Dear Xavier - Nine Months

Dear Xavier,

This month, which has been riddled with doctor's appointments galore, I have marveled at how far you have come. You had your LAST pulmonologist appointment and your LAST Synagis shot! You are growing well and doing everything just right. You are, most definitely, my perfect little miracle baby.

This month, we've started to venture even further out into the real world - taking you to places like playgroups, library story time, and various parks. Sure, we still exercise good hygiene, but with the threat of flu/cold/RSV season on the decline, we are getting more comfortable being out and about.




You are such a sweetheart. You are good-natured and happy and love taking everything in. You are giggly and smiley and I just want to eat.you.up. You are now a pro at sitting up. Your favorite toys are Sophie, the activity table, and just about anything we put in front of you that you can put in your mouth because I am convinced that very soon you will no longer be my gummy baby. You are sort of getting the hang of army crawling, but you still prefer to go backwards. And, to my end, I am relishing in the fact that you are relatively immobile because I am not ready for two very active, mobile creatures running around all over the place!

Stay little. Pretty please?

Love,

Mommy


Loved by your Lolo and Lola.


Your silly sister....


A trooper at an impromptu trip to the doc to treat yet another eye infection.


Hard at work.


LOVE.

Lissie's Second Birthday - a Recap

As is seemingly typical of our family's birthday celebrations, Lissie somehow managed to have extended birthday festivities. We actually started TWO WEEKS EARLY and won't stop until later today, the day after she turned the big T-W-O.

After what seemed like an endless amount of time researching fun party venues for two-year-olds, I had my heart set on a music class for Lissie and her fellow tot friends. Unfortunately, the location wasn't available on any of the weekends I wanted, which is why we ended up wreaking havoc on Justin's work schedule and having the party two weeks early.

And it was totally worth it! Even though it took Lissie a little while to warm up to all of the attention, she and her buddies had a wonderful time (and, from what I hear, took stellar naps afterwards)! There was dancing and singing and jumping and twirling and shaking and instrument playing galore. And, of course, there was cake.



Fast forward to her actual big day, and we started by greeting her with birthday ballons and kisses. After a delicious breakfast of "2" pancakes, mangoes, and cottage cheese, she spent a good chunk of time playing in her upgraded kitchen (thanks, Lolo and Lola!) before we headed out to see daddy at work and play at the park.



Following her nap, we went to Mass and then celebrated with a birthday dinner of pancit (gotta have those noodles for a long life!), adobo, green beans, rice (duh!), and ice cream cake!



The celebration continues later today when she opens the remaining few presents from me and Justin when he gets home from work. Phew!

What a fabulous way to rejoice in the fact that she's two! Happy happy birthday, Lissie! We love you!

Dear Lissie - Two Years

Dear Lissie,

I'm writing this with mixed emotions. On the one hand, I am so excited that you're two and growing and developing well. But on the other hand, I just can't believe my little baby is gone. I look at your newborn pictures, and I can't even recognize that baby anymore. They say that time flies when you have kids, but you really don't understand it until it happens.

I look back on just this past year, and so much has changed in just 12 months. You're walking. You're talking. Your personality is blossoming. And, of course, you're a big sister.

Sure, you have your moments - we are headed straight for those terrible twos, after all - but, in general, you are just the sweetest, silliest, shyest little girl. Much to daddy's chagrin, you are most definitely a mama's girl. It takes you a while to open up to anyone, but when you do, you're the life of the party. You're very cautious and are quite the perfectionist. You get very frustrated with yourself when you can't get things right, but you are so independent that you don't want any help.

Some of your likes:
* Dora the Explorer
* Elmo
* Swinging at the park
* Cooking - whether real or pretend
* Jesus
* Playing with dolls
* Lego Duplos and any other type of building block
* Music
* Ring around the Rosie
* Eating.
* Lolo Ernie
* Reading

Some of your dislikes:
* Unsweetened almond milk. (Who would've guessed?)
* New people and places
* When Lolo and Lola go on vacation (it took you forever to warm up to them again)
* Going to church (which is weird since you adore Jesus)
* The Adventure Science Center (I guess we'll hold off on that membership)

You definitely make my day brighter. You show me the world through your eyes, and it makes me smile. There's so much left for you to learn, but at the same time there's so much that you've already taught me.

I love you,

Love,
Mommy

Here are some of my favorite Lissie pics of this past year (in no particular order at all):