Note to Mina

Hi little girl,

I sure miss your Daddy. I'm not sure if I'm doing a good job balancing school, spending time with you, and keeping up with everything else. I hope I am. You're smiling a lot, not losing weight (not gaining a lot of weight either though), you're happy. I try to get you some fruites and veggies everyday, although you're still getting a lot of rice in your diet. That's ok, one step at at time. We go to a dance/movement class called Toddlers Tango, Babies Boogie, and you love it! We also go to a gym class on Saturdays which you do ok with. Next time, we're putting you back with Ms. Jenn's gym class though. There's something off-putting about this teacher.

You just love watching any type of videos on the computer, but most especially videos of yourself. We're cranking out videos at a rate of two per week, and you lap it all up. :)

You enjoy crackers and cookies now, and repeatedly ask for them for breakfast. I have to say no of course. Note though that I only give you organic crackers. We don't have any cookies in the house, but you usually get one or two from your Lola's (Papa's sister) house on Sundays.

You're bored with your toys already, and really have no favorites, although you still find joy in the newest one, a finger bunny puppet.

You talk a lot, and regularly say 3 word sentences. You can identify a lot of objects from pictures, like pigs, cats, elephants, socks, spoon, airplane...a lot more hun. I can't remembe them all. I think you're smart and gifted and I along with everybody else, pretty much adore you. I better follow up with a sibling soon so you won't get completely spoiled.

Note to Mina

Hello daughter. Yes, I'm your mommy, though you seem to think it's Grandma that's your mom. Sometimes I try to act immature about it all, and can't seem to stamp down my feeling of jealousy. I hope you forgive me. It really hurts Mommy.

Sometimes when Mama leaves the room, you cry like with a keening sound, like a hurt animal, and then run as fast as you can to catch her. I had hoped, when I was just dreaming about you, when you were in my womb, when I first cradled you in my arms, that you would cry like that and run like that for me.

Sometimes you'll look up at Mama and demand to be carried, and she'll put you in her arms talking, while you sit contentedly in her lap, leaning your head against her. I had hoped, when I first found out you were a girl, when I first felt your kick, when I would whisper to you as you lay in my womb, that you would sit and lean your head contentedly in my lap.

Sometimes when I come and try to carry you from Mama, you'll shake your head vigorously and cuddle up even closer to Mama. I had hoped, when I first saw your smile, and spent nights just looking at your face as a newborn, that you would refuse to leave my arms, your Mom's arms.

So, I hope and I wait, and I hope and I wait. Meantime, I remind myself it's better that you love your grandma, than if you couldn't stand her.

Note to Mina

You're getting more and more mobile now. At first, you insisted Mommy hold your hands, sometimes even both hands when you walked. Now, you get irritated when I try to grab your hands and you give a little shriek. It's quite ear-piercing.

I have to remember to make sure to keep calm. You're very keen on imitating now, and yo imitate the good as well as the bad. I'm really puzzled because you somehow learned the work "kurit" without me teaching it to you, and everyone else claims they didn't teach you either. When we say "where's the kurit", you lift your hand up and make a pinching motion. *scratches head*. It's cute cause you don't really know what it's for. YOu make the pinching gesture but don't know to pinch anyone.

We visited the pedia (I miss your old pedia Dr. Jackson) and you're only 21.6 lbs. I am sorry I ever fretted over you being tabaching-ching. You're too skinny in my opinion. I miss the folds in your arms and your thick thighs and legs. I miss your chubby cheeks! We're trying to fatten you up, but you're metabolism has definitely gotten much faster. We'll keep trying though.

Your favorite food right now is grapes, and yes, rice as well. You will absolutely stuff your face with grapes one after the other even if you haven't swallowed the rest. You're so funny.

You've definitely got a little personality. Sometimes, when we're in the parks or at the playground, older toddlers will cozy up to you. If you've had enough of them, you have no problem pushing them away!

I love you baby. Don't grow up so fast okay. What's the hurry? Cuddle next to mommy a little bit longer.

Note To Mina, My Crawling Fiend

As I struggle to type this up, you're crawling all around me, through my legs, cooing, playing. You're a really happy child. You still like to dance although because you've learned so many things recently you're not dancing with as much gusto.

Here are the things you've learned: the phrase "no more", complete with hand gestures and just the funniest expression. We tell you this to let you know you've been cut off food-wise. You're kind of a bottomless barrel right now.

You know champion! And you raise your hands with a look of triumph on your face. When we ask you "where's your kilikili?", you raise on arm knowingly.

You can point out Mommy, Daddy and Mina in a picture. When we ask you where uncle and Papa or Maam is, you turn to the right person. People would say I'm biased but I think you're a freakin genius.

I took you to the beach yesterday and you're still not crazy about the water. You like the sand though and have no problem crawling around in it. And you know what, it's one of the few things you don't put in your mouth automatically. Hehehe.

Last time I measured you you were 26 inc long. We'll need to find you a pedia soon for your follow-up shots.

My little Meaner Beaner, thank you for being such a joy to be around. I love bringing you to places because you're so easy. We don't even have to give you THAT much entertainment and you're entertained. And no matter where we go, there's someone who's got to comment about you, or stop us to stare and coo at you. YOu're not fazed about it at all! Seems like a good sign you're read for stardom (that's the stagemommy talking, sorry).

Right now you're such an mimic that we have o be careful what we do around you, lest you pick up bad habits. Oh and Daddy's got some wonderful nicknames for you: Godzilla and monkey. You know your Daddy wants you to grow up to be a ninja right? Everytime you pull at his face, and other parts with your iron grip and vicious nails (cause mommy gets a little delayed in cutting them), Daddy just laughs and encourages you. Everytime time you make something tumble down, that's when Godzilla is referred to.

We love you! You're birthday is in two months. It's coming too soon.

Note To Mina

It's been a while baby girl, since I've posted here about you. You're everywhere though so don't worry. You're in Mommy's Flickr account, you're also in my other blog. So don't worry, we're immortalizing memories everywhere!

So what's going on with you? As usual, you are getting heavier. Taller too. You're appetite is voracious, and anybody feeding you better have a quick hand as you complain very loudly whenever you're not fed fast enough. You're quickly losing interest in baby food as you notice more and more that the rest of the household does not eat what you eat. Ours look tastier does it? I've server you rice with munggo, which you seem to love, but honestly you like rice in general. You've eaten avocadoes, bananas, all sorts of crackers and bread, shredded chicken, even a bit of chicken corn soup. So far, no tummy troubles.

You're having some teething issues though, and had a fever last weekend I think because of it. Poor baby, we're trying to keep you as comfortable as possible. One night, I nursed you three times! Whew, that was a trying one for all of us, as you're still in the same bedroom as Mommy and Daddy. You like your crib though, you just stand and look over the railing at us when you've had enough of it and you're not afraid to voice your displeasure.

The best thing about you is that you are so funny with all the funny noises you have discovered you can make, and all the dance moves in your repertoire. You love music, you love to dance, and it's such a joy to watch you. Sometimes you'll make your own music when there is none so you can start dancing.

Keep it up, keep growing, keep learning. We'll never stop although you may hear us say "No" at times, its because we're trying to keep you from hurting yourself!

Here are some words you can say. I think I can officially announce that your first word is Mommy! Well, Mama but you know what I mean.

Note To Mina: Happy 6 Months!

Hello my little gem. We visited your pedia yesterday for your 4 month shots, except we're late as you're already 6 months. Long story, not important. The important thing are the following:

Weight = 18.8 lbs., 96th percentile in weight.
Height/Length = 27 in.
Head circumference = 17 in.

You're chugging along so wonderfully. You're trying to crawl. You can fall asleep on your own once you're tired from playing. Your sleeping habits at night is still spotty but you spend about half the night in bed now, half the night/dawn/morning beside me. Last night you kept waking up though. It wasn't a good night for me, because every hour you would go ehhh-ehhh-ehhh and squirm around. Please Mina give your Mommy some sleep tonight!

Apparently all that squirming didn't bother you because you woke up in one of the best moods that I have ever seen you in. You were all coos, laughs and smiles this morning.

This weekend you're getting your ears pierced. What? More pain, you say? Trust me, you'll forget all about how painful it is once you see the darling studs on your lobes. Love you!