Beach Day @ Manhattan Beach

Dear Izzy,

There is no doubt in my mind you will be a surfer one day. You really love the ocean...ever since you were born, you fall asleep with the sound of waves crashing on the shore on your sound machine. And today, your first visit to the beach, you had no fear of the water...even though the water was freezing cold and the waves were big at times, you just wanted to be in the ocean. You were yelling and screaming when we took you out and back to Godpa's house!

You are a true California girl at heart!

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

Memorial Day in San Diego

Dear Izzy,

Daddy took us on a mini vacation in San Diego for Memorial Day. It was such a beautiful weekend...the weather was perfect and we stayed at a gorgeous hotel!

You did well on our first road trip. The drive to San Diego was about 2.5 hours but on our way there, we stopped for lunch and then proceeded to the resort.

You had lots of fun at the pool and sand pit. Although it was supposed to be a relaxing mini vacation, taking care of a toddler on vacation is not a vacation at all! When Daddy came back to LA, he had to go for a massage because you were too much for him to handle...hahaha. Mommy said that he should try doing it everyday with no help, then he'll know how I feel!

All it all, it was a great trip. Summer in California is beautiful and there are many other resort towns that we will have to visit!

Love, Mom

She loves BUBBLES!

No Fear

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!

8th Tooth!

I see the beginnings of your 8th tooth today! You were showing Ah Ma how you brush your teeth on Skype and had your mouth WIDE open and Mommy saw a tiny white line where your right lateral incisor is supposed to be. Now your top and your bottom jaw have the same number of teeth!