Daredevil Isabel

Isabel is getting very brave these days and alway climbing new heights, literally. She now can get up on a chair by herself by just throwing her leg up on the seat and pulling herself up. Almost gave me a heart attack, but she seems to be super careful at the same time, which is good. Enjoy the video.



- Lei

The Sound of Silence

is music to my ears and surprisingly Isabel's too. You will see what I mean. Three weeks ago, Isabel started crying out every night in the middle of the night. We were starting to worry that we had to have her cry it out again which is not easy for me to bear or that she will have to sleep with one of us. Our theory was that since she is older and also has slept with me a few nights here and there for a few hours, she is crying out to want me to pick her up and sleep with her in bed.

Agnes and I agonized for two or three nights. What do we do if she cries? How long to let her cry? Do we need to permanently allow her to sleep in bed with one of us? etc.. Well, boy were we on the wrong track.

Luckily, I was not fully willing to give up on her sleeping in her crib and thought maybe if we gave her a new bed time routine, she would not cry out for me in the middle of the night. So on the 4th night, we took her to the room and turn the lights on. I read to her a few books while turning on her music soother. Once I turned off the lights, I also held her for 5 more minutes and just spoke to her in Chinese about her day and telling her goodnight. Between the nice blue lights from her soother and more time with me, she seemed calm and went to bed no problem. She didn't cry that night at all and slept all the way until 7am.

One more thing, because of all the extra bed time routine, we forgot to turn on the classical music we play her all through out the night. I started doing that after I came back from Chicago and saw that Jaime's sister did that for her baby Gabby and she seems to sleep really well.

Well, long story short, the second night I did the same bed time routine with her and noticed one thing just before leaving the room. Isabel turned off her soother music before she went to sleep. And it dawned on me. She was crying in the middle of the night before because the classic music was probably too loud. Once she woke up she could not go back to sleep and she couldn't turn it off herself, unlike the soother.

We tested our theory - still continue the bedtime routine as well and no more classical music. Well, she has been sleeping like an angel. I guess it was too late of an age for her to get used to all night music after having silence for the first 15 months of her life. Unlike Gabby who is probably used to it, it bothered Isabel and she slept soundly in my room because there was silence.

Moral of the story: Never jump too quickly to conclusions as we don't always know what's going on. Also every baby is unique. What works for one may bother another.

Motherhood is a constant guessing game and a roller coaster ride. It's challenging and lots of learning that is worth every effort :-)

- Lei

Isabel's New Ride

I got this for her 3 weeks ago and she loves it. She plays on it everyday. It's a toy that can be used 3 ways - first as a rocker, then as a tricycle with a handle I can push, then an independent tricycle when she gets older (I can remove the handle). very cool toy!

Playing with cousins

Isabel had so much fun playing with her cousins - Alec and Andy (Manuel and Dianna's son) this past weekend. Dancing, peek-a-boo, hugging, playing.


This collage is courteous of our talented Agnes. You can click on the collage to see a larger version



-Lei

Kittycat doll Isabel and Welcome to America Isabel Style

This is just too cute. She is getting more and more animated everyday. Enjoy!



- Lei

Isabel loves mommy's shoes

Labor Day weekend with Grandma Han

My mom got a last minute ticket to come and visit us over Labor Day weekend. Isabel had a blast. Even though she hasn't seen her in 4 months, I think she remembered her (maybe her voice). As soon as my mom came in, she just came to her and wanted to be held. Isabel let my mom hold her for a long time, which is unusual for her. Isabel was like that with us as well when we came back from Chicago.

I guess it's her way of expressing that she missed Grandma. The weekend went by very fast. The last two pics above was Tuesday morning right before my mom was leaving. It was almost like Isabel knew, because she was kind of quiet and sad all morning.

- Lei

So many changes in a month

Time is going slow and fast as I watch Isabel grow. She is only 16 months and has a whole life time of development ahead of her. At the same time, in the last month, she had some major changes

• No more baby bottle - in one day, she transition to drinking milk from her sippy cup and drinking juice from a sippy cup too
• Eating cheerios on her own - she loves cheerios. We get the low sugar, high nutrition kind. She can now pick up each one and feed herself. In fact, we bought a no-fill snack cup so she can walk around with it and eat on her own.
• Want to feed herself - for her meal, she also wants to hold the spoon and try to feed herself.
• She runs - When she walks with me to Safeway for example, she will run most of that time because she is so excited to be outside. Her running speed is a fast walk for me. I have to make sure to keep up with her. Those little legs are working
• Very cautious about what she puts in her mouth - we are lucky she is very selective and doesn't just put anything in her mouth. Even new food, she will be tentative and only try it. This will keep her safer
• She waves at people - to say hello or goodbye. Especially at safeway, she smiles at everyone and waves
• She raises her arm to be held - She would run to me and hold out her arms to motion she wants me to hold her.
• She knows when we are leaving - this is getting harder but we try not to make it a big deal. She knows when we are going out and not taking her. Sometime she cries a little
• She understands a lot of things we say - She may not be talking much yet but she knows a lot of what we are telling her.
• She "talk" all the time - in her own language. She will run on and on like she is telling us a lot. It will be kind of cool and scary when she actually speaks.
• She is afraid of daddy - We always thought that I will be the disciplinary in the family but apparently we are wrong. I can't hold my disapproving face too long without smiling or laughing - not very effective. Jaime can and sometimes she would be crying and she would stop as soon as he walks in and see his disapproving face. She is still sulking but no sounds come out. It's so cute and amazing to see. I guess Jaime also has a deeper voice which seems scarier to her. She is also afraid of Grandpa, maybe for the same reason.

- Lei

Just hanging out with Isabel

I was reading the latest vampire craze book "new moon" on the bed. Jaime went out to get diapers (what a good daddy!). It was a rainy afternoon outside - damp but also warm. Isabel decided to come over and just hang out. I pulled her up to our bed (which is pretty high) and she just started playing with her new snack cup full of cheerios.

I was not tense like I usually am when she is on my bed - perhaps she is older and I think she knows not to try to jump off the edge or perhaps I just feel more at ease as a mom. I was not trying too hard to play with her (not secretly worried that maybe I am no fun for her). I guess I have been a bit like that ever since she was born.

I used to babysit for money as a teenager but after that my contact with babies and toddlers is minimal. Every time I did have contact, I always felt like I didn't know what they liked to play with, like I was too adult for them. I remember a time up to I was 20 when I was the head of the kids pack and everyone did follow me around and I played with them all. Well, I guess I transitioned to full "adulthood" and felt disconnected instead with most kids.

Yesterday was another transition I guess. I felt at ease being a mom. I knew I didn't have to try too hard to be with Isabel. She was just happy to be with her mommy (that' me - I still have to pinch myself sometimes on that thought). She would get up once in awhile on her feet like she was surfing and then fall on me or on our soft comforter.

I started also doing peek-a-boo with her using my book. She loved that and started giggling (a heavenly sound). I would read a little and she would pull my book down, so she can see me. The old me would have been annoyed by the constant interruption. The book is really good, but I was happy to just let her do whatever with me. Motherhood is teaching me to practice patience everyday. It also takes so little for her to be happy. She is just a happy kid. We are very lucky.

It was just a nice afternoon spending some time with my Isabel while reading. I am enjoying motherhood immensely with all its ups and downs. I highly recommend it.

- Lei

Isabel's first Photo Shoot

My friend JuanPablo graciously offered to take Isabel's photos with his fancy cameras, as her birthday present. We all had fun that day taking pictures. This was about 2 months ago.

Here are some highlights of the photos. We entered one of them in the Cutekid photo contest. Can you guess which one? Wish us luck. Enjoy the photos.


- Lei

Gabby laughing

- Lei

Gabby playing with her toy

- Lei

Gabby playing in her room, hanging wiht mommy

- Lei

Gabby playing with the Dog

- Lei

Gabby dancing to Ninong's Beat

Enjoy!





- Lei