Mama (Shaela) Mia!

Shaela said “mama” a week ago for the first time. I had no idea what an impact such a thing would have on me. I was never concerned that she couldn’t say “mama” and never insisted she do so. But to hear her say those words, brought tears to my eyes and somehow initiated me truly into motherhood. Now, I felt like a “mama.”

Three days ago she started saying “DaDa” and motioning to Justin. This also filled me up with such joy. She is showing so much affection and love for Justin. She is reaching for him and is also now starting to kiss him. He hugged her the other day and she signed “more”! How blessed this all is!

We feel so blessed to be witnessing all her developmental stages. I love to see the joy in her eyes as she accomplishes new feats. Some recent developments are the following:

• Took the spoon and tried to feed herself
• Dipping fingers into food and feeding me and Daddy
• Climbing up and down steeper and steeper drops (with assistance)
• Walked approx 30 steps in a carpeted toy store by herself
• Using furniture to walk from place to place
• Her hair is long enough to wear barrettes
• She has grown tall enough and reaches higher so that I don’t have to bend over when holding her hands (Justin still does)
• She is a great little drummer
• She often wakes up from naps and is sitting up in her crib
• She has different types of laughs and a noise that sounds like Frankenstein groaning
• Her dexterity is amazing and continues to improve
• She knew where the “kitty cats” were in the picture of Goodnight Moon
• She prefers drinking out of our cups over her sippy cups and she doesn’t spill much at all
• She points to things and makes a noise when she wants something
• She can sign “no more” and “more”
• She is trying to say words like “bubbles” and “doggie”
• She kissed my boo boos when I fell today.
• After spending time with Aunt Michelle, Uncle Tom, cousins Sophia and Patrick, she is more sure footed than ever and will spend some time playing by herself.
• She had her first extended and noncrying (sorry Nonna and Zia Rosa) babysitting with Uncle Tom, Sophia and Patrick (Hooray!)
• She shook her head "yes" when I picked the right toy.
  

Some other not so fun developments

• She doesn’t like sitting in her highchair and will kick her legs when you are putting her in.
• She is squirming a lot when you change her diapers (thank goodness Justin and I were both here when she had a poopy diaper that was flowing over and she was in a squirming mood!
• She got her first cold last Sunday and had a very snotty and congested nose and was quite cranky on her 6 ½ hour car ride back from Denver.
• She has begun pulling Kobi and Tara’s hair instead of just petting them.

Who is Shaela?

As I try to observe Shaela as a beautiful being in her own right this is what I see:

• She wants to see and know the world and is a good traveller
• She likes to understand how things work. She has to study everything at different angles and look at the bottoms of things.
• She goes headstrong into things and is usually fearless.
• Loves to play the drums
• Loves music and is moved by it
• Loves and kisses Kobi ,Tara, Daddy and me!
• Her “blankie” is a red Chinese silk scarf and our comforter also made of the same material, everytime she sees them she kisses and makes a sweet noise of “aahhh!”
• She loves certain fabrics, like my batik Indonesian pants and my Hawaiin shirt and her Chinese pajamas with little chicks or things on them
• She loves letters and characters
• She likes touching wooden engraved things and molding and wires with writing on it.
• She enjoys hearing bells and chimes
• Her favorite toys are her wooden farm animal puzzle from Aunt Melissa (especially the chickie), the soft blocks from Aunt Nancy (especially the rabbit and elephant) and the table with moving pieces that you can also put down a hole from Aunt Peichi, Uncle Pong, Audrey and Madeline. In the car she plays with manic monkey from Uncle James and Doug and Benjamin, and likes to be read books.
• She likes to try out different instruments and for me to play the harmonica.
• She also loves fishies and these small squirt animals that Aunt Michelle had given her.
• She has her own ideas and will not be a follower.
• She doesn’t do anything on demand. She will intentionally not look at you if you are taking her picture.
• When we go for walks, she doesn’t follow us, she’ll stop and wait until I follow her. But inevitably, she wants to go into the street and I will have to pick her up.
• She has an incredible sense of humor.
• She likes barrettes in her hair now.
• Her biggest love is water. She loves to be in the water. It was hard at the zoo seeing the animals like the penguins and the hippos and trying to restrain her from jumping the fence and joining them. She loves to swim so we have brought her to the pool often. She also likes to splash in the wheelbarrow that collects rainwater. She now has a cute pair of golashes that she can stomp in puddles with. Unfortunately, this morning she did her first face plant in a huge puddle in front of the house we are building.
• When she is moved by something, she gets so excited, her feet start dancing and she starts to shake.
• She loves being part of our family.

Love and Light from "MaMa" Debbie