shouted, "Bubbles!" Great marketing and the guy said that even adults get excited when they see the bubbles (including policemen and firemen). 
I guess they call it a park because it has a basketball court, but it also has a very nice playground with 3 different levels for all ages.The playground also has rubber floor mats.We purchased this bubble machine gun and solution from a street vendor for $5, and he threw in the batteries for free. How could we resist a guy on a street shooting thousands of bubbles in the air? Astrid shouted, "Bubbles!" Great marketing and the guy said that even adults get excited when they see the bubbles (including policemen and firemen). It was well worth the afternoon of bubble fun at the playground.
Happy little girl jumping amidst the bubbles.
Our battery operated bubble machine gun makes tons of bubbles with a simple pull of the trigger. Much easier than blowing them by hand, and MANY more to play with.
Trying to catch the bubbles.
Like I said, even adults like bubbles as evident by this lady who saw the bubbles floating through to the other side of the locked gate and couldn't resist playing with them as well.
Happy little girl jumping amidst the bubbles.Our battery operated bubble machine gun makes tons of bubbles with a simple pull of the trigger. Much easier than blowing them by hand, and MANY more to play with.Trying to catch the bubbles.Like I said, even adults like bubbles as evident by this lady who saw the bubbles floating through to the other side of the locked gate and couldn't resist playing with them as well. Bubbles floating all around her. 
Taking a break from the bubbles to play on the slide.
The playground also had this toy barn house that Astrid had fun playing with.
Taking a break from the bubbles to play on the slide.The playground also had this toy barn house that Astrid had fun playing with.I had to explain to Astrid that it's pretend play and it doesn't matter if we don't have toys that go with the barn house (like people or animals). That we can pretend play with other objects.
So we played with her toy camera, Starbucks mints, the cap to the bubble solution, some twigs, and leaves. She started getting the hang of it and called one item Mama, another Papa, another Astrid, and yet another our dog's name.
I want to get her a hand crafted toy dollhouse with miniature pieces of furniture, but she's still too young to appreciate it yet. I'll have to wait until she's a bit older.
Astrid caught a bubble in her mouth (to my shock). I quickly read the contents - and luckily it's nontoxic, but after that I tried to keep her from standing right in front of the bubble machine. 
More bubbles!
Being a good Samaritan and picking up after the litterbugs.
Being a good Samaritan and picking up after the litterbugs.One thing Astrid notices and keeps pointing out to me is all the trash lying on the ground. I feel bad just walking away and not doing anything about it, so this time I let her pick up a discarded Styrofoam food container on the ground (that was clean) and place it in the garbage can. 
Checking out the set of playground mirrors. 
I see you Mommy!
Breakfast @ an all natural restaurant
Below are some photos of Astrid snacking on grapes while we're waiting for our food. Lots of organic an "all natural" items on the menu.
She kept commenting "Loud Mama! Too loud!" on the sounds from the New York streets (i.e., construction/jackhammer, honking horns, people yelling). She was born and raised in Los Angeles, and definitely has an LA disposition, preferring the hustle and bustle of a big city, but no noise pollution please!
She kept commenting "Loud Mama! Too loud!" on the sounds from the New York streets (i.e., construction/jackhammer, honking horns, people yelling). She was born and raised in Los Angeles, and definitely has an LA disposition, preferring the hustle and bustle of a big city, but no noise pollution please!
Monday, September 24, 2007
Noodles in China Town (New York)
It's a whole different world in China Town. There are merchants selling all kinds of wares and fruits and vegetables on the sidewalk, and all kinds of delicacies that I don't even know the English words for them. Growing up with a Korean mother, I was exposed to many strange and exotic things that I never saw in an American grocery store, yet my mom only knew the Korean words for them, so I never learned what they're called in English.
After we left the park we went to a noodle house for dinner.
Astrid may look Caucasian but when she tells you want she wants for dinner, "Rice please! Noodles please!" she sounds like an Asian kid.
Playing with her little sauce bowl.
Eating her chicken and noodles.
After dinner we went to a Chinese bakery. I was in heaven. The rudest service ever, but the tastiest morsels of goodness that I haven't had in a long while. Like bread with red beans or custard inside. And cheap! Asian desserts aren't as sweet or heavy as American desserts, and they have all sorts of different flavors that you don't see in regular U.S. bakeries.
After that we headed back home, up Mulberry Street, through Little Italy again. Astrid was beat and went to sleep pretty quickly when we got home.
After we left the park we went to a noodle house for dinner.
Astrid may look Caucasian but when she tells you want she wants for dinner, "Rice please! Noodles please!" she sounds like an Asian kid.
Playing with her little sauce bowl.
Eating her chicken and noodles.After dinner we went to a Chinese bakery. I was in heaven. The rudest service ever, but the tastiest morsels of goodness that I haven't had in a long while. Like bread with red beans or custard inside. And cheap! Asian desserts aren't as sweet or heavy as American desserts, and they have all sorts of different flavors that you don't see in regular U.S. bakeries.
After that we headed back home, up Mulberry Street, through Little Italy again. Astrid was beat and went to sleep pretty quickly when we got home.
Columbus Park (China Town - NY)
I promised Astrid that we would go to another playground after her nap, so when she woke up from her nap the first thing she asked was, "Mommy? We go playground?"
Then she gave me a laundry list of things we had to do to get ready for the playground:
1) "Change clothes."
2) "Do hair."
3) "Put shoes on."
Coming from Soho, we had to walk through Little Italy to get to China Town. There's an Italian festival going on with lots of lights and decorations up. We took the stroller with us so we could walk the 13 or so blocks there. Astrid was sitting in her stroller entertained by looking at everything that was going on around her. All the Italian restaurants on either side of Mulberry Street were packed. 
She sees the playground and shouts, "Playground!" while running towards it.
She was the only white kid there, surrounded by Asian kids. Usually I'm the lone Asian person, so this was a change with me blending in and Astrid standing out with her blond hair.
She might have stood out and gotten some looks from others, but she seemed right at home.
When I told my mom about it, she said maybe Astrid perceives herself as looking Asian. I don't know about that. I just think she was oblivious to any differences. It'll be interesting when she's older and starts asking me why we don't look alike.
Even the playground equipment has a Chinese design to it and is painted red.
She loves climbing ladders of all kinds. 
In the beginning I forbid her from going up the slide, ("We go up the stairs and down the slide") and I still protest when there are kids around, but I let her when she has the slide to herself. She's able to climb up the slide all by herself now.
The smaller playgrounds here don't have swings, but this one does.
Having fun on the "swing swing".
She loved her aquarium swing as an infant, and the swing is still her favorite thing to do at the playground. 
Now she tells me, "Higher Mommy! Higher!"
One last time on the slide before we head out.
The park also has a large soccer field.
They were playing a game there and Astrid asked, "Baseball?" I had to laugh because her first guess is always "baseball" (her dad is a big Dodgers fan) and then "football" is the second guess, but soccer doesn't register yet.
There was a random marching band walking through the park, and then marching down the streets of New York. Astrid loved the music commenting on all the instruments and sounds "Horn Mommy! Drum! Music!"
Jumping up and down, all excited about seeing and hearing the marching band.
What a treat for Astrid - one playground in the morning and a different playground in the evening. So many new sights and sounds and kids to play with at each stop along the way. She loves it here in New York.
Then she gave me a laundry list of things we had to do to get ready for the playground:
1) "Change clothes."
2) "Do hair."
3) "Put shoes on."
Coming from Soho, we had to walk through Little Italy to get to China Town. There's an Italian festival going on with lots of lights and decorations up. We took the stroller with us so we could walk the 13 or so blocks there. Astrid was sitting in her stroller entertained by looking at everything that was going on around her. All the Italian restaurants on either side of Mulberry Street were packed. She sees the playground and shouts, "Playground!" while running towards it.She was the only white kid there, surrounded by Asian kids. Usually I'm the lone Asian person, so this was a change with me blending in and Astrid standing out with her blond hair.She might have stood out and gotten some looks from others, but she seemed right at home.When I told my mom about it, she said maybe Astrid perceives herself as looking Asian. I don't know about that. I just think she was oblivious to any differences. It'll be interesting when she's older and starts asking me why we don't look alike.
Even the playground equipment has a Chinese design to it and is painted red.
She loves climbing ladders of all kinds. In the beginning I forbid her from going up the slide, ("We go up the stairs and down the slide") and I still protest when there are kids around, but I let her when she has the slide to herself. She's able to climb up the slide all by herself now.The smaller playgrounds here don't have swings, but this one does.Having fun on the "swing swing".She loved her aquarium swing as an infant, and the swing is still her favorite thing to do at the playground. Now she tells me, "Higher Mommy! Higher!"One last time on the slide before we head out.The park also has a large soccer field.They were playing a game there and Astrid asked, "Baseball?" I had to laugh because her first guess is always "baseball" (her dad is a big Dodgers fan) and then "football" is the second guess, but soccer doesn't register yet.There was a random marching band walking through the park, and then marching down the streets of New York. Astrid loved the music commenting on all the instruments and sounds "Horn Mommy! Drum! Music!"Jumping up and down, all excited about seeing and hearing the marching band.What a treat for Astrid - one playground in the morning and a different playground in the evening. So many new sights and sounds and kids to play with at each stop along the way. She loves it here in New York.
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