Halloween

Daddy and I had never been a big fan of Halloween.  This year, I had decided that it would be okay to see what the whole idea of trick or treating is all about, and also Lina<3 had a Cinderella outfit (from a cousin).  Lina<3 and I joined her Auntie Helen and her cousins for trick or treating.  It went well.  Lina<3 was so excited, and had a good time, even had a candy. It turned out that Lina<3 only likes the idea of candy (especially chocolate but does not eat more than a bite or two). Thank you Auntie Helen :)
While Lina<3 was out trick or treating, where was Serena:) ? She was home with Daddy, as I thought it was a little too chilly to be out with her.
From my point of view, trick or treating wasn’t as exciting as I thought it would be, but Lina<3 had a good time. Lina<3 had fun saying trick or treat when people came out of their house to hand out candy, and walking around to see which house would give out candy, lol.

What to do with all that candy? Lina<3 ate a little bit of it, and gave the rest away to Baba and PorPor.

We hoped that everyone (for those that celebrated) had a great Halloween, and Halloween weekend :)

To my little Serena:)

To my little Serena:)

My baby turned one years old already! I am such a proud mama, to have seen how you had grown this past year. It did not seem long ago that I was holding my little six pound baby... whom had quadruple in size (talking about weight here, yes weight, my arms feels it every day, but do not think it is a bad thing that I had said this, because I will always hold you regardless of how much you weight).

Anyways, my baby turned one years old! How fast time flies. Since my last post about your milestones, you had developed so fast. You had learned to walk since September, and walked really well since October by yourself with no assistant from the walkers. Serena:) you had learned to get out of the way when your sister comes charging at you (which is her way of running back and forth like a manic).  There were a couple of words that were said as well, such as something that sounded like a "no", says "bye, bye" really well, and something that sounded like "stop". Playtime is becoming a little more interesting, as you learned play with your sister, or just sit besides her and play, or scream/cry out loud whenever your sister takes something that you are really interested in. You imitate really well, either by us showing it to you or by just watching your sister's actions. When it comes to mealtimes, you, no longer like baby food at all (since September), anything that is too mushy or soft is considered a "no-go".  There is a love for crabs. There's a lot of kissing, hugging, and playfulness.  You give kisses just like Mommy taught you to, and today you initiated a kiss to Baba.

See how times flies, and how you had grown in the past year, from tiny baby who just sleep, poop, nurse, sleep, poop, nurse to my baby who walks, and screams /talking...

I love you so much.  It is hard to put into words how much love Mommy and Baba has for you.  Everyone loves you, which includes your sisters, brothers, grandparents, aunts and uncle.

I hope that you continue to feel the love around and know that Mommy and Baba are always here for you.

I also hope that you enjoying hearing about your birth story which I will continue to tell you, in the years to come, on every birthday.

I love you, Mommy 

Serena's milestones

My little Serena:) is growing up so fast, and developing at a faster pace than Lina<3 did, because she wants to play, and interact more with her jiejie (big sister in Chinese).


My little Serena:) is learning how to wave buh bye.  During breakfast time, I showed her how to wave buh bye, and her little hands just open and close, and open and close.  It was so cute to watch her watch her hands open and close like Mommy's because she was just as excited as I was to see her hand open and close. She is learning so fast. 

Also today, this evening with Baba (daddy in Chinese), Serena:) walked along the entire length of the couch. Baba did the same tricks (having a toy out of reach) I used to try, and get her to walk along the couch but it didn't work well for me.  It was amazing to watch her move her feet, one dragging foot after the other.  She is moving her chubby little feet :)


Speaking about chubby little feet, Serena:) walked by self with the walker for a longer stretch than her usual three to four steps. She walked from kitchen to Mommy's room.  It was shaky start. Even if she does not walk, she stand very well for a long period of time. That came with a lot of practice because if her jiejie is on the couch, Serena:) would stand by the couch just the see what her jiejie is doing. I am so proud of my baby Serena:) who is so quick to learn things because she wants for play with her jiejie.


Serena:) third tooth came out. It is the top tooth. It was peeking yesterday, and past few days, which led to a lot of clinginess and fussiness. Since it came out, she feels much better, and able to enjoy the day better, which is always a good thing.

NY Aquarium and Coney Island’s Luna Park

NY Aquarium
We were taking advantage of the nice weather at the aquarium, and donation day on summer Fridays, last Friday.  Lina<3 had read a little bit about the aquarium and seemed interested in fish from our own aquarium at home.  Our first time here went well for Lina<3 and Serena:) who was startled by the loud noises from the sea lion show. Lina<3 liked observing the smaller fish but not the bigger ones, as it comes to close to her and it frighten her a bit.



Luna Park

Serena:) first word!

Serena:) says "Ba ba ba ba ba".  It is her first word, and it is in Chinese meaning Daddy. At first, it sounds like babbling, but once we reinforced it, it sounds more like words. I love hearing it. It is so cute, it happens when she is usually playing. she had been saying for over a week and it only sounds cuter and cuter. Daddy loves hearing it, and stating, of course she would say Baba first :) Serena:) also says "ma" but only once or twice a day. But "bababa" she says more often during the day. Even Lina<3 recognizes  that Serena:) is speaking now. I can't wait til my little Serena:) speaks more and her vocabulary begins to develop.

our 4th of July weekend

4th of July was a rainy and start of the day. It ended well with some neighbors doing fireworks at nighttime. Lina<3 was so cute when the fireworks started. She likes the idea of firework and does not enjoyed it outside. So we enjoyed the fireworks from our window. She thinks the fireworks are too loud from outside and inside by covering her ears every time she hears it. The fireworks lasted 1.5 hours. And it woke up Serena:) who was in bed by 8pm. Serena:) was able to enjoyed her first fireworks her first 4h of July. They both got to stay up later than usual. Firework is the word of the day :)

BBQ Saturday was fun at Auntie Helen’s house :) Lina<3 loves bubbles. At Auntie’s house, Lina<3 actually played with a little girl that was there.  The little girl was so sweet, playful, and attentive towards Lina<3. And Lina<3 actually played with the girl, not just for a second, but the rest of the night. It was so cute to see her socially play with someone else besides family. They played bubbles together. They played inside the house together. Lina<3 tried to have short conversation(s)
with her, but all she really said is “bubbles”, “more bubbles”, and “what’s your name” (this question Lina<3 asked over and over). My little LIna<3 is learning about social play.


On Sunday, my little Serena:) pulled herself up to standing position for the first time. A new new milestone!  She had been pulling self up onto her knees for a week.

"Happy Feet" Crying Fest

Happy Feet  is a great movie for kids, or so I thought.  Since Lina<3 is 2 1/2 years old now, I thought that she may enjoy this movie.  Also, I needed something to distract her from her nap because she woke up so whiny for Mommy - it was Mommy this, and Mommy that.  At first, the movie was great, Lina<3 sat down, and watched it as I tell her what is going on, on the screen.  But as soon as Mumble (the main character in the movie) was born, the water works started.  There were times when Mumble was alone, Lina<3 kept saying, "mommy, mommy, mommy", pointing to the screen, and crying a lot.   I tried to explain to her that mommy was coming back, and Mumble is big now, and does not need mommy to go places with him. Lina<3 just kept on crying, and saying, "mommy" as she points to the screen.  My poor baby, with a waterfall of tears down her cheeks.  When she does not stop crying, it was time to put an end to the movie, almost 30 minutes into it. Don't worry, as soon as the movie was turned off, Lina<3 was fine.

These are one of my favorite things:

 

From the Sound of Music, this phrase/song comes from. I would like to go over some of my girls favorite things, at the moment.

Ahhh…. juice, first it was orange juice, now Lina<3 had moved on to apple juice. It was started from PorPor with the juice boxes. Lina<3 likes to be silly when ask to stay still and take a picture, lol

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lina<3 also enjoyed talking a lot. Some of her favorite phrases are no, come on, one minute, let’s go, shopping, wait, don’t move (as she tries to take my picture with a camera), right here/there.  And singing along with me (ABCs, Twinkle Twinkle, Row Row Your Boat) and sings along with Daddy (our song, John Legend’s All of Me).  She enjoys watching her favorite show on YouTube Qiaohu and now it has become a daily thing that she has to do.

 

Serena:) continues to enjoy playing with her turtle very much especially when she is sitting on the bouncy chair. Serena:) has also moved on to playing with more toys, speaking more often with a lot of baby babbles. She is considered now to be spit-y as she is drooling a lot whenever she put her hands or toys in her mouth.