Back from our week in Cabo (Mexico)

We stayed at the Grand Mayan in San Jose del Cabo and were not disappointed. Links to more photos here.

Happy Holidays, Happy New Year, Thank you .. and Welcome Noah?

Some of you are probably wondering if we ever received the gift you sent for my delivery, Fae's birthday, or Noah's birth ... yeah, we have another kid. His name is Noah. And, no, a birth announcement was never sent out. Sorry about that.

I will hem and haw and say we've just been so busy with two kids. But the fact of the matter is, we need to thank everyone and doing it via the blog is just not acceptable. We are sending out Holiday/Thank you cards this week and they should arrive before the New Year .. we hope.

Lots of love and health and happiness into the new year .. 2008.

the Cranes

Fae's fever is gone... sorry for the delayed update.

I didn't even think to update the blog until the 10th person asked me how Fae was doing -- is she over the fever? Yes, and in fact, the fever did not last more than 24 hours. As soon as it started, it was gone. We had emailed the news to her Pediatrician the first night asking for his opinion and information about what he's seen that could be going around, but by the next morning, Fae had fully recovered and the fever was gone. Her Pediatrician seems to think it is a viral infection and a neighbor mentioned that she has heard of many families who were afflicted recently with this strange 12- or 24-hour bug.

In any case, Fae spent some special time at home with Mommy and pretty much got to do whatever she wanted which was, mostly, watch her favorite shows (Barney, Dora, The Backyardigans, Jack's Big Music Show) and movies (Ratatouille) on TV. I think she will look forward to being sick next time ;)

Fae has a fever today.

Well, I should have known it when Fae wanted Mommy to take her to school today. She never asks for Mommy to take her to school! Not only that, she didn't want breakfast this morning and didn't eat her breakfast at school either. Yoel dropped her off as usual .. then, while I was dropping Noah off at his babysitter, Yoel calls me.

"Fae has a fever of 101.9 and she's got chills."

So I go to pick her up. When I get there, she is bundled up in her red "elf" jacket AND a blanket. She smiles when she sees me and her teachers tell me that's the first smile they've seen out of her today.

We head home but on the way I needed to stop at the bank. She was awful quiet in the back. When we get home and I go to unbuckle her out of her carseat, I discover she has vomited all over herself :-(

Into the house we go. I give her some (Grape-flavored) Tylenol for the fever. I told her it is medicine that will make her feel better and she takes it without a fuss! I pretty much offer her anything she wants: juice? milk? a show? Barney?

She wants the milk and she wants to watch Barney. This did not last long before she wanted to be held again. I held her until she fell asleep.

Thanksgiving in Tampa

**Potty training Update**
Full regression in Tampa. There was some success in our trip to Tampa but 3 big accidents in Grandma and Grandpa's house led us to putting pullups on her. Traveling was not helpful. While in pullups she was pretty resistant. She wouldn't even sit on the potty at school on Wed. We've taken a few steps back.

Fae (25 mos): Complex thoughts and sentences

Fae's thoughts and sentences are getting more complex.

In the past she would answer "Yeah! Banana!" when asked "Do you like Banana?". Now she will respond "Yeah, I like Banana. Do you, Daddy?"

This art piece is in Fae's bathroom and she sees it often now that she's going to the potty regularly:

She's often wondered who those people are. She thinks it's mommy and daddy. Yesterday Daddy proposed it was Fae and Noah in the picture. Fae thought about it and responded, "No, it's not Noah. Noah can't walk!"

Fae's great sense of smell

Fae has reminded us of her great sense of smell. At around 18 months, she knew the smell of an orange when one was being peeled out of her sight. Recently, Daddy was caught indulging in chocolate. He would eat a piece of chocolate out of Fae's sight, then go back to playing or reading with her. "I want chock o lock!" exclaimed Fae.

She is also interested in mints and we have given her sugar-free "Hint Mints" on occasion when she has asked. When Daddy was sucking on a cough drop recently (Fae smelled it), he told her it was medicine and not for children. Fae responded, "I want medicine!".

Noah (11 weeks) sits in the Bumbo.

Compare this with Fae sitting in the bumbo @ 8 weeks

Potty Training Update

Fae has been asking to go to the potty consistently. One evening, she asked to go to the potty about four times in the span of 30 minutes -- and each time she actually did something on the potty.

We'll see how she does when she is in school. We have learned that when Fae needs to go, she needs to go immediately and we are not sure how quickly the teachers can get to her in the classroom setting.

Welcome cousin Landon!

Landon Siri Nguyen was born to cousins Nick and Mimi Nguyen on Saturday, November 10 @ 8:44 am.

Landon was 5 lbs 10 oz @ 18” long.

Mimi and Trung's Baby Shower

The Wolf's hosted the shower so Fae got to play with Kevin.

Fae Update: 24-month check up

31" tall (10th percentile)
25 lbs. (25th percentile .. well-fed)

During the wait for the doctor Fae told daddy that she had to go to potty on two separate occasions. She went successfully both times!

Happy Halloween!

I'm a pumpkin!

I'm a sunflower

Mommy and Daddy attended the Halloween Parade at Fae's school

More Photos

Ok.. still no more diapers, but she is in Pull Ups.

Fae had a massive #2 in her big girl underwear at school yesterday. (The teacher threw out the underwear...) We are going to try using Pull-Ups on her (with her big girl undies over them) while she is at school. At home, we can remove the Pull-Ups and just have her in her undies since we can more closely guard her and make sure she makes it to the potty on time.

2 steps back but one step forward!

Fae Update: No more diapers (for now?)

Fae had a very successful diaper-free weekend. We started out by taking her to the potty every 30 minutes on Saturday. 30 minutes became 45 minutes and then 1 hour. She even took a 2 hour nap on Sunday and woke up dry! There were a few accidents (maybe 3) but it looks promising as she has asked to go to the potty a few times ("Poo poo") or says "Yes" when asked if she needs to go sit on the potty.

At Preschool today, Daddy will inform Fae's teachers .. and we see where it goes from there.

More birthday photos

Fae got to celebrate her birthday a 3rd time this weekend with the Phi family. Next year she's only going to have 1 party.
More photos

Noah: 8 weeks, 5 days update

Shots: 4
Weight: 10 lbs. 4.8 oz
Height: 21.75"

Movie: Fae tries on a hat and does a little dance

Fae decides to try on hats with her pretty little outfit.

Movie: Noah smiles for the camera

Noah smiles for the camera (video) while Fae instructs him to say "cheese".

Happy Birthday Fae!

Fae and friends have a blast at the Party Playhouse in celebration of her 2nd birthday!

MORE PHOTOS

Fae draws her first circles

Movie: Noah likes (doesn't cry in) the swing.

Mommy was having a difficult time putting Noah down today until she tried the SWING! HALLELUJAH!!

Fae and Emmy

Movie: Fae sings to Noah

Just hangin' out...

Noah is 6 weeks old today

Noah is 6 weeks old today. He continues to be a good sleeper at night, giving us 3-5 hour stretches of sleep. He immediately fusses when he has a dirty diaper (anal retentive?) He's been smiling and responding to voice and touch lately but it's been hard to capture on camera.

Daddy's new workout (lifting boths kids at once)

Passport Photos for Noah

Here are a few of the photos we took for Noah's passport. We're off to Mexico in December and he needs one if he wants to come back. ;-)

Toddler Burning Man

Family Friendly Potrero Hill hosted "Raise, Raze, and Recycle (aka Toddler Burning Man)". Lots of toddlers, lots of cardboard, lots of paint, and a lot of messy fun!

More photos

Noah: 8 lbs 10 oz and 20.75 inches...

Noah is almost 5 weeks old and has gained 26 ounces in 2 weeks. He also measured in at 20 and 3/4 inches.

Fae shares her bed with Noah

Fae's hair is getting longer

Rosh Hoshanah 5768

Fae takes Noah to see Enzo

Noah's Bris

Photos from Noah's Bris and the weekend activities

What's with the grumpy face?

This photo was taken before we headed out to see Noah's Pediatrician (4th day check up.) Noah received high marks at his check-up and weighed in at 6 lbs 10 oz. He only lost 3 oz in 4 days which is VERY good!!

Amelia visits Fae and Noah

Lydia, Ben, and Amelia stopped by to say hi to Noah.
More Photos

Introducing Noah Tuan Crane

It is with great joy and excitement that we announce the birth of Noah Tuan Crane. He was born on August 22nd at 9:13pm. He weighs 6 Pound 13 Ounces and is 20 Inches tall. Both Mom and Noah are doing well and are home from the hospital.

Photos of Mom, Noah, and Fae can be found here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/noahtcrane/BirthOfNoahAug_22


Yoel, Tina, Fae, and Noah

Fae and cousin Kevin

Fae and Kevin were pooped out after playing together

22 months today!

Fae's vocabulary at 22 months is very extensive to say the least and in the past few weeks we have heard some amazing progression.
Examples:

Daddy asked Fae to tell saba and safta that she will see them soon, "Tell Saba and Safta, I see you soon". Fae responds with "I will see you soon". We were all amazed to hear her correct Daddy's grammar (just like mommy does!).

While Daddy was putting Fae to sleep, Fae walks to her door (which is slightly ajar) and tells daddy "I'll be right back, ok?". Fae went to hang out with Mommy and never returned to bed. :-)

Clown Face

Daffy Dave came to Fae's school today for a show. Most of the kids had their faces painted!

SF Zoo

Fae went to SF Zoo today with cousin Kevin and friends Anika and Yanis. She really liked seeing all of the animals up close.

More photos from the zoo

Cereal and milky

Fae and Lily

Fae's friend and next door neighbor, Lily, came over for a playdate while her mommy and daddy enjoyed a dinner without Lily. We had our dinner, without Fae, the following week .

Emmy turns 4

Fae gets a pool

The weather has been warm this summer and Fae got to spent some time in her new (used) pool. This pool was used by cousins Sarah and David when they were young.

Movies from Camp Mather Jun 30 - Jul 6, 2007

Daddy, where ARE you ??
Daddy is hiding behind a tree near the lake at Camp Mather. She does a little dance at the end when she hears some music blarring from a van leaving the camp. We're not sure where she got those moves from!


Feeding Donkeys


MY BINKY!

PHOTOS FROM CAMP MATHER

Bubble fun!

Certainly at the top of the list for best toys. Fae LOVED pushing her lawn mower bubble maker around. We only wish we had a video of this.

A birthday and baby shower

Fae had a great time on Saturday playing with Kevin and Kaia at Kevin's birthday party (the big #3). She also got to spend some time on cousins Xiu and Jeff at their baby shower on Sunday. She also enjoyed her time with her Uncle Jason and Uncle Jackson.

More pictures from this weekend can be found here

Movie: Fae (19 mos) reads and sings to "Winkle" and "Genta"

First she tells Periwinkle and Magenta to "Sit Down." Then, listen closely as she attempts to sing the Dreidel Song (first book) to them. "Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel" is the song we sang (many, many times) on our trip to Cancun last November. After flipping through the 2nd book, you can hear her doo doo doo-ing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star."

Memorial Day Weekend

Memorial Day BBQ at Emeryville Harbor with Drew, Karen, Kyle, and Tina.

More pictures from Memorial Day Weekend

Gilroy (Bonfante) Gardens

More photos from Bonfante Gardens!