Three straight days

It's been a while. But after 6,000 miles of travel I think I'm ready to be back. Theo seems to have inherited my homebody nature. (That is, being an extroverted homebody.) When we go out, he often cries until we're home and then there's a sweet relief when I tell him we're almost back to his favorite place. He even seems to know that it's almost over when we drive over the last three speed bumps before our house.

I apologize for the hiatus, but we have a reason. We traveled to Richmond around New Years, and for three straight days we were subjected to non-stop celebrations: a repeat of Thanksgiving for David's relatives from Korea who missed their turkey dinner (as if we hadn't had enough this year), Theo's 1st birthday, and David's grand-parents' 60th wedding anniversary. We basically had to roll home.

When you go to Mama Ro's, you pack your stretchy pants.

(That was Twitter-worthy, am I right?)

We had lobster ravioli, baked salmon, and beef tenderloin - and those were not the three separate celebrations. No, we had all three during one meal.

See? I have proof.

But I guess for those of you who know us, you're not really surprised. What is almost unbelievable, though, is that our Theo is now one!

I went crazy when I saw this baby Rex at Nordstrom!

David's mom did an incredible job of setting up Theo's tol.

Hehe, you can see David holding him up.

She tried to replicate David's party from 31 years ago.

I say she did an excellent job.

Poor Theo got croup on his birthday (apparently it's a common Korean thing for babies to get sick around their first birthdays - my mom-in-law says it's because everyone focuses on the party and neglects the baby) and we ended up in the ER that night. I fell asleep on the patient bed. (Not as tired as I had been a year ago, but tired nonetheless.)

Anyway, we still can't believe our little baby is a walking (!) and "talking" little man.


Dear Theo,

We cannot believe you are one. You are one crazy, mischievous, loving, sweet little boy. We love how you smile and babble, how you look at us from out of the corner of your eye when you are doing something sneaky. We love your crooked, toothy grin. You are so affectionate, but you don't exactly love to cuddle (unless you're feeling crummy). You more like to wrestle. And I guess we have Rex and your uncle Kenny to blame for that. You already know I love your thick thighs, which is why I never put pants on you. Your dad loves your pork chop feet and vienna sausage toes, and everyone wants to eat your cheeks. It's hysterical when you shriek from a crazy game we play such as peek-a-boo with the mirror, or riding around on someone's shoulders in circles around the house as someone taunts you with food you can't quite get to. It's hard to put into one letter all the feelings we have for you, but just know this. Our hearts are full because of you.

We love you!
Mommy, for the both of us