Easter

Last Easter I had a wish list for what I wanted my Easter experience to be. It included some green grass, time with family, Rocco in a clean Easter outfit, and an absence of kid barf. Well I guess dreams can come true. We had a great Easter this year. We finished our backyard just in time and it looked beautiful. Check. Joan came and visited leaving the day before Easter. I am counting it. Check. Anytime Rocco got his current pastel colored shirt dirty, I just changed him into another one. Check. Nobody barfed. Check check.

Rocco's first real Easter basket; highlights include various reptiles and Curious George. I also included Peeps which I thought would be a big hit. Rocco took a bite of one and said "Mmm, yummy" in a monotone voice that bordered on sarcastic, and then stuffed it back in the egg.

And I quote: "Hi rabbit, I love you."

We went to our church egg hunt and breakfast. It was supposed to start at 9. We got there at 9:10 with nary an egg in site. A few people tried discreetly dropping a few eggs that they had collected so Rocco could find them, but older kids kept rushing up and grabbing them. Nick and I had to intervene a few times. He got a total of 4 eggs and was thrilled.

Later that afternoon Rocco and I visited a Senior Center for an egg hunt. We didn't know any of the residents, but we belong to a Mom's Club that was invited. They hid 300 eggs and there were about 10 kids so there was plenty of eggs to collect. Rocco's strategy is to find an egg, immediately open it, eat whatever is inside, and repeat. This really cuts into his egg collecting stats when other kids focus on finding first and eating after the hunt is over. The other kids' baskets were overflowing, but Rocco was happy with what he had and he ate more than enough candy. What he was really interested in was the Easter Bunny. Mr. E.B. was there to pose for a pic with each child when they first arrived, but Rocco could not leave him alone. In fact, he stopped his hunt early and went to hang out with E.B..

All in all, we had a very successful and fun Easter. My one regret is that I didn't take any pictures of Clementine! I kept thinking I would put her in a cute dress and a headband and take her picture in the backyard. It didn't happen. I'm sorry Clementine; I hope you will not be too traumatized with NPSCS (No Picture Second Child Syndrome). You are on my list for next year!

Better Than The Easter Bunny

We had a special visitor come to our house this past Easter who left decorated eggs and special gifts. Yes the Easter Bunny came too, but this was better than the Easter Bunny, this was Grandma JoJo. We ate, we shopped, we swam, and we played. We had a great time with our JoJo!

Rocco and JoJo decorate eggs.

Rocco decorates his hands with the green dye and asks to "squeeze" the eggs.

(This was his first experience with hard boiled eggs and he wanted to try and crack the eggs open like he has seen me do with raw eggs while cooking.)

Joan brought Clementine her first swimsuit and we had the perfect weather for testing it out at the pool. This little babe is just getting her first taste of living the good life with her JoJo.

9 months

Our darling Clementine is 9 months. She is 19 lb.s (50%) and 29 in long (95%). She giggles and squirms. She sits up well and reaches for things but doesn't crawl. She doesn't have any teeth yet. She only likes smooth baby food (no chunks). She can say "ma ma ma" and "da da da" and if you say it back to her she will look you in the eyes and smile. She likes to look over and watch Rocco when we drive in the car. If she has a dirty diaper she likes to be changed right away (unlike Rocco who could sit in a dirty diaper all day). She has found her voice and can really wail, but is easily appeased with food, a proper nap, a new diaper, or a little attention. She is still waking up once a night but we are working on that. She doesn't care for bottles, but will drink a little out of them. She moves her arms up and down in a synchronized motion and also likes to move her hands and feet in circles at the wrists and ankles. She is starting to like baths and floating around the pool. She reaches out and touches with her pointer finger. She lights up when her daddy is around. She is our sweetheart and definitely a joy.

Let's Go Fly a Kite (Up To a Moderate Height)

Some of Rocco's recent aspirations have been to ride on a school bus and to fly a kite. I haven't figured out to get him on a school bus, but Grandma Laura did spring for a kite the last time she visited and took me to Costco. One windy evening I asked Nick to come home a little early and I kept the kids up a little late (they usually go to bed at 6; it's wonderful). We went to the field next to our house and did our best to launch it. We may not have got it flying to the highest height, but we did get it up (with a lot of running by me) and Rocco had a great time. Dream fulfilled!




Clementine was so tired. She did her best to stay happy until we got her home to bed.

Our Backyard Project

This is what our backyard looked like when we moved in:

There was a 10 by 10 foot square of cracked concrete and a stretch of weedy grass. Oh ya, there was also three small diseased trees that formed a triangle (?) and some mangy mismatched bushes around the A/C wall.

We've worked long and hard to transform our little plot of land. Over 2 years we've made little and big changes, one step after another. Finally it's the backyard we've wanted and it's even better than I originally imagined!

First we built our garden boxes.

Then, we had a paver patio put in. We also tore out the trees and mangy mismatched bushes and put up trellises around the A/C wall. Nick brought many a bag of pebbles over his shoulder to line our garden area.

The next step was to have some new sod installed along with three trees along the fence. We planted a small peach tree and a banana tree ourselves. The finishing touches were done by Nick and the AMAZING Joan, who not only watched my children while I went on vacation, but also installed the various plants we bought along the fence and patio border.

Behold, our finished backyard!

A Day In The Life of Baby Sis

When you are the little sister of Rocco Kim your day will include him coming to your crib in the morning or after a nap to check on you and talk to you until your Mama can get there. You will certainly get some hugs and kisses from him throughout the day. He will bring you toys to play with and might take some other interesting ones away for himself. He will try to help carry you and feed you. He will be concerned when you cry and ask in a high sweet voice, "Why you crying Sis?". When you are the little sister of Rocco Kim you will be welcomed and loved wholeheartedly; also, he might try jumping over your head.

Dear JoJo Claus,

Dear JoJo Claus,

Thank you for making our holidays bright! We have been good little elves decorating the tree and enjoying the presents you sent. We love to open a gift each day of the month as we prepare to spend Christmas with you. Thank you for your thoughtfulness in picking out each book and wrapping each one with care. We are very blessed to have a grandma like you who spreads year round cheer!

All our love,

Rocco and Clementine

p.s. Please tell Papa Claus thank you for funding the cheer.

A Conversation With Rocco

Setting: Returning home after driving my mom to the airport. Rocco is sitting in his carseat in the back polishing off his second Tootsie Roll pop. We pass McDonald's.

R: Hamburger?

Me: No hamburger.

R: Cake?

Me: No cake.

R: Cookie?

Me: No Cookie.

Pause

R: Cookie?

Me: No Cookie.

R: Pop?

Me: You already ate your pop.

Just Pictures

I don't have anything to say, I just want to post these pictures because I think they are cute!

Nap Time

Rocco first climbed out of his crib at 14 months. He has extra thick little feet that he was able to wedge between the bars to get leverage. He is and always has been a climber. The day that he climbed/fell out of his crib I located and set up a crib tent.

Since the moment I put up the tent, Rocco has been working on destroying it. He was able to work holes bigger and bigger with his little fingers when he was supposed to be taking a nap. It was like "Escape From Alcatraz" or "Shawshank Redemption". I am surprised he didn't hang up a poster of Raquel Welch to cover up the holes he made. Anyway, we went back and forth; he would create holes, and I would sew them back up. I planned on keeping him in the crib and the crib tent until he was 3. About 3 weeks ago Rocco destroyed my plan and the tent. He hung from it like a monkey and ripped apart the zipper. I gave up and converted the crib to a toddler bed.

Here is Rocco on his toddler bed with his favorite stuffed animal Scout.

Naps are now a hit and miss because Rocco can get up and play. He usually gets up and grabs toys, then runs back to bed to play. I love my children, but when they both actually take naps at the same time, I can only describe it as the best part of the day.