Katelynn Loves the Park!

Designer Custom Crib Rail Cover!

Nanna Jane Babb created this designer crib rail cover in response to my pleas, since Katelynn was methodically destroying the crib by chewing on it... not to mention she was eating black paint! The side rails are still being created. I think it is beautiful and makes the crib look pretty neato mosquito.

Katelynn's First Birthday!

So, I haven't even posted her cute Halloween pictures or many other things, but I had to at least post a few birthday pictures!

Her first birthday was a big success. She started the party very fussy, but then quickly warmed up when that big piece of cake came out, complete with a beautiful lit candle! She loved sitting on the pool table to open all the presents, and even seemed to enjoy being in her formal Korean dress that her Grandma Joy got her. It is a Korean tradition to wear it on the first birthday. It is definitely the most beautiful piece of apparel to be drooled on!

Just a Cool Picture

Parent Job Description

POSITION : Mom, Mommy, Mama, Ma Dad, Daddy, Dada, Pa, Pop

JOB DESCRIPTION : Long term, team players needed, for challenging permanent work in an, Often chaotic environment. Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call. Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities! Travel expenses not reimbursed. Extensive courier duties also required.

RESPONSIBILITIES : The rest of your life. Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, Until someone needs $5. Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly. Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf. Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers. Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects. Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks. Must be willing to be indispensable one minute, an embarrassment the next. Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices. Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst. Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of the end product. Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and janitorial work throughout the facility.

POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION : None. Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE : None required unfortunately. On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.

WAGES AND COMPENSATION : Get this! You pay them! Offering frequent raises and bonuses. A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will help them become financially independent. When you die, you give them whatever is left. The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.

BENEFITS : While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered; this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth and free hugs and kisses for life if you play your cards right.

The Wind out of my Sails

Today we FINALLY got out all the paint supplies and did touch-up on our beige walls and our red walls. I was feeling so good and happy about it. We went out for a walk while everything dried. When we got home, I realized that the red touch-up paint on our living room wall does not match the original paint.

So now I must trek to Home Depot to get a new gallon of red paint so that we can re-roll the entire wall. It was so disappointing to see those big marks on the wall after being so happy about getting everything spruced up! Oh well, such is life. If those are my biggest problems, it is a happy life for me, eh?

Nursery Pictures

Someone asked to see some pics of Katelynn's nursery, so here they are!

A Story Not for the Faint of Heart

As I write this, I am stuffing my face with m&m's to reward myself for what I went through today. And I must upload a picture of Katelynn to this post to remind myself that she is in fact cute.

First let's set the stage. Katelynn has a very vile habit of sticking her fingers down her throat and gagging herself. If you are thinking "That is bizarre and abnormal" - that is what I thought at first too. Then I found 20 pages of posts by other alarmed parents on babycenter.com. The pediatricians say to ignore it and that it is a phase, but it is quite difficult to ignore something so repulsive. But, I have tried my best.

Fast forward to today. I am driving on a crowded and very fast moving highway, only to turn around and see my daughter sticking her fingers down her throat. She is suddenly covered in stinky, disgusting barf. This is not little baby barf anymore. She eats three solid meals a day, and breakfast was now all over her and smelling up my vehicle. So, I had to pull over and do the best I could to clean her up without throwing up myself.

Then, upon arriving home: (1) remove car seat, (2) completely wash car seat, including in all the little crevices and buckles and things, (3) reinstall car seat, (4) bathe turkey baby, (5) soak all puke infested clothing, (6) completely spray down my vehicle with Febreze. And unfortunately that didn't do the trick 100%.

Sheesh.

Halloween

We had fun dressing Katelynn up and also having some friends over. Babies in costume are just the best!