Back to China: Day 4 - The Day My Son Had a Coke, and Day 5

Su Min's current life priorities are, in this order:

1. FOOD
2. Drink
3. Baba (Daddy) or Mommy depending on his mood
4. Ben

Even though he is weighing in at a healthy 26 pounds, food is his #1 priority, likely because he never chose when it was time to eat. For now, we let him have whatever he wants, hoping that in time he know there is always food around if he needs it. We brought a lot of healthy snacks with us, and our reserves are just about depleted. If he hears a wrapper crinkling, he is next to you asking to be picked up to see what you are doing. If he sees anyone anywhere eating, he starts to go crazy until you find him something too.

Once he has something in hand, he loves to walk, explore, throw stuff, jump on all of us and generally be barrels on fun. He loves to mimic both actions and words, like throwing his hands up when we say, "Where's Ben?" or hitting himself in the face to be funny. He has already learned the signs for "eat" and "more". He is making a LOT of sounds for still having an open palate, which is exciting at this point, and yesterday was helping me blow on his hot food, which is a great first step for later speech therapy.

Anyway, yesterday the group decided they wanted to go to the aquarium. I have pretty strong feelings about aquariums and zoos, but Tom pretty much insisted we tag along as the other alternative was sitting in the hotel room all day. On the way back from the aquarium the group wanted to stop for lunch. Of course, 12:30pm/naptime with two toddlers, all of my internal alarms were sounding-WARNING WARNING - TODDLER MELTDOWN - but we went along with the group's request. Luckily they found us a private room, and after the longest 15 minute wait some food came out-- and Su Min went insane. Screaming, crying, reaching for something. I got him fried rice, he batted it away. I offered the only other food out, noodles, he batted it away. I offered water, by then he was arching his back, hysterical. A mom from across the table said, "I think he wants the coke." Well at this point, I did what you do in China- I accepted the coke from the other family. I poured it all out in 4 little glasses until just a little was left and handed him the can. He swatted it away still screaming and reached for the glass. I drank half and handed it to him, and he chugged the glass down. There is no question, my son knows what Coke is and apparently loves it. Our little man is also DEFINITELY used to getting everything he wants!!

Feeding fish from a baby bottle.

Snoozed.

Feeding lettuce to the turtles.

Otherwise, things are good- Tom and another dad made the 20 minute walk to Pizza Hut last night for 10 carry out pizzas. According to their report, they were laughed and pointed at the whole walk back. One women offered to take them on her scooter which they politely declined. We had a pizza party in the hallway then, and today went to the park this morning. We are definitely a sight and many people took photos of us or asked to pose with us, especially all the American kiddos in our group.