It is the last day of 2006, the Christimas of this year has been the most special Christmas to us because of Owen, so we had to figure out some special treatment for this year.. how? the rest of the blog (the gallery site has more photos) tells you the story…

Finally, we wish dear Owen’s boy and girl friends Merry Christmas and happy new year!

That’s my new trick.  Give me anything and I will grab it and stick it in my mouth.  Really…anything - doesn’t matter if it has a smooth or rough surface or even if it has hairs!  Toys, mittens, bells, stuff animals, you name it, and I will eat it!

I’ve also made a new discovery…my fingers are glued to the rest of my little hands and I can’t pull them apart.  I really tried and pulled with all my might but they stayed intact.  I tried pulling off Mommy’s too and hers are also stuck to her hands.  Oh, guess what else? I can turn the pages to a book now…ok, ok, only board books, but don’t you think that’s still a major accomplishment for a 4.5-month old?!

I’m very sad because this past Sunday, I lost my first kiss - and without my consent!  A neighbor came by to give me presents (yes, I like that part) and brought along the 9-month old daughter - she’s very nice, but right before she left, she leaned over to kiss me good bye…I was in shock!  I had envisioned my first kiss to be very romantic…not one that I wasn’t prepared for and definitely not when I was still beng held by Grandpa Yao!

To make things worse, the next day, Daddy/Grandma Hong/Grandma Yao dressed me up as a Santa Claus (yes, AGAIN for the 3rd time ) and made me take pictures.  Though I have to admit, I look so handsome and cute and adorable in the outfit, it was hot and furry and they made me sit even though I can’t really sit without back support.  My mean Daddy even made me do tummy time on a flat piece of wood that he overlaid with white paper…Daddy, how would you like to lay tummy down against a hard surface?! I couldn’t stand it anymore so I cried, knowing that Mommy would come to my rescue and scold Daddy for being so insensitive. I love Mommy…ok, and Daddy too, but Mommy a little more.

Owen had his 4-month check-up on Tues - poor baby got another set of shots (4 - 2 on each thigh).  I improved a little this time and stayed in the room, but I still did not have the courage to watch the shots be administered - stared at my little angel’s face during the whole time and when he started howling, my heart ached and writhed in pain, but what can I do?! >( My coworker had already warned me of what to look forward to when Owen becomes a toddler and we take him to get shots: “I hate you!” I told my coworker that his Daddy can take him then.

When the doctor came in, Owen stared at him nonstop.  The doctor joked about it, but then said seriously that he has rarely see a 4-month old give him the cautious look of “I don’t know you - you’re a stranger” since most babies don’t realize “strangers” until they are about 6-month old.

We’re very thankful to God that Owen did not have a fever this time because the doctor suggested that we gave Owen Tylenol as soon as we got home and not wait for the fever so he won’t feel as uncomfortable.  Giving baby medicine was quite a new experience - Owen was SO cute…he would taste the drop of medicine and smack his lips together as to say, “hmmm…different taste!” (the Tylenol we bought was grape-flavored).

Three-week is really short when I was on vacation, but it is really long when I count Owen’s changes, the penalty of  being out for a three week travel (two week vacation + one week conf) is that I missed many precious moments happened to Owen, this is more or less like the movie “Click”(starred by Adam Sandler) is trying to say, life is short that it cannot afford fast-forward.

Anyhow, if you have read the mommy’s blog, you will know what i am talking about, now that I am back, the first thing for me is to use my camera to document something.. 

Daddy’s coming home tomorrow from his 17-day trip with Grandparents Yao to Florida and the Caribbean cruise.

To get even with Daddy for not taking me along, I have deliberately made MANY MANY “first”s while he was gone so he would miss them all.  For example:

1. I laughed for the first time (4 versions - “gagaga”,”yi-ah”,”yay”,”hey”)
2. I reached for and hit my hanging toys for the first time
3. I pulled on the handle of my hanging toys for the first time
4. I hugged my toy for the first time
5. I cried when I thought grandma and mommy was laughing at me for the first time
6. I raised my left fist like a superman and stared it like it’s a trophy for the first time
7. I sat in my bath tub (with back support) for the first time
I think that’s it for now…try leaving me at home again, Daddy and I will say “Mama” AND sit AND crawl before you come home!