Poor parenting skills

We have poor parenting skills. This was demonstrated by the moon cake incident recently. We bought a box a mooncake from Welfarm. Normally, we would wait till mid-autumn festival is over and buy our mooncake when it goes on sale for buy one get one free. But this year we bought the moon cake earlier because we found a cheaper brand at $10. The most expensive brand is "Yong Wah" from Hong Kong and they sell for about $24 and rarely get discounted even after mid-autumn festival.

Anyway, the story is not about the mooncake, it is about how easily we give in to Meredith's demand. She wants to feed her bear with mooncake. Initially, we refused and she started crying.

Her initial reaction when I refused to give her the box of mooncake.

Level 2 of crying.

Level 3 of crying with tears streaming down her cheek.

Back to pre-crying level in a matter of seconds and the tears vanished as she got hold of the mooncake and started feeding the bear.

Enjoying the mooncake. Parent lose, child win!

Beauty before the storm

DSCN2281, originally uploaded by Meredith Sugar Land.

Quote from Houston Chronicle newspaper today:
"Tropical Storm Humberto rapidly spun into existence off the Texas coast Wednesday and forecasters said the system poses a dangerous flooding threat to the Greater Houston area as it moves inland Thursday."

I stood outside our backyard and saw one of most beautiful evening sky ever. I remembered the last few times when Houston was hit by major storms or hurricane, the sky always turned to a beautiful golden glow. I took both photos as it is without any color adjustment.

Meredith, I am sorry!

As most of you know about this, I am again pregnant with our second baby. This pregnancy is much worse than the first pregnancy while bearing Meredith in 2006. Vomiting and not being able to sleep through the nights, and dealing with Meredith have left me the worst experience bearing a kid. I constantly remind myself and Eric she would be our last baby, even though how adorable babies are.

During this unbearable weeks, thanks Eric for picking up the slack, and be a fun father playing with Meredith every possible minute. I don't usually praise others. Most of my former students in my class know about my stingyness about praising others. For me, this is part of each individual's reponsibility to perform these tasks. So, Eric, please understand your dearest wife, she does know that you have been doing well.

I know you long for a good conversation while we are driving around in town with Meredith. However, the minute I talk to you, I have again instructed you to attend to Meredith's needs. I know you long for a good home cook meal. However, I only cook for Meredith nowsaday. I know you have been neglected. Bear with me, Eric! When all our children attend college, I will make it up for you. I always thank God for providing me an "average" husband.

Photoshop

DSCN0899, originally uploaded by Meredith Sugar Land.

I am learning how to use Photoshop. Meredith and Boon Hong showed up as dark shadow in this photo because I forgot to turn on the flash against a bright background. I used "fill flash" function to lighten up Meredith and Boon Hong face. This photo was taken at Pisa leaning tower. Boon Hong was applying sun block for Meredith before letting her out in the sun.

Duomo of Florence