Mother’s Day 2013 (from Kate)

Sunday was my first Mother’s Day and possibly one of the best days I’ve had with Emery since she was born.  First, she slept until 7:00 a.m.!!  Whoever thought that I’d be excited to “sleep in” until 7?!  When Emi woke up, she was in a very happy mood and Steve encouraged me to stay in bed while he went to get her.

A few minutes later, they both showed up with a type-written agenda for the day.   First on our list (after Emi ate) was storytime.  Instead of reading one of Emi’s favorite books from her room, Steve gave me a book called “Emery and Mommy.”  It is a really cute story about me and Emi with lots of pictures.  I love it!

Next, we got ready and went to church.  Emery could not have been in a better mood.  After church, we went to one of my favorite cafes/restaurants, Huckleberry.  Emi slept through the entire meal, but that gave me and Steve some quality time to chat.  My meal was excellent, as always, and I finished it off with a delicious chocolate and peanut butter cake slice.

After lunch, we headed home and planted a lime tree in our backyard.  The idea, which Steve came up with, is that the tree will grow and blossom with fruits just like our family.  (Not to mention, who doesn’t love limes?)

After the lime tree planting, we got out the clay and made Emery’s footprint impressions.  I’ve been wanting to do this for a while and Steve thought it was the perfect addition to our Mother’s Day agenda.  I can’t wait to frame it!

We followed our at-home activities up with a trip down to the Orange County Great Park, where we met our friends, Jenny and Brian (from San Diego).  The Great Park is REALLY cool.  Since it was such a beautiful day and Emi was so happy to be outside, we spent a lot of time just hanging out on the grass.  We finished the outing at the Carousel.  To be honest, Emi looked completely bored the entire time we rode around, but perhaps she was just confused.

We ended the day with an awesome buffet at the Orange Hill Restaurant.  Steve and I went on a date at the restaurant 10 years ago!  I’ve been telling Steve that I want to go back just to see what it is like now.  We did not know what to expect, but as it turns out, the place is just as fancy and delicious as we remembered.  Emery spent most of the time dropping her toys on the floor and eagerly waiting for me or Steve to pick them up.  (This is her new “game.”)

Motherhood isn’t always easy, but it’s completely worth it to see my little girl smile.  I love her so much and swear that life with her gets better by the day.  I am so blessed to have such a wonderful, easy-going baby and hope that she will continue to love our adventures together as she grows up.  I know this sounds cliché, but I can’t imagine life without her!

Spring Training

I can’t believe it’s been almost a month since my parents and I went on a roadtrip to Arizona!  We drove over on a Saturday morning and made it just in time to watch the Mariners play the Rockies in a Spring Training game at the Salt River Fields at Talking Stick.  We met up with my new friend, Olivia, and her daddy.  We were supposed to sit on the lawn in outfield, but the sun was very strong and it was in the 90s.  My mommy was too paranoid that I might get a sun burn, so instead, we spent a lot of time standing behind the bleachers in the shade.  I enjoyed watching all of the people walking around.  As you can see by the picture, I didn’t really watch much of the game.

After the baseball game, I took my first dip into a pool at the hotel.  I thought it would be like taking a bath, but it wasn’t.  It was much colder.  I can’t really say whether I enjoyed it.  I really hope Mommy and Daddy will put me in swim classes soon so that I can enjoy my next visit to a hotel pool and not have to rely on someone holding me the whole time.

I also celebrated my first St. Patrick’s Day in Fountain Hills.  The city had a big art fair and lots of fun activities for little people like me.

My First Art Project

Check out what I made for my parents for Valentine’s Day.  I was sick, but I think I still look pretty snazzy.

Seven Months

Last Wednesday, I celebrated my 7-month birthday.  This has been a great month for me.  I started eating “solid” foods.

I love carrots, yellow squash, and butternut squash.  I am not the biggest fan of green squash.  Mommy and Daddy are making my food, which is fun.  Can’t wait to see what I get to try next!

I also celebrated the Lunar New Year with my Ba Noi and Ong Noi, who gave me my first red envelope.

I loved watching the dragon dance, but when the dragons started jumping in the air, I got scared.  I can’t wait until next year when I can wear an Ao Dai, the traditional Vietnamese dress.

I also attended my first two UW basketball games – one at the Pauley Pavilion against UCLA and one at the Galen Center against USC.  UW lost both games, but I enjoyed all of the action on the Court and walking around the venues!

I should have also enjoyed celebrating Valentine’s Day and my Daddy’s birthday this month, but unfortunately, I brought a cold home from daycare and Mommy and Daddy have been too sick to do much for the last couple of weeks.  Hopefully everyone is feeling better soon!

Mammer and Grandpa Visit

Over MLK weekend, my Mammer and Grandpa came to visit me.  We had a blast!  Mammer played with me and read me lots of books.  Grandpa clucked at me, which is so cool.  I am trying to learn to make the same noise.  We were able to see my Aunt Risa and Uncle Dan, too.  Everyone was so cuddly and warm to be with, but I especially love when my Mammer bounces me around.  I can’t wait for them to visit me again this spring!

Christmas

At first, I didn’t understand why my Mommy kept saying that Christmas was her favorite time of year…but then my Ong Noi and Ba Noi brought over paper and boxes and I realized how fun it is!!

(Note from Kate: Emi received lots of very nice Christmas gifts that Steve and I enjoyed looking at and “playing” with.  Emi was far more interested in the wrapping paper and ribbon…oh, babies!)

Merry Christmas!

From our family to yours, we wish you the merriest of Christmases!!

Happy (observed) Veterans’ Day!

Wow, I got to spend one more day with Mommy and Daddy than normal!  I love holidays (and that my parents both work for the government)!!  It was a great end to a wonderful weekend.  On Saturday, I went to my friend Michael’s panda-themed first birthday party.  So fun!  I loved watching Michael open his gifts and then I got to play with the left-over wrapping paper.  Personally, I thought the paper was way more fun than the truck toys that Michael got, but to each their own.

Me and Michael in the photobooth

Yesterday, my daddy ran the Malibu Half Marathon, so Mommy and I went to cheer him on at the finish line.  He did so great and he didn’t even train for it!!  On another note, I certainly hope that I got my uncle Jeremy’s artistic genes and not my parents’. I was super embarrassed to hold the sign in this picture.  In defense of my mom, she was working with a cardboard box and a fine-tipped sharpie.  But still…Jeremy, save me from a life of no artistic mentoring!!

My First Halloween Party

I don’t really like getting dressed all that much, so imagine my dismay when not only did I have to wear a onesie last weekend, but Mommy also put me in a ladybug costume.  Ugh.  At first, I didn’t know what to do, so I threw up on it.  Seemed like a good plan to get myself out of the hat and dress.  Alas, Mommy just wiped up my mess.  So, I opted to fall asleep instead.  Thus, Mommy and Daddy were only able to get one good picture of me.  That should show them not to put too many clothes on me again!

Apples & Pumpkins

Being on a milk-only diet has not held me back from enjoying the fruits (and vegetables) of my first Fall.  Earlier this month, my mommy and daddy took me down to Julian – the apple capital of Southern California.  We went to an apple orchard, where Mommy and Daddy picked a few apples and hung out with our friends, Brian & Jenny (from San Diego).  Then, we went to the Julian Pie Company, where Mommy and Daddy ate lots of pie (and thus, I had a taste of it later during my nightly nursing).  Delicious!  Of course, we couldn’t leave Julian without some fresh pressed apple cider and homemade apple beer! (Mommy wishes that she was a better cook so that she could have used all of the apples from our trip.  Unfortunately, some of them ended up going bad before she could eat them all.)

Last weekend, we went to a pumpkin patch.  I went into my first corn maze, which to be honest, was a little confusing for me.  I didn’t cry, but I might as well have done so because I had no idea what was going on.  Luckily, Mommy and Daddy made it out of the maze and we were able to check out the pumpkins.  I know I’m a small baby, but look how big the pumpkins were!