March Madness

I can't believe that March is already over! Mommy said I'm too small to go egg hunting, so she just dressed me in my bunny onesie that Auntie Corrie gave me to celebrate Easter. Nai-Nai and Ye-Ye came back again last week to see me, but I wasn't my usual self because I was going through some growing pains. :( I was hungry all the time, and then after 4 days of chowing down and being grumpy, I just wanted to sleeeeeeeeeep .... zzzzzzzzzzzzz ......

Some-bunny loves you. Happy Easter!

But now I'm back with lots of new tricks. Daddy taught me a fun game where I'll stick my tongue out at you if you do it first. I'm also starting to talk to my toys (especially my mobiles) and can happily babble for some time on my own. My neck is also getting stronger even though I still don't like tummy time all that much. My new favorite position to be carried is facing out so that I can look around (the ceiling gets kind of boring), and I like to stand up in your lap if you force me to hang out looking over your shoulder.

Sticking out my tongue

Last Friday, Nai-Nai and Ye-Ye went with me and Mommy to visit Daddy's office, then we went to eat at my second restaurant outing along with Mr. Matt Bauer and Mr. Yoriko. Then today, Mommy took me up to her office to see everyone there. I wasn't very happy about being woken up from my lovely car ride so I was a little grumpy, but I couldn't help but smile at some of Mommy's friends on the 7th floor. I'm no monkey, Mommy! Ms. Kim and Ava went up as well, and I wanted to hang out with Ava more, but we were both kind of sleepy. Hopefully we'll be able to play more soon!

Zzzzzzzzz......

Everyone likes to ask Mommy how I'm sleeping ... I'm sleeping really well, thanks! Sometimes I'll start the night sleeping on my own in my bed, but it usually doesn't last long. My favorite place to sleep is on the chaise in Mommy and Daddy's room -- with Mommy, of course (she won't let me sleep in her bed). I like to sleep on my side facing her and will reach out my arm during the night to make sure she's still there. Before you feel too sorry for Mommy, I'll have you know that both Mommy and I can easily sleep 9 hours like this with me only waking up once to feed. :D

Mommy's been adding more pictures to my "Month 2 - March 2008" album all month in case you want to see more pictures of my adventures!

Spring has Sprung

Yesterday was Mommy's birthday. She doesn't really like to make a big to-do about her own birthday (loves celebrating others' though), so we just celebrated in a low-key way. First, Daddy surprised Mommy by leaving for work but coming back very quickly after with a cake! Then, Ms. Sara, Mr. Lance, and Ms. Delaina came over during lunch to catch up on stuff. Ms. Sara and Mr. Lance are having a little girl in July so I'll have another friend to play with soon. In the afternoon, we took a family walk together -- my first in my stroller, actually! -- and enjoyed a good meal at home.

Mommy's cake from Daddy

That night, I gave Mommy my gift ... sleep! She put me down in my bassinet at 11, and I started fussing (as usual). But, when she put her hand on my chest and told me I'm a good girl, I immediately fell asleep and stayed that way for the next 3 hours. Of course, Mommy didn't go to sleep right away because she was so freaked out and had to check on me a couple of times, but then she decided to take it as the gift it was an enjoy it!

Today, Mommy and I went with Auntie Diana and Jacob to the Arboretum. The weather was beautiful, and I had fun lying around with Jacob. Mommy kept covering me with a hat though, so I wouldn't get too much sun. We want to make the Arboretum outing an annual thing ... and next year Mommy and Auntie Diana won't have to worry about bottles!

Me and Jacob. Ew, boys are gross!

I starting to wave my arms around with purpose, and I pack a mean punch. Be careful, Laila Ali, I'm coming after you! I'm also starting to hold onto things when you hold me, so you may watch to take care of your hair, shirts, earrings, necklaces, or anything that I might take with me!

My Father the Hero

I had so much fun this weekend with Daddy! This was the first weekend that it was just me, Mommy, and Daddy, and we did one of their favorite activities ... grocery shopping! On Saturday, Mommy and Daddy took me to the new H-Mart and then to the Carrollton Grocery Store before stopping at the bank; I was very good, and I enjoyed riding in the shopping carts.

Most of the time, Daddy only gets to see me in the evenings since he's at work during the day, so he mostly sees me when I'm slightly fussy at night. Sure, he's been around on the weekends, but we've had so many people over, he's been a good host and hasn't asked for his one-on-one time. So, this weekend, Daddy got to see the real me -- the smiley, energetic, awake me -- all day ... we played together on the mat, we took naps together, and he even carried me around in the Ergo! The Ergo was great because I could sleep while Daddy did stuff around the house including playing X-Box. Hehe. The main thing was, he got to be my Daddy all day and is now an expert at all things Claire. He's just as good as Mommy now in soothing, cuddling, bathing, and feeding me!

Other stuff this weekend is that Auntie Corrie finally got to meet me, and Uncle Chi came to Dallas to meet me, too! I plan on seeing Auntie Corrie and Kaylie lots since she and Mommy meet up often, but it was nice meeting Uncle Chichi since he and Mommy don't see each other often at all.

One big milestone that happened last night is that I slept in my bed all night! Well, slept may not be the accurate term (I'm exhausted today!) but I did stay in my own bed all night by myself! I'll bet Mommy will be accounting the whole thing soon to tell her side of the story. :)

I'm really turning into a big girl. I have been playing in my crib by myself (I love my mobile, Da-Jiu!), I hang out in my papasan that my aunties got me, and I talk to Mr. Zebra, Mr. Giraffe, and Mr. Lion when I'm in my bed. I can also see a lot farther now, so I can smile and watch you from across the room. Mommy and Daddy have to keep an eye on me to make sure I don't start watching TV!

Week 5 - 03/07/08 to 03/12/08

WHERE'S MY NOSE?
If pictures aren't enough, Mommy's gone and uploaded video of me now, too!

Hmmm ... what happened in my 5th week? Well, I had my one-month check-up, Po-Po came back from her business trip to hang out with me, Xiao-Jiu and Crystal came back to visit me again, it snowed in Dallas, and I had my first public outing!

Unfortunately, Thursday was a sleepy day, so Mommy didn't get a chance to dress me warmly and put me outside for my snow bunny picture, but Gong-Gong did take a lot of pictures (of course).

My outing was to Black-Eyed Pea for lunch (Mommy had a coupon and was wanting non-Chinese food) and then Babies R Us afterwards to get me more diapers (I go through about 100 a week). I was pretty good even though I had to be fed and changed at the restaurant. We had a whole entourage with Xiao-Jiu as my papparazzi! Then, everyone babysat me Saturday night so that Mommy and Daddy could have a date night ... their first since I was born. The agenda? Shopping at Costco and dinner at Avalon's. They had a great time!

Gong-Gong, Po-Po, Xiao-Jiu, and Crystal left on Sunday morning in time for Ms. Michelle and Mr. Martin to come over to watch NASCAR with Mommy and Daddy, but everyone is gone now, so it's just Mommy and me during the day. She spends a lot of time carrying me -- I think I got a little spoiled with all the visitors carrying me all the time -- and we also play and nap together as well. Starting this week, Mommy's also taking me on daily excursions (yesterday was through the drive-through at the dry cleaners and Sonic; today's going to be the grocery store; tomorrow is to her post-partum dr visit) so that we can both get out and about.

WE HAVE LIFT-OFF!
It's not much, but I'm officially able to lift my heavy (peanut-)head off the ground.

I have a touch of baby acne right now. Hey, it's hard work being born! Plus, like mother, like daughter. I hear it's supposed to clear up by the time I'm 2 months old though. I almost got diaper rash last week, but Po-Po promptly put butt-paste (hehe) on it to clear it up; crisis diverted! Now if only Mommy can figure out how to get me to sleep on my own without having to hold me!

This is what I look like most of the day

This is the view that Mommy gets

I don't know how long I'll keep writing on a weekly basis, but as long as I keep having these adventures, the posts will continue!

P.S. Just found out that Ye-Ye and Nai-Nai are coming back to visit me in a couple of weeks. Let the spoiling continue! :D

1-Month Check-Up: 03/06/08

I went to my one-month check-up today, and I only had to get one shot! It was my second Hep-B shot; it's my next appointment at two months where I get hit with the four at once. Again, though, I was a good girl and only cried out when the nurse surprised me with that needle. But, it was over quickly, and I went back to my usual self.

Since my last appointment 2 weeks ago, I grew just a quarter inch both in length (from 20.5 inches to 20.75 inches) and my head circumference (from 14 to 14.25 inches), but I gained a whopping 1 pound 10 ounces to bring me to 9 pounds 11 ounces! Percentile-wise, I'm 25% in head size, 50% in height, and 65% in weight. I'm a chubby peanut-head! Hehe.

Dr. Frank gave Mommy some suggestions to make me sleep longer during the night; we'll see if they actually work. But remember, Mommy and Daddy, you can't spoil a newborn!

Next appointment: 4/7 for my two-month birthday. That's when the 4 shots really will happen.

Week 4 - 02/28/08 to 03/06/08

The village -- sans George Shu-Shu and Christina Shen-Shen -- that will be raising me

I'm 4 weeks old today! Last weekend, Mommy's brothers -- my Da-Jiu and Xiao-Jiu -- and their girlfriends came to see me, so now I have met all of my immediate family!

Xiao-Jiu, Daddy, Mommy, me, Po-Po, Gong-Gong, Da-Jiu

Since everyone was in town over the weekend, Po-Po said it would be okay to go ahead and celebrate my one-month birthday a few days early. We ordered a huge, yummy dinner, bought a cake, and dyed red eggs ... all in my honor!

A feast! I sat at the table but had to wait until later to enjoy the food.

I had lots of firsts this week. Daddy fed me my very first bottle this week; I liked it a lot and enjoyed spending that time with him; it was a nice change of scenery from what I normally get. He and Mommy also gave me my first bath in my big girl bathtub! I really like the bath (and being naked in general, really) but I didn't like having to get out of the warm water!

My first bottle. I'm not picky where my food comes from.

My first bath. Mmmm ... warm.

Auntie Diana, Jacob, Auntie Nina, and Uncle Giang came over to visit me on Sunday. I was so tired from Saturday, I mostly slept. But it was okay because it was rainy and I took a nap with Jacob and Auntie Nina on the couch.

Uncle Giang and Jacob. Jacob's only 6 months older than me!

Nai-Nai and Ye-Ye left after last weekend's festivities, so I'm hanging out the rest of the week with my Gong-Gong and Po-Po. Tomorrow I go for my official one-month check-up with Dr. Frank, and that marks the end of Mommy's "sitting month". Starting next Monday, it'll just be me and her hanging out during the day. It will be the first time it's just the two of us since I've been born; I think she's a little bit nervous, but I'll try to be good and not make it too difficult on her.

Mommy and me