HAELEY KWOK: March 2008

Haeley turned 4 months old a couple of weeks ago. We have been a little delinqent in updating the blog mainly because we've been pretty busy since I went back to work about a month ago. I am still trying to get used to the routine of getting up extra early for work, getting Haeley ready for daycare and still make it on time to the office. In this update we want to share a little about Haeley's daycare, her first Chinese New Year family gathering, her recent pediatric visit, some of the latest developments and other funny little happenings. I'm sure you'll enjoy these tit bits as much as we did!

What's new ?

Haeley is finding her fingers and fists the best item to chew on. If her hand is not in her mouth, Haeley would be grabbing on to something nearby. That includes my hair, my blouse, or my necklace, and when she is alone, it would be her bib, her blankie, or a little rattle toy which she also ends up putting in her mouth.

Right before I returned to work, Haeley had began really sleeping through the night. On good days, she sleeps up to 12 hours in a stretch, from 8.30pm till around 8.00am! Certainly a treat for us, giving us some time in the evenings to catch up on household chores and prepare her bag for daycare the next day. Finally Mommy gets to regain her 8 hours of sleep... but you never know when Haeley will start crying at 4 a.m.

My baby girl is starting to lose her hair and it is dropping at a ferocious rate. Everywhere we lay her down, she'll leave a trail of baby hair. Overnight, she would easily drops over a 100 strands of hair on the mattress from turning her head left and right in her sleep. Needless to say, she is developing a little bald spot on her back and sides of the head. Daddy now has someone else to compare bald spots with. If anyone knows of a baby Rogain shampoo out there, let us know!

As she becomes more comfortable in making different sounds, Haeley is becoming a little babble chatterbox. Sometimes during our dinner, she would be babbling non-stop as if she's trying to say "hey, how come you guys have so many different dishes to eat and all I get is milk?!" Haeley also smiles a lot especially when you make her stand up. Occasionally, if you say something really funny (to her) she would laugh out loud!

----------Chinese New Year Family Gathering--------------

Born near the end of Year of the Boar (the golden piggy), Haeley enjoyed her first Chinese New Year family reunion at our aunt's house in El Cerrito. As part of the Chinese New Year tradition, all married relatives more senior than Haeley gave her red packets (Ang Bao) with money inside! In just a few hours, she accumulated her first mini-fortune!... of course as parents, we're gonna invest it and hopefully it'll grow multi-folds and pay for her college (yeah, right)

Wow I'm rich!

Hanging out with Great-grandpa who is... ermm 89 years older than me!

Ah gung and Ah Mah happy to see me!

Haeley with cousin Jade

------Mommy & Daddy's Valentine's Day Tennis Tournament-------

Hey Dad, it's kinda sunny out here. Can I borrow your sunglasses?

From Haeley: The Pacific Atheletic Club at Redwood Shores held its annual Valentines Day mixed doubles tennis tournament in February. Mommy and Daddy entered the tournament together. It's been a while since Mommy played in a tournament... in fact, I think the last time she played I was still in her belly! They signed up for the intermediate level with about 10-15 other couples. While they were playing, I was napping and playing at the child care facility at the Club. Yes, the Club has a child care center for parents to drop off their kids so that they can go workout. So I didn't really get to watch mommy and daddy play, I just hoped that they won't forget about me. After about 3 hours, they came to the child care center to pick me up, and they had a big grin on their face! When I got outside to the tennis courts, the organizer was congratulating mommy and daddy for winning their intermediate division! Of course, after I showed up, I became the center of attention. I guess they don't get too many infants at the courts. Later when they were taking photos of the winning teams, mommy and daddy were holding me up as if I was the trophy! I guess I was their lucky charm even though I napping at the day care center!

Mommy, when I grow up, I want to play tennis and go swimming here

--------At the Whistle Stop--------

Haeley started daycare about a month now and so far she has been having a wonderful time at school. She is constantly being surrounded by toys, friends, music and loving teachers who take great care of the little ones. Every 2 hours Haeley would get a fresh clean diaper; and once she gets sleepy, her teacher would swaddle, cuddle and rock her to sleep. I love the fact that the daycare is only minutes away from my office. Ever so often, I would pop by to visit and feed Haeley during my lunch break. The cute little boy pictured above is Zane, Haeley's good friend who has the hots for my girl. Whenever Zane spots Haeley, he would walk over and try to play and touch her. Recently, I was told by her teacher Esmerada that Zane lovingly rested his head over Haeley's belly, and once when she was burping Haeley, Zane came and patted her on her chest.

Story-telling time by Esmerada

Can I get a dictionary? I need to look up a word...

---------4th Month Well Baby Visit-----------

Haeley had to go through another 4 immunizations shots at her 4th month visit to her pediatrician, Dr. Laura. This time round, she did pretty well after the shots and bounced back to her usual smiley self shortly after. Haeley's 4 month growth stats are quite impressive: from the tiny 7lb 3 oz at brith, Haeley has more than doubled her weight is now 15 pounds 5 oz which is in the 85% percentile and is standing tall at 24.5 inches. Look at her chubby arms, thighs and cupcake belly and you know what I mean.