Happy 21 month birthday!

Dear Izzy,

21 months...wow! So what's new this month? This isn't really new since you've been doing it for a while but Mommy thinks that you are a real singer! You love to sing and make up funny songs every day.

You also have a memory like an elephant. You remember events and people very well. You remember 姑姑 and 奶奶 even after they left. Another few more months and you'll be turning 2! Mommy has to start thinking about your birthday party!

Love, Mom

Getting ready to visit Ah Ma, Ah Kong and Godma in Vancouver!

Bittersweet Moments

Izzy, you did not cry when I dropped you off at school today...you gave me a wave goodbye instead! YAY, what a milestone! You have finally gotten over your separation anxiety.

When I came to pick you up from school, I asked you...
Mommy: So Izzy, do you play with any friends at school?
Izzy: Dino, mmuak mmmuakk! *purses lips together and makes kissing sounds*

Oh my goodness...that's the funniest thing EVER! I went home and told Daddy and he was a little concerned. He has been teaching you to say "NO, Dino!" when he approaches you. Awww, Daddy wants to be the only man in your life. Hilarious.

Love, Mom

19.5 months

Dear Izzy,

Your do more imaginative play nowadays. Mommy thinks you have an imaginary friend! And we noticed that you really love to "help" out around the kitchen when Daddy is cooking or preparing something. I think you might have his culinary gene!

Your vocabulary is also exploding at an accelerating rate...you probably can say about 20-30 words but understand about 200 and Mommy and Daddy really have to be careful when speaking in front of you. You are stringing 2-3 words together but have full on conversations with your babbling.

You run everywhere and never seem to need to stop. Where do you get all this energy from? You are such a crazy little girl, but I LOVE it!

Love, Mom

Helping Daddy roll out mini croissants for breakfast

Daddy's little sous chef

Happy 19 months birthday!

Dear Izzy,

You are getting better and better at stringing words together and you've been using the word "please" quite often much to Mommy's delight! What a polite little girl. You are happy and fun loving that I can't imagine a much "funner" age. I hate to see this one pass us by, but I know it is only a matter of time before this month has come and gone. The days of limited vocabulary are far and few between and your reasoning is growing by the minute.

You will run to Mommy when you get hurt and say "owie" and point to where you got hurt. Most times, you feel better after Mommy kisses your owie. Very frequently now when you want attention, you'll just tell me that you have an owie, even if you don't have one or it was the same owie an hour ago, just to get my attention and a kiss from Mommy. It's hilarious!

You also LOVE playing outside. Whenever you are in the house, you will go to where the patio is and say "yide", your short form for "outside" as you cannot really pronounce "s" yet. And you are so happy just coloring on the ground with your sidewalk chalk and riding on your car.

I cant get enough of your determined little self in trying to communicate with us. You are perfect in every way, and we couldn't be more blessed if we wanted to. 19 months-the best so far!

Love, Mom

Mommy & Izzy at the Zimmer Children's Museum

18.5 months

Izzy,

It's funny what you pick up, the other day, you called Da Da "Honey" because you hear Mommy call him that all the time! You've also learned to scream out "MINE!" when someone tries to take something away that you want and your newest fascination are bellybuttons, yours, mine, everybody's.

Temper tantrums are common nowadays too as you try to assert and test your boundaries. It's hilarious sometimes when you lie down in the middle of the grocery store and throw one! Your imaginative play is also developing and you love "cooking" for Mommy!

You look so different from the crawling baby a few months ago. You are definitely a little person now, with attitude and everything!

Love, Mom

Izzy enjoys art, just like Mommy!

18 month Baby Wellness Checkup

Dear Izzy,

Today we went in to see Dr. Scott for your 18 month baby wellness check up. You weigh in at 20lbs 7oz (4%) and you measure 31.75 inches in height (50%). Your head measures 47cm (64%), no wonder why your regular 12-18 month t-shirts without snaps on the side are difficult to pull over your head!! It's kind of hard to dress you nowadays because you still fit in 6-12 month old bottoms (although for pants, they are always too short as you are average height) but you fit in 12-18 month old tops.

Dr. Scott is happy that you are now in the 4th percentile in weight. We all think it's because you have started loving milk. You drink about 18-24oz of milk a day!

Your imaginary play has developed. You still talk to your stuffed animals but now you also pretend cook and feed them. It's the cutest thing ever! Seems like you are quite the maternal little girl.

Mommy and Daddy cannot stop talking about how funny you are right now. It's great when it's at night and when we are both in bed, sometimes we just burst out laughing just talking about the things you did during the day. You definitely complete us.

Love, Mom

Happy Year and a Half!! (18 months)

Happy Year and a Half, Isabelle!!!

You are growing up into a little girl now...it's unbelievable how fast this past 18 months have just gone by in a blink of an eye.

Your terrible twos have definitely started early. You are now throwing crazy tantrums! You fling yourself onto the floor (not caring where we are) and start screaming and kicking your feet. You even did this at the 99 Ranch Market! People were staring at you but you didn't care...you have no shame at all!

Lately in the past few months, the only time that you can sit down quietly is when you watch your favorite TV show, Ni Hao, Kai-Lan. You have picked up several words from that show in Chinese! Mommy's so proud of you. You now know how to say "ye ye" (grandpa), "ma yi" (ants) and "bao bao" (hug/carry). And the rest of the time, you are very busy...you are always busy! Mommy has given up cleaning up your toys during your nap because you really like everything better scattered on the floor in the living room, and you manage to undo all of my cleaning efforts in less than 2 mins after waking from your nap.

I see your other cuspids coming out...I think that's why you are not sleeping so well these nights. Due to this, your 2nd nap is back on some days. It's hard to schedule playdates when Mommy doesn't know if you will need a 2nd nap or not. Some days when you don't need a morning nap, you just roll around in your crib talking and singing to yourself. The other day, you managed to take off all your clothes, including your diaper. Daddy was shocked when he went to pick you up from your crib.

How I wish I could just bottle you up at this age. You are such a funny little person who cracks both Mommy and Daddy up and always leave us in stitches.

Love, Mom

Uh oh...BUSTED!! (Always getting into some mischief!)

We put you in time-out but it seems you are enjoying it.

First Cuspid

Izzybelle,

Mommy sees signs of your first cuspid (also known as the canines)...the lower left one. Your gums look quite swollen, poor baby. You are not eating too well these few days. They must hurt! But the good news is, afterall your cuspids come out, you will be free of any teething discomfort for quite a while, until your 2nd molars come in, which will be after your 2nd birthday. Hang in there, big girl!

Love, Mom

Last First Molar is Out!

Hey Izzy!

Your last first molar is out...YAY! The molars didn't really bother you too much, thank God. So now altogether, you have 12 chompers. YUM...no wonder you are enjoying your meats more.

Love, Mom

Happy 17 month birthday!

Happy 17 month birthday, Izzy! Another month older...you are growing up too fast.

You have taken a liking to money...YES, money! You like notes but right now, you like coins better...but I am sure you will like notes more than coins in the very near future! You like to slot coins into the piggy bank...you are so focused when you do it. Hopefully, you'll grow up to be a good saver!

You are running quite well now. Before it use to take you a second to get from one spot to another, now it takes you a nano-second. It's CRAAAZY! You are so fast, you are like Houdini, and disappear from Mommy's sight all the time. I can't even blink nowadays!

Not only are you Houdini, you are also the Monkey King. During meals, you don't even want to sit in the high chair anymore...you are always climbing out of them! Mommy really doesn't know what to do with you at mealtime these days.

And when you want to, you follow directions very well. But you do have the "selective-hearing syndrome" where you only hear what you want and when you want. Oh, the joys of toddlerhood!

You have also developed the feeling of empathy. Empathy is the ability to not only detect what others feel but also to experience that emotion yourself. It's really comical when you watch Ni Hao, Kai-Lan and start crying when Tolee cries or when Kai-Lan gets hurt. The other day, you started crying when we were watching some nature documentary and 2 of the baboons were fighting! We really have to monitor what you watch so you won't get upset.

Oh gosh, what new things will you pick up next month?

Love, Mom

Izzy enjoying the water taxi ride @ Granville Island in Vancouver, BC

More Molars!

Dear Izzy,

More molars just popped up probably a couple days ago! But you've been so well-behaved that Mommy didn't notice anything. Both of your 1st molars on the bottom have erupted. It looks really painful because your gums are pretty swollen but you are such a trooper. So now leaves the top right 1st molar...I am sure it's not far behind!

Love, Mom

16.5 months

Mommy needs to find a way to get Father Time to slow down! You are 16.5 months today and are a ball of energy. Seriously, the more I look at you, the more Mommy wonders where the little tiny dependent baby went to? You are this feisty, demanding and totally independent little girl. You no longer want to be carried, mostly wanting to go wherever you want to go.

You are starting to string 2 words together. Your first word string is "no more". Whenever you finish eating something, you sign and you say "no more". You are also a stuffed animal lover. When we go shopping, you often beeline to the stuffed animal corner and hug all the animals. You will also usually pick a stuffed bear and walk around the whole store. When we have to go, Mommy tells you to put the "bear bear" back because he lives in the store. Sometimes you throw a fit because you want to take him home with you! You enjoy riding on Mommy's back, whenever I am laying on my belly, you come and sit on my back and press a "button" (which is anywhere on my back) to tell me to start to giddy-up.

Mommy and you flew into Vancouver by ourselves today. Mommy felt like supermom carrying you in the ergo, one hand pulling our 50 lb luggage, the other hand wheeling the carseat and lugging a heavy carry-on luggage on my shoulder. I think I was carrying at least 50 lbs on my body, half of my own weight! People were clearing a path for us when we were walking through. You were so good on the plane, although I think you might have peek-a-booed to death the 3 passengers sitting behind us. An old couple sat beside us and the grandma was so in love with you! She even helped carry you a couple of times...you really charmed her. After playing, you fell asleep in Mommy's arms for about 1.5 hours, you didn't even wake up when the flight landed...we were the last ones off the plane because Mommy had to eventually wake you up! Thank you for being such a good girl!

Love, Mom

My happy little frequent flyer

Happy 16 month birthday!! NOOOO!

Busy Izzy,

Your new word this week is "No!"...it actually sounds more like "Naw". Why do you have a southern twang? Seems like everything Mommy asks you to eat or do is "Naw". I thought I wouldn't have to deal with this until later but I guess you are way ahead of the game!

Nowadays, when we tell you "night night" you pick up your Lulu and your soother and walk yourself to your bedroom. It's the cutest thing. I am glad that sleep is not something we have to fight about...you have learned to enjoy it!

You have caught a case of "stranger danger". It takes you a good 10 mins to warm up to a new person or a person you don't see around much...especially if the person is in your "territory". The other day when Godpa came to drop off the car to us, you were screaming your lungs out because you usually see Daddy in the driver's seat and then when the building manager came into our apartment to replace a battery in the thermostat, you got all nervous and ran to Daddy. Even though you've seen these people around, when they come into your "territory", you get anxious. It seems like it happens with more male than female.

Your gross motor skills have also improved tremendously. You LOVE to climb and your hands and feet are very well coordinated! We really live at the park these days because we are there after almost every nap. Mommy's so glad we live close to such a great park where you can expand all your energy. Mommy really has no time to do any other things than to find stuff to entertain you.

Because you are so active and always on the go, Mommy has considered putting you into school/daycare during the day so I can get my work done. But since talking to our Mommy friends, Mommy's going to wait until we get back from Vancouver to make any decisions. It is so true that you have the next 18 years of your life to go to school and I shouldn't be in a rush to put you in school. I should just enjoy the time I have with you right now. You will always be this age once and you are WAY too much fun! I am actually enjoying this stay-at-home Mommy business! Who knew?! We are so lucky that Daddy's hard work lets us do just that. We love you and thank you, Daddy! xoxo

Love, Mom

Top Left Molar

Izzy,

You have graduated to growing molars now! Today, you took Mommy's finger and put it in the back of your mouth and took a BITE. Mommy was expecting to feel nothing because it is supposed to be all gum back there but OUCH, Mommy felt something sharp! Your top left molar is starting to come in now...let's hope the rest of them won't bother you too much.

Love, Mom

15 month Baby Wellness Exam

Dear Izzy,

It's that time again...your wellness exam and your final vaccinations until you reach 2 years old. URGH! This time, Mommy is going alone with you and we have to hold you down while you get your shots. That is one of the hardest thing a mother has to do, see her little baby in pain. Today you got 3 shots: DTaP, HIB and Varicella (chicken pox). You screamed so loudly that everyone, even the receptionist was scared of you. What can I say, Isabelle, you are a little bit of a Hollywood drama queen!

Today you weighed in at 18lbs 4oz. (1%), you measured 30.5in in height (50%) and 45.75cm in head circumference (45%). Dr. Scott said you are growing well. He also tested your cognitive development by asking you to follow a series of simple instructions. He spinned a top on the ground and asked you to go and pick it up, change hands and then give it to him. You understood every word and he was very impressed! Even Mommy was impressed because half the time when Mommy asks you to do something, you don't! Dr. Scott said that is called "selective attention and hearing"...hahaha. He also said that you are moving around very well as he saw you running around the waiting room before you were checked in and then climbing up Mommy's leg. He also told Mommy to look forward to more talking from you. We should always narrate our day to you to expand your vocabulary. WOW!

The next time you go back and see Dr. Scott is at the end of August for your 18 month check up.

Love, Mom

Happy 15 month birthday!

Happy 15 months, Izzy! Another busy month has flown by...it seems like time is going by faster and faster these days.

So what have you been up to this month? You now recognize a whole array of fruits and veggies. It's because Daddy loves bringing you to the farmer's market every time he gets a chance. Now whenever we are grocery shopping, you point at all the fruits and vegetables you like, for example, strawberries, pear, grapes, oranges, broccoli, carrots, avocado etc. A lot of times, after you point at the fruits, you want to eat them! Mommy has to bring fruits to the supermarket now or you'll throw a tantrum.

After watching "My Baby Can Read", you've also learned the hand signals for Itsy Bitsy Spider and will sometimes simultaneously do it while watching it on TV. You pick things up really fast now! When Mommy or Daddy reads you your bedtimes stories, you also point to whatever we are reading about in the book. You especially love pointing to the red ballooon and the cow in "Goodnight Moon".

As for speechwise, some new words you've picked up are "woow woow" for dog, "yummm" when food is delicious, "uh oh" for accidents, bringing me to the kitchen pantry, pointing to the cupboard and saying "cookie", "mum mum" (sounds more like mem mem) for food, "be be" for your big fuzzy stuffed bear and "ba bu" for bubbles. Sometimes you even speak in really long "sentences" but the only thing is Mommy doesn't know what you mean?! You're vocabulary is growing every single day!

You LOVE the park. Your favorites are the swing and the slide. You always pull Mommy towards the swing so I can put you in it and push you. And you're so brave nowadays, you go down the slide yourself! Sometimes Mommy thinks you are going to give me a heart attack whenever you are all crazy at the park!

I also think you are ready to transition to 1 nap a day. Your waketimes have lengthened and it's hard to put you down for your 9am and 1:30pm naps. So Mommy is going to slowly push back your 9am nap to around noon and then eliminate your 1:30pm nap altogether. It's going to be a cranky couple of weeks till the new schedule is established. But on the bright side, once you are down to 1 nap, it will be soooo much easier to schedule playdates!

Love, Mom

Cooking breakfast for Mommy...

Cookie Monster

Izzy LOVES the swing!

First Dentist Visit

Dear Izzy,

We went in for your very first dental visit today! Boy, was it an adventure. When we arrived, you headed straight for the play area. You had so much fun, playing with the toys and coloring. Then when it came to your turn to see Dr. Robert Smith, you started to cry and clenched your jaw down so tight like an alligator! But Dr. Smith was able to make you open your mouth by giving you a toothbrush to chew on and he checked out the 7 toofers you have.

Mommy was a little concerned about the size of your teeth and asked Dr. Smith if they looked too big for your mouth and he said that right now, your mouth is probably too small for your teeth. With time, your mouth will grow but your teeth will remain the same size and so they won't look too big anymore. Dr. Smith mentioned an underbite because you flashed him your fake smile with your top teeth slightly behind your bottom teeth. He said he won't be able to tell right now and it might just be a habit. What has Mommy been telling you? Don't smile like that! I think you do it on purpose because it looks so funny.

Love, Mom

Izzy and her fake smile...

Happy 14 month birthday!

My dearest Izzy,

So you've turned vegetarian?! You haven't really been eating any meat these few days. Mommy tried to make you chicken, beef and even meatballs in tomato sauce but you wouldn't eat them. You only eat your broccoli, carrots, peas and pasta! Those are your favorite vegetables. You do like your seafood though...you enjoy shrimp and fish. But still, Daddy's going to be very sad if you really turn vegetarian on him because he is looking forward to cooking you many of his recipes from his repertoire.

On another note, you have totally weaned yourself from nursing. A couple of weeks ago, we were down to your bedtime feed and the early morning feed. You phased out your bedtime feed first. You would rather roll around in the bed while Mommy reads your bedtime stories than nurse and then a few days later, decided to phase out the early morning feed too. You used to wake up around 5am and Mommy would nurse you and you would go back to sleep for an hour or so. For a few days, you would wake up at 5am, but push Mommy away when I try to nurse you. So I would just put you back down in your crib. Nowadays you don't wake up at 5am anymore! YAY...you would sleep till around 6-6:30am. Mommy is very glad that the weaning went well and there were no struggles but also at the same time quite sad that our nursing sessions are over for good. My baby is truly growing up.

What Dr. Scott said was true. Once the nursing session stops, your milk intake will increase. You've been drinking more and more milk after you weaned yourself. I think we are up to about 8-10 oz of milk a day now, which is a great improvement! But you still like your milk a little bit sweet (I don't blame you after being exclusively breastfed) so we have to mix it with a bit of yogurt drink.

Trying to run is the new skill you are practicing these days. You can walk quite well now and always want to be put down when we are out. You have extremely "itchy" fingers and try to touch everything within reach. When you try to run, it's funny because you would walk really fast and throw yourself into open arms. You understand so much more words that you can say and can follow simple instructions. The new words that you've been saying this week are "hi", "wow" and "weeeeee".

Since we are in Vancouver, in the mornings when you wake up, you would go into everyone else's room and wake them up. You go to the side of the bed where they are sleeping and scream/laugh and point at them until they wake up and pay some attention to you. You are such a menace! No one is allowed to sleep in when you are around. Also, when Ah Kong takes care of you, you climb up and down the stairs, take dirty clothes from the laundry room and throw them all over the house and sometimes you walk him to the front door and point to it. You do that because you are asking him to take you to the park across from the house! You tire both Ah Ma and Ah Kong out. They are going to have a vacation when we go to Toronto for a week!

You are so much fun now...I knew you were a cheeky one but didn't expect the cheekiness to emerge so soon. Mommy really doesn't know what is going to be in store for her when you enter your terrible twos! Actually, I think it already started!

Love, Mom

Progress...

Hi Izzy!

Daddy hasn't seen you in a week now and he misses you so much. You've progressed so much since he last saw you! Here's a video taken just a few days after leaving LA. You can walk so fast and far. Everyday when we talk to Daddy, he asks us if you are walking all over the place now, he has no idea! Daddy will be surprised at the improvement you have made so far!

Love, Mom

007

Izzy,

Your 7th tooth joined the others today! No wonder you were all cranky the last couple of days. Mommy thought that you were coming down with something again. But it was just a tooth! It's your left lateral incisor. I am sure the right one is not far behind!

Love, Mom