...Emme Ann is ONE...

My baby girl is officially one years old today. ::WAH!:: I mean...it really did come quickly...twice as quick as it did for Jude. But...Emme is just such an amazing little girl. She is such a little love and makes me laugh constantly!

I feel so blessed to be this little girl's mommy...and I can't wait to see how she grows in this second year! I have a feeling that her and I will butt heads in life...but I hope she knows that she brings her momma so much joy...and that I couldn't possibly imagine what life was like without her.

This past weekend we celebrated her first birthday Korean style with my family and our close friends. We wanted to celebrate with Derrick's family too, but his mom (and some other family members) were in Mexico building a house with One Mission for a family that Melody raised money for! My mom had this weekend off, and since she was doing so much cooking, it was the only weekend that we could do w/ my family. Leading up to the weekend was stressful. I mean...having a baby a few weeks after the holidays really isn't the best idea! Haha... I felt like I didn't have the mind capacity to start planning before the holidays...but then afterwards, time was running out!!! I did some researching and quickly found that these Koreans are ca.razy. when it comes to 1st birthdays!!!! I'm talking...move over MTV's Sweet Sixteen...these are like wedding reception quality parties! Oh my. I do NOT have $20,000 to drop on a party for my quarter Asian kid! LOL! But...I did use alot of ideas that I found...and after many late late late nights of crafting...had everything ready and set for her big day. (PS...totally hiring a wedding planner when we DO finally have to walk her down the aisle!)

The day was pretty perfect...weather was great...and we celebrated with some of our favorite people on the planet. It was also sweet to see Jude so excited for his baby sister (he's finally understanding the concept of birthdays and presents). I couldn't have asked for a more awesome party for Miss Emme...and hope that one day she'll appreciate all her momma and Halmoni did for her!!!















(If I weren't planning on posting a million pictures...I would do them one by one...but this is the best way to get all of them up here, unfortunately it kinda makes the size lamesauce. Oh well, you can click on the picture to enlarge it.) The cupcakes were done by Michelle Summers. She is phenomenal! They were so beautiful and SO delicious! She even wrote 축돌 on half of the medallions. So fabulous! It's traditional in Korean 1st birthdays to have a head table that is decorated with things such as Dduk (ricecake), fruit displays, and Dol Go-Ims (towers). It's also traditional to display pictures of the birthday girl (or boy) throughout their first year. I decided to put them all on the head table and put up a banner (that I made) with some balloons shaped like a flower. In my researching, I noticed alot of people using the flower balloons (like a ton of them strung together) as the backdrop...but it was aLOT of work. I also handmade the towers, hot glueing ricepuffs and black beans one by one (or mentos) to create 3 towers: an ox (as Emme was born in the Year of the Ox), Mentos flowers, and 축돌. Each tower took me at least TWO to THREE hours! Yipes.
















The first picture is of these globe things that I created as the center piece for each table. Each globe consists of 20 circles folded and glued together. Then I put a wooden dowel into the globe and stuck it in some of that flower foam stuff and covered that with some shredded paper and shoved it into a small glass. The table at the top was placed right by the front door. It served as the Doljabi table as well as the gift table. As guests arrived, they were asked to guess what item from the doljabi that they thought Emme would choose. The options were: money, stethoscope, pencil, computer mouse, or microphone. Guests placed a ticket in the cup corresponding with the item they thought she would choose...and whichever item was chosen, the guessers' names would be drawn for a prize!
















Emme was a beauty. She was flustered before the party began because mom and dad weren't paying much attention to her...but thankfully, Sheshe (Lindsay) came over earlier to play with the bambinos and that satisfied the birthday girl! Jude was ECSTATIC to see his BFF and GF, Riley...it was the SWEETEST thing to see them run up to each other and hug! And...as you can see...we had a butt TON of food!
















I was so thankful for everyone who came...it's so nice to know that there are people who love you and your children enough to take time out of their lives to celebrate a lil baby! The food...the mounds and mounds of food...was a huge hit! I have to give HUGE props to my mama who did ALL the cooking...and yes, EVERYTHING was homemade!!! My mom slaved in the kitchen all week long. I'm very blessed to have her as my momma!
















After we all stuffed our faces...it was time for the doljabi. I placed all the items on the floor and put Emme a nice distance away from them. I made sure to put the stethoscope in the middle- b/c that's what I guessed she would choose...and thought she would surely grab it if it were in the middle! We let Emme go...and she went STRAIGHT to the stethoscope....her hand was out and everything...but then...at the last second- without taking her eyes OFF the stethoscope- pivoted and grabbed the PENCIL! What!?!?! Jipped. That's what I was! LOL! But...I was actually pretty excited that she picked the pencil, as that is the same item that Jude picked for his doljabi! (The Asians were UBER excited that my daughter picked to grow up and become scholarly!) There were only 2 people who guessed that Emme would grab the pencil...and my aunt ended up winning the doljabi prize: a Starbucks cup and giftcard.






























I was leery as to how Emme would respond to her smash cake. She didn't so much like her cake we bought for the pictures. I mean...part of it was b/c she was FREEZING (....and the motheroftheyear award goes to....) but even when I put some frosting in her mouth, she scowled and cried! Poor Jude wanted a piece of her cake SO bad and was DYING to blow the candle out for her! She wasn't really sure what to do...and just as Jude did with HIS smash cake...she put her fingers...right.on.the.fire. The difference...Jude literally pinched the fire out- and Emme just let her hand linger over it! Oops. Needless to say...it hurt!!! Poor lil girl! But she got over it REALLY quick...and as soon as I put some frosting in her mouth, she was ALL about the cake! (As were ALL the little kids!) She was so cute and dainty while eating her cake...VERY different from her brother!
















After cake came time for opening presents. Emme had a blast...as did her brother! Thank you for all the fun gifts! Jude has already taken claim to her new girly teapot and teacups...and I cannot even begin to count how many cups of "tea" I've drank in the last few days!!! He's also stolen her ABC books from Tiffany/Jason and the 1st Words book from Sheshe! Outrageous!
















Thank you to my parents, Uncle Song, Uncle Yong and Aunt Jung, cousin Sarah, Linds, Jaime and Zoe, Daniel and Violet and Riley, Andy and Jobey and Lily and Bella, Tiffany and Jason, and Leslie for coming out and making it such an enjoyable time!
















The evening ended with everyone taking home a box of Dduk (ricecake)...which also follows (kinda) Korean tradition. It is actually traditional for the parents to box up 100 boxes and distribute to guests and neighbors...but...um...that's a lot of boxes...so I settled with 10 boxes! :) Clean up was a beast...but it was all SO worth it! Two Dol's down...one more to go...and my mom has already started planning it! Buahahaha! She's killin' me! :)

Happy Birthday, sweet Emme...and many more to come!

...10 things...

I was tagged a while ago by Violet...but TOTALLY forgot to fill my list out...until I saw Jaime's updated blog.

Here are 10 Things You MIGHT Not Know About Me:
(although...to be honest...while making this list...I feel like EVERYONE will know ALL of these!)

1. I am a Celebrity Gossip Guru. There is rarely a time that I don't know who an actor is...or what movie they've played in...who they've dated/dating...or what "secret" gossip is being said about them. It's sad...but true...and I love it!

2. I'm really not an outgoing person. Although I can say that I'm a Thespian...and was heavily involved in Choir in HS...I really really really don't like attention being drawn to me! I mean...I can be the "life of the party" if I have to...but I would rather be at home...reading a good book or watching a movie by myself/w/ DLo!

3. I am the ultimate cyber-stalker. I am alot better about it now...but pre-kids...I could spend hours and hours and hours on the computer looking for/at people's profiles. People fascinate me...their lives, their extra-curricular activities...who they know...who they know that I know... It's all so intriguing!

4. When I was in the 5th grade...I had to get this spacer thing in the roof of my mouth... my dad had this little key thing that he had to put in the contraption and turn...and it would push my teeth apart to open up that upper jaw (I had or was going to develop an underbite). It was seriously so painful...and felt as if my nose was going to break off my face...and it caused me to have THE HUGEST gap in my front teeth. I was mortified by the whole thing...but my teeth look great now!

5. I feel like I spent much of my childhood conflicted. I was always trying to fit in...and yet also trying to do my own thing. I hated that. I felt as if I didn't have any friends...which...I probably really didn't. I always felt an internal battle whenever I'd make a decision to fit in that caused someone else pain...and 9 times out of 10, I would go back and rectify it the next day. I tried to be my own person now...not relying on society or whatever to dictate who I am or what I do...but sometimes I fail.

6. I never imagined what life would be like. I never dreamed of my wedding... or my occupation. I never had a "perfect guy" in mind (other than Zack Morris or Dylan McKay or even Uncle Jesse)... or pictured being 30. When I was a senior in HS...I remember thinking that life must end after I threw my cap in the air...b/c I didn't even know what college I wanted to go to...or what to major in. I can say...that God already had my path planned out...and I am so blessed with the decisions that I made...and didn't make...b/c I have the perfect life for me.

7. I don't go to bed without Derrick. There have only been a handful of times since our howevermanyyears of marriage that one of us will go to the bedroom to sleep without the other. I mean...I'm sure DLo would/could...but I can't. If I wanna watch a movie or tv show and DLo is tired...he'll stay up and watch with me until he passes out on the couch. Or if DLo wants to play a video game...but I am half dead...I will sleep on the floor next to him until he's done and ready to go to the bedroom. I really don't understand why I'm like that...perhaps an only child thing? But I literally can.not. sleep if he's not there. And if he's "out" but coming home late...I typically will stay in the bedroom watching tv until he comes home...b/c I just can't sleep w/o him! It's nutz.

8. I am SO not creative. I mean...I really really really want to be... and I really try to be. But I'm more of a copy cat. And it makes me sad!

9. I would LOVE to move to a different state...except...I love Arizona...and I couldn't bear being away from my parents...and I wouldn't know where to move...and...and...I dunno. I also would LOVE to move to a different country...but once again...I can't imagine not having my children see their grandparents on a weekly basis!

10. I'm very excited to grow older. I can't believe that I'm already 30 years old...and that my life is unfolding so quickly before me...I can't wait to say that Jaime and Vi and Linds and whoever else and I have been friends for a million years... I can't wait to reminisce about all the random things we'll have gone through... I can't wait to sit on the porch and watch our grandkids run around... I can't wait to see how Derrick will look when he's 50- handsome, I'm sure... I can't wait to see where God directs us... but... but at the same time... I'm so sad to see how quickly it's all happening...how quickly my babies are growing... knowing that one day I'll open my eyes and see some huge young man holding some girl's hand... or my little angel will be wearing makeup or something! ::tear:: Life is short...even for those who live to be 100... I wanna cherish these days!

Okay...so...now I'm tagging 3 people... Love, Katie, and Tamara. :)

...Christmas 2010 Part 3...

Wow. Talk about being out of order! These are some pictures from our Christmas with Derrick's family. We had a nice breakfast...actually...thinking back...it was freaking delish!!!...at Jerrod and Niki's new house. This Christmas was so crazy...because we all have SO MANY children now! It's so fun to see the cousins play...makes me look forward to Christmases to come!















Jude, Ary, and Braylon enjoyed watching a Disney movie while the adults got breakfast ready. In the top picture...Miss Em had to get an impromptu bath in the sink b/c she went hog WILD during breakfast! And then there is a picture of Grandab feeding Emme...he's the first person she's let feed her in about a month!















Emme pretty much stuck by Grandab's side the entire day! But she did have some fun opening her gifts too...well, she liked the paper at least! Jude on the otherhand LOVED his new RadioFlyer wagon!















We worked SO HARD to try and get a picture of all the cousins together...this was one of a zillion pictures, but it was the best one of the bunch! Braylon w/ his baby sister Camryn and cousin Aryanna...and Jude and Emme!

...Disneyland...

In December...Derrick and I took Jude and Emme on a quick trip to Dland to see Santa. We knew it was going to be rainy...but we underestimated how gross and hectic that would be with two lil kids. Derrick ended up bringing Emme back to the hotel room after breakfast (and seeing Santa) and stayed for several hours while Jude and Mommy spent the day having fun!!!

First of all...Rain. Wow. I mean...It wasn't pouring...but raining enough that we would need umbrellas! I had even bought some rain cover thing for the stroller...which ended up being a huge pain. Ugh! We started our day out by eating breakfast at Tomorrowland Terrace. The kids and I found a soggy table and waited for daddy to order. I was busy wiping down the table...and made Jude sit in the lone chair that was dry...unfortunately for me...and Jude...he didn't listen to mom's instructions...and ended up slipping on a huge puddle...and doing the splits in said puddle. Nice. So...we've been in the park all of 10 mins and homeslice's bottom is soaked. ::sigh:: Well. I did what any good mother would do. I made him sit in soggy pants throughout breakfast...b/c motheroftheyear over here didn't pack any extra clothes! Nice.

We went on Peter Pan after breakfast...and then headed over to see Santa. Um. Jude...did...not...like...Santa. I had a feeling this would happen...as he's not too fond of any of the characters the past couple times we've gone. But...I thought since Santa is a real PERSON sitting there that he'd do alright. Nope. Haha...so basically...what was to be a picture of Santa and the kids...ended up being a picture of ALL of us! :) Derrick was kinda grumpy face at this point...and Emme was going to need to take a nap... so I suggested he take her back to the room and Jude and I would stay at the park. He was ALL for it! Whoohoo!















So. Jude and I headed down towards Main Street so that I could buy him some freakin pants. Yes...he was still soggy up until this point. I mean. We tried to find someplace to dry them (like a hand dryer in the bathrooms...) but apparently there are no hand dryers in the park. Bummer. So...after buying a $25 pair of freaking jogging pantsish things...my date and I went to California Adventure to catch The Aladdin Show. I had so much fun just being with him. No.Joke. Homeboy wanted me to hold him as we were waiting in line...and I just couldn't resist hoisting all 500 pounds of him up on my hip...and held him for about 40mins. No.Joke. By the time we got inside...my back was achy and I thought my legs would never function properly again...but all the cuddles and kisses were TOTALLY worth it!
















Jude liked the show...but he was kinda afraid of the Genie. I think he might equally have been afraid of me b/c of my throwing my head back and cackling at the Genie's jokes! But the show was excellent, as I remembered...and I even knew one of the cast members...(went to HS w/ her...knew she had worked at the parks doing shows, but didn't realize she was still apart of The Aladdin Show).

We went over to Taste Pilots for lunch...where I had such a good little date with my boy. He was so sweet and cute and such a good listener! I sat there and thought to myself how life might have looked had I not had a baby when he was only a year and a half old... very different. Hard to imagine. I really did appreciate my time together with him...and plan on doing more in the future.
(@ Taste Pilots- ketchup musta been yummy!)

We had to go potty after lunch...and planned on going to see Playhouse Disney afterwards...but a part of me was curious to see if Jude was tall enough to ride Soarin' over California. When we had come in September...he was juuuuuuust shy of being tall enough. This time... well.... he was juuuuuust taller than the bar! WootWoot! So. Needless to say- I quickly jumped in line to take my boy on his first "you must be taller than..." ride! I'm about 100% sure that Jude is THE YOUNGEST child to ever ride this ride! He was pretty good the entire wait. He was kinda nervous about what was going to happen...but as we were waiting to "board"...I explained everything that was going to happen as we watched on the little video. We got in the room and I told Jude that he could hold his Mickey (as opposed to placing him in the basket under the seat). I strapped the boy in...strapped myself in...and away we flew! Jude was so cute. I had one arm around him and he pretty much stayed in the same position the entire time! He would look at everything I pointed out to him...but his body pretty much didn't move! It was really cute! (I failed to mention that we were stopped 3 times so that the cast members could "double check" Jude's height!)


(Not sure by his face if he liked the ride or not!)

At this point, Playhouse Disney was out. We walked to Paradise Pier to ride the Toy Story Mania ride. The line was kinda long... I think the wait was like 40 mins. Thank GOODNESS for my iPhone...b/c it's loaded with movies and so Jude pretty much watched Monster's Inc the entire wait...and the people behind us marvelled at Jude's technological genius. (But really, sir...I know you were just watching MI behind his shoulder!) Derrick and a passed out Emme (she had boycotted napping the entire howevermanyhours they were back in the room!) met us as we were juuuust about to get on the ride. It was awesome and perfect timing b/c he was able to get a slip allowing him and Jude to ride again once I got off w/ Jude. Jude's a little too young to understand the game...so he just kinda moved his little wheel thing around... whatever...I still beat him!

After watching Turtle Talk with Crush...we decided our adventure was good enough for the day...and headed home. Jude, the trooper, was an angel the entire day- especially considering he didn't have a nap. But...because of this...he was pretty much zonked by the time we got to the hotel room. Precious! We almost didn't wake him to eat dinner...but he woke up enough to refuse his spaghetti, get a bath, and go to bed. I think it's the quickest that boy has entered dreamland!
































The boys shared a bed while the girls shared the other. Not that I planned on sharing a bed with Miss Emme...but she REFUSED to sleep in the packnplay. Di.va. We had talked about going to the park until lunch the next day...but when we woke, it was pouring. So...after eating what Derrick would label the BEST breakfast buffet (we at at the hotel that we stayed at- The Hilton)...we headed home.

It was such a great trip...one that I will cherish forever.

...random catchup...

Oh my word...I'm obsessed with catching up! Here are some fun things we did the latter part of 2010...that don't necessarily need a blog of their own...

Beauty and the Beast
(October 2010)
So...back in October...DLo and his friend Daniel went up to Seattle for a weekend of "boy time" to visit their BFF Adam. It was super cute that they got to do that (hmmm...don't think they would consider it "cute")...and they had a blast catching up with each other and hanging out around Seattle. They even got to go to a Cardinals/Seahawks game w/ some killer seats. Well... Vi and I decided to take our kiddos to see Beauty and the Beast at ASU Gammage. My parents watched Miss Em...and then we were off. Jude has been obsessed w/ the movie...and was REALLY into the play. Both kids did REALLY well...until about 15mins until the end. I mean...it was nose.bleed.seats. and it was H.O.T. ...so I really don't blame them! :)

















This was my date for the show...


















Awww...who am I kiddin! Vi and I were really only there to chaperon for these two crazy kids! (You can see how sweaty they are...it was SERIOUSLY hot up there!)



Why People Love Arizona
(October 2010)
I always feel guilty because I hardly ever let Jude play outside. I mean...it.is.HOTT. most of the year! But back in October...Mom, Emme, and Jude spent some time playing with the chalk on the front patio. Jude had a lot of fun...Emme....not so much! You'll also notice that Mickey is patiently watching on the porch chair...I promise you...if we ever lose this Mickey...I will have to move...b/c Mickey= Jude's BFF.


















My Beautiful Babies...
(October 2010)

...the next top chef???...

::sigh:: Another oldie. These pictures are from Thanksgiving!!! Who.am.I?!

I'm known to do some crazy baking during Thanksgiving...it's the only time of the year when I desperately want a KitchenAid Mixer! ::sigh:: I've been wanting to do some baking with Jude...but the thought of the mess he could quite possibly create kinda stressed me out! This year...I had him pull up a little stool and get right in on the action! He first helped me make Snickerdoodles. It was Jude's job to take the cookie balls and roll them in the cinnamon/sugar. He did a really good job- actually...he was WAY quicker than I could keep up with!

















Later on, however...I had a bowl of some dry ingredients in a bowl setting out...I needed more of something or other...and I noticed that Jude isn't around...and he's terribly quiet... homeslice decided he'd help speed some things along and had the measuring spoons FILLED with the flour stuff! Thankfully he didn't make much of a mess...and honestly...it was just TOO cute! ;)

...TN...

Shameful... This post was from October...when we went to TN...I recall posting some about being in TN...but didn't ever post any pictures.

Soooo...before I post my pictures...here are my Top 10 memories of TN2010:
10. Driving to the waterfall...we drove through several counties and I was smooshed between the two carseats in the back...it.was.super.

9. Introducing Emme Ann to her Great Grandma Patt... who she gets her middle name from!

8. Watching Emme play with Remy...Jordan's dog...she's kiiiiiinda obsessed!

7. Faux-date night w /Derrick. (Thanks Aunt Liz for watching the kids!) DLo and I went to meet one of Derrick's old friends from AZ COG days...we met up at some yogurt shop and then went to Aaron's work- which was across the street- to see the studio...

6. Watching Jude play outside! Homeboy coulda lived out there!!!

5. Swinging on that porch swing! Tried to find time to do that each day!

4. DLo and his mission to set up Grandma/Grandpa Logan's new tv, bluray, and cable box....I literally think it took him the ENTIRE week!

3. Our turn around trip to Atlanta...to visit Courageous Church...Derrick has followed their pastor Shaun King ever since the earthquake in Haiti...where Pastor Shaun worked diligently to send medics and medical supplies to help with the relief. Shaun is aslo the founder of TwitChange...which has helped raise funds for different charities... TwitChange2.0 is actually going to start Jan 29th...check it out if you Twitter or whatever! ;)

2. Crashing our Hyundai rental into the ditch while going on the faux date...I thought the car was going to roll on top of me the way we were angled...but, thankfully, I got out! And wouldn't you know...Grandma and Grandpa Logan happened to be driving home and TOTALLY saw us and stopped- while Gpa went home to get his truck and drop of Gma...no less than 6 people stopped to ask how they could help...and wouldn't take "no" for an answer when we explained that our Gpa was coming back w/ a truck... Derrick and two other gentlemen push/lifted the car out while I was behind the wheel... out.rageous. And thankfully...absolutely NO damage to the car!!!

1. Finding out we are pregnant w/ 3.0!

Anywho. Enjoy the pictures:














Jude may be a pro at flying...but this was Emme's first time on a plane! She did really good...but she is definitely different from her brother- who typically passes out once the plane- and stayed away preeeetty much the entire trip! Oy! As you can see, however...she LOVED Remy!






























We had so much fun at the waterfalls...although we were probably in the car double the amount of time that we were actually at the falls! It was a nice little getaway...even if being stuck in the backseat between both car seats the ENTIRE time in a wee little miniSUV WAS about to be the death of me! ;)
















Jude LOVED playing outside...anytime he'd see his Papaw out there...he would run out there and join him! In the top picture, Papaw is showing Jude a HUGE daddylonglegs...and the bottom, he's helping to water the plants! Silly kid!























Mamaw Patt LOVED spending time with her namesake...Emme Ann is their 4th great grandchild (at the time) and their 2nd great granddaughter!