Sunny LA

This morning we flew to LA to visit your cousins and your grandparents. Everyone was so excited to see you especially since we did not fly to LA for the holidays or your birthday. We drove straight to South Pasadena to see your cousins, Sara and Scott. They had belated birthday presents waiting for you!
While Sara and Scott went to art class, we walked around Old Pasadena with Auntie Mikyung and one of her friends. You had fun running around the Japanese snack shop where we waited. You selected Pirate’s Booty for a snack - yummy! You managed to touch almost every single item on the bottom two shelves in the store too - cereal, chips, gum, candy, greeting cards, magazine and many other things.

After art class, you had fun playing with Scott and Sara in the living room while we waited for Uncle Chester to come. We went to dinner at a Korean restaurant in Arcadia – we all ate soon-du-bu and kalbi. On the way home, we dropped by Papa Beard’s for dessert – you enjoyed snacking on the cream puffs, and so did Sara and Scott – look at those big smiles!
When we arrived back home, Sara was entertaining you by tossing a small ball into a cup – you were laughing your head off!
Then Sara, Scott and you lounged on the couch while Auntie and Uncle watched Korean dramas on TV (with English subtitles). Scott was showing off his belly button, so you copied him, silly girl!
Before bedtime, Sara played the violin for us – we were impressed. She decided to take violin lessons instead of playing the piano.
And then it was milk and teeth-brushing time before everyone went to bed. Good night!

Messy Dinner

Tonight after work, we met some friends for dinner at Udipi, an Indian restaurant in the Crossroads Mall. Since Som and Tanya were running late, Jackie/Oscar met us in the mall so we could run around for 30 minutes before dinner. You had fun riding the mini-carousel – you kept saying ‘Again! Again!’ Luckily it only cost a quarter for a ride. After the carousel, you rode a bouncy car with Oscar and then we ran around Old Navy – Oscar and you kicked balls around and then you wandered around the store finding stuffed animals, shoes, socks and whatever else was within your reach.

Around 7PM, we met Som and Tanya at the restaurant – whenever I am pregnant, I crave dal (yellow lentils). Jackie is also pregnant (expecting another boy in April) and so is Tanya (expecting twins in September).
You made a BIG mess during dinner by spilling your rice everywhere and then swiping it around the table and onto the floor.
Oscar enjoyed screaming loudly while sitting in his highchair making funny faces at Som.
After dinner, we drove back to the hotel and I gave you a quick bath. You had fun pretending to swim in the bathtub – how adorable!

Seattle Playdates

Yesterday we flew to Seattle - you watched the 'Finding Nemo' and the 'Talking Words Factory' DVDs during the flight and were quite content. You looked like you were going to fall asleep a few times, but you never did. Around 11PM ET you had a major meltdown on the plane - you were overtired! I took you to the bathroom to change your diaper and wrestled with you for nearly five minutes to put another diaper on. You were screaming your head off and flailing around. It was quite miserable! After I was finally able to secure a diaper, I just picked you up and walked back to our seats - you were half-naked and still screaming your head off. All of the other passengers (many were sleeping on the plane) just stared at us in horror. You cried for another 2-3 minutes and then passed out in my arms; you slept in my lap for the rest of the flight. During the descent into Seattle, I stuffed you back into the carseat and you were still sound asleep. Poor Sophia.

On Sunday morning, we went grocery shopping after breakfast and then visited some friends. We had brunch with The Harp family - Walter, Angela, Luke and newborn Sofia. You had fun watching Dora videos with Luke - look at those couch potatoes!
. . . and playing with Play-Doh too.
While you took a nap in the carseat, I went shopping at the Hanna Andersson outlet in Woodinville to buy a few things for you. You slept like a baby in the carseat while I roamed around the store looking for bargains.

We lounged around the hotel for the afternoon. You found my boots and, of course, wanted to prance around wearing them.
In the evening, we went for an early dinner with some other friends. We met at The Lewisons house - Melinda, John, Cate (3 years old) and Jack (10 months). Melinda's sister (Kirsten Morbeck), her sister-in-law (Meghan Lewison), Meghan's son Henry (8 months) and her husband also joined us. You had fun playing with all of Cate's toys, especially the big rocking horse.
Then you tried to slam dunk, but the basket was too tall!
While we ate dinner, you played with Cate's jack-in-the-box which had a Curious George inside. I'll buy you one next time I am at the toy store. You loved it when Curious George popped out at the end of the song and kept saying 'Again! Again!'
After dinner, we watched the Oscars and enjoyed the dessert that we brought (vanilla bean ice cream with mixed berries plus madeleines and two-bite brownies). I gave you a small piece of a madeleine and let you dip it in my bowl of ice cream. You really enjoyed it!
After eating ice cream, Cate and you were bouncing up and down on a sugar high! You started jumping up and down on the fireplace, and Cate joined you. You were sad to go because you had so much fun playing with all of Cate's toys. When we were back at the hotel, we brushed your teeth and changed into pjs. Luckily you fell asleep quite easily too. Sweet dreams, little miss Sophia!

Baby Disco

Today you went to your first nightclub - one of your playmates, Alden, had a first year birthday party at his parents' club Cielo in the meatpacking district. How fun!
You played with the balloons on the dance floor by kicking them in the air. Sometimes you'd pick them up and try to bite them (or lick them) - luckily none of them popped in your face.
When another baby boy sat on the dance floor with a balloon in his lap, you decided to join him. You like little baby boys - when you saw Matheo (another kid from Dumbo), you pet his head and wanted to kiss him too. Good training for your little brother who arrives this summer.
After all of the kids popped the balloons on the dance floor, you decided to take a break with Daddy.
Then you climbed into another booth. While Daddy drank his beer, you snacked on Cheerios and water.
Then it was back to the dance floor for some boogeying - Randy loves picking you up because you always give her a hug and kiss.
We said hello to your playmate Kai (Randy's son) and met his grandma too.
And here is the birthday boy, Alden, with his Mommy, Jenny. They live in our old apartment next door. Jenny and Randy also own the local kids' store in Dumbo called Half Pint where you take music classes on Tuesday morning.
There were lots of party favors too - neon bracelets and necklaces, egg shakers and sea anenomes that lit up when you bounced them on the floor. Then we took another rest from the dance floor and did some coloring with a cute Japanese kid whose Mommy works in Dumbo for Ito-En (a Japanese tea company).
At one point, an obnoxious boy came over while you were playing with the blocks. First, he just took the blocks from you and screamed a little bit. A few minutes later, he hit you with a block. What a brat! Mommy and Daddy were only a few feet away - my blood started to boil, but we couldn't do anything to the boy since his parents were not around. Daddy picked you up to see if you were okay - you must have thought you were in trouble because you started to cry and say 'Sorry.' Poor baby - We get upset when you hit Mommy and Daddy, but you should not say 'Sorry' when someone hits you. Daddy is going to teach you how to punch a boy if one ever hits you again.

We decided to play somewhere else - Daddy started tossing you up in the air. Oh goodness - I really don't like to watch this. Up, up, up you go. . .
. . . and then you land on Daddy's back. You loved being tossed in the air and kept asking Daddy to do it again.
Around 4:30PM, we said goodbye to everyone. We were all exhausted after a long day - we spent the morning at the Museum of Natural History and the afternoon partying at a nightclub. When we got home, Daddy passed out on the rug in the living room while you played around him. Too funny.
In fact he started to snore so loudly that we thought there might be a few bears sleeping in our living room. After you finished eating dinner, you went to Daddy's face and shouted 'Wake up, Daddy!' Then you asked what happened to the snoring bears.

Daddy here. Here's your video

Whales, Elephants and Dinosaurs

Today we went to the Museum of Natural History. We had a late start because Mommy was tired. I did not sleep very well because Daddy was snoring all night. We left the house at 9:30AM - we took the subway to the Upper West Side.
When we arrived, there was already a long line but luckily we walked straight in because Daddy's employer is a corporate sponsor. We received complimentary tickets too. First stop was to see the marine life - there were life-sized sharks, jellyfish, and all types of fish hanging from the ceiling.
My favorite room is the big whale room. If you look closely, you can see the outline of the big blue whale hanging from the ceiling.
On the lower level, there were several exhibits with life-sized walruses, dolphins, sharks, turtles and other sea life. Here you are pointing to the walruses.
Next stop was the Mammals - look at the big elephants.
The security guard told you to stop climbing on the benches. Next you checked out the giraffes and apes.
Then we went to the 4th Floor to see the dinosour exhibits. First you decided to climb under an exhibit on the dirty floor - YUCK!
You had fun running around the dinosaur room. Big dinosaurs!
You also played with the interactive exhibits like this one of with the bones of a clawed foot.
The museum was getting super-crowded so we decided to take a break and feed you some lunch. Too many people to take photos!
We found a table in the Dinosaur Cafe and fed you tofu with spinach. You started having a melt-down because you were too tired from running around the museum all morning. After a quick diaper change, we forced you back into the stroller and hoped you'd fall asleep. We walked around the space exhibit but you never fell asleep.
We decided to take the subway downtown, and you fell asleep on the train. We walked around Chelsea Market to pass the time before Alden's birthday party and to let you nap for at least an hour. Sleepy girl.

Elmo's Coloring Book

Today we watched a Sesame Street Live production at the Theatre at Madison Square Garden. It was your first time watching a show!
We took the subway to Madison Square Garden and arrived 30 minutes early. You walked up and down the stairs while we waited for the show to start. Then we ate some Pirate's Booty instead of the popcorn, cotton candy and other junk food that was for sale.
Daddy took this photo of the three of us by extending his long arms - not bad at all.

As soon as the lights went out and the show began, you had a big smile on your face. You were so excited to see Elmo and all of his friends.
It was hard for you to sit in one place so you squirmed around in your seat - standing up, sitting on Daddy's lap, perching over the chair in front of you, jumping off the chair, and then climbing back up. Daddy does not seem as excited about the show as you are!
During the short intermission, you snacked on tofu and milk - what a healthy baby! Do you remember seeing Elmo and all of his friends - who do you see? Cookie Monster, Count, Telly, Zoe, Bert, Ernie, Oscar, Big Bird, Professor Art and his assistants (Red, Yellow and Blue) all danced during the show. Whenever one of the characters went off the stage, you seem worried - Where is Cookie Monster?
After the show, we walked a few blocks to a Korean restaurant called Han Bat. You had a nice ride on top of Daddy's shoulders.
You ate some bean sprouts, noodles and rice for lunch. You started having a melt-down toward the end because it was your naptime. We took the subway home and you pointed out letters and numbers on the map. It must remind you of the map in the Dora video.
On the walk home from the subway, you had fun putting your tiny fingers in the snow on the sidewalk. Too cold!
Once home, both you and I went straight to bed for an afternoon nap while Daddy watched a movie. I woke you up at 4:30PM but you were still sleepy. You slept for a few more minutes on Daddy's chest - it's been a long time since I've seen you in that position. How cute!
After dinner you put on your pink cowgirl boots and ran around the apartment. Daddy left your pants off so we could check out your sexy legs.
You love hiding in the coat closet and playing peek-a-boo. After we knock and open the door, you say 'Good morning! How are you?' Maybe Girlie taught you how to say that. While we ate dinner, you played with your orange Play-Doh and made ribbons of pasta. Now you are fast asleep while Mommy and Daddy watch a movie. Sweet dreams!