Just So Wrong

We went to SOGO yesterday, which is a Japanese department store in Taipei. The first floor was crazy crowded, and it took a long time for us to push through the masses to get to the elevator. From far away, we saw that there was some sort of promotional event going on at the MAC makeup counter. Above the heads of the crowds, it seemed that the counter staff were wearing sailor hats. Oh cute we said. Some sort of makeup party. And then we got closer. And saw this guy.


I grabbed Chris and said "Holy ^##$%#@. Give me your camera phone."



True story. Behold the evidence.

Completing the Gift: Mattress

Gioia's birthday gift is nearly done. I made a mattress and little bitty pillow. The mattress is anchored in four points to simulate the indentations of a real one. It would have been cuter to use covered buttons in each of the four points. Perhaps I can add those later when choking is no longer a risk.


The pillow is cute too, but a little too small. Maybe I can make another, bigger one. Maybe not.


So much to do still this month. I have to:

-Make invitations for G's party (this weekend)
-Start on the doll quilt for the swap (this weekend)
-Find a cupcake pan (this weekend)
-Make dolly outfit, perhaps knit a little sweater (on my flight to/from Shanghai next week)
-Finish the swap quilt (next weekend)
-Make trial cupcakes for party (next weekend)
-Prepare for the party: shop, cook, decorate (whenever possible)

If I have extra time, maybe I can also make some party decorations, perhaps some bunting....Hmmmm. Better get started.

Hug Me

We have been teaching Gioia baby signs, and she has learned quite a few. She recognizes /makes signs for more, doggie, eat, stars, and others. This week, though, she made up her own sign for hug (shown above).

This sign derived from hugs with her stuffed bunny rabbits. We would say - give bunny a hug - and then wrap her arms around her bunny and encourage a hugging, rocking motion. After a few times of being directed, she now can hug any toy on her own after you say "give (insert toy name) a hug."

Anyway, one day she wrapped her arms around herself and looked at us. One of us (I can't remember if it was me or Chris) said - do you want a hug? And then we hugged her. She immediately made then sign again. So we hugged her again. The first session was such a fun surprise. I think we gave her four or five hugs in a row that first time. You can see Chris responding to her baby sign for hug below.


Yesterday, she was sitting in the middle of the floor after a crawling and exploring session. I caught her eye and she made the hug sign. So I went over and gave her some hugs, all on her command. Then Lisa came over and continued the hugging under Gioia's direction. After about eight hugs in a row, she suddenly made the sign for "all finished," so we stopped. All finished is a sign we make after eating, when it is time to get out of the bath, and when the bottle is done.

So she now has the ability to command a hug and to have the hugging stop, all under her own direction. At 11 months old, I think that is incredibly cool.

Jade Market

Some scenes from our quick jaunt to the Jade Market on Sunday.





More pictures here.

One Two KISS

We all trooped down to visit Frankie in quarantine on Friday. We had six adults and a baby in tow, all coming to love on our sweet puppy.

Frankie really likes to kiss Gioia, probably because she is just at his height. She tolerates him quite well, actually. She is not afraid of him at all. If he licks her too often, though, she gets a look on her face like - hey now...

More Frankie pictures here.

Gu Gu

Gioia's Aunt Lisa is here to visit this week. Gu Gu (sounds like goo goo) is the Chinese term for paternal Aunt. All day we have been saying - Gioia, where's your Gu Gu? There's your Gu Gu! It was such a fun day.

We are so glad you are here Lisa!

Doll Hospital

I rescued this baby from my mother's attic. She has the name "Alexander" and 1977 imprinted on the base of her neck, so she probably belonged to me when I was little. She doesn't look like a Madam, but what do I know?*

She came to me this second time a little ragged, well worn. Her body was stained, and she was spilling cotton out of her crotch (sadly). Baby was in need of a little scrub-a-dub and some stitching up.

I first tried non-invasive procedures. I washed her with dishsoap and a toothbrush to get out the stains. I then sat her outside to dry. But it did not quite work. She was still wet after two days, and her tummy had started smelling funny. More stains came out of the fabric and she looked (and smelled) worse than before. The diagnosis was: time for surgery. There was no choice. Had to be done.

So I slit open her belly and removed all of her now-sodden cotton stuffing. I dunked her in a bucket of hot soapy detergent and went to work with a stiff scrubbing brush. After a thorough rinsing, she went straight into the dryer. A few tumble tumbles later, she came out all dry and clean. It worked.

I then pulled out my bag o' wool, stuffed her back up, and sutured up the belly. Good as new. The problem is, though, that she does not have a name. Surely I gave her one when I was a kid, but I cannot remember. Perhaps Gioia can think of a new one.



*UPDATED - She is indeed a Madame Alexander: a "Sweet Tears" baby doll.