Happy birthday, little one!

First, a very blessed Christmas to everyone, and a happy new year!
We've been spending the last couple of days here in Melbourne with E's cousin, so access to Internet is more limited.

To keep things short, here's a very happy birthday to our little monkey, D. Will post more pictures and stories in future posts shortly.

At 2 years, little D is now 12.62kg and standing tall at 85cm!

What an exciting year this has been for you, son! First, you got to spend 4 months being taken care of by Grandma and Grandpa while mommy finished up grad school in Boston and Daddy embarked on his med school. Then, in June, you joined Mommy in moving to a little country town called Churchill in Gippsland, Victoria, in the land down under.

You've learned so much this year, and in the process taught this Mommy quite a lot too.

For one thing, Mommy's learned not to stress over your eating. Even though you still go on the occasional food strike and don't appear to eat as much as I'd like you too during mealtimes, you do eat when you're hungry, and will not say no to yoghurt, grapes (up till recently), strawberries, raisin bread with butter and jam, and potato chips!

Even nurse Allison from the local maternal and child health centre says you're growing up to be a very healthy little boy, so no worries!

At 2, you've learned to sit in the Naughty Corner for the full 2 minutes whenever you do something naughty and drive Mommy and Daddy up the wall, and there are those precious moments when you look beseechingly in my eyes and say "Mommy, Sowee!". I live for those moments...

You can climb up and down the stairs without holding on to the rails, all the while saying "Care-foo, care-foo" to yourself. At the bottom step, you count "1 - 2 - 3" before cheekily jumping off and landing on both feet.

Although you are pretty fearless in the playground on the swing and see-saw, going down the slide is still a challenge... Mommy often spies you sitting atop the slide looking down from great height, and overthinking it, and then retreating to find another way down. =)

It's such a joy to see you grow and speak more and more each day. Can't wait for when you're old enough to have heart to heart talks with Mommy!

We love you, son, and thank God for you each and every day. =)