Exactly 1 year ago...

So hard to believe, that exactly 1 year ago....Sadie looked like this....16 week old fetus, probably the size of a plum.   Exactly 1 year ago was also the day that we found out we were having a GIRL!  It was the best, and most unforgettable birthday present ever.

From swimming around in my stomach....to swimming around the pool, all in one year!! 

HIVES!

Decided to introduce infant formula to Sadie's taste buds, as it seems that mommy's milk is starting to taper off a bit, especially after being sick for a few days.  Boy was I in for a surprise/panic....not only did she pretty much refuse the formula (only drank a few drops of it).....but she also busted out in hives a few minutes later!  Poor girl was itchy itchy itchy!  I decided to take her to the doctor's office and of course by the time the doctor saw her, the hives were 90% gone -- great that the reaction was so short-lived, but good thing I had the "proof" on my iphone to show the doctor!  Doc said sometimes kids will break out in hives right before they get sick as their bodies react to the invading virus, but she said most likely Sadie is allergic to the proteins from cow milk (which she should/hopefully outgrow.)  Two days later - she's not sick, so I'm thinking it was definitely the formula.  Sigh....on to soy milk....

YUCK!

Not a happy camper, waiting for doc

4/29 - "Re-challenged" with formula, and sure enough --> hives again.  This time at least, we were equipped with the benadryl, so the reaction was under control within an hour or so.  Poor Sadie.  Just keeping my fingers crossed that soy won't be a problem as well.

5/8 - YAY for SOY!  She likes the taste and, more importantly....NO HIVES!  Only downside...the $$$!  Formula is crazy expensive, so may as well continue to nurse for as long as possible, and just supplement with formula.  Just to document the times: 1 container of formula from Sam's Club costs $29, makes 62 x 4 ounce bottles.  At 7 months old, she is drinking about 7-8 ounces 4-5 times per day....this means if exclusively on formula, the $29 lasts about 1 week!  Holy smokes!...that doesn't even count the cost of her solid foods either!  Bottom line: kids are expensive! LOL

5/13 - The battle with constipation continues, worsened by the SOY!  We've tried everything: first changed from rice cereal to oatmeal cereal.  Then tried apple juice and more water (which we have to sneak into her milk since she won't drink straight).  Then onto increasing intake of pears and prunes.  Then onto mineral oil, which did help but cannot be a long-term fix.  Now, going to try prune juice daily....  Need to get this under control because it is really heartbreaking to see Sadie push and strain while nothing comes out!

My First Easter

We had Easter at Aunty Jan's house in Kaneohe, so that all the kids could enjoy her pool....BUT the only one who actually made use of it was Sadie!  All the other kids were either getting over a cold, flu, or rash outbreak!  I guess that's what we get to look forward to once Sadie starts going to school and sharing germs.  Nevertheless....everyone had a great time with the egg-dying and egg-hunt (except Sadie, who was too "baby" to know what's going on yet!) LOL.  By this time next year, Sadie will be old  enough to participate in the fun (and make some $$$ too!)  :)

The girls, with Chase (and Aunty Jenn hiding in the back!)

Not the ROCKS, the EGGS!

$$$!, "I'm going to buy hello kitty stuff!"

I don't think she likes it much, hahah

She even relaxes to float!

Sadie & Aunty Pat

Almost forgot to add these cuties in.....(taken 1 month earlier in anticipation of Easter)

Water Baby

Sadie just LOVES the water.  She really enjoyed her time at Sofia's pool party and followed that up with dinner w/ the Sesokos and Yamashitas.  Grammie accompanied us to the party since daddy was working....but he was able to stop by for an hour or so, which was a nice surprise.  He showed up in-uniform and freaked everyone out, because they thought he was a cop, LOL!  It's been such a fun-filled weekend with parties, dinners, and more parties!  Sadie also just adores her Aunty Kara, who she doesn't see often, but every time she does see her she can't stop smiling at her!  More swimming coming up on Easter Sunday....

Yum yum!

So far, so good, as we have not yet encountered a food that Sadie is allergic to or doesn't like!  She started off with green peas, then every 3 or 4 days we have been adding a new food.  From peas, to carrots, to sweet potato, to pears, and coming soon: butternut squash, and yams!  At least someone thinks mommy can cook! LOL

 

PRUNES!

4/27/11 - Update: poi is a no-go....very strange, as most babies LOVE poi!
5/13/11 - Diet now includes: peas, carrots, sweet potato, yams, squash, pears, bananas, apples, prunes.  
              Holding off on any meats until 9 months, due to her history of allergies/mild eczema.
7/9/11 - At 9 months old, we got the green light to add poultry/meat into her diet!  So far so good, as she
             really enjoys her stage 2 turkey & veggie dinners.  Now eating avocados, papaya, mango,
             apricots, pumpkin, peaches.  With all these new tastes, she is really wising up and now starting
             to refuse some of the older tastes (especially the peas!).  Sadie also loves tofu, and even natto
             (which is repulsive to me, but supposedly healthy, so I'm thrilled that she likes it)

Beach Bums

Had a great day today at the beach with the Yamashita clan, although it was evident that the Yamashita kids aren't really "water people"....including this former Yamashita :)  Sadie, however, definitely takes her daddy's genes as far as the beach-loving goes.  She had fun with Paisley in the sand as Paisley and Uncle Corey built a "car" for Sadie, which was kind of like a Bumbo seat made out of sand.  After she got all sticky and sandy, daddy took her into the water to cool off and wash off.  She enjoyed it thoroughly and seemed to be trying to float on her own.  Daddy even gave her a dunk under water, which I wouldn't say she "enjoyed," but she didn't seem too mad after either.  

Modeling her swimsuit.  (Thanks Aunty Lei!)

Paisley: "I'm decorating Sadie's face with sand"

Sadie's "Car"

Daddy dunking Sadie!

Resurfacing....

Whoa!

Didn't like the dunk much, but didn't seem to complain much either

Gliding around - loved it! 

She liked the sand, it was interesting 

Catching some air

Paisley - Definitely NOT a "water baby"

Chase - Tolerating, but not liking the water much, but maybe just way overdue for a nap

Uh oh...

Here it is....the beginning stages of crawling!  Every day now, Sadie is getting better and better at moving around.  She uses a combination of butt-lifts, reaching, and rolling to get to where she wants to go.  The changes are very noticeable as each day goes by.  Looks like it is going to be days, rather than months before we need to have this place fully child proofed! 

6 month check-up

Today Grammie helped me take Sadie to her check-up at Kaiser.  The doctor was very pleased with her growth and everything checked out okay health wise.  She is now 26.5 inches (about 73%) and weighs exactly 16.0 lbs (50%).   Dr. Tim Sing was also very happy to see Sadie sit up relatively well on her own for a few seconds, also using her arms to "tripod."  She also observed Sadie "gumming" a lot; playing with her lips, mouth, and fingers....but no teeth quite yet.

Also during the visit, Sadie again managed to tear up all the tissue paper on the exam bed and even started to eat it when we weren't paying attention!  We all had a good laugh out of it....the doctor said "don't worry, it's good fiber....and you'll see it come out the other end."  :)   She was extremely well-behaved, and did not cry or whine ONE BIT....until.......hahah.......the SHOTS!  FOUR of them!  I was actually not in the room for those, because I went to get her fluoride prescription from the pharmacy, but Grammie said she cried pretty briefly after each shot....BUT, being the (half) Korean that she is, she got more and more pissed after each successive one! LOL

Another bit of good news is that Sadie now has the green light for starting some veggies and fruits, so tonight I pureed some green peas which  hopefully she can try tomorrow.  Over the last few days, it seems like she is VERY interested in what WE are eating (she watches carefully as we take each bite of our food), so I'm sure she will be thrilled to have something to eat for herself.

Now, at 6 months old Sadie:
- Can be in one place one moment, and in another place a few moments later!  (She rolls over to get where she wants to be)
- Loves to spend time watching her favorite characters: Paisley, Chase, and Emjay
- Is starting to mimick, and can sometimes do the "squishy nose" face
- Cuddles her favorite blanket when going to bed
- Enjoys her nursery rhymes routine w/ Grammie
- Chews on the foot of her favorite teething toy: Sophie the giraffe
- Is not (yet) scared of new faces
- Likes to go for walks and see new scenery, especially palm trees!
- Protests when you take something away from her (i.e. the TV remote)
- Spishes and splashes away during bath time....getting us just as wet as she gets
- Makes the loudest.....stinkiest.....smelliest farts!
- Last but not least, she LOVES the Frank Delima "The cab" commercial....Ring, ring, 4-2-2-2-2-2-twooooooo.  She will stop mid-cry and turn her head to the television if she hears this song!

Let's go to the park!

It was such a gorgeous day, so we decided to get our vitamin D and have some fun at the Aina Haina playground.  While Sadie seemed to have a good time with daddy on the swings, slide, and monkey bars, it was Paisley who really was having the time of her life.  Chase was supposed to stay home in quarantine (poor guy got hand food and mouth disease from his big sis), but he ended up coming in his red wagon with Uncle Corey anyways.  Paisley and Chase raced each other up and down the play yard while Sadie stayed on the side, soaking it all in.  

Look....matching EARS!  :)