From Bobo's eyes

Recently I have been very busy, often leave early morning and return late. Therefore feel bit "guilty" that haven't playing enough with Bobo. Knowing Bobo loves books, every now and then I bring back few books to make her happy :-)

In one of Bobo's drawing book, here comes the dialog...

Tuomo asks "What is this?"
Bobo answers "Papa's house"

Tuomo, "Hmmm, this one?"
Bobo, "Papa's airplane."

Bobo, "Anniina's airplane".

Bobo, "Papa and Anniina's car."

Bobo, "Puha Pete (Bob the builder)" :-)

(Bit like Bob the builder?)

Tuomo, "What about this one?"
Bobo, "Mammaa."

(Bobo plays slider)

Bobo's teech

Teh once asked about baby teeth issue...

Bobo went for her second dentist check 2 weeks ago. Basically with 4 more teeth, Bobo's all milk teeth will be in position. Her bottom jaw needs to be monitored carefully, it may still be too early to tell. Perhaps once the adult teeth are in position, then can judge whether the bottom jaw goes bit front than the upper jaw. Anyway I am bit worried.

Lately Bobo had another ear infection, so she had to take some antibiotics. As a result, there is bit black stuff building up in her bottom teeth. That was dentist's speculation, and he requests us to brush her teeth carefully.

Dentist strictly orders that only give baby main meals, no snacks and milk given in between during the day. Try not to give juice but only water. We are not doing very well in this respect. Bobo likes snacks. Dentist also recommends to give 1-2 troche after each meal.

Today I went to buy a pair of MAM teeth brush for her, since Bobo has been biting the old ones. They are worn out. Well, these are not cheap teeth brush anyway, costs more than 7euro. Of course finally I bought correct troche, last time I accidentally bought kids chewing gum.

(MAM tooth brush)

This set of teeth brush is used for both parents and baby. Parents can use the longer one to brush while baby is using the shorter one. That's why there is a plastic ring to prevent baby put it too deep into the mouth. The other side of the tooth brush is mainly for baby biting. But somehow, Bobo is not interested in that but the brush head. :-( This set may not be the softest, since Bobo also has other brand of tooth brush is much softer, such as Jordan and Colgate.

(Jordan tooth brush)

I am overloaded

I haven't been able to update my blog for 2 weeks. Mainly because I am too busy to do so. Actually I am overloaded.

My evening study's third course is over now, there is a exam coming on this Thursday. The teacher is very demanding, besides group assignment there are also individual 2 bonus assignments. In addition to her course materials there are another 5 chapters to read. So far I haven't got time to read them. I feel bit disappointed :-(

While company's project manager training is giving extra stress. I am hoping to get IPMC International Project Manager Certificate in next spring. I also started to study Finnish again, perhaps because the PM training was conducted only in Finnish. And at work, one project need to be done by the end of this month.

And of course dear Bobo and home stuff...

TOO many things going on... I don't know how long I will be able to manage all at the same time without "be burned".

Just to cheer myself, perhaps one day I will have similar collection :-P

10.1

Happy Chinese Independence Day!

F1

Weekend's F1 Japanese Grand Prix in Fuji was so exciting! For the first time ever in the history, two Finnish F1 drivers Heikki Kovalainen and Kimi Räikkönen stood side by side on the medals podium, as the second and the third fastest of the race. While blue white cross Finnish national flags were raised, even busy Bobo stopped her baby stroller pushing and watched it :-) Tuomo is wondering if the race organizer had to borrow the second Finnish flag just for this special occasion.

( Heikki Kovalainen, Lewis Hamilton, Kimi Räikkönen )

I still remember clearly, in the end of 1980's I attended the first F1 exhibition held in Shanghai. Back then I was just in middle school. That day I was carrying a heavy bag full of all kind of F1 merchandise and advertisements and enviably watching the beautiful red Ferrari racing car...

Until 2001 spring, finally I had chance to watch the Sepang race personally. I stayed in Penang for almost 5 months as an exchange student. Though due to the student financial situation, I bought an entrance ticket worth of 700 Finnish marks (bit over 100Euro). It was an fantastic experience to watching a numbers of fighter planes flew over your head and shake the world.

Nobody expected few years late Shanghai also held it's first F1 race... Tuomo has always been saying, if the Finnish drivers perform well he would like to watch the race in Shanghai too. Heheee, since the next race will be in Shanghai. I guess we have to see next year...

Mumimmama has returned...

God has answered our pray...

This morning after getting up, I started Mumimmama hunting again. For some reason I looked again the same places I have been looking for many times. Suddenly, at the slot behind some dust I found Mumimmama :-) JIPPII!!!

(Mumimmama was found...)

(Family & friends portrait)

Bring you a eary Happy Moon Festival!

Reminded by Susan, then realized the Chinese Moon Festival is coming soon AGAIN...

I almost forgot it :-( It's said and pity to tell, in last ten years, I had never spent a single Moon Festival in Shanghai with my parents.

However, bring a early wish to all of you:

Happy Moon Festival!

Where are you Mumimmama???

"The story of Moomin valley" was created by Finnish author Tove Jansson. It took her 25 years to finish the whole book. In 1966 the book received the Andersen Award.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moomin
http://www.muumimaailma.fi/englanti/

Moomin valley lives Moomin family and their dearly friends. There is a meaning behind every Moomin story. It's not only for children but also for adults.

Moomin look like hippo, but they are not hippo. Children love Moomin characters, Bobo is no exception. At the beginning, I was not that interested in them, perhaps it was Bobo's influence, I started to like them too.

Bobo's grandma has been buying many Moomin books for Bobo. Thanks to Niuniu's mammy, she copied Moomin DVD.

Bobo has a set of Moomin characters. They are Mumimmama, Mumimpapa, Moomintroll, Little My, Sniff, Hemulen, Snufkin, Snorkmaiden, Snork. Because Little My is too small, Sniff has too sharp ears and Snufkin has a hat easily drop. I only allow Bobo to play all Moomins and Hemulen.

Bobo used to request Hemulen while she brushes teeth each day :-) Then there was occasion, Snork was missing. He was finally found under the carpet when I was vacuuming. Last week, Mumimmama disappeared as well, so far still no sign of her ;-(

Where are you Mumimmama? We MISS you....

New rain boots

There is nothing better than coming back to home and hugging my princess Bobo :-)

(bobo wearing new rain boots)

Haikko Manor

From Tuesday to Thursday I attended project manager training organized by the company. The training was held in famous Haikko Manor, which is 50 kilometers east north of Helsinki.

It was my first time stayed over night else where than at home after Bobo was born. I truly missed her :-)

The first known reference to Haikko Manor dates back to the year 1362, when it was owned by the Dominican priory of Vyborg. It was totally burn down on New Year Day of 1911. After a determined search the original drawings by Professor Armas Lindgern were found in the Museum of Finnish Architecture. The current Manor House was rebuilt since 1913 and completed on 1965. Today Haikko Manor functions as spa, hotel and conference center.

(Haikko Manor)






(famous yellow room)


(beautiful flowers)


(calm Gulf of Finland after rain - not lake)

(pond)

A special treatment Haikko Manor offers is the Super Cold Treatment -110C. Me and few of male workmates gained bravery to under take this treatment. We stayed there for 3 minutes. The world record was held by an Estonian for 18 minutes.

The best...

Imagine one day someone asks Bobo "Anniina, who makes the best cake?" Bobo replies without any hesitation "Of course my Mammy!" :-)

(mammy's cake)

In our family, there is a "Pulla Hiiri". A Finnish joke, translated as "Sweat bum mouse". Tuomo doesn't like other Finns love coffee, instead he drinks tea with milk. Whenever he drinks tea, there always be some cookies, pies , sweat bum or cakes. I made pies and cakes more frequently before Bobo was born. Now there is hardly enough time for this hobbie of mine.

After a busy week, finally today I have some time of own.

(beat egg with sugar)

(beat flouer with baking power)


(bake in oven 175C for 20mins)


(leave it cool)


(cut the cake to 3 layers)


(moisture the cake add fruits fillings)


(layered with cream)


(repeat for the second layer)


(add top layer)


(coated with cream)


(more cream)


(put decorations on top)

Bye bye my leisure time...

I started my International Business Acumen evening studies this week. IBA will last till next May. With everyday work, house work and Bobo, it won't easy to manage this study. I already feel exhausted this week with 2 evening sessions and today's full day workshop.

Tuomo had to stay at home of caring Bobo, which turns out to be an excellent experience for him. Bobo has strengthen the bound with him :-) Pity for our house construction.

Next week will be another busy week, I will be out of town 3 days for company training :-( I will miss Bobo, this will be my first official business trip after Bobo was born. I feel bit "jealous" that she turns to Tuomo more often lately ;-)

Here comes soup!

Susan recommended this soup. It is easy to make and tastes good too...

(egg sheet, prawn with vegi soup)

Ei ei ei

Before babies start to speak, you often wonder when they will do so. Once they do open the mouth, you often "complain" that they speak too much :-)

Bobo just learned to speak not a while ago. To recent, she was able to speak mainly some simple 2 to 3 words. Living in a multi-language envirnoment, babies do take bit longer time to get used to, digest and learn what to speak. Since Bobo goes to daycare, she has used to hear and speak Finnish in the daytime. Therefore it makes bit more difficult to learn Chinese. The only way is through me.

Matias's mum noticed that Matias is interested in Chinese TV ads, since then she turns the TV on very often. She found Matias understand way better Chinese recently. Well I guess the only trick is to practice everyday.

This morning Bobo was playing with Tuomo in the living room. Suddenly she discovered there is a little hole on Daddy's sock. She immediately said "ei ole Anniina sukka riikki" (not broken Anniina's socks). I realized that she just has said perhaps her first 5 word sentence.

After getting up in the morning, Tuomo brought Bobo to wash teeth. Bobo knows that I don't like her bring teddy to the washing room. She handed over her favorite sleeping teddy and said "nalle katso" (teddy watch).

During the daytime nap, Bobo was jumping in her bed and saying "nalle läntää, nalle läntää" (teddy fly, teddy fly). At the same time, she was waving the teddy up and down like an airplane :-)

Daycare lady recently mentioned that Bobo has entered so called "No" period. Which means, she most time replies only No for every request.

"Anniina let's change dipper." - Ei (no)
"Anniina let's go to eat." - Ei (no)

Even when I go to pick her "Anniina let's go home. " - Ei (no) Bobo replies.

Heheee, she is developing her own strong will now. Since she is able to express herself step by step, at the same time she noticed people around her can also understand her.

(little friends of Bobo)

What to cook and what to eat

"What do cook and what to eat" has always been a headache issue for me :( For me and Tuomo, it is bit easier. Now Bobo is aboard, I have to think all the time what to cook for her. Thank GOD, she goes to daycare, which saved 2 meals in a day ;-) Finland has so few Chinese, therefore there is no such thing called China town. Really envy Susan, my best friend who lives in Sydney. She says there is a little Shanghai, where you can find almost all the foods you can find in Shanghai...

There are plenty of Chinese restaurants in the capital areas, however most of them have lost original Chinese flavor. Their tastes are more or less Finnish Chinese style. For me a person loves sea food, it has been tough life living in Finland where people love eating meat and potatoes. Of course there are plenty of fish here as well. Most of them I hardly can call their names, the most famous is Salmon. But I feel it's too oily and fatty for me. I miss the sea foods in Shanghai, Hongkong, Penang and Barcelona...

This morning I dragged Bobo and Tuomo to visited the Asian shop in Helsinki downtown. The owner of the Asian shop comes from Malaysia, she used to have a small warehouse type of shop in nearby city Espoo. Till recent years, the business has been so good that she opened today's shop in downtown.

Saturday's Asian shop is packed with customers. After spending over 100euros and querying for 15 minutes at the cash counter. We were able to leave with full loads of shrimps, squids, shells and vegetables. Luckily today I even found famous "Zhejiang Shaoxing rice wine". Due to Finnish law, only special alcohol shop ALKO can sell any alcohol is stronger than beer, Aisan shop can only sell it "off the shelf". Now Tuomo can not laugh me using Koskenkorva (Finnish well known strong viina) cooking any more.

While Bobo is taking a nap, I rushed to start cooking. First is barberque shrimp, then some local Shanghai dishes. While almost everything is done, Bobo is awake too. It is time for lunch.

(barbeque shrimps)

(some Shanghai local dishes)

After Bobo eating two and half strings of shrimps, I have to admit Chinese food is the best in the world.

(Bobo eating barbeque shrimps)

Lunch after, the same question popped up "What to eat tomorrow?"...