Baby 包包

This is the story of Helen and me and our new adventure with our daughter. So far, we’ve called her Little Bun. Or as her cousin came up with - Baby Bao Bao (chinese for baby bun). She will be born in the year of the sheep.

[tinylittlebun]

My baby girl looks older than two walking with her hands in her pocket and in boots. She’s hitting milestones with language, like the Google Home understanding Claire’s speech finally. We use it for timers, such as to tell Claire that in two minutes, it’s time to brush her teeth. She’ll go ok and tell me to tell Google to set the timer. When the timer went off yesterday, Claire successfully turned it off by voice command. I told my husband, “This is dangerous.” Claire responds, “It’s not dangerous.”

[tinylittlebun]

Between Dad and 2-year old

"I want stamps." "No. They cost too much money." "I want money." "Then you gotta get a job." "Ok."

[philhalley]

[tinylittlebun]

We had a fun week in Minnesota. Claire loves her grandparents and her "eema" (yi ma=aunt) and uncle. And she definitely loves her cousins. She loves running around and being part of the crew.

Claire was spoiled with good food between gong gong (grandpa)'s cooking and punch pizza.

She is getting so old, but still so young and sweet. Her languge is developing so quickly now.

[tinylittlebun]

Mother's Day brunch at my daughters daycare. When I first saw the invitation, I thought the reason she's in daycare is that I need to be at work. It so happened that the day before the brunch I had a 13-hour work day. Luckily that rarely happens and my boss was fine with me coming to work late the next day. So I spent a relaxing morning with my baby girl and her wonderful teachers. They put extra time and effort into this lovely and special event. I'm delighted I went. I'm one lucky and happy mama.

[tinylittlebun]

The best way to end a trip away

[tinylittlebun]

This makes me elated and heartbroken at the same time. I went straight from work to an event and didn't see Claire all day. Right after "hanging up" with me, she headed to the bedroom on her own.

[tinylittlebun]

Right before this she had counted to five on her own for the first time. Of course, she refused to do it on camera.

[tinylittlebun]

"Claire, can you pose?"

[tinylittlebun]

After screaming, crying, and rolling around on her floor in protest of family photos, Claire decided to be adorable right before we left. I didn't know she knew what "pose" meant. It kinda captures the year that's been up and down and full of surprises and new abilities, good and bad. Nothing lasts. Trying to remember to cherish all the moments the same, though it's a lot easier and less tiring when she's like this more often than not. Today was one of those days. It was her first at daycare in two weeks. She didn't stall at home in the morning so she arrived at daycare earlier than her friends. She grabbed on to Phil's leg tight but didn't cry when he left. Her teacher says she just stood in place for a few minutes and then her best friend arrived and everything was good again. "She was so happy today." Makes my heart glad to hear. I felt withdrawal being away from her today. She's grown so much in these two weeks. When I ask Phil he says she says a lot more words and forming a lot more opinions. He also recalled how she pointed to her friends' cubbies that has their pictures and said each of their name. I didn't know she knew them, let alone remember them. Good sign for all the family members she doesn't see regularly. She remembers you. And when she acts like she doesn't, that's it. She's acting. Can't you see from the video?

[tinylittlebun]

Claire has turned 19 months. It's been increasingly fun and trying. She's learning a million miles a minute. Saying a lot more. Mostly "airpane" and "birt" still. She insists on "boot" when she wants you to read to her or "mo" for another round of "Wheels on the Bus." Her favorite parts of that song are the moms shushing and singing "ALL...TOWN" with arms up and then dramatically down. She's imitating everything. I love how proud of herself she gets, like when helping me put away the dishes. And I gave her a whole apple to eat once and she lit up like it was the best prize in the world. She wants to be big. She also gets frustrated so easily. She throws a big fuss over nothing. She doesn't even know what she wants sometimes, so how are we supposed to help? Tantrums are getting worse. She's showing sass and intentional disobedience. Phil says getting ready in the mornings is so much harder and draining. Sigh. She will grow up all too fast. We're taking the good, bad, and ugly as a package deal. She really is mostly good. And with the way she loves me so madly, I'll even say the best.

[tinylittlebun]

Her "airplane" is so close to "all done" that the first time Phil read this to her I was thinking why was he still reading when she so adamantly wanted to be finished? Little did I know she was spotting and pointing out the "all dones," which she also likes to do in real life. Also birds. That word, at least in a English, is much clearer. So, which is faster? Us figuring her out or her figuring out the world?

[tinylittlebun]

[tinylittlebun]

Boo, Birds, and Planes Having a kid makes Halloween really fun again. Even Phil was willing to dress up to complete our ensemble of Monsters Inc characters. And...? Claire won second prize for best costume tonight, which means we double win. We got a irresistibly cute baby and $25 Amazon gift card. Woo hoo! Today we saw how Claire is so ready for activities like story times and shows. She sat still and listened to the entirety of A Halloween Scare in California at Barnes and Noble. She loved The magic show at our complex and clapped and laughed when everyone else did. She feeds off the energy from the crowd. Clearly an extrovert like me. Once onstage she was super shy but it was the kind of cuteness people expected and ate up. I certainly want to eat her up but Sully is not that kind of monster. Perhaps next year I'll repurpose my blue jacket to Cookie Monster and Claire can be a pack of Oreo Thins. Then may I eat her up? We'll see what opinions she'll have about what she wears in a year. Meanwhile, I will keep working on her cheekies.

[tinylittlebun]

"NO" has been pervading her vocabulary in a very toddler way. Except recently when she was home sick and I asked if she liked to eat something, she gave the cutest and meekest "no" I've ever heard. It was darling. I feel bad when she's feeling unwell. I do get a lot of cuddles though.

[tinylittlebun]

[tinylittlebun]

Claire's becoming such a person. This is her just laying down and chilling on her own while her parents packed. She's growing and developing SO fast, like her vocabulary and physical abilities. We added "door," "hat," and a resounding "Nooooo." She's mimicking the gestures to "Itsy Bitsy Spider," which she likes in both English and Chinese. She can chase a dog around while maintaining her balance on uneven surfaces. It's super fun to observe and teach her new things. I love this little big person so much.