Dear Dannica,
Fall comes upon us with its fiery foliage. Your sweet, silent smiles have now morphed into cheerful chuckles and laughs-out-loud when you are in a good mood, or when we tickle you.
You've also started to shriek quite vocally. You explore objects with
your mouth, start to hold your milk bottle, and bat at the hanging
mobile on your Mamaroo. You like to imitate our facial expressions and have fun trying to copy Daddy. You've also developed a habit of licking his arm when he holds you, like a giant salt lick.
As the weather cools off, we enjoy sleeping in together as a family on weekends when things are less hectic without having to be up and about. You and Luc would seek each other's warmth and sleep the early morning away.
We have also met up with Daddy for lunch a few times, with our favorite spot being Tay Ho. Here we are at Sumika so Daddy could take a break from work.
We attended Uncle Thien's and Auntie Jamie's baby shower. Many years ago, Luc attended his first wedding when they got married. They are now expecting a Christmas baby girl that perhaps you'll get to meet and play with one day.
Halloween arrives, and Mommy dressed up as a flower to go with your honeybee costume. Luc is too cool to match with us and had requested to be Daniel Tiger. You went trick-or-treating for the first time, and Luc is all too happy to get your share of candy, too.
This month, we went on a family vacation to Pismo Beach before Mommy has to go back to work.
Together, we hiked the trails down to where sea meets sand, marveled at the clusters of butterflies in the Pismo State Beach Butterfly Grove, and enjoyed dining out, especially at Doc Burnstein's Ice Cream Lab in the cute town of Arroyo Grande where we stayed.
I love watching the newness of this world through my children's eyes. You were sleeping until we got to the beach, and then you marveled at it with clear awe from your baby carrier, listening to the roar, looking at the waves crash along the fine sand.
Daddy really enjoyed driving our SUV Subie Sen along the Oceanic Sand Dunes.
By then, Luc had crashed for a late nap, but you were awake to see a magnificent sunset with Mama. Feeling the cool ocean breeze against my skin and the warmth of the golden sun fade away, I was at peace for this point in my life, you nestled sweetly in my arms.
Dear Dannica, the lovely, long days of lazy summer have passed by, and now the fiery leaves herald the fall. Mama will have to leave you soon to go back to work. Winter is coming, and I will miss spending endless days with only you, my love.
