CRYSTAL AND ISABEL This is a weblog for Crystal Sun Zhao and Isabel Sun Zhao. As parents, we'd like to keep the records for them as much as we can.

Weight: 12.5kg

Height: 88cm

H.C.: 49cm

Finally, Crystal has come back Toronto with Grandpa and Grandma. They left ChuangChun, mom’s home city, July 22th, and arrived in Shanghai, dad’s home city, July 23th. After staying with mom a couple of days, Crystal arrived in Toronto 11pm July 27th.

Crystal has changed so much that I won’t recognize her if we meet on the street. This is her recent picture.

Sadly, Crystal doesn’t know dad too well after 7 months seperating. Althrough she still knows who her dad is, she doesn’t want dad hug her in the first week. But the relationship between Crystal and dad is getting better every day…

Sadly for me, as a father, Crystal is still in China because her mother has been stuck in China. It has been half a year now since I sent her back to China with Grandparents. Sometimes, I talk with Crystal on the phone. Crystal still can’t say too many words yet, but she calls me “Dad” loudly sometimes. It sounds she misses me too, as much as I miss her. I have posted some more Crystal’s pictures sent to me by my brother-in-law. She looks like a big girl now, doesn’t she?

Crystal is still with Grandparents, uncle, and aunt in China. Fortunately, she will come back Canada soon. From Crystal’s point of view, I think she is pretty happy. She has more people to play with, eat happily, sleep happily, and grow happily. I don’t know her exact weight, but I heard she gained a little bit gradually.

Finally, Crystal has a chance to go back to see her grandparents, uncles, aunts, brothers and sisters… There is a lot of stuff for her to enjoy.
We went back together Dec. 31, 2003, and arrive Shanghai Jan. 1, 2004. So, actually, we passed the New Year’s Eve on the flight. Unfortunately, the weather in Shanghai was too cold for Crystal. It was around -7 degree. Plus the long flight, Crystal got a cold immediately on Jan. 2, 2004. So, we decided to take Crystal to Wendy’s parents’ place, which the weather was more comfortable. Crystal left for Changchun on Jan. 3, 2004, and arrived at the same date. It took Crystal weeks to fully recoverd. This is the first time Crystal got sick. Poor Crystal. On the other hand, Crystal finally got to see her grandparents, which all love her very, very much.

Weight: 11kg
Height: 77cm

Believe it or not, Crystal is one year old now. It’s amazing experience for us as parents to see she grows up that fast. Now, she can walk, run a little bit, say a few words, use hands and fingers to express what she wants to say… She is just too lovely.

As a Chinese habit 抓周儿, we put many stuff on the floor to let her pick up her favorite. The stuff includes paper, book, pen, calculator, ruler, chocolate, twenty-dollor bill, two-dollor coin, scissor, cellar phone, badminton ball, kitchen shovel, necklace, and cosmetics. Crystal touches almost each one, except the book, I think. Looks like that she likes to try all different things. The things she plays most are celluar phone, chocolate, badminton ball, necklace, and cosmetics. Definately, Crystal is a very modern girl. 🙂

Crystal has been practicing walking for a while. She could walk by holding funitures, or chairs for a while. But, today is different. Around 6pm, after I just got home from work, suddenly I saw Crystal stood up by herself and walked two small steps without relying on anything. She did that one more time after 5 minutes. Wow! The first step is always important.

Jinsong came Toronto yesterday evening. When Crystal wakes up this morning, Jinsong comes in and play with her. Crystal smiles to her and touches her hair and face. Jinsong bought a lot of GAP clothes to her. When I dress her with the new clothes, she is very happy.

Afternoon, we go to LAI PO PO restaurant, and we know sister Jiajia will come back Toronto after two weeks. Crystal will have a sister playing with her.

From Sep 4th to Sep 9th, Crystal spent 5 days with dad alone while mom was outside of the city. It had been quite an experience for me. Taking a baby is a 24-hours work. I had to sleep early, get up early, wake up to calm Crystal in the midnight a couple of times. Besides that, I needed to feed Crystal solid food three to four times, and milk three times each day. Also, Crystal and I went out to gardens or parks playing three times a day. Adding them together, there is not too much time left for me to take a break. Always I need to worry about whether Crystal had eaten enough food, should I change a diaper for Crystal, how long would take Crystal to fall asleep this time.

Now I has a much better understanding of how mom is under such a high pressure each day for the last nine months. I felt quite relieved the last day when mom would come back soon. 🙂 Just like how I felt in the last lap when I ran for 3km.

I felt quite apprepriated for these five days I spent with Crystal together. Now I know everything about Crystal, her move, her sound, her smile, her cry…