Developing

Now that she is walking, Rikki Panpan is getting into everything. She walks up to people and says "hi" or "bye". Her curiosity takes her down shopping aisles and airport concourses and her newfound strength enables her to hoist herself onto low couches (or at least try to). She wants to sit by herself on chairs, feed herself meals, and open and close doors.

We are still trying to capture a video of her elaborate language - though we don't understand a word.

Sent from my iPhone

I want to make movies...

She is talking up a storm these days - though not exactly in English or Chinese. We are trying to shoot some footage of this, but whenever we do, her focus changes to wanting the camera (aka phone). Still cute though.

She is taking charge of everything. Yesterday ate a whole container of yo baby with no help. Okay so it also went on her clothing, her high chair, and her hair, but I'm still beaming with pride.

She is really growing too. Over 21 pounds now - that's three pounds in just over three months. When we look at the old pictures, she looks so tiny to us.

Maestro takes a break

Musical optimist

We are practicing tonight because our music class resumes tomorrow.

A long road....

Here we are after our return from Chicago with two of my oldest friends (I've known Becky since I was two and Elisa since three or four before we starred on Romper Room). It was great that they converged on Chicago over Labor Day weekend and met the youngest member of our extended "family". It was also a beautiful day so they saw Chicago at its best!

My only regret is taking so long to post this. But I'm getting caught up now.

Which reminds me... Happy (Jewish) New Year! Our Rikki will get to celebrate three new years every year (including Chinese new year).

Eating it up

And she still loves her corn. Her dad and sister eat theirs off the cob but she likes it straight. If you're worried that she is too young for this, we are actually told that it helps her mouth muscles, which is good for her speech. Though you'll be glad to know she doesn't eat it regularly.

Speaking of speech, she now says hi, wow, uh-oh, woof-woof, and ow. As for nouns, there is ball and baba (baby). She uses mama and baba (Chinese papa) interchangeably for Davis, Olive, and I so we all answer to either one.

So the corn seems to be helping.

In other news, she gained another pound as well as a half an inch. She is fitting into some clothes we were saving up for her. We are trying to get some usage for her dresses before the cold sets in.

Can't get enough of it

Our lucky optimist just loves her newfound ability to walk. She can't get enough of it. Here she is today in our building.

And a note: I will try again soon to re-post the Rehoboth pictures.

A true Chicago toddler a week later...

Now she is really an independent gal.

A true Chicago toddler

Just realized my attempt to post this video last week failed. She is back in Chicago and toddling away....

Last Week at the Beach

Our beach vacation visiting Nana and Pop Pop Jenkins produced lots of good times. Panpan was a big hit - she entertained everyone and surprised them with her temperament, which is a great mixture of calm and fun-loving! Olive is a great guide for her, especially on the fun side, and is really enjoying her big sister role. She is also helping Rikki become more photogenic - we are told that the pictures haven't done justice to her smile, so we hope these begin to correct that.

Now that she's walking around, her full curiosity is coming out - digging into waste baskets, opening drawers, reaching into the dishwasher, anything in sight. We're back home and already starting to rearrange.