Daddy's Lil' Girl

It's becoming more and more apparent that Mia prefers Mike. When Mike leaves the house, she would cry, crawl over to him, hold on to his pant leg and cry until he picks her up again. As for me, when I say bye to her, she smiles and waves back bye bye. Since I have been nursing her since she was a new born and seriously gave it all, I feel so "used" even though I like that she's so close to her dad.

Mike told me today when she craweled over to him and operned her arms for hugs, she said "dadda". I am so jealous. So far she hasn't even uttered the word "mama" too many times but she's been babbling "baba" or "dadda" all the time! Sigh!

- Mia wearing daddy's gift of Capital jersey for #8 Ovechkin.

First X'mas

Mia had her first Christmas! For days we have been defending the presents under the tree from being torn up by her. She easily yanked off a few of the bows off nicely wrapped boxes. For now, presents are not important but the wrapping paper is so much fun.

She got a bunch of presents, out of which mine was her favorite - a music table that sings over 50 songs, make animal noises, says ABCs, counts 123s, etc. She's been holding up against it and shaking her head and butt when the music starts. Apparently that's a new trick she's developed, which surprised me.

I have been sick with fever since last Thursday. It was not the most comfortable Christmas for me but it was meaningful with Mia with us.

First Tree

we finished decorating the tree this Sunday. Mia looked like such a big girl in this picture.

P.S. This is what the tree looked like on Christmas Eve before we opened all the gifts. This year it was the first time we had everyone coming over to our house!

Standing

Mia can stand up now with some help. She also knows how to get down, basically just butt flop onto the floor. Today my in laws came for a visit. Mia with grandma's help, climbed up the sun room day bed. When she turned around, she joined us clapping her hands. Now she's becoming really fun.

Tofu

Mia had Tofu for the first time today. I cooked Ma Po Tofu for dinner. Before I put spice in it, I lighted salted the tofu and ground pork and saved some for her dinner. I was completely surprised that she finished a big portion. What's more interesting was she grabbed the spoon at the end and fed herself with a little direction from me THREE pieces of tofu. She's making good progress in her mobile skills. It amazes me to see a little almost motionless thing grow into a little human being full of emotions and her own will.

Children's Holiday Party

We went to the Children's Holiday Party at my work today. Mia is too little to do anything but we took another Santa's picture. This time Mike was holding her and we were all in the picture. She did not cry. There were face painters, balloon people, slides, and a little amuzement park. We just walked around with her.

She was really afraid of the purple blow-up dinasaur that was 9 foot tall. Kids were bouncing in this fenced up play pen with the dinasaur in the center. When we went to the exit where this boy slid out with a scream, Mia started screaming and clenching onto me. I walked away comforting her. I was really curious what went through her mind. She has never seemed to be in fear of anything before.Maybe next year she will be able to enjoy more.

Yesterday evening we went to a friend's house for x'mas party. Mia stayed up till 7:30 and did not get to eat till late. She behaved well. There were ton of kids at the party. It's amazing how your life changes in a couple of years. I remember only a few years ago, I was downing vokka shots at the same party with the same groups of people. Now almost everyone has a baby or two... The basement was full of toys and babies. The host even hired two sitters to watch over them so the adults can have a normal time!

The lights are up (they did not show up magically, kudos to Mike!). We still need to put more ornaments on the tree but we do have the tree. I feel so domesticated now.

Little Critter

Mia has been climbing the stairs. Yesterday she successfully conquered one section of the stairs leading upstairs. As I was filming her, she tried to climb onto the second section of the stairs and she rolled off the stairs (3 steps) and fell on the carpet. I did not catch her. She was ok.

We tried to buy more gates for both end of the stairway going upstairs but Babies R Us sold out. We have to watch her closely before the gates are up.