Up the Mountain!

Last weekend, we went up to Dillard, Georgia for my dad's birthday.  EV loved looking at the mountain and although we didn't get to stop by Tallulah Gorge we still had a nice time driving up and having lunch at the Dillard House.  So ever since last week, EV has kept on asking, "Go up the mountain?  Halbi's birthday?  Go up the mountain and take pictures?"  So, we decided to take her to Stone Mountain.  Oh boy--Evangeline, you are one of the most strong-willed child I have ever met.  You insisted on walking all the way up even though half-way through your ankles were shaky and every step would make you fall on your behind.  You walked about 2/3's the way until we decided that enough was enough.  You just kept screaming, "No, EV do it, EV walk, put me down!"  So, after making it most of the way up, we decided it was time to go down and daddy had to force you into the ergo, just so that you can't wiggle yourself out of his hold.  I was worried your little legs would be so sore this morning, but you woke up without any complaints and was ready to conquer another day!

You always cover your ears when you hear a train coming--what an awesome treat, a mountain and train all in one day!

Here you are ready to conquer this mountain!

Taking a little break from the sun and stretching...

Here we go--it was like a mini-rock climbing session for her.  And she loved it!

It's all about the placement of your foot!

Yes--look at me, I am walking all the way up this mountain!!

Even though towards the end her ankles were shaky and her legs were wobbling, she still had a huge smile on her face.

Oh, and don't forget the pine straws and rocks she had to collect along the way.  One for each family member and friend.

Ahhhh--finally, just enjoying the view...

Family picture time!

This cracker is the best cracker ever--especially after an hour long hike up the mountain!

Two years old

As I was having dinner with EV today and having a conversation about her birthday, it made me want to slow down time even more.  EV has been talking about her party non-stop the last few weeks and even more now that it has passed.  She loves singing happy birthday to herself and talking about all of her friends and blowing out the candles on her cake.  I am just amazed that I can actually sit down and have a conversation with her.

So, if you read Jimmy's blog (http://jimmyhkim.wordpress.com/) he talks about how we stayed up late to work on all the details of EV's party.  It's amazing how a simple website like Pinterest can make such a huge difference with planning and it makes you wonder how you lived without it before.  So, here's a brief recap of all that was handmade and the link of the tutorial (if there is one) for EV's "dairy' themed party:

EV's dress (http://www.mesewcrazy.com/2011/01/spring-fever-dress.html)

Party banner (http://www.sassybabiesblog.com/2012/01/guest-post-banners.html)
Letter E (not a great view from this pic--http://andeverythingsweet.blogspot.com/2012/01/feather-her-nest.html)

Fabric covered water bottles (my own idea)

Props for photo booth (includes top hats, glasses, mustaches, etc--didn't get a picture of the bucket)

Cupcakes (http://keepingupwiththekunzs.blogspot.com/2011/01/what-to-do-what-to-do.html)

Cheesecake balls (http://www.bakerella.com/cheesecake-pops/)
Strawberry stuffed cheesecake (http://www.thesweetslife.com/2011/08/cheesecake-stuffed-strawberries.html)
Mac and Cheese balls (Jimmy's recipe)
Chicken salad croissants (Jimmy's recipe)
Cheese Fondue
Yogurt Bar

Milk (chocolate and 2%)

(Not pictured:  EV's photobook (made by Apple) and party favors (puzzles of a farm--mostly))

I think that's it--we had a lot of fun celebrating with EV's friends.  We are so blessed to have so many friends and family that love us and want to celebrate with us.  Evangeline, you have this amazing ability to brighten up our day and put a smile on our faces.  You make us laugh and you know you are funny.  You love being around people and you are already such a compassionate person.  You can't stand to see others crying or being sad.  You are stubborn and persistent, but at the same time loving and gentle.  We love you so so so so much!  I look forward to every new memory and new encounters.  I can't believe you are 2 years old!!

Birthday preparations

Now that we are less than 2 weeks away from EV's birthday, I am on full birthday preparation mode.  This year, we have decided to keep it fairly small, which is sooo hard for me to do because I love having parties and inviting the whole world.  The hardest decision was who to invite but we decided that in order to keep it small, it would make the most sense to invite EV's friends and family.  NOT, mommy and daddy and grandma and grandpa's friends and associates. 

The theme to this year's birthday is "dairy" to celebrate EV's love of all things diary (milk, cheese, yogurt).  If you ask EV what she wants to eat, she often ends her list with, "...and cheese, too!"  Jimmy made the cutest invitation--I love the simplicity and the country feel to it. 

I also love how we incorpated the fabric we will use for the party into the invitation.  I bought a bundle of fabric appropriately called "Urban Cowgirl." 

Since being sick all weekend, I still have EV's birthday dress, fabric banner, and other little projects that need to get done for the decorations.  I am also planning on making all the food and desserts at home, aside from the birthday cheesecake.  I am so thankful for Pinterest.  It has been such a useful tool in organizing and developing all my thoughts, ideas, and plans.  I just have to remember that it's not about perfection but quality time and memories.  I can't wait to post the final products!!

La, la, la

Lately, EV has really been into singing, especially singing songs with hand motions.  Her current favorite songs, that she knows some or most of the words include "The Wheels on the Bus," "The Itsy Bitsy Spider," and "Happy Birthday."  So, this was an extra special weekend since we went to a birthday party AND an opera performance of Rabbit Tales.

A co-worker friend's daughter was the lead duck in the opera performance, so I wanted to go to support her and to get EV exposed to some fun opera.  I did have my doubts; I was worried about EV being able to sit through an hour long performance and even more worried about my ability to sit through an opera performance.  The good news is that the performance was a lot of fun (for both EV and myself).  I was so proud of Evangeline--EV you spent the first 2-3 songs on my lap, but then you were wanting to join in on the fun.  You wanted to sit on the stairs, sing, and dance along.  Thankfully, the performance had interactive parts, and the theater was full of other kids (although it seemed that most of them stayed seated throughout the performance).  So, I did want any desperate parent would do, I bribed you with your favorite snacks if you stayed quiet.  You are such a funny kid though, every time I tried to tell you to stop singing or dancing, you would put your finger up to your mouth and say "Shhhhhhh", then you would proceed to say, "Duck, sing!! La, la, laaaaa!" "Lion, Rrrawr!!  Sing, Lalalaaaa!"  Then you would look at me and say, "shhhhhhhh."  There was a part of me that was holding back laughter and another part that was so desperately trying to get you to sit down and stay quiet.  All in all, it was a good experience.  You couldn't stop talking about it all the way up till bedtime, all you could talk about was the duck, lion, rabbit, and fox.  You couldn't stop singing and dancing.  I guess we should go to the opera more often! (Note to self:  try to get a video of EV singing, dancing, and doing hand motions).

Over the hills and through the woods, to grandmother's house we go!

I have been challenged since the New Year to spend more quality time with my family, especially with EV.  So last week, I started working an alternative work schedule where I front load my hours, so that I can take every other Friday off.  I don't know why I didn't do this earlier, I work overtime most days, and it's nice to have an extra day with the family. 

Last weekend, EV and I went to Jimmy's parent's house without Jimmy for the first time.  Although EV has flown many times before, this was her first flight where she had her own seat.  She was so excited about having her own seat that she didn't care if I fell asleep on the flight.  She was living it up--she had her "kiki" (stuffed monkey), her blanket, books, stickers, flash cards, snack, and juice (which she gets only on special occasions).  When I woke up, she had taken off her shoes and socks, was covered in stickers, and bent her flash cards to make little teepees.  She had the biggest smile on her face and was so proud of herself.  Although we had both been up since 4:00am on the flight up and back down, she was in good spirits and was well-behaved for most of the trip.  She also had a really good time with grandma, grandpa, and uncle Tom.  She even got to see her great grandmother.  Although the trip was short, you can't put a price on quality time.  Next time, we'll be sure to bring pappa bear and to make it a longer trip.

Not only did I have last Friday off, but Monday was a holiday.  So, we went to the aquariaum (we have totally made our season pass worth the money) and watched the dolphin show.  Although the dolphin show was seriously over the top, it was so priceless to see EV's jaw drop when the dolphins starting jumping out of the water twisiting, flipping, and dancing.  She clutched onto Jimmy's arm because there was a part of her that was so scared, but at the same time she couldn't keep her eyes off the water tank.  I wish we were allowed to take pictures, her facial expression was priceless.

I am really looking forward to more time with my family, developing a stronger bond with EV, and being there for the little things. 

"Mom! Wake UP! Right Now!"

Wow--it's been awhile since I've posted.  Well actually, I have "secret" posts that I have written but never published.  But it has been awhile.  As always, I don't know where to start.  Things have been pretty busy lately, I don't do much to help slow it down either.  I don't think I am capable of just sitting and taking things in.

As for EV updates.  Evangeline, you are talking so so much dear.  I was at a retreat Friday night and when I got home after lunch on Saturday, I was pretty tired.  So, that night as appa was giving you your bath, I fell asleep on your bed and as you walk in you yell, "Mom!  Wake UP! Right Now!"  It was quite amusing.  You are constantly repeating everything we say, your vocabulary is growing so quickly and you're just talking all the time, it's quite exponential.  Aside from saying the cutest things (*note to self--get a notebook and jot down all the cute things EV says from now on), you are also becoming more independent and sometimes you just seem so grown up for your age.  Sometimes, I can't believe you are not even 2 yet!  You definitely inherited some OCD qualities, like not liking when things are messy or sorting and re-sorting objects.  You have acquired quite a collection of hairpins and you love to sort them, over and over and over again.  You also love lining up your stuff animals, blocks, and books.  If you walk by your dresser and notice something sticking out, you have to open it up and make sure it gets put into the drawer correctly. You are also starting to sing!  Until now, you have been a little hesitant to sing, you would hum but never sing, but now you are singing along to any song you can follow and repeat.  We went to a birthday party yesterday and today you were singing happy birthday over and over and oh so well!

As for myself, I am trying to figure out how to better balance/integrate my work life with my home life.  This is the first week of starting a new schedule where I front load hours to get one Friday every pay period off.  I am so excited about having more time with EV.  It is becoming more obvious as she gets older that I need to spend more quality time with her.  Over Christmas we were really able to develop a great bond, but I feel like it makes her miss me more when I am at work.

It will be EV's birthday in a month.  I have one month to sew her dress--I chose a dress that will stretch my abilities.  We'll see how that goes--I might be making a quick and frantic trip to the mall if it fails...

This is currently one of EV's favorite thing to do.  Go to Jones Bridge Park and look at all the geese.  This is the first thing we must do before we head over to the playground.  The second thing is to survey the park for doggies.  Then last but not least, we can head over to the playground.

EV has really gotten into playing pretend with her stuff animals.  She loves lining them up, putting hairpins into their hair, and reading to them.  She also loves reading to herself.  We find her even sitting in the dark quietly "reading" in the mornings or when she's supposed to be napping.

EV loves taking pictures of herself.  The moment the camera is on her, she immediately runs towards you to take a picture herself.  No matter how much I have been trying to shelter her from technology, it's so inevitable since we use it so much in our everyday lives.  Without being "taught", she knows how to unlock an iPhone, play music, and take pictures of herself.

Here she is sorting her hairpins...

EV also loves playing with her friends.  It's so much fun to watch her interact with other kids now.  How self play and play along side friend, is now turning into, play with friend.  Here she is with two "unnis" (translation: older sisters), holding hands.

Evangeline, you will be 23 months in a couple of days.  You are such an amazing little kid.  You already make me so proud of you.  I love you so much.

Closing out the year

I cannot believe that this is the last week of 2011.  I feel like a broken record when I say "time flies" but every day seems to go by faster and faster.  We left for Gatlinburg on Christmas to get-away and spend some quality family time.  I love the moments I have to see EV experience new things and also to just spend time with her, but it also makes me sad when it ends.  It makes me wish that I had more time, or that I did more when I did have the time.  We did as much as we could on this trip; I think the highlight of the trip was taking EV ice skating.  First of all, little skates are the cutest things ever!  EV looked at us with uncertainty at first and fell a couple of times when we first put the skates on her, but got the hang of walking on ice skates on the ground.  I wish I could say the same about the ice.  It was fun for us, though poor thing, she was in a pretty bad mood afterwards.  I think it was a combination of falling, frustration, and hunger.

Christmas this year was also a lot of fun.  Since growing up my parents always worked and coming from an immigrant family, we never really had too many Christmas traditions.  I want to create traditions for EV to remember.  So, after Thanksgiving this year we bought a real live tree.  I also participated in an ornament exchange for an advent devotion.  We each were assigned a devotion and we had to create an ornament and make 24 of them.  Then, we exchanged the ornaments, so that we had 24 unique ornaments that went with a devotion leading up to Christmas.  The devotion was nice because it's meant to be done with kids.  Although EV was too young to do most of the activities in the devotion, she had a lot of fun putting up an ornament on her advent tree, and it was a great way to explain to her the true meaning of Christmas.  It was also really nice to go to Christmas Eve together as a family (although we do this every year, for some reason it was particularly special this year).  I think next year I want her to sit with us in service.  Then we came home and I let her open up all her gifts, although she was a little shy about opening up all the wrapping.  As she gets older, I look forward to making gingerbread homes, doing service projects together, and sing Christmas carols.

I can't wait to see what 2012 will bring.  Evangeline, you can be such a mischievous little girl.  You have this look on your face when you're about to cause trouble.  It's the cutest thing ever.  Although when you knock over a box of shoes in the shoe store or run and push a stack of sweaters it's a little annoying, I see so much of myself in you that I can't get too mad.  You challenge me and push me to be a better person.  You teach me patience, love, and compassion.  You are also a little comedian like your pappa.  You know what you want, when you want it, and how you want it.  You don't take "no" for an answer and you are stubborn and persistent.  I love the fact that you now speak in phrases and although sometimes I have no idea what you said, I love how you are persistent and patient with me and how you keep on repeating and show me what you are trying to say.  We are only 2.5 months away from your 2nd birthday.  I don't want to sound like a broken record but time sure does fly!