The Planning Begins...

Dear Izzy,

It's the last day of January, Daddy and Mommy have to start planning for your big day! Daddy has booked the venue and as always, will be catering for your special event. Mommy designed your e-vite and will be sending them out to all our friends and family early next week. Daddy is going to make sure that this day trumps your baptism! And so the planning begins...

Love, Mom

Happy 47 week birthday!

Izzy, Izzy...we've been busy busy!

This past week, we went to a Kindermusik class and also to check out a daycare by our place. You enjoyed Kindermusik class alot! You were showing some of your dance moves to the teacher and your classmates and the moms found you hilarious! You love those egg shakers so Mommy went to buy a couple for you to play with at home.

Huntley Preschool by our house had an open house this weekend. So we all went to check it out. It's a small school with only about 12-14 kids enrolled. They have different schedules we can pick from i.e. full time (all 5 days, all day) or part time (2 or 3 days or half days) You were not too sure of the place. But Mommy and Daddy got all the information and we will have to check out more schools before we decide which one to send you too.

You are starting to get picky with what you want to eat...seems like you always want to eat what Mommy is eating. You have also started to understand the meaning of control and what food you eat can quickly become a control issue. So Mommy has started giving you choices and not push you to eat a certain food if you don't feel like it. It's really funny because you shake head for "no" to what you don't want and start pointing to what you want!

You are starting to know how to give and try to share things with Mommy. When Mommy asks you for something you have in your hand, most of the time, you'll give it to me. How sweet...

Your top right lateral incisor broke through your gum this week so now you have 6 teeth! I think the bottom ones are not far behind because you are starting to drool like a dripping tap again.

You have finally started saying "mama" or is it "mum mum"? You say it mostly during meal time so maybe you are asking for food. But Mommy would LOVE to think that you are calling out to me. I love you too, my little sweet pea!

Love, Mom

Look at how tall you are now!

Hosting Your 1st Playdate

Dear Izzy,

We hosted our first playdate at our house today. It was a brunch playdate that started at around 11am. Although it was pouring rain out there, it was so much fun. We were supposed to have 5 friends over but because of the torrential rain, only 3 could make it...but still, all the babies and mommies had a blast!

As usual, because Daddy wanted us to look good, he made nutella and banana mini french toast topped with vanilla creme fraiche and marinated "Harry's berries" strawberries. It was delish and everyone enjoyed it! You had one toast all by yourself, not to mention, in addition to the (how many?) others you had the night before when Daddy was preparing it.

Your friends who came were Caitlin (11 months), Nicole (10 months) and Max (15 months). Max tried to feed you puffs a few times, it was so sweet! And all of you played house together. After your little friends left, you took a 1 hr 15 min nap! Woohoo...I guess we will have to plan more of these playdates in the future!

Love, Mom

Nutella and banana mini french toast, vanilla creme fraiche, marinated "Harry's berries" strawberries

Waiting for her little friends...

Yay, they are here!

Max tried feeding Izzy some puffs

Happy 46 week birthday!

Izzy Izzy,

After we got home from Vancouver, we have started to babyproof the apartment because you have learned to open and close doors and cupboards. You actually like to shut the door behind you after you crawl into your room. WOW, I can just imagine what your teenage years are going to be like...so Mommy has made a mental note of "NO locks on your bedroom doors!"

Since our last appointment with Dr. Scott, he mentioned that we should start you on trivisol. It's a multivitamin that is designed to help meet the nutritional needs of a growing baby like you! You seem to not mind the taste of it and don't always spit it out the way you do to your anti-biotics when Mommy had to give that to you when you were sick with a UTI.

You are cruising more and more. Everyday you practice and now can walk the length of the queen bed and sofa. But it seems you much prefer your turbo-charged crawling as it gets you to where you want to go so much faster!

Don't point, it's rude! But you get away with murder. You point to everything these days. When I ask, "Where's Zoë?", you look towards and point to Zoë. Smart cookie! But when we go to church, you stand and look at everyone behind you and point at them...sometimes, you not only point but also start laughing at the person you are pointing to! It's hilarious!

Ahhhh naps...what is that again? You seem to have forgotten about the long naps you used to take in Vancouver. Night sleep is back on track again. Mommy is slowly weaning you off our 10pm dreamfeed now. I am going to miss that contented puffed-up cheek look you always give me after we finish our session! Sigh...another reminder that you are growing up!

Daddy has also upgraded you to your big girl carseat this week! I think you are much comfier in it...you can also see out the window! Let's hope you enjoy car rides much more in your new carseat.

Love, Mom

Feb 26, 09: Look at how tiny you were...your first time in the carseat on our way home from the hospital

Dec 16, 09: In your carseat on our way to Vancouver!

Jan 17, 10: Your new top-of-the-line big girl carseat!

Baby Gym Class

Izzy,

We went to a trial baby gym class today! Mommy is trying new activities everyday to see which would tire you out so you can nap better during the day because ever since we came back from Vancouver, you've been back to your bad napping habits of only napping 30-45 mins at a time.

So you had fun at the baby gym class. There were so many toys and equipment to play with! We did some gymnastics, rode on the swing, on the rocker and swam in the ball pit. You enjoyed playing on the equipment a lot but when it came to story, rhyme and circle time, you couldn't sit still and wanted to crawl and cruise around! The other babies sat nicely in their Mommies laps and listened to the teacher but Mommy was chasing you around the gym.

We are home and after Mommy fed you, we put you down for your nap. We'll see what happens...hopefully you sleep for longer than 45 mins today!

Love, Mom

First time in a ball pit...you started sinking like quick sand and didn't know what to do!

Izzy mesmerized by the bubbles

Happy 45 week birthday

Dear Izzy,

45 weeks already! Your top left lateral incisor came in a week ago and now the top right is not far behind it. Altogether now you have 5 and a 1/2 teeth. And you find it really funny to bite down on Mommy when we check and clean your mouth!

Since we switched you over to a straw sippy cup, you've been very independent and you like to hold the cup and drink from it on your own. So now at mealtimes, you frequently point to your sippy cup to signal thirst and Mommy gives it to you to hold yourself. Baby doesn't need Mommy anymore...

You are a very inquisitive learner. Mommy has heard on a few occasions you saying, "whazis?" while pointing to an object. Coincidence? Of course Mommy begs to differ! Your other favorite word is "okay", usually said after Mommy asks you to do something. It's so cute!

Since you get to crawl everywhere in the house, you have taken an interest in playing and even once, sampling Zoë's water and food. You go to Zoë's water dish and "splash splash splash" like you do in the bath. By the time Mommy found you, your clothes were all wet and there was water ALL OVER the floor! And the other time, Mommy found you chewing on Zoë's half-eaten cookie!!! Yikes! But since you have gourmet tastebuds, you spat it out instantly. This will teach Zoë not to hide cookies around the house anymore!

So what other trouble are you going to get into next week? Hmmm...we shall see!

Love, Mom

Going after Zoë's food again...

Goodbye Vancouver, Hello LA

We are going home today, Izzy. We were supposed to leave on Friday but Daddy didn't get enough of Vancouver so we decided to stay a couple more days.

You had an awesome time in Vancouver...you had a few playdates with your mini-friends, Kaiden and Maika, sampled a good variety of Vancouver's food, celebrated Christmas and New Year's, went shopping every chance we had and most importantly of all, spent lots and lots of time with Ah Kong, Ah Ma and Godma. They are certainly going to miss you!

Our plane ride back to LA was a late one and by the time we reached home, it was already 11pm and you were dead tired!

Mommy hopes you keep up your holiday sleep schedule of sleeping at around 7:30-8pm and waking up around 8am!

Welcome back to warm and sunny LA, baby.

Love, Mom

Sunday Brunch with the extended family

Happy 44 week birthday!

Busy Izzy...you turn 44 weeks today and you've been very very busy! You and Brooklyn have become fast friends, you were reunited with your Daddy, and you've learned a couple new tricks.

You and Brooklyn have become buddies and I know you are going to miss her when you go back home because Zoë does not play with you the same way Brooklyn does. She lets you wrestle with her toy and even pull on her hair! Brooklyn is so nice to you and you have so much fun with her.

Daddy finally made it to Vancouver and you missed him oh-so-much! He was scared that you forgot who he was but nope, once you saw him, you flashed him your adorable smile and gave a cheeky chuckle as if to say "hey, the funny guy is back!" Daddy was so happy you still remembered him after being away for over 2 weeks. You've changed your superglue target from Ah Kong to Daddy now!

So since Daddy's back, he taught you another new trick...to blow on your food before you eat it. You enjoy imitating what the funny guy does! Your fingers and hands have also been busy because now you enjoy opening and closing cupboards. We have to babyproof our kitchen and bathroom cupboards when we go back to LA now.

And oh, you've officially graduated to size 3 diapers...hooray!

Enjoy the next few days with Ah Ma, Ah Kong, Godma and Brooklyn because we will be going back to LA at the end of the week.

Love, Mom

Reunited and it feels so good!

Happy New Year...it's 2010!

Happy New Year, my little baby!

This past year has gone by in a blink of an eye. 2009 was great! So many firsts...we welcomed a perfect little baby into the world and in the past 10 months, watched you grow into this beautiful and healthy little person with so much personality.

2010 will be awesome too...we look forward to your other many "firsts" in the new year with the celebration of your 1st birthday, seeing you walk, then run and grow more independent each and every day. Just promise Mommy that no matter how big you become, you will still be Mommy's little girl.

Happy New Year, Isabelle. We are truly blessed to have you in our lives.

Love, Mom & Dad