My Sling and Raggedy Ann

I love the sling my mama wears me in so much that when I'm not the one being carried, I like to wear it like a big oversized scarf--or in this case, to carry one of my "bee bee's" (on other days, pronounced "bay bay" or "bay bah") Raggedy Ann.

Non-Turkey Day

Since we already had a big Thanksgiving Dinner when Grandma Irene and Yeh Yeh were here, we played hooky from the American traditions yesterday and instead went and explored the shops, restaurants, and bakeries, which were all thankfully still open in Chinatown Square. I insisted on trying to use chopsticks to feed myself while persistently calling out "hi" to everybody who came anywhere near me in the restaurant until I finally made a couple of friends before having to leave. When we got home, I scooted around on my little pink ride-on bus; as you can see, my lips were in constant motion because I am a chatterbox, regardless of whether anyone else is listening or can understand me.

Family Photos

Out of the ten of us, I've probably changed the most since these were taken in July. I was nine months old then and could crack a big smile with all of the silly grown-ups trying to entertain me. If we were taking these pictures this month, I'd be the one making the jokes for everyone else.

Symbolic Play: Picnics and Baby Dolls

Lately, one of my favorite activities is to "feed" my dolls. In this video clip I'm on the floor having a cheerios picnic with Mei Xing, "Beba," and Daddy. I also give them lots of kisses, which for me involves pursing my lips and making a sound kind of like "mmMAH."

Yeh Yeh and Grandma "I" come visit me in Wheaton

After being in sunny CA, I got a special week-long visit from Yeh Yeh and Grandma "I." They left yesterday, and I'm still running around the house calling "Yeh Yeh" just to see if he's still here. It was so fun to have them play with me.

The San Diego Zoo and Cuzzie Jacob

Cousin Photo Opp...Jacob and I both have a deep fascination with our mamas' sunglasses, turning them into headbands, chew toys, and our own stylin' shades. Our respective fascinations with sites at the zoo, however, were strikingly different: Jacob wanted to look at anything with four wheels and I wanted to look at anything with four legs. (or if we're being technical, two legs and two wings works, too). Finally I said something like "quack quack" instead of "gata" when we saw the ducks this time. Aunty Rachel, I'm learning!!!!

"Peek-A-Boo" says the Polar Bear in the window under water;
"Num-Num" says the bamboo-munching Panda Bear

Yeh Yeh and Daddy let me hold their hands while I explore, and I have fun with Grandma Irene because she gets animated just like me when there's something cool to look at...

Cali and Family

Showing off my "ombligo" or "umbilicus" (as Grandma Irene insists it's called)

Aunty Karina is looking pretty "full" here...Alexis didn't cooperate in the timing of her arrival so I didn't get to meet her, but I know babies know best. She waited until last Saturday, Nov. 15 and was a healthy 19" 7lb 7oz little girl...welcome, Alexis and Congrats, Keith and Karina!

Somehow, I got to pose in the "boy picture" too.

Don't Make Me Wear Pigtails!

I know my mama can't mean all that badly, but I need to show her who's in charge of my hair. Those puffy rubberbands are fun to yank out; it's especially great if I can get them all out even before we get out the door!

Piglet

Abue"LITA" Visits

Grandma Lita came to visit me this weekend. I had so much fun showing off my expanding vocabulary and walking skills and getting to know her better.

Bonding with Aunty Liz

Can you believe that this picture below is what I looked like last time Aunty Liz saw me when she visited last November? I don't really remember much from then, but they say I have changed a lot!

Collecting Leaves with a Purpose

Pumpkin Patch

Talya had fun hugging the bigger pumpkins (about the same size as her!)...

Ridiculously Cute Kitty

...Xana is always finding new cubbyholes and shelves to hide in/on/under...

Slapstick Funny

Already outdated because of Talya's determined confidence on her feet, this little video is a fantastic glimpse of the nose-dives and face-plants that little T specialized in when learning to walk not so many weeks ago... You can also see how she loves to walk around the house with her own little handbag in tow.

Grandpa Dave in Chicago

When Grandpa Dave came into town for business earlier this month, we found a great park right by the Watertower Place in downtown Chicago. Thanks for having meetings in Chicago, Grandpa; I had a lot of fun seeing you!

Mama's Silly Friends...and ME

After we got home from Bolivia, one of the highlights of the month was getting to celebrate the babies that Aunty Jen and the other Aunty Jen are going to have later this Fall. They are both good pals of my parents. Aunty Kim came to town to visit because of the baby showers , so we got to see lots of special people. As you can see, they are all goofs and I'm learning to be one, too. Here are pictures of the last three times we've all hung out:

• May 2007 for Leah's wedding in Iowa. L to R: Jen Mc, Karla, Jen G., Kimmers, Janelle (+you can see I'm in mommy's round tummy!), and Miral
• October 2007 for Jen and Brian's wedding in Illinois. L to R: Miral, Karla, Mama and Me (six week's old and snugglin'), Jen Mc or L?, Jen G., and Kim

• September 2008 (I'm one year old and partying in my jammies past my bedtime) for the baby showeres. In this picture, we're cheering for my new friend-to-be Baby Tonketta (that's just her nickname for now; her parents aren't that crazy I don't think). L to R: Karla, Mama, Jen McL with Baby and Me, Kim, and Jen G. with Baby Chi rounding her out...

• In this picture, Jen and Jen are holding my stuffed animals to stand in for their babies who aren't born yet. Back Row L to R: Daddy Alex, Grandma Linda (she goes with Jen G.), Kim, Karla, Brian. Front Row L to R: Mama, Jen G with Baby Chi and Harriet Hippo, Jen McL with Baby T and Casey Croc, and Talya in Brian's arms.

(The other younger guest and I also had a lot of fun watching Aunty Jen open her gifts of baby stuff. Bedtime is definitely overrated...)

Bolivia IV: Clown Town

Although the country of Bolivia experienced significant turmoil during our brief stay last month, many aspects of our visit were "business as usual" or in our case "birthday parties and clowns as usual."

By the time we celebrated Talya's birthday there were a few things calling attention to the country's difficulties (e.g. minimum 2 hour waits to fill up at the gas station, literally no available taxis or other public transportation due to fuel shortages, many food items no longer getting into the city, no available gas to buy for the stove, and indefinitely suspended service by our airline). However, it was clearly unthinkable to everybody around us that we would do anything but hire a clown to ring in baby T's (second!...i mean, is this really necessary?!) 1st birthday party. Cochabambinos were especially excited that her birthday fell on the 14th of September because that's Cochabamba's birthday as a city, also, making the day full of festivity anyway.

So... thanks to my dear friend Felina (pictured in the green shirt) who went to the market to arrange clowns, pinatas, and favors while Alex, Talya and I went between travel agencies and the American Airlines office to try to figure out how to get home on a different airline/route, we partied like nothing was out of the ordinary. Somehow I counted 22 kids in attendance; they seemed to show up out of nowhere. Note the "Hello Kitty" pinata and party favor theme, everything purchased from the local market in Cochabamba. Alex calls this the "curse of globalization."

A particularly special reconnection was with Damariz (holding T in the blue shirt while dancing with the birthday kids in the video below), who was Talya's age when I lived with her and her grandparents, aunts, uncles, and dad in 1999. She and Talya almost look like they could be related.

Number...30-something? Talya kept up her happy spirits on this trip home; as usual, she made her way around to hang out with various new "friends" over the course of the flight. The funny thing I've noticed about strangers getting to know Talya is that they always seem to know her name, even when I haven't met them yet. Baby T can network a social circle really fast. I'm usually pretty relaxed about her being with other people, until I notice the kinds of "toys" that come out of other people's purses (lipstick being one of the worst offenders), and then I start feeling neurotic and overprotective.

Bolivia III: Moments

Here we are engaging in an ancient Bolivian rite of fortune telling by reading wheat. Naw, we're picking out stones from the wheat to make bread. That's Julie second from left, Janelle's student doing her internship in Bolivia.
Mama and Talya enjoying the countryside outside Cochabamba. So peaceful, in contrast to the political unrest in Santa Cruz. We had to find an alternative way out of the country as American Airlines stopped flying to Bolivia due to the turmoil. That involved flying Aerosur (which should be renamed Dinosaur, for their ancient planes). All said, it was more than worth it to visit a beautiful country and people who've meant a lot to Janelle for 10 years.

Bolivia II: Food

We got to sample yummy delicacies: Saltenas (a unique soup-filled pastry), cunapes (cheese and yucca roll), pique macho (grilled beef and sausage over fried potatoes and chili peppers)...here we're eating antichucos (cow heart kebab) with Aunty Felina and Aunty Myrna. You can tell mama didn't like it. Daddy's stomach will never forget Bolivia (for good reasons).

Bolivia: Talya's Cochabamba family

Talya had fun with her Cochabamba family, the Arispes, and was involved in all aspects of daily life (chores included).