Here's my life story. Don't worry, it's pretty short.

My name is Katherine Masami Kilinahe Ozawa. I know it's a mouthful, but fortunately most people just call me Katie. My middle names reflect part of my varied heritage, specifically Japanese and Hawaiian.

I was born Monday, January 26, 1998 at 11:38 p.m. at the Kapi`olani Medical Center for Women and Children. I weighed six pounds, 3.3 ounces and was an impressive 19.5 inches tall.

My mother is Jennifer Ann Eno Ozawa originally from Ocala, Florida and my father is Ryan Kawailani Ozawa who has lived here on these beautiful islands all his life. We all live in a cozy apartment in Makiki.

I've already forgotten when I first started following things with my eyes, or first discovered my hands. But now that I have this webpage, I should be able to keep better track of the milestones in my life.

In April, I laughed. I also started teething, hard as that is to believe.

In May, I excelled at grabbing things — even shaking my rattle all by myself. Most anything I get a grip on goes straight to my lips, and I get kinda angry if it doesn't fit in my mouth.

Between May and August, a lot of stuff has happened. My daddy, unfortunately, forgot to write it all down.

For one, I learned to roll over (at least back to front) like it was going out of style. I sat up all by myself, and ate a small jar of solid food a day (fruits are great and vegetables are okay, provided they're not green). I passed things from hand to hand, and flip them over and over.

I started crawling when I was eight months old, but it was more lift-and-dragging for a while. By the time I made nine months, though, I had it down pat, and regularly tearing up the rug. Now if there's a speck of anything on the floor, I'll find it... and try to eat it! I even started pushing myself up on things, and experimented with standing on my own.

I also cut my first tooth in late October. I like to use it on mommy and daddy's shoulders.

Despite all the fancy stuff people give me, my favorite toys are usually free. There's mommy and daddy's glasses, first of all, and anyone's wallet (aren't I smart?). I also love plastic straws and all varieties of spoon. I am instinctively attracted to doors, and love to pound on them, and pulling video boxes off shelves can keep me busy for hours.

By December my repertoire of tricks included clapping, shaking my head "no," and waving. I babbled incessantly, often tricking mommy and daddy into thinking I could talk. I lost interest in Gerber (that stuff's for babies!) and began to demand grown-up food. I especially like rice, noodles, bread, Kix cereal, and peas.

In January, I turned one! I met my grandparents (on mommy's side) for the first time, and grandpa quickly taught me a new trick: "Gimme five!" I also discovered the joy of climbing stairs. I could almost walk, as long as I had help, and I'm started to dislike being carried when there was a nice looking floor below.

The spring and summer of 1999 was an exciting time, so much so that daddy couldn't keep track of everything. Silly daddy. I took my first steps while my parents were out catching "Star Wars: The Phantom Menace," for example, and things haven't been the same since. People can barely keep up with me now!

I also learned how to scribble and color, but my art is so deep no one understands it. I can count from two to four, and I know the letters "B," "P" and "Z." I bark at anything on four legs. Rice and pasta remain my favorite foods, but I am definitely a meat eater, and also like salad (go easy on the dressing!) and even Chinese spinach. Mommy and daddy take me to the beach every week, and few things make me happier than splashing in the ocean.

In October, I had my first Halloween, and collected loot masquerading as "Po" from the Teletubbies, one of the few television shows I care to watch. Did you know I can identify all four Teletubbies, and even match them with their favorite things?