Happy (Chinese) Birthday to me!

Today is my birthday, sort of. It's my Chinese birthday. I was born on Chinese New Year's Eve last year - the last day of the Year of the Pig - and today is the last day of the Year of the Rat, so it seems as though it's my birthday! Okay, so it's sort of made up, but it gives me an excuse to open gifts. :)

Daddy plays me a little ditty for my Chinese birthday

Enjoying a yummy birthday meal

The gift I opened was the big box from Mommy and Daddy. They got me a very cool wagon so that they can pull me around everywhere. And, it has two seats, so my friends can ride with me, too. We took it for a spin, first indoors then bundled up outdoors, and I gave it my seal of approval.

Good enough to prop up my foot

Bundled up to enjoy a spin outside

Sofia came over later in the afternoon to play. We mostly hung out in my play room, but we got a ride in my wagon inside, had some snacks, and listened to some music. We even convinced Mommy to put me in my Pack 'n Play that I never use for a few minutes.

Cheers!

I'm now walking from place to place, though I still don't think it's as fast as crawling. It sure is fun, though. My walking toys are way more useful now, too, even though I sometimes get stuck against a wall.

Woo-hoo!

Whattya mean? I'm a great driver!

In case I don't get to post tomorrow, Happy Chinese New Year, everyone! Gong Xi Fa Cai, and have a wonderful Year of the Ox!

Where in the world did January go?

Mommy's working on uploading more video of me walking, and she added more pictures to my January album, too!

Brrr, brrr, brrr!

Bundled up. Brrr!

Brrr! It sure has been cold around here. We've had crazy dips in temperature from the 60's to the 20's (and usually all in one day!). Because of this, Mommy has been bundling me up lots and layering me at night. Also, she's gone back to putting me in sleepsacks because of how much I roll around when I sleep ... it's pretty much impossible to keep me covered for any period of time.

Does this make my butt look big?

Jacob and I got to hang out again after not seeing each other for awhile. I think the best part was the lollipops, but I enjoyed all his transportation toys as well!

You push; I'll lick

Sofia and I also got together to play. We get to see each other during the week at school, but it's fun seeing people outside of daycare too! And I love seeing Flo (Sofia's mommy) because she plays with me every day when she comes to pick up Sofia. Sometimes I think that she's going to take me home, too, but it hasn't happened yet.

Sharing with Sofia. I wonder where all our other friends are?

I'm eating most of the food at school now and sharing lots of Mommy and Daddy's food at home. Speaking of school, I had my first two "incident reports" this week because I'm getting into everything. The first one, I was practicing walking and decided to face plant into the rocking chair. The second one, I tried to climb on top of a toy and then jump off (or something). Both times, my teacher picked me up immediately, put an ice pack on my boo-boo, and gave me lots of hugs and love. :)

Great to the last drop!

I don't know if it's the crazy weather or what, but it seems like everyone is sick! Kids in my class have had pneumonia, infections, and -- as of last week -- a couple of cases of RSV. My doctor said that RSV has been really bad this season because it started early last year and has spread all over the place! Hopefully the rest of the winter is mild and everyone can stay healthy.

I swear I've read this part before

Oh, Mommy's got new videos posted! You can see them to the right on the menu bar. The highlight (I think) is probably the one of me taking steps. And there's more pictures in my January album, too.

Haaaaaaappy New Year!

For having such a busy week, I don't have too many pictures to post ... but part of that is because of who came to see me. Mommy's family came to visit last week (Gong-Gong, Po-Po, Da-Jiu Zong, Auntie Melissa, Xiao-Jiu Dwo, Auntie Crystal, and Kirby)! With Xiao-Jiu Dwo and Gong-Gong there, they probably took enough pictures to last all of 2009! :D

This is how we efficient (not lazy!) people eat

Claire meet Kirby; Kirby meet Claire

Since both Daddy and Mommy had to work that week, the village stayed at home and watched me during the day -- Po-Po even watched me at night, too, so that Mommy could turn off the baby monitor! Besides playing with me, they took turns giving me my breathing treatments (I got sick again) and keeping me company when I was bored sitting at the dinner table after I was done eating.

Gong-Gong's after me!

Mommy's family is so much fun; they're quite ... rambunctious. We stay up really late, chase each other around (well, Kirby and I did after we decided that we were okay with one another), walk up and down the stairs together, and eat lots of food. This year, each couple also showed off their skills by taking turns hosting cooking extravaganzas each night!

No, no! Please no tickling!

On New Years Day, we celebrated our belated family Christmas (thank you all for everything! I love my gifts!).

Watching the Blu-Ray Planet Earth Da-Jiu Zong got us

The day after New Years is another important day: Gong-Gong's birthday! After that celebration, everyone had to go home. :( But I hope to see them all again in a month for my birthday!

Happy birthday to you

Happy birthday to you!

Happy birthday, dear Gong-Gong

After everyone left, Mommy and I took advantage of the record-setting warm weather -- 80+ degrees in January?! -- by having lunch with Ms. Corrie and going to the lake in our neighborhood. After that, it was back to real life again. It was a little hard adjusting back, but then I remembered how much fun it was playing with everyone, and I'm back to usual.

Check out those ducks!

Another baby a couple of weeks younger than me in school is moving up to the next class now because she's eating lots of big people food and walking all over the place. Mommy says she's okay with me not moving up anytime soon and is quite happy where I am. I have taken my first couple of steps now at home. I'll go between people a few times before I get bored, but I'm still not terribly interested in this whole walking thing. Why bother when I can crawl so fast or just hold up my arms until someone comes by with their fingers for me to hold onto? Food-wise, I definitely know what I like ... and what I don't like ... so adjusting to school foods has been a little interesting for both us and them.

Trying out the new sippy cup that Sofia's mommy got me (thank you!).
These are what they use at school, so I need to practice.

My newest tricks include "look up!", "put your head down", and Mommy's pretty sure I located the number 1 (or at least looked and gestured in the general direction of where I knew my #1 card to be).

If you make me look up while I'm drinking, I might drool all over the place!

I'm having all the "typical" signs of teething right now: drooling something awful (it literally drips off my chin if you don't catch it), some loose diaper, scratchy ears, and general fussiness. Since I have all 8 front teeth, Mommy is guessing that my molars are coming in. Whatever it is, blech!

Sharing a secret with Pooh during my 11-month picture

In Pee news, I have a cousin! Woo-hoo! James De-Ji Pee was born to George Shu-Shu and Auntie Christina on Tuesday, January 6th around 10pm-ish. We're 11 months apart which means that we'll hopefully be playmates when he's bigger. He was 9 pounds, 22 inches, and has red hair! Nai-Nai and Gong-Gong are headed up to see him and will stay up there during the weekdays and come home for the weekends. I can't wait to meet him!

James De-Ji Pee

My January album has been created to start capturing moments throughout the month, and I'll keep adding to it to show you my many adventures! Hopefully I'll have links to Gong-Gong and Xiao-Jiu Dwo's albums to share soon as well. Happy 2009!