Grandparents will arrive later today to stay with you for a week. Mom was in the kitchen making bun bo hue and I was cleaning up the house. You chose to hang around me. My guess was that you were intrigued by the vacuum. For whatever reason, thanks for keeping me companied. You sure are a fast learner. You already figured out where the power button after watching me turned it on once. You pressed the button and ran toward me. I guess the sound was not that pleasant.

Spending time cleaning up the house with you reminded me of my father. When I was a kid, my dad was not around often. He would only come home about a couple days a month; therefore, all the time we spent together I could remember clearly. One time he was home before Lunar New Year so he was cleaning up the house and I was also hanging around him. He was sweeping and singing to me a song that I could only remember a few lines, “Co loi khong nhan loi la hen / co loi ma nhan loi la ngoan.” Basically what the song trying to tell you is that if you do something wrong and you don’t admit it then you’re a coward. But if you could admit it than you’re good. He told me to repeat the song. So I did, but I changed the words a bit: “Co loi khong nhan loi la khon / Co loi ma nhan loi la ngu” (If you do something wrong and you don’t admitted then you’re smart / If you do something wrong, but you admitted than you’re a fool.”

Obviously my dad was furious. I could still remember the reaction on his face. He almost whipped my ass, but it was closed to New Year so he let me off the hook. I could see the little naughty in you just like me. Like father like son.

Today is your last day being a baby bear. You’ll be off tomorrow and get to stay with grandparents for an entire week before join the growing giraffes. Snapshots of you were posted on the front door this morning and you weren’t crying when I dropped you off. This is a good sign and I hope that you’ll enjoy your new class and get to meet new friends.

Yesterday your teacher took our family photo (mommy, me and you) off the bulletin board in your class. The reason was that every time you looked at that photo you started to cry. What made you cry my dear? Did you miss us or something? We miss you just as much my dear and we always think of you when we’re not around you.

What puzzled me though was that last week you teacher told us that you proudly showed off the same photo of our family to other parents every time they come to pick up their kids. That was really sweet of you. I really love that photo because you worn a really cute red Vietnamese traditional ao dai aunty Tram made for you.

Speaking of photos, we took some pictures of you showing off your bad-ass haircut. Mommy thought you look like a punk and had lost your cuteness so she made me chopped it off. I like your bald cut too and she’s right you look very cute that way. Thank you for letting me play with your hair. Baby Miles is one of my favorite photos of you. You looked beyond cool. I made a big print last night. I hope that it will turn out right so I can frame it and post it on our wall.

Sixteen months, you’re at the age of learning and discovering. You learn to do things by watching us, like you know that before you brush your teeth, you have to water the toothbrush and put on the toothpaste. You also learn to be very passionate. I showed you how to kiss once and you picked it up. If I ask you to give me a kiss, you would put your lips on mine, then you turn to mommy and give her one as well. You also know how to blow a kiss when I blow one at you.

When I take you out, you would wave to anyone you see. You gave people a cute smile when they waved back at you. You look at bit disappointed when you waved at people and they don’t wave back at you, not because they are ignoring you, but they simply just don’t see you. Life will be like that when you grow older. You don’t always get what you want, but don’t let that get you down my dear. Things don’t always go your way, but don’t give up.

Keep on head up and keep your hands high. Be kind and be friendly. Keep your spirit up and you’ll live a much happier life. You’re a very charming boy and we’re very proud of you.

I dropped you off at daycare this morning. Not only you weren’t crying, but you were also smiling. It must be the new haircut I gave you last Friday and the teachers complimented you on it. I didn’t cut your hair really short this time, but gave you a spike on top. Your mom thought it makes you look kind of a badass and she wants to go back to the cute cut. I am still debating about it.

Last Friday, you made me proud. You almost stopped crying when I dropped you off at daycare. When I handed you over to Ms. Meaghan, you scream out twice. She teased you saying that you cried simply because that’s the thing you do in your daily routine. I hope you enjoy your time there.

Ms. Meaghan also told me that you were dancing, clapping and enjoying yourself at the pep rally during school. I could just see in my mind the delightful spirit of yours. I hope you will keep that wonderful joy for the rest of your live. Keep up your lively spirit and be yourself.

You might be small (according to a stranger who complimented that you’re the smallest walking person she had ever seen), but you’re doing really well. I love the way you just wondering around the mall and trying to touch everything you’re curious about. When you grow older, you’ll probably will run into those comments. So be yourself and don’t let anything get into your head.

I don’t have too much experience with kids since you’re my first; therefore, I just go along with what my instinct tells me. I am so happy that you’re actually making my life easier by being curious and willing to try anything. I try to give you any food that you might enjoy and you response by tasting it. Most of the time, you’ll like it. It’s food to try different flavors, my son. You’ll appreciate the richness of food when you get older so continue to to be adventurous.

I apology if I make you listen too much of Miles Davis. I hope you enjoy listening to him as much as I do since you don’t seem to complain. Sometimes you uttered the words mimicking the trumpet lines as if you could pick up Miles’s playing. At time you hold the bottle of milk in your hands like you’re holding a horn. How cool is that?

Well son, it’s one in the morning so I better catch some sleep. I will write more for you next time. Love you more and more each day.

I took you down to the basement to help me with laundry. I flipped up the light and let you walked. You walked toward your own shadow, got on your knees and touched your shadow. It was one of the cutest things I have ever witnessed. You were so innocent and I love that so much about you.

You still cry every morning when I drop you off at the daycare. When I walked out the door, I sat outside, tied up my shoes slowly and listened for your voice. It took about five minutes for you to calm down. You’re making good progress, buddy. Even though I was not around when you were in daycare, I always thought of you. Mom told me that you were dancing with your teacher, Ms Natalie, when she picked you. Ms. Natalie must be your favorite teacher. You didn’t want her to go on break so you stood at the door yelling when I came in to take you home. Ms. Natalie told me that you were holding a girl’s hand when she took you guys on a buggy ride. Good choice, boy. She’s a cutie with the big eyes.

A bunch of us, five couples and five kids, went camping over the weekend. All we did was BBQing, chit-chating, hanging out by the water, sleeping in the tent and watching the World Cup through my laptop. As you can see, Duke was having a wonderful time playing with the water. Here is an adorable rendition of “Hom Qua Em Di Chua Huong” by Susie, one of our friends’ daughter.

It’s about time the little guy starts to walk. Two nights before, Duke discovered that he could walk on the mattress instead of sleeping on it. Through walky talky, I could hear Duke and Dana laughed out loud instead of settling down to sleep. Yesterday he began to take some drunken steps while clapped his hands. He has been able to stand on his own for about a month now when he’s into something exciting and forgot to grab onto something.

Cu Dao still cries every morning at the daycare drop off. Fortunately, he only lasted for about fifteen to twenty minutes after I left. I came to pick him up last Wednesday and he was playing with his classmates until he spotted me. The teachers continue to be very patience with him. They also figure out his schedule or his eating and sleeping habits. Duke is getting into the groove of things except for the crying in the morning.

Cu Dao is very aware of his environment and he knows exactly what he wants. He would keep on pointing his finger until we give him what he has in mind. At meal time, he wouldn’t eat until he could get something on his hands to explore. The more complex the object the faster the meal gets done. He eats well and drink lots of milk. In fact, milk is currently his favorite food/drink. He could drink milk any time and under any circumstances. We are very glad that he loves milk.

Duke got kicked out of daycare yesterday after vomited twice and could not return in 24 hours. Dana had spent a whole week with him yesterday so I could do my work. She also picked up him yesterday at noon and spent the rest of the day with him. I got caught up with my work so I took the day off to watch him. I also need to catch up some sleep and recover from coughing and soar throat.

My day had been just feeding him, watching a bit of World Cup and relaxing with Miles Davis: The Complete Columbia Album Collection. I am currently listening to Davis’s live and unreleased materials. The more I listen the more I am hooked on the way he plays. He doesn’t play a whole lot, but what he plays worth waiting for. I told my wife I’ll open a “Relaxin’ With Miles” Coffee Shop so I could drink coffee and listen to Miles all day. Even Duke digs Miles. He is sleeping with Miles on and daddy is typing this while enjoying Miles Davis at Newport 1958 with his all-star band: John Coltrane, Cannonall Adderley, Bill Evans, Paul Chambers and Jimmy Cobb.

If you’re going to listen to Miles Davis, might as well invest in Miles Davis: The Complete Columbia Album Collection. It comes out to about $6/pop and most of Miles’s albums are classic even his unreleased records. I am really digging his fusion direction. The more I listen to Bitches Brew the more I love electric Miles. His executions on these tracks are beyond beauty.