Grace

Today the girls, while sitting side by side in a Costco shopping cart, got into a scrape, as sisters are wont to do. In the midst of it, however, young C-bao expressed her frustration in a highly unacceptable manner, and K-Pop was forced to intervene.

Pulling C-bao off the cart and after giving her a very stern talking to, K-Pop promised severe consequences for our 3-year-old after we returned home. C-bao walked meekly and sadly beside K-Pop as we came back to the cart.

That's when K-bao sprang into action. Though she was technically the victim in the altercation, she asked to come off the cart so she could comfort her little sister, who burst into tears as she ran into her older sister's arms.

Later, when we arrived home, K-bao intervened on behalf of her sister. "Please Daddy," she asked. "Can you not punish C-bao?"

This demonstration of grace and good sisterhood could not go ignored, so K-Pop took it easy on the little one, making sure to attribute his leniency to K-bao's advocacy. What started as an unfortunate conflict ended as an incredible relationship builder.

Later, when K-bao was getting ready for her shower, K-Pop observed little C-bao run into the bathroom to shout, "K-bao, I love you!" out of sheer gratitude.

#ASisterIsForever

Fob

Frustrated that sister C-bao hasn't fully gotten her fobby fingers right, K-bao conducts an intensive class with her younger sib.

And there it is!

Sonoma

K-bao found herself in Sonoma this past weekend at a pool party with some school friends. Naturally, sister C-bao tagged along so she could share in some of the fun and sun.

Above, K-bao enjoys her first - of what, of course, ended up being far too many - mini-cupcake of the day.

While K-bao hadn't been in the pool in a while, she jumped in the water with gusto along with the rest of her peeps. Part of it of course was the allure of the numerous pieces of colorful equipment lying around, each of which K-bao insisted on trying (most of them at the same time).

Straw Wars

"Draw thy straw, sister!"

While hanging out in the Outer Sunset last weekend waiting for K-Mum, who was attending a friend's baby shower, K-bao lunched with K-Pop and her sister at a local Chinese joint on Noriega Street, and then stopped by Bubble for afternoon tea and dessert.

Spotting the wide angle straws commonly used in such locales to enable suction of tapioca balls, K-bao naturally wasted no time in challenging her sister to a public straw-saber joust.

"On guard, little one!"

While it has always been somewhat ironic that K-bao and her sister are grandchildren of a career diplomat, who in his retirement has taught such university courses as International Etiquette (emphasizing the proper behaviors one might demonstrate in public settings such as restaurants), recently K-bao has really been taking said irony to a new level.

Better Than Hallmark

Sister C-bao fell and scraped her knee while running in the courtyard after church.

K-bao immediately went to her rescue, held her hand all the way home, and did everything else she could think of to comfort her sister.

Indeed, while the two girls were listening to a story at home to help little C-bao take her mind off her injury, K-bao excused herself briefly, saying "I'll be right back!"

Shortly thereafter, she appeared with the below card:

Sisterhood

K-bao has grown significantly in her "big sisterhood" over the past year. 

While she has always enjoyed entertaining and teaching her sister, more recently, she's taken on a greater caretaker role. On weekend mornings now, for example, she will often usher sister C-bao - both of whom are pre-7 a.m. wakers - into her room to play blocks for an hour or more to let the K-folks get another hour of rest.

"You know I put a "C" on it so you wouldn't knock it over, right?"

One recent Sunday, sister C-bao was clearly feeling anxious about being dropped off at her Sunday school class; her normal volunteer teacher wasn't there. K-bao, who was watching from the door before going into her own classroom, rushed in to comfort her sister. "I got it Dad," she told K-Pop confidently, "you can go now." K-Pop smiled and returned to his service. Afterwards, he discovered that K-bao remained by her sister's side through the entire morning, choosing to stay behind rather than go join her own peers to ensure her sister was comfortable.

Going through the daily lotion and sunscreen ritual together

While her sister can still drive her to the brink, and she certainly isn't beyond appropriating C-bao's snacks from time to time through a combination of charm, deceit and dexterity, to the K-folks' delight, by and large K-bao is a protective, loving, playful force in her little sister's life.

Feeling comfortable

Favor

"Mom, can you do me a favor?" asks little K-bao.

"Yes, what is it honey?"

"Can you go check by the door to see if Baby Sister is crying?"

C-bao has been slumbering peacefully in her room for a bit, apparently too long for some concerned citizens. 

K-bao, Meet C-bao

And she's here!

K-bao could not wait to see her younger sister C-bao, and finally the patience paid off with a "Big Sister Party" at the hospital this past weekend.

There was a gift exchange (thanks to some great work by Xiao Jiu (Uncle Calvin) and Xiao Ah-yi (Auntie Christina) - notice the balloons and toy for C-bao - placed strategically by K-bao near her sister's head), some cuddling, and lots of smiles.

All signs are pointing toward strong sisterly (and perhaps even maternal) instincts. Unfortunately for K-bao, she promptly got sick and over the last few days has had to keep her distance. Hopefully she'll get well soon - because the K-folks have plenty of helping chores lined up for her to do...and cannot wait for her to develop some coordination to assist with those diapers.

Please visit C-bao at her own blog here.