À Petits Pas - Baby Steps

Christmas Break 2011

2011-12-26T20:22:00.005-05:00

Just a few bits and pieces!

I can't tell you how many of this pic I have on my camera. LOVED that crab dip!

Our Day In Court

2011-12-26T20:13:00.005-05:00

Our forever family of three!

Santa!

2011-12-07T10:48:00.004-05:00

Chully asked for Elmo this year. Just "Elmo". He was so excited to see Santa! I was part thinking that we could have a minor meltdown on our hands this year but he was in pure awe. Truth be told, so was I! Santa rules.

Side Note- I've also been working on a One Year anniversary post but I'm having some tech issues with my iPhoto. Coming soon!

Christmas Pic 2011

2011-11-30T10:52:00.004-05:00

The first this season! Many more to come I'm sure!

First School Pic

2011-11-30T10:49:00.003-05:00

Chully Art- Halloween 2011

2011-11-02T10:46:00.000-04:00

Happy Halloween!

2011-11-02T10:18:00.007-04:00

The viral rash persisted into the weekend but thankfully the doctor was right and he healed up on his own. It took a day or so longer than they originally thought but all was right in the world by the end of the weekend.
By Monday night Chully was ready to get costumed up and hand out treats to the neighbourhood kids.

Two of Chully's cousins came to visit him on the job

Step right up, kids! I can chomp and toss!

You know what I was thinking about? This Halloween was the last holiday that we did not have memories of Chully from the year before. Isn't that something?! Its hard to believe that we're only a month away from being home for an entire year. Amazing. Time flies when you're having fun and feelin' blessed. Chully- Everyday is a holiday with you, pal. You're the best!

The Spotty Lion

2011-10-27T18:28:00.003-04:00

So far the doc is going with "viral rash" but if its not gone by tomorrow morning we're to bring him back for another visit. Poor guy. Its all up his back, his belly. We had a PJ day today and I'd love to say it was all cuddles and sunshine but it was miserable. Tomorrow will be better.

Grown up Chully- tonight's dinner? That wasn't cheese on the gnocchi. It was pureed butternut squash. You really showed me by sucking the sauce of each piece and then feeding the pasta to the dog. ;)

Oldest trick in the book! Mom-1.
xo

In A Nutshell

2011-10-26T14:52:00.014-04:00

Hanging around at the park on one of the last summery days

Pumpkin Farm. We've been a few times. Its been a hit! Especially the animals!

Gotta have a butter tart at the pumpkin patch!

Chully's first day at Montessori {He is loving it! A more in depth post to come.}
Chully Art! The first two pieces he ever brought home from school! I had to boogie out of the classroom when his teacher passed them to me. I could have burst with pride.

First school pics! We're waiting on our order but I just couldn't wait to share!

Finally- for a bit of a chuckle...
Sparkie the fire safety dog! Chully was not impressed. Even after Sparkie gave him a sticker! That is saying a lot. We LOVE stickers these days.

Boy- time flies! I've been avoiding the blog for a few weeks now because I just couldn't face how long it had been since I've updated. I have so much to share but not much at all! Ha! Life, you know how it goes. Hope the pics make up for our absence. Even if just a tad. :)

M.

Referral Call- One Year Later

2011-08-22T20:12:00.007-04:00

This past Saturday was the one year anniversary of our referral call!
I've said it before, I'll say it again...What a difference a year makes!
We decided to celebrate by heading back to Montreal. This time as a FAMILY!

Hanging out poolside. Mike is teaching Chully how to blow bubbles in his drink :)

Notre Dame. The Prayer station I said a little prayer at moments before the call.

Playing in the park baby toes :)

Learning to kick. Chully LOVES the water.

Market stroll

Quick trip to Ottawa to visit the National Gallery.

Play Date Love

2011-08-15T21:19:00.005-04:00

These kiddos are AWESOME!

We're Fans!

2011-08-15T19:41:00.014-04:00

Like most kids who grew up in Ontario, I totally grew up on TVO kids. , and that!) were my fav's and I have really vivid memories of getting ready for bed watching that particular run of shows. Super typical and dorky (in a footed pajama kinda way) memories but that's what makes them so great.

With a babe of my own in my arms it was nice to find TVO kids right where I left it 25 years (ohmygawdthathurt) ago, channel 002!

Chully's TVO fav's are the hosts do in between shows. This past weekend the hosts came to perform those very songs at a mall near us so we went to check it out.

Here is Chully with the hosts, Cara & Drew. He's giving the side eye here but he was having a blast, I swear!

Its funny the simple little things you pluck from childhood and turn into mini traditions with your kiddos, isn't it? Meals, games, songs...

Peek-A-Boo! A Fort!

2011-08-13T21:54:00.004-04:00

Chully LOVES forts! If there is a way for him to have a little, covered area to climb in to & sit crossed legged smiling all proud like, he is all over it!
A couple days ago we happily gave up some prime real estate in our living for the ultimate tent fort.

Since we assembled it he has been running into the tent yelling "Mama, Mama, Mama!" and then dancing. Its hilarious and makes me feel like the happiest "MAMA!" ever. {I should probably do a whole separate post dedicated to Chully's dancing. Dancing is big around here.}

Time Flies When You're Havin' Fun!

2011-08-13T14:39:00.011-04:00

17 months going on 17 yrs. What's up with that?!

There's something about this last pic that reminds me of my dad. In photos he is often caught with an expression kinda like Chully has in this pic. IMHO. I should try and find the exact pic I'm thinking of. Pretty cool actually.

Next week we will be celebrating that our boy has been home here with us longer than he has ever been anywhere else! We've been a forever family for 36 weeks now and everyday Chully finds a way to amaze us even more than the day before.
Tonight Chully amazed us by holding out an incredibly long length of time before he finally gave in and closed his eyes for sleep. {wink} Determined little monkey, you have us wrapped around your perfect little fingers.

Cramping Chully's Style. Already.

2011-08-10T15:27:00.004-04:00

"Ok Mom, I love ya but enough with the cooing and taking pics. You're coming off a tad crazy." ;)

Cousins

2011-08-10T15:21:00.002-04:00

Boys weekend at Grandma and Grandpa's cottage.

At The Range With Dad

2011-08-10T15:09:00.004-04:00

Chully has really taken a liking to being at the local driving range. He sits up in a muskoka chair with a snack while we hit a few and then near the end of the bucket Mike always pulls Chul up for a few swings. He loves it and we inevitably have a bit of a melt down when its time to go but its totally worth it. Chully's cousin G just got his first set of clubs for Christmas last year so I'd imagine Appa & Uncle Jeff will have some very cool side kicks on the links in years to come.

Kicking It With Auntie Ike

2011-08-10T15:02:00.008-04:00

LOVE this pic.

Splash pads and ice cream! What summer days are all about! You are SO loved Chully Bear.
{Ya think the ice cream was a hit?}

The Zoo

2011-08-09T14:47:00.006-04:00

Chully was born in the year of the white tiger! We always chant "White Tiger Baby, Number One!"

Hey Mama! The zoo is pretty cool in my books!

Our little family of three had a great day at the zoo last weekend. Chully loved it. He was zooming around, pointing, collecting rocks, climbing, and every.single.animal was "Decta! Decta!" (Dexter, our family dog AKA Chully's partner in crime).
We packed lunches, took our time and even dodged the little bits of rain we had on and off throughout the day. Perfect.

The Patient

2011-07-14T12:48:00.006-04:00

The day before yesterday Chully gave us quite the scare w/ a fever of 103.5 F! The poor boy was beet red, cranky, couldn't sleep, hot to the touch all over, and scariest of all, completely dazed. Apparently its not at all uncommon but that didn't make it any less scary when the nurse at the family doctor suggested we brought him into urgent care.

The hospital was great and had us in the second we walked thru the door. After a super dose of ibuprofen (I had already given him some at home to no avail) the fever broke and he was back to himself and we were sent home with the doctor having found nothing obvious going on. The difference in him was amazing really.

The following morning the fever spiked again to 104.5 so I was back on the phone with emerg. explaining the situation. They suggested rotating ibuprofen and acetaminophen and if the fever didn't break to bring him back in. Luckily the initial dose of ibuprofen (and tons of snuggles) did the trick and we've been fever free and med. free for the last 24 hrs. Everyone agrees that it has to be a symptom of teething.

The first of many scares with a rough and tumble little boy, I'm sure. Scary.

The pic above is of Chul having his first popsicle when we got home from the ER. Look at that little hospital anklet. :(

P.S. Now that he's back to himself and all better.... :)

Yard Work

2011-07-05T10:06:00.002-04:00

Getting muddy is FUN!

The Boy's Got Moves!

2011-07-05T09:35:00.004-04:00

Last week a mall near us had The Big Comfy Couch come and perform. I didn't know how into it Chul would be but I thought it would be fun little date for my boy and I. Guys- it was like a light flipped on! I think he thought they were all there for him! Precious boy.

BTW- See how he is reaching up right as I switch the camera off? Yup, just diving into someone else's snacks.....someone we didn't know. Hey, "Watch the rump shaker, share your snacks"
He has a point.

Cars & Guitars

2011-06-21T18:54:00.002-04:00

Yeehaw!

Too Cool For School

2011-06-21T18:49:00.003-04:00

Best Buddies

2011-06-05T16:58:00.006-04:00

Wearing Appa's sweater.

Totally Obsessed

2011-06-05T16:32:00.003-04:00

Chully takes every opportunity to make a mad dash for Mike's guitar so when we saw this mini version we knew he had to have it. Its been guitar playing morning, noon, and night around here since!

Its Monday!

2011-05-30T20:45:00.004-04:00

Let's be bunnies! (With arm tattoos)
This is the second dress up in as many days! Weird.
But mostly just fun!

Melts My Heart!

2011-05-30T20:34:00.003-04:00

iPhone Pic Post

2011-05-29T17:29:00.006-04:00

Minutes after getting into the car after our playdate this past Friday.

We took these next three on a walk we took yesterday.

{sorry 'bout the thumb} :)

WERK! He is such a little poser. I love it!

Its Sunday Morning....

2011-05-29T14:23:00.002-04:00

Let's be robots!!!

The Rut

2011-05-27T20:56:00.004-04:00

I've been totally bailing on the blogging front. I'm so sorry! I'm on empty, ya know? I feel boring, status quo. Does that make sense? I'm convinced its the weather. We've had a ton of rain and I think the entire population is ready for the summer temps already! Some outside activities! The word on the streets is that its on its way.
In the meantime, I'm doing a lot of loving on this guy....

One morning I even spent Chully's nap time doing this....

Instead of this...

Or this....

SO worth it!

We Love Us Some Playdates!

2011-05-27T20:35:00.005-04:00

{How hilarious is this picture?! Why do I imagine it in a wedding video somewhere down the road?}
Today we had a fab playdate with some of our favourite peeps! The three of us mom's have been friends long before any of us had children so its so nice to meet up, chit chat about mom things, non-mom related issues, work, travel, life....have a little lunch and watch the kiddos get to know each other. We try to get together once a month and this was our third hook up. The first two playdates were great but this afernoon the kids got more involved with eachother rather than (as M says) "orbiting" one another. It describes it perfectly! So fun to watch. What's even cooler is how much the kids change in the weeks between each playdate! Its awesome. They're at that age that has them changing so dramatically over the course of four or five weeks. Has anyone figured out a way to slow this down yet?!
We've all got some busy, beautiful, happy kids. We're blessed Mamas! ;)

Sunny Days

2011-05-11T20:19:00.000-04:00

Love that smile.

Today we learned about warm sand on our feet :)

Easter!

2011-05-04T16:53:00.004-04:00

All the awesome art our nieces and nephews made. Chully's gift was even wrapped in art! So creative.

Bubble machine!

Kicking It With My Boy

2011-04-30T08:18:00.005-04:00

When the wind blows he stops everything he's doing and reacts like someone has poured a glass of water over his head. Funny guy.

Swing high fives! They're tricky! ;)

He probably could have gone alone but I totally wanted a turn!
{ I should probably worry about being the embarrassing mom }

Rockstar Baby

Visiting a local farm.

Mama's Little Helper

2011-04-29T21:52:00.002-04:00

What's The Deal, Banana Peel?

2011-04-20T20:24:00.006-04:00

Drooling while watching the diggers. Seriously.

Boy, it's been a while!

Over the past couple weeks poor Chully has been dealing with more teething. This time round I've been crazy about keeping his schedule and its helping to get us through the night. Funny how putting him down 30 minutes earlier than we normally do (did) helps so dramatically.

Luckily, Chully had a routine appointment with the Doc last week so we were able to calm some first time parent jitters by making sure that all his symptoms were typical and be positive there wasn't anything else happening. We also got some stats! Our boy is a long and lean cuteness machine! Duh. ;) He is in the 17th percentile for weight and 79th percentile for height.

Also! We have a new word! "Dec-ta" (Dexter" our family dog's name)
It seems to have bumped "uh oh" and is the fav word right now. "Dec-ta, Dec-ta, Dec-ta!". So adorable. Every dog is "Dec-ta!" too which is totally hilarious.

Is it Spring in your neighbourhood yet?

Chully's 1st Birthday Party Pics & Video!

2011-03-29T14:27:00.016-04:00

A couple of weeks back we celebrated Chully's First B-Day at our golf club with the fam. The awesome photos Jay Perry Photography captured speak for them self! Warning- Pic Heavy!

Place your bets!

Grand Entrance. "Pour moi?!"

Number one!

Smooch Break!

G-Ma Love!

Sista-In-Laws

"Wait, you got me WHAT?! Awesome!" {Ginormous, I'mtotallygoingonit, bouncy castle}

What's it gonna be?

Tennis Ball- Athlete

Rice- Never go hungry!

"Hmmm, never, ever go hungry?"

Third pick! Bro-in-law suggested Sports Medicine! Maybe!

I kept this one in b/c I look like I'm going to attack and devour my niece. I didn't.

Cousins/ Besties

Paging Dr. Mc Cute-much?

Make a wish!

Stalking his prey

"You sure you want to photograph this?"

I'll take those kisses anytime!

Happy toes.

We're so proud of you, Chul. XO

{P.S. What is that my "you're about to have a fab day" shirt?! I just realized I was wearing the same top the day we picked Chully up for keeps. Kinda wish I noticed earlier. Oh well. I do have other clothing, I swear.}

Playdate Awesomeness

2011-03-22T20:01:00.005-04:00

Last Friday Chully had his third official playdate with two of his best friends, D and V. I absolutely love watching these three hang out. Check out this video the talented AS captured and surprised us Mamas with. Its too much, isn't it?! SO sweet! Arrrrgh!
Thank you so much AS!

Birthday Boy!

2011-03-15T21:56:00.005-04:00

Happy 1st Birthday beautiful boy! You are such a loving, funny, sweet and smart boy. You amaze us everyday with the new things you come up with. We feel so lucky to be your parents.

Here's what you've been up to-

You're walking! Everyday you get more and more comfortable on your feet and can walk further distances. You squeal with delight with every step! I catch you practicing when you think no one is looking and I beam with happiness seeing your success. You are very determined.

You like to put your soother in backwards and pretend that "its no thang" and its hilarious!

Another funny thing you do is fake cough. It started out a while ago just out of the blue but now you're prompted to do it when we pass someone in the supermarket who is coughing. You wait a few beats and then start fake coughing and laughing. You know, that may make people thing you're mocking them, right? I feel like you and I have a private joke and I love it!

You LOVE to work on anything art related. You and I pull out the crayons a couple times a week and work on your very own canvas. You are so proud when we put your work in progress back up on the mantle and admire it. You point and grunt. When its time to put the crayons away you arch your back and freak out.

You throw everything. But mostly food. Dexter loves this about you!

Bath time continues to be a hit! You hang out in there splashing around, practicing your "uh oh's" and banging your toys together.

Puppy. You love that stuffed puppy so very much. Last month when we went to the Korean New Years celebration at the church I forgot your stuffed puppy on the chair I placed you on to take your coat off. We didn't realize until we were about 30 minutes away and had to turn back. I counted my self lucky when it was laying right there on the chair when we returned. I cried at the thought of having lost something so important to you. Puppy stays at home for most of our adventures now.

You're so big! We always talk about how much you've grown since we've gotten home but when I see you around other children I really see it. The other day we were out and you saw a baby and started waving. You wave a ton. The ladies melt. Well played Sir....anyway, you waved and they came over for a visit. The little boy was only a couple months younger than you but seemed so tiny. An infant. You've suddenly become a little boy. We're eager to see what the doctor has to say in a few weeks.

You're not big on having your teeth brushed anymore. You used to like it.

You're a headbanger. Banging your head off of anything that may make a noise is kinda frightening for us but you seem to love it. Maybe we could compromise and....well, not do that?

You refuse to eat anything that you cannot feed yourself. All of your meals have been revolving around things that are healthy, teeny, tiny (or can be cut that way), and that hopefully won't create the hugest mess ever. Your favourites right now are broccoli, avocado, cheese (still), any meat you can get your hands on, blueberries, and yogurt.

You try desperately to snap your fingers. Some of the songs on TVO get us grooving together (Hello?!) and you watch us intently when we snap and then rub your thumb and middle finger together. Adorable. Now you rub your fingers together whenever you hear ANY music. You really are a genius baby. :)

When someone winks at you, you blink both eyes really hard trying to wink back. Genius.

Grown up Chul, you have brought a happiness to our lives we didn't know could exist. We are so in love with you and thank God every single day for bringing the three of us together. Continue to shine beautiful boy. We can't wait to see what the year ahead holds!

Uh Oh!

2011-03-15T21:12:00.003-04:00

We're Uh Oh'ing all over the place these days. In line at the grocery store, in the car, in the tub, everywhere! Not in the correct context and our inflection is a teeny bit off but CA-UTE! I think he knows it too. He's totally working it.
Chully Bear, you're so great.

Kids Today...

2011-03-15T21:07:00.002-04:00

;)
(iphone pic)

Seriously.

2011-03-10T10:13:00.003-05:00

Horrible quality but I was happy to have barely caught this hilarious moment!

A Real Whodunit

2011-03-09T16:27:00.003-05:00

Gotta Have It

2011-03-09T13:09:00.004-05:00

This is new. Climbing the fridge. Only terrifying for me apparently.

He is such a joker.

I guess he wanted a yogurt?

Remembering Korea Via iPhone

2011-03-09T12:03:00.005-05:00

Doesn't he look so little?

We LOVED Korea. Can't wait to visit again soon.

A New Favourite!

2011-03-09T11:29:00.010-05:00

Chully is ca-razy about this show. He'll stop everything he's doing and just watch in amazement when the theme song is on. It is pretty great.

Hmmmm...

2011-03-09T11:05:00.003-05:00

That bag wasn't open a second ago.

Cookies!

iPhone Pics

2011-03-09T10:53:00.005-05:00

What? Welcome to the climbing into and onto everything phase Mama!

The swing was a big hit. I can't wait for the weather to be nice enough to go to the park daily.

Walking!

2011-03-09T09:48:00.004-05:00

Since our last post I got my first dose of "one of us is sick, all of us get it!" As it turned out it was teething and a cold. Good times. I won't bore you with all the sneezey, sleepy, barfy (but still astonishingly cute and cuddly) details. Did you and yours get it too? It seems to be everywhere. Are you still out there?

Somehow in and amongst all of that grossness, Chully started WALKING! Its been a little over a week now. Its not his go to mode of transportation (crawling is faster and safer) but he is doing it and it is awesome. Everyday he looks a little more sturdy than the last and is able to go a little further. There's been some bumping and bruising but otherwise he's kicking butt. The other day when he was walking to me I was literally buzzing with pride and excitement. This being a mom thing is seriously fun.

Tomorrow marks 14 weeks home. I can't wrap my head around the fact that we've been home that long already but also that we've been a family of three for only 14 weeks. I can't remember what it was like to not have him around. Don't get me wrong, I totally find myself daydreaming about the days that I went to the gym whenever I wanted (which was never), or read a magazine uninterrupted while eating my way thru a bag of pistachios (which was weekly) but life is so much better with sticky little fingerprints all over everything. We're finding our everyday grind, you know? Wordy cheese ball posting coming. ;)

Since I'm sneaking a post in before the dude wakes up from his morning nap I'll stop yammering on and give up the goods!

Teething

2011-02-23T14:36:00.004-05:00

...is such a drag.

Poor guy is feeling it pretty good the last couple days. On top of that he's got himself a cold but I'm not sure if its just a coincidence or if the stuffiness is because of the teething. Either way, teething is a real drag. Our days have been full of Toy Story DVD's, colouring (stabbing the paper with a crayon might be more accurate), and melting down.......and that's just me.

Couldn't resist.

11 Months Old!

2011-02-16T08:49:00.005-05:00

This is another new funny face getting a lot of play lately. Fish face baby!

We love you so much little boy.

Dol Tower

2011-02-11T14:11:00.004-05:00

Let me take a look here...

Ya ready for the call?!

Number One! (He just learned this and does it ALL the time. Its extra funny here b/c it actually works!)

I attempted making a few Dol towers for Chully's first birthday in March. This is the first. Not too bad. Not totally even but that's ok. Hopefully my peeps don't look at it too closely! ;)

Chully Art 2.0

2011-02-11T14:00:00.003-05:00

Yogurt

2011-02-10T20:10:00.003-05:00

Its on my face.
Aaaand what?!
:) I love the sass in this pic!

Baby's First Haircut

2011-02-10T19:59:00.004-05:00

Post Cut (Note to grown up Chully- We did not do this hair do to you. The nice lady who did your cut did. We changed it as soon as we got in the car. Scout's honour)

What The....

2011-02-09T21:42:00.004-05:00

Who is this boy and where is my baby? (HAHA) Seriously though- Doesn't he look ginormous in these pics? Its the haircut (post coming).... gotta be.

Playdate Numero Dos- A Group Shot!

2011-02-09T21:17:00.006-05:00

That is M and her son D on the left, Chully & I in the middle, & M and her daughter V on the right.
We played, gabbed, laughed, changed bums, fed lunch, had lunch, and then change some more bums. Good times. Thanks M & M! Can't wait till next time!

Edit- Oh my gosh you guys, I just had a moment! I looked at the group shot one more time and thought "Look at us sitting there being all mom-like 'n' such!" Whodathunk?! So cool. Looks good on ya ladies! :)

Old Man Chully

2011-02-09T20:59:00.010-05:00

He has a ton of new expressions lately. All hilarious. We call this last one "Old Man Chully".

Happy Lunar New Year!

2011-02-04T07:37:00.005-05:00

새해 복 많이 받으세요
(saehae bok man-hi ba-deu saeyo)

[I meant to post this yesterday but got caught up. Sorry!]

Bringing Home The Bacon!

2011-02-03T20:25:00.006-05:00

Let me just empty these envelopes out here annnnd.....

What?! I always sit under the chair when I work. You don't?

"I'm also gonna need you to go ahead and come in on Sunday toooooo"

Had to! :)

Our First Playdate!

2011-02-03T19:13:00.007-05:00

Pororo attended sans eye wear....and legs. He's been Dexter-ized.

Notice the shoes? ;) Its tough to tell but they're V's.

So happy! Proud, Proud Mamas!

Homegirl can mooove!
Yesterday a great friend (remember my friend extraordinaire "M" I spoke about in earlier posts? Her!) brought her adorable daughter V over for a hang out with Chully. They got along great despite Chul being a little Grabby McGrabberson when snacks were served. What can I say, the boy likes to eat.....and should probably work on his game a tad before their second date. V is a total doll and Chully was amazed by her! He wanted everything she had. Even the bow in her hair and the shoes on her feet which V graciously let him try on. Oh my gosh you guys, cuteness overload!

The Spare Room Sunspot

2011-02-03T18:40:00.005-05:00

The perfect spot for stealing a smooch!
LOVE these two crazy monkeys. Seriously, they're bananas. Its awesome!

{Smooch}

2011-01-24T21:33:00.002-05:00

Chully Art

2011-01-24T21:25:00.003-05:00

Poor Pororo

2011-01-20T20:01:00.002-05:00

Just Hangin' Out

2011-01-19T21:29:00.007-05:00

Always making friends

Chully is making this face a ton lately. Its a new thing as he discovers all the cool sounds he can make with his mouth, tongue, and nose. Whatta guy!

Sashay shante! This boy LOVES to strike a pose!

Lunch!

Noodles

2011-01-19T21:20:00.003-05:00

Love That Smile!

2011-01-18T20:36:00.008-05:00

The boy LOVES to brush his teeth. All seven of them!

Crushin'

2011-01-17T09:14:00.007-05:00

I think the dude has his first little crush!

Chully and I were sitting at the island this AM catching up on a couple blogs and as I was scrolling through Life With Briar (one of our fav's) Chully banged his hands on the counter & grunted with a steady stream of drool dripping down his chin. He clearly has great taste.

Come to think of it....I think I dated an Eddie Vedder wannabe with those moves in my grunge faze.....Who didn't! Am I right?! No? Oh.....me neither.

Toque / Tuque, Eh!

2011-01-13T21:06:00.005-05:00

["Canada: America's Tuque"]

The lovely Brooke left me a comment on my last post (Thanks Brooke!) asking if a "toque" is french for hat. Her comment inspired this post!

The short answer- yes. Longer version here.

Funny, this post sucked me into a vortex of even more awesome Canadianisms and it made me wonder....do you have any unique sayings or names for things? Either in your country, city or even family?

Let's Roll!

2011-01-12T10:47:00.006-05:00

Can we go Mama?

If I put my toque on?

Fine then. I'll take my toque off and shoot you some cuteness.

I'm outta here.

Ok Mama! I'm bundled. Now can we go?!

Don't cha Think?!

2011-01-10T07:46:00.007-05:00

[Poor Chul looks at this all morning]

New moms should be issued magic coffee makers.

Coffee makers that automatically brew whenever the baby starts stirring.

...and fills itself with h20 & fresh ground beans....and cleans itself.

Oh and the coffee should stay steaming hot for an extra long time.

Am I the only one who can't seem to drink a cup of coffee while its still hot?

Eureka!

Some Serious Lip & Lash Envy

2011-01-07T15:24:00.001-05:00

The Bucket Hat

2011-01-07T15:18:00.002-05:00

I guess this one stays!

Bath Time!

2011-01-07T15:08:00.003-05:00

So in love with this little dude. Such a handsome, snuggly, smart, hilarious, loving little boy. We're so lucky.

A Lazy Afternoon

2011-01-06T15:18:00.003-05:00

Yes- that is a remote.

The New Hat...

2011-01-05T19:50:00.005-05:00

is a no go. Chully is not a fan. Poor guy.

Tuxedo Outtake- Just Chillin'

2011-01-02T21:42:00.003-05:00

Puppy Love

2011-01-01T22:54:00.005-05:00

Chully LOVES puppy. Especially at bedtime. No one seems to know where he came from but this cute little stuffed puppy was written about in our boy's referral and was around before his foster family and long before us. He's family!

Cool that Chully came home to find a real life brown puppy though, eh? Who, btw, is celebrating a b-day!

Happy 3rd Birthday Dexie Boy! BFF's for life!

Happy New Year!

2010-12-31T12:09:00.001-05:00

Steady Eddie!

2010-12-29T10:23:00.000-05:00

That Can Happen?! TMI.

2010-12-28T10:50:00.004-05:00

No one tells you that when you have a little munchkin, sometimes, a diaper gets full....and then goes above and beyond. I'm here to tell you...it happens. Ho-ly....well, you get the picture.

The Airport- Arrival Pics!

2010-12-28T09:55:00.007-05:00

On Thursday December 2nd, 2010 we arrived home with our bundle of joy! We were so sick, so tired, and much happier & proud than we've ever been.

How many first time parents does it take to put a baby into a coat?

My sister arranged for a professional photog / family friend to be at the airport to catch some shots of our arrival. Thanks Jay! You rule! Thanks Ike! You also rule!

The Aftermath

2010-12-26T19:06:00.005-05:00

Score!

Edit-Couple quick notes about the prezzies! See that dinosaur walker/ rider thing on the right? It was one of Chully's gifts from Grandma & Grandpa L-P. Mike and I sat about a metre and a half apart this morning and Chully walked back and forth between us while pushing the dino! He was so happy. We were so proud! It was adorable. Tomorrow I'll try and grab some video.

The red sled is from Chully's Grandparents on Mike's side. Grandpa L had sanded & painted it himself! So sweet. We're going to try and mount it on his bedroom wall.

Was Santa good to you this year?

Happy Holidays!

2010-12-25T21:49:00.011-05:00

Cool fire truck! Thanks Auntie I and Uncle M!

Hop on the back mama!

Getting spoiled is exhausting! Nap time with Auntie!

We hope your Christmas is full of love, laughter, friends, family, and FOOD!

Best Christmas ever.

More pics to come!

As Promised!

2010-12-23T20:36:00.004-05:00

I had to share this despite my weird man laugh. Do I really sound like that?! The boy though- He's too cute. Sorry for the delay!

Chapters

2010-12-23T19:54:00.006-05:00

Chully and I did some last minute shopping today and after lunch we stopped by Chapters. Who knew pulling books off the shelves and getting mama to put them all back would be so much fun! We even made a new friend and played with the dollhouse for a while. He was actually squealing with delight. Really fun day.

Life: An Update

2010-12-22T13:16:00.009-05:00

Life continues to be great since coming home with our sweet boy. He is adjusting quite well and although sleep is still a bit of an issue, we're getting the hang of things little by little. Chully is still in the pack and play next to our bed and we haven't ventured moving him any where away from us just yet but as I said, no biggie. It is amazing to sit back each night and list the noticeable ways we bonded that particular day. How did I ever not know this little person? You guys were right, I forget a life without him.

We are really looking forward to Christmas this year. Last year I fantasized that it would be our last Christmas as a family of two but I also kinda felt like it might be a little bit of wishful thinking. We have so much to be thankful for this year and I plan on spending every moment watching my boy soak in all of the magic that the holidays hold. Remember when Christmas was magical? I had forgotten all about it. I remember when my parents would tell my sister and I that if we listened we could hear Santa and his reindeer on the roof. We always did and would rush to our beds to pretend to sleep. They always said "If you aren't asleep Santa won't stop" The lies! ;) One year my parents wrapped all the gifts before Christmas Eve and put them under the tree and my sister and I opened every one. Could you imagine?! Who does that?!

Chully continues to eat really well. A new fav is pastina. I blended a homemade veggie packed sauce to go along with the tiny bits of pasta and he couldn't get it in him fast enough. Is there a better feeling than watching your kids eat well? Well, besides, them falling asleep on you, giving you a sloppy baby kiss, holding your hand, bundling them up in your arms after a bath, seeing their smile first thing in the morning....ok, ok, the list goes on and on and on. Cheesy, I know. What can I say, I'm a sleep deprived, insanely happy, and totally in love new mom. It rocks.

Snack Time: Avocado

2010-12-21T20:57:00.002-05:00

Decorations- iphone Pics.

2010-12-18T21:55:00.005-05:00

I'm sure he thinks we're nuts.

Hanging our homemade Korean flag ornament! What a difference a year makes!

My dudes!

Man- the quality of these pics suck! I really have to use the good camera more often. I'm brutal for that. Sorry!

Santa: Take Two

2010-12-17T17:19:00.005-05:00

Santa sweetened the deal with a red sucker. I probably shouldn't have but I couldn't not let him have a few licks. Well, he took a couple licks and then basically smeared it from head to toe. He had it everywhere! In his hair, on his coat, the whole shebang. Totally worth it.

Nine Months Old!

2010-12-15T19:42:00.010-05:00

Did I mention how much of a ham this guy is?! We were calling him "Mama's little Bieber baby" b/c of the hairdo. ;) I grabbed these iphone pics last night post bath, pre bed. One of my favourite times. He is so snuggly and so, so funny at this time of day.

Its hard to believe that tomorrow marks two weeks that we've been home and Chully's nine month B-day! Time has gone by so quickly but at the same time, I feel like we've come so far.

Sleep. Ahhh, precious, precious sleep. The first few days / nights were rough to say the least but we're getting better every night. We're in the "one good night, two crumby" mode right now but we're definitely counting ourselves lucky. He was co-sleeping with his foster parents & the crib is a scary place at this point so we've put a plan in place. The first couple nights he was in bed with us, since then he has been in the pack and play beside our bed. Over the next few months we plan on slowly inching it closer to his room, eventually, when he is comfortable, landing him in his crib. It's a loooong process but patience, patience, patience is key. I'm not going to stress over it too badly. He needs to know we're here and as long as the plans are progressing and we're sleeping at night, I'm pleased. I had an idea of how it was going to go before we had him home and of course now that he is here and reality has sunk in, plans are pitched. C'est la vie! Happy boy, happy mom.

Food. The boy LOVES to eat. We've been staying pretty mellow with the new foods but the ones he has tried, he's loved with the exception of watermelon. Not a huge fan. His favourites so far are cheese and mashed banana!

Play. Whatta guy! He loves anything that has anything to do with banging stuff together, clapping, slapping his hands on something, etc. All signs point to a love of drumming. When he isn't pounding on something he is trying to stand up on something, balance (his little baby toe breaks away from the rest of his toes for extra stability...SO cute), and yes....attempting to walk. Scary. I think I have a couple more months of getting used to the action of it all though so that's a relief. Without anything else around to pull himself up he can get into the downward dog position and then rocks back and forth for a bit and then falls. When there *is something there to pull himself up....look out! He is up and he is proud! Big smiles all around. :)

His idea of petting Dex is more like grabbing a handful of hair and pulling so we're keeping a close eye on that. Poor Dex. Chully just can't get enough of him. They're getting along great. In fact, I worry that Chully's first words could easily be "Please don't share your rice cracker with the dog, buddy" b/c he hears it so often. ;)

It's a trade off for Dex, I guess. Pull my hair, share your snacks.

The amount of happiness this little boy has brought to our lives in such a short amount of time is immeasurable. He amazes me everyday with what he learns, how much he grows (could they grow ANY faster?!), how much he laughs, and makes us laugh. I'm a lucky, lucky mama!

Happy Nine Months, sweet boy. We love you so much.

Chully & Santa

2010-12-14T10:00:00.005-05:00

"So I sit with this dude and smile....

and then I get presents?!"

This weekend our golf club had its annual Christmas party and we were in hog heaven having our boy home to attend! We had been amping up Santa for days and Chully did great w/ the old man! What can I say, this boy loves to have his photo taken! He is such a ham & I LOVE it! He is such a funny guy.

BTW- Any techies out there? I can't get that video to upload. Although its saved as a quicktime video my comp is giving me an error message that says..."The document “Chully Blows Raspberries.MOV” could not be opened. The movie is not in a format that QuickTime Player understands." Weird. Any thoughts?

Korea 2010!

2010-12-14T09:39:00.006-05:00

"Feed me and we'll get along juuuust fine!"

Back at the guesthouse.

First family photo at SWS in Korea just after our son was placed in our arms forever.

One last bottle with our boy's amazing foster mom.

Finally in my arms!

Mike holding our boy for the first time!

Finally!

2010-12-10T11:13:00.013-05:00

Sorry for the delay guys! Lame, lame blogger! As you can probably imagine it's been craziness here on the home front but a really awesome craziness. Chully (our boy's nickname) is such a happy little guy and his smile is the most amazing sight. The first few day were rough to say the least. We had a very tired (but would not sleep) and very sad little boy. We've been home a week now though and we are all slowly finding our groove. Chully shows off his toothy little grin to us often, is eating well and although we had an issue the first couple days we were together, is relieving himself regularly. TMI? My radar is kinda off these days! Sleep would probably help that, eh? Ok, I still (argh, why does this seem like such a big job?!) haven't uploaded our camera photos. To make up for it I've included a video (Edit- still working on the video upload) and a couple iphone pics full of cuteness. Thanks for all your kind words and your patience! I'll get better as I learn to manage my time! After his afternoon meal our boy likes to snuggle on the couch and that eventually turns into him blowing raspberries on the arm of the couch. It's hilarious and he gets a pretty big kick out of making us laugh. Future class clown? We're totally head over heels in love!

Home Sweet Home

2010-12-03T02:59:00.003-05:00

Things / sayings that have taken on a whole new meaning since I've become a mom:

- I love you
- What just happened?!
- I'm so tired
- I have the best friends and family ever. Yes- that means you!
- I'm scared

It's 5 am and my boys are sleeping. I've just been laying here for hours so I thought I'd drop you a quick line. I'll go into more detail in another post but we've made it, we're together, he is eating, he is sleeping, he is smiling! I'm exhausted and scared out of my wits but I think that's how I'm supposed to feel....? Right? Moms? Dads?

Pictures! I promise! Soon!

M.

Baby Makes Three!

2010-12-01T06:15:00.002-05:00

We've got him! We've been hanging out in the room all day getting to know eachother and its been great! He did have a bit of a cry when we first got in but otherwise he has been doing well! We've dimmed the lights, put on some Pororo, had a bottle, some rice porridge, and even a bit of a snooze. Everything is fab! We even did a load of laundry! Well, Mike did.

Fingers crossed the little guy is ok through the night. Either way, we'll get through it!

He is incredible guys.

zzxxcv fdrrrrrd ---- that was a little note from the dude! :)

2 More Hours!

2010-11-30T18:59:00.004-05:00

Holy moley! I can't believe it. The end of one journey ends and a whole new adventure begins! Crazy. Time is going by so slowly and that's probably because we hadn't been able to do much of anything other than wish away the time until we see our son again.

We haven't pushed ourselves to do much sightseeing this trip which is fine by me. We've just been strapping on the backpack and walking. To no where in particular. Just walking. We figure whatever gets us through. We'll have plenty of trips back with our boy to explore with a mission. This trip it just seemed more comfortable for us to just...float. So, our floating landed us at Starbux this morning where we are pretty much staring at the time tick and drinking more coffee and playing more solitare than should be legal. :) It is nice to just hang with Mike without a plan though. That never happens.

There is another family here that we've met. Very nice. We haven't hung out but I think that's only because Mike and I are up and out walking off the willies pretty bright and early every morning and stay out until dinner. Then we grab something quick and hit the hay. They are here until Monday and get their boy for keeps on Friday. When we did meet briefly in the hall the other day we were like a group of sugar spiked kids. Huge smiles, practically jumping out of out skin! "We're in Korea! We're getting our boys!!!"

Alright! Thanks for hanging out with me for a bit! 105 more minutes to go!

M.

We Met Our Boy!!!!

2010-11-29T02:49:00.004-05:00

You know how long I've been waiting to type those four words?!

It was incredible. He was so easy going, came to both Mike and I, sat with us, fish hooked Mike with his little fingers, re-styled my hair (he likes whispy pieces pulled from a ponytail apparently, who knew?!), and put on a little baby babbling show for us. He's beautiful. Even more beautiful than the pictures we received, even more beautiful than we BOTH dreamt about last night (weird right?)....He's funny, he's loving, he's strong...like really strong....that boy wanted a piece of fruit I was eating and he went for it full on. I won but just barely.

The first person he went staight for was Mike. They told us that he favors the man in the house. But then he was done investigating him and was ok with sitting with me for a while. I'd sing a little bit of pororo and he would grunt along with me. It was really surprising and we all got a good laugh!

We were warned on the way there that he may not be in the best of spirits because he is getting over a cold and has a fever but he was great albeit a tad sweaty. Poor boy. The word from the doc is that he is on the mend and he is scheduled to visit the doctor again just before we pick him up for good on.........WEDNESDAY! Wednesday at 11am we get our boy for good!

Just thought I'd throw that in there! Bam! Happy dance central! ;)

We also had the pleasure of meeting our boy's foster brother and sister who were pleased to receive the gifts we brought for them and seemed to really like them. Before we left they presented Mike and I with a bag for our son. Inside was a traditional Hanbok which our son will proudly sport on his first birthday, sentimental crafts lovingly made by his foster sister and the most heartfelt letter written by her as well. So, so sweet. We'll keep them forever and pass them on to our boy to treasure always.

Great day. The best day ever in fact.

Thanks for all the great comments guys! I really look forward to getting them!
I'm thinking of you all often.