Christmas Vacation - part III

The last leg of our trip was spent in Lake Tahoe with Halmuni, Halabuji, Uncle Danny, and Uncle Mark. We had such high hopes of putting Noah on skis and playing in the snow with him, but alas, he didn't even want to walk on the snow! After several attempts of trying to acclimate him, we gave up and played indoors with all the new toys he received for Xmas. He enjoyed looking at the snow, just not being in it! There's always next year...

Uncles helping him open his stocking

Helping Matt wax up his snowboard


Before

After

The damage was done, we spent the rest of the time in the car while others enjoyed an afternoon of sledding...

Check out my dad! I think he actually caught some air off this run...

A video clip of Noah opening up his stocking

Christmas Vacation - part II

We got to spend the second part of our vacation up at Grammie and Grandaddy's. Matt's parents were so kind to get up with Noah every morning, so that Matt and I could catch a few extra zzz's in the morning (thank you again!). He loved being around his cousins and watching them play! Going to the park, riding the train, watching the snow globe with the train, and Christmas Eve dinner were just a few of the highlights of our time there...

Wrestle time!

Checking out the snow globe with Bel


Watching Little Bear with Lala

Getting belly love from Bel

Opening Xmas presents

Watching "Up" on Great Grandmer's walker

Morning snuggles with Grandaddy

Christmas Vacation - part I

We've been on vacation for the last 2.5 weeks visiting family, and we're finally home! The rest was much needed because now we are busy preparing for the arrival of our little girl at the end of the month. Nesting has kicked in, and all I want to do is clean, clean, clean!
The first part of vacation was spent up at Halmuni and Halabuji's house. Noah loved being outside and going on walks. It's amazing how much more he's talking in just the last few weeks. His vocabulary is multiplying (a mixture of Korean and English still), and I love hearing all the funny things he's learned to say...such as booger. He loves to chant 'booga, booga, booga' when he wants his nose wiped. I'm sure I won't think it's that funny a month from now, but it sure makes us crack up now!

Reading a book on a chair just his size


Taking Gracie for a walk

Checking out a newt with one of the neighbors

Waiting for lunch outside a bakery

Xmas family photos

Here's a sneak peak at a few of the pictures that we took for our annual holiday photos. Mollie also took Noah's one year photos, and we just love her!

little sponge

I can't remember ever putting my contact lenses on in front of him, and the only time I put lip gloss on is in the car (he's still rear-facing, so I don't know when he saw me!). The other day, it was so quiet out in the living room, I had to investigate. There he was, with my lip gloss that he had fished out of my purse, giving himself a makeover. He was so proud of himself!





See those beautiful long curls? While I was working this past Sunday, Matt decided to play barber shop with Noah, and they're gone!!! Needless to say, it's a bit of a sore subject in our household...meanwhile, I just keep telling myself that it'll grow back.

Thanksgiving Break

While we were sad we didn't get to see family this Thanksgiving, we sure had a nice and relaxing time at home! We spent the day cooking together, going to the park, and eating of course! The day after Thanksgiving, Matt braved the black friday sales while Noah and I started putting out our Christmas decorations. Matt came home with a 7 foot tree ("it was on sale," he says :)) that has taken over our living room, but it is sure bringing a lot of smiles on Noah's face. Surprisingly, we haven't had to put a gate around it yet...he's pretty much left it alone, although the ornaments are only on the top half of the tree!





After we went to church on Sabbath, Matt was so sweet and offered to take Noah to the aquarium while I stayed at home. I can't remember the last time I've taken a 3.5 hour nap! I had all these grand plans of going to Barnes and Noble or a coffee shop with a magazine, and all I ended up doing was sleeping. And it was delightful.

lately

I can't believe the holidays are right around the corner and that we only have about 65 days until our little girl arrives!!! Where is 2009 going? Noah has been talking more and more and I love hearing him use his words to communicate what he wants. We've made use of all the holiday catalogs that have been coming in the mail...he loves to sit at the dining room table and point/name all the things he recognizes in them. Often times he surprises me by naming something properly that I don't remember ever teaching him! The other day we were driving to his gym class, and this car cut me off, so I yelled "Move!". He wouldn't stop saying it that day...I'm glad that 'move' was my choice word that day :).

Let's see, his favorite words he says are - egg, banana, ni-ni (bedtime), more, ball, keys, dog, bird, truck, car, moon, wow, stop, up, Jesus, Bible, Amen, pang (bread in korean), ma-ma (food in korean), cheese, dude, all done, bath, apple, gi-gi (gross in korean), book, and of course umma & appa (mom and dad in korean). Animal noises are a big thing around here as well. He knows the noises of a lion, tiger, cat, dog, monkey, pig, bee, bird, owl, sheep, goat, rooster, horse, and ducks. His pronunciations are so cute that I often don't want to correct him because I just love the way he says things.

It hasn't been all daisies and roses around here though...tantrums are starting and whining is a common occurance. Matt and I are learning and discussing each day about discipline, rules, and boundaries. It's such an exhausting thing...there are some days when I feel that all I said was "no, stop, and time-out." But then at end of the day, he snuggles up with me and smothers me with so many kisses that I forget he was ever causing me any grief!

Here he is trying to convince me that standing in a chair is a completely safe and acceptable thing to do...