Neil Yan Dot Com

We took a leap of faith today and decided to cut Ben’s hair at home. We didn’t have high expectations for him to sit still; the challenge was trying to get him to sit still long enough so that we can take snips of hair at a time. Distractions with toys only lasted a few seconds, only until he felt a tug on his back hairs and the sound of scissors cutting away; then he’d turn his head quickly. I have a new found respect for hair stylists and barbers, especially the ones at Melonhead.

The toughest part of Ben’s hair cutting experience was cutting the hair around his ears. One snip of his ears and he’ll never get another haircut until he’s 10 years old. It was suggested by Sheila in mid-cut that we do it while he’s sleeping, but I’m not one to start a job, wait, and then finish later. “Let’s just get it done now”. Patients eventually paid off. Ben sat still enough (with tears streaming, I mind you) so that no more hair covered his ears. Granted, his hair cut isn’t symmetric anymore, but we did it!!

In the end, no blood was drawn and the tramatic experience was over and done within 5 minutes, for Ben and his parents. Next haircut probably won’t be until the end of the year. Lot’s of time to plan for that!

Ben has come a long ways since the days of just staring blankly into my eyes while sitting in his little rocking chair. He’s mobile, alert and curious about the world. Every day he does something that makes us laugh; especially when he tries to repeat what we said or imitate what we’ve done. The amazing part is he’s starting to put things together that make sense.

Case in point, today I took him into my office for a short visit (on my day off) after a long busy morning (doctor’s visit and then a visit to the drop-in centre he use to go to so that he can hook up with some of his old possie). On my desk is a wireless mouse which he started to play with. Unfortunately, he started clicking on things on the computer desktop that he shouldn’t have. So, I flip the mouse over, and turned it off, and the flip the mouse back over. Ben took the mouse, moved it around, figured that nothing happened on the screen, flipped the mouse over, and turned it back on. WOW! “Nice try daddy!” was his thought.

We started watching what we say around him lately. He’s started repeating words, and we’re afraid the one day we use the f-word, he’s going to repeat it. It’s almost inevitable, but we’d like to delay that day for as long as possible.

Today’s other WOW moments:

1) he said “thank you” when Sheila handed his apple back to him. Apple is his favorite fruit, mainly because it’s the only one he can say and recognize. “Appo” is all he can say when we hit the fruit aisle. And we can’t leave without him chewing on one, on the way to checkout.

2) It took me 7 minutes to put him to bed (and there was no crying either!). Usually that’s a 30-45 minute ordeal. His dad wore him down today.

3) He “asked” to go to the shitter while we were having dinner. He went up to Sheila and said, “Uggg…Uggg” (like he says when he pushes on the toilet). Sheila through him on the pottie, and presto!! Done! Usually we just through him on when we see a few signs, but he actually asked today!!

I’m looking forward to next friday already!!

Now that Ben’s developed his own personality, he’s always impressing me with the things that he’s learned over the months. It’s these things that appear in the most unconventional places or situations. Here is a list of some of those “cute” things.

1) I caught him “singing” to himself while playing alone in his room.

2) He understands “No”, but only when we’re around. Example, “Ben, don’t climb the stairs”. He smiles, walks away, waits for us to turn our back, and then climbs the stairs.

3) He’s starting to imitate our every actions. I plug the laptop into the wall outlet. He grabs a USB cable and proceeds to plug it into the wall. “No Ben!”

4) “Fun gow, Ben” translate to “Time for bed, Ben” in Cantonese. He puts his head down wherever he is; on the couch, on the hardwood floor, wherever.

5) He’s started blowing bubbles in the pool! Then inhales a mouthful of salt water.

6) Since he’s pretty much pottie trained, he does the “I need to go BAD!” dance in front of the toilet when #2 is calling and his parents aren’t quick with the buttons.

7) Every animal with four legs is called a “Woe-woe!”, except fish, which he says in Chinese “yeur-yeur”

8 ) He loves anything electronic…iTouch, laptops, AV Receiver, cell phones, Blackberries and remotes. He’ll pick up the phone and put it to his ear, but that’s where the fun stops. He doesn’t know what to say, or more like, how to say.

9) When his grandmother yells at him, he listens. When his parents yell at him, he laughs.

10) He sleeps like his dad, with his hand above his head.