16 months

I am quite a talker.  Wonder where I get that from?  I understand both Korean and English but usually respond in English.  Here are some words I can say now:

- baby, book, mine, outside, hello, pee pee, 

- i know

- cheese(for the camera)

- gui(ear in Korean)

- kyoo(thank you)

- pease (please)

- bye bye(I like to say this when it's time to go to bed)

- night night(sometimes I ask to go to bed!)

- DD(DVD)

- ohba(jacket in Korean)

- juice, bed, up

- I dunno

- Ee(teeth in Korean)

- Ice shay(ice cream)

- Imoo(Aunt Olivia)

- Joo joo(pacifier in Korean)

I am big into pretend play.  Here are some things that I mimmick or really do!

- putting on makeup

- wiping my nose with a tissue

- coughing and covering my mouth with my hand

- cooking: putting the sauce into a pot, mixing it, tasting it, covering the pot, washing dishes, filling pots and pans with "water"

- doing yoga poses, particularly downward facing dog

I love to get into things.  Some examples include:

- turning on and off the stereo and tv

- putting in a DVD in the X-box

- jumping on the blown up Aerobed

15 months

It is amazing how fast time is flying by....I am capable of so much more and am eager to show it off!  Here are some of the things I can do now:

- I can say the words apple, nonna, nonno, shoe, mah-she-suh(tasty), ball, ppo-ppo(kiss), wah wah(water), whoa(especially when I am about to fall), more, moon.

- I can build with Legos(have to push the down to make sure they get connected just right)

- I can walk while riding on my toy fire truck.

- I can put up my pointer finger to show the number one.

- I can close doors.

- I can build with wooden blocks and then make them fall!!

- I can hit someone in retaliation.

- I can pull people out of my chair when they are sitting in it.  My chair!

Some things that I have thoroughly enjoyed include:

- My first camper trip in Uncle Licky's new camper.  We went to the Berkshires.  It was cold but quite enjoyable..especially with the heater running!  I had fun playing with Alessio, going apple picking, and hitting the outlet stores!  

- Love to put on other people's shoes.

- Love to try on other people's necklaces...especially sparkly ones!

- Tried my first lollipop.  Delicious!  In the spirit of Halloween, I had to try some real high fructose corn syrup!  Celebrated Halloween with Uncle Licky, Alessio, and Susie in Rhode Island.  We went trick or treating with them and Alessio's cousins, Maggie and Ryan.  I loved riding around in the radioflyer so much that I didn't want to get out at all!

- Hanging out with Jane and Chris at their house to celebrate the upcoming arrival of baby girl Meyer.  I had fun playing with Jake Hocheiser!

- Favorite books include Good Night Moon and Good Night Gorilla.  Dada tells the latter story very well!

14 months

In my explorations, I have learned to do things that my parents are not finding so fun!  They include:

- discovering the books on the bookshelf.  I like to take them off one by one and stack them on the floor.  More like throw them.

- climbing onto adult chairs

- coloring on my own(on top of the table and not the paper!)

- saying no

- cries and runs away when someone says its night night time

To much of my parents surprise, there are a lot of things I have learned that they love!  They include:

- fetching things for people when they ask for it

- going over to the speakers when music is turned on and dancing

- trying to put my shoes on myself

- sleeping without my pacifier at night!

- when someone sings the clean up song, I clean up for a short while

- can into and out of a toy car by myself

- throwing the football on the ground, covering it with my blanket and tackling it

- walking down the stairs holding onto something and someone

- singing along with someone

- saying bye bye, plane, no, ice, yea, mama, ow

- backing up to sit on someone else's lap

- clinking cups when someone says cheers

- when someone tells me to say sorry, I give hugs and lean into them, especially after I get in trouble for something

- playing by myself with my stuffed animals

- can manipulate stickers and tape

- walking on tippy toes

- throwing things into the garbage and hamper(appropriate things!)

- singing the a and c in abc song

- wearing necklaces

- sleeping on my stomach with my butt up in the air

Big events:

- My cousin, Nicholas' birthday party was great fun.  He had it at his home in Goshen.  There were lots of kids, projects, and fun driving cars.

- Mommy started back at work after a great summer together.  Boo hoo!

- First Jets game where I wore my first Jets jersey(courtesy Scott!)

- Meeting Cassady for the first time and going to the Bronx Zoo.  The World of Birds exhibit was really fun because in parts of the place the birds flew around and weren't caged!

- Had my first tasted of cannellini and kidney beans in chili and my first taste of escarole.  Loved the escarole!

13 months

Busy as a little bee!  Turning one year old is like being in the fast lane!  I am learning so much and exploring the world around me like a maniac!  Here are some fun things I have been able to accomplish this month:

- crawl under peoples legs when they are propped up on a table.

- climbing onto low standing chairs and on top of people

- patting people on the back when they hug me or snuggle with me.

- put my hands upward when someone asks me, "What is that?"

- bounce while sitting

- put my fingers in the holes of CDs

- stomp in place when I am excited

- dumping a package of markers and putting them back in the case(Mommy can get me to eat more while I do this because I am concentrating so hard on the task at hand).  I also do this with the contents of anyone's wallet.

- try to snap my fingers

- sing along to songs on the radio(not on beat and very monotone!)

- points to people she knows when you say their names

- pretend to be an airplane flying(arms out behind me)

- can blow kisses when Mommy sings the Korean kissing song, and do the movements to Twinkle Star and San Tokki

- march

- shimmy from side to side

- can turn bottle caps and knobs(but not good enough to fully open anything!)

- clean with cloths or paper towels

- play in my new play kitchen(pretend to make soup and taste it)

- turn while pushing stroller or any push toy

- put coins in a piggy bank

- can understand words in Korean and English.  I learned the word head.  Can answer yes or no questions when asked

Food I have enjoyed include:

- eel

- other types of fish

- peanut butter

- honey graham crackers

- animal crackers

Big events during this month:

- Had a bad case of roseola.  I had a bad fever for like 4 days which was followed by a bad rash for 4 days.  I was SUPER grumpy and my parents were very patient with me, especially my Mama.  She was very worried about me because I lost my appetite and didn't want to drink anything.

- I fell off of the couch and went head first into the coffee table then fell onto the floor.  Mama was asleep and Dada was watching me.  He felt so bad!  I thought floor was a lot closer to my feet then it really was!

- Elmo Says is my favorite book.  I love when Dada reads it to me.  

- Halahbuji came over to babysit me by myself for the first time.  He took me to the park and let me eat whatever I wanted!  

12 months

Happy Birthday to me!!!!!!

I am one years old now.  What a big girl!  I have learned a lot of skills this month and have had many adventures.  

I hated whole milk when Mama first gave it to me.  She tried giving it to me in the sippy cup and I would just throw it on the floor.  She tried to mix it with formula and it was a no go.  She gave it to me in the bottle and that was alright.  Mama is smart though and read somewhere that the milk was maybe too thick for me so she watered it down and gradually added more milk until there was no water.  In a week she got me to drink milk out of a sippy cup!  No more bottles for this big girl!

Mama and Dada turned my car seat around in the car because I am one year and 20 pounds(not to mention 29 1/2 inches long).  I absolutely loved it.  We left Vo's house at around 8:30 at night that day.  My parents thought I would go to sleep because it was past my bedtime, but because I was so excited to see everything in front of me, I stayed awake for the whole ride home!  I am particularly obsessed with traffic lights and point the out all of the time.

My first Fourth of July was quite memorable.  Mama and Dada took me to my first carnival in Mamaroneck.  Even though I couldn't ride any rides, I had my first ice cream cone which was delicious!   My actual birthday was spent at the beach with my parents.  We went to Sherwood Island park and had a cookout by the beach.  I loved sitting on by the shore playing with the rocks and sand.  Vo got me new beach toys and I was able to drag the shovel back and forth on the sand.  When we got home, Mama and Dada gave me my first cupcake.  I took one bite of the frosting and decided that I didn't like it and ran away!

My first birthday party was after my actual birthday, on July 11.  My parents threw me a party at Saxon Woods Park right by where I live.  Mama created projects for all of the kids to do(foam magnets, play doh, coloring, marble painting).  There was a playground next to our site where we all played and had a fun time with a flower pinata.  All of the kids could collect their candy and prizes in their buckets that Mama spent a lot of time decorating.  We ate many awesome foods provided by many people who care about me.  Mama's friend Trisha made the beautiful cake!   I got many nice gifts including dolls, toys, clothes, and a mini sofa from my Zia and Uncle Serge.  

I can understand a lot of words now including hi, elmo, sit down, throw, hands up, come here, pot belly, head, give me and many others in both Korean and English.  I can say hi, dada, and elmo.  Some things I like to do include pretending to talk on the phone, put shoelaces(and of course keys)in holes, pointing out Elmos everywhere, pretending to feed people or dolls with a spoon and bowl, turn my hands upward when I don't know something or hear a weird sound, blow on things that are hot, cry in happiness(esp when I see my lovey), hold onto rails when I go up and down stairs, point at airplanes in the sky, point to things or whine when I want them or nod yes or shake no to get things I want, blink before intentionally dropping things on the floor, copy other people when they do something, walk all the way around the kitchen, read Brown Bear Brown Bear and Polar Bear Polar Bear books by Eric Carle, crossing my fingers on both hands at the same time, sing Wheels on the Bus and do the motions, make blubbering sounds with mouth and one hand,  get off of sofas feet first, lift one leg up as a sign to others that I want to get up onto something, play with adult shoes, speak in gibberish, make a stressed out look when I am confused or upset, drag lovely around after I get up in the morning or after a nap, whine when its night night time, help empty the dishwasher, start to climb on things but can't quite to it all by myself.

I went to the zoo with Mama's friends, Nicole, Amanda, Courtney and my friend, Ava.  We had a fantastic time eating lunch at the zoo, watching the seals, and hanging out at the Children's Zoo.  The prairie dogs and birds were the most fascinating to me.  Also, I got to hang out at Amanda's house and have pizza there.  I loved Amanda's parents, Stan and Lorraine!  They are great!  

I had my first bad fall after falling off of the couch and going head first into the coffee table.  My one year check up with the doctor went well.  Had to get more shots and get blood drawn to test for lead poisoning.  It was the worst day ever.  I kept staring at the band aid on my arm and crying from the awful memory.  The doc says that I am 50% for height, 25% for weight, and 90% for head circumference.  Big head!  Dada says its for my big brains!  

Mama, Dada, and I went to Buffalo this month.  We stayed with Aunt Leigh and Uncle Tom.  Aunt Mary and Jane babysat for me while my parents went to a wedding.  I got sick right before the trip with my first real fever(103) but got better in Buffalo.  Aunt Mary and Jane fed me pizza and my first taste of buffalo wings.  I liked dipping the chicken in blue cheese!  Hanging out in Leigh's hammock and walking around her neighborhood was a lot of fun.

I now eat on plates and in bowls!  Some new foods I tried this month include:

- pesto pasta

- whole plums

- OJ

- spicy dumplings

- kim bap

- croissants

- bacon

- egg and cheese tortilla

- jah jang noodles

- ice pops

- rice and seaweed(LOVED IT!)

11 Months

As I approach the big 1 year mark, I am learning more and more about myself.  I am becoming much more mobile(much to Mommy and Daddy's dismay) and am very curious.  My curiosity along with my observant behaviors can lead to some funny and troublesome times!  Here are some things that I have mastered this month:

1) I make some more sounds!  I can say yuh yuh.  I can click my tongue and make funny sounds by yelling and slapping my hand over my mouth at the same time!

2) My receptive language is surely impressive.  I understand so much more now!  When my folks as me a question, I nod yes.  When Mama says blow kisses, I place my hand over my mouth and push it off!  I understand both English and Korean.  When someone says give me in Korean, I know exactly what to do.  When Mama says, "Where is Dada?" and he is not home, I look at the front door, waiting for him to walk through it.  I get it when someone is chasing me and says, "I am gonna get you!"  I try as fast as I can to run away but my brain is too fast for my feet!  When Dada reads to me and counts the objects, I point to each thing also!  I love to point to the penguins when Dada is counting them in the book, Rainbow Rob.  I also like to point at my favorite things in the book.  

3) I have learned to communicate with people also.  I point to things that I want and when I get them, I clap to relay the message that they got it right!  To show people that I am happy, I clap.  I tell people I am sad for them when they are sad by crying when they cry.  

4) My gross motor skills have also gotten stronger.  I can get on my tippy toes which is helpful when I need to look at something that is higher up than I want it to be.   I can turn while walking to change direction.  I like to try to put on Mama's shoes but haven't quite gotten the hang of it so I just carry them around, along with any other clothing of hers that I can get my hands on.  I like to check out my feet while I walk.  It is quite fascinating.  It is a great thing to look up now.  I have discovered that there is more to life then what is just in front of me!  I am great at throwing things now.  Especially when I am not hungry anymore...I throw my food on the floor!  I also like to throw balls which my father would rather me kick!  Also, throwing is necessary for me when I need to switch the key that I am holding in my hand on my mother's key chain which contains many keys!   This is necessary for me to get the right key to try and put into the keyhole in the door.  Dragging my blanket(my lovely) around with me wherever I go in the house is a favorite pastime as well.  I finally learned how to get up from a lying down position to sitting up then standing.  This has helped me to stand up in my crib now.  I walk completely on my own now, going from room to room.

5) Here are some discoveries I have made about myself: 

- Velcro is fun to pull apart.

- Bubbles are fun to eat off of my hand in the tub.

- 4 teeth coming in at once is no picnic in the park.

- To get someone to give me what they are eating, all I have do to is smack my lips          

           together and stare intently.

- Polar Bear Polar Bear What Do You Hear and Brown Bear Brown Bear What Do You See 

           are my new favorite books.  They sound like songs to me so I dance to them.

- I like to put small items into containers.

- My memory is developing.  I remember people and places I have seen before(the stream 

           by my house at the park is fun to throw stones into)

- I like to draw with crayons and occasionally take a bite out of them.

- Now that I have top teeth and bottom teeth, I like to grind them.

- I like to play with pots and pans, banging spoons on them.

- When I go for walks, the animals around me(birds, dogs, cats) excite me.

- I am all about my Dada.  I could care less about Mama!

6) I have gained 19 and a half pounds so far.  Here are some things that have helped to contribute to my weigh gain and that I thoroughly enjoyed or tried for the first time:

- ravioli

- cookies

- ice cream

I had a great time hanging out with Alex Lowe and his family this month.  Aunt Kathleen, Mama, and I drove down to Long Island to see them.  We also met Alex's grandparents and cousin, Joe Joe.  They had so many toys to play with including a toy kitchen with toy kitchen utensils and cookware.  I loved pretending to cook, mixing with spoons in a pot!  The start of pretend play!  Mama says that this is a sign of intelligence!  GO me!

10 Months

My personality is shining through this month!  I recognize more things and am able to do so much more!  Here are some things I learned about myself this month:

- I can pat my tummy with both of my hands.

- I back up when I am unsure of someone or something.

- I can roll and throw a ball.

- I can free up my hands by placing whatever is in my hands into my mouth.  I like to clap them while I do this!

- When Mommy or Daddy chase me, I run away!

- I close doors and can open them if they are open a crack.

- I can walk and hold things at the same time.  Walking around while drinking my bottle is fun!

- I can knock on the door(more like slap it).  I understand what knock means!

- I like to put my fingers in holes.  I also like to take the key and put it in holes.  I have a slight key obsession.

- I pretend to brush my hair or talk on the phone.  A lot of things look like brushes or phones!

- I tried coloring with crayons but am not that great at it yet!

- I love when Mommy sings the chicken dance and does it with me!

- I can squat on the floor.

- I can take things out of a container and put them back in(socks are my particular favorite at this point).

- While sitting, I can rock back and forth.  Mostly I like to do this to music!

- I understand the word shake and shake whatever is in my hands(especially noisy things).

- Everything circular is a button that looks like it needs pushing!

- I like to say dat dee dee dat, za, sa, de

- When I want someone to pick me up, I go in between their legs and hug them.

- When someone has glasses, I like to take them off and try to put them on myself!

- I wave hi to many people who walk by.

- I can stop myself in the middle of walking.

- If I drop something, I look under things to find them.

- I understand the word share in Korean.  My first Korean word that I understand.  Joo say yo!  I like to share whatever toys or food I have.  I like to feed people!

- I can get up from the ground without reaching up and holding onto something.  I can get up from a squatting position to standing.

- I can also go from standing to sitting.

- I like to pull hair, especially long hair!

- I can open and close some containers.  I like to dump whatever is in them.

- I like to throw things.  Especially when I am done eating something or drinking something!

- I like to pull apart magnets that are stuck together.

- I know who Dada is.  My first word!

- When Mommy or Dada build something, I like to knock it down.

- Even though I like to walk on my own, I still like fingers and furniture to help me cruise around.

Some new foods that I have tried include:

- red peppers(not my fav)

- grilled cheese or melted cheese on bread(awesome!)

- cheerios(so fantastic!)

- edamame(what asian doesn't like soy?)

- nectarine

- tortilla

- asparagus(it's green so its great)

- brussel sprouts(I can take it or leave it)

- anything green I pick out first!

There were several big events  this month, including my very first camping trip.  It was so much fun!  Before going up to the campsite, we broke up the trip by staying over at my cousins' house.  My first sleepover with them!  My parents' friends Jane, Chris, Liz, Marc, Milo, Trisha, Youn, Justin, Joanne and Marc's sister went camping with us.  Jane told us that she is having a friend soon for me to play with!   Some people brought their dogs and I just loved them.  They let me pet them and pull on their tails.  They did bark a lot but it didn't bother me.  Everyone would tell them to shush and I learned how to shush also!  We had a campsite by the lake which is where we hung out the most.  Dada taught me how to throw rocks in the water which made me laugh so hard!  I didn't sleep that great at night because it was so cold and I wasn't used to sleeping outside.  But all in all I had a fantastic time being in the outdoors!  

It was my Mama's first mother's day.  I made it special my getting her some bling...diamond earrings!  I also helped Dada make her a card.  A picture of myself with my refridgerator magnets spelling out "I luv mom".  She loved it all!  I like to make her happy!  We went to the botanical gardens in the Bronx.  The flowers were lovely and it ended up being nice day!  We also hung out at my Vo's house to celebrate Mother's day!