ONE YEAR OLD!!!

Happy 1st Birthday to our beautiful Seoul!

Seoul loves:

crackers

daddy

mommy

books

cousins, grandparents, aunts & uncles

stuffed puppy violet

buttons & zippers & snaps

food

life and all the things to discover

Our House

Here is a picture of our house to tease you. We will post more pictures - promise! We spent the weekend painting some accent walls inside. The new colors of the blog are the colors in Seoul's room. Kelley has been a busy homeowner... he's been an electrician, tile layer (?), painter, landscaper, and will be a plumber soon. Fun times!

Seoul's 1st Christmas Dress

After multiple cuttings (remember to line up the pattern on the fabric!) and severe frustration with the zipper.... I did it! With a lot of help from my mom, Seoul's first Christmas dress is a success. The little baby bloomers still need to be done but I made it extra long cuz she's tall so it covered her bum.

I remember growing up I would get Christmas and Easter dresses - either my mom made them or they were purchased as I got older but it was a fun tradition. I better start on Seoul's Easter dress soon!

our little cutie pitootie

Seoul and her friend Blake. I love how kids love to hold babies.




Seoul likes to play on her carseat when it's inside. She knows how to push the buttons on her dolly's hands and feet to make it sing.




Seoul and her game face the day of the Civil War football game. She does touchdown arms on cue, and even does them when someone scores on TV.




Seoul and her silly smiles. She says "cheese" now.

Seoul loves pulling her counting caterpillar apart.

Thanksgiving

Seoul in a food coma... but she can't stop eating...

Seoul finished her food... but now needs a little rest so her tummy doesn't explode...

remembering...

Oh, Seoul... getting so big! I like comparison pictures.

She's actually laying still... 9 1/2 months versus 28 days. Her expression in the second pictures is funny - sticking her tongue out at me like she used to do a lot.

Go Cougs... still a loyal fan. 9 1/2 months versus almost 4 1/2 months. Too bad the first pictures is kind of dark, but she definitely fits the BYU onesie better!



Lately I think how much she has changed since she is coming up on 1 year old. The differences are huge, but they've seemed so gradual since I see her every day.

We found it!!!

We finally found our camera cord! Enjoy!!

happy 11 months!

(sorry, camera cord still missing)

Happy 11-month birthday to our sweet girl! This picture was before Thanksgiving so it's a bit old but it expresses today perfectly. Maybe she's aware it's her special day and she should get extra special treatment. All morning she has been making the sign for 'hungry' and 'more' so she's been eating, eating, eating! Oatmeal with applesauce & cinnamon for breakfast, nurse, Special K for my breakfast, baby puffy snacks, nurse, and finally cottage cheese. She refused to play with toys and read books because she wanted more food. Maybe it's a growth spurt... maybe she's just excited to express what she wants and have me understand... maybe she's a little piggy! It's cute and fun to watch her use her signs, though!

Christmas was fun. We got to host at our house, which was exciting! We're getting settled into our house and getting ready to start a few more house projects. Once I upload some pictures I will post about Christmas. Happy New Year!

crazy busy

Oh my - what great events have come to pass! And the camera cord... in a box...

THANKSGIVING

We spent the holiday with family... such good times! My mom hosted and it included: my mom, Evan, Dana, Trevin, Amanda & Ella, Mindee, David & Ashley, my dad, Kelley's mom, and the three of us. It was a feast with my favoritest part: PIE. Visiting, Wii, family, and many many blessings. What a wonderful holiday! We have so much to be grateful for! OH, and of course Seoul LOVED all the food - little muncher!

SEOUL'S 10-MONTH BIRTHDAY

She's our little angel. Here are her latest accomplishments/quirks:

* can do the sign for "more" (slight variation)

* fold her arms for prayers

* throws fits when the food is gone

* takes her beanie off quicker

* puts her arms in her sleeves by herself

* says "gobble gobble" when prompted (Kelley taught her)

OUR HOUSE

After months of looking, waiting, looking, waiting, looking, and waiting... we did it! We bought a HOUSE in Canby and we love it! Once we got word it was go-time it went super fast!

Day 1: received confirmation on our loan

Day 2: signed papers

Day 3: bought carpet

Day 4: packed

Day 5: bought paint

Day 6: Kelley and my dad painted the interior of the house - all rooms & ceilings

Day 7: packed & Kelley finished painting

Day 8: carpet was installed, finished packing, loaded Penske truck, drove to Canby & slept in OUR NEW HOUSE!

Day 9: cleaned, unloaded & unpacked in OUR NEW HOUSE

Day 10: my mom, Seoul & I went down to the Salem place to clean

The original plan was to have a week to pack and move Saturday 12/12 but smart Kelley looked at the forecast and decided we better move sooner (Monday 12/7). We moved to Salem on the hottest day ever and moved to Canby on the coldest day ever! Fortunately it was just cold with no rain, snow, or ice.

Thanks to EVERYONE who helped!!

It is a blessing and super exciting to be in our own place; 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, a hallway, kitchen, dining room, and living room of our very own... and of course the yard for Seoul!! What an excellent Christmas present! Seoul feels more comfortable and cruises all over the place! We're still unpacking (really, it's never ending!!) and getting settled. I'm very excited to start picking accent colors for the different rooms. We have a list of "honey-do" projects that we will get started after the holidays. Already my fabulous brother has helped move the water heater so I can fit my washer/dryer (no clean clothes is such a bummer!).

So... life is crazy busy but SOOOOO good. On to the glorious Christmas holiday!

Don't come between Seoul and her food!

As Seoul learns to feed herself, I've discovered something very telling about myself. I consider myself a relatively neat & clean person. Am I really ready to observe food being smeared everywhere?? We had our first spoon-on-the-floor incident the other day. I have a while to go before it's over... I best get used to it :) Seoul mastered picking things up with her pincer fingers a while ago... now she's getting quite good at the rolling peas and slippery avocados.




Breakfast: oatmeal and pear. Smeared from the back of her head, down her arm, all over the tray. Lovely. She had fun going at it with her hand, though!




Since she gets to eat big people food she has become a little MOOCH! Oh my! Whenever there is the sight of food she comes as quick as she can. Who could resist this little angel face silently begging for food?? Oh, did I say silently? WRONG! She is extremely vocal about getting some!

I believe she knows the words breakfast, lunch, dinner, and food. Whenever I mention them she gets super excited and makes a noise that sometimes sounds like 'yes' or 'ya'. If the boppy is nearby she will point to or touch it. Silly girl!

Below is her expression once her bowl of food is almost done (and this was her second bowl!). She insists on seeing inside the bowl as I feed her so she can gauge how much is left. When there are two bites left she starts getting mad. I believe she also knows the colors of the foods she eats. No more can I get away with cereal really - she will keep her mouth closed. Then open it as soon as it's something yummy like veggies or meat on the spoon.

Family Love

Here are the latest pictures of family loving on Seoul.


"Mmm... kisses from daddy!"




"Hmm... usually it's mommy behind the camera..."




"Who's this funny looking guy...?"




"Daddy isn't this hairy... is this normal?"

"Oh Mom. If I have to smile for yet another picture I will..."

Seoul's Antics

9 month doctor visit. This was Seoul's expression when I told her we were at the doctor's office waiting for daddy to arrive. "Eek - do I have to go in??"

Stats:

Weight - 16 pounds 10 1/2 ounces (20th percentile)
Length - 28 1/2 inches (85th percentile)
Head - 17 inches (25th percentile)

Just an itty bitty thing. But she is super HEALTHY and that is what's most important! The doctor said she's doing great and gave the OK for all food but honey. Lucky baby... let the fun begin!

Playing with daddy at the doctor's office... before the shots...




These days Seoul is everywhere in the blink of an eye. Crawling the "normal" way these days, she makes tracks! She is adventurous and cruises all around the furniture and walls. She's mastered climbing up the stairs, although not down yet. Books are fun - turning pages and looking at the pictures and touching the textured parts (touch-and-feel books). Mimicking us is her new fun game - clapping, blowing razz's, laughing... we love it! Every day is new and exciting and SO MUCH FUN!




Hmm... checking out daddy's wallet for cash already. Look at her sneaking around - hanging out in between the couch and desk so we don't realize what she's up to. Smarty pants!

Silly girl... gotta find a new angle to play with those toys to keep them fun.

Four chompers coming in... I said show me all your teethies and she did!

She loves to help unload the dishwasher... and get a few more dirty in the process. Check out her stylin' slippers :)

I was making dinner and realized she was being very quiet. I look down and she's managed to get the lid off and she's eating her treats very quickly.... she knew we would take them away!

What a beautiful, smart, fun girl. We are so blessed to be her parents!!

Snug as a Bug in a Rug

Here are some cute pictures of Seoul

Autumn is here

The word Autumn is so poetic. I really like it.

The Autumn season is so beautiful! I love the changing leaves and the crisp, cool air. Plus it indicates the coming of the wonderful holiday season.

We go for family walks to enjoy the fresh air. Seoul inevitably falls asleep, of course. She got a new toy with Grandma's Halloween treat but didn't enjoy it until later.

Pumpkin Patch

We took Seoul to a local pumpkin patch with our friend Amy. Seoul wasn't sure what to think about some things like the feel of the hay poking her legs or sitting in a wheelbarrow with a giant pumpkin, but it was clear she wasn't such a fan of the petting zoo or pony ride. Maybe one day :)

We went through a very muddy corn maze and made it to this castle. I've noticed Seoul is adventurous and likes to be up high. To get down we took the slide. Seoul is sticking out her tongue at Dad in the first picture and then clapping to show her excitement in the second.

We had to pose for a picture with the "Asian" pumpkin... those of us with "slanty" eyes :)

It was perfect fall weather and we had a lot of fun! Next year Seoul will really be into the activities.