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.

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.

A trip to the phlebotomist

Lina<3 loves to play doctor and pretend take care of patients' boo boos or whatnots (most of the time her patients are Daddy and I).  Lately, she likes to give shots with a infant medicine syringe that I had lying around but never used, so it became part of her medicine kit (oh, which I still have not been able to find a good one, a medicine kit, that is).  Lina<3 also likes to call the doctor when Daddy or I get "hurt". So a trip to the phlebotomist (on Saturday, March 29, 2014) was just what she wanted to do when we told her that she was going to doctor's office. It was scary for us because we didn't know how she would react to the blood being drawn. As the technician got the needle ready, cleaned her arm with alcohol, I told Lina<3 exactly what was going on. Lina<3 was not worried or anxious at all, as I held her in my lap throughout the whole process, even when the phlebotomist had to try another arm because it did not work on the first time due to her small veins. My little Lina<3 was so brave. There was no crying, and no whining. Just my big girl saying "okay" to everything I was telling as it happen.

It was a bittersweet moment for me. I wanted her to need me but I wanted her to be a big girl and cry at all. Who would had thought that she grow so fast?

Lina<3 got a coloring book afterwards, which she was excited about. She has been preoccupied with her new coloring books as soon as we got to the car, and after we got home.

I am glad that getting blood work went well for my little Lina<3 ... She took off her bandages too, such a big, and a brave little girl. She is my girl!

First of Many Conversations

To my little Lina<3
How are you doing? I hope that you will have a good night sleep tonight. You usually sleep well without waking up in the middle of the night.
I had the greatest phone conversation with you this afternoon. It was the first phone conversation we ever had. It was so cute, and adorable, and Mommy could not be happier. It made Mommy smiled a lot. While Mommy was on my lunch break, I called PorPor to check up on you, and you answered the phone. Usually I called PorPor daily throughout the day, while you are spending the day with her, and she puts the phone to your ear, and you do not say anything, but sometimes presses buttons on the phone, and ends up hanging up the call.
So today’s phone conversation went like this.
I called. My phone said the phone call went through but no one answered on the other end.
Mommy calls again:
Mommy: Hello ma! (expecting it to be PorPor)
    No answer.
Mommy: Hello ma, ma, ma?
Lina<3: eh eh eh (baby babbles)
Mommy: Lina<3, is that you?
Lina<3: eh ehe ehee (more baby babbles in excitement)
Mommy: Hi Lina<3!
Mommy: can you say hi mama
Lina<3: mama, mama
Mommy: how are you doing?
Lina<3: mama, mama, mama, baba, baba (daddy in Cantonese)
Mommy: what are you doing?
Lina<3: (baby babbles……..) baba
Mommy: baba is at work, you will see him later.
Lina<3: ehe, ehe  (more baby babbles)
Mommy: did you eat your food today?
Lina<3: No! ehehee ehee (more baby babbles)
Mommy: why didn’t you eat?
Lina<3: eh eh ehe ( more baby babbles)
Mommy: okay Lina<3, did you take a nap nap?
Lina<3: nap nap
Mommy: yes nap nap, will take a nap nap? fan gau gau (to go to sleep)?
PorPor realized that you are talking to Mommy, and asked if you called Mommy or not. Lina<3 refused to pass the phone to PorPor, and fussed when the phone went o PorPor.
Lina<3 in the background, go eh eh, screamed a little because Mommy had to speak to PorPor for a little bit. The phone went back to you.
Mommy: say mama
Lina<3: mama
Mommy: say buh bye mama
Lina<3: mama
Mommy: buh bye
Lina<3: buh bye

I was so happy after talking to you, and looking forward to more conversations with you on the phone especially while Mommy is working. Mommy misses you very much when I am at work. I had to call Daddy right away to tell him about the conversation.  This is going to be the first of many, many, many conversations!
I love you always, muah.

Last few days of March....

To my little Lina<3:

Hi princess, it has been a while since Mommy has written to you here. It has been extremely busy on my part. I know that you may not notice the difference, but there are many things to prepare for and many things to look forward to in the next few months.

First things first: let's catch what has been happening in the last two week.

During playtime, you had learned to stack, and sort shapes :) Mommy is so proud of you, and will continue to practice with you every day, so you can get better at stacking, and sorting. You have learned how to throw, and kick a ball.  When Mommy watches you throw the ball, it is so funny, because you use all your strengthen to throw the ball but it does not get very far.  The way you kick the ball is funny as well, you just walk into the ball, and that is what you call kicking, when Mommy says kick the ball.  You are learning to slowly swing your foot to kick the ball, but that is nerving wrecking because it looks like you are going to fall.  Mommy does not remember when you first started to run, because it feels like it just happen so naturally a few months after you learned to walk.  At times, you run so fast, and Daddy & I always worried that you are going to fall or run into something (like the wall).  You learned to climb up on to the couch, by lifting your legs up to your toy next to the couch, and onto the couch.  Today, you had climbed onto the couch with no difficulties at all, and you went to the couch by yourself, (without Mommy there).  Mommy explained to you that you should always have Mommy or Daddy on the couch with you, so that you do not fall and hurt yourself.  It is fun watching you toss yourself around on the couch. throw yourself on the pillows, and laughing up a storm.  Lina<3, it is fun watching you empty and fill up containers, toy boxes, tissue boxes, and your old diaper boxes.  You love to hide things behind your back, underneath your legs, between the couch (when you are on the couch), and underneath the blankets and pillow (when you are playing on Mommy's bed).

Reading time is always fun for you.  The favorite books for nap time and bedtime are "The Runaway Bunny" and "Goodnight Moon" by Margaret Wise Brown.  Those two books are a must read before nap time in the afternoon, and bedtime in the evening.  Sometimes it is not about reading, but turning the pages that is most exciting to you as you hold your bear with the other hand.  You turn the pages so fast that Mommy do not get to read the entire book.  Once we get to the end of the book, and Mommy says, the end and bye by to the book, you wave to the book good bye.  As we read, we sit on the rocking chair every afternoon, and evening.  I love reading time, it give us more chances to snuggle, hug, and cuddle.  It is also a way to relax you as well :) before sleeping.

The symptoms of your eczema has been minimal to none.  We are continuing to moisturize your skin daily because it is good for your skin, and keep you nice, and soft.  Your scratching has been kept under control with daily doses of antihistamine, as prescribed by your doctor.  With less scratching, the discoloration on your skin has almost disappeared, and your skin tone has even out.  The cradle caps on your scalp has been controlled with daily brushing, and moisturizing with extra virgin olive oil after washing your hair.  For the two weeks, you have a diaper rash.  The Triple Paste diaper cream works well but does not make it go away.  The diaper rash always comes back, sometimes it is bright red, and other times it is light pink.  The rash have bumps but that usually disappears fast.  Mommy is changing your diaper every two to three hours.  I do not understand why the diaper rash is sticking around for so long.  Even when you were a newborn, your diaper rashes never last two weeks, not even a week.

There are many new dishes that you have been trying.  Some you like, and some you do not like.  I will posting that later on with pictures, and recipes.  You are feeding yourself with a spoon but not more than a few spoonfuls...either you get tired of feeding yourself, or you are not getting enough food into your mouth because some of the foods fall down on your bib.  When it comes to using a fork, it is a little more difficult for you to use.  You could put the fork in your mouth if there's food on it already.  We are trying to transition you to a training cup without a soft sprout, but you do not like it at all, and it is something for you to get use to.  It has been harder to ween you off the bottles because you do not like to drink your milk from a straw or from a cup.  Maybe Mommy needs to put away all the bottles, and just use the cups.  The amount of water you are consuming has been very little, since we started using your new cups.  Every once in a while, you get some orange juice from a cup through a straw.  You have been a little bit of a picky eater, if you eat all your lunch, it is not guarantee that you will eat your dinner and vice versa.  That has been frustrating because you did not gain much weight from your last two doctor visits.

You walk up, and down the stairs now, with me holding onto your hands.  There is no more crawling up the stairs, even if I let you.   You would rather hold onto the wall, and put your foot up on the step to walk up.  You like to walk down the stairs :) even if I am carrying you down the stairs, you make indications that you walk.  One step at a time, sometimes it is a big step.

The sleeping process at night time has gotten a lot better.  You are sleeping through the night.  Sleep for you means sleep for Daddy and I.  There are some nights where you get a little fussy but you fall back to sleep on your own.  It is so cute when Mommy goes in to check up on you.  Most of the nights, your buttocks is up in the air while you sleep.  Or you are still holding your doll and bear to sleep.

Temper tantrums has been more frequent and short variables at a time.  You have developed this whiny nature though, that can last the entire day.  It can be so frustrating because you do not give any indication about what you want.  You point at everything, and just whine. It does not happen that often, maybe once or twice a week.

Looking back on the past two weeks, makes me realize how fast you are growing.  Your milestones are becoming more subtle and more frequent.  You are now almost 16months, wow! enough said right, lol

I love you very much.  I continue to be amazed by your adorable nature, and learn from you.

The Spoon and Self Feeding

Since last Christmas, Mommy had gave you a spoon to hold during lunch and dinner time. Having you hold the spoon was the only way to get you to eat more. And you have been eating better. After holding the spoon, you learned to put the spoon in the bowl to play with your food (when Mommy puts the bowl in front of you on your tray). You would try to scoop the food onto the spoon and try to feed Mommy. Usually you do not scoop up much food onto the spoon but the concept is there, so it is a good step. This past two weeks, Mommy helped you scoop food onto your spoon, and assisted you in feed yourself by bringing the spoon to your mouth. This past three days, you are trying to feed yourself.  You actually scoop up some food onto your spoon and bring it to your mouth, all by yourself, ALL BY YOURSELF! :) It is funny because most of the food falls down on your bib. I am glad that you are learning to feed yourself. With more practice, Mommy knows that you will enjoy your meals more. Mommy is so proud of you for this new milestone.

Following Directions

Lina<3, you are getting better and better at following directions. Mommy started to direct you to do simple things like close the cabinet doors that you were not suppose to open, and pick up you toy. Mommy points to the item that I want to you pick up, you stare at it for a while, you point to it and then you go and pick it after Mommy repeats "go pick your toy".  Mommy gives you other instructions such as "give it to me" or "give it to Daddy" and once you understood that the words became "give it to me (or Daddy) please" or "may I have it please". You also know how to put things back in its place when Mommy ask you to put it back, and you tend to do it, but not all the time. Also, other requests such as "where's your duck, or book, or bear?", you go and find it, and show it to Mommy. These request works best when you are in a fussy, and whiny mood.
99% of the time, you follow these instructions.

Paperback books

Books, books, you love your books. When you are playing or being changed, your books are always nearby. With your books, you are learning to turn the pages yourself. It is easier to turn the pages on a board book then it is on a paperback book. However, you are learning to use your thumb and index finger to figure out how to turn the pages. Sometimes you get frustrated, and look for me to help you. Mommy encourages you to try again or give you a little help. Other time you turned the pages with easy efforts, and you just continue to "read" the book.  It is so fun watching you learn, and problem solve (trying to figure out how to turn the pages without getting too frustrated).

Sunday Outing-Barnes and Nobles

Lina<3, you went to a bookstore yesterday.  We went to Barnes and Nobles and you had a ball. Mommy  usually order your books online, so this was such a nice experience for you. You got to socialized with the kids that were there. You walked around in the children's area, and picked up (pulled) every books that you could reach. The bigger the book, and the higher the shelf where the book is locate, the more like you were going to reach for it. You did not want the baby board books, you wanted to look at the older children's books with chapters, and with small words. Lina<3, you went up to kids, and stood next to them. Other children thought you were so adorable and cute. You talked loudly, and tried to follow other kids around, lol. There was a play table in the game area, and you played with some pieces of Lego. Mommy  let  you walked around where you wanted. There was bookshelf with some stuff animals that you tried to pull down, and put them all on the floor. Mommy tried to teach you that you have to put things back where they belong. Now getting you ready to leave was a little problematic as you did not want to leave. You had to be picked up, walked over the register, and purchased two board books :)

You enjoyed your new books :) Let's  hope that it stays in one peace and not be a victim of being chewed up, lol (like your other board books).

Learning New Things...

Lina<3 at 14months, you are growing up so well. You are so simply adorable. You have learned a lot, and still have more to learn. Majority of the time, the only word that you are saying is "dada". But you do know how to say, bear, duck, mama, book, box, and ball (at least it sounds like ball, lol). The only time you say "mama" is when you wake up in the middle of night screaming and crying. 

A new thing you have learned is "maw-ah". Kisses from Lina<3 to Daddy and I. It is so cute. You go "maw-ah" and stick your lips towards us and kiss us.

We are learning the learning the letter "A". Mommy shows you how to write it with your crayon in your notepad (that you scribble on). Mommy says "A" repeatedly and sometimes you repeat after me. When you repeat after me, it sounds like "A" after a few tries but other times it just sounds like "ah".

Lina<3, you are also learning the concept of big and small. Mommy shows you big and small blocks, big and small balls, big and small Hello Kitty toys, big and small books; and big Mommy and small Lina<3. It gets repeated throughout the day during playtime. You have not understand it yet but you will with practice and repetition.

Slept the Entire Night!

Wow! this is a milestone for you, Lina<3. You slept the entire night on Wednesday. It was amazing. I was so happy for you. Mommy did not need to give you any antihistamine (prescribed by doctor, and used a bedtime when needed for itchiness and causes drowsiness) which usually helps you slept for the whole night. Mommy checked in on you once before Mommy goes to bed, and you were fine. I hope that it will continue in the future. Sleep is so important.

Backwards...

Lina<3, you have started to walk backwards. It is so cute, watching you back up from Mommy when Mommy is trying to make you laugh with silly antics. At first, Mommy did not understand what you were doing, as you just backed up a one step, stop, and walk sideways. Now Mommy knows that you are walking backwards, and it looks like you are trying to moon walk. It is so adorable watching you back up, one step back after the other. Sometimes, you end up walking back into the wall.

Mommy loves it when you learn new things.

Scribble Mania

Time to learn how to scribble, Lina<3. Look at you hard at work with the pictures below. Scribbling leads to better hand coordination to help hold your utensils and toothbrush later on. You started to scribble toward to the end of December 2012 with a shopping list (first photo) and took Mommy’s pen and scribbled away-Mommy kept the shopping list :)

Pinching

Lina<3, you had been poking and pinching Mommy for weeks now. I knew that it was something new that you were trying but did not realize that poking and pinching could develop your fine motor skills. The way you pinch hurts and leaves marks on Mommy, ow (when Mommy says "ow" it makes you laugh and do it again). You poke hard as well. Most of the time you poke Mommy and sometimes Daddy.

 

Read all about it from the BabyCenter article below:

Toddler fine motor skills: Poking and pinching

Last updated: March 2012

  Toddlers are sensualists above all else — they love to smell, taste, and touch. If you give your child plenty of fun-to-feel materials to keep her little hands busy, she'll have a great time developing their strength and agility.

Nontoxic modeling clay invites hand and finger movement as your child rolls, shapes, punches, and molds the material to her liking. A few simple tools, such as a lightweight rolling pin and some plastic cookie cutters, stretch this activity out longer. If your toddler seems reluctant, try a few different products — she may not like the smell of one or the feel of another.
The softer the dough, the easier it is for small hands to shape. Real edible dough is, of course, the ultimate treat, so when you bake, give her some leftover dough to shape into her own "pie" and cook it with yours. (If baking isn't something you have much chance to do, check out the frozen dough in the freezer section of your grocery store.)
Don't forget "gak," the gooey preschool favorite made from equal parts white glue and water (often colored with food coloring), which kids just love to squish and squeeze.
Outside (or in the basement, if you have a big one), a mud pie kitchen or a sandcastle construction zone creates opportunities to use those same manipulative skills. As your toddler molds a tower and carefully tops it with a feather, she won't even realize she's honing her fine motor skills — but you will!
Get more ideas for helping your toddler develop fine motor skills.

Easily Frustrated

My baby Lina<3 is now consider a toddler. You grew up so fast, and beginning to learn so many new things. What is new with you as you approach 14 months, you are learning to do things on your own. You like to do things on your own but sometimes it is hard which gets you frustrated, and look for Mommy to help.

You like to drink with your sippy cup and put it back on the edge of the kitchen table where you took it from. You always make sure that when you put your sippy cup right side up on the table. There are times when it is a harder to put your cup right side up and you get easily frustrated. However you do not give up and you kept trying until the cup was right side up. After you are done, I applauded your success.

There has been numerous times, the past few days where you are trying to take off your sweater by yourself. It is always a struggle because you can unzip the zipper and the bring the sweater off your shoulders. The sleeves of the sweater is a harder, and you get frustrated when you can not get it off by shaking the sweater off. Lol, it is the cutest thing watching you do that, watching you shake your arms, hoping the sweater will come right off. You look to Mommy for help after struggling for a while, and cheeks are all flushed, and Mommy help you by taking off one of the sleeves for you, so you can finish what you do are doing.

Mommy likes the fact that you are beginning to learn how to be independent and self sufficient. It is a milestone and Mommy is proud of you! You will continue to more and more things. Mommy will always be here to help you, even when you are a preteen, teenager, young adult and adult.

A Flight of Stairs

It has been months since Mommy first let you climbed the stairs. On Monday, Mommy let you climbed the stairs to go upstairs, and you just a few steps. Mommy stood behind you the whole time so you do not fall. There was a lot of cheering you on to keep going. By the end of the day on Monday, you climbed up a whole flight of stairs, all thirteen steps, one step at a time, and all by yourself. You were so proud of yourself, and full of smiles after Mommy clapped for you, and gave you kisses for your accomplishment. On Tuesday and Wednesday, you went up the stairs with a lot of enthusiasm, and energy. It was like you mastered it, as you went up the stairs so fast.
Today, going up the stairs is getting a little boring for you, as you are getting distracted by the "things" on the steps (which is really nothing at all). You are going up the stairs slower, paused in the middle of the stairway. Mommy has to keep interested by putting socks a few steps above you so you continue to climb the stairs. I think that Mommy standing behind you is a distraction but you are not ready to climb the stairs completely by yourself, (Mommy is not ready for that yet, and it is too nerve wrecking). This evening is was scary, you were suppose to be playing in the dining room with your toys while Daddy watches you from the kitchen and Mommy had to run upstairs for something. I guess you missed Mommy a lot, and want to see Mommy is, so you climbed up the stairs by yourself. By the time Daddy realized that you were playing with your toys, you were already three away from the top of the stairs. AHH... see what I mean Lina<3, nerve wrecking and scary! It was both Daddy's and my fault for not watching you better, the good thing is that you were okay and nothing happen. I need better gates at the bottom of the stairs and on top of the stairs, ASAP.

Let's not get away from the fact that my little Lina<3 is going up the stairs by yourself and doing big things as you are getting bigger. Mommy is proud of you! and so is Daddy! Muah, muah, muah (kisses for my little Lina<3)

Milestones...

My baby is One Years Old! WOW  Let’s examine all that you accomplish before turning the big O-N-E.

The chart below is from Babycenter:  with my comments in red

Child's Age	Mastered Skills (most kids can do)	Emerging Skills (half of kids can do)	Advanced Skills (a few kids can do)
8 months	Says "mama" or "dada" to parents (isn't specific) (dada came first then Mummaa) Passes objects from hand to hand (what is in one hands goes in another, can hold multiple items in one hand, and hold multiple things in the other hands as well or at least figure it out how to)	Searches for hidden objects (search frantically for things that are hidden until you find it, or Mommy gestures where it is when you start to look frustrated and can not find it)	Pulls self to standing, cruises (did it before turning seven months old) Picks things up with thumb-finger pincer grasp (a lot of practice with finger food, Mommy showing you) Indicates wants with gestures (makes a lot of uh uh sounds, hands extended toward something)
9 months	Stands while holding onto something (stands perfectly from sitting position to standing by self with no support, and with a toy in your hands, and a big smile) Jabbers or combines syllables (lots of babbling but does not understand what you are saying, lol) Understands object permanence (yes, even when duck is not in your sight, I asked “where’s duck?” you look for duck even if sometimes you do not find it, you know that duck is somewhere in existence)	Cruises while holding onto furniture (did since at eight months old, it is fun watching you cruise along the furniture, at first it was slow going but once you got the handle on it, you like doing it a lot) Drinks from a sippy cup (for a long time, you had been drinking from a sippy cup, mostly water in it) Eats with fingers (even feeds Mommy and Daddy) Bangs objects together (loves to bangs your toys together and bangs toys on table and floors too, it is so noisy, but I can see how happy it makes you)	Plays  peek-a-boo (loves to do this, pulls covers over herself and pokes head out with a big smile) Says "mama" or "dada" to the correct parent (one months later)
10 months	Waves goodbye (and hello/hi, says hi) Crawls well, with belly off the ground (yes and crawls very fast, in a blink of an eye, you’ll be at the other side of room)		Stands alone for a couple of seconds (stands longer than that in a wide stands) Puts objects into a container (yes but not too often, rather pulls things out and fling them out of the toy box, lol)
11 months	Cruises (yes, does it very well, start walking at 10 months and officially walking before 12months)	Understands "no" and simple instructions (understands “no” for a while now, or at least when you want to, understands shaking head of “no”, and simple instructions such as look, hug, kiss, come here, up up)	Says one word besides "mama" or "dada" (says duck, hi, bear more often for weeks now, says other words as well but not too often) Stoops from standing position (stoops for weeks now and picks up toys, and back up with the toys to standing; even squats very well, and stays in a squatting position before getting up to standing position)
12 months	Imitates others' activities (imitates brushing hair with comb or brush on self and on Mommy: answering the phone and hold it up to your ears or Daddy’s or Mommy’s; if you see Mommy put my head down for a few seconds, you would do the same thing; imitates chewing motions from Mommy; imitates putting things on head when we put toy on your head; imitates sticking out your tongue in front of mirror; Indicates wants with gestures (points to what you want, sometimes it is not always in right direction)	Takes a few steps (walking! officially) Clapping hands :)	Walks alone (yes and sometimes with toys in your hands) Scribbles with a crayon (pen) Says two words besides "mama" or "dada" (says duck, hi, bear more often for weeks now, says other words as well but not too often)

The following chart below, you had accomplished it ahead of schedule than listed.

13 months	Bends over and picks up an object (for weeks now :) picks up things very well, good precision)	Enjoys gazing at his reflection (for a weeks now, loves to look at yourself Holds out arm or leg to help you dress him (not very coordinate but does hold arms up when I pull off shirt, and sometimes when you want to extends legs out for your pants)	Rolls a ball back and forth (trying to get the concept of rolling the ball, just got you to catch the ball it rolls to you since summer time)
14 months	Empties containers of contents (yes, does it well, sometimes it is all you want to do) Imitates others (yes, imitates noises, putting things on head, brushing hair, putting head down to lie down, using a fork, reading a book or newspaper)	Toddles well (walking, unsteady and falls mostly on hands and gets back up, sometimes falls on butt, but not often) Initiates games (plays a game that you invent when you are in your crib and Mommy nearby, you would stick out one hand or foot out of crib through the rails and wait for me to touch your hand or foot, sometimes I miss because you take away your hand or foot too fast, sometimes you would come closer to me, or farther away from me, making it harder for me to touch your hand or foot) (also like to initiates piggy back rides and peek a boo) Points to one body part when asked (points to head, when I said head) Responds to instructions (e.g., "give me a kiss") (hmm, I say kiss, you know it means kiss, and I say hug, you hug, I say open, she opens her toy house’s door, does these count?)	Pushes and pulls toys while walking (pushes her walker when walking but does not pulls when walking yet)
16 months	Turns the pages of a book (your favorite thing to do during story time to board books and pretends to read by self sometimes) Has temper tantrums when frustrated (for a few weeks now, is that normal, temper tantrums includes stopping what you are doing, cries out loud, tears, eyes get tight, face gets red; hard to redirect you unless we pick you up and distract you, otherwise it is hard to settle you down) Becomes attached to a soft toy or other object (in your play area, it it your duck; in your crib, it is your bear; other times it will always be your socks, you are obsessed with your socks since seven months old)	Discovers the joy of climbing (unfortunately yes, and very nerve wrecking especially on the stairs, climbs pillow mountain, Mommy or Daddy Stacks three blocks (can stack blocks two blocks so far) Learns the correct way to use common objects (e.g., the telephone) (learning to use concept of your toy telephone, light switch, doors, socks, shoes, and hair brush)	Gets finicky about food (since eight months, had been picky about what you eat, choosing what you want to eat ) Switches from two naps to one (have not officially switched to one nap yet, but sometimes it just happens that way depending what time you wake in the mornings
17 months			Dances to music (loves to dance to music for a long time now, would bounce body up and down, shake head now; does it standing, or sitting down, or in a squatting position)

Officially Walking

Lina<3, you are officially walking now :) Slowly you been walking since you took your first step on Oct 29, 2012. Just a few one, two, three steps at a time, or just walk while Mommy holds your hands (you like that better) made you more confident to walk more on your own. You walked with your duck in hands, doing your funny laugh, and walked towards me slowly in your play area :) in the afternoon. I love it, watching how excited you were to be walking. It made you so happy.  So much new adventures awaiting to come...
I am trying to put the home video online, once I get it up and running, it’ll be posted.

"mumumma"

The first time you said "mumumm" it was so exciting, but you would not repeat it again, at least not when I was in your presence and that was early October. Now a month or so later, between yesterday and today, you had been saying "mumumum" or "mama" or "mum" throughout the day. It is music to my ears and I love hearing it! Lina<3, it was about time, lol. You say "mama" when I am in the room with you either playing with you or watching you play. I can hear you say it when I am in the next room while you are playing by yourself or in your crib. It is so wonderful. My baby said "mama" :). Yes, I am "mama" and nothing will ever change that!