Tiny Turtle Huggie!

This week, Xinyi was diagnosed with a unilateral ear infection... she's been a champion, but I have taken to calling her supercling. If she's next to, sitting on, and playing with me, she's fine. But the second she isn't she whines until she is again... :P.

It's fun to watch her development, She received the book, "Where's Spot?" as a gift when she was a few months old. She started by trying to rip out all the flaps, and then she could only do the easy ones, and now she can open the ones that open like French doors, no problem!

This is baby trying to brush her teeth through the packaging at target... Or trying to kiss Elmo... Not sure :).

Today, I took out her shapes and color puzzle, and she was able to do it! She's never been able to match the color and shapes and fit them into the spots, but today she did!

Unrelated, here is Xinyi sporting her ladybug outfit!

While eating with Xinyi, I handed her a napkin and she delicately wiped her mouth!

Not so delicately, baby is watching jeopardy in a silly pose.

Now she's on the ground...

Baby woke up from a nap one day but it was too early, so I left her in her crib to see if she'd fall back asleep. Instead she grabbed her lovey (which she has had in the crib with her for the last eight months but ignored) and started to play with her!! It was adorable and now she's started to do that after every nap! I didn't get a picture, but here she is sleeping!

After singing a song to baby involving a lot of quacking, baby said "duck!!" She also knows where her nose, eyes, ears and mouth are! She points to them when I ask "where is your ...?" She was throwing a fit because I wasn't playing toddler tunes over the radio for her. When I asked her if she wanted music, she immediately stopped crying, nodded her head, and in the most desperate little voice said "yeah."

She continues to climb up sofas and insists on walking by herself most everywhere! She also found a new way to drink from her sippy cup!

Finally, I found a tiny turtle stuffed animal which Xinyi hugs in the most adorable fashion.

How cute is that???? Auuughh! Love her!

Easter!

What an exciting week, full of pictures and new developments!

First, Xinyi discovered she can climb up the sofa all by herself! Here is her happy face post climb victory!

The next day, we went on a playdate to the Zoo with Camila and Lucas! 

Here are Xinyi and Lucas out exploring together! They are baby bff's!

Xinyi has continued to love her stuffed animals! Here she is hugging her Sophia look-a-like!

Now petting,

and big grin!!! :D

And a face smush, of course!

Baby girl finally has enough hair to put a barrette in it! For 0.5 seconds that is, until it falls out :P.

Here we are at mommy and me with her baby bff's!

On Saturday, we saw Yeh Yeh and Nai Nai! Box play to the rescue!

And music fun :).

She built this tower all by herself (or... with some help!) But she did put all the pieces on herself!

We popped over to visit momma's bff and baby Athena!

Then back for pre-Easter dinner :). Hugs from Nai Nai with Nathan!

And play time too!

A squish from Auntie Lindsey,

before the big Easter egg hunt at Great Grandpa Chuck's!

Yay baby!

Smile with momma!

And with daddy!

And all the cousins who were there!

So cute!

The kids all sat at a table together for lunch! This lasted about 1.5 seconds before one of them decided they were done...

Playing on the floor with Grampy!

Hug from Gem!

More Easter fun with Archie! 

And another kid's table to sit at!

Some good old fashioned guitar time, with a cutie in hand!

Then on Monday, we got to see Nate for a little bit! What a pair of goofballs!

Finally, back at home, Xinyi broke into her newest toy, a Disney Little People set!

Ahhh, resting with daddy, in matching cat sweaters :).

The coolest thing she has started to do is ask for songs by doing the hand motions! She has asked for The Itsy Bitsy Spider, Hickory Dickory Dock, and her favorite Zoom, Zoom, Zoom! Today, she even giggled when I asked if she wanted to sing Zoom, Zoom, Zoom, then she started with the hand motions! She has such a mind of her own, always wanting what she wants! She has the sweetest giggles as well, and continues to love stuffed animals! She is just too much fun!

Sheep says "Baa! Baa! Baaa!!!"

Xinyi was a doll this week! First, we started the week with a short trip to Descanso gardens. It was beautiful!!

Baby girl no longer wants to be held, she wants to wander and explore by herself!

Notice the furrowed brow upon being placed in the Ergo :).

Xinyi received this piggy for her birthday, but only in the last few weeks has discovered she can take her piggy for a walk! And the piggy follow her! What joy!

Daddy and daughter!

Nai Nai came to visit! They read a new book together!

And played with bubbles :D - which Xinyi calls both "Buhbee" and "Babeee"

Nai Nai also bought a new backpack for baby girl!

And a giant stuffed duck! Here is baby giving the ducky a kiss!

And a face smush...

And a face grab...

And a downward dog smush...

And a big body crush... she loves this ducky!

As all babies do, Xinyi had a fall... this angry cry face was captured on Facetime...

So angry sad!

All better now... playing with a box!

Now, the rest of this post is more for me, since I know her pediatrician will ask me in a few weeks about her progress, so I just want to keep track! So feel free not to read the rest unless you want to know her words, sign language and ability to follow instructions :P.

Words she says:
Flower - wawa

Owl - wawa 

Duck

Ball - beh

Dada

Nono

Uh oh

Mama
Eye

Bubble - baybee or buhbee or sometimes even bubble!

Eeeeeee! Is her word for when she wants something

Sign language - she has learned please, which looks like her rubbing her belly, even though it's supposed to be a circular motion over the middle of one's chest, so silly!

Daddy also taught her to salute, which looks more like Xinyi hitting her own head repeatedly... we'll work on that.

Things she does:

Points to her nose and eyes

What does a cow say "voo!"

What does a sheep say "baa!!!"

Then she walks around shouting baa baa baa!!!

Words and sounds she imitates:

fish - dish

Cheese - chish

Apple - baba

Turkey - dirkee 

Chicken - ticken
Poo Poo (self explanatory)

Instructions she follows:

When I ask her if she wants to go somewhere she says ya and then walks over to the baby gate and waits for me to open it for her!

When I ask her to kick during bath time, she kicks her feet! Even if she was just happily playing with her rubber ducky, she will stop to give several seconds of furious kicks!

When I ask her to turn off or on the light, she hits the light switch!

When I ask her to bring me a book, she toddles over to her book basket, pulls one out, toddles back, turns around and backs up to my lap and sits down! Then she flips pages like a maniac, looking only at the pictures :).

When I ask her to take her dolly for a walk, she puts her dolly in the stroller and starts pushing her around!

When I ask her to take her piggy for a walk, she takes her toy pig on a string and drags it around the house.

She gives hugs to people when I ask her to. For example, she gives all her grandparents hugs when I say, "Go give Grammy a huggie!" And this week, Nai Nai brought a big stuffed animal duck for Xinyi which she gives huggies and kisses to! She also gives huggies and kisses to her dolly! Such a sweet loving girl!

So sweet and so happy!