After traveling to Bangkok, the Philippines, Vancouver, and Washington state we made it back to Islamabad two weeks ago bringing an older and wiser baby. It's amazing how much he grew and developed during the summer: gaining two teeth while we were in my hometown of Surigao and learning to crawl while in Brian's hometown of Chelan. He was baptised in both places, with a Catholic and United Methodist ceremony respectively.

It was indeed a summer full of milestones and numerous firsts: eight plane trips totaling over 40 hours of flying time, two boat trips totaling 20 hours, and who knows how many hours and miles of car travel going from Seattle to Chelan, then Vancouver and back, Chelan to Wenatchee, Marysville, Seattle and Tacoma, and so on.

James began to use his fingers to pick Cheerios and feed himself. He spent many hours on the walker, and finally sat still long enough to be fed in high chairs. He played with battery operated toys, using his hands and feet to push the buttons that played different music and sound effects.

He met and played with his cousins and other children. He enjoyed different variations of peekabo, with him hiding under his favorite rainbow colored sarong. During playtime he demonstrated he knew the concept of sharing and trading toys. He imitated others. So if other children squeal, he'd start squealing for days, too.

He saw and petted horses and goats. He tried to go after birds, too. His favorite animal seems to be dogs, maybe because his grandparents' sheepdog Trajan is so gentle and doesn't mind James pulling his fur.

We took him hiking and showed him around. During those days he was hardly in a bad mood, especially in Vancouver when we went out everyday. He has never been happier and more excited than when we went to Mt. Rainier. We also took him up Silver Falls in Entiat. He absorbed so much and learned a lot.

He also learned that if he cries for an hour he can sleep with his daddy and mommy, instead of the crib or playpen. That's alright, cause his mommy also loves to cuddle with him. But he wakes up at the same time every morning, and will tap on his daddy's shoulder when he wants to play. Cause he knows mommy is the one to snuggle with, but daddy is the fun parent who will play with him.

He had fever and diarrhea on some days. Bumped his head, banged his knee, and got mosquito bites on others. But he always smiled whenever we took him out and he met lots of people.

James got to see snow in the Canadian mountains in the middle of July! He saw a rodeo, went swimming in pools and a jacuzzi, and ate pasta and noodles.

He gained a pound or two, and of the suitcase full of clothes that we brought only three remained on our return trip, because he outgrew everything -- even the ones he got as a present in Bangkok.

He turned nine on the last leg of our trip to Islamabad. Dani was right. Nine months is a fun age. He's unstoppable now. In the last two weeks he also learned to sit up and stand, blow a flute, play the xylophone, turn around when he reaches the edge of the bed, and go down the bed or couch feet first.

Am so glad I'm not working this year. I get to spend more time with my baby and watch him grow and learn new things everyday.

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