…they do! Every parent tells me this, but it’s really true! Mio turned 29 weeks yesterday, and her smiles have changed. Before, they’d creep across her face and were given with a bit of reservation, oftentimes disappearing after a few seconds. In the last few days, her smiles seem to have keyed up a notch and are a lot more enthusiastic and wholehearted… I’m not sure how else to describe it except that they’re so animated that they take up her entire face! Her nose scrunches up, her eyes disappear into crescents, and her mouth opens wide to reveal her toothy grin (well, as toothy as you can get with just two bottom teeth). They are the most adorable smiles I’ve ever seen, and are truly infectious!
Some more photos and videos from yesterday…
Focused on eating the hippo.
Thanks Auntie Hanna for the outfit! So adorable!
Reading a book with Daddy.
Always getting distracted by Mama, even when she's with Daddy... love how her eyes always follow me around the room. (I win!)
Mio showing off her crawling skills for Daddy:
Having fun playing with her blanket and Mama:
…and I shall end with yet another photo of that smile of hers. Just can’t get enough of them! 😛
Last Sunday, we took Mio to Moore’s Pumpkin Patch in Castro Valley — it was of course Mio’s first time at a pumpkin patch, and the grandparents (Dan’s parents) came along for the occasion. (This was the primary reason I had dressed Mio up as a pumpkin — so she could match the pumpkins there!) Mio was a bit cranky because she’d just awoken from a nap and was already tired from being out since early that day, but we got some cute pictures out of it!
Pooh Mio and Piglet Mama... Mio was not too happy about this.
Mio and Daddy with the pumpkins.
The pumpkin was bigger than Mio!
Family picture!
Our little family's first time at a pumpkin patch! ♥
Hugs for the Mio... she looks indifferent.
Mio grabbing Grandma's nose!
Mio with her loving grandparents!
Three generations of Allens.
Mio as Minnie Mouse.
The grandparents bought Mio mini pumpkins!
Mio and I went on a train ride together, and she seemed to have enjoyed it!
Leaning out of the train...
"What? Over already?"
Farm animals! It amused me that they were all thrown together in the same pen. Chickens, pig, rabbits, ducks, geese...
At the end of it all, Mio was tired and ready to go home!
The pumpkin patch was more fun that I’d expected, and I’m looking forward to going back in future years. Maybe Mio will be able to go on more rides next year! 🙂 Excited about all the memories we’ll make together in the years to come… ♥
We went to the doctor today for Mio’s 6-month checkup. Her pediatrician, upon examining her, said that she is “the picture of health, and just perfect.” Just the words a mama likes to hear! 🙂 I had been a little concerned about a dry cough Mio has exhibited occasionally over the past week… but she only coughs once or twice a day, has no fever, and is her regular happy self…. Her doctor said that it’s nothing to worry about, so that’s a relief!
As for the latest growth stats for Mio, today she weighed 19lbs 5oz, which is in the 92nd growth percentile based on weight-for-age. Our chubster is getting quite heavy! No wonder our arms are sore these days….
For her height, she measured 26.75 inches long, in the 76th growth percentile based on length-for-age. (The pediatrician said, “She’s going to take after her dad, and will beat you in height. You’ll be the shrimp in the family!” Thanks…? hahaha*)
Mio’s head circumference was 17.52 inches, which is in the 90th growth percentile based on head circumference-for-age. I’m tellin’ ya, the girl’s got a huge head!
Mio got her third round of vaccination shots administered today, along with the flu shot. (That’s a lot of needles! 🙁 It still pains me to watch her getting shots, and as they say, it’s probably rougher on the parents than on the baby.) She cried bloody murder, but calmed as soon as I picked her up afterwards. It still amazes me how much comfort she finds in my arms… I’m still so clueless and new at this whole mothering business, but it’s sweet reassurance that I must be doing something right! Mio will have to go in for her second dose of the flu shot in about a month, but after that, she won’t have to worry about needles for a while! Good news for both Mio and for Mama!
(Photos above are from last Sunday at the grandparents’ house.)
Something cute Mio has been doing lately: when I hold out my hand towards her, she’ll army crawl towards it to reach for it and put her little hand in mine. Here it is on video!
If I make her do it too many times without picking her up, though, she starts to get cranky, as is the case below:
Alright, alright… for all that hard work, I will smother you in huggles! 🙂
This is what I wake up to in the mornings these days… Mio on all fours, with her head up, peering up from the crib with a smile brighter than the sun.
She’s definitely in her best mood in the morning, and then her temperament gradually goes downhill throughout the day, becoming extremely cranky in the evening and at night. ::sigh:: If only she could be in this great of a mood all day!
She always wakes up on her tummy...
She'll occasionally stick her tongue out.
Quite a sweet sight for sleepy eyes...
Love the way her eyes follow me, even through the crib slats… and how she breaks into a smile when recognition sets in.
And then, the other morning, we found her doing this:
Sitting up in her crib, peering through the slats.
Smiling to herself, as if the magnitude of what she had done has just dawned on her.
Laughing. While it was cute at the time, this photo looks a little scary... Crazy psycho baby!
Sitting up unsupported in her crib.
Hmm… thinking that it may be time to lower the crib.
Mio got to attend a friend’s birthday party for the first time this Saturday when her friend Jinwoo turned one year old! We had a great time celebrating Jinwoo’s first birthday with his family and friends.
Taking a look at all the adorable photos from Jinwoo's first year.
The birthday boy with his grandma.
Mio with her signature pouty face, about to cry. (I think she was alarmed by all the people.)
Getting lots of love from Grandma and the other ladies at the party.
Daddy taking good care of Mio.
Jinwoo is twice Mio's current age!
As part of the Korean tradition of doljanchi celebrating the birthday of a one year old, Jinwoo dressed up in Korean attire and chose an object that would foretell his future.
Objects for Jinwoo to choose from, which will foretell his destiny.
Jinwoo looking oh-so-handsome in his Korean traditional attire.
Kayo explaining the doljanchi tradition.
Jinwoo walking over to choose his object.
See what he picked in the video below!
He chose a calculator! Meaning he will be a mathematician or scientist!
The Japanese have a similar tradition... I wonder what Mio would pick?
Jinwoo's cousin Emme... the most adorable three-year-old!
Mio and I while playing Bingo.
The birthday cake!
Jinwoo with his new Cookie Moster doll, one of his birthday gifts!
Jinwoo likes to clap these days... it's the cutest thing ever!
The older kids attempting to bring down the pinata.
Mio was too young for the pinata, so she stayed indoors sitting pretty.
Daddy's Girl.
John and Megumi are expecting a baby girl around Christmas time! Can't wait for their little one to arrive!
Snapping a quick family photo.(We don't have very many of the three of us, since one of us is usually behind the lens.)
Mio was pooped after all the partying. She passed out just before we left the birthday party.
Special thanks to Jinwoo and his family for having us over for his first birthday party! We had a wonderful time, and we can’t wait to see all the wonderful ways in which Jinwoo will continue to grow. 🙂
