expiration date 

today is aina’s 4th birthday, thus the annual birthday collage above.

and as for the past year’s milestones, it looks like being 3 years old really marks the end of the toddler years. aina keeps surprising us with new, grown up things:

1. she did rolling R today (this was on the 24th of August).
2. upon seeing some Japanese old paintings, she said, “oh, japanese writes from top to bottom, while we write from side to side… right, mom?”
3. she can draw better.
4. sometime in October, she can cut papers with scissors along a straight and squiggly lines.
5. she can fold her own clothes.
6. she puts her own shirt, dress, pants on her own now.
7. starting around 3.5 years old, she picks her own clothes without any of our help. so, she basically goes in to her room, decide on what outfit to wear for today, put them on and goes downstairs to find her shoes.
8. she managed to memorize almost every single song on the movie The Sound Of Music. this is one of them…
9. she no longer need step stool to pee, and tall enough to “pee like an adult”.
10. she can use chopsticks now!
11. she helps with house chores, like carrying laundry, putting up the clothes on the dry line, carrying the clothes back up to our rooms. and she put her own clothes into the drawers, so now, she knows where her things are more than i do.
12. she does well with dentist and even went through a teeth cleaning session flawlessly.
13. when we’re cooking, she’s the peeler. she peels garlic and onions.
14. she got one of her artwork displayed at a bike shop :)
15. she can take a shower by herself. from soaping up, shampooing her hair, and holding her breath and rinsing under the shower. we just need to keep an eye on her throughout the whole process and tell her if she missed a spot.
16. she can read and write her own name… and ari’s name… not mine, though.
17. she just started to learn how to ride two-wheeled bike. not successful yet, though.
18. she can ride the “like a bike” running bike very well. up and down hills, sharp turns, no problem!
19. she can submerge underwater without panicking. in fact, she likes going underwater now.

my favorite moment is hearing her saying, “i love you sooooooo much, binggi” while snuggling in bed. i know this moment isn’t going to last forever, but i wish it does.