I had my WBC on Thursday the 1st. I don’t like going to those things. People I don’t know measuring, poking, touching, and then there’s always those pokes in my legs that I don’t like . It makes me sad.

I am now 24 pounds and in the 43rd percentile in weight.
I am 2′8″ and in the 47th percentile for height.
And my head circumference is 48.5cm in the 92nd percentile.

If you compare these numbers to my last WBC when I turned 1, I’ve only gained almost 2.4lbs b/c I weighed 21lbs and 12 oz, I only grew 2inches b/c I was 2′6″, and my head circumference stayed EXACTLY the same. Dr T said I was still doing very well. He even said that I’m advanced when it comes to my speech! YAY! I guess I was so good that I got me an ELMO sticker! ELMO!!!!

I finished up on my DTP and Pneumococal vaccines and I just started the Hep A. Oh boy. Daddy didn’t really like the lady pokepoke and said he preferred the mean man in the chair. But the lady did fine for me. She ven gave me more stickers! Zoe and Cookie!

I have to go back after my birthday again.

Only 6 more months and then I’m 2. Mommy says I’m already in my terrible stage though.

For my “birthday” I went on an airplane again. This time Papa came along. We’re in Hawaii, at Mama and Papa’s house. I’ve never been here but my whole family has. Apparently Mama and Papa are staying here and they’re not coming home with us. Mommy and Auntie are sad. Even Kuya too. Mama and Papa want me to stay with them, and I want to, but Mommy won’t let me. I guess everybody loves me so much that they want me to live with them.

Apparently I’m kolohe . That means I’m naughty in Hawaiian. Oh well too bad for y’all.

Mommy says I’m a parrot now too, I can pretty much repeat anything you say .

When I get home I get a well baby check, so we’ll finally know how much I’ve grown. Mommy says I’m getting shots too, I’m not too happy about that though.

Awww man I missed my 17 month update, all b/c of the holidays.

Mommy would officially like to announce that I am weaned completely. And it went well. I kid with her and say “DohDoh” every now and then but I know I can’t have them anymore. I have been rubbing/ caressing/ squeezing Mommy’s arms though when I get sleepy. It soothes me for a lil bit.

Christmas came and went. On Christmas eve we spent with Daddy’s side of the family at Gamma Gustie’s and Gamma Mary was there. It was small but fun, and nice too. Me and Kuya got lots and lots of attention.

Then Christmas Day we went to Mama and Papa’s house where it was loud and noisy. Mommy said not everyone who is usually around this time of year was there. It didn’t matter to me none, the people that matter to ME the most were there and as usual there was lots of nummy things to eat!

And today being New Year’s eve, we went to Mama’s and Papa’s again early in the day to pick up and grub on some Pilipino desserts. Mommy talked Mama into going to some lady’s store, “Mang Hilda”, and there were nummy in my tummy desserts, purple ones and orange ones. I like ‘em. Round things are supposed to be good for New Year’s. Ask Mommy why. When we left their house though, Mommy was sad , she was crying to herself and Kuya kept asking her why. All I remember is seeing Mommy hug Mama for a long time.

I hope everything is okay.

In other news my word count is increasing by leaps and bounds EVERYDAY.
*marco
*sia (cassia)
*micki (nikki)
*ayek (arik)
*maka (kuma)
*unka (uncle)
*n-t (auntie)
*ido (adieu, from that commericial I love that Kia commercial)
*dapiz (pizza)
and nearly any word you say to ask me to repeat, I can nearly do it. YAY!

Happy New Year 2007

I guess people didn’t know I was smarter than they think. How rude!

Mommy’s been playing this game with me where she names out a body part and I point. Man big people like that game. They think it’s fun, I humor them and point every now and then.

*hair
*nose- favorite
*feet
*hands
*mouth
*tummy
*booty*
*peckers

Okay what’s going on here? Mommy’s been holding out on the dodo from me. And I’ve learned to say dodo so well too! How could she ??? It comforts me at night and now I don’t get it at all! When I try to find it, all mommy says is “La na!” What does she mean? I can see its there! Just give it to me. I cry a lil bit but Mommy consoles me and so far since she won’t give me the dodo I make her hold me until I fall asleep. It’s NOT the same, but it’ll do. She better not try to change something else on me, or she’s going to have to suffer!

Guess where I went? I finally got inducted into my family’s obsession with Hawaii and I now I know why they all lub it there. Me, mommy, and Mama went on that big noisy thing in the sky and left Kuya and daddy and even Papa behind. We weren’t gone too long, or at least I didn’t notice. I like it there. The weather is just right for me and I got to eat lots and lots of rice. YAY! And instead of Daddy sleeping next to me on my other side it was my mama .

Mommy said I wasn’t very nice on the airplane, I just couldn’t understand why they wanted to sit in those 2 seats. That’s it, 2 seats. Not fun. While we were waiting to get on the airplane, there was this little girl that I wanted to play with. Mommy was getting silly giggly and talkative b/c I think she wanted to play with the lil girl’s Daddy. I’ve seen him on the tv before, he’s funny.

Anyhow back to Hawaii… so we ate lots and lots. Fun new things I never had before, and apparently you can only get over there. Mommy was talking a lil bit funny kine too. Only there. We went shopping lots and lots too, my stroller has tacked on lots of miles.

I went to the beach and I like the beaches there way better than I like ‘em here. The water is so much more comfy.

My mama and papa are moving there soon , but Mommy reassures me that we’ll visit them lots. We better!

Oh yeah and somehow I got a new nickname while I was there. Hurricane? Now what’s that supposedo to mean? That’s not a cute name.

[lil miss] Turkey Day is coming and I can’t wait to eat. Yeah, you read right? Eat! I like to eat, so what! I think I inherited that trait from both my parents .

Not much has changed since my last monthly check in. We’re not exactly sure how much I weigh b/c I don’t have a check-up until I turn 18 months old in January.

We’ve been going to the libary a lote more lately and Mommy has been getting me some nice books to borrow. I only really like to look at the pictures though.

I really like to say “bah” or really it’s “bye”, only to select people though. I like to wave and throw kisses too.

Mommy says we’re going on a long plane ride soon, but Daddy and Kuya aren’t coming , but Mama is coming with us YAY .

[lil miss]Lookie who got to touch the silver box today!!! Yeah that’s right ME! All thanks to Uncle Toots (my bf’s daddy ). Mommy let him play with the silver box today and he told her about all these cool things it can do. Yay! Now I get ‘pooter time too.

[lil miss] My bacab-ularry (vocabulary) is growing leaps and bounds, or at least that’s what Mommy is saying. In the past few days I’ve leanred a few more words!

*beeeees= please, I know Mommy said I could say it before, but I know how to use it to get the things that I want
*dyoos= juice
*ssss= stinks
*sues= shoes
*saaaa= socks
*daket= jacket
*my= mine
*out= I wanna go outside
*go= let’s go!

I’ve also learned to throw things away. Even things that aren’t supped to go in the garbage. When Mommy says “La na” I know that it means “na na” and that the bowl is empty, so I take the bowl and throw it in the garbage . I’m so smart!

[lilmiss] Or maybe I should pop mommy’s collar. Once again, I won! I won at the karate Halloween party for best costume in the 3 and under category . I can’t help that I’m so cute . I got a cool little award to add to small collection. YAY! Mommy always has me at my best and knows what works for me.

Tonight was Halloween, and there were a lot of other pirates out there, but none as cute as me. Or at least that’s what my Daddy says. Mommy and Daddy were checking out all the houses where we were and Daddy at one point even broke out his wallet to buy someone’s house. WOW! Wouldn’t that be neat. It was crowded out there, but lucky me I got to sit in my stroller and just watch everyone. Mommy kept running into people, or maybe people were just getting in her way?! But it was fun. I got to eat some cookies that this fun little girl gave me. And mommy let me have some candy corn too. I still like the real corn though. You know the stuff you have to eat off that funny stick or the kind that comes out of the can, or maybe even the one from the bag that’s super duper cold. All I know, is that Kuya had fun and that’s important to me.

The holidays are coming soon. The day where I get to eat a big bird. YUMMAY!

The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to 18 and came up with $160,140 for a middle income family. Talk about sticker shock! That doesn’t even touch college tuition. But $160,140 isn’t so bad if you break it down. It translates into:

* $8,896.66 a year,
* $741.38 a month,
* $171.08 a week.
* That’s a mere $24.24 a day!
* Just over a dollar an hour.

Still, you might think the best financial advice is don’t have children if you want to be “rich.” Actually, it is just the opposite.

What do you get for your $160,140?
* Naming rights. First, middle, and last!
* Glimpses of God every day.
* Giggles under the covers every night.
* More love than your heart can hold.
* Butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs.
* Endless wonder over rocks, ants,
clouds, and warm cookies.
* A hand to hold, usually covered with
jelly or chocolate.
* A partner for blowing bubbles, flying
kites
* Someone to laugh yourself silly with,
no matter what the boss said or how your
stocks performed that day.

For $160,140, you never have to grow up. You get to:
* finger-paint,
* carve pumpkins,
* play hide-and-seek,
* catch lightning bugs, and never stop believing in Santa Claus.

You have an excuse to:
* keep reading the Adventures of Piglet and Pooh,
* watching Saturday morning cartoons,
* going to Disney movies, and
* wishing on stars.
* You get to frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under refrigerator magnets and collect spray painted noodle wreaths for Christmas, hand prints set in clay for Mother’s Day, and cards with backward letters for Father’s Day.

For $160,140, there is no greater bang for your buck. You get to be a hero just for:
* retrieving a Frisbee off the garage roof,
* taking the training wheels off a bike,
* removing a splinter,
* filling a wading pool,
* coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs, and coaching a baseball team that never wins but always gets treated to ice cream regardless.

You get a front row seat to history to witness the:
* first step,
* first word,
* first bra,
* first date, and
* first time behind the wheel.

You get to be immortal. You get another branch added to your family tree, and if you’re lucky, a long list of limbs in your obituary called grandchildren and great grandchildren. You get an education in psychology, nursing, criminal justice, communications, and human sexuality that no college can match. In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there under God. You have all the power to heal a boo-boo, scare away the monsters under the bed, patch a broken heart, police a slumber party, ground them forever, and love them without limits. So . . one day they will like you, love without counting the cost. That isquite a deal for the price!!!!!!!

[lil miss] Another birthday, only no cake . Boo! Since the last time, I’ve upped my wordage. Yeah I said wordage
* up
* please (only when I really want to say it though)
* papa
* dada
* bee
* bzzzzz
* me, me, me
* uh-oh!
* and NO even when I mean yes
* owwww

I’ve learned to like books lately. My favorite would have to involve a bee and the word buzz.

Other than knowing that the cow says “Moo”, I also know that the cat says “Meow” but when I say it sounds more like “Neoooooooow” and the bee says “bzzzzzzzzz”.

I love rice and salad.

Mama let me taste bittermelon, and I don’t know what the big deal is…. I actually liked it. YUM! Mommy says it’s the Ilokano in me . Sure whatevers.

I can also high 5, throw kisses, and even smooch ya but only on the lips and make the *mwah* sound

When we go to Mama’s for Friday night dinner, there’s this show that we watch. They talk funny on that show. But I like to say the name of the show in the beginning “wowowowow”. And I have mastered this dance when the “boom tarat” comes on. It’s my favorite dance . And everyone seems to enjoy my rendition of it too.

Halloween is coming soon and we’ve already got my costume ready. YAY! Me and kuya are matching. I’m hoping to get a lot of candy, but I’m not looking forward to all the walking.

[lilmiss] Can you believe it’s been 2 months since my birthday? Gosh where does the time go?

What have I been up to? Well I’m fully walking and kinda talking.
Mommy says that I can say

“What’s that?”
“What’s this?”
“Oh wow!”
“No more.”
“Bad”
“Mommy.”
“Mama.”
and my all time favorite “NO!” and even shaking my head too.

But Mommy says that Kuya was saying a lot more at this age. Who cares! HA! Daddy found some old videos from when Kuya was this age and he was funny.

Other than that nothing much has been going on. My first molars came in and now they’re here. They hurt me real baaaaad.

Mommy is also still sharing the liquid gold, although it seems there isn’t much to go around anymore, I still like sharing those moments with her. They help me go to sleep. Maybe I’ll let go soon, or maybe I won’t. We’ll see.

Mommy and Mama took me to an “audition” to be a cover baby for a magazine (Amer.ican Ba.by) yesterday. There were lots of other babies there, some funny looking ones too . Daddy dropped Mommy there and we met Mama, and Daddy said, “You can all go home now, the winner is here.” My Daddy is funny and mean too. Mommy didn’t like the picture the yellow haired lady took of me, oh well. She says, “If it was really meant to be, then they’ll call.” We’ll see. I just want to get my hands on the free toys. Mommy wants the free trip to NYC.

Me and Kuya already “won” at Pic.ture Peo.ple for some pictures we took last month. We were the week’s winners. Mommy hopes we can be the store winners and then on to the national winners. Eh, if not then it’s okay too.

Yeah so that’s it. Just lots of “beauty” pictures and stuff like that.

[lilmiss] I’ve been so miserable and why should I be the only one? My mouth is on fire and no one seems to care . Teeth B, S, and L have already broken through and who knows what else. Mommy’s been giving me that red sticky stuff and it works for a little bit and then I get cranky. I don’t like it! Mommy has been giving me these cold pops from the freezer and I ♥ them . Today I had 3 (halves only though). This better stop soon b/c I don’t like it, and I don’t think Mommy does either.

[lilmiss] Kuya left me today . He had his first day of second grade. Mommy got up earlier than usual and I started to cry b/c she wasn’t there. Daddy said she went to take a shower. Then all of a sudden she was dressed and ready to go. I heard her trying to wake up kuya, he didn’t seem to want to go. And then sooner than I know it, I’m all dressed up in some new clothes. Mommy said it was my “back to school outfit”. She’s silly that Mommy of mine. Kuya had those matchy, matchy clothes that I saw him wear before. We got there super early b/c there were lots and lots of new people and there were yummy bagels to eat. More small people wearing those matchy, matchy outfits that Kuya was wearing. Everyone kept complimenting my new socks and boots. Go Mommy on picking the cute outfit!!! Heh.

We came home and I was lonely. So lonely. I looked all over and waited for him to scare me, but kuya never came out. It was a long time. Then Mommy put me back in the car and we saw all those strange people again, and there he was. Kuya! Yay.

Mommy says he won’t be around a lot during the day. But who will play with me? And who will yell at me? And who will take things from me? Mommy and Daddy aren’t as much fun as Kuya! Maybe I just need to train them?!?!?

[lil miss]

Not a whole lot of chocolate, but I would have to say this is my favorite!!! I know the red package and I let Mommy know by my little sounds that I make, kinda like when I get the booby. Yeah I’ll have to say, that stuff is just as good as booby!

[lil miss] Today is my Kuya’s 7th birthday. Happy Birthday to him! Today we went to eat at Hoot.er’s. YUM! I really like those chicken wings there. We walked around with all the other people that don’t live in Sa.n Fran.cis.co. Man those people are s-l-o-w when they walk! Daddy and kuya shared an ice cream and they only gave me a little bit . Then we saw those barking things that lie out in the water. Mommy got kuya and Daddy some funny lookin apples, but we didn’t get to eat those. We stopped at Great Grandma G’s house and Grandma M was there. She’s funny. We came home and we took naps. YAY for naps! Even though Kuya didn’t wanna go mommy made hiim to karate. He was crying worse than me the whole time, but he ended up having a fun time. Grandma M showed up there too. Then Kuya wanted to have white soup for dinner so we went to Stone.stown and ate yummy soup and bread. Then off to eat free ice cream. I hope kuya had a good day b/c I know I did. We been eating good food A LOT.

[lil miss] Our party was a big hit, even though I slept through a bit of it. Poor mommy was so tired. She did a wonderful job though and everyone kept telling her how amazing it was. Kuya’s friends weren’t expecting quite a shindig. The food was enough to feed an army. We each had our own cakes !

And man we are loved!!! Our house looked worse than Christmas! Mommy is still working on the thank you cards!

Mommy and Daddy said not to expect another party quite as big. It’s okay though. I won’t!

Thank you Mommy and Daddy!!!!

[lil miss] Mommy has taught me how to “moo” like a cow . She’ll ask me “What does a cow say?” and then she’ll imitate the sound and I repeat with “moooooooooo”. Apparently it’s very funny when I do it. what they don’t know is, they’re the silly ones. She also asks me “What does a dog say?” And she makes the sound like that big hairy thing at Mama’s house, I try to repeat that but it just kinda sounds like rough growls.

[lil miss] Mommy said that I am officially walking. Little does she know is that I walk when I want to. I am the boss! I’ve been walking for a few days now, but Mommy doesn’t know the official date. *tsk, tsk* Bad Mommy!!!!

Don’t tell Uncle Karate but Mommy let me have some chocolate last week . Not a whole lot, but a tiny bit. She was eating some KitK.at and ate most of the chocolate around it and let me have the last bite. It was YUMMY in my tummy. The trick… I just sat in front of her and stared at her until she let me have some. It wasn’t a whole lot, and Mama was wrong! It did NOT give me the rumblies in the tummies. Not at all.

Finally. 1 year, and 8 days later and we get an update on her height, weight, and head circumference

weight: 21 lbs and 12 oz which puts her in the 60th percentile
height: 2 feet and 5.75 inches, 69th percentile
head circ: 48.5, 99th percentile.

Yeah my kids got big heads. The both of them. S says they get it from me

She only got 2 shots today and did pretty well. No fever and no irritability. Nice. She took a short nap after the doctor’s appointment and only now fell asleep for her other nap of the day. I’m hoping she just sleeps through the night. I fed her dinner and everything. I can hope can’t I.

Dear Babygirl,
The day has come. You’re officially 1 year old and I think I’m in denial over the whole thing.

Despite being in labor for 3 days and getting induced you were all worth it to me.

And now 1 year later…

You’re a babbling machine. You can walk, but only when you want to. You’re also a drama queen, when you don’t get your way. You’ve still got only 8 teeth.

You’re losing the baby butter chunk that I love so much. Your appetite is one that any mother can love. You love your fruits, lately it’s blueberries.

Your giggles and smiles can send me into high heaven.

You love your brother to no end. How do I know this? B/c when you haven’t seen him even only for a few hours you’re smiling from ear to ear.

You love to see people your size and get excited when they’re close enough that you can touch them. You don’t exactly know how to be gentle, but I’m always there to show you.

I love it when you growl.

You haven’t been giving me signs that you want to poopy lately but every now and then I can still catch you before you’ve done the deed.

You love to go out. Proof that you will be my sidekick and I will train you to LOVE shopping.

You still sleep with us, and you’re still not sleeping through the night. You need your occasional feeding. But Mommy wants her body back, although everyone tells me that I’ll surely miss the bond.

You’re scheduled for your 1 year WBC, on the 24th so we don’t know how heavy or long you are until then. Unfortunately I can’t promise that you won’t get poked. In fact, I know you will and I’m sorry for that. I never want to see you hurt or crying.

We’re planning a big birthday luau for you and your Kuya this year and we’re hoping that it’ll be something special even though you won’t remember. We’ll have loads of pictures to show you when you get older.

I love you Noe!!!! “Some of the best things in life aren’t planned, they just happen!”

love forever and always, Mommy

[lil miss] That’s the distance from Daddy’s new baby , the 62″ DLP, and the thing that Mommy puts her feet on. And guess what? I walked from there to the ottoman. I stopped a few times, but I never lost my footing and I also never fell on my bottom. I’m telling you… GOOOOOOO ME!!!!

[lil miss] Two-zero! That would be the number of steps I’ve taken consecutively. I don’t like it though. Not one bit. It scares me, ya know! You know that distance between me and the floor. You know I can hurt myself! I can chip a tooth. I can break an arm! I can hurt my tooshy! And yet they still make me do this! But I learned how to get them to stop. I yell and screech and scream if they try to let go of my hands. Hhhmph! That’ll show them.

We were at Kuya’s hula class the other day and we were in that room with the hardfloor. And although it feels good on my feet b/c I know it’s stable, it’s scares the buhjeebus out of me. Mommy let go of my hand and kept walking away. And so I went after her, and she kept moving away!!! How dare she is. Didn’t she know that I wanted to be with her? Didn’t she know I couldn’t do it on my own? Didn’t she know that I didn’t want to? GOSH!!! I didn’t fall though. Not once, and so consecutively Mommy says I took about 20 steps!

Go me!!!

[lil miss] Despite my snifflies, Mommy thought it was okay for me to put my footsies into the numbing waters of the Specific Oh-shan! And did I like it? NO! I loved it !!!! At first it didn’t feel good, it was too cold, but then I love the water!!! Daddy calls me a water baby.

Kuya was in the water with his friend while me and the girls stayed at the shore and just let the wee waters hit us. Kuya was waist deep in the water. I don’t think I could have done that, and even if I wanted to… Mommy wouldn’t let me . Party pooper. I guess i was having too much fun b/c after awhile I wasn’t even allowed down. She held me the whole time on her hip. Ah poo on her!

I had lots of fun though and that’s all that matters right?

[lil miss] For my “birthday” we went to the beach yesterday! It was my first time. Not fair! Considering Kuya went to Hawaii at 4 months old. Momy keeps saying “In due time!”.

Mommy wanted to take pictures of us for our invitations for the birthday, so she dressed me in a purple dress and Kuya in an orange shirt with flowers. We weren’t nice . Especially me. We had thoughts of our own at what we wanted to do . It was fun though and Mommy just sat there with her camera and watched us. I crawled ALL over the sand and got it everywhere. I also got a taste of some sand, and it didn’t bother me none. I also tasted a sanddollar that Kuya collected. They took it away though .

So at 11 months old… what have I been up to? Hmm… I’m starting to walk more. Last night at Friday night dinner at Mama and Papa’s, I took 6 steps all on my own, from Mommy to Mama.

Other than that, nothing much else has changed. I’m still eating the same. Still pooping the same.

[lil miss] Y’all better watch out b/c I’m learning how to use those things down at the bottom of my body. Mommy says she doesn’t want me to grow up and yet she’s making me try to walk every chance she can get me to. Slow and steady wins the race huh? We’ll see.

The weather has been nice so we’ve been spending lots of time outdoors and at the park too. YAY! Too bad I always fall asleep on the way there and by thte time I wake up it’s time to go already. Ah pooo!

[lil miss] I’ve been letting go and standing on my own lately. Nothing holding me up. Nothing holding me steady! And guess what I did during Kuya’s karate class??? I took 2, count ‘em t-w-o steps on my own. Uncle Professor put me down, held me up til I steadied myself and had me walk to my Mommy . It was 2 teensy weensy steps and then I kinda lunged at her. Then Mommy set me back me up and had me walk to Uncle P! They tried to get me to go back again, but the novelty wore off. I stood up only to crouch down to kneeling and I went on my merry way. I’m so excited. I think Mommy is sad though b/c she said I’m really NOT a baby anymore, poor Mommy . I didn’t mean to! It just happened.

[lil miss] Hmmm, I don’t know what I had today, but Mommy gave me a bottle. Ya know one of those ones that she tried to give me way back when but I just wasn’t interested. There was something different in it. She said it was “Ho Mok” Or something like that. I humored her and chewed that clear thingy at first and then I think I kinda liked it. It’s not quite like that “liquid gold ” stuff but it’ll do. It was warm like it . But still, not the same.

She said she gave me 2 ounces for now, to see how I do. I hope she’s not trying to take something away from me and substitute that “Ho Mok” stuff!!!! She better not!

[lil man] Mommy dug up one of N’s pacifiers from under the couch and I put it in my mouth! My mom caught me too and told me to wash in. I just wanted to see what it felt like. I also asked my mom if I could taste the baby’s milk. Mommy said, “Homey you’re trippin!!!!”