Emile in his bassinet

Ming Ming turns 7!

Birthday party at the point in Chicago south side

friends from the Lycee joined us at the party: Mathide, Francesca, Novelle, Adien, and Renzo. I did not take photos at all since I have Emile with me the whole time.

the kids spent a long time exploring the shoreline, looking for crystals, building dams, etc.

Ming Ming's birthday cake--the first time I tried using icing to write on the cake.

The icing, made of lemon juice and cream cheese, was delicious.

a cake I tried out on June 13, layered with cream and strawberries, and topped with a caramel cage. The weather was too humid for it, it got really soft, almost melted (I probably also added too much lemon juice to make the caramel less brittle). I don't like it too much, but the kids were all happy to have cake with candy. 

having cake at the Lacrioxs.

Mike with Emile

Emile Han Han - day by day

May 22nd, at birth

first time in daddy's arms

May 23rd, sleeping next to mom

with big sister

May 24th, Ming Ming carrying Emile's car seat to the hospital

May 25th 5am, Ming Ming giving Emile a bottle

May 25th, Commune kids very interested at Emile

dad burping Emile

May 26th, in dad's arms 

May 26th, first doctor's visit: Emile has started to gain back some of his birth weight.

May 30th, in mom's arms

May 31st, rare moment of sleeping in his bassinet

June 1st, la position marmotte

back to daddy's arms

June 5th, with mom

on our porch

My two babies

Ming Ming is very excited about her baby brother. But sometimes she also gets jealous. The first few days after we got home, Ming Ming told me at bedtime, "I wish Emile was not so cute, everyone who came visit only cares about him." And another time, "You guys only cares about Emile, sometimes I feel like you don't see me at all when I got home." While I tried to make my case with her by pointing out how much time I spent with her after she got back from school, she said, "but you spent the entire day with Emile while I was at school, so you still spent more time with him," 

Now she is pretty okay sharing me with Emile while she does her violin practice and her homework. But she guards her story time before falling asleep jealously against Emile's invasion. The time I have to read to her while holding Emile, Ming Ming was so sad that I concluded that it is better to give Emile 2 oz of formula and send him Antoine's way while I preserve my special bedtime story with Ming Ming.