Hi my little angel!
Right now I'm sitting in the car outside our apartment because you're napping in your carseat and I don't want to wake you up. You're snoring like an old man, it's so cute. :)
You still aren't really talking in words but you're picking up all kinds of other stuff! Like you can climb up on the couch by yourself now which is scary because you scurry up there in the blink of an eye. And you of course know where we "hide" the TV remote AND you know how to turn the TV on by yourself.
You also are becoming very particular about choosing your own clothes and shoes. I think we're going to have our hands full with a very girly girl!
But you still love running around outside and getting into the rocks and leaves and all that dirtiness. Of course, when you're done you always wipe your hands off like a little lady.
You do Itsy Bitsy Spider motions all the way through (but only if no one is looking) and you LOVE Three Little Monkeys, Little Piggies, and Little Cabin. In fact at bed time you insist on doing our routine of monkeys, piggies (both feet!) and cabin at least once before we go to bed.
It's time for you to get up from your nap baby doll. Hopefully you're not too much of a grumpy pants when I wake you up!
Love you!
Mommy
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Too much to catch up on!
Dear Isabella,
You are having so much fun growing up it's getting hard to keep up with you!
You love going to the playground to run around and you love going on the swings with me. Yesterday you bonked your head pretty hard though when you tripped going up some steps. You have a bump on your head above your right eye but you're okay.
You're learning signs and you know how to sign "more" and you're getting the hang of "eat" (though we call it "mum mum").
You're very particular about some things - like when I'm rocking you while you drink your goodnight bottle you insist I hold your pacifier in my left hand - not my right hand. If its on the bookshelf next to us or in my right hand you stop drinking and open my left hand and tickle it.
For some reason you don't like the water going on your head in the bath anymore. You cry almost every night. But sorry, as your hair gets longer (and because you perspire so much!) we have to wash your hair every night or you'll be the stinky kid in class.
Speaking of your hair - it is slowly getting fuller and longer but so far it still has those cute curls at the back of your neck. And that beautiful brown red with light almost blonde notes. People pay lots of money to get their hair the color combination yours is!
Love you, my little angel!
Love,
Mommy
You are having so much fun growing up it's getting hard to keep up with you!
You love going to the playground to run around and you love going on the swings with me. Yesterday you bonked your head pretty hard though when you tripped going up some steps. You have a bump on your head above your right eye but you're okay.
You're learning signs and you know how to sign "more" and you're getting the hang of "eat" (though we call it "mum mum").
You're very particular about some things - like when I'm rocking you while you drink your goodnight bottle you insist I hold your pacifier in my left hand - not my right hand. If its on the bookshelf next to us or in my right hand you stop drinking and open my left hand and tickle it.
For some reason you don't like the water going on your head in the bath anymore. You cry almost every night. But sorry, as your hair gets longer (and because you perspire so much!) we have to wash your hair every night or you'll be the stinky kid in class.
Speaking of your hair - it is slowly getting fuller and longer but so far it still has those cute curls at the back of your neck. And that beautiful brown red with light almost blonde notes. People pay lots of money to get their hair the color combination yours is!
Love you, my little angel!
Love,
Mommy
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Words
Dear Isabella,
You're taking some time to start talking but here are your first three words:
1. No (of course!)
2. Mum-mum (another shocker)
2. Uh-oh!
You actually almost never say no anymore, you just shake your head. And you just discovered "uh-oh!" so you kind of say it any time, not just when uh-oh is needed. It's still cute though! I absolutely love your little voice.
I love you!
Love,
Mommy
You're taking some time to start talking but here are your first three words:
1. No (of course!)
2. Mum-mum (another shocker)
2. Uh-oh!
You actually almost never say no anymore, you just shake your head. And you just discovered "uh-oh!" so you kind of say it any time, not just when uh-oh is needed. It's still cute though! I absolutely love your little voice.
I love you!
Love,
Mommy
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Tough Parenting Lesson
It's tough to stick by your parenting philosophies while it seems like the rest of the world thinks you're nuts or at least a little batty.
While I know we're not the strictest parents or alone in our thinking, it seems like our efforts to keep Isabella away from TV and other "screens" (computers, phones and tablets, mainly) and to feed her healthy foods (and steer clear of fast food or quick-service food) are definitely the exception.
With the glut of pictures and videos we post of what probably seems like her every action, it feels like we're the only ones not broadcasting her first Happy Meal, her daily Starbucks drink, her chicken nugget addiction. I made almost all her baby food from scratch, and now that she's eating "table food," we try to eat healthy and make a portion of our own home made food for her. With the exception of the week she was in intense teething pain and had to revert to baby-food consistency food (we gave her Gerber toddler food), my biggest cheat is making a Lean Cuisine and using it for two meals or using frozen veggies instead of fresh. The first bite of cake or any dessert she had was her birthday cake (unless you count fruits as dessert). The treat that gets her the most excited is a bowl of strawberries.
We do this simply because we want to raise her with healthier eating habits than we ourselves developed as young adults in a world full of mystery food and shocking nutrition content. (Why would there be so much sugar in a hamburger?!) The studies that we've caught wind of report scary statistics - more than 1/3 of US children and adolescents are now obese, children in the US as young as three are showing early markers of heart disease, more and more kids are being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, a disease normally diagnosed in adults 40 and older. If we can make healthy eating and active living a habit and the "norm," Isabella won't ever have to make a lifestyle adjustment to save her health - the hope is that it will be built in.
It's not just the food. We started out with the ambitious intention to shield Isabella from all screens until age two, as is recommended by the experts. Well, when the village raises the child, everyone in the village gets a say in how that child is raised, so we had to make a few compromises. Still, she gets at most one episode of Sesame Street per day, and never during meals or snacks. This is a pretty huge adjustment in our pixelated world, but it was important to us.
Everyone around us, however, seems to talk about how their baby or toddler is so into Yo Gabba Gabba or Ni Hao Kai Lan or any number of kids' shows. Worse yet, we have people talking to us about their three-year-olds that read - apparently because they use Baby Einstein videos. And I have to admit that I get the draw - when we do let her watch Sesame Street she is so happy and so into it, and what parent doesn't want to see their kid light up like that? Who wouldn't want a reading three-year-old?
Even with all the studies and reports telling us that what we're trying to do is "best" for her (try googling "Does Baby Einstein really work?" and the academic reports on the first several pages of results will all say it does not and it could actually cause delays), it's really hard to stick by what we believe when it seems we're the only ones swimming upstream.
Isabella has still never had a french fry and drinks only milk or water - and I hope it stays like that as long as possible. I don't want her to be an outcast among her classmates in the future ("What?! You've never had a tall non-fat kid's temp zebra hot chocolate with whip and caramel drizzle?!") but more than that I want her to develop habits that shield her from obesity, diabetes and premature heart disease. She isn't an expert at navigating her way around a tablet or clicking a mouse and to be honest, even though those are skills she will need if she is to make it in this day and age, this is one area of "development" I wouldn't mind her being delayed on.
It's really hard to stand by what we believe when that parental competition niggles the back of your mind: so-and-so's kid can do that - if we let Isabella try, would she be able to also? What is she missing out on by us limiting her exposure to this stuff? And there's a difference and a balance between sticking by what you believe and being totally rigid and closed to additional information. So when I doubt myself I try to remember two things: one, we based these philosophies on research from credible sources (not Yahoo! discussion boards, but respected and proven academic institutions). Yes we may be eliminating some opportunities by doing what we're doing, but I think we're also opening windows into worlds that are quickly being forgotten by our society. Two: as a parent there's only so much you can do - after that, the rest of the world and your own kid's innate tendencies take control.
While I don't think this is the first "tough parenting lesson" we've had, it's the first one that seems like a big deal to me. And it's a lesson I'll probably be continuously re-learning.
While I know we're not the strictest parents or alone in our thinking, it seems like our efforts to keep Isabella away from TV and other "screens" (computers, phones and tablets, mainly) and to feed her healthy foods (and steer clear of fast food or quick-service food) are definitely the exception.
With the glut of pictures and videos we post of what probably seems like her every action, it feels like we're the only ones not broadcasting her first Happy Meal, her daily Starbucks drink, her chicken nugget addiction. I made almost all her baby food from scratch, and now that she's eating "table food," we try to eat healthy and make a portion of our own home made food for her. With the exception of the week she was in intense teething pain and had to revert to baby-food consistency food (we gave her Gerber toddler food), my biggest cheat is making a Lean Cuisine and using it for two meals or using frozen veggies instead of fresh. The first bite of cake or any dessert she had was her birthday cake (unless you count fruits as dessert). The treat that gets her the most excited is a bowl of strawberries.
We do this simply because we want to raise her with healthier eating habits than we ourselves developed as young adults in a world full of mystery food and shocking nutrition content. (Why would there be so much sugar in a hamburger?!) The studies that we've caught wind of report scary statistics - more than 1/3 of US children and adolescents are now obese, children in the US as young as three are showing early markers of heart disease, more and more kids are being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, a disease normally diagnosed in adults 40 and older. If we can make healthy eating and active living a habit and the "norm," Isabella won't ever have to make a lifestyle adjustment to save her health - the hope is that it will be built in.
It's not just the food. We started out with the ambitious intention to shield Isabella from all screens until age two, as is recommended by the experts. Well, when the village raises the child, everyone in the village gets a say in how that child is raised, so we had to make a few compromises. Still, she gets at most one episode of Sesame Street per day, and never during meals or snacks. This is a pretty huge adjustment in our pixelated world, but it was important to us.
Everyone around us, however, seems to talk about how their baby or toddler is so into Yo Gabba Gabba or Ni Hao Kai Lan or any number of kids' shows. Worse yet, we have people talking to us about their three-year-olds that read - apparently because they use Baby Einstein videos. And I have to admit that I get the draw - when we do let her watch Sesame Street she is so happy and so into it, and what parent doesn't want to see their kid light up like that? Who wouldn't want a reading three-year-old?
Even with all the studies and reports telling us that what we're trying to do is "best" for her (try googling "Does Baby Einstein really work?" and the academic reports on the first several pages of results will all say it does not and it could actually cause delays), it's really hard to stick by what we believe when it seems we're the only ones swimming upstream.
Isabella has still never had a french fry and drinks only milk or water - and I hope it stays like that as long as possible. I don't want her to be an outcast among her classmates in the future ("What?! You've never had a tall non-fat kid's temp zebra hot chocolate with whip and caramel drizzle?!") but more than that I want her to develop habits that shield her from obesity, diabetes and premature heart disease. She isn't an expert at navigating her way around a tablet or clicking a mouse and to be honest, even though those are skills she will need if she is to make it in this day and age, this is one area of "development" I wouldn't mind her being delayed on.
It's really hard to stand by what we believe when that parental competition niggles the back of your mind: so-and-so's kid can do that - if we let Isabella try, would she be able to also? What is she missing out on by us limiting her exposure to this stuff? And there's a difference and a balance between sticking by what you believe and being totally rigid and closed to additional information. So when I doubt myself I try to remember two things: one, we based these philosophies on research from credible sources (not Yahoo! discussion boards, but respected and proven academic institutions). Yes we may be eliminating some opportunities by doing what we're doing, but I think we're also opening windows into worlds that are quickly being forgotten by our society. Two: as a parent there's only so much you can do - after that, the rest of the world and your own kid's innate tendencies take control.
While I don't think this is the first "tough parenting lesson" we've had, it's the first one that seems like a big deal to me. And it's a lesson I'll probably be continuously re-learning.
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Cut Lip
Dear Isabella,
Today you fell while you were running (yup, running!) and bit your top lip. You hardly cried so I didn't think you hit your face, but then you touched your mouth and there was blood. I panicked just a teeny bit but you handled yourself like a champ.
You are a very "determined" little girl. I put that in quotes because Grandma says you're determined - I say you're stubborn! At dinner, usually you won't let me feed you anymore. You insist on feeding yourself. Of course you get about 50% in your mouth and 50% on your arms, face, lap, tray, chair, cat...Poor Orange! You're still not very good at using a spoon. When you try to use a spoon, if you get any food in your mouth it's just a coincidence. But you are very, very "determined" and one day soon I know you'll get it right.
You are testing your boundaries every day and it's fun to watch your personality blossom. You're truly a toddler now, but I still call you my little baby, and I probably always will. I promise by the time you're a teenager I won't call you that in front of your friends.
You still talk to your Abuela in Mexico almost every week on Skype and you talk to Lolo and Lola (and Aunty Cayla) in Hilo on FaceTime sometimes. This has made you very interested in technology which we're still trying to hide from you.
We went to Barwick Playground at Punahou on Father's Day and you had fun running around and playing with leaves. You're still a little too little to be interested in the swings or see-saw or slide. But you're getting bigger and stronger and learning more and more every day!
Love,
Mommy
Today you fell while you were running (yup, running!) and bit your top lip. You hardly cried so I didn't think you hit your face, but then you touched your mouth and there was blood. I panicked just a teeny bit but you handled yourself like a champ.
You are a very "determined" little girl. I put that in quotes because Grandma says you're determined - I say you're stubborn! At dinner, usually you won't let me feed you anymore. You insist on feeding yourself. Of course you get about 50% in your mouth and 50% on your arms, face, lap, tray, chair, cat...Poor Orange! You're still not very good at using a spoon. When you try to use a spoon, if you get any food in your mouth it's just a coincidence. But you are very, very "determined" and one day soon I know you'll get it right.
You are testing your boundaries every day and it's fun to watch your personality blossom. You're truly a toddler now, but I still call you my little baby, and I probably always will. I promise by the time you're a teenager I won't call you that in front of your friends.
You still talk to your Abuela in Mexico almost every week on Skype and you talk to Lolo and Lola (and Aunty Cayla) in Hilo on FaceTime sometimes. This has made you very interested in technology which we're still trying to hide from you.
We went to Barwick Playground at Punahou on Father's Day and you had fun running around and playing with leaves. You're still a little too little to be interested in the swings or see-saw or slide. But you're getting bigger and stronger and learning more and more every day!
Love,
Mommy
Saturday, June 2, 2012
That's My Girl - Simply Organized!
Dear Isabella,
Your latest hobby is sorting toys! You have a basket for your wooden blocks, a pouch for your MegaBlocks, and a pouch for your "baby toys" (the toys you had and outgrew at Aunty Gladys's house). You know which toys go in which containers and you love dumping them out, and putting them back in the correct place. That's my girl - organizing from the start!
Then again, you also sometimes place a book in the middle of the floor with such purpose and matter-of-factness that maybe you have some unconventional ideas of what "a place for everything and everything in its place" means!
Or maybe you're just a normal toddler. :)
Love,
Mommy
Your latest hobby is sorting toys! You have a basket for your wooden blocks, a pouch for your MegaBlocks, and a pouch for your "baby toys" (the toys you had and outgrew at Aunty Gladys's house). You know which toys go in which containers and you love dumping them out, and putting them back in the correct place. That's my girl - organizing from the start!
Then again, you also sometimes place a book in the middle of the floor with such purpose and matter-of-factness that maybe you have some unconventional ideas of what "a place for everything and everything in its place" means!
Or maybe you're just a normal toddler. :)
Love,
Mommy
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Growing Faster Than The Speed of Blog!
Dear Isabella,
I can hardly keep up with you! It has been a while since I left you a note so let's try and play a little catch up..
You are almost able to run now, so it's getting tougher to keep up with you. You love walking around carrying a purse especially if it has something in it. When you're carrying anything, you walk around the room so purposefully and seriously, as if you are on a very important mission.
You have a little chair at Grandma and Grandpa's house, and for some reason you like to put your toys on it and then sit on top of your toy in the chair.
You are a total bookworm! Book after book you bring to us and sometimes you like to "read" (turn the pages of) the same book over and over. It's the first thing you go for every morning.
You're also learning how to put your Megablocks together. Daddy and I can't wait till we can get you real Legos and have a Lego table! We promise to share.
You are becoming a bit opinionated my dear. At meal time sometimes you can be very picky and stubborn. We went through a few days that you hardly ate! And another few days where you only wanted zucchini. And another few days where you would only eat if you could feed yourself! And you have a little temper on you - if you can't do something right away you have been known to throw the toy down in frustration. One night you even jumped up and down a couple times in anger. Hmm, I wonder if that temper is from me or Daddy... :)
And this has been true for a while but you still LOVE putting toys inside other toys. In the bath, as long as I give you a cup and some toys that fit inside, you could probably stay in there all night! Putting them in..taking them out..putting them in, in a different order.. And you're so determined about it, very focused.
We have been taking you in the baby pool in Grandma and Grandpa's yard or taking you to the beach for the past few weekends. You sure love to play in the water! You're not so sure about sand though..
The other day I thought I heard you say "no" as you shook your head, and then a few mornings later I heard you imitating Daddy when he was making a cow "moo" noise from a book. Are those your first words, Bean? Let's wait till you say "Mommy" and just call that your first word. :)
You follow directions pretty well, including when we tell you "no" and you are very helpful cleaning up your toys. You help me pick up your blocks every day (because when we open the block bag, you excitedly dump them out EVERYWHERE!) and are also good about putting your books back on the shelf when we ask you. Sometimes you even put a toy back in the box before we even ask you to! When we ask you to give us something you've picked up off the ground, you mostly do right away. I'm so proud of you (and we feel lucky to have such a good, smart little girl)!
That's all for now, Isabella. We are so blessed to have you.
Love love love,
Mommy
I can hardly keep up with you! It has been a while since I left you a note so let's try and play a little catch up..
You are almost able to run now, so it's getting tougher to keep up with you. You love walking around carrying a purse especially if it has something in it. When you're carrying anything, you walk around the room so purposefully and seriously, as if you are on a very important mission.
You have a little chair at Grandma and Grandpa's house, and for some reason you like to put your toys on it and then sit on top of your toy in the chair.
You are a total bookworm! Book after book you bring to us and sometimes you like to "read" (turn the pages of) the same book over and over. It's the first thing you go for every morning.
You're also learning how to put your Megablocks together. Daddy and I can't wait till we can get you real Legos and have a Lego table! We promise to share.
You are becoming a bit opinionated my dear. At meal time sometimes you can be very picky and stubborn. We went through a few days that you hardly ate! And another few days where you only wanted zucchini. And another few days where you would only eat if you could feed yourself! And you have a little temper on you - if you can't do something right away you have been known to throw the toy down in frustration. One night you even jumped up and down a couple times in anger. Hmm, I wonder if that temper is from me or Daddy... :)
And this has been true for a while but you still LOVE putting toys inside other toys. In the bath, as long as I give you a cup and some toys that fit inside, you could probably stay in there all night! Putting them in..taking them out..putting them in, in a different order.. And you're so determined about it, very focused.
We have been taking you in the baby pool in Grandma and Grandpa's yard or taking you to the beach for the past few weekends. You sure love to play in the water! You're not so sure about sand though..
The other day I thought I heard you say "no" as you shook your head, and then a few mornings later I heard you imitating Daddy when he was making a cow "moo" noise from a book. Are those your first words, Bean? Let's wait till you say "Mommy" and just call that your first word. :)
You follow directions pretty well, including when we tell you "no" and you are very helpful cleaning up your toys. You help me pick up your blocks every day (because when we open the block bag, you excitedly dump them out EVERYWHERE!) and are also good about putting your books back on the shelf when we ask you. Sometimes you even put a toy back in the box before we even ask you to! When we ask you to give us something you've picked up off the ground, you mostly do right away. I'm so proud of you (and we feel lucky to have such a good, smart little girl)!
That's all for now, Isabella. We are so blessed to have you.
Love love love,
Mommy
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)