Pesky Mosquito

Last night, Mama woke up with two mosquito bites. We spent 15 minutes trying to find the pest but no luck. In the morning, we saw that Mini was also bitten in a prime spot. Mama caught the mosquito later that day and avenged Mini and her Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer look.

Mini Pics for July

Making Memories

We went to Terra Mia for the sentimental baby hand and foot impressions. When Mini is an adult, she'll appreciate this (given the clay pieces don't break and last for another 20 years).

Little Frankenstein

Mini hosted a playdate today for a big group - 10 kids with mommas. Playdates are great because the kids are together to build social skills and it's so true that babies learn from each other. Today's playdate is momentous since Mini saw the other babies walking and started doing the same. She did it so effortlessly and easily. Of course, she's been practicing for a couple weeks now but always relied on having someone lead her. Today, she stood up and walked off. It was a beautiful moment for Mama to see and savor.

She spent the rest of the day pacing the hall and making circles around the coffee table. When Papa got home, she showed off by circling the kitchen for him. It's a cute walk - makes us think of Frankenstein with the outreached arms and stiff legs.



In conjunction with walking, Mini likes to toss and kick balls. She gets the giggles when she successfully kicks a ball or picks one up and drops it (her version of throwing). She's also gotten very good at throwing small things into the trash can. So far, we've found canned goods, books, Mama's cell phone, and the tv remote in the trash.

Developments: There have been no issues with the cow's milk transition. Mama has been mixing it with the formula and it's up to half and half per bottle now. Mini has also found new ways to annoy Mama at bedtime. It used to be about the ears but now she's obsessed with sticking her finger into your mouth to scratch teeth and trying to poke your eyes out. The tooth thing is understandable because it's payback for when Mama brushes your teeth. But the eye poking thing - that hurts!!!

After 1

Whoa! Mini turned one and now has this new personality. She's very demanding and shows immediate temper and frustration. Maybe it's been there and we didn't notice but there are definite changes. If she's not getting her way, you can expect kicking and crying/screaming and a bit of a tantrum. If something frustrates her, you can expect an immediate scream/screech and she'll throw the toy down or start beating on it. This must be normal but hopefully it doesn't continue.

Developments: she understands "lai" (come here in Chinese) and does the finger curl hand motion. She seems to understand "pa pa" (scared in Chinese) and pats her chest with one hand. There are a couple more phrases but can't remember which at the moment but her vocabulary is growing.

Mini always wants to watch Dora the Explorer so her new action is to walk into Grandma's room, find the tv remote, bring it out, and hand it to an adult. She gets her way most of the time. She's also eating more solids (even spicy food) and starting to drink cow's milk.

Birthday Pizza and Bears

This first birthday party has been in the works for a month now so we're pretty excited about it (Grandma has been singing the Happy Birthday song for weeks now trying to familiarize Mini with the tune). So we're headed to Walnut Creek to enjoy lunch at California Pizza Kitchen (original destination was PF Chang but they called last minute saying they couldn't open the restaurant due to broken boiler) and get creative at Build-a-Bear Workshop.

Lunch was great with lots of aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends in attendance. Then the kids had a blast at Build-a-Bear and helped Mini build her new fave stuffed animal - the Monkey. Mini chose monkey on her own after being presented with many animal choices. She refused him at first but hugged him on the second introduction and it's been happily ever after. The kids stuffed and dressed their new animal buddies - there was a kitty, a panda, a bunny, and rainbow bear.

We had so much fun that we almost forgot the cake. Mini was pretty tired at this point so it would have been hard to perform the song and candle routine so we hurriedly ate the cupcake cake in the store and called it a day.

Thanks to everyone who remembered baby girl and her birthday. We are very thankful for the bday wishes, wonderful gifts, and this time spent with loved ones from near and far (Uncle D flew in from Austin for this!).

Do you like this one?

Giving monkey a heartBig hugDragonfly cupcake cakeOpening presents with Uncle D

The Big 1

Today is Mini's first birthday! We have a big girl now!

The morning started with dim sum with Aunt C and then a trip to Party City to buy favors and decorations. Throughout the day, Mini received tons of phone calls and texts wishing her a happy bday. So much love from the family and friends, what a lucky girl.

Papa even came home early and we had a mini cake. The grand finale was Mini's last footprint on her foot wheel. We've been inking her right foot every month and this one completes the circle.

Tomorrow is the official celebration so the birthday continues...

Yup, today's my birthday. Thank you for calling.

What is taking so long?

Cake gooooodFrosting artThese are my feet??

Relearning to walk

Ever since the weekend Mini first started walking, she has refused to walk. We're not sure if she got scared or what, but she would either lean heavily on us when we tried to get her to stand on her own or she would immediately sit down or go to her knees. Anyway, finally, after more than 2 weeks of that, she finally has gotten the courage to walk again -- and she's loving it. She will go back and forth between any two of us and she laughs all the while. It is pretty damn cute and at least we know she's enjoying it!

Bad, Bad Bodega Bay

It was great for everyone else but turned badly for Mama who came down with food poisoning (or some other awful affliction) on Sunday night. It was painful, disgusting, and way too much purging for one person to suffer through. So glad that no one else got it, especially Mini.

This lasted for a couple days and Mama was out of commission. Thank goodness Grandma was here to take care of baby. Never considered what happens when a parent get sicks and who takes care of the child but, in this case, it was impossible for Mama.

It was nice to hear Mini calling "mama" from outside the door and getting kisses for being sick. Sometimes, Mini gave real concerned looks and knew something was wrong. Other times, she wanted to play and Mama couldn't muster enough energy to do this.

Ma-ma

Mini did it! She said her first distinct word this morning which was "ma ma" when she wanted her bottle. She's been murmuring ma-ma for two days now and realizing the Mama responds to this calling.

Let the language floodgates open!!!

Bodega Bay

For Mama's birthday, Papa Burrito treated the family to a Bodega Bay getaway. We stayed at a rental right on the water where Mini could watch seagulls and ducks to her heart's content. Mini had her first taste of clam chowder at Spud Point Crab Co. and finished the day with a hike at Bodega Point. Here you had a great view of gray whales swimming off the coast but Mini didn't realize the whales in the distance and paid more attention to the dogs and birds underfoot.

Happy hiker

Showing off the big toe

Perfect Saturday morning - cartoons and bowl of cerealMakeshift play pen

Daddy - daughter time

Mini loves pushing her own stroller around.


Not the brightest bulb in the box.

The Yarn and the Rose

Mini is an official model! She had her first photo shoot with The Yarn and the Rose (a local Etsy shop owner who's son is a playmate.).

Best photo

Family Sunday

Sundays are for family outings and this was a nice one. We had lunch at Straw - creative, carnival fare and decor - where the servers juggled for Mini and showered her with crayons and other tricks. Mini got her first taste of beignets and grits - ate it like a true southern gal.

Then it was a walk to the new Hayes Valley playground, a couple of open house, and finally Peace Park.

Bay Area Discovery Museum

Taking advantage of free admission days, we visited the BADM in Sausalito. Mini's new thing is to push her own stroller and is adamant about it. No one can touch the stroller when she's the driver.

We didn't get to explore the museum thoroughly since Mini decided to spend an hour at the tide pool playing with rubber salmon and frogs. She really loved it here and was soaked through by the end of it!
Mini has such a knack for making friends. She and new pal shared fish and water space so nicely.We did make it to the Curious George exhibit and did a quick tour. This one could be a real monkey lover.

July 4

It's Independence Day and very applicable to Mini because she is in-dee-pen-dent now. Baby wants to walk everywhere, won't sit still, and won't be held for long anymore.

How did we celebrate Mini's first 4th of July? Ice cream from Bi-Rite (yum! especially pleasing in the hot weather), stroll through Dolores Park, and a bbq with the Chunky Pineapple family.

Dada ear time

Give me cookie!

Notables: Mini stopped drooling recently.

Mini's First Steps

Mini Burrito took her first steps yesterday! I can't believe less than a year ago, she was still wrapped up like a burrito and now she is achieving the first step towards independence.

Mini started standing a couple months ago but could only stand for a few seconds when she wasn't paying attention. Last week, she started to be able to stand fairly steadily for almost 10 seconds. This week, she was able to take a few steps before she would fall down. Pretty soon she'll be walking then running. My, how fast they grow!

Last week standing

Yesterday walking