Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Mung-mung!
My sweet little Tay has learned to bark like a Korean puppy...a mung-mung-ee. As soon as we get video footage of it, we'll post it on youtube! :) She met a cute puppy yesterday and since then, she's been pointing at every four-legged animal and going "mung, mung!" :) So cute!!!!!!
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
My baby is ONE
My sweet little Tay has turned one! It's unbelievable how quickly the time has gone by. It seems like just yesterday that I was lying in the hospital waiting for her to come out and she is already walking around and calling me Umma. This past year with her in our lives has been such a blessing and filled with surprises and endless smiles and laughter. It's funny to think that I wondered about my own abilities at being a mother only up until she was around four weeks old. After that fourth week, I KNEW in my heart and mind that I was the best mother and caretaker that she could ever have in her life. I was confident and I LOVED being her mother. That was the turning point for me.
Tay's first birthday, March 10, 2009, was actually spent on an airplane flying from Incheon to Atlanta where we were to celebrate her "Dol" with all the family. I felt badly that she would have to endure such a long flight on her birthday (and I was quite anxious about the whole ordeal as well - I had visions of myself walking up and down the aisles following her and keeping her from falling over or grabbing someone's hair...), but she did spectacularly on that flight to Atlanta. She slept almost the entire flight, save an hour or two. She slept in my arms for part of the way and lying across the middle seat between Jeff and me part of the way.
The first part of the trip was spent at Stone Mountain with the Ryals clan - the entire family came up to celebrate with us and the girls just had a blast playing with each other. Tay loved kissing and hugging all of her cousins (as long as they didn't try playing with any of the toys she wanted to play with...). It was fun to see Lu-Lu and Tay together, mostly playing side-by-side, but occasionally interacting with each other. It's funny to see how similar all the girls look, at the same time, how differently they look and act from each other. We took all the girls and climbed Stone Mountain (Tay got to climb it twice!) We all reached the top, relaxed a bit, and made our way back down. We also hit Atlanta's children's museum (Imagine It!) and the Georgia Aquarium (Titanic Aquatic) - the largest aquarium in the United States! The girls absolutely loved the museum because there was so much to see and do without much restriction. Tay's other side of the family (the Kims) came down from VA for the celebration, and really enjoyed getting to meet the young Lady Taylor. :) They couldn't believe how much she had grown since the last they met her and what a little personality she was developing.
The celebration was held at Sydney's Buffet in Duluth, GA. The spread was amazing - such a variety of food, all very tasty. The reserved room was filled with beautiful decorations and lots of loving family and friends...it was quite a stressful moment for Jeff and me, but I think Tay (even with jetlag) was enjoying all the attention...mostly. I think the funniest part of the night was when Tay had her "dol-jab-ee" and she grabbed the money almost immediately and waved it around showing the crowds. :) She even handed me a twenty as if she was saying, "good job, keep the change." Anyhow, we think everyone enjoyed the event, and after it was all over, I was so relieved...I was very happy it happened, but it was truly a very stressful event for me. I think if I could do it over again, I would have thought it through a little better and organized it from start to finish...but all in all, the event was wonderful and I'm looking forward to seeing some pictures from it soon!
After the hubbub, we went back to the hotel to relax and pack because the next day, we were off to Bristol, VA...hitting the Cabbage Patch hospital (factory) enroute. When we got to the factory, we got the brief introduction and then we wandered through the "museum." Tay picked out her own baby almost immediately - she picked it up, hugged it, and wouldn't let it go! Of course, Jeff knew he was "adopting" that one...we named her Cvjeta Riley Ryals. We then went on to Bristol for some relaxation. We spent most of our time in Bristol decompressing from the first half of the trip and doing some leisurely shopping (Target!). It was good to spend some time with my folks and let them spend time getting to know Tay and falling in love with her. :) The time seemed to fly by and it was already time to go back to Atlanta for our flight back to Korea. Ugh...
On our way down to Atlanta, we decided to stop by the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga, TN, because it was about half way and a good rest stop (and a fun place to see!). Tay was a little tired through this aquarium, but it was a nice break from the road for us. I only wish there weren't so many people at either aquarium... Once we got to Atlanta, we checked into our hotel and just relaxed for the night before our flight in the morning.
The flight back was a little more grueling (15 hours instead of the 13 it took us to get to the states)...and Tay did not want to sleep this flight. She was awake for over half the flight, but there was also many other babies (and a poor little dog) on the flight, so we didn't feel so bad when she would occasionally yell out. I think she just couldn't get comfortable...
We got back safe and sound, Tay ran a bit of a fever on the flight back (we even almost got quarantined) but I think it was just because of all the traveling and exhaustion. She's still fairly jetlagged now (four days back)...she still (we all still) wakes up around 2am and falls back asleep at 5am...only to be passed out most of the day. Ah well...eventually we'll get back on track.
Today we went to the hospital to get her one-year check-up. Tay's standing tall at 2.5 feet (30 inches) and weighing in at 24 pounds. She's got a little bit of a rash on her tummy and back, but the doc says it's a very common viral rash that'll just clear up on its own. Likely she picked it up in all her travels. She's otherwise healthy, developmentally on track, and was in a great mood when she saw the doc (even gave him a shy smile!).
I am thankful. So very thankful to be her mother. I am thankful to God for the blessing that she has been in our lives...every minute I look at her, I think of her, I can't imagine what life was like without her. I'm so very very thankful. It's been an incredible first year with Tay and I look forward to the many many years I hope to spend with her (God-willing).
Tay's first birthday, March 10, 2009, was actually spent on an airplane flying from Incheon to Atlanta where we were to celebrate her "Dol" with all the family. I felt badly that she would have to endure such a long flight on her birthday (and I was quite anxious about the whole ordeal as well - I had visions of myself walking up and down the aisles following her and keeping her from falling over or grabbing someone's hair...), but she did spectacularly on that flight to Atlanta. She slept almost the entire flight, save an hour or two. She slept in my arms for part of the way and lying across the middle seat between Jeff and me part of the way.
The first part of the trip was spent at Stone Mountain with the Ryals clan - the entire family came up to celebrate with us and the girls just had a blast playing with each other. Tay loved kissing and hugging all of her cousins (as long as they didn't try playing with any of the toys she wanted to play with...). It was fun to see Lu-Lu and Tay together, mostly playing side-by-side, but occasionally interacting with each other. It's funny to see how similar all the girls look, at the same time, how differently they look and act from each other. We took all the girls and climbed Stone Mountain (Tay got to climb it twice!) We all reached the top, relaxed a bit, and made our way back down. We also hit Atlanta's children's museum (Imagine It!) and the Georgia Aquarium (Titanic Aquatic) - the largest aquarium in the United States! The girls absolutely loved the museum because there was so much to see and do without much restriction. Tay's other side of the family (the Kims) came down from VA for the celebration, and really enjoyed getting to meet the young Lady Taylor. :) They couldn't believe how much she had grown since the last they met her and what a little personality she was developing.
The celebration was held at Sydney's Buffet in Duluth, GA. The spread was amazing - such a variety of food, all very tasty. The reserved room was filled with beautiful decorations and lots of loving family and friends...it was quite a stressful moment for Jeff and me, but I think Tay (even with jetlag) was enjoying all the attention...mostly. I think the funniest part of the night was when Tay had her "dol-jab-ee" and she grabbed the money almost immediately and waved it around showing the crowds. :) She even handed me a twenty as if she was saying, "good job, keep the change." Anyhow, we think everyone enjoyed the event, and after it was all over, I was so relieved...I was very happy it happened, but it was truly a very stressful event for me. I think if I could do it over again, I would have thought it through a little better and organized it from start to finish...but all in all, the event was wonderful and I'm looking forward to seeing some pictures from it soon!
After the hubbub, we went back to the hotel to relax and pack because the next day, we were off to Bristol, VA...hitting the Cabbage Patch hospital (factory) enroute. When we got to the factory, we got the brief introduction and then we wandered through the "museum." Tay picked out her own baby almost immediately - she picked it up, hugged it, and wouldn't let it go! Of course, Jeff knew he was "adopting" that one...we named her Cvjeta Riley Ryals. We then went on to Bristol for some relaxation. We spent most of our time in Bristol decompressing from the first half of the trip and doing some leisurely shopping (Target!). It was good to spend some time with my folks and let them spend time getting to know Tay and falling in love with her. :) The time seemed to fly by and it was already time to go back to Atlanta for our flight back to Korea. Ugh...
On our way down to Atlanta, we decided to stop by the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga, TN, because it was about half way and a good rest stop (and a fun place to see!). Tay was a little tired through this aquarium, but it was a nice break from the road for us. I only wish there weren't so many people at either aquarium... Once we got to Atlanta, we checked into our hotel and just relaxed for the night before our flight in the morning.
The flight back was a little more grueling (15 hours instead of the 13 it took us to get to the states)...and Tay did not want to sleep this flight. She was awake for over half the flight, but there was also many other babies (and a poor little dog) on the flight, so we didn't feel so bad when she would occasionally yell out. I think she just couldn't get comfortable...
We got back safe and sound, Tay ran a bit of a fever on the flight back (we even almost got quarantined) but I think it was just because of all the traveling and exhaustion. She's still fairly jetlagged now (four days back)...she still (we all still) wakes up around 2am and falls back asleep at 5am...only to be passed out most of the day. Ah well...eventually we'll get back on track.
Today we went to the hospital to get her one-year check-up. Tay's standing tall at 2.5 feet (30 inches) and weighing in at 24 pounds. She's got a little bit of a rash on her tummy and back, but the doc says it's a very common viral rash that'll just clear up on its own. Likely she picked it up in all her travels. She's otherwise healthy, developmentally on track, and was in a great mood when she saw the doc (even gave him a shy smile!).
I am thankful. So very thankful to be her mother. I am thankful to God for the blessing that she has been in our lives...every minute I look at her, I think of her, I can't imagine what life was like without her. I'm so very very thankful. It's been an incredible first year with Tay and I look forward to the many many years I hope to spend with her (God-willing).
We love you, Shingil Taylor Ryals.
Love,
Your Umma and Appa
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