Denver Children's Museum

We went to the Denver Children's Museum near downtown today to preview the venue for Elizabeth's first birthday party. While we were there, we also explored the museum a bit. They have activities for babies as young as 3 months old, but most of the museum is set up for kids 3-10 years of age. Elizabeth spent most of her time in the toddler rooms playing in the make-believe outdoor sets. Since she can walk now, she just goes from place to place exploring as she wishes. We contemplated getting a one year membership, but we'll wait until she's a little older and can enjoy the whole museum. -S

please let me out of this treehouse jail...

Baby's snack

I always heard that babies like to explore and get to know their surroundings. In a way, they are supposed to go through all the drawers and cabinets, the piles of folded laundry, the food we (her parents) are eating, and have the freedom to pull things out, throw things around, and push things off tables (like our dinner). That's how the little monsters learn about boundaries and what is OK to do and what isn't. Plus, they get to see how everything tastes. Well, add eating cat food to the list of exploratory things. It's hard for me to say exactly how many times Elizabeth has "tried" cat food, since I'm at work during the day, but she seems to gravitate more and more to the two little bowls set out for the cats. The kibbles can't taste that good even though the bag says it's chicken or fish flavored. I should know...I tried one out of curiosity. It smells too. Maybe this is her way of saying she's hungry or that she wants to eat something else. Who knows. I'm not a baby whisperer. Sometimes I wish I were. -T

A bit of fun

Ever since Elizabeth could crawl, there is one thing she likes to do. That is bonking her head with somebody else. Not hard or anything, but in a somewhat gentle manner. We even gave it a word...쿵 (which is basically, bang). I think this is a way for her to show her affection toward somebody. If she's in a good mood and you say the word, she'll tilt her head as she leans in to make contact with her forehead. Usually she'll aim for the other person's forehead, but she has gone for the cheek or eye at times. Sometimes, you don't even have to say anything and before you know it her forehead is touching you. I must admit that I rather enjoy this small thing she does. I'm sure I'll miss it once she thinks it's dumb and stops 쿵ing me.

The funny thing that happened today was that she did it to herself...actually a reflection of herself. Normally, when she sees herself in the mirror, she smiles or giggles and pats the mirror. Today though, Sana was holding her close enough to the mirror that she bonked her forehead against he mirror. It was pretty funny. I guess it means she likes herself. -T

Walking, walking, walking

Elizabeth prefers to walk over crawling now. If she starts out crawling, she will stop, stand up and walk the rest of the way. She's gotten so good at walking already and it's only been two weeks since she started. -S

First Word - Fawawa (flower)

I try to teach Elizabeth something different every day. This week we practiced smelling various things in the house. I put my nose up to something and then say, "mmmm....smells good," or "mmmm....pee yew." Then I put her nose up to it and she sniffs it and then she usually smiles while I repeat the words, smells good or pee yew.

We've also been practicing words from a picture book and flower is in all of them. Also, she hears the word flower frequently, because there is an orchid plant right next to her playpen and I always point at it and say, "FE-LA-WER."

Well today, I picked her up to practice smelling again and brought her to the orchid and out of her mouth came the word, "FA-WA-WA."

Elizabeth already knows, Umma, Appa, and Mama and can use them all in the correct place. However, she learned those words through repetition and we don't actually consider them her first word. Fa-wa-wa is something she said, at the right time, without being prompted, so this word will go down in history as her first. -S

Breakfast Park at Cherry Creek Mall

At Cherry Creek Mall, they have this foam park for small children. Breakfast items of all kinds can be found sticking out of the ground for kids to jump on and play around. They have strawberries, eggs, sausage links, bacon, bananas, waffles, and a bowl of cereal. Even the carpet is padded with high density foam and each step produces a small bounce.

Today, we met Maggie and her daughter at the breakfast park. We played there for over an hour and then walked the mall until the kids got tired and fell asleep in the strollers. Elizabeth really enjoyed seeing so many kids and practiced her walk on the nice padded carpet. -S

Watching Daddy Play Basketball

I started playing in the intramural basketball league at work with some of my co-workers. We started back in December but we're already halfway through, so it's not too long of a league. Anyway, Elizabeth and Sana came to the third game to watch me play. This was after we had gone to the Nuggets game, so naturally, Elizabeth wore her jersey. Sana said that at the beginning, Elizabeth seemed excited to be there. But I guess I really wasn't that good because she seemed more interested in a chair that was nearby than actually watching the game. Oh well. We lost that game, but it was a great time with the family and I was happy that they were there to kind of watch me play. -T

A family day out

Today, we went to the mall and then out to dinner. Elizabeth is now 10 months old and it is an entire activity to go out for dinner. She's so active, it's rare to get her to stay still for more than a moment. Here is Elizabeth sitting in the reading chair at Jack and Janie and then getting ready to eat sushi (not really) at Sonoda's. -S

I am now a rabbit!

What's up, doc?! I now have my biting teeth!

Today, Elizabeth cut her fourth tooth. It was a hard week of drooling and painful eating. She also had a small fever for two days this week due to the pain. Thankfully, Tylenol took take of the fever. We were told by the doctor that most of the pain and symptoms disappear as soon as the tooth makes it through the surface.

We sure hope that she will be back to her normal eating schedule. We bought some ice cream to cool down her gums, but she doesn't want to eat that either. Thankfully, she is still drinking her formula. -S

First Steps

A month after she started standing on her own, Elizabeth took her first steps. Here she is pushing her favorite new Christmas toy, her shopping cart.



Ever since she got that shopping cart, she's been pushing it all over the house. It must have aided her ability to walk and with some encouragement, she started walking today. -S

Colorado Nuggets Game

Elizabeth went to a Rockies games back in October and last night, she went to her first Nuggets' game. When we first got there, she was very focused on watching the players in the court. That lasted about 15 minutes. Then she ate some food, had some milk and then it was time to wave to all the neighbors. One by one, she started saying "baba" (bye bye) to all of them and waving her little hands up in the air.

At halftime, Tim bought Elizabeth and me Carmelo Anthony jerseys. So, now we have matching jerseys for future games.

The baby lasted through 3rd quarter and then fell asleep in her carrier while we walked around the corridor. Good game. -S

NEW TOOTH!

After all the teething pains, the top left tooth cut through the gums overnight! Hooray! -S

Happy New Year!

First night apart

For the first time since the baby was born, we spent the night away at Glenwood Springs. Elizabeth stayed with her grandparents at home and did very well, sleeping through the night, and eating well. We missed you very much, probably more than you missed us. Thank goodness, it was only for one night.

We hope to take you to Glenwood Springs this summer, when the weather is warmer. It's one of our favorite places to go swimming. -Mom and Dad