Happy Holidays!

Hey folks--I decided to keep things simple this year with an online greeting. Maybe next year, when we're a family of 4, I'll go back to the card & stamp thing. Right now though, I just want to get caught up on my life. I think you understand.

We wish you all good health, joyful times with family, and blessings in the New Year!

I am 17 months, going on 18 months...

R, at 17 months old:

~My mother-in-law suggested making a list of all the words that R is currently saying (& using correctly). Between us 4 adults, we came up with 90+ words. Yes, she is a little chatterbox that won't stop talking. She pretty much parrots anything now, so we have to be careful of what we say. (Joey and I call each other by our first names deliberately to get her to copy us. It's pretty funny hearing her call her dad "Joey".)

~She's developing a sense of humor. She played her first "joke" on my sister a few weeks ago. R pretended to put a Cheerio in Hanna's mouth, then pulled out her hand, ate the Cheerio herself, laughed hysterically, & yelled "hey!". She also makes fun of Halbi when he's sleeping by mimicking his snoring sounds.

~I don't know where she got this, but she LOVES to chant. "Hal-mi! Hal-mi!" "Hal-bi! Hal-bi!" And so on and so forth with other favorite words.

~She's not a very cuddly child. We try to hug/kiss/cuddle with her, but she avoids it most of the time. Sad mommy & daddy:(

~I'm discovering how lucky I am that she is not a picky eater. R will eat anything you put in front of her (oatmeal, brown rice, beans, lentils, avocado...all the healthy stuff). We really have to watch her diet, & don't allow her to snack...because she would not turn it down!!

~Haven't seen signs of running, but she's finally walking steady on her two feet.

~Her personality is already in full-bloom & I'm curious what she will be like when she's an adult. She has quite a bit of Eh-gyoh, flirts with gramps & dad, LOVES being the center of attention, and hams it up when people are watching. She is quite assertive in taking other kids' toys that she wants. Uh-oh!

~R is getting a little SISTER in April. I was told @ 16 weeks, but was waiting for my 20 week US to confirm. Truth be told, I was initally a little bummed, but I'm very thankful that the baby is HEALTHY! We're done after Kid #2, so this is it for us. However, how long should we wait after the 2nd child, to make a permanant decision?

Thanksgiving 2010

This is the view from my eemoh's backyard in Edmonds, WA This was the snow the morning after we arrived. The night before, we had hiked the final 2 blocks to the house due to icy road conditions.No one was sure if we'd even make it up there. I'm especially thankful that we did safely. Here, the 2 grandmas & their granddaughters.Leaf hunting in front of the house

Leaves make her strangely happy

Outfit (shirt, leggings, & boots) courtesy of H&M outlet. Cheap & cute!

Random family pics

This is pretty much what we did for 5 days. Stuff our faces, baby included. My eemoh is of the more-is-always-better camp.

New coat from my eemoh. Haha! She liked it after it was on, I promise.

Bath time w/cousin Ella

I contemplated posting this photo of her, but what the heck.

Getting ready for Thanksgiving
I had 3 versions of the next photo, and Joey's hand was blurry in them b/c he's praying (maybe only Gina will understand this?)

Bed head #1Bed head #2

Bed head #3. Mama stealing a quick kiss.

Cousins, just 1 month apart

My cousin-in-law is due just 2 weeks after me w/baby #2. Our kids couldn't have been closer in age if we had planned it. Super chilly hike nearby their home

Which led to Meadowdale beach

It was freezing but she didn't seem to mind

Random amusing photo

The grandparents did a lot of babysitting this week. We spent a glorious 5 hours at the newly owned Bella Luna korean spa. We did our own ddeh mee ree=).

We did a lot of this too

Last stop was @ Microsoft, where my cousin John works
The Visitor's Center has a museum of oldies...including an Atari like the one Joey used to own

Played some fun games while were were there
One of the terminals @ SeaTac Airport...apparently part of a program for children who lost their parents on 9/11

Until next time, Family....it was grand & I miss you already