Psalm 23

K-bao, who once was quite fluent with Psalm 23, has been working hard on regaining that fluency recently (admittedly with the help of a little bribery on the part of the K-folks).

Here she dedicates her bedtime (Chinese) recitation to her absent K-Grandfolks, her aunts and uncles and other beloved relatives. Concentration could use a little work ("Look! My sister is smiling at me!").

The Politician

K-Mum was washing some strawberries after dinner and asked K-bao to try some. K-bao demurred. "But these strawberries are sweet!" K-Mum exclaimed.

"Mom, sweeter than you?" asked K-bao, ever so innocently. Sly smile. And for added emphasis, "Sweeter than honey and sugaaar?!"

Later that evening, without prompting, she burst out with this gem: "Mommy, thank you for working so hard, so we have money, and for loving me."

K-Mum and K-Grandmum were stunned into silence. 48 years to the White House! Maybe 44!

Manners

Here's K-Pop trying to teach K-bao a little manners. Admittedly, the exercise veered a little into bribery.

For the non-Mandarin speakers:

KP: "Let me ask you a question. What do you want to play?"

KB: "Opposites" (a Fisher-Price online computer game)

KP: "I see. You'd like to play Opposites on the computer. Well, how do you need to ask Daddy?"

KB: "Please!" (Bows). "Please play Opposites!"

KP: "A bow. Right. Daddy also wants you to dance."

(KB does a Feraba African tap dance).

KP: "Now sing a song."

(KB sings the Taiwanese folk song GeGeBaBa)

KP: "Daddy also wants you to ask in English."

KB: "May I? Opposites. Right now. Please."

KP: "Good job."

Bribery

The below video is an example of pure, unadulterated bribery on the part of K-Pop. Give in order to get. Not a very good example of grace for little K-bao.

On the other hand, said K-Pop to himself in self-justification mode, no pain no gain. She's learning that nothing comes for free. You've got to work for what you want.

By the way, in case you're wondering why K-bao seems to have a case of itchy nipples, she's actually frantically signing "please," which in baby sign language is supposed to be a chest rub.

Kiss & Tell

K-bao's newest trick is to kiss on command. She'll give K-Mum or K-Pop a smack on the cheek when asked, and happily she understands the request in both English ("Kissy-Poo") and Chinese ("Qing-qing") so neither parent feels left out. She hasn't quite learned to smooch her lips, so as of now it has been the wet, slobbery kind. You can see above we are trying to teach her to differentiate between the froggies and the princes.

The bad news is that she's learned that we are quite tickled by it, so she has incorporated this little trick into her formidable bag of tactical maneuvers. Over the last week or so, we've noticed that whenever she really wants us to do something, she will sweeten the pot by leaning over and planting a couple of wet ones, just in case we were in doubt as to whether to fulfill her request.

This past Sunday we took a quick excursion to the Bay Area Discovery Museum where K-bao enjoyed visiting the Tot Spot. At one point, she was having a bit too much fun, splashing water left and right and all over her clothes (see below), whereupon K-Mum removed her from the scene. Initially, howls of protest. Squirming, squiggling and loud vocals. That didn't work. Next, several determined kisses on the cheek. K-Mum dissolved into laughter and soon little K-bao was enjoying her splish-splish.