Bye Ikea~

Parents with kids will understand what I mean when I say that Ikea is the best place in the world for families. They have cheap breakfast (and lunch for that matter) and everything is so kid-friendly. I never really noticed it when I went to Ikea prior to having you, but every single detail in that store is kid-friendly:

- They have a play area near the front entrance for you to drop off your kids while you shop. While I'll probably never leave my kids in here ever I think it's great that they have something like this.
- All their washrooms have a kid sink for the little ones.
- They have a separate family washroom with a sitting area for breast feeding moms.
- They have free baby foods in their cafeteria.
- They have lots of high chairs in the cafeteria.
- They have a play area in the cafeteria for kids to play in while the parents eat.
- They have a separate stair railing for kids. It's just under the adult railing.
- They have play stations throughout the store for kids to play in while parents browse.
- The aisles are wide so it's no problem for parents with strollers to comfortably pass through.
- And everything is affordable! Their breakfast is $1. How can you go wrong???

Because I had the whole week of the 26th off I took you to Ikea on Friday (for lunch) and today (for breakfast). What I love most is that their food is cheap and you love the food. You are such a picky eater so it makes me so happy when you eat something and like it. When we left Ikea I told you to say, "Bye Ikea~" and you repeated it several times. I'm guessing this will be our special little place.

I love shoes

Yesterday was our family's Christmas dinner. We did it after Christmas because your Toronto grandparents and mommy went to NYC for Christmas. The dinner was at your Toronto grandparent's house. You were quite the little star because you recited everyone's shoes by the front door area.
Luckily I was able to capture a video of you doing that.

On another note, I think you are totally smitten by Auntie Sara. You get so upset when you have to leave her. Even after the dinner when we got home you threw a tantrum calling out Auntie Sara's name. This isn't the first time you did this. Last time you cried hysterically all the way home because you didn't want to leave her. All I can say is, Auntie Sara is going to make a good mom.

Little precious

You wear me out sometimes, but when I see you like this my heart just warms and I'm filled with so much love that I forget how hard it is to be a parent sometimes. Unless you're a parent you will never understand that kind of love. It's so deep and so unconditional.

Merry Christmas

Don't judge me, but mommy went to New York with your Toronto grandparents for Christmas (Dec. 23-25). I feel like a terrible mom, but I know you're still young enough that you don't really know what Christmas is all about. Mommy was just so burnt out and needed a break. Plus, daddy encouraged me (at first) to go. Leading up to the date he was a little more hesitant and kept saying, "How can you leave us?" Oh well. I think it was great for you and daddy to have daddy-son bonding time. Apparently you weren't fazed at all that I was gone. Daddy took you to McDonald's for breakfast (see pic on top left) and you even saw your first big screen, animated movie- Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (see pic on top right, and all of bottom). The only hiccup that happened apparently was when the movie had finished- you fell to the floor and threw a tantrum because you were upset that the movie was over. Such a drama king…

Preschool class

Because mommy's been so busy at work I wasn't able to meet your new classmates and teachers until this week. Your preschool teachers probably thought you had a single dad. Luckily I took most of this week off because I had so many vacation days left that I wasn't able to take until now. I took you to daycare when I could this week and I was so pleasantly surprised to see your photo, plus your classmates photo on your classroom door. What a cutie pie! I remember giving them a wallet-sized photo a few months back, but I didn't know what it was for until now.

I find it so amazing how things have changed in your daycare. Your classmates are so BIG! It kind of made me sad because when I first entered your class there was a group of boys that were surrounding a computer. They were playing a computer game. I guess you're no longer a baby… Even when I dropped you off you just wandered off to a play area and didn't even mind that I left. I remember when you used to cry hysterically when you were in your toddler room class. It upset me then to leave you when you were crying, but for some reason I got more sad when you didn't cry…

Growth chart

Daddy and I were doing some organization/decluttering in the office and I found a growth chart decal that I received from my friend Jen at her son Nate's 1-year birthday party. I had meant to put it up, but I totally forgot about it and it was tucked away in the office closet. Daddy and I carefully put it up and we measured you for the first time. You are standing just under 34". I'm hoping you grow tall and strong.

Early Christmas present

Auntie Jess and Uncle Wayne gave you your early Christmas present today- a bomber jacket. I wasn't able to put it on you when they were there, but I finally got you to sport it when I got home. It's a size 2, but I think it's a little big on you. I love how everything we buy you looks so good on you. My little handsome prince.

New PJ's

Seeing that your old PJ's were getting way to small, daddy and I went to the mall to pick up a few new clothes for you with the early Christmas gift certificates we got from your Vancouver grandparents. It's really hard finding PJ's for toddlers because they get sold out so quickly. Luckily I was able to find these cute ones at Gap Kids in your size. Aren't they just the cutest thing? My favourite part is the pants- they look like chocolate bars. Whenever you are wearing this I just want to bite you to death! Nom, nom, nom.

Totally doing this when you're old enough to understand

Beer belly… or should I say milk belly?

You're probably going to kill me for posting these pictures up, but I couldn't resist. Look at that belly! It didn't help that daddy put you in a shirt that was meant to go into storage. I think the shirt was a size 12 months? You're now almost 2 1/2. Daddy and I had a chuckle about it.

I like to study and draw

As daddy and I watch you grow and develop it's more obvious that you seem more like the studious and artsy type. You love to read and have us read to you, you love drawing (or should I say scribbling), and you love climbing on mommy's office chair to pretend surf on the computer. When you play you also have a very methodical way of playing. You tend to arrange everything in a straight line or in some kind of pattern- either by colour or by shape. It's quite interesting to watch. Daddy is worried that you won't be athletic like him, but I'm not too worried. As long as you're good at something that you love doing I'm ok with that.

2011 Christmas portrait

We did our annual Christmas shoot this morning. I'm looking at the calendar that we had made last year and when I compare it to the photo of you in our last year's Christmas shoot I can see how much you have grown.
Christmas is one of my favourite holidays as I love all the decorations and songs that play on the radio. I also love spending time with family and friends and just reflecting in the whole year. Christmas is just around the corner and I can't wait to celebrate another great year with you.

On a sad note, Auntie Jane's beloved dog, Coco, passed away yesterday. She was only 2 years old. I think Auntie Jane got Coco right around when you were born. I know how much it hurts to lose something you love so much (RIP Cosmo) so I can understand what Auntie Jane must be going through. Coco, you will be missed.

Aidan & Emma

Today was your cousin Emma's 100-day (Baek-Il). The 100th day is important in Korean culture as it symbolizes a milestone. Back in the days when Korea had little medical knowledge, many babies didn't live past their 100th day. So in celebration of reaching the 100th day Korean celebrate it by having a party with family and friends. We didn't do one for you because in the modern world the 100th day isn't a significant milestone, but Auntie Jess was saying that your grandparents really wanted Emma to have one. To prepare you for this special day you got your hair cut. Last time you got a horrific hair cut that made you look like Lloyd Christmas. I made sure I had picture on-hand to show the hair stylist this time. I had 2 tears- Justin Bieber and Chase Crawford's haircut. I liked how layered it was at the front and short at the back.

Justin Bieber

Chase Crawford

Look how good you are in the chair.

I had to sit you on my lap because I wasn't sure if you would sit on your own, but I think next time
you might be ready to sit on your own.

Now presenting the new and improved Aidan!

I absolutely love your hair! I had to put a little gel to push your hair to the side, but I think the
hair stylist did a great job. This was you at the mall before Emma's party. We just had lunch and
daddy bought a few clothes for himself.

Emma- the birthday girl. She slept in her little car seat for most of the dinner. So precious.

Look at those cute hands holding the cup. Aigoo aigoo.

We had a 10-course meal at Dahn. Our first course was a pine nut porridge.

This was a cold, pickled radish and cabbage broth.

This was a seaweed and noodle salad. It's a cold noodle, but it had a spiciness to it.

Emma is finally awake!

Uncle Wayne and Emma. Uncle Wayne really surprised me. He's so attentive to Emma. I guess
fatherhood really changes a man.

A beef carpaccio dish. The idea is to put all the vegetables on top, then roll it up, and dip it in a
sweet soy sauce.

Sea bass (? tasted like cod) salad.

Mini pancakes. They don't look spicy, but they were!

There's a smile from Emma!

I'm amazed how big she has gotten. She was so delicate and small when she was first born.
Thanks be to God!

Emma has the most expressive face. Her eyebrows furrow together so she always looks concerned.
It's so cute! There's her Auntie Jackie beside her.

This is the bulgogi dish.

The bulgogi went on the mini burner and after it's cooked you're supposed to dip it in the sauce
around the pan. This was your favourite dish. You ate so much meat.

You were so good. You sat in your little booster chair like a good little boy. I know lots of kids
aren't able to do that.

Mmmmmm. Bibim naeng myun.

After Dahn, we went over to your Toronto grandparents' house where we played a game of bingo
and took pictures of Emma by her dduk cake.

Your grandparents' house had the Christmas tree up so I couldn't help but take a photo of you in
front of the tree.